Howie Rose's WFAN interview, plus thoughts on Isles/Pens mess
by Keith Quinn on Feb 15, 2011 3:22 AM EST
in Big Picture Musings
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[Islanders play by play announcer Howie Rose was a guest yesterday on WFAN's Joe & Evan show today, marking the first time in recent memory anyone affiliated with the team has made a local radio appearance in some time. The Interview can he heard in its entirety here (Howie with Evan on WFAN). Blockquotes are at times paraphrased in the interest of space ]
For those who missed it, Howie particularly cared yesterday...and cared a lot. He discussed many of the issues that we have been discussing at Lighthouse Hockey, and may have put himself in the crosshairs of the NHL to do so. Kudos to Howie Rose for defending the team and for saying many of the things unsaid, or unnoticed by mainstream media.
After the jump, some of the highlights of the topics discussed and some additional perspective on the entirety of the situation including the ongoing complaints about the NHL's disciplinary policies and procedures and Mario Lemieux.
The Interview began with Evan Robers asking Howie if he'd ever seen anything like the events that transpired on Friday night between the Islanders and Penguins.
Of course! That's what makes some of the reactions so laughable.
He then went on to provide some reasons why the Isles reacted the way they did.
For too long, some of their best players have been targeted, run, and in some cases (most recently Max Talbot concussing Blake Comeau) injured, with no penalties called by the on-ice officials, no supplemental discipline handed out by the NHL, and unfortunately, in this sport particularly, vigilante justice prevalis. If that's what (the Islanders) are guilty of, so be it. You know what, I would defend them to the hills for it because there's a long, long, laundry list of infractions and injurious hits that were put on their players that were not acknowledged, much less called, by the on-ice officials of the NHL.
Roberts looked to Howie for some clarification on the fight between Michael Haley and Brent Johnson with Eric Godard leaving the Pittsburgh bench. He asked if it was due in some part to the facial injury Rick DiPietro suffered in the teams' meeting last week. Howie answered that he thought that was the least of the issue, as DiPietro basically challenged Johnson, but then swerved slightly off topic to lambaste the hypocrisy of the NHL.
I just want to hit on something important which again calls into question, what I believe, is the hypocrisy on the part of the NHL and how they adjudicated this. Rose goes on to state that he found it hypocritical that the NHL fined the Islanders $100, 000 because they "failed as an organization to control their players" according to Colin Campbell, but neglected to fine Pitsburgh under the same guidelines with Eric Godard coming off the bench.
On Matt Martin wearing a Todd Bertuzzi costume:
The Matt Martin hit and how it's being portrayed in the media...that really annoys me...to equate what Martin did , and really in the end, what he didn't do to Max Talbot with what Todd Bertuzzi did to Steve Moore ending his career...that is utterly inane and if anyone wants to compare the two, go to Youtube and look, and then tell me that there's anything that's remotely comparable....watch the clip of both, he pulled the punch...you make your own determination.
On the NHL disciplinary policy and procedures:
There seems to be two different systems of justice in the NHL. One for the elite teams, and one for everybody else. When you look at what Max Talbot did (to Comeau)...and nothing is done about that and there have been too many of those...that one was the last straw. He goes on to describe the last couple of weeks and questionable hits on John Tavares and him being upset after the Dion Phaneuf hit in the Toronto game, and states, "there was little doubt that the Islanders were going to look for some sort of retribution on Friday night."
On Mario Lemieux:
(Laughs) Did Mario just start watching hockey? I mean, if that's the way he feels, sell the team. It's laughable. Later on he gets into Mario's employment of Matt Cooke and his track record
After Howie departed the broadcast, Evan Robert's described a conversation he had with Rose:
After standing up for themselves, former Islanders and former great Islanders were telling him how proud they were for the way they fought back. So this earned respect for the current Islander team with a lot of Islander alumni for what they did.
There were also several phone calls taken today from Islander fans who echoed Howie's, Evan's and many of our sentiments at Lighthouse Hockey. There is a complete breakdown in the NHL in terms of on-ice officiating, supplemental discipline and the egregious gap between what is acceptable from and towards players of different ability levels. That the Islanders have been looked at as a joke for too long despite the fact that they are making strides toward credibility. It should also be noted that Evan Roberts did feel that the degree to which this game deteriorated was unacceptable and throughout the segment questioned how much "revenge" and "retribution' is enough.
And, as usual, the last 30 seconds were reserved to note the Islander's recent big wins and quality play and impressive rookie Michael Grabner...but it's 30 seconds more than usual, I'll take it!
What I think fans for both of the teams involved need to realize is very simple. This argument of right and wrong can not be won by a fanbase or even a franchise. It is not the teams that are broken, it is the entirety of the system that forces the hand of the franchises to protect players from themselves by continually falling short on safety concerns and discipline. This is not about Islanders vs. Penguins, or Lemieux vs. Konopka or even Pensburgh vs. Lighthouse (are we relevant enough to mention?). This is an NHL issue and fanbases need to stop behaving as if other fanbases either play for, coach or sanction their team and the behavior the players demonstrate. (Hate the game)
The bottom line is, Lemieux is right, something needs to be done. his timing is terrible and probably self-serving, but that doesn't make him not right. Konopka is also right, but his response is also self-serving and disregarded because it is seen as justification of an atrocity. He needs to protect his young stars so that they can grow and develop...much like Mario did under the watchful eyes of Tocchet, Stevens, Samuelson and Kasparaitis and much like Crosby is doing now under the watch of Godard, Rupp, Asham, Orpik and Engelland.
