Five MORE things that Bug me. Poll Results

Hello Fans. First this weeks poll results. Fans apparently think Bryan Berard will play a lot of games this year with 62 % of the voters thinking Berard will play 50-69 games and only 3% thinking he will play less than 50 games. This weeks poll centers around what you think should be done with people who fight in the stands. It has been a slow hockey week and visitors seem to enjoy the "Things That Bug Me" column so why not chime in with some more items that basically stick in my craw.

1) Channel 14? Why in the name of all that is holy is Cablevision using a channel that is on its analog band as its over run channel. Why do the Devils ALWAYS get preferential treatment on FSNY? These are questions I would love to pose to the good people at Cablevision, but their history when it comes to the Islanders is spotty. They have not aired games in the past, had an extended war with the Yankees and Mets over their networks, and continue to absolutely crap all over the Islanders every chance they get. Could this be because the Rangers and MSG are property of Cablevision? I'll leave that for all of the conspiracy enthusiasts out there.

2) White Out - What happened to the proposed tinting of the ice surface?

3) Buffalo Fans - What is with the banging on the glass? Why do they continue to boo Satan? All I know is they better not lay out the red carpet for Drury and Briere. That would be hypocrisy at its highest.

4) I can't hate Jason Blake anymore. People may or may not believe this, but I have not been a fan of Jason Blake over the years. Over time, he seemed to grow spoiled, entitled and arrogant with his role with the team. He hogged the puck, he was greedy. Then he opens his mouth in the middle of a playoff chase demanding a contract. THEN he signs with the hated Leafs. Then he disses the Islanders and their fans by making a comment about playing in front of a full house for a change. I'm all ready to show him what I think of him when the Leafs come to town. Then the bomb shell hits. Leukemia? The bottom line is this guy has a family and I wish him all of the best. I still do not want to see a teary "Thank You Jason" video, but a best wishes video or a stay healthy video would be great.

5) Fights in the stands. They are irresponsible, silly, serve no purpose, dangerous to people around them, and anyone caught fighting in the stands should be charged with misdemeanor assault, en citing a riot, and endangering people around them. What if God forbid an errant punch finds a kid? Or a woman? Or two or 3 of these cement heads rolls around and takes someone down with them? I witnessed a fight in the section above the blog box and an older lady wound up on the bottom of two fist swinging fans, one of whom happened to be her son. Who started it? That sounds like a discussion better left for the elementary school Principal's office. Yell, root, chant but KEEP YOUR HANDS TO YOURSELVES!!

FCT

5 Things that Bug Me.

I always thought it may be fun to address some of the things that annoy, irritate, disgust, and basically just stick in your craw as a hockey fan. So here they are in all of their glory. I will update this from time to time with more things that bug me, as I am sure more will pop up. Hey its a long season. So here it goes.

1) Islanders Offense. We had to figure that at some point this season someone some where would start complaining about the lack of offense this team has. Those concerns started around July 1, 2007. Something must have happened that day but I can't remember what. The last 4games the Islanders have scored 1 whole 5 on 5 goal. That is a problem and it bugs me.

2) Mats Sundin. I don't have a problem with the man personally but that smile that I see every time the Leafs score a goal.. THAT bugs me.

3) Fans of other teams (Hello Islander and Ranger fans.. Met and Yankee fans) that comb other teams message boards looking for a grade school argument with all the intelligence of a dog sniffing his own rear end. If you have something to contribute to a discussion then great by all means post away.

4) Goalie issues - Can we please find some equipment in actual human sizes? Can we please eliminate the asinine trapezoid?

5) Reebok Edge Jerseys. I like the Islander design, let me 1st say that. What I don't like is a league with so many problems taking the perspective from where it should be (finding new viewers, marketing its superstars) and placing it on the back of a ridiculously over hyped and unnecessary uniform system.

That's my five. What are some of the things that are bugging you? Please post your thoughts.

FCT

BLOG BOX REPORT - NYI 2, NYR 1 10/10/07

I have just returned from the NVMC as a reporter of sorts for the first time. Let me first say the experience was memorable. First arriving and parking in the Media Lot, then walking through the media gate to retrive my Media Credentials. Hey!! thats got my name on it along with the name of the Blog you are reading. Then I get to the blog box, which is not a box, but a table with chairs behind section 201 which is an outstanding place to watch a game. I watch an outstanding hockey game. I wont get into the meat of the game itself because im sure you all saw it. A 2-1 Victory later and we are ushered downstairs past security and into the media interview room, past Marc-Andre Bergeron in full uniform and the Islanders locker room. We wait... and in walks Bruno Gervais. Let me tell you this, he is one of the most personable athletes you will ever meet. He takes the time to ask us all our names and shake our hands before answering every question posed to him. He answers questions about his playing time with 7 defenseman saying that he doesnt think about the minutes he plays just jumping over the boards when the coach says his name. He says the penalty kill is something they have worked on over training camp. A couple of questions later I get my chance:

My questions - FCT's question #1 Is clogging passing lanes and not giving the skilled players on teams like the Rangers something you have been working on in camp? He answers immediatley that yes they have to clog passing lanes and keep skilled players to the outside. The game has changed and you cannot grab and hold players anymore. Defenseman have to know the passing lanes and keep themselves between players and the net, as well as not give them room to handle the puck.

FCT's Question 2 - How has this team managed to gel so quickly with so many new players brought in in the off season? His answer is that the players the team brought in are all great guys, and great team guys. He says he wakes up every day excited to come to the rink for practice and play games because of the atmosphere around the team these days. He says the locker room is a great place to be because of it and he is excited to be a part of it.

