Buffalo fan's rant gaining some public attention

[the2bears]

Originally Posted by Flash Walken

"Forever a Sabre"

Unfortunately for their fans it was "Forever a Saber" this year. They just can't spell anything right.

[bdubbs]

Originally Posted by Flashpoint

If you haven’t heard the full audio rant it’s a MUST!

I think 3 different escalations of tone and volume over the course of it.

The Duane train is coming for us all!

I wasn't going to but then I did because of your post and holy smokes, worth.

[N-E-B]

I listened to the rant and I honestly thought that when he was talking about the Chinese jerseys he was referring to the cheap Fanatics jerseys, and then I saw the picture...

That truly is embarrassing for that team.

[Reggie Dunlop]

Why would alumni wear misspelled jerseys? I'd have taken it as a huge insult and refused to.

[Flashpoint]

Originally Posted by bdubbs

I wasn't going to but then I did because of your post and holy smokes, worth.

It starts rational and composed. Then gets gutty and angry. Then at about 2:50, he almost bursts into tears. Then it goes from a 9.5 out of 10 to about 11.

...aaaaannnnd if you've been a Flames fan for any length of time, we've pretty much all been there...

[OutOfTheCube]

Originally Posted by Split98

So do you identify with Duane in this?

He seems to be very clear that he's not happy with the on-ice product, but what has done him in is the gong-show off the ice. Would what's happening on the ice be more tolerable if the fan-experience staff and ownership still tried to make a good experience out of the night?

I think the off-ice stuff doesn’t affect me, being in Calgary myself. I wasn’t even aware of a lot of it as I haven’t followed too closely this year. I can’t say it surprises me much either.

[Bleeding Red]

Originally Posted by Reggie Dunlop

Why would alumni wear misspelled jerseys? I'd have taken it as a huge insult and refused to.

Maybe they didn't even look. Staff guy hands them a jersey with their number and they put it on.

More likely the staff apologized profusely, said they couldn't repair it in time, and begged them to just wear them and out of the kindness of their hearts, and they did so.

Better solution (other than not make the mistake to begin with) would have been plain jerseys.

[dustygoon]

I like how the owners are telling the local radio to take down the Duane’s audio. Taking a page out of Kevin Lowe’s playbook.

[Fighting Banana Slug]

That was epic. I feel for the guy as he is a passionate hockey fan, to say the least. It isn't just about the on-ice product (which has been miserable), but the neglect and taking for granted a pretty great fanbase (Freidman mentioned this morning Buffalo has some of the highest ratings and jersey sales, who knew?).

I really couldn't care less about the Sabres, but now I have a soft spot, as I have certainly felt a similar pain with 40 years of being a Flames fan.

[Traditional_Ale]

Originally Posted by dustygoon

I like how the owners are telling the local radio to take down the Duane’s audio. Taking a page out of Kevin Lowe’s playbook.

Source? That would almost awesome as the rant.

[8sPOT]

The jersey thing is so embarrassing. This is supposed to be the best league in the world, this is bush league type stuff.

But this does help move things along in the 'Jack Eichel will ask to be traded' dream scenario. Now thats a guy I would trade anything for.

[Erick Estrada]

The team has some talent but there's just something wrong with the mix as it's 3 straight coaches and still not a winning record. I have to think they may make a big move this summer.

[dustygoon]

Originally Posted by Traditional_Ale

Source? That would almost awesome as the rant.

From The Athletic article....

The rant, while epic, likely would have stayed local if someone from Pegula Sports and Entertainment — the parent of the Sabres and the Buffalo Bills — hadn’t berated WGR management, which led to a tweet promoting the audio being deleted. The decision led to more attention, and soon Steinel’s words were spreading from Vancouver to Florida.

[Split98]

Originally Posted by OutOfTheCube

I think the off-ice stuff doesn’t affect me, being in Calgary myself. I wasn’t even aware of a lot of it as I haven’t followed too closely this year. I can’t say it surprises me much either.

Ah fair enough

I watch the Flames from afar and get a bit of a feel for what it's like and how some of the fan experiences look. Generally, for a stodgy organization... the Flames seem to respect the alumni quite a bit... despite FAF

I was at one of the 50th games (vs Islanders) and my memory is pretty fuzzy on most of the details (one stop on a bachelor party) - but it was 70s night and we all were chuckling about how little was actually going on. The graphic designer and the bad-ass jerseys were really the only parts of the night you'd notice. None of us were Sabres fans, so we could have missed a TON - so this rant is pretty funny

[Split98]

Originally Posted by Traditional_Ale

Source? That would almost awesome as the rant.

Oh, it is. From The Athletic:

Originally Posted by The Athletic

The rant, while epic, likely would have stayed local if someone from Pegula Sports and Entertainment — the parent of the Sabres and the Buffalo Bills — hadn’t berated WGR management, which led to a tweet promoting the audio being deleted. The decision led to more attention, and soon Steinel’s words were spreading from Vancouver to Florida.

[The Yen Man]

Originally Posted by 8sPOT

The jersey thing is so embarrassing. This is supposed to be the best league in the world, this is bush league type stuff.

But this does help move things along in the 'Jack Eichel will ask to be traded' dream scenario. Now thats a guy I would trade anything for.

Man, I wonder what type of trade that would be. You would think Eichel's up there with guys like McDavid, Mckinnon, Crosby, and Petterson that they would never ever be available in the trade market. What would the Flames even offer for a guy like Eichel? Johnny, Mony, and a 1st?

[8sPOT]

Thats a good question.

Johnny, a couple 1sts, a good prospect or two(Pelletier and Kylington)?

Not that Eichel will get moved, but I'm glad we have our GM as he's likely to at least inquire.

[dustygoon]

Makes you understand a little more when you hear people say what classy organization the Flames run. Involve the alumni. Charity. Do it right.

[CliffFletcher]

Hopefully this will make them more desperate for a quick fix, like a trade for Gaudreau.

[Monahammer]

If the Sabres trade eichel there will have to be a centre coming back for them.

Monahan+Hanifin+1st is what I would offer. I think that offer might be hard to beat.