This has been an age old argument and I'm sure Pittsburgh fans can remember many slashes and high hits that Sid took in his formative years. What neither of these two men recognize right now is that they are fighting for the exact same thing...the safety of their hockey teams within a system that perpetuates that failure. The NHL doesn't protect it's players from thugs, so we need goons to beat the thugs, but sometimes the thugs take it too far and we need our superstars to speak out, and so it goes. It's a cycle of villainy and heroism that helps to sell the NHL label. Until everyone at the same time decides that they've had enough of Bettman and Campbell and re-writes the rule books, nothing will change. This is the perfect opportunity for the haves and the have-nots to work together on getting this system changed. They have the spotlight, let's see how they use it.
You want to see how basically simple it is. Try this:
- You can't hit another player in the head at all. (Suspensions will start at 2 and double for each infraction).
- You are never allowed to hit anyone from behind regardless of their position on the ice. (Suspensions will start at 2 and double for each infraction).
It's a start right? Feel free to share your thoughts in comments...
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I posted this on another blog earlier
Disclosure I am a Islanders fan and am not here to defend Giles or Martin. Martin gets 4 games and he deserved it, but why is Staal not suspended for his sucker punch. No fine or suspenstion for the Pen’s coach for a player leaving the bench, and the Islander’s are the ones who didn’t control their players. Oh wait he said “no one leaves the bench” we see how that worked out.
On to Giles and again I am not defending him but the next time a player takes a major penalty and gets into a fight he should get 9 games right? Giles is a first time offender and Cooke(we all know his track record) gets 4.
Unfortunately until the NHL doles out suspensions in a consistent manner players will continue to ploice themselves. Come on after the events of Friday it continues, in last night the game against the Sabres Shaone Morrisonn punched Frans Neilsen in the face drawing blood while a ref and linesman looked on.
Does anyone know where I can find out how many majors/fighting major were given out for the year?
Don't buy what Rose is selling
Rose is a tool. He was a tool when he particularly didn’t care and he’s a tool now for thinking Friday “restored Islander pride”.
That clown Carlin or someone said Friday was the greatest game or reg season game in franchise history? Please. What about Bossy’s 50 in 50? Or when they beat Colorado to set the all time winning streak of 15 games or so. Beat Chico too. Or so many others.
Like you, my chest was extended Friday and I was standing in front of my TV saying how great this was. But like Botta said, it’s overrated. Make the playoffs and win a round and we’ll talk. Be consistent. Friday was great. Keep it in perspective.
Friday WAS nice but not the bee’s knees. The only thing that will bring ultimate cheer is if they announce NYI is staying in the NY metro area not that they just beat and humiliated Pitt. Nothing else matters really.
(Yup Bylsma should’ve paid like NYI did.)
This fanbase is so desperate for something that Rose’s words reached some. My ass. He’s still the same fake enthusiasm for a paycheck loser he always was. Any Captain Obvious can preach how NYI is abused and how the better teams get preferential treatment and that Colin Campbell is a joke.
Just don’t like the guy.
Ahh...you can hardly even tell.
"Gervais...he looks danger in the fist with his face!" JPinVA
by Keith Quinn on Feb 15, 2011 6:03 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
you again?
look there’s plenty of other Isles blogs where the sky is falling so why don’t you got be debbie downer over there, k.
You are incorrect. He said it ranks up there with the Isles greatest regular season games. He did NOT say it was “the greatest game or reg season game in franchise history”.
Youre reacting like this to such a simple little statement and yet youre talking about what is overblown or overrated?
Let Us Go, Islanders! (Ever notice how strange that sounds without the contraction?)
by TheMetalChick on Feb 15, 2011 8:50 AM EST up reply actions
Your point about the Islanders being abused is correct
However within the interview Howie stated this, allowing the general public to hear it. The Isles management has most likely complained to deaf ears within the NHL about it but cannot go out and publicly yell and scream about it. Howie didn’t yell or scream but he did state publicly, explaining what we have been discussing for a while.
Maybe the dirty little secret is becoming more public. Will it do any good. Most likely not but a least another side of the story is now out there.
The way this is going the Captian of the next Cup contending Islanders team is still in grade school......Results do matter..
The System is broken, but the NHL won't fix it.
I totally agree that the way the NHL hands out punishment is ridiculus. I think Campbell and Bettman have a dart board they use because the penalties never really fit the crimes. I also believe the NHL doesn’t want to really fix the issues because its what sells tickets. We can talk all day about speed and skill but in the end fans like the physicality and the fights. This whole incident proves it, because this is the most coverage the NHL has had all season long. People who don’t even follow the sport have asked me about this game.
On a side note, Howie and Butch are terrible broadcasters, i hated Jiggs and Westfall but i would take them back in a heart beat. Watch the games on mute and listen to the radio.
by Zenfoeracer on Feb 15, 2011 5:44 AM EST reply actions 1 recs
It's amazing
How many people like the Radio broadcast (I’m among them) but the Isles get bashed for using a college radio station, which is an unfair criticism of Chris King, who really does an excellent job and is a professionial
"Their blog leader, Dominik, is a very reasonable fellow who writes very well and is dedicated. He didn’t have, from what I can tell, any part of that post. I suppose who he employs to post for him reflects on his blog, but it’s a shame." ~ Angry Penguins Fan
Contributor to Lighthouse Hockey not sure if I'm the Sniper or the Enforcer.
by Mark D on Feb 15, 2011 7:48 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
I've got a long-winded fanpost
in the works about the Isles’ radio deal, I just need to form it into something cohesive. The jist is that I think it was really a pretty brilliant maneuver.
