1 - Under performing? Or Right on Schedule? - The Islanders are win-less. Is anyone surprised? I know I am. Now I didn't think they would come in and blow the doors off but I expected slightly better results. There are two things that are a big concern.
The wild inconsistency in the level of play and the seemingly porous 2 new goaltenders.
The Islanders have shown entire periods or two what they are capable of. Then they how how fast they can make a great game into a poor one. This is something I thought Head Coach Scott Gordon would have a better handle on with his young team but lets take a step back and realize that we are dealing with a very young team learning a system they may not be accustomed to.
The more alarming concern is the goaltending. Dwayne Roloson can be as hard to beat as anyone when he gets hot. My question is he capable of stopping anyone on a penalty shot or a breakaway?
Martin Biron has not been much better if at all.
Both of their save percentages are an abysmal .891 and .881. I don't care what team you are your not going to win many games with numbers like that.
These are things that can all be rectified. Once the goaltending starts playing to their abilities and Gordon can hammer out the inconsistency in the games we should see a turn around of sorts.
2) John Tavares = The Real Deal. The kid is good. Very good. He has 7 points in 6 games (3 goals and 4 assists.) The Okposo-Moulson-Tavares line has been better than we could have hoped.
The problem is no one else is doing much of anything. Josh Bailey, Doug Weight, Blake Comeau, Rob Schremp and Sean Bergenheim all have no goals and have been pretty invisible and need to start chipping in because we cannot expect the Tavares line to carry the load all season.
Speaking of JOhn Tavares.
3) "HI. I'll take a John Tavares Jersey please." - This is puzzling. I go to a New York Islanders team store this weekend with money in hand looking to buy a nice royal blue John Tavares New York Islanders jersey in XXL. The thing is the one I see hanging on display in the store IS THE ONLY ONE THEY HAVE.
Excuse me? I know you can buy them on the web site or order the jersey I want but c'mon people. How does every Islander store not have 150 Tavares jerseys in every color shape and size they make?
I asked the sales guy in the store why they had only one Tavares jerseys expecting to hear "we are sold out." He told me well the Islanders change players so often its tough to know who is going to be here and we don't want to be stuck with jerseys of players who aren't here.
Excuse me? I understand not ordering Jeff Tambellini jerseys or Doug Weight jerseys. But John Tavares is the next big thing in the NHL and he is not going anywhere in the worst case scenario 7 years. Every Islander team store should be loaded with Tavares, Okposo, Streit, DiPietro, Bailey and Hunter jerseys at the very least.
Hey I can get a Tavares T shirt though. The thing is, I don't WANT a Tavares T shirt. I want a royal blue John Tavares jersey and the only way to get one is order it and wait.
Sorry, Ill wait until you have them in stock.
4) Lighthouse Update - The Long Island Press said Charles Wang was pulling the plug. The Charles Wang said he wasn't ans the story is false.
Charles Wang was supposed to have a meeting with head roadblock Town of Hempstead Supervisor Kate Murray last week. What came out of this meeting? What did they discuss?
Only a few people know and they aren't talking. I have a strong suspicion we will not hear anything new until after election day.
So in the mean time we wait. Wondering what the fate of this franchise and in the long run the fate of Long Island will be.
5) Tough Guys? Where?- I like Tim Jackman. Let me start off by saying that. The guy scares no one especially after getting pounded by the super heavyweight known as.. Ryan Clowe? Please don't put any faith that Joel Rechlicz can do much better than Jackman.
Hey Garth Snow!! I am sure there is a heavyweight out there that can strike some fear into the opposition. Go get one.
Post some of your thoughts on these subjects or any subjects below.
Monday, October 19, 2009
Monday, October 12, 2009
NY Islanders: That One Hurt and Why It Was Good
Expectations. That is something that seems to change an awful lot around New York sports.
3 Games and the Islanders have 3 points. Positive or Negative.
Put me in the positive column.
Lets Ignore the negativity of blowing a 3 goal lead in less than 5 minutes which consisted of pure bad luck of 2 late deflection goals that no one could stop and not the usual culprit - a blatant loss of composure.
They lost the game because one - they could not win a defensive zone faceoff and two - bad luck deflections on two of Boston's three goals.
One of those two will be rectified if Doug Weight can stop getting injured and bad luck goals against simply aren't going to happen every day.
This wasn't so much the Islanders scrambling around like an out classed team who got lucky with a 3 goal lead.
This team expects to perform and did not surprise themselves by a dominating 54 minutes of hockey played against one of the supposed top teams in the NHL.
Some people will say well they are a young team and they collapsed under the pressure. That is not what I saw. I saw bad luck.
How about some more positives?
John Tavares scored a goal that we all dreamed about when he was drafted firing a bullet in the smallest of openings to score his second goal of the season and give him his 5th point in 3 games.
I haven't seen anyone in an Islanders uniform score that kind of goal in a long time. It was a snipers goal. It was a sharp shooters goal. It was beautiful.
3 games and John Tavares has to put it mildly impressed the hell out of Islander fans.
3 games and the Islanders are already beginning to show their fans they are capable of competing with anyone in the NHL.
If not for bad luck of deflecting goals off of their own defensemen they would have two victories against Boston and Pittsburgh.
