Jaffe's Contract Not Being Renewed - World is Ending!
by The Fitz on Jul 23, 2010 10:41 AM EDT
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PrintEditor's note from Dominik: The Fitz writes his take on the Jaffe news in this FanPost, so for any main-page surfers who miss the right-margin content, let's direct discussion of the Jaffe decision and speculation on replacements here.
So it was just reported by Botta over at Pointblank that Billy Jaffe's contract is not being renewed by MSG and the Islanders. As reported by Botta, this is an Islanders decision and not an MSG decision. Now I personally really liked Jaffe and thought he was great at what he did, and I am sure there are reasons why the Islanders did not want him back. They may be good reasons and they may be bad reasons.
But the comments section over at Pointblank has blown up with hysteria as usual. People are calling for Wang to sell the team because of this. They are calling the Islanders a Micky Mouse organization because of this. And people are saying they are embarrassed to be an Isles fan because of this.
Really?
Of all the dumb things this organization has done in the past, this is about number 674 on the list. It's just a play by play announcer. They come and go all the time in this business. This has zero effect on how the team performs on the ice. Why must Islander fans be so dramatic all the time? It looks like a bunch of 15 year old girls took over the comments section. This is, of course, typical of Islander fans. I mean the Islanders DARED to have Kevin Connolly announce a draft pick for them at the draft this year. How could they?! How dare a professional sports team does something that is fun! Geez, what is this a sport or something??
Islander fans need to take a chill pill.
I understand that this team has pretty much stunk since the late 80's, but it is only a sports team. I am as passionate an Islanders fan as there is, but also realize that in the grand scheme of things, who is announcing a draft pick, or who is the color commentator for a professional sports team is not that big of a deal. We need to put things in perspective. It is time to start acting like adults. Let's root for who we have on our team, not who we want. Let's support our owner and GM. And yes, criticize when necessary (like not drafting Parise and raising ticket prices a year after finishing 26th in the league).
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I'm more than ready to criticize
But its an off ice decision. I loved the Jaff but on ice is what I’m more interested in. Unlike not replacing our assistant GM this one I wont attack them on. Grantedi will politely disagree with them and will hope he lands on his feet. Granted this is another example of the lack of PR on the isles part but they don’t seem to care
Jaffe
I am about to puke. The keep Howie the old guy who drops Rangers comments all the time and they let Billy Jaffe go? WTFITWCT? This entire off-season blows one chunk after another.
candidates to replace jaffe?
just when you get used to the chemistry built by two guys in the booth, they go and mess it up… ugh, i can’t really worry too much about this though til i find out who’s replacing him…
i will lose my mind if it’s that asshole Carlin, i’d much rather have to listen to fran drescher or jar jar binks than hear him stammer through a game…
maybe they will get chris king back into the fold, he did the ITV broadcast for the scrimmage right?
still trying to figure out the meaning of "want you, cuckoo, cannonball" ... ... ... 17 years later...
Paves the way for ... whom?
I wondered if this was in the cards with the weird contract silence, but I still can’t fathom why unless it’s money or unless they are trying to get Denis Potvin for nostalgia’s sake.
Without any homer feelings or anything toward Jaffe, I’d still objectively say he’s become one of the best color guys in the league. He’s able to break down plays quickly in what has become a very short window with the sped-up broadcasts, and he doesn’t take over broadcasts with his personality. Seems that’s exactly what you’d want in a color guy.
Lighthouse Hockey: Adapting forecasts to the disturbance known as Nino.
Doubt it, given how cheap they are with the broadcasting
…but ever since Potvin was axed by Florida last summer, I wondered if they’d try that, since they’ve made obvious moves toward stoking the past (I’m talking the unis and the tasteful inclusion of Trottier/Bossy/Morrow/Nystrom in various stuff, not the naked banner nights).
But Potvin probably commands a high salary, so I kind of doubt it.
Lighthouse Hockey: Adapting forecasts to the disturbance known as Nino.
I imagined it’s money over “criticism” that cut this deal. He was a spot announcer on Versus, likable and well spoken, and the skinflints couldn’t handle paying for his services. More than anything it’s annoying when you cannot field a product that wins, and then you let go some of the people whom fans develop a rapport with over time. It’s like getting kicked in the guy, and then again for no reason. Overreacting? Probably, but Jaffe made the mid-January road-trip slogging enjoyable and gave me a good reason to watch every game.
I cannot wait for Rakh-tober.
I wonder that too
The criticism argument doesn’t seem to fly; his criticism of the team wouldn’t even make the Kremlin blink. But his profile has risen, so I do wonder if money was a factor. Their broadcasting decisions trend toward pennywise, pound-foolish.
Lighthouse Hockey: Adapting forecasts to the disturbance known as Nino.
again, msg’s dime, not wang’s, so this wasn’t about money
still trying to figure out the meaning of "want you, cuckoo, cannonball" ... ... ... 17 years later...
Is it completely MSG’s dime though? I think you’re right, I’m just trying to think through this, hypothetically: Guy wants a raise, MSG tells team “Just so you know, this guy wants a raise, we’ll give it to him, but…”
Lighthouse Hockey: Adapting forecasts to the disturbance known as Nino.
If you can trust what IPB and Botta say pound for pound, Bob is spot on. MSG had a deal in place and the Isles shot it down. http://twitter.com/ChrisBottaNHL/status/19358140583
I cannot wait for Rakh-tober.
Wow!!!
I guess Snow and Wang just put on the clownnose and big shoes if Botta is correct. Terrible job, guess we want rah rah announcers just like the Rag$
"Reason: Not Positive Enough"
Holy! … it’s worse than I thought! That’s ungodly unacceptable.
They know broadcasts patently suck when the announcers are muzzled, right? (Don’t answer that.)
Lighthouse Hockey: Adapting forecasts to the disturbance known as Nino.
by Dominik on Jul 23, 2010 3:51 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Im sure we will hear that
We will have to give the Isles the benefit of the doubt. But if it quacks like a duck and walks like a duck …..
You guys are all off base...
Pots doesn’t want to live back on LI… BUT THIS GUY DOES!
The NY Islanders are about to redo the salary cap floor with russian marble!
Brilliant
Three favorite joke theories from this thread so far:
1. Snow will assume additional duties
2. Wang chooses Trottier, so Trotts stays in the org but his salary is paid by MSG
3. DP, lifer.
Gallows humor is where it’s at.
Lighthouse Hockey: Adapting forecasts to the disturbance known as Nino.
I don’t have a dog in this fight but I thought Jaffe was a very good color commentator. The move makes no sense to me and if it’s true that they fired him because he dared to criticize the team then that’s just a pathetic sign of insecurity. Do the powers that be really think the team was above critique last season? I didn’t watch NYI as much as you guys, but when I did it never seemed like Jaffe was in there hammering the team. You have to be able to live with some criticism, especially when deserved.
Howie is terrible, IMO so they definitely axed the wrong guy. If this means Fischler gets a more prominent role then the Isles will become a joke. I’m trying to be respectful, but Fischler is fucking terrible. Hopefully they find someone to fill in for Jaffe, but I have a hard time believing they’ll make the right call.
Lockout talk makes me want to go out and choke an old lady - Elliotte Friedman
Ahhh Fischler. I’ll never forget he somehow got the 2nd or 3rd question off to Gretzky during post his last game ever and it was something about a rumor that Gretzky was going to buy a team. Everyone looked at him like he was a maniac.
Wheel of Location, Turn Turn Turn. Tell us the location that we will play.
Contributor to Lighthouse Hockey not sure if I'm the Sniper or the Enforcer.
Disagree!
Granted if the team is playing well, this matters LESS, but Jaffe had an ability to make getting your ass kicked exciting and meaningful, especially during those 10 minute Phil Rizzuto WW moments that Howie has late in the game. Jaffe is going to end up on VS and will do a great job, meanwhile, we’ll get stuck having to listen to a Michelletti. Name someone better than Jaffe and I’ll care less, but I’m pretty sure he blows Potvin out if the water, nostalgia or not. Obviously the on ice product is most meaningful, but this is annoying and it’s not like you can turn on the radio instead because it’s the same guys!
by Keith Quinn on Jul 23, 2010 11:37 AM EDT via mobile reply actions
Name someone better than Jaffe and I’ll care less, but I’m pretty sure he blows Potvin out if the water, nostalgia or not.