The radio guys rock.
I pretty much only listen to games on the radio, Chris King should get some real props for the broadcasts. I feel that he really pulls for the home team night in and night out. Can’t wait to read your post.
I see the Hofstra color guys as the Bridgeport of Radio
Why not cooperate in training some talented broadcasters-to-be? Everyone starts somewhere. They bring a fresh voice, they get to cut their teeth in a professional environment and get both real-world experience and quality instruction and example from Chris King. I’m sure the Isles give them plenty of feedback about their work.
It’s a brilliant idea, and I expect it will turn out like DiPietro’s contract and the Ice Girls… innovations that were mocked until suddenly everyone was doing it.
If anyone needs me, I'll be in the Angry Dome.
Lighthouse Hockey - a beacon of greatness on the rocky coast of sports blog mediocrity
Non-hockey scribblings at nightflyblog
by mikb on Feb 15, 2011 10:59 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
The System is broken, but the NHL won’t fix it.
So true, and for so long.
Lighthouse Hockey: Send us your cold, your poor, your healthy goalies.
I appreciate Howie actually standing up for the team. The board of governors need to make the necessary changes to fix the NHL (i.e. fire Gary Bettman). I disagree that Howie’s enthusiasm is fake in this case. Before the Buffalo game he showed the same enthusiasm for defending the team and calling out the NHL. I think the win against Pittsburgh helped to wake him up to the team he was supposed to show allegiance toward.
Hunter said he was just finishing his check.
When you have an incident like the Talbot hit on Comeau, which I didn’t watch live but did get to see on Youtube, and you have the rules set the way they are and neither the refs, nor the league takes action, either in the game or in the days that follow you have to expect that the next game, especially if the next game is between the same two teams is going to be like this. The fact that it’s been happening a lot this season, and the fact that it’s been happening for a few years now lead to that amount of frustration on the part of the Islanders boiling over. The Islanders were not reacting to one team doing this to them in one game, the incident was a message sent to the entire league, the opponent just happened to be the Penguins. It was a statement game, the Islanders said we’re not just going to beat you in the score, we’re going to beat you up at the same time. The message wasn’t meant for just the Penguins, it was meant for the whole league. For every team and even the NHL management. This was the Islanders saying, hey teams, we’re not going to take your liberties on us with a grain of salt anymore. This was also the Islanders saying to Bettmen (sp?) and Campbell, you guys don’t want to handle this, that’s fine, we’ll take care of this mess ourselves.
It's just like school
You have the bully pushing the small kids around. Teacher always overlooks it. Then the bully gives out Indian rope burns. No detention just a don’t do that again. Then he picks on the small kids again. Gets one day detention. He kicks a kid off the see-saw (let’s call this kid NYI) and NYI see him after school and beats him into next effing Tuesday.
NYI gets suspended for a week.
The bully gets one day.
by Torch7 on Feb 15, 2011 7:59 AM EST via mobile reply actions 4 recs
This was a VERY vital essay, Keith.....
…..there’s no question that the league and caliber of on-ice officials are its persistent problem; what’s dismaying is that Lemieux, in denying culpability again and again, calls into question his emotional intelligence as an adult…..I feel quite strongly that the Martin suspension should’ve been but another 2 games (if ANYthing; he barely made contact with Maxime and in a different, more effectively-officiated tilt, gets a mere 2 minutes for roughing!) NOT almost half as much as what Gillies justifiably received for his loss of judgment – repeat offender or not. That said, as was pointed out above, Frans Nielsen, arguably a future Lady Byng and Frank Selke candidate, gets cravenly punched Sunday afternoon and the jackebras (type of hybrid common to professional sports leagues; similar to ‘zebrules’) just stand around watching…..as the old bromide goes, the more that things change, the more they stay the same:(
Let's not make the mistake though
That Lemieux denied anything. He hasn’t defended anything, this is just the first time he’s spoke out. I find it hard to believe that the guy who was sickens by holding in the neutral zone is okay with some of the disrespectful dirty hits seen in the new NHL. That said, you can look at him the same way you can look at the Isles fiasco…maybe this was an inopportune magnified response based in a build up of that feeling and channeled in only one direction.
"Gervais...he looks danger in the fist with his face!" JPinVA
by Keith Quinn on Feb 15, 2011 8:37 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
Lemieux has a particular perspective
He has always decried cluthc-and-grab, muckabout hockey. And he did get his arm broken by Adam Graves on a two-handed slash… he has a personal and legitimate interest in seeing the game cleaned up. And as an owner he has the responsibility not to get Crosby killed by surrounding him with protection.
The disconnect is in the manner of that protection: Cooke (and Ruutu before him), Rupp, Engelland. If in speaking out he had also spoken about his team’s transgressions, then nobody would be talking about what he said – instead he tacked on that “I don’t know if I want to be a part of this” bunk. You’re already a part of it, Mario. Your employees are front and center in this discussion. If you really want to clean up the game, you could suspend Cooke for additional games or levy a sizeable team fine for his hit on Tyutin, or better for his hit on Savard since jack-all happened to him then. You as Penguins owner always have the freedom to discipline your own players. Maybe then they would stick to protecting Crosby, instead of marauding the rest of the league.
