PromoTheRobot Posted April 20, 2014 Posted April 20, 2014 Coinciding with a quarter century of Buffalo sports Suckitude.. Suckitude...like 4 trips to the Super Bowl and the greatest comeback in NFL history and winning a Presidents Trophy and likely winning a Stanley Cup if not for a freak string of injuries to our defensemen, or Chris Drury tieing the playoff game against the Rangers with seconds left... Oh the horrors of being a Buffalo fan! Nothing good ever happens to us. And when it does we can thank our lucky stars we have Sully to bring us back to reality.
KD in CA Posted April 20, 2014 Posted April 20, 2014 He's Jon Lovitz in The Critic That just made me like him a little bit more. The Critic was very funny.
Just in Atlanta Posted April 20, 2014 Posted April 20, 2014 This board has thinner skin that I ever imagined, and I've been here for years, AND I thought it was really thin skinned. Can't say I love every column, but most to me have been decent and forced me to revaluate my illogical optimism. The team hasn't been to the playoffs in 13 years. You'd have to be a hack to find positivity in that. That isn't bad luck; there are reasons for this and like him or not or agree with him or not, there is something deeply wrong with a franchise that can't once make the postseason in so many years. Would love examples of his alleged dishonesty, etc. Is he at times overly negative. Yep. Journalism is 75 percent negativity. Always has. To Why So Serious?, what good does a cheerleader do to a fanbase of a failing enterprise?
PromoTheRobot Posted April 20, 2014 Posted April 20, 2014 This board has thinner skin that I ever imagined, and I've been here for years, AND I thought it was really thin skinned. Can't say I love every column, but most to me have been decent and forced me to revaluate my illogical optimism. The team hasn't been to the playoffs in 13 years. You'd have to be a hack to find positivity in that. That isn't bad luck; there are reasons for this and like him or not or agree with him or not, there is something deeply wrong with a franchise that can't once make the postseason in so many years. Would love examples of his alleged dishonesty, etc. Is he at times overly negative. Yep. Journalism is 75 percent negativity. Always has. To Why So Serious?, what good does a cheerleader do to a fanbase of a failing enterprise? Why is everything always in black and white? Why is it if you have an issue with Sully you must be a pollyanna kool-aid drinker? Sullivan does write some good stuff but as a whole I dislike his work because he manipulates people's emotions. He could (and does) argue that he is a columnist and therefore he is expressing opinions. Fine. But his opinions swing back and forth. I had an email exchange with him a while ago about column where he clobbered the Bills for drafting a bust like Mike WIlliams. I pointed out that he wrote a column immediately after that draft praising Donahoe for making the "no-brainer" pick. He responded (in a huff) that he reserves the right to alter his opinion as he sees fit. So basically he admitted that he doesn't really stand by his writings. That if he says one thing, he reserves the right to say the exact opposite later "as he sees fit." THAT is my issue with Sully. Own your words. Don't pretend you never wrote something when you did. PTR
Just in Atlanta Posted April 20, 2014 Posted April 20, 2014 Don't pretend you never wrote something when you did. PTR If he doesn't do this -- I'm not sure one way or another -- then he's being dishonest. Thanks for the example. But someone who doesn't change his mind on something as fluid and unpredictable as sports is thick headed. He should change his mind.
chef4131 Posted April 20, 2014 Posted April 20, 2014 Find it upsetting he goes on his TV show and calls Sabres fans who buy tickets "foolish". I have season tickets(would love to see more wins) However I totally understand their plan and I buy into it. Jerry lives off the negative I also question his understanding of most sports (except basketball)
PromoTheRobot Posted April 20, 2014 Posted April 20, 2014 If he doesn't do this -- I'm not sure one way or another -- then he's being dishonest. Thanks for the example. But someone who doesn't change his mind on something as fluid and unpredictable as sports is thick headed. He should change his mind. All you have to do is say in your column why you are changing your mind. But you can't clobber someone and not say you agreed with the move originally. He did the same things when he was on his soapbox for SJ and FItz getting new deals. He was riding the "Ralph is cheap" horse hard back then. Lo and behold both players get paid, just like Sully wanted. Than a year later the Bills were "stupid" for paying those guys.