That simply is not going to happen every game. Sooner or later the knock hockey goals against will cease and these 1 point games will be 2 point games.
That my friends is good news and we should be excited about what this season will bring.
For the first time in a long time, I was hurt by an Islanders regular season loss and you know what? It felt good to care that much about the Islanders like that again.
In that moment, I wasn't worried about Lighthouses or draft positions or who is injured or anything but the outcome of the game.
I did not get the sense of that "Here we go again" when Boston upped the pressure.
Despite the nature of the loss with the Bruins coming back the way they did it was pure and unadulterated luck.
That is also a good sign. They are making me and the many fans I have spoken to care about them again in ways we haven't in a good while and it could not come at a better time for the organization.
I look forward to the next Islander game to see what the team can do and when I say that its not to see how they can blow this game, its to see what they can do to win it.
Positive signs? They are everywhere. Look around. You'll see them also.
FCT
3 Games and the Islanders have 3 points. Positive or Negative.
Put me in the positive column.
Lets Ignore the negativity of blowing a 3 goal lead in less than 5 minutes which consisted of pure bad luck of 2 late deflection goals that no one could stop and not the usual culprit - a blatant loss of composure.
They lost the game because one - they could not win a defensive zone faceoff and two - bad luck deflections on two of Boston's three goals.
One of those two will be rectified if Doug Weight can stop getting injured and bad luck goals against simply aren't going to happen every day.
This wasn't so much the Islanders scrambling around like an out classed team who got lucky with a 3 goal lead.
This team expects to perform and did not surprise themselves by a dominating 54 minutes of hockey played against one of the supposed top teams in the NHL.
Some people will say well they are a young team and they collapsed under the pressure. That is not what I saw. I saw bad luck.
How about some more positives?
John Tavares scored a goal that we all dreamed about when he was drafted firing a bullet in the smallest of openings to score his second goal of the season and give him his 5th point in 3 games.
I haven't seen anyone in an Islanders uniform score that kind of goal in a long time. It was a snipers goal. It was a sharp shooters goal. It was beautiful.
3 games and John Tavares has to put it mildly impressed the hell out of Islander fans.
3 games and the Islanders are already beginning to show their fans they are capable of competing with anyone in the NHL.
If not for bad luck of deflecting goals off of their own defensemen they would have two victories against Boston and Pittsburgh.
That simply is not going to happen every game. Sooner or later the knock hockey goals against will cease and these 1 point games will be 2 point games.
That my friends is good news and we should be excited about what this season will bring.
For the first time in a long time, I was hurt by an Islanders regular season loss and you know what? It felt good to care that much about the Islanders like that again.
In that moment, I wasn't worried about Lighthouses or draft positions or who is injured or anything but the outcome of the game.
I did not get the sense of that "Here we go again" when Boston upped the pressure.
Despite the nature of the loss with the Bruins coming back the way they did it was pure and unadulterated luck.
That is also a good sign. They are making me and the many fans I have spoken to care about them again in ways we haven't in a good while and it could not come at a better time for the organization.
I look forward to the next Islander game to see what the team can do and when I say that its not to see how they can blow this game, its to see what they can do to win it.
Positive signs? They are everywhere. Look around. You'll see them also.
FCT
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
First Impressions and What Would You Do?
The first real game played by the latest NHL first overall pick are in and most are in aggreement that it was a smashing success despite the OT Loss to the Stanley Cup Champions.
I for one cannot wait to see what else John Tavares and the Islanders have up their sleeves and 5 days was to long to wait for game number two.
How about that.
I am excited to see the Islanders play. A Lot of fans are excited to see the Islanders play.
When was the last time anyone heard a statement like that?
The New York Islanders went toe to toe with the Gold Standard in the NHL and had to come away feeling pretty good.
The Islanders had solid goaltending, team toughness, smart play, quick skating and fun to watch.
When was the last time anyone heard a statement like that?
Hockey fans all over Canada and the US wanted to see what the Islanders new prospect could do in his first NHL game.
When was the last time anyone heard a statement like that?
The point I am trying to make is - the Islanders for the first time in years have a buzz around them. They have the foundation for something that could become really special if nurtured in the right way.
Garth Snow is trying to build a winner, much like the progress we have seen in Pittsburgh, Chicago, Buffalo (before the Briere/Drury/Campell defections) and Detroit.
The message is build now, reap the benefits later.
Much like everything else in Islander land the shiny optimism is smudged by the prospect of the Islanders moving off Long Island to another destination.
Veiled threat? Maybe.
Can it happen? You bet.
What do we do then?
I have heard a lot of people talk on the side of the team will never move and I have heard arguments to the contrary.
The question is assuming the bottom falls out and the Islanders move what would you do?
There are a few options and not many of them are ideal if you are an Islander fan.
1 - Follow the team wherever it goes. This is one option that sure they would not be the New York Islanders anymore. They would be the Islanders not in name, but in personnel and the closest thing to the Islanders we could possibly get.
With the advent of hockey packages and out of market games as well as the Internet being available to anyone we would be able to follow the team as if it were here with the exception of needing a plane ticket to actually go to a game. To me, this option makes the most sense but that is just my opinion.
2 - Root for the Devils or Rangers. Could an Islander fan so scorned by the teams departure be so scared and broken be convinced to pull the colors of the Devils or Rangers over their head? My guess is sure, but not many.
