Your Evening Islanders Drama Recap
by Dominik on Nov 18, 2010 6:19 PM EST
in This, That & What-Not
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You'll never believe what the story of the day is. Between an 11-game winless streak, a coaching change, major injuries and inconsistent young players, the Islanders have a lot of on-ice issues right now. They received more coverage on WFAN today than they've probably seen in years. But it wasn't related to anything on the ice. Not related to any of the above or anything like:
- Lightning Mattias Ritola was suspended two games for his leave-the-feet check from behind on Matt Moulson last night. [FanShot discussion here]
- Update: Jon Sim has been returned to Bridgeport
- Veterans Radek Martinek, Doug Weight and Zenon Konopka were given the day off. [Isles]
- If you don't get the MSG pregame, 7th Woman posted the Howie interview with Garth Snow about Gordon, Capuano, and where they go from here.
- Blake Comeau was again quoted by Newsday with a line like this: "[Capuano's] a players' coach for sure," said Blake Comeau, who never quite warmed to Gordon's ways. "He wants guys to go out and use their hockey vision and their hockey sense." Needless to say, Comeau has much to prove after the change.
Nope. It was none of that. What has consumed Islanders fans throughout the land today -- and I mean in every forum you can imagine; my inbox and Twitter overfloweth -- has to do with the revoking of credentials of one of two (by my count) external writers who cover the team on the ground on a near-daily basis. One is behind a paywall that is mostly accessed only locally; the other, now revoked one is free, depended on by many fans around the country, and to make the drama ever richer, is a former employee whose steadily souring relations with the club have played out in public over the last 12+ months, eroding what was once (and still may be, when this resolves) a mutually beneficial relationship.
As if this franchise needed another source of bad publicity and fan uproar during an 11-game winless streak right after a coach's firing. As if they needed another way for national writers to pile on like they eagerly do whenever the Isles fill the archetype those reporters have for them thanks to the last 15 years. (And not to pile on your depression, but tomorrow WebBard has an epic post -- which predates this drama -- asking questions about the franchise culture for the past 15 years.)
I don't know what public or private action or words got the Isles to pull what Puck Daddy correctly called "the nuclear option" on Chris Botta, but I do believe a larger lesson remains, even in this digital age:
Don't pick a fight with someone who buys ink by the barrel.
Without knowing the full details, I'll just say this: Coming from a PR background (although not in sports), I would have many, many, many shouting matches behind closed doors with a writer before I went with the nuclear option. I'd think first about what value his/her access provides but then also -- to get to that "ink by the barrel" thing -- I'd think about how, even if I felt severely wronged, choosing the nuclear option would rally fans, the writer himself, and all of his colleagues around the continent to his defense. And that's exactly what happened. Botta's decision to "close" IPB in response created immediate buzz -- and created a myriad conspiracy theories around an organization that doesn't need anymore shaken confidence. Now today there was the lengthy Botta interview on WFAN in which he came off well and fans and reporters backed him up, and tonight even Versus -- these are the NHL rights holders who recently said a blogger should apologize for asking legit questions of Campbell, remember -- is going to have him on their "Overtime" program tonight. [Update: Re-opening, Botta posts links to the WFAN interview as well as other notes on the drama.]
People have told me and posted around here that Botta's tone has turned personal lately, and that complaint or the "he's making himself the story" complaint may have merit, given last season's trade deadline complaint and the recent complaint about being declined for an interview. (Note: If you couldn't listen to WFAN [listen here], I summarized some of Botta's explanation of that in this comment in the other thread). But the rule in PR is like diplomacy: Engage your foes, get ahead of the story, don't let them dictate terms, don't take away their incentive to give you a fair shake or at least air your side of the story.
In other words, it doesn't matter what a writer has done to fuel bad publicity, deserved or not; the wrong reaction can make the publicity worse.
The Approach Here
On this site, I make a general habit of staying out of "BLOGGER WARS!!!1" and blogger v. MSM fights. I have some strong opinions about news and organizations' adaption to new media, but I figure most come here for hockey talk and don't care about people in an industry fighting amongst themselves. I know it turns me off right quick. (A pet peeve/turn off of mine is when a writer constantly talks about how important (s)he is or "as I first told you on Date X." So I try to keep industry talk and jargon to a minimum.) Further, by entertainment preference and by schedule it's much easier for me to focus on the hockey side of things rather than get caught up in all the external issues that ail the franchise we follow.