I agree with that, too. Another irritating thing about this is, chemistry is a big deal. I could take or leave Howie on hockey broadcasts, particularly NYI hockey broadcasts, but Jaffe had built up the chemistry that made Howie acceptable to me.
Lighthouse Hockey: Adapting forecasts to the disturbance known as Nino.
No more calls...
…we have a winner.
As a Center Ice customer for quite a while, I’d have to say that Billy has done an OUTSTANDING job. Definitely top 5 in the league as a color guy.
I’d be affected less if they announced that they were bringing back my favorite player… but Jaffe was better than Denis in the booth… It just hurts when the organization does so many “against the grain” things… and so few of them work out. (Smartest guy in the room syndrome)
The NY Islanders are about to redo the salary cap floor with russian marble!
(Smartest guy in the room syndrome)
Seriously. With the caveat that I don’t know their succession plan yet — so maybe there is a miracle answer I haven’t thought of (and maybe I will be a billionaire someday too) — how exactly did the dialog go on this one? Did someone in the smart-guy room really say, “You know what? Billy just isn’t working out.” ?
Lighthouse Hockey: Adapting forecasts to the disturbance known as Nino.
Most likely it was
You know Billy is asking for… and we can pay “insert name” … therefore lets not renew. PR 101 nis something they seem to be lacking this summer
By the way
I would like to know how season ticket renewals are doing. With the economy and the crappy PR it must be quite a horrible job to be a salesperson for the Isles.
If they called me Id ask about the lighthouse, whether you are leaving the area, Janks, and Jaffe. See what spin can they put on it. But all is not lost we have an officila cupcake LOL
They probably sold a ton of them after drafting Nino or at the Draft Party in general. From going to Islanders games back in 1999/2000 when the team was at its worse, they always seem to sell a decent amount of season tickets. Why do I say this? Because I would be at a near empty Nassau, only to see in the box score the next day that attendance was somehow 10,000 or more people.
Wheel of Location, Turn Turn Turn. Tell us the location that we will play.
Contributor to Lighthouse Hockey not sure if I'm the Sniper or the Enforcer.
I liken it to bettman/espn
I know some don’t agree with this argument, but Jaffe represented the Islanders when he was on VS, and the Hockey Network. It kind of said, “Hey, the Islanders did their homework on this guy, he’s sharp, he has personality and he is hockey”
It is one psuedo promotional tool they will no longer have. Much like, I believe, the NHL moving away from ESPN. ESPN promotes the hell out of its products… and they are growing. So even if you had 200 games a year on ESPN 5, there would be 24/7 hockey promotion on the rest of the network….
Just bad moves. It will be better if they had announced their plan “B” at the same time, but now we can only speculate… and given their history, it’’s not going to be good better.
The NY Islanders are about to redo the salary cap floor with russian marble!
Agree, since I follow on Center Ice as well (agree on Potvin as well). For those that don’t think play-by-play matters then you must really enjoy the game with the volume turned off. Having to listen to so many bad broadcasts from other markets, I realize how Jaffe did a great job of not getting on my nerves.
I actually watch Cap games muted because I can’t "stand biscuit in the basket " Laughlin. Besides, I would be threatened with a divorce if my wife had to listen to his grating voice. Just the sound of his voice on the pre-game and she asks if I can switch to the out of market broadcast (which of course I can’t when playing the Isles) so that she doesn’t have to listen to Squiggy.
Oh man
For my ears, Caps broadcasts are the worst. I know Caps fans love both those guys; maybe it’s a “you had to be there” thing. I could stand never hearing “simply sensational” ever, ever, ever again.
Lighthouse Hockey: Adapting forecasts to the disturbance known as Nino.
Wow, someone agrees with me!
I thought it was only me with those Washington broadcasts. They are pretty bad…and they aren’t the only ones…
I see Jaffe on Versus or Sportsnet, or working with the NHL Network more. He is good, and did help make watching Isles games more enjoyable.
Most teams I believe approve the broadcasters that are hired by the services carrying the games. It surprises me though, that a number of teams are simulcasting radio and TV now, and largely ignoring the Internet audio only market {which some teams do a great job with, others not}. Kind of hard to watch the radio to see the instant replay the announcers are watching.
Not all ex players make great broadcasters either, but some work hard at it, figure it out and have improved over time. {Pittsburgh’s Bob Errey is a good example}. Sometimes I believe teams and management forget that this is still a major way to connect with your fans worldwide, and there are marketing and merchandising potential here as well as a way to increase revenue. Of course, the fans have to find these broadcasts, and there are teams that never broadcast two consecutive games on the same station, but that is a different issue altogether.
It's always a great day or night for hockey - no matter the time or place!
It surprises me though, that a number of teams are simulcasting radio and TV now, and largely ignoring the Internet audio only market {which some teams do a great job with, others not}.
Great point. It’s like they’ve abandoned radio (“people can just listen online now anyway”) without remembering that, um, you could actually add value by investing in the presentation of the audio feed, whether online or over the air. Listening to a simulcast can be downright frustrating when you can’t see what they’re talking about.
Lighthouse Hockey: Adapting forecasts to the disturbance known as Nino.
Wow, someone agrees with me!
Make it at least two people.
For my money, the worst are the Caps and the Pens. I recently altered my cable subscription and no longer get Versus and my first thought wasn’t, “Darn, now I’ll miss out on some games,” but rather, “At least I won’t have to listen to that dreadful Joe Beninati.”
Playing Devils' advocate since 1982.
Ha. Caps are definitely not the worst, but I’m not going to go to bat for that team as anything above average. I think Joe B. does a decent job but Laughlin is ridiculous. It’ll never happen but I’d love it if the Caps swapped out Laughlin for Jaffe. BUF and BOS are worse than the Caps, as are PIT, CAR, and depending on my mood sometimes COL/MIN.
Lockout talk makes me want to go out and choke an old lady - Elliotte Friedman
I agree with every word of that...
I actually like Joe B. (and he’s an Islander fan). Laughlin is like listening to 3 hours of fingernails on a chalkboard.
The NY Islanders are about to redo the salary cap floor with russian marble!
I could go on and on and on about Locker. One of my biggest problems is that he only ever “analyzes” or “breaks down” the most obvious plays ever. If there is a goal, that’s what he is breaking down. He never comes close to analyzing anything that would be useful to a fan that has even a passing clue of the game. Show me the breakout or neutral zone systems. I don’t need you to show me how the guy got a breakaway and scored. I have eyes already.
Lockout talk makes me want to go out and choke an old lady - Elliotte Friedman
He never comes close to analyzing anything that would be useful to a fan that has even a passing clue of the game. Show me the breakout or neutral zone systems. I
One of Jaffe’s strengths is pointing out the little things that go unnoticed yet help make the obvious play happen.
Good broadcasters can do that. Darren Pang is very good with that, especially from a goaltending standpoint. Dave Strader and Darren Pang work very well together.
There is really no broadcaster I do not really like to listen to, just a couple that are more annoying than others {Terry Crisp comes to mind} but the thing you need to remember is that every broadcaster for the most part is really broadcasting to the home teams fans, wherever they are, and however the feed is coming to them. Nashville and Phoenix should be doing their games and analysis different than the Islanders and Penguins, and everybody else. The home market is different from city to city, especially with fan knowledge levels.
If you really want to listen to some bad hockey broadcasting, try some ECHL games, and most of those teams do not do a lot of TV. You may appreciate some of the NHL broadcasters a little bit more. Some.
It's always a great day or night for hockey - no matter the time or place!
One of Jaffe’s strengths is pointing out the little things that go unnoticed yet help make the obvious play happen.
I can’t emphasize enough how great Jaffe is at doing that in minimal time, too. With the quick faceoffs and fewer commercial breaks now, I’m always impressed that he’d got a rational overhead view to lay out within seconds…
Lighthouse Hockey: Adapting forecasts to the disturbance known as Nino.
You're Right, Dom
He has a great sense of when, how, and how much to add to the play by play or to the images themselves. Let’s just hope they pull a Jaffe with the replacement, like they did when they had to replace Micheletti. I’ll be bummed if they misfire on this one. I really enjoyed listening to him.