If anyone needs me, I'll be in the Angry Dome.
Lighthouse Hockey - a beacon of greatness on the rocky coast of sports blog mediocrity
Non-hockey scribblings at nightflyblog
Too bad NOTHING will be done
The problem here is that everyone is biased…The only time players or owners, such as Ladouche, complain, is when its for their own self service, as u mention, Dom…Unless several owners, from several, not so great teams, wh o don’t get the favor from the NHL, nothing will get done…
by KO21 on Feb 15, 2011 8:15 AM EST via mobile reply actions
unless several owners (get together)
by KO21 on Feb 15, 2011 8:16 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
Cool!
First time being mistaken for Dom! Gotta be doing something right! It’s amazing to me how biased things are in hockey. There is absolutely no question in football as to when a hit is late, dirty, or targeting the head, and immediately there is consensus. The officials see it, call it, the broadcast teams verify it and explain it correctly and it’s over. The fan rarely feels like they got jobbed. That’s probably because the NFL is consistent in their outlining and punishment of those hits.
"Gervais...he looks danger in the fist with his face!" JPinVA
by Keith Quinn on Feb 15, 2011 8:42 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
First time being mistaken for Dom! Gotta be doing something right!
Don’t get cocky, kid.
"..."
by Thaddeus Ballpheasant on Feb 15, 2011 9:39 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
It was a great post, Kieth..;)
and your youre right, the NHL is the worst run pr sports league….From the Zebras all the way up to the brass…Its a sham and hard to watch but I love the sport…Too bad the powers that be are like the mafia
Tell me why did Martin get 4 games for the sucker punch but Staal got suspended but then recinded for his cheap, knockout punch?
I’m proud of Howie for particulary caring and having the nuggets to say it!
by KO21 on Feb 15, 2011 8:18 AM EST via mobile reply actions
No excuse for why Staal got rescinded, but Martin’s 4 games are fair. He wasn’t going to get just 2 because this is the 2nd time this season he’s in trouble for something.
"Their blog leader, Dominik, is a very reasonable fellow who writes very well and is dedicated. He didn’t have, from what I can tell, any part of that post. I suppose who he employs to post for him reflects on his blog, but it’s a shame." ~ Angry Penguins Fan
Contributor to Lighthouse Hockey not sure if I'm the Sniper or the Enforcer.
In retrospect though
Comparing it to Bertuzzi is over the top. And I’ll ask you this, IF that was the only fight in this game, does MArtin get suspended or is it a roughing. He really barely makes contact. My guess is that if there isn’t 2 other fights going on at the time, its not a huge deal (rightly or wrongly).
"Gervais...he looks danger in the fist with his face!" JPinVA
by Keith Quinn on Feb 15, 2011 8:45 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
LOL
Just noticed your new sig, Webby. Excellent!
Lighthouse Hockey: Send us your cold, your poor, your healthy goalies.
Isles fan in Pa
I live in central Pa. I watched the 3rd period of that game. I can tell you the way the Pens announcers talk about the Isles was itself an embarrassment. And that was just what I saw in the 3rd. But I guess when you are one of the best teams in the league with one of the best players in the league with an owner who was one of the best to ever play, you must have some kind of diplomatic immunity. Its obvious to anyone that an Isles fan that we are treated differently. From missed calls to lack of respect, its been building for quite a while. The punishments were given out and the fans and the media gave their opinions. But here is an important question. How are the other 28 teams (excluding the Pens) going to react to this? I think they will see that this team is not a doormat. As for my opinion, the Isles are treated unfairly. I don’t think that will change. The better teams will always get the preferential treatment. I guess we will just have to wait for our turn. And Mario, well he kind of made himself look stupid. He was like that guy under the rock in the Geico commercial. Where has he been? And Howie, fake or not said what needed to be said and he was absolutely right.
Plenty of us heard the awful Pens commentators, between Yahoo! using the Pens feed and the youtube video of everything using the Pens feed too. I was tempted to switch from Yahoo to the radio after his BS.
"Their blog leader, Dominik, is a very reasonable fellow who writes very well and is dedicated. He didn’t have, from what I can tell, any part of that post. I suppose who he employs to post for him reflects on his blog, but it’s a shame." ~ Angry Penguins Fan
Contributor to Lighthouse Hockey not sure if I'm the Sniper or the Enforcer.
And this is another failure by Isle management
If we had our alums around to speak out on behalf of the team (like Howie stated they had to him), that would lend some weight to the Islander argument.
"Gervais...he looks danger in the fist with his face!" JPinVA
by Keith Quinn on Feb 15, 2011 8:50 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
Yeah
but Butch isn’t really in the same position being a broadcaster…nor is he in the HOF. He may come off just like Errey in his justifications. I would like to see a sit down interview with Trottier really (since he played for both) or Bossy who can first hand describe what Tavares is going through with his nightly beatings.
"Gervais...he looks danger in the fist with his face!" JPinVA
by Keith Quinn on Feb 15, 2011 10:21 AM EST up reply actions
Butch
Was at least willing to apologize when he realized Tangradi was hurt and not just turtling.
He’s at least responsible for what he says and realizes where he might have crossed the line
"Their blog leader, Dominik, is a very reasonable fellow who writes very well and is dedicated. He didn’t have, from what I can tell, any part of that post. I suppose who he employs to post for him reflects on his blog, but it’s a shame." ~ Angry Penguins Fan
Contributor to Lighthouse Hockey not sure if I'm the Sniper or the Enforcer.
