G
GeorgeKramer
Guest
Just heard from a former colleague from my sales days that some of the people who run the lacrosse team at HSBC Arena that they were NOT impressed (and a few were downright insulted) that new Sabres owner Terry Pegula called them the "Bisons" during his introductory press conference last month.
On a related note, Pegula used to live in Orchard Park, which is where John Gurtler lives. Gurtler does nice work calling the Bandits games on the radio but there were some within the organization who thought he should have been relieved of his duties after he was busted a few years ago for throwing a massive underage drinking party for the entire senior class of OP High School.
The Bills did bounce Gurtler but somehow he retained his gig with the Bandits.
My thoughts are does Pegula know him at all from "the old neighborhood" and, if so, does that help Gurtler stay on as the play-by-play guy? Or do certain folks get in Pegula's ear and point out that Gurtler's off-the-job behaviors (the party and a few other reported incidents involving Gurtler's personal partying in some shady places) is not FAMILY FRIENDLY for an organization like the Bandits who promote the family aspects of their product all the time?
He made a mistake a few years ago and no one was seriously hurt but I was thinking about this when Pegula spoke often about character and leadership and wanting quality people to work for him. I have no idea if Larry Quinn also went to bat for Gurtler like some said he did when that incident first took place and the Bills kicked Gurtler to the curb as their game day public address announcer.
If Gurtler is relieved of his duties or decides at some point to no longer call the lax action, I recommend Brian Koziol of WGR as someone who should be considered a replacement. He's a part-timer at GR but does really nice work calling high school football for that station. Good pipes and very professional.
On a related note, Pegula used to live in Orchard Park, which is where John Gurtler lives. Gurtler does nice work calling the Bandits games on the radio but there were some within the organization who thought he should have been relieved of his duties after he was busted a few years ago for throwing a massive underage drinking party for the entire senior class of OP High School.
The Bills did bounce Gurtler but somehow he retained his gig with the Bandits.
My thoughts are does Pegula know him at all from "the old neighborhood" and, if so, does that help Gurtler stay on as the play-by-play guy? Or do certain folks get in Pegula's ear and point out that Gurtler's off-the-job behaviors (the party and a few other reported incidents involving Gurtler's personal partying in some shady places) is not FAMILY FRIENDLY for an organization like the Bandits who promote the family aspects of their product all the time?
He made a mistake a few years ago and no one was seriously hurt but I was thinking about this when Pegula spoke often about character and leadership and wanting quality people to work for him. I have no idea if Larry Quinn also went to bat for Gurtler like some said he did when that incident first took place and the Bills kicked Gurtler to the curb as their game day public address announcer.
If Gurtler is relieved of his duties or decides at some point to no longer call the lax action, I recommend Brian Koziol of WGR as someone who should be considered a replacement. He's a part-timer at GR but does really nice work calling high school football for that station. Good pipes and very professional.