However, obviously people here are free to discuss what they like and dislike about Botta's coverage -- people feel very passionate about it and I don't censor opinions. But just to be up front with you: I tend to stay out of those threads because I will only look either protective of "one of us" or petty/jealous of "a competitor," depending on my response. (Some see that Botta has said nothing but kind words for this site and given it publicity, so of course we'd defend him; others see us as a competitor not wanting to jeopardize our own access, so of course we'd say whatever the team says. Meanwhile, I see this place as a fan site with the occasional use of access but a whole lot more focused on enjoying what we call entertainment. So we'll say what we want, agree/disagree when we want, and pick the topics that make doing this worthwhile.)
Hopefully all this blows over or finds resolution, no fans lose their access to info, and we can one day look back on and remember when with a laugh. Because even though this offense-challenged 11-game skid sucks a whole helluva lot, analyzing that sure beats analyzing the team's media policy and those who cover it.
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well said
I think the comment here (my dinner with angry)by quin (Press Credentials)kind of sums up my “after”-thought to this.
It’s really much ado about nothing… but if they (both of them) keep kicking the bear, it’s gonna wake up and eat them both. I expect to hear something from Bettman very soon.
Jack's not nimble, Jack's not quick, but Jack can get another top five pick!
I expect to hear something from Bettman very soon.
Bettman was talking about this on his radio show tonight, responding to all the enraged Islanders fans who were calling his show- I shit you not.
Let Us Go, Islanders! (Ever notice how strange that sounds without the contraction?)
by TheMetalChick on Nov 18, 2010 7:11 PM EST up reply actions
From what I’m hearing it sounds like he said that NHL teams can do as they please with Bloggers.
"...my dad taking me to see my two "teams" and me looking up at him after the 6th goal thinking, "What have you done to me?"" - Dom
Contributor to Lighthouse Hockey not sure if I'm the Sniper or the Enforcer.
http://www.nhl.com/podcasts/nhl_hour.xml
It should be uploaded sometime tomorrow around noon.
"...my dad taking me to see my two "teams" and me looking up at him after the 6th goal thinking, "What have you done to me?"" - Dom
Contributor to Lighthouse Hockey not sure if I'm the Sniper or the Enforcer.
*** WARNING **** CLICK ON HEADING IF THIS FRIGHTENS THE CHILDREN
I went to the link. The 11/18 show isn’t up yet (yeah… cause I don’t follow instructions welll) but I wanted to float around. I subscribed to the RSS Feed and this is what I got when control moved back to that pave from the dialogue box….
(Actual Size)
Do we really need to ask why the NHL has fallen off the map in the lower 48.
Jack's not nimble, Jack's not quick, but Jack can get another top five pick!
indeed he did
Unfortunately people were referring to Botta only in that sense and not in respect to AOL Fanhouse or SNY. If be a lot more interested in what Bettman would have to say about that.
Let Us Go, Islanders! (Ever notice how strange that sounds without the contraction?)
by TheMetalChick on Nov 18, 2010 7:24 PM EST up reply actions
I thought your dinner with angry was pretty spot on, myself
It’s funny, to me the general MSM vs. blogger “rivalry” (which doesn’t really apply in this case, but is somewhat parallel) is very similar to traditional reporters vs. columnists. Except reporters and columnists worked on the same side, so there wasn’t the tension; people just accepted columnists opining and insinuating.
But I’ve already expended more energy than I promised myself I would on this, so…back to worrying about the other issues with the team!
Lighthouse Hockey: You say that like Streit and Okposo and MacDonald were important.
thanks...
but quin adds the point that in the botta case he gets creds (AOL/SNY) under false pretense when he uses access to spout off with OPINION. I’m not going to be on Charles Wang’s side too often… but I will defend Snow here.
MY OPINION OF HOW THIS WENT DOWN…(PROBABLY NOT FACT)
They left the box wide open for botta from the beginning. The timing was right for this rebuild, maybe botta had overstayed his welcome inside the organization (we may be seeing why now), and the Isles had absolutely no media to get THEIR points out. SO Chris Dey (Right? I’m too tired to check up on Wang’s son in law) has a pretty smart idea… hey you got some peanut butter… we can give you the chocolate… maybe we can make this work. The first year is sponsored. Peanut butter goes great with chocolate… the Islander world rejoices!
Year two… not exactly the same dynamic. Not Islander sponsored and Chris, you’d think was a little disappointed… but how many bosses give you a golden opportunity to start a new career (I did… and if Tony DiComo is out there… thanks man!)… anyway..