I think you're too easy ...
on Lemieux, who until now I’ve always had tons of respect for. If it was only Matt Cooke, that would be enough to render Mario’s words devoid of credibility. But there’s a shopping list of other disgusting acts by HIS players, which as owner he could have stopped and/or dealt with all this time but has not. “Probably self-serving” may be the understatement of the decade. His BS was the ultimate in hypocrisy.
As far as "something needs to be done" is concerned, the question at the heart of issue is: does the league want to get rid of fighting or not? The league overseers decided long ago to leave in the fighting but get rid of the "other stuff" that gives the game a bad name, ie. dirty play, hits to the head, pre-meditated paybacks etc. The problem with this is that you can’t get rid of one and not the other. They are inseparable, part and parcel, rooted in the same place. My opinion is the league’s failed effort to expand its fan-base under Bettman’s guidance would have stood a better chance if fighting was eliminated, which it still could be at any time. Their unchanging philosophy has been fighting is integral to the game’s core and should not be sacrificed. This is tactical error and a poor business decision, if growing the sport is their objective.
The bottom line point is, they either want a "clean" game or they don’t. If they do, they can have it tomorrow. If not, they have to live with these sporadic, ugly, damaging, and most telling – inevitable incidents. In the meantime, if something "needs to be done" in terms of APPEARING to reign in the ugliness and deal with the violators, a good place to start is that dope Colin Campbell. The level of inconsistency and erratic decision making coming from his office is an embarrassment and besmirches the credibility of those who put him there and keep him there. There must be at least 100 people in and around hockey more capable and qualified for that job.
by dose on Feb 15, 2011 8:46 AM EST reply actions 2 recs
Elminate fighting after the league gets control over dangerous hits
You cannot eliminate fighting in a vacuum. If the NHL were truly serious about suspending players for dangerous and dirty plays then suspensions would start at 5 games, every supension would be decided by a panel with league wide representation including the NHLPA, the team could not replace the player on the roster, the player would be suspended for the remainder of the season for all games against the team he committed the infraction and the cap hit for the player would remain while suspended, only then I would say the NHL is starting to get serious, but they are not.
They want to talk the talk and still sell the violence. The NHL requires fighting to police the game, because those that are running the league are too gutless to do it themselves and do it consistently. Fighting isn’t the most ugly part of the game, running guys needlessly into the boards is. The idea that you have a couple of seconds to smash a guy into the boards or glass after he releases the puck, but can make no contact with a player in center ice if they dumped the puck is further indication the league wants to see bodies smashed against the boards as hard and as fast as possible.
Sarcasm is my permanent font.
Also
Did anyone see the tweet (I forget who it was from, maybe Aaron Brown?) that it was a Wang mandate originally not to have fighters? The tweeter was apparently a former teammate and current friend of Doug Weight leading people to believe that’s where it originally came from…so it wasn’t necessarily Scott Gordon’s issue.
"Gervais...he looks danger in the fist with his face!" JPinVA
by Keith Quinn on Feb 15, 2011 8:54 AM EST via mobile reply actions
If they want to change the system...
Wang shodl hold back the $100G, and let the NHL take him to court. There’s nothing better than rolling into court with a video library of NHL-wide infractions and explaining to a JUDGE that Colin Campbell can’t get it right…FOR ANYONE. We’re not the only team that complains about it. And jeez, Charles… the guy works for YOU! It’s not like any of your peers stand up for you either.
This may be the time for HIM to set a REAL precedent. Jeez, if he went to court with the Savard emails, a judge might throw Campbell in court for any number of things. Could you imagine if you worked in a warehouse and were crushed by falling boxes that were stacked incorrectly. And at your workmen’s comp hearing there were emails disclosed that THE JUDGE thought you were a wuss, and were faking the injury… and over-reacting.
Take a stand Charles… at least go down fighting! Are there any lawyers out there that can make a case for this? Or am i just talking out of my Matt Cooke?
Lighthouse Hockey: where "you better check yourself before you rec yourself" -bobl
If your life isn't pathetic enough already, follow me on twitter @JPinVA
Spot on
Challenging the status quo may be the best way to bring meaningful change to the system.
by SchneiderDiricov on Feb 15, 2011 9:13 AM EST up reply actions
or the best way to bring meaningful change to our geographical location.
Puerto Rico Islanders?
"..."
by Thaddeus Ballpheasant on Feb 15, 2011 9:48 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
there actually is s soccer team called the Puerto Rican islanders i think lol
"Mario Lemiuex… I used to respect you."- Turgeon1992
yea its rather funny
When you check google trends for Islanders, it comes up off the charts for Peurto Rico
"Their blog leader, Dominik, is a very reasonable fellow who writes very well and is dedicated. He didn’t have, from what I can tell, any part of that post. I suppose who he employs to post for him reflects on his blog, but it’s a shame." ~ Angry Penguins Fan
Contributor to Lighthouse Hockey not sure if I'm the Sniper or the Enforcer.
they even get put on newsday's islander page once in a blue moon
some sort of glitch i guess
"Mario Lemiuex… I used to respect you."- Turgeon1992
Great thought, and well said!