Good lord YES!!!
Laughlin is the most annoying color guy in the business. If rocks could be jocks, he would be dumber than a box of jock rocks. Between his nasaliest of nasal tones, and the 15 years of… you know… that round breakfast roll in the wood woven transportation device… HE KILLS ME. And in VA that’s all I get when the Isles play Washington… Next year I’m getting satellite radio just so I can turn of the sound on those games.
The NY Islanders are about to redo the salary cap floor with russian marble!
So we are in agreement there is at least one voice that could stop me from watching a game, not necessarily the Islanders, but a generic game.
i’m very anti michelletti, i cant watch anything he takes part in, he’s a goofball now
still trying to figure out the meaning of "want you, cuckoo, cannonball" ... ... ... 17 years later...
by bob l on Jul 23, 2010 3:12 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
I agree Jaffe is much better than Potvin, but as far as the best color commentator in the league, my money is on Daryl Reaugh. I don’t even like the Stars but he draws me to watch them. Great sense of humor, great understanding of the game, doesn’t overdo it with the rah rah. I’m kind of surprised he hasn’t gotten jobs doing games on VS or any of the other outlets for nationally televised games (in the US or Canada).
Lockout talk makes me want to go out and choke an old lady - Elliotte Friedman
The Jaff
I was a big fan of Billy Jaffe. I agree with Dom, I thought his insight was very impressive, and he was good to listen to throughout the game. He was good enough to get picked up for national broadcasts on VS, and I figure that is where he will end up, and good for him.
Is the sky falling? No. Are many fans overreacting? Of course. Could this all be prevented by the organization opening it’s mouth to tell us, the fans, what is going on? Maybe.
This summer’s moves could have been handled better. Now, I know the on-ice product is most important, but these moves are also important, on a smaller scale. These moves may not win us anymore games, but is it wrong for us as fans to feel the organization owes us an explanation? I am not a shareholder, I don’t go to any meetings, but I do pay admission. I do know that the New York Islanders do not exist if there are no fans. So why keep us in the dark. These moves could have been handled so much better, but they have kept everyone in the dark. I think some people are overreacting, but as paying customers they deserve an explanation, that’s all.
IT'S OFFICIAL!!!
BRING BACK #18 AND JIGGS AND GIVE ME A BROADCAST TEAM I CAN ACTUALLY LISTEN TO!
I really liked The Jaff both as a color guy and as a person (being in the Blog Box has it’s perks, you get to meet some quality people). I’m very disappointed that the Front Office decided not to bring him back.
It feels eerily like what was done to John Wideman and Steve Mears, both quality radio guys who could make paint drying seem exciting. Thankfully, they landed in Chicago and got a chance to call for a Stanley Cup Champ and Pittsburgh, home of a new building and the crying face of the NHL, respectively.
If they bring back Michelleti I’m jumping in the car and personally ending his boneheaded analysis of the simplest of plays (“I don’t know if that went off the post or if it hit Lundqvist in the logo?!” As the puck CLEARLY RINGS OFF THE POST and redirects into the netting). I absolutely can’t stand the man. He makes Sam Rosen seem like a decent announcer. At least when JD was doing the broadcasts (despite being a total homer) he at least had the correct reads of the play and a much better voice for the broadcast.
Personal opinion, Kinger gets his shot in the booth. It just won’t be the same…
Gonna miss you Jaff.
From the Penalty Box to the Blog Box! Check it out at Isles Official's Outlook!
P.S.
I can do without Howie. His mispronunciation of names and mistaken players are infuriating.
It’s KO-STEET-SIN, not KO-STITCH-IN. Moron.
No matter how many times Billy tried to correct him, he never got the message.
From the Penalty Box to the Blog Box! Check it out at Isles Official's Outlook!
by IslesOfficial on Jul 23, 2010 11:55 AM EDT up reply actions
Thought of another one
It’s PEAR-EN-TOE, not PAREN-TOE.
You know the guy is French-Canadian right Howie?
Stick to the Mets Radio and leave the Isles job to someone more qualified for hockey. Thanks.
Fin.
From the Penalty Box to the Blog Box! Check it out at Isles Official's Outlook!
by IslesOfficial on Jul 23, 2010 11:59 AM EDT up reply actions
The tension between Howie and Billy was annoying
and it was all Howie’s fault – he was so transparently jealous. Howie is just awful. And I root for the Mets so I’m stuck with him all year round. Plus his long lost twin brother Gary Cohen. OOF – the pain!
That, sir
…is one snazzy looking man.
I agree: I’m thinking Jaffe has enough “juice” that someone will snap him up.
Lighthouse Hockey: Adapting forecasts to the disturbance known as Nino.
Totally Jewish Mafioso
From the Penalty Box to the Blog Box! Check it out at Isles Official's Outlook!
by IslesOfficial on Jul 23, 2010 12:00 PM EDT up reply actions
Represent!
From the Penalty Box to the Blog Box! Check it out at Isles Official's Outlook!
by IslesOfficial on Jul 23, 2010 12:01 PM EDT up reply actions
And While We're On The Topic
Fire Howie. He is terrible. Too many mistakes, no feel for the game.
If I were removing someone from the broadcast
…it would not be Billy. I’m reminded of the NHL Network’s “Voices” series, and how when they got around to doing the Isles, they chose…Howie. And his Rangers backstory. Because god knows we wouldn’t want to see how the smooth analyst Billy prepares for Islanders games, no that would be actually interesting.
Lighthouse Hockey: Adapting forecasts to the disturbance known as Nino.
Um, Hmm
I thought Micheletti also had a good feel but somewhat of an annoying voice. Jaffe is smooth!
Too bad.
Micheletti
I LOVED him in St. Louis and was happy he landed with the Isles; then I enjoyed him less, and now I wonder if my tastes have changed or if his style has changed or gotten homogenized. It feels like he used to be more insightful with his analysis (like Jaffe is NOW!) than he is now.
Lighthouse Hockey: Adapting forecasts to the disturbance known as Nino.
I think he is a Ranger homer now, afraid to provide real analysis [which would have to be criticism of that organization].
If that’s true (I hope it is), it would definitely make me feel a little more sane about my memory.
Lighthouse Hockey: Adapting forecasts to the disturbance known as Nino.
Not your memory. Michelleti must have gotten the memo that the Dolan empire shall not be criticized. It is actually quite the torture listening to him now considering how much I liked how he called Islander games and wondering what happened? Then again sitting next to “Rangers-do-no-wrong” Rosen it may be a defense mechanism to not have to continually vehemently disagree with your co-anchor.
I Don't Know
I always thought Rosen & JD were fair. Both willing to admit a Ranger infraction was, indeed, a penalty and also to criticize Rangers for stupid penalties. and bad play.
When JD was there it wasn’t as bad although he was good at excuses. Once JD left Rosen seems like he is less concerned about play-by-play and more concerned with his great hockey “insight”.
Agreed
Rosen throws out random theories and it seems like Joe has to spend time massaging them back toward reality.
And agreed, JD was not as bad with the homerisms but still good atexcuses. Maybe unfair to single this out, but here’s an example: Tikkanen slashing Lindros. No matter how brutal “both teams” have been, there’s really no excuse for tomahawking a guy in the back of the leg.
Lighthouse Hockey: Adapting forecasts to the disturbance known as Nino.
Always thought
That as the “hockey night in NY” thing developed, the homerisms were cut down significantly by ALL of the play by play teams, then felt like after JD left, Michelleti really upped them again. Also looks like Rosen spends alot of time trying to not kill Michelletti in the booth and it doesn’t sound like they’re ever on the same page. Now, it just may be that Isle/Rags games are going to need to be muted no matter what channel they’re on.
Michelletti sucks, and if he comes back here and I an Islander homer, I’m going to puke.
by Keith Quinn on Jul 23, 2010 2:41 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
he never wanted to be the isles announcer, it was obvious, he never let the idiotic passion bleed for them like he does now for the rags, plus he’s blind, literally, when it suits him
still trying to figure out the meaning of "want you, cuckoo, cannonball" ... ... ... 17 years later...
lol on blind announcers. I still remember Jets’ announcers saying Vinny was “Definitely in the End zone”…
Wheel of Location, Turn Turn Turn. Tell us the location that we will play.
