WGR: Ted black on WGR550 (2/7) [with Audio Links]

[vcv]

Ted Black on WGR550 this morning:
Part 1 - http://podcast.wgr550.com/wgr2/3850758.mp3?rhidownloadlink=true
Part 2 - http://podcast.wgr550.com/wgr2/3850786.mp3?rhidownloadlink=true

I will try to paraphrase some of what he [Black] said.

On Darcy's comment that if things go poorly this weekend, will Lindy be fired:
Basically said if you asked ANY gm in the league that question, no one would say yes, so it's not fair to scrutinize that quote.

HS: Is the coach part of the problem?
Yes, no one is part of the problem. All responsible, including Black himself and Pegula.

HS: On perception that Pegula is big fan of Lindy, not going to fire him. Is that ownerships view, and if so isn't that a problem? Because it makes Lindy seem not accountable.
No one has ever said our coach is not accountable.

HS: Could he (Lindy) be fired?
Of course

HS: Who evaluates Lindy?
Primarily it's the GMs job, but not exclusively.

HS: Who evaluates Darcy's job?
Everyone.

HS: Why is the team 3-6-1? How do you rectify it?
We're not scoring more goals. A lot of it is internal discussion and starts with the players. The players are the one that voted have a practice yesterday (a.k.a. go **** yourself Harrington). That's accountability right there [from the players].

HS: So there's no CBA issues with the practice?
We assume if it's not mandated, they (players) can do whatever they want.

HS: Do you still believe firmly in this roster?
I think you have no choice to believe in your roster while seeking to improve. I'm not going to criticize one person or group.

HS: Talk about improvement, actively seeking trades, let this roster have 10 games, 20 games, etc?
If there is an opportunity to improve this team you seize that opportunity. In the 2 years since Terry took over, the GM has done things to move the team forward. Unfortunately the record doesn't show and this is a pass/fail business. You win or you don't win.

HS: Does the organization believe it is better than it was 2 years ago? Are you closer to the goal of winning the cup?
We'll let you know when it happens. It's one of those things you don't know. We have a lot of work to do.

On Pegula's commitment (a bit of an off topic by Black)
Terry is investing, without partnership or bank backing, north of $400 million on the harbor center project and on the team. [a little fuzzy what he's including in that figure]

JW: Owner and people make that decisions care like they [fans] do. Fans are looking for a statement as strong as "the sole reason for this teams existence is to win a Stanley Cup". People are mad. Internally is there an aggressive approach to getting where you want to be?
I don't know how much more strongly we can say it. Team is extension of Terry's family. You don't see this level of commitment anywhere else. Am I frustrated? Absolutely. I moved my family up here and I'll be damned if I'm going to leave without a Stanley Cup.

Are we pissed when we lose? Yeah, I want to throw my beer through the TV set sometimes. I want to yell and scream. I share my views very clearly with everyone in the organization when I see things we need to do better and need to improve.

HS: Even though the ticket base is strong and there is a big waiting list, is there still a sense of urgency? Or do you say "don't sweat it, we're doing ok"
Absolutely not.

We're not selling all the tickets. Under the new CBA you have to hold a lot more tickets and we're working on ways to get them more efficiently into fans hands. Our TV ratings aren't 1st in the league.

Even if we were #1 in all those category, I'd still want us to improve.

----

Caller: Darcy was given his extension before the season started, while making this team worse by getting rid of Derek Roy. I'd like to see heads roll Mr Black. Enough is enough, the fans are upset. I spend thousands on tickets and each year it's this mediocre product, I need change.
The moves he's made haven't led to the Stanley Cup and the playoffs and we're struggling, but we can look at things in isolation and be pleased, such as the draft and getting Grigorenko and Girgensons. The trade for Cody Hodgson was a bold move.

The fact that Darcy has a contract extension shouldn't keep you up at night. Terry is committed to do whatever he has to do to make this team a champion.

For folks that say you're not committed unless you fire somebody, I don't have any salvation for you. I don't know what to say. When somebody is not doing their job and not improving the team in the 2 years they've been here, then we'll have to address those things.

Email: Many teams have a person between GM and upper management, have Sabres considered adding a position like this and who do you go to for hockey related advice?
I don't believe in that model. That's just another title, if there's somebody above the GM in that model, then they are the GM and the GM is an assistant. Darcy is the head of the hockey department. I don't have someone hovering over my shoulder wondering what I do. I don't believe in that model, I don't think people should be micromanaged.

HS: I think the perception is, why hasn't someone else brought in that has said "Wow, why are Lindy and Darcy still here?
That's called a new GM.