Did fans of the Brooklyn Dodgers and New York Giants suddenly become fans of the hated Yankees? I'm sure some did but die hard fans would not be able to stomach chanting "Potvin Sucks".
3 - Give up hockey altogether. There are a lot of options for winter sports out there and a lot of competition for the entertainment dollars and time we have to spend on hockey.
Could hockey fans suddenly give up the sport? I'm sure there are some who would swear off the NHL for allowing the Islanders to leave.
4 - Move off Long Island and root for the local team where you land. - Could fans so passionate about the Islanders actually uproot their families and move somewhere else?
Well to be honest most Long Islanders are already looking to see what lies beyond the shores of Long Island. Recent surveys have the population of Long Island in the majority range of up to 80% considering a move to greener pastures across the nation.
This is one of the reasons the Lighthouse Project is so important to the continued existence of Long Island as we know it. Drive around and see all the empty storefronts. Drive around and look at all of the houses for sale. Take a look at your last tax bill or electric bill and realize that you could be paying one quarter of what we are paying here somewhere else.
People that are here want to leave and people that aren't here would not consider Long Island as a place to relocate to.
Could the move of the Islanders be the straw that broke the camels back and send thousands packing for real?
Let me know which option you would take if the unthinkable came true and the Islanders moved away.
FCT
I for one cannot wait to see what else John Tavares and the Islanders have up their sleeves and 5 days was to long to wait for game number two.
How about that.
I am excited to see the Islanders play. A Lot of fans are excited to see the Islanders play.
When was the last time anyone heard a statement like that?
The New York Islanders went toe to toe with the Gold Standard in the NHL and had to come away feeling pretty good.
The Islanders had solid goaltending, team toughness, smart play, quick skating and fun to watch.
When was the last time anyone heard a statement like that?
Hockey fans all over Canada and the US wanted to see what the Islanders new prospect could do in his first NHL game.
When was the last time anyone heard a statement like that?
The point I am trying to make is - the Islanders for the first time in years have a buzz around them. They have the foundation for something that could become really special if nurtured in the right way.
Garth Snow is trying to build a winner, much like the progress we have seen in Pittsburgh, Chicago, Buffalo (before the Briere/Drury/Campell defections) and Detroit.
The message is build now, reap the benefits later.
Much like everything else in Islander land the shiny optimism is smudged by the prospect of the Islanders moving off Long Island to another destination.
Veiled threat? Maybe.
Can it happen? You bet.
What do we do then?
I have heard a lot of people talk on the side of the team will never move and I have heard arguments to the contrary.
The question is assuming the bottom falls out and the Islanders move what would you do?
There are a few options and not many of them are ideal if you are an Islander fan.
1 - Follow the team wherever it goes. This is one option that sure they would not be the New York Islanders anymore. They would be the Islanders not in name, but in personnel and the closest thing to the Islanders we could possibly get.
With the advent of hockey packages and out of market games as well as the Internet being available to anyone we would be able to follow the team as if it were here with the exception of needing a plane ticket to actually go to a game. To me, this option makes the most sense but that is just my opinion.
2 - Root for the Devils or Rangers. Could an Islander fan so scorned by the teams departure be so scared and broken be convinced to pull the colors of the Devils or Rangers over their head? My guess is sure, but not many.
Did fans of the Brooklyn Dodgers and New York Giants suddenly become fans of the hated Yankees? I'm sure some did but die hard fans would not be able to stomach chanting "Potvin Sucks".
3 - Give up hockey altogether. There are a lot of options for winter sports out there and a lot of competition for the entertainment dollars and time we have to spend on hockey.
Could hockey fans suddenly give up the sport? I'm sure there are some who would swear off the NHL for allowing the Islanders to leave.
4 - Move off Long Island and root for the local team where you land. - Could fans so passionate about the Islanders actually uproot their families and move somewhere else?
Well to be honest most Long Islanders are already looking to see what lies beyond the shores of Long Island. Recent surveys have the population of Long Island in the majority range of up to 80% considering a move to greener pastures across the nation.
This is one of the reasons the Lighthouse Project is so important to the continued existence of Long Island as we know it. Drive around and see all the empty storefronts. Drive around and look at all of the houses for sale. Take a look at your last tax bill or electric bill and realize that you could be paying one quarter of what we are paying here somewhere else.
People that are here want to leave and people that aren't here would not consider Long Island as a place to relocate to.
Could the move of the Islanders be the straw that broke the camels back and send thousands packing for real?
Let me know which option you would take if the unthinkable came true and the Islanders moved away.
FCT
Thursday, September 24, 2009
NY Islanders and thier Lighthouse - A Tragedy in the Making
The Islanders are either a franchise in grave trouble or an organization on the rise. Which one is actually realized hinges on one thing - The Lighthouse Project.
People with sensible minds who actually use the lump of gray matter between their ears can see the big picture.
Do you see it?
First things First - Playing Devil's advocate and to show that I am not simply a one sided "just build it" proponent I will say that Charles Wang is using the Islanders.
There I said it. Charles Wang is using the Islanders to get his legacy project built. He bought the Islanders when the fact of the matter is no one, and I do mean no one wanted them. Why did he see value in the team when no one else did?