Contributor to Lighthouse Hockey not sure if I'm the Sniper or the Enforcer.
if memory serves the worst most recent example was avery’s slash on gomez at the end of the season, i think rosen cut joe off before he could shove his foot further into his mouth, as he was of course defending avery before the replay was shown
still trying to figure out the meaning of "want you, cuckoo, cannonball" ... ... ... 17 years later...
I always hate that since announcers feel like they have to “keep talking” and have a fear of dead air that they have to split second make a decision on a play. Is it really to much to say “That didn’t look right, we’re going to take a second look at it in a moment” instead of automatically taking a position.
It reminds me of Schremp’s baseball goal last year, the Avs announcers are all over it for being a non-goal, before and during the replays, till they actually see a replay angle that you could tell what was going on.
Wheel of Location, Turn Turn Turn. Tell us the location that we will play.
Contributor to Lighthouse Hockey not sure if I'm the Sniper or the Enforcer.
That’s a really good point. I didn’t think about that until now. I actually think that will be the most likely scenario. I like Butchy, I think he would do a good job.
You know what would be fun?
I know no one does this and it could be a disaster, but I’d prefer just Billy and Butch analyzing the game. Trade play-by-play duties at will and just have it be a narration of the game with each of them commenting at will, like at a bar.
Lighthouse Hockey: Adapting forecasts to the disturbance known as Nino.
WORD JUST IN...
Garth Snow is taking over so we can save more $.
by kcNYI on Jul 23, 2010 12:12 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
Trottier??
They said they wanted to keep him in the organization and if he gets hired for the color job he would still be in the organization but being paid by MSG. A dream come true for Wang! Then again, I have no idea if he has any experience or if he would be any good. Just throwing it out there.
God please no
Trots is about as exciting as watching molasses run. . Again I wont kill them but they could have gotten ahead of the issue by announcing a hire before this came out.
Trottier is my all-time favorite Islanders, but not much of a talker. Can’t see how he would work, but who knows what could happen in the booth. I think he stated that he wanted to remain with the organization, but I don’t know that we have heard anything from the Islanders wanting to retain him. I seriosuly doubt that they could take the criticism from one of their Mt. Rushmore icons (Along with Bossy and Potvin).
Next debate who would be on the Islsanders MT. Rusmore for all time greatest?
Thats a tough one
Because we all know how friendly Billy Smith has been since he left LOL, and Trots…. well he went to the Rags, and I know a paycheck is a paycheck but……..
Disagree
This is a poor move. From a fan-base perspective, ownership is making it very difficult to create and nurture new fans. It’s not quite Chicago, where you had the blackouts out and an entire generation didn’t now hockey existed (…well, until winning a Stanley Cup, that changes that quickly), but close.
I live in Brooklyn and can’t listen to the Islanders on the radio. If I drive out to Suffolk County I have to go online to find which of the three stations the game might be on in any given area. These are some mighty weak stations also, not lasting for more than a few miles. When I do luckily get reception, it’s the TV simulcast. I happen to like Howie and thought Jaffe was great, but TV broadcasts do not translate well to radio.
So essentially I can’t follow a game unless I’m at home. And even then I can only watch if only 2/3 metro teams are playing (or go back online, find whatever channel will broadcast using 1980 video quality and sound that is as synced as a kung fu movie.
So now the Islanders let go a near-unanmimus quality color man. I can only imaging the replacement will be inferior. Well, this is a problem.
Quality broadcasters make a game more enjoyable, whether it be a tense nailbiter or over by the second period with nothing more to say. I can’t watch baseball on ESPN regardless of the matchup or excitement of the game. I can’t watch a yankee game on YES or listen to them on the radio. Last year (well, if I had nothing better to do) would watch the Islanders get blown out. I’ll watch the Mets get blownout and listen to Gary/Keith/Ron. They have interesting stories and anaylsis. I’ll learn something new. It’s presented well and punctuated with some personality.
Getting back around to my point, despite the the quality on the ice presentation matters. Not only to big fans like us, but more importantly to casual fans. You don’t get people to come to games and buy tickets and merchandise if you cant present the game in an enjoyable matter. I lived in Chicago during the blackout era and got to watch pretty good teams in an empty stadium.
Islanders have plenty of problems, it was a mistake to add this to the pile.
by #11 was no all-star on Jul 23, 2010 12:43 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
This!
In a nutshell, that’s exactly why it’s foolish to go cheap and/or musical chairs with broadcast decisions. This stuff has long-term consequences!
Following sports is inherently a hobby/irraitonal decision. How many people fell in love with their various sports rituals thanks to random nostalgic things like “I used to love the stories he told on the radio” or “his analysis made watching losses in those days tolerable” etc.?
Lighthouse Hockey: Adapting forecasts to the disturbance known as Nino.
I would like to agree but
Not many here are going to stop watching because of Jaffe being not here. And as they have shown all summer they dont seem to give a crap about what this pasionate fanbase has to say about how they go about things. Just like chicago, if they win the fans come back. I honestly will somewhat agree with the original post that in a summer of bad news this isnt something Im going to get up in arms. Between Janks, and the arena stuff there is enough things going on to piss me off, By the way, I am not an Isles apologist by any extent (see my Janks reaction)
I don’t know if it makes people stop watching (all of us lab mice sign up for torture in the hope of a few delicious hits), but I’m referring to the long-term development of new fans when you’re relying on shoddy radio signals and dumping popular fan voices. “Dad was listening to the game on the radio, it got me hooked, it reminds me of those days with my Dad, that’s why I’m still a fan” — that sort of thing.
I’m actually curious what, if anything, makes people finally “stop” being a fan, and I’d have to bet it usually comes by a thousand cuts mixed with other life commitments. Some bad PR moves during a summer might qualify as a few of those cuts.
Lighthouse Hockey: Adapting forecasts to the disturbance known as Nino.
they dont seem to care
And I will be honest, I guess I have been so beat up I already knew he was gone the moment I heard it wasn’t a no brainer he came back . I guess my outrage came a few weeks ago
I agree
Nobody who follows the website will stop watching just because Jaffe is gone. Hell, we on this website, would watch Islanders games if they played the soundtrack to Cats over the game.
The people on this site are masochists. Islander fans are masochists. The most exciting thing to happen to this team since 93 is that they finally decided to rebuild properly by becoming awful. And we rightfully cheer this decision. And the product on the ice is more entertaining and promissing than it has been in years.
What this team has to worry about are the season ticket holders who have been around forever, but might be more casual fans. More importantly, the next generation of fans. Plenty of sports to watch from fall to spring in NY- why take a reason to watch this team and get hooked away from them?
by #11 was no all-star on Jul 23, 2010 2:09 PM EDT up reply actions
Whoa whoa whoa
Hell, we on this website, would watch Islanders games if they played the soundtrack to Cats over the game.
Come on, some of us have standards!
…okay I’d still watch with “Cats” but “West Side Story” is where I draw the line.
Lighthouse Hockey: Adapting forecasts to the disturbance known as Nino.
Yep. Grew up listening to Mike Lange on the radio. He had some very bad analysts in their day (Terry Schiffaluer comes to mind} but there are a lot of teams that had broadcasters like Lange, Gene Hart and Rick Jenneret that attracted listeners to become fans by broadcasting games.
That kind of ethereal linking to fans is still there and available, but no one seems to be nurturing it league wide. And its not real expensive. {Anybody listening?}
Ask a Kings fan about radio broadcasts and go from there. That is a great case in point in how to inalienate the listening fan base, and remember, they have games that can start in 4:00 in the afternoon when they are out east. People do listen to games at work, in their car, etc., when they can find them and if they are on.
Just a thought.
It's always a great day or night for hockey - no matter the time or place!
Givin' me Fitz?
As for Fitz’s take on all this…
It’s over 15 years of this crap. 1 step forward, 2 (maybe as many as 5) steps backwards. Yes, some of OUR comments may have been knee-jerk over the top… but hell, it’s not like this is the first asinine (assumed) thing the organization has done THIS MONTH… most teams have one of these a year, we have several a month… and with every new owner comes new BS… but Chucky really takes the cake… and it’s probably just gonna get worse until he sells the team or gets what he wants (NOT HAPPENING).