Caller: We don't care about Terry's money anymore. My problem is he gave them the [the GM] equipment to do their job and they are miserably failing. You have a GM that goes out and gets young talent with a coach who has proven over 15 years he cannot do anything with young talent. Two things that are fighting each other. Something has to change. We're failing because we have a young core now, like people wanted, but they don't have somebody behind them pushing them and telling them what to do.
I don't know where to jump in on that. I appreciate the frustration. I love that this fan base cares. I appreciate the passion and that's why we want to win. We don't want to win for ego. I want to see tears coming down peoples faces. We get it.

HS: How do you tell the fans "we want to win too" and "be patient"? While you've been here 2 years, the fans have dealt with this [for 15 years].
I can't say that. It's cruel and unusual punishment to tell people to be patient.

What do you tell the fans when they express this level of anger, frustration and despair?
We want to win the cup for you [the fans]. If I could take my name off of it, when we win it, and put the fans names on it, I would do it in a heartbeat.

----

At this point the segment is over and Howard Simon asks Black if he will stay because they have more callers. Black agrees.

Click to read more...

 

[notHiro]

In the second part, Ted mentioned he's going to be sitting in the 300s for today's game. I doubt it will be for long, but if anyone is going to the game tonight, please be vocal.

 

[Duddy]

In the second part, Ted mentioned he's going to be sitting in the 300s for today's game. I doubt it will be for long, but if anyone is going to the game tonight, please be vocal.

Yes please be a ********. That'll show em.

 

[Chainshot]

I'm in 306 tonight. If I see him, I'll ask him what the details of Darcy's contract extension and if it is basically a golden parachute for him.

 

[vcv]

HS: We're getting a lot of emails, most of the emails are pretty much everybody venting. I'm forwarding everything to Ted.
For the most part, I probably won't respond individually to all of those [emails which are saying the same thing, to fire Lindy and Darcy]. I will read them all, I generally don't respond to the venting, but I do acknowledge it. When appropriate, I share it with others.

Ted Black goes a bit off topic again.
That's who we want to win for. We want those passionate fans that care. They deserve better than what we're giving them right now.

JW: Has the process of making this Hockey Heaven taken longer than you expected? Have you or fans underestimated how much work it is?
It's a million little things. It is hard. I want us to be a world class organization, independent of the win loss record. If you're not prepared for success when it comes your way, you're not going to be able to exploit it.

Caller: It feels like there is, and has been for a long time, an aversion to difficult decisions. That is what goes to the frustration to so many fans. We need to feel like nothing is off the table when it comes to making this team better. We need to hear that nothing is off the table.
Nothing is off the table. When I or anyone comes out and publicly supports the coach, gm, owner... quite frankly I would be really angry at somebody that undermines someones authority on air or in the media. That's unacceptable. If that morphs into then "nothings going to change.", then I can't help you. I'm not going to publicly criticize one of my colleagues. Whatever criticism I have, I look at them at the eye and tell them what it is. I want to foster an environment where they call me out on BS too.

 

[vcv]

I'm in 306 tonight. If I see him, I'll ask him what the details of Darcy's contract extension and if it is basically a golden parachute for him.

Based on his comments on air, he will tell you not to look too deep into the extension and probably not much else. Probably would just say this, in different words:

The fact that Darcy has a contract extension shouldn't keep you up at night. Terry is committed to do whatever he has to do to make this team a champion.

For folks that say you're not committed unless you fire somebody, I don't have any salvation for you. I don't know what to say. When somebody is not doing their job and not improving the team in the 2 years they've been here, then we'll have to address those things.

 

[Trobes]

In the second part, Ted mentioned he's going to be sitting in the 300s for today's game. I doubt it will be for long, but if anyone is going to the game tonight, please be vocal.

Terry & Ted have sat in my section before and they stay there for the first period and then move to another section. Generally people come up to them during the breaks and take pictures and want autographs.

 

[Chainshot]

Based on his comments on air, he will tell you not to look too deep into the extension and probably not much else. Probably would just say this, in different words:

Yes, I read that and my question is not what he answered.

 

[vcv]

Yes, I read that and my question is not what he answered.

I know, but I still think that is the answer he would give you Maybe he'd be a little more candid in private, but who knows.

 

[BuzzKillington90]

I don't envy Ted Black for being in the position where White, Simon, Callers and emailers are all venting and he has to provide on the spot answers...

I respect the hell out of the guy for doing it though...Darcy might be narrow minded and Ruff might not be worth the oxygen he is breathing...but Ted Black at least is good by me.

Thanks for posting

 

[vcv]

At the risk of being attacked for defending Terry even further, I have to wonder if the extension is less about thinking Darcy is doing a great job, and more about hedging his bets and/or "buying low".