There were still mostly very positive “posts” by CB… but there was some critisism last year in the UFA period because all they really came away with were TWO MORE GOALTENDERS…Schremp fell in their lap, and Molson was one of five “depth signings” destined for the AHL… and they were only at the cap floor because of dead contracts. The team had no defensive depth and not one legit top six forward. Valid points… Snow says he has a legit checkbook, but he can’t draw players even with overpayment, end of discussion.
Trade deadline… there is one legit big body defenseman left in the organization, and he wants to be a NY Islander for a few more years. Botta lets that out…. Big Andy was having a good year after mostly being injured as an Islander. HE WORKS IN GORDON’S SYSTEM… at least the numbers show that… and his bonecrushing hits are at least entertaining. So… what does Snow do… adios… he becomes half of Brock Nelson… who may turn out to be a middle six center in four years… excuse me if I, as an Islander fan am not enthused about that…. then A-mac goes down and Jack takes one in the kisser… DONE. You know… up to that point maybe Scott Gordon might have been looking forward to this year. If he made the call on Sutton, then he was a short sighted numbskull as well.
So.. Nino… great… I think the general consensus is that we all love Nino. Botta is luke warm on him. I remember him once saying something like [Don’t get too high on Nino because if you make him out to be some kind of Swiss hockey god you’ll be very disappointed if the Rangers get him four or five picks later… he’s just not that good.]
Guess who snow picks with two of the three top “D” still available… coming out of a season where Dustin Kohn and Dylan Reese were called up to be spackle. I hate to say this but Calvin deHaan isn’t Paul Coffey, and he most certainly isn’t Denis Potvin… he’s not even a young Mark Streit. That’s unfair, because I don’t know… but the general consensus on draft day and since has made me doubt this pick… why would you give up so much to get that guy at 12 when I don’t think he was a top 20 on anybody’s draft board.
okay.. back to more current issues.
Now we go into year three… again Snow has Done NOTHING to improve the top six… well DOUGIE is back… and they use his contract to make sure they get to the floor. They get lucky again and may have landed something in PAP and/or Grabner… they have Martin and Joensuu… and maybe even Hamonic makes an appearance…
The first six they look great… and CB is happy, but shows very cautious optimism… and when it blows up… he starts scratching at Snows door. All the time he’s writing his opinions about what’s going on because Snow hasn’t given him access since the Sutton fiasco (I’m pretty sure that’s about when he closed the door).
But CB tenders creds as a fanhouse REPORTER…. Snow really doesn’t mind him spouting his opinions on the blog as long as he can’t verify anything by being inside… but now he has a pass. So he can watch practice, TALK TO PLAYERS in the room and basically be like his pal Larry Brooks… how much does torts love that guy… another douchenozzle who can’t figure out if he’s a reporter/columnist/blogger…
I just think Snow had had enough… but… as it has been pointed out many times here… the islanders find themselves in the last 2 minutes of the first half of a two part batman episode… unfortunately… they are run by…
Jack's not nimble, Jack's not quick, but Jack can get another top five pick!
Ohh this thing is like
The tractor beam on the death star!
Just keeps sucking me back in! Just rebutted something on Wilderness Hockey (Politely…don’t worry Dom!) Gotta admit, he’s making quite a name for himself on his little “look what happened to me” world tour. He’s gonna parlay this fiasco into a studio analyst job…watch, he’ll be next to Jaffe once a week.
Sarcasm experience enhanced by Samsung (TM)
by Keith Quinn on Nov 19, 2010 12:22 AM EST up reply actions
Ha, I trust you
The only thing I frown upon in the inter-SBN blog universe is trolling/going on just to say “You guys suck and your mother wears combat boots.” Actually, that would be kind of funny, but you catch my drift.
Interesting dialog you had over there. Well put, all of it.
Lighthouse Hockey: You say that like Streit and Okposo and MacDonald were important.
Two things I learned from that
(a short list in honor of JP)
1) Each blog apparently has an existing culture…good idea (like you suggest) to look around first before commenting. (Obviously I touched a nerve with “bloggers rights” and my message may have been lost immediately) which I had to address in a follow up reply. I THOUGHT those guidelines were for suckers!
2) In line with the above, using words like ridiculous and naive (even without directly calling a person these) can also cause an adverse reaction to the reader. Choose wording carefully when you’re an unknown.
3) I like parentheses and ellipses.