Let’s see… Chucky’s list:
Mike Milbury: In true Chucky fashion, “I’m your friend to the end”. His loyalty to the man without a plan cost this team 10 years of development.
Yashin: Milbury identifies an enigma as a savior, and Chucky rolls out the cinder block to make sure the organization can’t seek air once it goes down.
DP: (see Yashin, only in New English) replace borscht with chowdah.
Radio: What’s the frequency Kenneth… who cares it’s a simulcast… and most of the world knows that sports can’t be simulcast to the seeing and unseeing public without huge gaps… might as well done it in Mandarin Chinese.
PR: Adios Chris Botta, the guy who held the flashlight for the gang of four, spano, pickett, millstein and rosencranz, the players firing Laviollette, The year of Butchie…. and replace him with… YOUR SON IN LAW… EXCELLENT. But set him up as an “independent team advocate”. Thank god that change was okay with Chris because if not, the only media leaks we’d ever see would be through the pipe that is Katie Strang.
THE LH PROJECT: People are finally seeing that the emperor has been naked all along, but what a fun ride it’s been. Ha!
Sanjay: Let’s not forget the guy that set the wheels rolling on the golden parachute that Wang used to buy the team in the first place… fun money, I think we’d call it… well.. sanjay sits in jail while his partner(?) in crime(?) complains about losing $20M/year that according to the SEC belonged to the stock-holders anyway. So sad.
THE TEAM: As CB reported they will probably be cheating the fans by going into the season more than $5M (~$10M if you count the dead contracts of Yashin and DP) under the Salary cap… how? wow… no fanfare about this (see NJ-Kovi) because Snow White has put the evil witch to sleep with her own apple… he’ll hide the poison in Doug Weight’s incentive laden contract. Wow… really? YES… Really.
THIS MONTH: Jankowski…done…why.. who knows. Trots… who knows… Jaffe…done… why… who knows… Amazingly we are left with a guy who would much rather work on the short island, and who gets paid by the king of all short island media, to eventually take the job on the short island(speculating)… so we will be left with Chucky’s third cousin twice removed who has a communications degree from Apex Tech to call our games in Mandarin Chinese on MSG VII (normally used for public access prnt messages for the blind)… or we can catch the english broadcast by a random vagrant on pay-per-view.
Jeez… why would anybody ever give up hope?
So, as a 15-year old girl, I missed the days of Bill Torrey and Al Arbour’s band of brothers, and have been treated to this Woodhaven Blvd dollar store replica of a team. Sometimes it’s shiny, most of the time is just a tattered piece of junk used for somebody’s ulterior motives… and I’m pissed. Because, like most everybody else that follows this team it is a part of my life… like a cousin… and for 15 years it’s been addicted to crack, and we just can’t get it off the pipe!
The NY Islanders are about to redo the salary cap floor with russian marble!
Agree
I agree with everything you say about the bad moves. There have been too many to count. But my whole point was that this is not something to jump of the deep end about. It seems us Isles fan are too sensitive to every single decision made. 10 years down the line, no one is going to care that an assistant GM, a player development coach and a color commentator we let go in 2010. They are all very easily replaceable. We will look back at the on ice results. And, personally, I do not believe any of these 3 events mentioned have much if any impact on the ice. The only one that could, potentially, is Janks. But Isles fans made him out to be the best scout in the history of hockey. He wasn’t. Was he good? Yes, very good. But they can find someone else who just as good, if not better. Trottier even admitted his role was more ceremonial then anything.
Fitz, you ignorant slut!
If you don’t think that Jankowski, Trottier, Jaffe mean anything to this organization you haven’t been reading what little press this team does get over the years.
Jankowski: according to most accounts has been a very important cog in the machine producing what we all hope (and have been led to believe) will become the core of a STANLEY CUP CONTENDER in a few short years. A contender that is evidently going to be built through the draft almost exclusively. We’ll see how good a job he’s done in two years or so. The “easy” decisions seem to be working out rather nicely, but let’s see where the Martin’s, Lee’s, Donovan’s end up… if he hit some homers with those guys he very well could be one of the most important execs in team history… YES… I do not think that is an overstatement… but it needs time to come to be.
Trottier… wow… it’s been written many times how important Trottier has been to the development of the kids at this time of year. But there are some issues that Trots has had over the years… I could see him making waves… BUT I"D LOVE TO KNOW THE STORY. I’ll give the org a pass on this one though… who knows.
Jaffe… this is pretty big. Good color guys don’t grow on trees… When Bob Murphy passed I cried… he was a link to my childhood. I’m not a child anymore, but there are children growing up watching hockey with their parents, and maybe using it as a diversion from the mundane bullshit that destroys all of our lives… and guys like jaffe are the connection to that diversion… and believe me, in 20 years that bond will have meant something. I know I feel very differently when Jiggs does a game here and there…. If I know that Ralph Kiner is going to be in the booth I MAKE SURE I AM ON THAT GAME.
Yeah… maybe some of us are making too much of these moves… but we’ve all seen the ripples before… and we’re trying to let off some steam before the big waves hit.
The NY Islanders are about to redo the salary cap floor with russian marble!
How are they cheating fans by being under the floor?
They are under because of the amount of youth on the team. It’s not a team loaded with old guys who might make the playoffs and that’s about it. It should be obvious that the Islanders are trying to build towards something great, and that having capspace is more valuable to keep the JT/Okposo/Moulson/Nino/Bailey train going in the future then wishing we’d be loaded with a bunch of over the hill free agents.
Wheel of Location, Turn Turn Turn. Tell us the location that we will play.
Contributor to Lighthouse Hockey not sure if I'm the Sniper or the Enforcer.
Have to disagree...
The cap ceiling was created so that all teams could be competetive, and the floor is there to make sure we don’t go through the liquidation sales over and over.
A rebuild is terrific… and it’s nice to see young players develop… but the way they’ve done it is prolonged, and UNNECESSARY.
Albeit Milbury left the cubboard devoid of talent, but that talent hasn’t really had a time to develop and physically mature. The best example is Bailey. they had shit centers in the AHL, bailey wasn’t and still may not be physically ready fo rthe NHL. I think the world of Josh, but he was, and maybe still is being rushed. Sure we’ve seen some flashes, but Snow also cheated the developing wings a quality center in the AHL. He also cheated Josh a dominant year in juniors, and a trip to the WJC… He might do it to Nino as well instead of signing a quality LW.
Not to mention the absolute SHIT product we’ve had for two years, and will continue to have. You have AHL and ECHL teams to develop talent. That money should be spent on NHL talent while the 18-21 year olds become men in juniors and the AHL.
If you don’ t think people paying the same price as the capitals charge in a relatively new arena are getting cheated by seeing a top six forward group consisting of (Matt “who the fuck were you in 2008” Moulson, John Tavares, Kyle Okposo, (this is where we’re cheated big time). HUGE HOLE AT LW, Bailey(?), Rob Schremp(?), Blake Comeau(?)…really… Trent Hunter… (I like Trent, but I’m pretty sure he’s not getting PP time on 29 other teams…)
and they keep backfilling from the bottom. The last solid UFA signing was Streit, and that’s only because nobody trusted his performance outside the Montreal Vacuum… and let’s face it, the Isles were desperate to overpay for him because they couldn’t find a B defenseman that could stand up for 60+ games, nevermind skate and produce.
They can use all the excuses about the LH, they aren’t spending money that they should be FORCED to spend on the product they have no problem charging premium prices for.
In my estimation they are 3 forwards and 2 defenseman short of a quality product… and they are going to be that way until their draft picks mature. In that time they could ice a quality product, but we’re getting Konopka’s, Eaton’s and Jurcina’s… That’s bottom six, and last pairing crap with $15M of cap space.
Once again… they play in NEW YORK… if they want to sob about losing money take that off their jersey’s and say we are the LONG ISLAND OVER TAXED, UP TO OUR ASSES IN MORTGAGES WE CAN’T AFFORD, PAYING $300/MO to COMMUTE TO OUR LIFE SUCKING JOBS ISLANDERS….
