BillsSabresB.C.T. Fan
02-01-2009, 08:06 PM
Paul Hamilton has critiqued many a National Hockey League debut over the years as the Sabres beat reporter for WGR. What would he say about his own premiere, his first play by play broadcast in the bigs, Buffalo's 2-0 win over Phoenix in the desert on Saturday night?
No big mistakes. Played within himself. Strong fundamentals. Made the easy play. Some serious skill. Sounded like he's been there before.
OK, that's what I'm saying this morning. It took me about 60 seconds last night to say to myself, yeah, this guy belongs.
Hamilton sounded like a guy who finally got a chance to do something he was meant to do.
He wasn't nervous, or at least he didn't let on. He didn't sound like a rookie, didn't do the broadcast equivalent of committing the killer turnover, scoring the own goal.
He got the names right. He was almost obsessive about giving the time left and score every few minutes. For all the flash that play by play announcers bring to games, sometimes it's the most mundane skills that matter most.
His voice, already familiar to Sabres fans, was strong and clear, calm when he needed to clue the listeners that action was under control, chaotic when necessary. He didn't overdo it, but on a big check — "Spacek pinches, HAMMERS his man!" — or a big save — "OHHHH what a pad save by Miller!" — he let loose, without losing control. He played within himself.
He was relaxed. He laughed.
If the Sabres are auditioning people for the job, and I have no reason to believe they are, could PH be the next RJ?
http://letsgosabres.com/pressbox/fullstory.php?newsid=10942
listen to Paul Hamilton's play-by-play Sabres goals
<iframe src="http://wgr.everyzing.com/m/audio/21819114/1-31-sabres-coyotes-highlights.htm?col=en-all-pod_wgr-ep&widget=true" style="width:360px;height:315px;border:0;padding:0;margin:0;" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0"></iframe>
No big mistakes. Played within himself. Strong fundamentals. Made the easy play. Some serious skill. Sounded like he's been there before.
OK, that's what I'm saying this morning. It took me about 60 seconds last night to say to myself, yeah, this guy belongs.
Hamilton sounded like a guy who finally got a chance to do something he was meant to do.
He wasn't nervous, or at least he didn't let on. He didn't sound like a rookie, didn't do the broadcast equivalent of committing the killer turnover, scoring the own goal.
He got the names right. He was almost obsessive about giving the time left and score every few minutes. For all the flash that play by play announcers bring to games, sometimes it's the most mundane skills that matter most.
His voice, already familiar to Sabres fans, was strong and clear, calm when he needed to clue the listeners that action was under control, chaotic when necessary. He didn't overdo it, but on a big check — "Spacek pinches, HAMMERS his man!" — or a big save — "OHHHH what a pad save by Miller!" — he let loose, without losing control. He played within himself.
He was relaxed. He laughed.
If the Sabres are auditioning people for the job, and I have no reason to believe they are, could PH be the next RJ?
http://letsgosabres.com/pressbox/fullstory.php?newsid=10942
listen to Paul Hamilton's play-by-play Sabres goals
<iframe src="http://wgr.everyzing.com/m/audio/21819114/1-31-sabres-coyotes-highlights.htm?col=en-all-pod_wgr-ep&widget=true" style="width:360px;height:315px;border:0;padding:0;margin:0;" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0"></iframe>