That is, would Terry offer an extension while the team is struggling to try to lock in Darcy at a solid price?

Doing so does NOT restrict Terry from firing Darcy at any point, but it does potentially save some money in the unlikely or likely situation that things turn around and Darcy shows with confidence that he's worth keeping around longer.

Ultimately, what does he have to lose from giving Darcy the extension, except for some fan support?

 

[SackTastic]

As if I couldn't like Uncle Teddy any more, he's doing everyone in that organization a solid by standing out and taking all the crap being flung without flinching.

Also, his dig at Harrington was pure gold.

 

[Dubi Doo]

Everyone can sleep a little easier tonight. This quote: "Lindy Ruff ain't going no where". Which had half this board grasping at straws, saying Lindy will be the coach forever, has been debunked. Black said anyone can be fired, and it would be discussed internally. Time to move on from that quote.

I enjoyed the interview. He said what I thought he would say, but it was nice to see him man up, and talk to the fans while under so much scrutiny.

Basically, everything is done internally, Black is not going to call out anyone in public, and there will be a strong assessment after 2 full seasons.

 

[sba]

On Darcy's comment that if things go poorly this weekend, will Lindy be fired:
Basically said if you asked ANY gm in the league that question, no one would say yes, so it's not fair to scrutinize that quote.

HS: Is the coach part of the problem?
Yes, no one is part of the problem. All responsible, including Black himself and Pegula.

HS: On perception that Pegula is big fan of Lindy, not going to fire him. Is that ownerships view, and if so isn't that a problem? Because it makes Lindy seem not accountable.
No one has ever said our coach is not accountable.

HS: Could he (Lindy) be fired?
Of course

It's coming.

 

[Jame]

When somebody is not doing their job and not improving the team in the 2 years they've been here, then we'll have to address those things.

Ruff will be fired at the end of the season when the Sabres miss the playoffs....

I'm completely relaxed... It's coming

 

[Jame]

it's clear as day... Ted/Terry feel that Darcy HAS improved the team. And in 2 years (assuming this season is lost), Ruff hasn't done **** with it.

4 more months guys... hang in there. Ruff is done.

 

[vcv]

It's coming.

it's clear as day... Ted/Terry feel that Darcy HAS improved the team. And in 2 years (assuming this season is lost), Ruff hasn't done **** with it.

4 more months guys... hang in there. Ruff is done.

I didn't think I'd EVER say this, but I'm not quite as optimistic as you guys...

 

[DixonWard15]

I listened to it live, my respect level for Ted Black just shot up through the roof.


I am also really ****ing tired of listening to Pegula bashers, how many decades have we been waiting for waterfront development and finally we get some private investment which brings out the haters.

 

[RazielMoshman]

Brutal interview. At least he sees it but what could he possibly say? There's nothing he can do but listen.

 

[flyingpig]

Everyone can sleep a little easier tonight. This quote: "Lindy Ruff ain't going no where". Which had half this board grasping at straws, saying Lindy will be the coach forever, has been debunked. Black said anyone can be fired, and it would be discussed internally. Time to move on from that quote.

I enjoyed the interview. He said what I thought he would say, but it was nice to see him man up, and talk to the fans while under so much scrutiny.

Basically, everything is done internally, Black is not going to call out anyone in public, and there will be a strong assessment after 2 full seasons.

That is the professional way to address things. You don't hang someone else out to dry in the media. Fans should know better and expect that it would not happen that way. They want to hear that changes will be made. The most they will get is that changes can be and may be made if it is felt to be appropriate. If changes are going to be made, it is while looking at the person right in the face, and not via WGR or BN.

Tough day on the radio for Mr. Black, but I think he did very well. Pointed questions. Frustration and venting. Pretty good answers. He has a professional responsibility to his employer, Terry Pegula. He has taken on a public relations responsibility with the fans and does not just give lip service.

 

[Clock]

Wait, you mean we can't build entire personality and business decision trees based off of four word sentences?

 

[SackTastic]

Wait, you mean we can't build entire personality and business decision trees based off of four word sentences?

Well that explains my love life for the last 10 years.

 

[RattleYourSabre]

Wow. As much as he couldn't say due to professionalism, he certainly said a lot. Mr. Black just sold me on the future. I'm not sold on the current, though

 

[Jame]

Well that explains my love life for the last 10 years.

 

[notHiro]

Yes please be a ********. That'll show em.

I said, "please be vocal," nothing about being negative or a ********. I want the fans to be vocal for many reasons, mostly because our building is dead quiet, but also because, if Ted is in the 300s like he said he would be, to do their part in voicing their opinion about the organization, good or bad.

But you can put words in my mouth if you'd like.