The Milstien/Gluckstern ownership group drove a young, promising team into the ground and they slapped the Islanders fan base directly in the face, which at the time was like slapping an abused wife after rescuing her from OJ Simpson.
Charles Wang came in and immediately gave the organization a breath of fresh air for the first time in many years. He spent inordinate amounts of money bringing in proven NHL talent. He has gone on to lose an average of 20 million dollars a season since he took over.
Why would he do that? Because hes a great guy who made his billions by just writing personal checks to make up for the losses on his hockey team every year?
No.
Charles Wang bought the Islanders, The Marriott Hotel, The Omni building and all the surrounding real estate and brought in a partner, only the largest builder on the Island in Scott Rechler because he wants to build the Lighthouse project.
Along the way, I think Mr. Wang has taken a strong liking to his hockey team, but make no mistake Charles Wang bought the Islanders so he could use them to get his dream project off the ground.
That being said lets ask ourselves the following question - Why not let a man who wants to spend over 3.5 billion dollars putting up new buildings, housing units, retail space, hotels and condos and oh yeah, a nice new arena in what can only be described as a suburban oasis?
While we are thinking about that question, lets consider what the opposition is saying and we all know who the opposition is.
The Town of Hempstead and your local elected officials are the number one reason we don't know what is going to happen. They wont say no, but they wont say yes. They say.... nothing. They ask questions. They ask for more studies. They ask for delays. They make off handed comments about how the designs "looks like a city". They talk about traffic and waste water.
You know what they never talk about? They never talk about the positives. Ever.
The local politicians all want to be able to say "Look what I got for my voters" by questioning The Lighthouse Group at a public hearing when they already know the answers to the questions. They all claim to be looking out for their constituents.
The amount of BS that represents is taller then the highest building Charles Wang wants to build.
The fact they all want to make a name for themselves on the backs and at the expense of Charles Wang.
These politicians are looking out for themselves. That is what they do. They live term to term with their little insignificant little jobs and put their little signs up on Hempstead Turnpike right in front of the rotting site that is the Nassau Coliseum Parking Lot.
Now people are talking about Scaling Down.
Why should he scale anything down? Did Jerry Jones have to scale down his plans for a stadium that hosts EIGHT football games a year? Did the Yankees have to scale down their new palace of baseball? The Mets? The Giants and Jets?
The man wants to spend his money building a new suburban center the likes many of us hasn't seen in our lifetimes.
The questions are being answered. the concerns are mostly unfounded and the facts are clear.
The real issue here goes way beyond the New York Islanders.
The Islanders are a microcosm of what is happening on Long Island. No one wants to live here except those who make seven figures and live comfortably above the pay grade where higher taxes, ridiculous electric rates and selfish elected officials cant affect them.
People are moving to new suburban centers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Upstate New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Entire families are abandoning Long Island because of living expenses and most importantly school taxes and property taxes.
Young single professionals would be insane to choose Long Island as a spot to build their careers here when they can live in a revitalized Brooklyn and Manhattan.
There was recently a study done that was published in Newsday last year. Of the people currently living on Long Island, 55% of Long Island residents were either considering a move off Long Island or were actively pursuing a move off Long Island.
The average age of residents on Long Island goes up every year because young people starting careers and young married couples simply cannot afford to live here so instead of building their lives here like their parents did, they choose to build their lives elsewhere.
There is nothing - no incentive nothing exciting about Long Island to keep people here.
If that is the case, if you were in another area of the country and looking to move to the New York area and wanted to move to a suburb of New York, why would anyone in their right mind choose Long Island or if they did, Nassau County?
We can estimate how many people want to move OUT of Nassau County and Long Island. Can we estimate how many people have an interest in moving INTO Long Island?
I would not be far off If I said the number was close to ZERO.
Is the Lighthouse Project the answer? No one can know that. But it sure would ignite excitement and new possibilities around Long Island we haven't seen since Levitown was built.
What we do know is something has to be done. Charles Wang is not looking to displace businesses or residents like the Brooklyn Yards project, which in my mind should be built also.
Charles Wang is trying to spend his own money building something that can entice people to think about actually staying on Long Island, or make people interested in moving choose Long Island as a destination.
If Charles Wang doe snot get his project there is the real possibility that he will abandon it if he does he will sell the Islanders or move them.
What happens then? What will be built on that site then? The real estate is to valuable and something will be built there. I am frightened at the prospect of what could wind up there in that scenario and you should be also.
The Islanders are just a microcosm of the real issues surrounding Long Island. No one wants to play here, no one wants to stay here. The people that do stay here are forced to stay here until a time when they can leave where make no mistakes, they WILL leave.
What good is having our shining new prospect John Tavares if he plays 6 losing seasons in a rotting arena with no fans? What is he going to do? Stick around?
He will do what a graduate of Hofstra with a 4.0 degree on his way to a bright career will do, leave Long Island.
It is time for the opposition to accept the fact that we need a project like this to have a shot at saving Long Island from the true enemy, and that is the mass exodus of its residents to greener pastures and the absolute non existence of a motive to bring people to Long Island as a destination.
Think about it.
FCT
People with sensible minds who actually use the lump of gray matter between their ears can see the big picture.
Do you see it?