Sarcasm experience enhanced by Samsung (TM)
by Keith Quinn on Nov 19, 2010 7:49 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
amazing
Am I the only one who finds this both childish and minor league? The team is not drawing and has an extremely limited fan base. Only one of the four main newspapers in the metro area covers them with regularity (Newsday, the NY POST occasionally writes an article) and now they are going after bloggers.
Maybe a little more focus on how to fix the team and a little less on controlling the media.
Finally, is this a pattern. First Jaffe wasn’t rehired (wasn’t considered a homer) and now this this.
Botta
This fiasco today was typical Botta style. Make cryptic comments, get fans in a frenzy and then put everyone at ease by announcing he’ll return after his media tour.
He could’ve easily avoided all of this by posting on his site that the Islanders revoked his press pass, that he was working to mediate the situation and would continue blogging in the mean time. Instead, he posts a message saying the blog was closing for reasons beyond his control, what were those reasons? And then goes on Isles Mania and posts over there, why couldn’t he just post that message on his blog or Fanhouse? And then today after his media tour, where he acknowledges he doesn’t need the press pass for IPB, announces he’s reopening the blog that was never closed. It makes you wonder what the point of this whole thing was, that the Islanders revoked his pass or to make him some kind of martyr.
by shinkdew on Nov 18, 2010 7:18 PM EST reply actions 2 recs
Chris Botta....
Where it all began… where it is today!
Jack's not nimble, Jack's not quick, but Jack can get another top five pick!
Sim back down.
# Update: Jon Sim has been returned to Bridgeport
Hmm. Schremp to wing, Hunter to 4th line in Sim’s spot?
/refuses to comment on Botta
Lighthouse Hockey: Raising the compete level...whatever that means.
(MTBVibe: Now a twit!)
I’d move around Comeau, keep Hunter-Nielsen-Moulson/Martin together.
"...my dad taking me to see my two "teams" and me looking up at him after the 6th goal thinking, "What have you done to me?"" - Dom
Contributor to Lighthouse Hockey not sure if I'm the Sniper or the Enforcer.
That sounds more likely than my thought.
…Maybe a demotion will kickstart Comeau…
Lighthouse Hockey: Raising the compete level...whatever that means.
(MTBVibe: Now a twit!)
Oh, and word!
That was the other rule I made for myself: If I’m only doing one post today, by god we’re having some hockey talk in there too.
I wonder if it’s going to be Bailey/Schremp/Comeau, with Weight dropping down and the Nielsen line sticking together. Despite their struggles to score, there are actually some options here to try consistent lines and see if they gel. …until the next injury.
Lighthouse Hockey: You say that like Streit and Okposo and MacDonald were important.
That's a good rule.
I know that at the beginning of the season, I was arguing Bailey on wing and Schremp at center, but I’m feeling the other side of the debate now…be interesting to see a CBS line, whether or not it would work…we’ll see what hits the ice Saturday though.
Lighthouse Hockey: Raising the compete level...whatever that means.
(MTBVibe: Now a twit!)
/refuses to comment on Botta
Bahaha. I wanted to hold the same, but I started getting so many queries that I got to the point, “Okay, I’ll do a take on it and be done.”
Not that I don’t have personal opinions on it; but I don’t have all the evidence and I’m determined to spend my time working on this site on topics I enjoy covering rather than disputes like this.
Lighthouse Hockey: You say that like Streit and Okposo and MacDonald were important.
Botta
It seems to me that the Islanders have so much more to worry about than what Chris writes about the team. What are they so worried about. There aren’t manny good things to say during an 11 game winless streak.
Wang's probably thinking back in the old country if a reporter annoys you
you have him beaten to a pulp and thrown in the pokey…so Botta’s getting off lucky in his mind.
Wang was EIGHT when he moved to Brooklyn.
Pretty sure he doesn’t have any experience wielding power in “the old country” as you put it. Unless he was a good party member and official in 1952 at that age, right before emigrating.
Lighthouse Hockey: Raising the compete level...whatever that means.
(MTBVibe: Now a twit!)
by MTBVibe on Nov 18, 2010 8:37 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Thank you!
"The '69 Mets will live on forever. But do you think anybody cares about Ron Swoboda's wife and kids? Not me! And I assume not Ron Swoboda" --Homer Simpson
I'm sure BC was talking about Brooklyn...
We used to do it that way too… the only thing is we never ran over with a tank… though if we could get our hands on one…
Back in those days only the kids in the suburbs had tanks!