Sometimes it just is what it is. The Yankees wouldn’t be caught dead putting htat crap on the field, the mets… may not do it right all the time, but they spend, the Giants, the Jets, Knicks… even the Nets and Devils… only the Islanders can be absolutely ashamed of their management.
I love this team, but it’s been way too long since they represented NY as the greatest city on earth… and that emblem still says NY… not the TOH ISLANDERS. If they keep going in this direction and their not sold while a NY move is still an option they will be the Quebec City Escargots.
The NY Islanders are about to redo the salary cap floor with russian marble!
JP, what are you on?
The Rebuild is Prolonged and Unnecessary?
Tell me, how often does a team lose it’s Franchise player (and not just Franchise player, but also Franchise Goalie) decide to rebuild and bounces back in a year or two?
I’m sure if Nino plays in the NHL next year, its because he’s ready and not because he’s being rushed by Garth. We’ve all seen what rushing prospects looks like, and yes, maybe Bailey was rushed, but no one has really been rushed since.
Moulson, Rollie and Biron were all solid Free Agent Signings.
I think the Isles are a lot closer to being competitive then you think. A lot of the guys who were getting way too much time are gone now and there’s youngsters looking to make a solid impact.
With the problems the PP had last year, whats the problem with Trent Hunter averaging 2 minutes of PP time a game?
Its not as though the Islanders didn’t even try to get top talent, but players just don’t want to come to the Island. If Wang was willing to spend 100 million on Kovalchuk I’m sure they opened their wallets for other players. They just took less money to go elsewhere.
It’s better to be a stanley cup contender later, then to be a questionable overpriced playoff team now.
Wheel of Location, Turn Turn Turn. Tell us the location that we will play.
Contributor to Lighthouse Hockey not sure if I'm the Sniper or the Enforcer.
The Rebuild is Prolonged and Unnecessary?
JP, what are you on?
He is upset… its the frustration talking, I think.
Let Us Go, Islanders! (Ever notice how strange that sounds without the contraction?)
by TheMetalChick on Jul 24, 2010 10:10 AM EDT up reply actions
Prolonged and Unnecessary
Prolonged: The ANGUISH is “prolonged”. I think Snow has done a very good job. I like the idea of the rebuild and how he’s gone about it… to a point. They could have put out a better product last year, but they got extremely lucky to have moulson and Schremp fall in their laps. Moulson very easily could have been like the other four “depth signings”… and Schremp was just a function of them being the worst damn team in hockey, that had plenty of roster spots open for a cheap former first rounder. They could have gotten Tanguay or somebody else to who is not ready for retirement to help the forwards learn on the ice. Hell, the one true proven star they have didn’t play half the season.
Unnecessary: The rebuild isn’t “unnecessary”, what I was trying to say was that forcing Kyle, Josh, Kohn, MacDonald and maybe even Hillen into NHL roles without proper seasoning was unnecessary… when you aren’t even at the cap floor with your active roster spots. I think it’s working out for them, but they could have provided the NHL fans with a better product, while also allowing the under 23 group some more time to play together and get better time to play more important roles in the AHL.
It has served as a bit of an accelerator over the past two years as they have sucked so bad that they have gotten deeper through the draft, but they have SUCKED. Sure they are kids and the islanders reap the value of their development, but they are cheating the fans and the younger stars by forcing them into these roles.
Not only that, they really haven’t done Scott Gordon any great service. Maybe he’s coached his ass off to get them to 26th.. maybe he has held them back from being a playoff team… who knows… you have two unknown samples… that’s no way to run an experiment. By his own admission they got ZERO out of year one because he had players that weren’t ready, and oft injured.
So… before you send me to the principal’s office, take a look at the last two years… the way all of us went into the UFA periods before those two years… I think you’ll agree on these few points:
1. Snow has made some good value signings.
2. The team has rushed prospects. (warrented or not… Josh, definitely, and I’d even venture to say that Kyle could have used year one in the AHL with Josh)
3. They did not have a talent progression in place, especially in the high end talent roles. They had mediocrity behind crap. As good as the signing’s that Garth made, he didn’t make enough of them.
4. The best thing that Snow has done since the moment he parted ways with Nolan is EXPECTATION MANAGEMENT. “Hey, we’re gonna suck for a while, and then we’ll be better”. We all believe that. I’m just saying that they didn’t have to suck that bad. Last year the hottest topic was, should Tambellini play over John Sim… it’s like nobody even noticed that the team didn’t have ONE proven top six forward. They have a few with potential… but not one where you could say, “When X is on the ice I expect some offence”… sorry… not one.
The NY Islanders are about to redo the salary cap floor with russian marble!
Tanguay
Sometimes I get impatient with the shoestring budget — and my only hope is they’re “saving” for when a little more expenditure will really pay off. (Yeah, we’ll see…)
But one thing that draws my sympathy for the club is … the poo poo platter of options that are often out there as free agents. I mean, Tanguay?! His trajectory looked awful last summer, and it looks even worse now after a barnstorming 10-goal season (80 GP) in Tampa Bay, where of course it wasn’t HIS fault (god no, never) but rather the team’s. I argued against signing him last summer (argued against Afinogenov, too, and I’m still not completely regretful, as I think Atlanta in full Kovy Press mode was the best setting for him, as Antropov could mind the store while Afino and Kovy go off on their defense-last walkabouts).
There are so many free agents with baggage, who once had glory and are now seeking to reclaim it, and who always seem to have an inflated impression of what they bring. I’d like the team to spend a little more, but when I hear they made big bids on Martin and Volchenkov but were rejected, I tend to think they’re deciding to spend smart or not spend at all. That doesn’t bug me too much.
Lighthouse Hockey: Adapting forecasts to the disturbance known as Nino.
point blank commentators are real crybabies
and botta is a real tyrant when it comes to deleting comments calling out commentators as being such. it sucks losing a great guy in the booth but lets not start saying we aren’t going to be fans anymore because of it. same for janikowski. if it wasn’t for wang we probably wouldn’t have an islanders team to complain about in 2010!!
with that said the organization does a great job of embarrassing itself and the fanbase.
lets just win some games! the rest usually takes care of itself. i dont know a lot of other franchise’s whos fans are crying because the assistant GM/head scout wasn’t retained. it was fishy of course but lets keep it real people. this is the islanders we’re talking about!
Been a fan for over 30 years...
that’s 20 years more than Wang knew that hockey existed. I’m pretty sure 99% of Botta posters, like me, will outlast the Wang Era. Most of us will always have the years when the coliseum was the center of the hockey universe… So I feel a bit of pity for the younger folks in the crowd who have but a few near misses and great personalities to cling to…
It’ll take a lot more than a sideways owner, a few crooks, and a few circus clowns.. to tear us asunder.
But I am prone to vent.
The NY Islanders are about to redo the salary cap floor with russian marble!
PR? What PR!
I think the reason we are all ticked off is not just Jaffe being let go, BUT there is no one from the team coming forward to give any explination as to why. WHY, let go of asst GM, WHY let go of Trots and so on… I think we would NOT be critizing too much if the loyal fans were informed by the front office.
As I said during the Janks comment
The rest of the NHL fans and media look at us as a bit of a joke. Latest example is the Dipietro car accident bit. If the caller called up and said it was the Derek Jeter who got into a car accident, that recieves zero push. But because it was the Isles and Ricky and its a running joke, all of the sudden its on the front page of TSN how we deny the rumour. This team has basically been failing at PR 101 for a while.
by lostsin44 on Jul 23, 2010 2:31 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
This team has basically been failing at PR 101 for a while.
When I was a teacher you didnt give an F (or a 55 in number form) to students doing what the Isles are doing with their PR. Instead, you gave them a Z… which meant that they could not be graded because there was just not enough work to administer a grade.
In other words, the Isles arent failing at the proverbial “class” of PR, they are just cutting every day and not even bothering to show up.
Let Us Go, Islanders! (Ever notice how strange that sounds without the contraction?)
by TheMetalChick on Jul 24, 2010 10:14 AM EDT up reply actions
Good Post Fitz
I tend more towards disagreeing with you, but have to agree here. I spent a good amount of games last year just listening to the internet Radio feed (computer issues) and I find myself indifferent to whose in the booth. I just care about the team on ice
Wheel of Location, Turn Turn Turn. Tell us the location that we will play.