First things First - Playing Devil's advocate and to show that I am not simply a one sided "just build it" proponent I will say that Charles Wang is using the Islanders.
There I said it. Charles Wang is using the Islanders to get his legacy project built. He bought the Islanders when the fact of the matter is no one, and I do mean no one wanted them. Why did he see value in the team when no one else did?
The Milstien/Gluckstern ownership group drove a young, promising team into the ground and they slapped the Islanders fan base directly in the face, which at the time was like slapping an abused wife after rescuing her from OJ Simpson.
Charles Wang came in and immediately gave the organization a breath of fresh air for the first time in many years. He spent inordinate amounts of money bringing in proven NHL talent. He has gone on to lose an average of 20 million dollars a season since he took over.
Why would he do that? Because hes a great guy who made his billions by just writing personal checks to make up for the losses on his hockey team every year?
No.
Charles Wang bought the Islanders, The Marriott Hotel, The Omni building and all the surrounding real estate and brought in a partner, only the largest builder on the Island in Scott Rechler because he wants to build the Lighthouse project.
Along the way, I think Mr. Wang has taken a strong liking to his hockey team, but make no mistake Charles Wang bought the Islanders so he could use them to get his dream project off the ground.
That being said lets ask ourselves the following question - Why not let a man who wants to spend over 3.5 billion dollars putting up new buildings, housing units, retail space, hotels and condos and oh yeah, a nice new arena in what can only be described as a suburban oasis?
While we are thinking about that question, lets consider what the opposition is saying and we all know who the opposition is.
The Town of Hempstead and your local elected officials are the number one reason we don't know what is going to happen. They wont say no, but they wont say yes. They say.... nothing. They ask questions. They ask for more studies. They ask for delays. They make off handed comments about how the designs "looks like a city". They talk about traffic and waste water.
You know what they never talk about? They never talk about the positives. Ever.
The local politicians all want to be able to say "Look what I got for my voters" by questioning The Lighthouse Group at a public hearing when they already know the answers to the questions. They all claim to be looking out for their constituents.
The amount of BS that represents is taller then the highest building Charles Wang wants to build.
The fact they all want to make a name for themselves on the backs and at the expense of Charles Wang.
These politicians are looking out for themselves. That is what they do. They live term to term with their little insignificant little jobs and put their little signs up on Hempstead Turnpike right in front of the rotting site that is the Nassau Coliseum Parking Lot.
Now people are talking about Scaling Down.
Why should he scale anything down? Did Jerry Jones have to scale down his plans for a stadium that hosts EIGHT football games a year? Did the Yankees have to scale down their new palace of baseball? The Mets? The Giants and Jets?
The man wants to spend his money building a new suburban center the likes many of us hasn't seen in our lifetimes.
The questions are being answered. the concerns are mostly unfounded and the facts are clear.
The real issue here goes way beyond the New York Islanders.
The Islanders are a microcosm of what is happening on Long Island. No one wants to live here except those who make seven figures and live comfortably above the pay grade where higher taxes, ridiculous electric rates and selfish elected officials cant affect them.
People are moving to new suburban centers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Upstate New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Entire families are abandoning Long Island because of living expenses and most importantly school taxes and property taxes.
Young single professionals would be insane to choose Long Island as a spot to build their careers here when they can live in a revitalized Brooklyn and Manhattan.
There was recently a study done that was published in Newsday last year. Of the people currently living on Long Island, 55% of Long Island residents were either considering a move off Long Island or were actively pursuing a move off Long Island.
The average age of residents on Long Island goes up every year because young people starting careers and young married couples simply cannot afford to live here so instead of building their lives here like their parents did, they choose to build their lives elsewhere.
There is nothing - no incentive nothing exciting about Long Island to keep people here.
If that is the case, if you were in another area of the country and looking to move to the New York area and wanted to move to a suburb of New York, why would anyone in their right mind choose Long Island or if they did, Nassau County?
We can estimate how many people want to move OUT of Nassau County and Long Island. Can we estimate how many people have an interest in moving INTO Long Island?
I would not be far off If I said the number was close to ZERO.
Is the Lighthouse Project the answer? No one can know that. But it sure would ignite excitement and new possibilities around Long Island we haven't seen since Levitown was built.
What we do know is something has to be done. Charles Wang is not looking to displace businesses or residents like the Brooklyn Yards project, which in my mind should be built also.
Charles Wang is trying to spend his own money building something that can entice people to think about actually staying on Long Island, or make people interested in moving choose Long Island as a destination.
If Charles Wang doe snot get his project there is the real possibility that he will abandon it if he does he will sell the Islanders or move them.
What happens then? What will be built on that site then? The real estate is to valuable and something will be built there. I am frightened at the prospect of what could wind up there in that scenario and you should be also.
The Islanders are just a microcosm of the real issues surrounding Long Island. No one wants to play here, no one wants to stay here. The people that do stay here are forced to stay here until a time when they can leave where make no mistakes, they WILL leave.
What good is having our shining new prospect John Tavares if he plays 6 losing seasons in a rotting arena with no fans? What is he going to do? Stick around?
He will do what a graduate of Hofstra with a 4.0 degree on his way to a bright career will do, leave Long Island.