Jack's not nimble, Jack's not quick, but Jack can get another top five pick!
At eight, he was old enough to know how things worked was my point
and he certainly has ties to the old country now.
I don't know many people who left a Communist country and were fans of how it worked
But I do think the “save face” part of the culture was an intriguing point. I find a lot of first-generation kids battle over that with their immigrant parents.
*I took four years of Chinese by the way, so I totally know how to say “Can I please use the bathroom?” with perfect Hanyu intonation.
Lighthouse Hockey: You say that like Streit and Okposo and MacDonald were important.
actually if you study Chinese history
the PRC fits in rather well with historic Chinese attitudes. Democracy is not an historic Chinese value at all. In other words, the PRC’s behavior is very much in keeping with ancient traditions.
In several respects, yes. Sorry I hadn’t read up and realized you were referring to the Eastern way rather than Communist (Chinese version) in particular.
Lighthouse Hockey: You say that like Streit and Okposo and MacDonald were important.
However you feel about Botta...
This is kind of lame by the Isles. I’m (trying) not to take sides. I am a huge Isles fan, and I rarely read IPB anymore because Botta has been a very negative nancy, going so far as to change his own opinions. However, the Isles have to stop with this media blackout BS. This is a big reason why the Coliseum is empty. There is NO communication to the fans. WE are the ones who want the team here, so why not be upfront?!?
Now, I’m not saying total access for anyone. However, Newsday and Botta were the only ones reporting, and even if Botta was getting a little too weird with his comments, the Isles should be looking for more coverage. Plus, Botta could do ‘puff pieces’ that get us to love players more. He could do things that would never run in a newspaper.
Another thing, the Isles need to start explaining what is going on behind the scenes. I don’t want to know that the Isles threw big money at free agents who went elsewhere. I don’t want to know how that money was spent. I do want to know why a legend with the club was to eb reassigned, but then nothing is heard about it. Little things like this make the organization look bad. They can spin things their way if they just give us a little info. Instead, they give the Bottas room to spin it whatever way they want. Makes no sense.
Sorry if I rambled…
Head, shoulders, knees, and toes...Not a children's song, but the Isles injusry report.
You're not the only one.
I do want to know why a legend with the club was to eb reassigned, but then nothing is heard about it.
I’m dying to know myself, on that count.
Lighthouse Hockey: Raising the compete level...whatever that means.
(MTBVibe: Now a twit!)
Trots, he was removed from his position with the organization to be “re-assigned” and then nothing else came out about it.
"...my dad taking me to see my two "teams" and me looking up at him after the 6th goal thinking, "What have you done to me?"" - Dom
Contributor to Lighthouse Hockey not sure if I'm the Sniper or the Enforcer.
I’m actually working this weekend on a long article detailing the rebuild, where we are at now and why we’re there. It’s covering a lot of topics of prospects, maturation, and so on. Not sure when it’s going to be done done though.
"...my dad taking me to see my two "teams" and me looking up at him after the 6th goal thinking, "What have you done to me?"" - Dom
Contributor to Lighthouse Hockey not sure if I'm the Sniper or the Enforcer.
looking forward to it
if possible please give us a point of reference with other teams rebuilds based on timeframe and talent.thanks
by Lakewood Islander on Nov 18, 2010 11:22 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
you read my mind, it’s in the plans.
"...my dad taking me to see my two "teams" and me looking up at him after the 6th goal thinking, "What have you done to me?"" - Dom
Contributor to Lighthouse Hockey not sure if I'm the Sniper or the Enforcer.
HAVE WE BEEN SNOW-ED???
the general consensus on the job garth has done is satisfactory at worst,inspired at best.obviously to an extent his hands are constrained by financial considerations and therefore has focused on rebuilding through the draft and last minute nontendered talent. admirable. although i wonder if there is a pattern developing here with his ability to communicate or work at all with others. first there was ted nolan ,who we were told had conflicting views on the state of the team and its potential.more recently we have seen ryan janowski leave without being replaced.now gordon. today,a bizarre credential cancelation possibly due to cb’s critical tone of late. most of snow’s moves have the built in excuse of finances,which maybe true. Or does GS have a real problem working with others to the degree of getting rid of any dissenting voices? he is rarely available in the media and at those few times ,his comments are extremely cryptic. not withstanding the job he has done with the draft, do we have a situation that wang has totally trusted him? the same charles wang who refused to give such power to neil smith? I’m not sure what is going on but at the very least we should pay attention lest snow is really part of the problem and not the solution. no coach will be able to help a team that constanyly has a paranoid gm looking over his shoulder ready to axe him the second he senses a possible power struggle. ( then again,i could be overreacting)
by Lakewood Islander on Nov 19, 2010 12:44 AM EST via mobile reply actions
no way to know really
that’s the thing when you refuse to be transparent. When the media and the public are kept out of the loop, they tend to assume the worst.