Unfortunately though, the sport “has it’s risks”, and they are inherent and may not be subject to that type of review…or, if they are, it would be difficult to (I think) neglect or recklessness because often suspensions are handed down, they’re just off the mark. But, just taking that kind of stand may open some eyes. It’s rare that you’ll find a cog in te system willing to challenge TEH SYSTEM, so it probably won’t happen…even if it should.
"Gervais...he looks danger in the fist with his face!" JPinVA
by Keith Quinn on Feb 15, 2011 9:24 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
I don' tthink the "risks"...
even play into it. We’re not talking about setting the standard of discipline too low, or high… they haven’t set one at all. The first think I’d challenge is the arbitrary $100K figure. I’d ask how they derived that number. Does it just happen to be the cost of Canpbell’s penis enlargement surgery? Then I’d ask why Pitt was assessed no fine or suspension for Bylsma, when HE was the one who clearly wasn’t able to “control his players”.
Then you could bring in a boxing expert and ask him to go over THE TALE OF THE TAPE… Did Haley actually overmatch, Adams, Talbot, Johnson or Goddard… and not only did he take them all on in the same night, he took Johnson and Goddard on at the same TIME. I think that’s a failure by the NHL to control the players.
Speaking of which… who were the officials? I remember Howie statting early that one of them was working his first season in the NHL… if it was so clear that THIS WAS GOING TO BE A RETRIBUTION GAME, wouldn’t you want 4 experienced officials on the ice.. they didn’t even have 4 at times because I think they lost an official early on.
I’m not going to blame the officials for this one, because those guys have the toughest job in sports… but when they gave Kyle the penalty for goaltender interference didn’t they make a clear case for incompetence right there. I understand how small that is in the big picture… but it wasn’t just the Islanders fault… I’m sure they’d be willing to accept most of the blame, but PITT gets away scott free.
Lighthouse Hockey: where "you better check yourself before you rec yourself" -bobl
If your life isn't pathetic enough already, follow me on twitter @JPinVA
I agree on the discipline bar
above reply was suppose to say “difficult to prove neglect etc”. Meaning for me, I’ve seen many times where the letter of the law is followed but the spirit of the law is sodomized and vice versa depending on how it suits. In a game where you allow officials and supplemental discipline to make “judgement calls”, any problems that may arise can simply become a “mistake”, or an error in judgement. They can claim “isolated incident” as opposed to overwhelming problem and then really, they can throw officials under the bus for misinterpretation of an existing bad rule. That is why (I think) officials are not allowed to be criticized. If too many people do, and the officials don’t like it, and issues are brought to the forefront, you may have officials asking for clarity and then the league will have to admit failure.
"Gervais...he looks danger in the fist with his face!" JPinVA
by Keith Quinn on Feb 15, 2011 10:12 AM EST up reply actions
Do we want the gov't or courts involved in this?
I think not, anything they touch is a disaster and typically a waste of tax payer money. Just look at the baseball/steroid fiasco.
Furthermore, we may need Campbell when it comes to getting an arena or moving locations, etc.
I watch hockey because I love the game...I watch the Islanders because I hate myself. ~JPinVA
Like I said...
Don’t pay the fine, make it public that you are not paying the fine. What are they going to do, throw you out of the league.
Charles has an obligation to abide by the rules of the NHL… even though every rule seems to exclude him.
Their welfare system uses an unrealistic scale to exclude him from subsidies that would greatly help him financially. Yes he’s in a large market… but it’s a large market that is shared by three teams. Yes he has a lucrative TV deal, but it is held by a company that restricts their viewing to a fuzzy small box in the upper right hand corner of the TV Guide channel.
How many precedents have been set while penalizing the Islanders’ players for diferent infractions.
Simon was not the first person to hit another player in the head with his stick, wasn’t even the worst…nor was there any serious injury delivered… well… he did RECEIVE a CONCUSSION… and he had the longest penalty in league history for such an infraction. Albeit, Simon was a repeat offender… and.. we lived with it… even though Hollewig, Cooke-lite, went unpenalized for the root infraction.
Sean Hill probably wasn’t the first NHL player to use performance enhancing drugs… I’d stake my house on it. But amazingly, with a depleated roster and the Islanders getting prepared for the playoffs…which they barely made… Sean Hill was made the poster boy (very quietly) for the let’s get this out of the NHL. When is Botta gonna get HIM on SNY to talk about that. I’d like to know if the NHL was lenient on him for greater infractions, or it just happened to be the right time, right person, right team to start enforcing league zero-tolerance policy. Did we ever get the FULL STORY?
$100K fine… has that ever been levied before to any team. This is not the first time there have been situations like this. Look at the Atlanta thrashers a few years back. They were starting fights, and nasty ones on a regular basis whenever they were out of games… Is that “controlling your players”… where’s your evidence? Do you have tape of Jack telling his players to go out and start fights… I want to hear evidence of capuano telling Travis Hamonic to start a fight with Mike Rupp, or Josh Bailey… how about, “Hey, Mike, we really need you to do Adams, Talbot, Johnson AND Godard tonight, and as a matter of fact while you’re swining around Johnson’s 250 lbs take a few headshots from Godard who was on the bench when all this started….” What a plan they had.
that’ll never get to a court system… it’ll never get to the board of governors…they should be ASHAMED at the way they handle things.
I’m surprised that the NHL hasn’t been tied up court forever with Balsillie as the NHL tries to keep Buffalo around and make the Islanders disappear. What could be more anti-free business than a league telling a fan base who has an owner, an arena and enough interest to pre-sellout 5 years in advance of even having a team that they can’t have one while the NHL has four or five franchises on the verge of folding every season.