Then.. after Bruno has to go to catch a plane to go to Toronto for tomorrow's game, in walks the coach. He goes to the podium we all see on TV after games. All of the professional reporters have to ask thier questions first, but Nolan waits for the Bloggers to ask questions also and I had a reporter steal the question I was going to ask and being a little star struck couldnt think of a question to ask him before it was time for him to go. I'll be sure and have a few more questions for him next time. All in all it was great to hear Coach Nolan answer questions in person and next time I will get another chance to ask away.

One thing I would like to do is to try and ask Nolan questions from the fans. What are some questions you would ask the coach? If I can I will work them in and post all responses here. The cherry on top? Almost walking into Bryan Trottier on the way out of the locker room area.

I look forward to getting to know the fellow blog boxers better and trying to be the Voice of the Islander Fans.

FCT

POLL RESULTS - BERARD SIGNED

Hello fans, The Islanders are 2-1 with 3 good efforts so far and Bryan Berard is finally under contract. That should help the one thing that did not click in the Caps game and that is the power play giving them a true point man play maker to man the point with Bergeron. Ill be in the Blog Box tomorrow for the Ranger game and I hope to see a MAJORITY of Islander fans in attendance and hopefully we can drown out the Ranger faithful who are in attendance. 3 games and 3 sell outs? Lets keep it up and show the rest of the NHL that the Islanders have some of the best and loudest fans in the NHL.

This Weeks Poll results - A vast majority are expecting this version of the Islanders to make the playoffs, and other expect much more. Only 3 people out of 48 who voted said the team would finish out of playoff contention. Most (43%) expect a finish of 7th or 8th. with another 21% expecting 5-6th. Here's to hoping we are all right. This weeks poll is How many games will Berard play this year?

Lets Go Islanders.

FCT

Is this a mirage?

My fellow Islander fans!! I have just returned from a rocking NVMC. I sat there in section 214 watching this team. They have that familiar crest on we all know, the NY with the stick over an orange image of the unique suburb we all live in known as Long Island. Something is not right though... they play together, they hit, the don't stop skating, they don't take a shift off, they don't back down when challenged, they stick up for each other, the top center plays with an edge, there is no selfish goal scorer hogging the puck... Oh and that top line they put together has 16 points in two games all against a very good team in the Buffalo Sabres. Sixteen Points in two games. If this team plays this way night in and night out they will be in every game and if DiPietro continues to improve they will win a good amount of them and Garth Snow and Ted Nolan will win awards for what they have done here. Granted this is all very early but the only thing we have to judge this team on are the two games they have played and this judge likes what he sees.

Let me know what you think? Is this what we can expect all season or is this a mirage?

FCT

Its Here...

This can be the best time of the year for a sports fan. Its the one time of the year where the Boys of Summer, the Grid Iron and the sheets of ice start to get cut. We can finally stop speculating, guessing and predicting. We can finally see what this Islander team has to show us. Will they fall on their face? Will they exceed expectations? Will they simply challenge for a playoff spot? The 82 game answer is coming fans, and the 1st chapter of that answer will be written TONIGHT. I will be in NVMC Tomorrow for the home opener and I hope to see 16,234 fellow fans there to cheer this team on. We need to pack the old barn for the home opener and show these guys just how loud we can be. For the 1st time in long time it feels like a new beginning hopefully this can be the start of something special.

I will be leaving a commentary of my thoughts on the 1st 2 games. I hope to hear from many fans on their thoughts here.

LET YOUR VOICE BE HEARD!!

The Good and the Bad Part III - New Islanders Part II

This sounds like another sequel to Friday the 13th the Final Chapter Part II. I have had a pretty good response to Parts I and II of the Good and the bad so here it goes for Part III.

Confused? Ok then Lets move on.. There are a lot of new faces on the Islanders for this season. We have covered the free agent signings of Fedotenko, Comrie, Guerin, Sutton and Sim. Lets switch our attention to another group of new Islanders who could contribute greatly to the team's success or failure this season. They are - Sean Bergenheim, Jeff Tambellini, Bryan Berard, and Josef Vasicek.

THE BAD -
1) To much is being heaped on these players shoulders. We can't expect Bergenheim and Tambellini, who as rookies have to prove they can even make in in the NHL to begin with, much less contribute to a teams success. Berard is talented but injury prone and has been labeled with the "s" word. Vasicek is big, but there is a reason Carolina let him go.

2) With such a large turnaround in player personnel, it could be months before the team gels, if they gel at all. By then the playoffs will be out of reach.

3) Past the 1st line, this team is just not going to score enough goals. These 4 will only help a little; suiting them up is akin to putting a band aid on a gun shot wound.

THE GOOD -

1) Berard can still move the puck as he is still only 30. When he was healthy the last 3 seasons, as he appears to be now he produces points and will improve the power play, which is GREATLY needed. If this team wants to win games, the power play is going to have to be top 7 or 8 in the NHL.

2) Teams cannot succeed without injections of youth. That being said, that youth has to be talented which Vasicek, Bergenheim and Tambellini certainly are. Vasicek wants to prove the Canes wrong for letting him go, and Tambellini and Bergenheim are hungry to prove that they belong and can contribute to a winner.

3) The player personnel turnaround was necessary to change the culture of this team. Snow and company changed the mindset that they cannot succeed in the playoffs and that making 8th place is good enough and stopped the notion that no free agents will sign on the Island. The players that have gone will take their long standing attitudes and locker room problems with them and in their place is a younger, leaner team that will challenge their opponents on a nightly basis, and be a blast to watch this year.

Let me know what points you do or do not agree with. All opinions are welcome!! I will see you guys at the Coliseum on Saturday. Com on by Section 214 and say hello!

FCT