It is time for the opposition to accept the fact that we need a project like this to have a shot at saving Long Island from the true enemy, and that is the mass exodus of its residents to greener pastures and the absolute non existence of a motive to bring people to Long Island as a destination.
Think about it.
FCT
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
DP Speaks - Predictions for the 09-10 season
The Islanders goaltender who only has been seen on crutches at a couple of on ice workouts over the summer, has spoken!
Rick said his rehab is on schedule and he is not going to rush back like he did last season.
WOW!
I know as you the reader must be absolutely stunned at this turn of events.
SHOCKING!
Now that he has gotten the ridiculously obvious out the of the way its time to look at the Islanders upcoming season that is sure to be filled with lofty expectations if not for the team, for some of its young players.
Islanders leading scorers - 2009-10 season
1 - Josh Bailey 74GP 14g 42a 56p
2 - Mark Streit 80GP 12g 40a 52p
3 - Kyle Okposo 72GP 26g 20a 46p
4 - John Tavares 78GP 27g 18a 45p
5 - Doug Weight 49GP 10g 22a 32p
I am obviously going out on a bit of a limb here but i think Bailey is poised to be the breakout player from this season. Also on my watch this year radar are Jeff Tambelini, Sean Bergenhiem and Frans Nielson mostly because its make or break time for all of them. Either they become mainstays on the team and contributors or they are out of here.
If it were up to me, and obviously its not Tambs would be in Bridgeport and Alex Tanguay would be here in his place who is inexplicably still a free agent.
Go Get Tanguay Garth!
Tavares is going to have every Islander fan and most of the NHL watching him and a typical slow start followed by a hot end of the season is what seems to be typical with players coming into the NHL. Very few have an impact immediately.
Bailey has come this season to turn heads. Just watch.
Okposo will be expected to improve on his numbers this season. Another 15 goal season will be a disappointment. He has all the tools. 25 goals is not to much to ask.
I don't see how anyone can expect Doug Weight to play more than 50 games. Hes still got the talent that much is evident, but his injuries over the last 3 seasons have cost him way to many games to be penciled in for anything more than 50 games.
Mark Streit will be expected to be exactly what he was last season.
On how the team will perform as a whole this season?
I think the team will challenge and fall short of a payoff spot this year.
They have a lot of growing to do but they have excellent goaltending and good defenseman. The Islanders will hustle and out skate a lot of teams this season. They will work hard and start to make us believe there is something there.
They have a young group of forwards that if all breaks right can be the starting of a Blackhawk like resurgence in the NHL.
The Islanders will play meaningful hockey games this season and that is the best we can hope for right now but for the first time in a long time that's a good thing.
FCT
Rick said his rehab is on schedule and he is not going to rush back like he did last season.
WOW!
I know as you the reader must be absolutely stunned at this turn of events.
SHOCKING!
Now that he has gotten the ridiculously obvious out the of the way its time to look at the Islanders upcoming season that is sure to be filled with lofty expectations if not for the team, for some of its young players.
Islanders leading scorers - 2009-10 season
1 - Josh Bailey 74GP 14g 42a 56p
2 - Mark Streit 80GP 12g 40a 52p
3 - Kyle Okposo 72GP 26g 20a 46p
4 - John Tavares 78GP 27g 18a 45p
5 - Doug Weight 49GP 10g 22a 32p
I am obviously going out on a bit of a limb here but i think Bailey is poised to be the breakout player from this season. Also on my watch this year radar are Jeff Tambelini, Sean Bergenhiem and Frans Nielson mostly because its make or break time for all of them. Either they become mainstays on the team and contributors or they are out of here.
If it were up to me, and obviously its not Tambs would be in Bridgeport and Alex Tanguay would be here in his place who is inexplicably still a free agent.
Go Get Tanguay Garth!
Tavares is going to have every Islander fan and most of the NHL watching him and a typical slow start followed by a hot end of the season is what seems to be typical with players coming into the NHL. Very few have an impact immediately.
Bailey has come this season to turn heads. Just watch.
Okposo will be expected to improve on his numbers this season. Another 15 goal season will be a disappointment. He has all the tools. 25 goals is not to much to ask.
I don't see how anyone can expect Doug Weight to play more than 50 games. Hes still got the talent that much is evident, but his injuries over the last 3 seasons have cost him way to many games to be penciled in for anything more than 50 games.
Mark Streit will be expected to be exactly what he was last season.
On how the team will perform as a whole this season?
I think the team will challenge and fall short of a payoff spot this year.
They have a lot of growing to do but they have excellent goaltending and good defenseman. The Islanders will hustle and out skate a lot of teams this season. They will work hard and start to make us believe there is something there.
They have a young group of forwards that if all breaks right can be the starting of a Blackhawk like resurgence in the NHL.
The Islanders will play meaningful hockey games this season and that is the best we can hope for right now but for the first time in a long time that's a good thing.
FCT
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Hockeybuzz = The Weekly World News?
Dany Heatley is still a member of the Ottawa Senators.
It seems all other business is on hold waiting to see what happens with the talented Left Winger.
According to Hockeybuzz.com, the Hockey's equivalent to the Weekly World News, Heatley is going to be involved in a 3 way deal to San Jose then Montreal will be involved and Phil Kessel is somehow involved, Jonathan Cheechoo is involved and a 3 way trade will happen and the Blackhawks and Flames and and and....