Contributor to Lighthouse Hockey not sure if I'm the Sniper or the Enforcer.
BRING BACK JAFFE
I couldn’t disagree more with Fitz . Somebody needs to tell the Islanders that the fans who watch the games want to listen to Jaffe. Talk about not being able to take any criticism what the hell is this organization talking about. Jaffe if anything was too positive about what is going on with this team. If this is what the organization is woried about ,no wonder why we suck. What a joke.
I live in california and have NHL home ice so I only get the Islander broadcast when they are home. Jaffe was great, but come on. Its not that big of deal. I agree with Fitz 100%. Any off-ice move by the organization is greeted with intense and unwarranted criticism., when in the end it doesn’t affect the actual team at all. Wang is a lunatic and I almost turned my back on the organization when I heard he was going to Japan to recruit sumo wrestlers to play goal. But little things like changing broadcasters (why would the isles have any say in this anyway? Wouldn’t MSG have all control over who’s in there booth) or having K. Connolly announce draft picks (which I enjoyed) are non-issues. I’ll watch this team whoever is in the booth, as long as Yokozuna Asashōryū isn’t our goaltender.
I almost turned my back on the organization when I heard he was going to Japan to recruit sumo wrestlers to play goal.
Just as a side note, I am glad you didnt wind up turning your back when you heard something that Charles Wang never once said he was doing and (obviously) never did.
Let Us Go, Islanders! (Ever notice how strange that sounds without the contraction?)
by TheMetalChick on Jul 24, 2010 10:23 AM EDT up reply actions
Really?
I guess you missed the intended sarcasm, which is probably my fault as I have never been a great writer. I have read multiple articles (I just found one from the CBC http://www.cbc.ca/sports/columns/newsmakers/charles-wang.html) That have attributed that idea to Charles Wang, although I never took them seriously and wrote it off as the media exaggerating the popular view of Wang being eccentric. Whoever started that rumor it is pretty funny. In light of some of Charles Wang’s real decisions it is almost believable. But no, I am not that stupid. Thanks though for setting me straight.
Ha- really, its amazing what a life of its own that had. The most that happened was Charles asking whether it had ever been tried before, and it turned into him scouting sumos and all sorts of stuff.
wrote it off as the media exaggerating the popular view of Wang being eccentric
Well- honestly, he IS eccentric… the media seemed to try to popularize that he is flippin crazy!
Let Us Go, Islanders! (Ever notice how strange that sounds without the contraction?)
by TheMetalChick on Jul 24, 2010 6:12 PM EDT up reply actions
Yes, however the sumo rumor started the media just ate it up as another wacky, crazy stunt from the eccentric billionaire owner. My point was that every year we hear another crazy plan from Wang (the trip to China is a good example) that take attention away from the on-ice issues, and get some fans really riled up. If we focus on Wangs crazy stunts it can get frustrating. Thank God we have Snow who I think so far has done a good job with the team itself and it helps me stay focused on the team and not some of Wangs off-ice blunders. I hope Wang doesn’t force Snow’s hand too much going forward, the less interference from him regarding actual on ice issues the better, IMO. As far as Jaffe, I really thought he did a great job in the booth. I don’t agree with the decision to let him go. I also realize that this is the summer and beyond free agency and prospect camp there isn’t much going on so fans are going to comment about this. But at the end of the day this won’t affect my outlook on the team. Ill watch the games with whoever is in the booth.
from the comments section of puckdaddy
hahaha, they got rid of billy jaffe instead of howie rose, who is god awful.
pretty much says it all dont it?
still trying to figure out the meaning of "want you, cuckoo, cannonball" ... ... ... 17 years later...
This discussion is pointless. I’m interested in the team, not who’s employed by MSG. I’m going to watch the Mets lose, let me know when something important happens like a free agency signing.
I’m more of “show me what’s on the ice” guy myself. But with stuff like this that will be a hot-button topic, I prefer to have a post where everyone can get whatever they want off their chest about it. Better to hash it out like a good roommate fight, then chill in front of the game, a pizza and some beer the next day.
Lighthouse Hockey: Adapting forecasts to the disturbance known as Nino.
and we thank you for it...
God Bless You Mr. Rosewater.
The NY Islanders are about to redo the salary cap floor with russian marble!
As reported by Botta, this is an Islanders decision and not an MSG decision
Does the whole “as reported by Botta” thing really have the midas touch it used to? Over the last however many months he has been wrong nearly as much as he has been right. He isnt getting any inside info on this team anymore, he just has a few numbers in his cell that many of us dont have. Really, thats it.
So youll have to forgive me if his “multiple sources” thing doesnt have the weight IMO that others are giving it.
Let Us Go, Islanders! (Ever notice how strange that sounds without the contraction?)
Has he been led astray much by hockey sources though? I figure this one to be people who have spoken with Jaffe and/or staffers within MSG in position to know. Perhaps even people still inside the NYI know enough to blab. Not hard to picture multiple people wanting to get the word out on Jaffe’s behalf.
Lighthouse Hockey: Adapting forecasts to the disturbance known as Nino.
He was wrong about his recent "multiple sources" mets/Islanders news
Botta has even said numerous times that the Isles have shut him out, all he knows is what they dish out to him (which is no longer anything) and what he is getting elsewhere.
Let Us Go, Islanders! (Ever notice how strange that sounds without the contraction?)
by TheMetalChick on Jul 24, 2010 12:06 AM EDT up reply actions
Confirmed
While I am by no means a Botta apologist, Newsday has confirmed that MSG offered him a deal pending the Isles approval, but they Islanders rejected it.
The newspaper owned by MSG confirmed that MSG is blameless?
Im simply not all that impressed by that… especially since it is a fact that Newsday has a literal mandate that MSG & its teams cannot be criticized.
Let Us Go, Islanders! (Ever notice how strange that sounds without the contraction?)
by TheMetalChick on Jul 24, 2010 12:05 AM EDT up reply actions
For everyone in here
Try in your head to recall a memorable game (of any sport) that you watched. Who’s voice do you hear. For me:
Isles: Jiggs and Ed
Giants; Madden and Summerall
Yanks: rizzuto and white
I don’t know, good games, bad games, those are the voices I hear even if they didn’t actually call the games. It’s not that these guys aren’t replaceable, but they to some degree are the face of the franchise (from a product delivery standpoint) and help to build the relationship between the team and the fan.
Either way, I’ll love the Isles, but I want that listening to an old friend feel to games. PS, if it ends up being Placey, I’ll be reeeaaal upset!
by Keith Quinn on Jul 23, 2010 4:18 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
As one who watches all three local teams on a regular basis, I have to say I liked Jaffe.
As hard as it is for the Devils fan in me to listen to Howie Rose (Matteau! Matteau!), they were certainly a tolerable duo. Jaffe never struck me as nearly as cringe-worthy a homer as Chico can be or Michelleti can’t not be.
Playing Devils' advocate since 1982.
I enjoyed Jaffe’s work as well, and he was certainly tolerable with Howie Rose. I’m hoping that Jaffe isn’t replaced with Kenny Albert, who sounds like nails on a chalkboard to me. I wish Billy Jaffe well and I think he will find another broadcasting job pretty quickly.
As someone who watches the Islanders, Devils and Sabres regularly (I mute any game in which I am forced to watch a Rangers broadcast), I wouldn’t mind if the Islanders hired a Rick Jeanneret clone. Jeanneret may be a home, but at least he’s an entertaining homer.
Kenny Albert
CJ Papa
Rob Carlin
Steve Cangilosi (sp?)
Deb Placey
Butchie
Out of that sad, pathetic crew Id take Butchie… but hoenstly, I really dont want it to be Butchie. I prefer him in his current role.
Let Us Go, Islanders! (Ever notice how strange that sounds without the contraction?)
by TheMetalChick on Jul 24, 2010 12:08 AM EDT up reply actions
What a motley crew that is...
Out of that list, you would have to consider who is willing to travel 40+ times a year, to exotic locales such as Edmonton in January. But I think that MSG will want to promote one of their own to a more prominent role in broadcasting as opposed to hiring someone from the outside to work Isles games.
a homer as Chico can be or Michelleti can’t not be.