What a well run operation. If Bettman was put in charge of a baskin-Robbins they’d have four flavors… broccoli, spinach, transmission fluid and Roseann Barr.
Lighthouse Hockey: where "you better check yourself before you rec yourself" -bobl
If your life isn't pathetic enough already, follow me on twitter @JPinVA
by JPinVA on Feb 15, 2011 1:40 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
let's not go all V for Vendetta here
Don’t pay the fine, make it public that you are not paying the fine. What are they going to do, throw you out of the league.
Actually, they can. They can suspend Wang. They can dock the Isles draft choices. Bettmanicus, remember, is the all-powerful one here. Calling in the Elder Robed Ones, as it were, is an absolute last resort. It also bypasses the Board of Governors, who can, united, break out their Ultimate Nullifier and vote Bettman into retirement.
If the league really does have it out for the Isles (instead of only seeming to through incompetence), then pushing back here is nothing but an excuse for them to do their worst, which is a hell of a lot. The Isles already have what they needed from Friday – they got people talking about this seriously. Hell, Boston brawled with Dallas and Montreal in a two-week period and nobody said Bo Peep about it, right? Getting the topic out in the open and having media seeking out Snow and Howie and Z for their side? That can’t be bad, even if the hockey media spin it their usual way. People have noticed how ill-spoken they are about the Isles, and like Mario’s statement, it seems self-serving and hypocritical of them to trumpet this alleged “bad organization” claptrap. They were saying the same thing about the Nabokov waiver claim and the arena snafu, for crying out loud. It just shines a new light on the stupidity.
If anyone needs me, I'll be in the Angry Dome.
Lighthouse Hockey - a beacon of greatness on the rocky coast of sports blog mediocrity
Non-hockey scribblings at nightflyblog
Dock us draft picks...
…suspend the owner…
Next step. Sell the team to Balsille… Let them stop a guy who has spent over $300M trying to make this thing work get out from under… Wang has tried to build this franchise up, save the market for the NHL and all they do is shit on him. You know what, maybe Nolan had a point… maybe it is all about racism. Wouldn’t that be a PR nightmare for the NHL if Wang pulled out the race card after all this. Could you imagine if he started giving anectodotal evidence in front of a senate sub comittee at the anti-trust hearings.
“Yes senator, every time Gary took me to lunch we would go to Panda King in the mall and he’d say, ‘Me half price, me with Charlie Chan’”
or
“I didn’t beleive it the first time, but then I called Colin back and asked him again… why $100K? and he said, ‘Ancient Chinese secret’”… and hung up"
or
“When I went to the league offices with Ted Nolan to defend Chris Simon in 2007 one owner said, ‘hey, you guys here to build the railroad?’”
Wouldn’t it be cool if he made it so every time a front office job became available in the NHL they had to interview an Asian guy, like they do in the NFL. What a great job opportunity for Richard Park. He could just hire himself out at $30K a pop to do interviews.
Plus, moving the Isles to Hamilton removes two franchises from the state of NY, becasue Buffalo would die on the vine. But they’d still have two in the hockey hotbed of FL, one in TX and the thriving markets of AZ, GA, TN, and OH.
Sure.. in the long run Wang probably loses money on the deal, but within four years Hamilton is skating around with a Stanley Cup, and Bettman is trying to keep the sunshine NHL out of bankruptcy.
Sure.. in the long run Wang probably loses money on the deal, but within four years Hamilton is skating around with a Stanley Cup, and Bettman is trying to keep the sunshine NHL out of bankruptcy.I mean… if I had a few billion dollars… and didn’t mind losing a few hundred million… and was a spiteful SOB that might be my next move.
Sure.. in the long run Wang probably loses money on the deal, but within four years Hamilton is skating around with a Stanley Cup, and Bettman is trying to keep the sunshine NHL out of bankruptcy.I mean… if I had a few billion dollars… and didn’t mind losing a few hundred million… and was a spiteful SOB that might be my next move.Have we forgotten that it was the NHL that allowed John Spano to buy a franchise with $8 in his checking account, but won’t let a billionaire buy a bankrupt one.
Sure.. in the long run Wang probably loses money on the deal, but within four years Hamilton is skating around with a Stanley Cup, and Bettman is trying to keep the sunshine NHL out of bankruptcy.I mean… if I had a few billion dollars… and didn’t mind losing a few hundred million… and was a spiteful SOB that might be my next move.Have we forgotten that it was the NHL that allowed John Spano to buy a franchise with $8 in his checking account, but won’t let a billionaire buy a bankrupt one.I know you’re right mikb, but I just like my world better than the real one!
Lighthouse Hockey: where "you better check yourself before you rec yourself" -bobl
If your life isn't pathetic enough already, follow me on twitter @JPinVA
by JPinVA on Feb 15, 2011 5:15 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Wasn't Spano vouched for by his golfing buddy? Mr Lemiuex.
Sarcasm is my permanent font.
Supposedly the owner of the Penguins vouched for Spano, which is why Kasparatis was traded to the Pens as return for the favor.
"LHH gives me a chance to vent my spleen. The NHL never took my calls anyway.." ~ Hockey1919
Contributor to Lighthouse Hockey not sure if I'm the Sniper or the Enforcer.
Lemeiux will not be fined: source
“A source confirmed to The Canadian Press on Monday that Lemieux wouldn’t be fined by the NHL for his biting comments.”