There were several things at work with Garth and Nolan. Garth had embraced the rebuild while Ted had not, yes, and Ted really is not the sort of coach who was ever going to be suited to a full bore rebuild. But Ted had been foisted upon Garth and the two never really got along. Once Garth had Wang’s confidence, it was only a matter of time.
Ryan’s deal was where the lack of transparency is especially a factor. Did Ryan cross Garth or Wang or both? What caused the break? Just don’t know.
Gordo’s case was different. When Garth said he is a friend, I think he meant it. When he said it was a tough thing to do, I think he meant that as well. Not sure whether the firing was more Garth or more Wang. I am leaning toward the latter. Wang was probably going nuts saying Garth had to do something. It is well known around the league that no one wants to deal, so Garth was not going to be able to improve the product on the ice. In his mind, firing his friend Gordo may have been the only thing he could do.
jaffe probably was about money.trottier i have no clue. it just seems conveniamy for garth that any other “voice” is eventuslly silenced
by Lakewood Islander on Nov 19, 2010 10:31 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
i heart this
love the drama
not sure who’s side i’m on. kind of annoyed at both. botta started off cool then i think it all went to his head. not unusual i guess. but snow reminds me of nixon sitting in his office paranoid that the world is out to get him and probably dealing with a bit of a confidence issue as well.
and where the hell is DP? send him down or play him. i don’t get that.
i got poker this weekend… thank god. hockey’s no fun anymore… except for this stuff.
by Khan Noonien Singh on Nov 19, 2010 3:01 AM EST reply actions
not tp pig-pile the guy too badly
But this morning, Botta tweeted thus:
“So much support from fans, players, colleagues, power brokers. Indebted. 2 or 3 key folks who sadly have been scared silent…noted.”
Now, if I were CB, I would definitely appreciate those who took up my cause, or who at least understood my position. I’d say so, too. But the “key folks scared silent” bit is a little odd. Why “scared”? What’s the evidence – that they didn’t involve themselves? Maybe they just didn’t want to tell tales out of school, or they didn’t want to take sides at all, like Dom. Maybe they felt they had nothing useful to add.
The kicker is the little postscript. “…noted.” This sounds a lot like a guy making a list of grudges to hold. I mean, it’s Twitter – 140 characters – I’ve done a fine job of getting myself misunderstood with far more words, so I would believe CB if he said that’s not how he meant it. It might be a good idea for him to make that case, though. This tweet makes him look less-than-blameless in this.
Community Projected to have eleven more posts before blowing out his laptop
Lighthouse Hockey - a beacon of greatness on the rocky coast of sports blog mediocrity
gaaaaah, forgot my linkage
Sorry about that. The tweet is here. I have a screen cap too, but can’t figure out how to post it. The picture in a comment trick continutes to elude me.
Community Projected to have eleven more posts before blowing out his laptop
Lighthouse Hockey - a beacon of greatness on the rocky coast of sports blog mediocrity
yeah i read that and thought the same thing, sounds like a whiny pu$$y, and i like his blog (not his comments section so much)
sadly scared silent, like it’s their job to publicly defend him or support him in this? HE made this mess, not anyone else, so i don’t get it…
a profound return... i still love sammy octoberfest :-)
by bob l on Nov 19, 2010 10:35 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Ha!
That’s awesome. I wonder what “key folks” needed to speak up…and were “scared silent?” And how do you even determine that? Who in this world is obliged to rally for The Cause?
That’s funny though; people asked me a bunch so I finally posted my opinion, but I actually didn’t want to touch it because I don’t know what the spat really entails (it seems deep and personal to me) and I only think it was a strategically poor move on the Islanders’ part. Like quin has pointed out a bunch, we only know Botta’s side and the Isles will never come out more explicit with theirs, because they rarely do, usually to their peril.
Lighthouse Hockey: You say that like Streit and Okposo and MacDonald were important.
That’s awesome. I wonder what "key folks" needed to speak up…and were "scared silent?" And how do you even determine that? Who in this world is obliged to rally for The Cause?