Chef Jim Posted April 20, 2014 Posted April 20, 2014 I don't think I have ever read anything he's written so if everyone here says he sucks he's probably pretty good.
davidkski Posted April 20, 2014 Posted April 20, 2014 (edited) Buffalo is extremely fortunate to have a columnist of Jerry Sullivan's caliber. His eye for a story and incisive voice made him a rising star in New York City. It's only because he's a quality person, who could appreciate the unique treasure of raising a family in a community like WNY, that he settled in Buffalo. The fact that Sully wasn't raised with a native Buffalonian's blind devotion to our sports teams - and holds players, management and owners to the same objective standards that are applied elsewhere - has made him plenty of enemies. But any objective observer can see that he's justified in criticizing the WNY sports establishment when it uses Buffalo's small-town loyalty to take fans for granted and field an inferior product. Too often, as he points out, Buffalo teams peddle nothing more than hope to a community that is so happy to still be part of the conversation that it doesn't demand a championship. Fans who would prefer an ill-informed cheerleader as columnist are certainly entitled to their opinions, and have every right to disagree with and razz him. But people who stoop to ad hominem attacks are quite literally ignorant: they don't know him or the big-hearted, loyal and generous person he is to friends, family, co-workers and neighbors. And those who berate his journalistic talent or integrity are simply ill-informed: among journalists across the country, he has earned a reputation as first-rate columnist whose flair and insight and any publication would be lucky, and proud, to publish. Looking forward to reading him for the next quarter century.... Edited April 20, 2014 by davidkski
DOGNESS Posted April 20, 2014 Posted April 20, 2014 (edited) Jerry is the master of the stealth CYA move. Read any if his columns on local teams, especially if it's a positive article. He always manages to sneak in a sentence that goes against what he is writing just so he can come back and say he called it if things go the other way. e.g. "I'm in favor of giving X a new contract even though it's likely he'll never earn it." The tactic you mentioned is also a favorite of Mike Schopp's. Gutless third rate journalism at its worst. "Heaven forbid we're wrong on something so lets CYA with fifteen different opinions on one topic". Buffalo is extremely fortunate to have a columnist of Jerry Sullivan's caliber. His eye for a story and incisive voice made him a rising star in New York City. It's only because he's a quality person, who could appreciate the unique treasure of raising a family in a community like WNY, that he settled in Buffalo. The fact that Sully wasn't raised with a native Buffalonian's blind devotion to our sports teams - and holds players, management and owners to the same objective standards that are applied elsewhere - has made him plenty of enemies. But any objective observer can see that he's justified in criticizing the WNY sports establishment when it uses Buffalo's small-town loyalty to take fans for granted and field an inferior product. Too often, as he points out, Buffalo teams peddle nothing more than hope to a community that is so happy to still be part of the conversation that it doesn't demand a championship. Fans who would prefer an ill-informed cheerleader as columnist are certainly entitled to their opinions, and have every right to disagree with and razz him. But people who stoop to ad hominem attacks are quite literally ignorant: they don't know him or the big-hearted, loyal and generous person he is to friends, family, co-workers and neighbors. And those who berate his journalistic talent or integrity are simply ill-informed: among journalists across the country, he has earned a reputation as first-rate columnist whose flair and insight and any publication would be lucky, and proud, to publish. Looking forward to reading him for the next quarter century.... Nice try Jerry. Pretending to be someone else. We see right through you. Edited April 20, 2014 by DOGNESS
vorpma Posted April 20, 2014 Posted April 20, 2014 This board has thinner skin that I ever imagined, and I've been here for years, AND I thought it was really thin skinned. Can't say I love every column, but most to me have been decent and forced me to revaluate my illogical optimism. The team hasn't been to the playoffs in 13 years. You'd have to be a hack to find positivity in that. That isn't bad luck; there are reasons for this and like him or not or agree with him or not, there is something deeply wrong with a franchise that can't once make the postseason in so many years. Would love examples of his alleged dishonesty, etc. Is he at times overly negative. Yep. Journalism is 75 percent negativity. Always has. To Why So Serious?, what good does a cheerleader do to a fanbase of a failing enterprise? Great post!