Nice play there. ;)
Lighthouse Hockey: Adapting forecasts to the disturbance known as Nino.
thank you fitz
Great post. The comments on pointblank have passed into the absurd— to such a degree that I’ll often browse through them just for a laugh. Honestly, though, it seems like cb incites the commenters’ reactions in many of its posts. I sense a deep hostility in him towards the isles… especially when reporting on staff members who have been let go. Hmmmm…
The comments on pointblank have passed into the absurd
Ever look at Bottas Twitter feed? He eggs it on and totally encourages it, too.
And the only comments of mine he leaves are when Im critical of the team. If I defend the team in any way, he often deletes my comments. Im not joking- the critical comments he always leaves there. Its total drama queen… and thats why his comments section looks like a festival of 16yo girl having PMS meets 9yo boy having temper tantrum.
Let Us Go, Islanders! (Ever notice how strange that sounds without the contraction?)
by TheMetalChick on Jul 24, 2010 12:10 AM EDT up reply actions
Jaffe will be missed
listening to billy jaffe got me more excited to watch islander games on tv, even when they were losing by 5 goals in the 3rd, i still continued to watch bc of his great anaylsis on the sports i liked the mans work, great commentary and a great way to reach out to the fans… he will be missed and hope he lands a job on versus…The only guy i will be happy about taking his place would be ED WESTFALL, that would be pretty sick if he comes back, but if not him, its gunna take awhile for me to warm up to whoever else it is,.
If Jaffe isnt positive enough
Our new color guy is gonna be one happy man. Like, scary happy.
He will not say anything is disappointing. Ever. He will tell us everything is already perfect. Right now! The Isles are doing great! No need to wait for the rebuild to get crazy, everythings already AWESOME! This team is already filled with little MVPs and Norris trophy winners! Lets go Islanders!
And when the Islanders give him lemons, he will make lemonade.
Then mix it with seltzer and spray the fans with it.
Let Us Go, Islanders! (Ever notice how strange that sounds without the contraction?)
thanks for that, it reminded me of one of my fav pics online…
still trying to figure out the meaning of "want you, cuckoo, cannonball" ... ... ... 17 years later...
by bob l on Jul 26, 2010 10:05 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Im going to add this, too:
Regarding this allegedly being 100% the Islanders decision, let me go on record saying that the only source of THAT info is a Rangers writer (Arthur Staple) in MSG-owned Newsday and Chris Botta- who doesnt have any source other than a vague reference to “sources at MSG”. Color me unimpressed.
NYI statement: (cue the crickets)
MSGs statement: “MSG wishes Billy luck in future endeavors. The network will name a new Islanders TV analyst in the near future.”
Now- does THAT sound like the Islanders are the ones doing the picking here? That is MSGs own words- and the only actual statement anyone in the know has made anywhere regarding this.
Let Us Go, Islanders! (Ever notice how strange that sounds without the contraction?)
Nothing?
Does everyone still just believe Bottas mysterious MSG source and Alan Haans MSG source 100% on this one or does anyone think I might have a point here?
Let Us Go, Islanders! (Ever notice how strange that sounds without the contraction?)
by TheMetalChick on Jul 26, 2010 12:00 PM EDT up reply actions
My view
While I may be guilty of naivete, I doubt the MSG/Cablevision Big Brother syndrome extends down to the Newsday columnist being told only MSG-friendly bits on this story at the expense of the team. Of course, I’d doubt the Islanders paranoia runs so deep that they’d fire Jaffe, but one of these parties isn’t talking at all.
I know Botta’s been cut off by Snow on hockey matters, but I don’t take that to mean that no one within the NYI is ever talking to Botta, not after he worked there for 20 years. This story strikes me as a classic “in the biz” scenario, where friends of Jaffe — with the team, with the network, elsewhere in the industry — would get the word out on his behalf. From MSG’s standpoint, they don’t really have a big dog in this hunt other than to state the cleansed facts (technically, MSG will name a replacement) without pissing off the team or the fans.
Lighthouse Hockey: Adapting forecasts to the disturbance known as Nino.
I doubt the MSG/Cablevision Big Brother syndrome extends down to the Newsday columnist being told only MSG-friendly bits on this story at the expense of the team.
Thats the one part that is actually not so much in doubt- the fact that Newsday has sent down mandates regarding the permitted way to report regarding MSG sports since Dolan purchased the paper has even been exposed by other newspapers.
Botta also said his sources were affiliated with MSG, not the Isles. If they were affiliated with the Isles that would have given it a LOT more cred with me. But he didnt.
Let Us Go, Islanders! (Ever notice how strange that sounds without the contraction?)
Thats the one part that is actually not so much in doubt- the fact that Newsday has sent down mandates
Right, and I don’t deny that. What I’m saying is this story is so insignificant, I don’t expect the Dolan Empire to deliberately tell a columnist to outright lie about this issue, particularly when such a lie would undermine a team that MSG and Cablevision would like to play nicey-nice with. If anything, if they were going to play loose with the facts, they’d want to pin it on Jaffe and make both MSG and the Islanders look innocent.
Lighthouse Hockey: Adapting forecasts to the disturbance known as Nino.
I don’t expect the Dolan Empire to deliberately tell a columnist to outright lie
I dont expect that either. But I DO expect no-name MSG sources to imply that its all the Isles doing (and therefore to blame them) regardless of whether it is or isnt accurate, ESPECIALLY when they are off the record. As was pointed out over at the Arena by NYIFC when we were talking about this, these are the same people who attempted to literally steal tens of thousands of dollars from the hands of the Islanders childrens foundation by pretending the Rangers won the metro ice challenge. I dont trust any of them, they are self-serving to the bone.
Let Us Go, Islanders! (Ever notice how strange that sounds without the contraction?)
by TheMetalChick on Jul 26, 2010 11:27 PM EDT up reply actions
I’m neutral on this. Never a big jaffe fan. Seemed like a good guy, but never got me excited to listen to what his take or opinon on anything was. Butch imo will be a better fit and I’d love the man that helped create the dynasty and 19th greatest player of all time on the hockey new’s top 100 list. A legend and huge part of the drive for five and reason the islanders are who they are today. They should still keep jaffe somewhere in the organization though.
Go isles or Go home.
You missed the boat my friend
You just don’t get it do you? Billy Jaffe was liked by most fans hence why we are making such a big deal of this. So if he was so well liked by Islander fans, it is obvious that our interests were not in mind when Wang and his group of flunkies decided to discard Jaffe like a piece of garbage. And as you said, this decision has nothing to do with how the team performs so why not have the fans interest at heart and keep him around??? Yeah I suppose for you and Islander management, that is too tough of a concept to grasp.
Who exactly are you talking to?
Im just curious who exactly are you saying “just doesnt get it” and " I suppose for you that is too tough of a concept to grasp"
Let Us Go, Islanders! (Ever notice how strange that sounds without the contraction?)
by TheMetalChick on Jul 30, 2010 10:59 AM EDT up reply actions
To Fitz, I suspect
Since Carmine15 just joined a few days ago and was not part of the 150-comment conversation when it happened, I suspect it’s addressed to Fitz’s original post.
Hey Carmine, I think Fitz “gets it” and “grasps” your view just fine, he just has a different opinion than you about how big of a deal it is. See the debate in the comments above, where there are votes and views all across the spectrum.
Lighthouse Hockey: Adapting forecasts to the disturbance known as Nino.
by Dominik on Jul 30, 2010 11:28 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
I’m sorry you disagree with me Carmine, but please keep it respectful and do not question my intelligence because I think a color commentator for a hockey is nothing to freak out over. I respect your opinion and we will have to agree to disagree.
Officially applying for the open Color Commentator position!
by The Fitz on Jul 30, 2010 2:00 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Well put
Honestly, unless the guy is bashing the islanders every night almost constantly, I could care less really. Any person who has an average nhl/islander enthusiasts knowledge can get the job done with his knowledge or pregame press/other reports on teams and players. It’s not a hard job and isn’t a make or break for me to see some guy go unless he actually had a major impact on one of our signings or something of that importance. The leading candidate, butch will be fine their and imo have a much greater hockey knowledge then jaffe did.
Go isles or Go home.
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