Strange, isnt it? He is SO working people with all of this- and nearly all of them are completely oblivious that they are being fed how to feel.
That’s funny though; people asked me a bunch so I finally posted my opinion, but I actually didn’t want to touch it because I don’t know what the spat really entails (it seems deep and personal to me) and I only think it was a strategically poor move on the Islanders’ part. Like quin has pointed out a bunch, we only know Botta’s side and the Isles will never come out more explicit with theirs, because they rarely do, usually to their peril.
100% spot on, Dom.
The only thing we got from the Isles (and its a lot- for them) is that comment about Botta being allowed to blog from his couch lol.
Let Us Go, Islanders! (Ever notice how strange that sounds without the contraction?)
by TheMetalChick on Nov 19, 2010 2:34 PM EST up reply actions
Strange, isnt it? He is SO working people with all of this- and nearly all of them are completely oblivious that they are being fed how to feel.
That part of it bothers me tremendously. All of Botta’s recent tweets just come of as…slimy.
As for the timing, I’m wondering if the Isles thought they could bury it in the speculation and coverage of Gordon’s firing…or demanded resignation, or reassignment, or whatever we’re calling it.
Lighthouse Hockey: Raising the compete level...whatever that means.
(MTBVibe: Now a twit!)
Botta interview on Versus "Overtime"
Went well for him. Another one where he comes off very sincere, passionate for the team, trying to do his gig. One more that’s a PR hit for the club.
Although there was a face-palming moment when they went back to the studio and the player (Aaron Ward maybe?) segued his answer immediately into social media and bloggers, etc. rather than the topic of a team revoking credentials of an employed writer. After Ward(?) was done they had trouble bringing it back to the main issue, and they missed the opportunity to get Jaffe’s take as an until-recently quasi-Islanders employee.
Lighthouse Hockey: You say that like Streit and Okposo and MacDonald were important.
we’re back to what then?
situation normal, everything is fine here, ugh, how are you?
a profound return... i still love sammy octoberfest :-)
C3PO!!
Uh huh. After the way they used Jaffe, Guerin and Placey the other day to all provide nicely subtexted commentary on the firing of Gordon, I figured they’d at least get Jaffe’s take on this saga, too.
By the way, Jaffe just continues to shine. Always been a great color/sideline guy, but his work in the studio is great. I know these guys risk firing when they piss off the NHL, but last night for example he was able to at least raise the right questions with Colin Campbell.
Lighthouse Hockey: You say that like Streit and Okposo and MacDonald were important.
Finding myself...
Not pro anyone at this point. Could Botta have handled it better, sure, but I’m not about to start throwing handgrenades at one of the few people who actually seems to give a crap about the team I painfully support. Of greater concern to me is the tendency of Snowang to crap on anyone that doesn’t spout glowing praise for one of the worst organizations in proffessional sports. We are a bare step ahead of those poor bastards the Harlem Globe Trotters kick the crap out of on a regular basis and Snowang get all pissy whenever anyone points out that the Isles have some work to do.
So some of the draft picks in the top ten have been solid, that’s not exactly rocket science. Hey look we took Tavaras, we’re geniouses. What, Hamonic was a good pick and someone else might get credit? Get that guy out of here. I agree with JP that the De Haan pick still doesn’t feel great to me as they could have gotten him way later in the draft and held onto a bunch of other picks. I didn’t and don’t like the whole, how many goalies can we draft when no one else seems tobe interested approach either. Oh wait there’s a knock on my door, my fan status has been revoked because I"m too critical of a last place team that doesn’t look like it’s gonna get a whole lot better any time soon.
Pissing contest
All that this pissing contest has gotten us is less coverage than before. I’m sour on both of them at this point. Now we get less insight to the days event because adults and professionals couldn’t act civilly.
Chris stop being so petty and act like the journalist your purport to be. Snow is acting about as thin skinned as Botta does with his comment guidelines. Wonder who established the Islander PR rule book they are still following? Stop playing innocent victim, Snow doesn’t grant you an interview or doesn’t give you the dial in. Suck it up and report, get the facts straight, but leave yourself out of the coverage. Your mancrush relationship has soured, so what. Don’t repeat so often how instrumental you were in helping people get to where they are, they don’t owe you anything. No one shut down your site, you’re being a drama queen so please stop it. If you have to say you won’t be reporting from the Coliseum because you’re credential were revoked fine that’s the story not you were shut down by the internet police. Columnist or PR man, pick one if you must.