PastaJoe Posted April 20, 2014 Posted April 20, 2014 All you have to do is say in your column why you are changing your mind. But you can't clobber someone and not say you agreed with the move originally. He did the same things when he was on his soapbox for SJ and FItz getting new deals. He was riding the "Ralph is cheap" horse hard back then. Lo and behold both players get paid, just like Sully wanted. Than a year later the Bills were "stupid" for paying those guys. He said that if the Bills were going to use Fitz as starting QB and SJ as #1 WR, then they should be paid the going rate for those positions. That's different than saying they SHOULD be the starting QB and WR. Two different issues.
bbb Posted April 20, 2014 Posted April 20, 2014 25 years of negativism... The hard copy of the Buffalo News ran his first column yesterday. In the very first paragraph, he compared something to waiting for spring in Buffalo. He hadn't even been here yet for winter - hahahha. But, he got off to a negative start right out of the gate.
jester43 Posted April 20, 2014 Posted April 20, 2014 Buffalo is extremely fortunate to have a columnist of Jerry Sullivan's caliber. His eye for a story and incisive voice made him a rising star in New York City. It's only because he's a quality person, who could appreciate the unique treasure of raising a family in a community like WNY, that he settled in Buffalo. The fact that Sully wasn't raised with a native Buffalonian's blind devotion to our sports teams - and holds players, management and owners to the same objective standards that are applied elsewhere - has made him plenty of enemies. But any objective observer can see that he's justified in criticizing the WNY sports establishment when it uses Buffalo's small-town loyalty to take fans for granted and field an inferior product. Too often, as he points out, Buffalo teams peddle nothing more than hope to a community that is so happy to still be part of the conversation that it doesn't demand a championship. Fans who would prefer an ill-informed cheerleader as columnist are certainly entitled to their opinions, and have every right to disagree with and razz him. But people who stoop to ad hominem attacks are quite literally ignorant: they don't know him or the big-hearted, loyal and generous person he is to friends, family, co-workers and neighbors. And those who berate his journalistic talent or integrity are simply ill-informed: among journalists across the country, he has earned a reputation as first-rate columnist whose flair and insight and any publication would be lucky, and proud, to publish. Looking forward to reading him for the next quarter century.... totally agree.
PromoTheRobot Posted April 20, 2014 Posted April 20, 2014 (edited) He said that if the Bills were going to use Fitz as starting QB and SJ as #1 WR, then they should be paid the going rate for those positions. That's different than saying they SHOULD be the starting QB and WR. Two different issues. So what Sully said was these guys suck but pay them anyway so I can rip the Bills for paying crappy players later? Edited April 21, 2014 by PromoTheRobot
Bill from NYC Posted April 21, 2014 Posted April 21, 2014 Why is everything always in black and white? Why is it if you have an issue with Sully you must be a pollyanna kool-aid drinker? Sullivan does write some good stuff but as a whole I dislike his work because he manipulates people's emotions. He could (and does) argue that he is a columnist and therefore he is expressing opinions. Fine. But his opinions swing back and forth. I had an email exchange with him a while ago about column where he clobbered the Bills for drafting a bust like Mike WIlliams. I pointed out that he wrote a column immediately after that draft praising Donahoe for making the "no-brainer" pick. He responded (in a huff) that he reserves the right to alter his opinion as he sees fit. So basically he admitted that he doesn't really stand by his writings. That if he says one thing, he reserves the right to say the exact opposite later "as he sees fit." THAT is my issue with Sully. Own your words. Don't pretend you never wrote something when you did. PTR Promo, I once posted that I thought Rob Johnson would be a great quarterback. Then, I changed my mind. Once you posted that Alex Van Pelt should start for the Bills. Do you still think this? What is the big freaking deal?
Buftex Posted April 21, 2014 Posted April 21, 2014 Promo, I once posted that I thought Rob Johnson would be a great quarterback. Then, I changed my mind. Once you posted that Alex Van Pelt should start for the Bills. Do you still think this? What is the big freaking deal? Yeah...I don't get it. It is like my old man telling me that Red Grange was the greatest football player, ever...and still would be today...when I was a kid I respected that opinion...but as I got older, I started to realize the old man was sounding kind of rediculous...
C.Biscuit97 Posted April 21, 2014 Posted April 21, 2014 I lost the little remaining respect for him when he called Mario Williams a loser before last season. There should never be a situation when a guy like Jerry Sullivan can call a person like Mario Williams a loser.
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