I could have sworn last time I heard mark call a game, his voice was really whiny, and he seemed to be putting on an act, like he was trying to imitate his dad and it was really obnoxious to me.

Last night he was much better I thought, pretty steady and even and not noticeably annoying. I think he'd be even better if he were more familiar with the team, he'd be more in time with the play instead of a second behind like he was last night.

All in all, he might not be a terrible replacement when...well, lets not talk about that.

Still a ways off. Some smoking and drinking will do Mark some good. I expect to see RJ hang around for at least a year or two under our new owner.

You know he desperately wants to call the Sabres Stanley Cup Victory.

Mark was a little monotonous, but the NHL has a lot more flow than the AHL. He's going to have to adjust to that. I agree though that he wasn't annoying. He was steady, and he has potential.

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Wheelhouse

I honestly didn't like him. He called fine but he was very quiet and I just didn't like his voice. We'll never get another RJ and if it came down to replacing him I would rather get a voice in there that I liked rather than being sentimental and going with his son.

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Hhe'll be better off once he learns how not to go from zero to orgasm when something interesting happens. And MSG needs to turn his mic up a little bit.

He's fine. Whoever calls a game that isn't RJ gets held up to the RJ standard, and it's really not fair. RJ is a legend, one of the best who's ever done what he does. Trying to fill those shoes is hard, doubly so when it's your father.

I liked him overall...he was fast and detailed just as a radio announcer needs to be.

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Hold my beer and watch this...

I'll give him that Cross, he does live up to the play by play title. I hate announcers like Pierre or Eddie O who just blab about random shit and seem only get back to the game only when someone scores or some "star" touches the puck. I like to be able to get a beer and a sandwich and still know what's happening while I'm in the kitchen.

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haha, agreed, that was pretty funny.

Oh definitely lives up to play by play and that annoyed me to no end. I also think that they need to adjust his mike volume.

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We should be thankful for that...they're an endangered species.

TV only announcers are worthless bums IMO.

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Hold my beer and watch this...

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Wheelhouse

I think he did a pretty good job over all. It could have been worse. We could have had to listen to Joe Beninati doing the play by play and Pierre McGuire as the color man which would have resulted in me destroying something with extreme anger and rage. Like a small town, or continent.

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If it's a tight squeeze, spit on it! - NyI

He's a middling AHL player who had the good fortune of a drunk arbitrator. - The Squanto re: Tim Kennedy

I still say he sounded like a drug addict that inhaled helium. When he shouted score for the Sabres (not the Flames they scored too much for him to be interested) he was SO HIGH PITCHED I was laughing my ass off.

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"Counting all the assholes in the room, I'm definitely not alone!" ~ Michael Poulsen, Volbeat, Still Standing.

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HOCKEY IS BACK!

i thought he was terrible!

bring in gary thorne

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Once he stopped trying to say too much, I thought he settled in nicely.

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Proud LGBTQQ Individual

Gary Thorne isn't Jesus of announcers. He's average!

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"Counting all the assholes in the room, I'm definitely not alone!" ~ Michael Poulsen, Volbeat, Still Standing.

Disagree. Gary Thorne is the man.

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Wheelhouse

He didn't subtract from the game, and I didn't notice any glaring errors. That's not bad considering he did do a true play by play, and he doesn't work in the NHL. Just getting all the names right would not be easy for someone announcing two teams for the first time. I give him a B.

I thought he called the game very well - used plenty of detail, and kept a smooth flow - I listened to a period on the radio and definitely could follow it very well.

He does need to speak up or adjust his mic volume though. Harry Neale was a booming voice in my car - and he doesn't exactly have a booming voice.

I think with time he has good potential.

Thorne has been great calling these USA games for the WJC.