You know I cannot keep up with all of Eklund's crap. I think his dog knows just as much as to where the next free agent is going to sign or where the next player that will be traded as he does.
He has had Alex Tanguay signed to about 7 different teams on his website, when everyone in the world knows that Tanguay is most likely waiting out the Heatley shenanigans.
The popularity of Hockeybuzz.com amazes me. All it is is a glorified blog that has somehow caught the eye of NHL fans who think Eklund has some sort of inside information.
I do not need to get into specifics. All i need to do it to point to his ridiculous rating system of rumors and state that he has scooped no one nor has he been right on many if any predictions this off season. His "E4" rumor is batting around .089 this season. Not good for a guy who has the sources he says he does.
I am all for capitalism and I am sure Eklund has done very well with his site but I am also for responsibility with your readers. The site is built mostly on the backs of other bloggers who are linked to his site and some of them are very talented writers. If you go to the site for rumors look elsewhere because all you are likely to be is let down on Hockeybuzz.
I really hope there is some real news around hockey soon because it has been a slow month.
The Islanders are making progress towards their lighthouse project and that is great news. Will Charles Wang have his answer before or on his self imposed deadline? That is the single biggest story around the Islanders at the moment.
Once John Tavares takes the ice this all will change but the Lighthouse Project will dominate the news for the Islanders over this coming season and rightfully so. If Wang can get his approval he will have the Islanders a player in the NHL again.
This season's results really don't matter in that regard because no one expects anything out of the Islanders even though I think the team has a a shot to make some noise.
That my friends is an (e3).
FCT
It seems all other business is on hold waiting to see what happens with the talented Left Winger.
According to Hockeybuzz.com, the Hockey's equivalent to the Weekly World News, Heatley is going to be involved in a 3 way deal to San Jose then Montreal will be involved and Phil Kessel is somehow involved, Jonathan Cheechoo is involved and a 3 way trade will happen and the Blackhawks and Flames and and and....
You know I cannot keep up with all of Eklund's crap. I think his dog knows just as much as to where the next free agent is going to sign or where the next player that will be traded as he does.
He has had Alex Tanguay signed to about 7 different teams on his website, when everyone in the world knows that Tanguay is most likely waiting out the Heatley shenanigans.
The popularity of Hockeybuzz.com amazes me. All it is is a glorified blog that has somehow caught the eye of NHL fans who think Eklund has some sort of inside information.
I do not need to get into specifics. All i need to do it to point to his ridiculous rating system of rumors and state that he has scooped no one nor has he been right on many if any predictions this off season. His "E4" rumor is batting around .089 this season. Not good for a guy who has the sources he says he does.
I am all for capitalism and I am sure Eklund has done very well with his site but I am also for responsibility with your readers. The site is built mostly on the backs of other bloggers who are linked to his site and some of them are very talented writers. If you go to the site for rumors look elsewhere because all you are likely to be is let down on Hockeybuzz.
I really hope there is some real news around hockey soon because it has been a slow month.
The Islanders are making progress towards their lighthouse project and that is great news. Will Charles Wang have his answer before or on his self imposed deadline? That is the single biggest story around the Islanders at the moment.
Once John Tavares takes the ice this all will change but the Lighthouse Project will dominate the news for the Islanders over this coming season and rightfully so. If Wang can get his approval he will have the Islanders a player in the NHL again.
This season's results really don't matter in that regard because no one expects anything out of the Islanders even though I think the team has a a shot to make some noise.
That my friends is an (e3).
FCT
Monday, August 10, 2009
Baseball Players Think we are Stupid
David Ortiz held a press conference at Yankee Stadium on Saturday.
He proceeded to feign ignorance and wonder allowed that his positive test was probably because of some supplements and vitamins he took carelessly.
We have seen angry denials from Rafael Palmeiro, pointing his finger and angrily denying use only to be outed as a steroid user.
We have seen blank ignorance from Mark McGwire vowing to not talk about "the past".
We have seen Sammy Sosa forget the English language when questions by authorities.
Barry Bonds? Manny Ramirez? Roger Clemens?
The list goes on and on, and these are only the ones we know about.
David Ortiz was one of the players who lined up to take pop shots at Alex Rodriguez when he admitted his steroid use, even though his excuse was laughable at least he came forward and admitted he understood what the substance was he was putting into his body.
Then Big Papi was outed along with his fearsome Red Sox team mate Manny Ramirez as one of the players on the 2003 substance list. You think Papi wishes he kept his rather large mouth shut now?
Micheal Wiener, the latest long winded spin doctor that runs the MLB Players union got in front of the microphone and spoke to baseball fans and the media like we were 7 year old children explaining about how the number of positives could have been less that what was reported because more violators may have been tested twice.
Just how stupid does this guy think we are? As I listened to Wiener spout this inane dribble at the press conference and lauded Ortiz for speaking I wondered how can this guy think that this is going to placate the baseball fans who just want their game to be clean?
I gotta be honest, It made me very angry the more times he basically stated the drug problem in baseball is less that it is, stating that the 108 number was probably around 96, or as little as 83.
I have a statement Mr. Wiener - No one cares about anything you have to say, unless you are going to be honest and forthright.