Garth stop worrying about what Botta writes. Be thankful there is still someone left that cares. The bigger the controversy the more coverage you get. I say better to have fans that passionately hate you then people being indifferent. Indifference never sold anything. Open up a litlle, relax the world isn’t trying to get you. The paranoia deal doesn’t work. Get in front of the story for once and explain your side and be rationale. Reporting from your couch is as petty a comment as Botta’s. You do owe the fans a basic explanation once in a while, this is an entertainment business and we pay for it. Noone ever looked like a big man by acting small. Ignoring the issues doesn’t make them go away, what happned with Jankowski, Trottier, Jaffe, why do you think you don’t need and asst GM or director of player personnel?
Botta's Staged Story Comment Refuted by Paul Martin's Agent
http://nhl.fanhouse.com/2010/09/11/2010-11-new-york-islanders-preview-sticking-to-a-plan/
Botta AOL FANHOUSE 9/11/2010
We will find out if the Islanders are serious about winning when the unrestricted free agency period brings an important piece to the puzzle, NOT STAGES STORIES like this summer of trying to lure Paul Martin and placing a call to Ilya Kovalchuk.
Paul Martin’s agent, Ben Hankinson of Octagon Hockey to NYIFC on 9/14/2010 via e-mail
As I stated before Garth Snow was very aggressive in pursuing unrestricted free agent Paul Martin on July 1, 2010. Garth called my office more than any other NHL GM. Garth directly spoke to Paul on the phone and also had Doug Weight call and speak with Paul. Garth offered more money than any other team. It was not staged. I certainly did not have time on July 1 to waste. I did express our (Paul’s) concerns about playing in an older building when Garth replied "Paul would be sitting on the (bleeping) players bench, not in the stands." It was not a staged story.
By all means feel free to contact Mr Hankinson as I did to confirm.
by New York Islander Fan Central on Nov 20, 2010 1:40 AM EST reply actions 3 recs
Wow, didn't know botta said it was bs. Pretty sure it was known what garth tried to do to bring in guys, but botta of course put down garth's attempts as malarky and not doing his job.
Botta’s a prick for that.
Go isles or Go home.
not saying Botta's a great guy
but there really isn’t anybody else other than Katy Intern+ covering the team at all. If they didn’t like the coverage he was giving them, they could have found another way to get their message out.
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1979-80
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May 24, 1980: Tonelli to Nystrom. At long last, the steady build of the New York Islanders from expansion doormat to surprise semifinalist to annual contender reaches the promised land: Buoyed by a late season trade for Butch Goring that gave the team the depth up the middle GM Bill Torrey had been seeking, the Islanders knock off the Philadelphia Flyers in six games.
The victory justified the faith in coach Al Arbour who guided them from their second season to their first Stanley Cup seven seasons later. The Islanders would not be the first expansion team to win the Stanley Cup, but they would be the only one capable of a dynasty.
1980-81
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May 21, 1981: This time it was much easier. After falling to "only" 91 points in the 1979-80 season, the Islanders returned to their division title tradition, piling up 110 points -- a whole 13 points over second-place Philadelphia.
Between the quarterfinals (where they beat the upstart Oilers in six games) and the finals, the Islanders reeled off eight consecutive wins -- with a four-game sweep of archrival Rangers in between. As they defeated the Minnesota North Stars in five games for their second Cup, their goal difference in the final was a combined +10.
1981-82
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May 16, 1982: Another year, another landslide title. The Islanders won the Patrick Division by a whopping 26 points over the second-place Rangers, and were seven points clear of their nearest competition for the President's Trophy, the still-not-quite-ripe Edmonton Oilers.
A first-round scare against the Pittsburgh Penguins turned in the Isles' favor thanks to John Tonelli's heroics, and a true dynasty was on its way: Past the Rangers in six games, then an eight-game sweep of the Quebec Nordiques and Vancouver Canucks to run away with the Stanley Cup.
1982-83
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May 17, 1983: Not so fast, whipper-snappers. The Edmonton Oilers' steadily rising challenge for league supremacy took them all the way to the finals for the first time, where the New York Islanders summarily dispatched them in a four-game sweep. For the Islanders, the Dynasty was secured. For the Oilers, it was a powerful lesson in where talent ends and the demands of playoff hockey begin.
Four years, four Cups, 16 consecutive playoff series wins (a record that would grow to 19 until the rematch with the Oilers the following year). Mike Bossy scored 60 goals yet again, and Wayne Gretzky became acquainted with Billy Smith's crease.
