Theoretically? Yes. Pragmatically? No. In a small market with just two teams that nearly EVERYBODY in the city cares deeply about, I believe the journalists are intrinsically allowed to take certain emotional liberties that larger market journalists would not. Case in point, Rick Jeanneret. He's the furthest thing away from unbiased, but folks who aren't Sabres fans don't listen to his broadcasts on a consistent basis, so it's not big deal. In New York City, Rangers fans, Islanders fans, and Devils fans all read the same paper. A columnist with an obvious pro-Islanders slant wouldn't be tolerated. At the Buffalo News, such a problem doesn't exist. Bills and Sabres fans take a ride on the emotional roller coaster every time a game is on tv, and when you flip open the News the next morning it's almost comforting to know that the guy talking about the team was on the same ride. Sullivan's usage of vapid pessimism is often distasteful to me, but he cares and I like that.
Just my humble opinion.