Stop trying to tell the baseball fans and sports fans in general that drugs are not a big deal in sports.
Stop downplaying the role drugs have played in baseball not only over the last 20 years, but the last 50 years when the drugs of choice were pain killers and amphetamines instead of HGH and steroids.
Shut up or tell the truth because unless your going to present the list of 2003 to the public, ending the controversy and putting the speculation to rest no one really cares.
We as fans are sick of lawyers preparing statements for players who they wont let answer any real questions.
We are sick of holier than thou players bashing other players only to be outed as users themselves.
We are sick of spin control and endless legal babble coming from union officials who know nothing of the pressure these guys feel to succeed.
We are sick of over bloated players and records that mean nothing in terms of who has the most skill and more about who had the best drugs.
I for one am sick of fans who stand and cheer their steroid violators and vociferously boo and taunt opposing players who are outed.
This is not just a baseball issue it is a human issue. Look at the NFL today and how many 300+ pound lineman there are in the league. Now go and see 30 years ago and see how many there were then.
Now lets check the health of these guys when they hit 35 and find that they have 70 year old knees and 80 year old backs and tell me you don't care.
Do you think Ken Caminiti would have done things differently if given a choice to go back in time?
These guys are killing themselves for their sport. That makes them no different from professional wrestlers who for years died young or crippled themselves trying to compete.
The steroid issue is not just cheating in terms of cheating at a game. Its cheating these guys out of their own lives and quality of life.
People may say its their own fault, they are adults and they knew what they were doing.
That is a silly argument for this reason -
How many players do you think are out there that haven't made millions of dollars have destroyed their bodies with drugs in the effort to get to where guys like David Ortiz, Alex Rodriguez, Manny Ramirez and Jason Giambi are at?
Who is cheering for these guys? Who will take care of their families if they cant provide for them?
That my friends is the real crime of it all.
FCT
He proceeded to feign ignorance and wonder allowed that his positive test was probably because of some supplements and vitamins he took carelessly.
We have seen angry denials from Rafael Palmeiro, pointing his finger and angrily denying use only to be outed as a steroid user.
We have seen blank ignorance from Mark McGwire vowing to not talk about "the past".
We have seen Sammy Sosa forget the English language when questions by authorities.
Barry Bonds? Manny Ramirez? Roger Clemens?
The list goes on and on, and these are only the ones we know about.
David Ortiz was one of the players who lined up to take pop shots at Alex Rodriguez when he admitted his steroid use, even though his excuse was laughable at least he came forward and admitted he understood what the substance was he was putting into his body.
Then Big Papi was outed along with his fearsome Red Sox team mate Manny Ramirez as one of the players on the 2003 substance list. You think Papi wishes he kept his rather large mouth shut now?
Micheal Wiener, the latest long winded spin doctor that runs the MLB Players union got in front of the microphone and spoke to baseball fans and the media like we were 7 year old children explaining about how the number of positives could have been less that what was reported because more violators may have been tested twice.
Just how stupid does this guy think we are? As I listened to Wiener spout this inane dribble at the press conference and lauded Ortiz for speaking I wondered how can this guy think that this is going to placate the baseball fans who just want their game to be clean?
I gotta be honest, It made me very angry the more times he basically stated the drug problem in baseball is less that it is, stating that the 108 number was probably around 96, or as little as 83.
I have a statement Mr. Wiener - No one cares about anything you have to say, unless you are going to be honest and forthright.
Stop trying to tell the baseball fans and sports fans in general that drugs are not a big deal in sports.
Stop downplaying the role drugs have played in baseball not only over the last 20 years, but the last 50 years when the drugs of choice were pain killers and amphetamines instead of HGH and steroids.
Shut up or tell the truth because unless your going to present the list of 2003 to the public, ending the controversy and putting the speculation to rest no one really cares.
We as fans are sick of lawyers preparing statements for players who they wont let answer any real questions.
We are sick of holier than thou players bashing other players only to be outed as users themselves.
We are sick of spin control and endless legal babble coming from union officials who know nothing of the pressure these guys feel to succeed.
We are sick of over bloated players and records that mean nothing in terms of who has the most skill and more about who had the best drugs.
I for one am sick of fans who stand and cheer their steroid violators and vociferously boo and taunt opposing players who are outed.
This is not just a baseball issue it is a human issue. Look at the NFL today and how many 300+ pound lineman there are in the league. Now go and see 30 years ago and see how many there were then.
Now lets check the health of these guys when they hit 35 and find that they have 70 year old knees and 80 year old backs and tell me you don't care.
Do you think Ken Caminiti would have done things differently if given a choice to go back in time?
These guys are killing themselves for their sport. That makes them no different from professional wrestlers who for years died young or crippled themselves trying to compete.
The steroid issue is not just cheating in terms of cheating at a game. Its cheating these guys out of their own lives and quality of life.
People may say its their own fault, they are adults and they knew what they were doing.
That is a silly argument for this reason -
How many players do you think are out there that haven't made millions of dollars have destroyed their bodies with drugs in the effort to get to where guys like David Ortiz, Alex Rodriguez, Manny Ramirez and Jason Giambi are at?
Who is cheering for these guys? Who will take care of their families if they cant provide for them?
That my friends is the real crime of it all.
FCT
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