Can somebody explain to me how this joke of a league can continue to govern with such blatant disregard for fairness? Lombardi was fined, what like $50k for his comments criticizing the league but Mario’s comments are okay? Such bull crap.
by SchneiderDiricov on Feb 15, 2011 9:11 AM EST reply actions
It might have been Dreger
(God I can’t remember anything anymore…been reading so much!). Whoever it was, was saying something to the effect of Lombardi was critical of the officiating and discipline process, while Mario was criticizing the way the game was played. Horribly spun and just stupid. Maybe Garth and Charles should talk to Lombardi for some backing on the disparity in treatment across the league. The unfortunate part is when you have several teams at the top, no one wants to lose their high standing…and the lesser teams all look like sour grapes. It really is textbook crowd control.
"Gervais...he looks danger in the fist with his face!" JPinVA
by Keith Quinn on Feb 15, 2011 9:29 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
Lemieux is also
“The Best”
I really hate that I idolized this guy growing up and now I have to be annoyed at him for opening his mouth at the stupidest time.
I agree with Keith tho: right words, poor timing.
"..."
by Thaddeus Ballpheasant on Feb 15, 2011 9:50 AM EST up reply actions
I forgot
Who was it two years ago in the isles that jumped the bench in calgary after phaneuf laud out OK?
by Torch7 on Feb 15, 2011 9:25 AM EST via mobile reply actions
Morency
Formerly of the Sound Tigers. He’s not there this year.
"Gervais...he looks danger in the fist with his face!" JPinVA
by Keith Quinn on Feb 15, 2011 9:30 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
Pens - Islanders and Canucks - Avs are Very Similar
To me, what happened on Friday night, overall is very similar to the night of Bertuzzi incident.
The Avs Moore started the whole mess with a cheap shot at Markus Naslund, that not surprisingly was not penalized on the ice and had no supplemental discipline from the league’s wheel of justice. Vancouver was incensed, and the black mark of the Bertuzzi night occured with the cheap shot, broken neck, and brawl.
Our incident with the Pens reached the boiling point with Talbot knocking out Comeau in the previous game, with again, no on-ice penalty and no wheel of justice discipline.
Quite simply, Campbell and his wheel of justice must go. Simple guidelines for suspensions need to go in. No matter the incident, team, player involved, start suspensions at 4 games and it doubles every time you do something really stupid.
There's a big difference there
First – Moore had already answered for Naslund by fighting in that game; Talbot is fairly well-known for his Brave Sir Robin act.
Second – Bertuzzi chased Moore down from behind, hit him, and then drove him face-first into the ice, landing with all his weight on him; Martin and Talbot were just standing around.
Third – Moore had no idea what was happening to him; Martin was trying to get Talbot to turn and was being pointedly ignored.
What Bertuzzi did was horrifying even if Moore had not been badly injured. Martin was out of line, but that’s as much a rookie mistake as anything else. He could have given him a solid slash across the back of the thighs (where it really stings) or face-washed him or something, take his two minutes, and be done. He should not have hit him. Had he not had a suspension on record he wouldn’t have even gotten four games for that.
If anyone needs me, I'll be in the Angry Dome.
Lighthouse Hockey - a beacon of greatness on the rocky coast of sports blog mediocrity
Non-hockey scribblings at nightflyblog
Not comparing Bertuzzi to Martin
I am not saying Matt is Todd. Not even close. I was looking only explicitly at the NHL not doing anything about the initial Moore hit on Naslund in Colorado a few weeks before the game in Vancouver. The refs and Campbell both ignored it. If Moore gets penalized, the Canucks don’t look for vengeance in the re-match. I don’t think it is any more complicated than that.
OK, understood
Thanks for clarifying.
If anyone needs me, I'll be in the Angry Dome.
Lighthouse Hockey - a beacon of greatness on the rocky coast of sports blog mediocrity
Non-hockey scribblings at nightflyblog
My solution
First of all, great job, Keith. I echo your sentiments.
I’m pretty sure I’ve said this before, but my solution is to take two roster spots away from every team and give those spots to two new teams. The League used to have less than four complete forward lines and it’s time to go back to that. Since most of the enforcers are fourth line players, their jobs would be pretty much eliminated. Nobody’s going to save a spot for them when the three remaining lines become that much more critical to a team’s success.
The rule changes you propose may or may not actually stop the violence. After all, the league obviously already ignores its own rules for the better teams, as you said. But if your rules were combined with the two less roster spots, I think the goal would be assured.
By the way, I’m fairly sure that all of the European leagues already penalize for any hits from behind. 2 minutes no matter how slight the bump is. That will already go a long way towards ended such hits, as obviously a big hit from behind would be even more noticeable in the absence of smaller hits from behind. But your suspension idea is great, at least for the bigger hits.
And think of the sales pitch… the two new teams can be Canadian. That’ll get most of the league’s fan base rabid for the change immediately.
No goalie experience? NO PROBLEM! Come on down!
by ICanSeeForIslesAndIsles on Feb 15, 2011 9:45 AM EST reply actions
Advertisement
In the NHL, you can no longer take it from behind.
I like the idea to some degree, but with the way the NHL schedule is and the length of games I think that many would argue that a 4th line is necessary. (Especially those whose 4th lines have greater talent on them). I think this is why they advocate for contraction so much…that way, the “goons” would be the first to go. It’s funny though, because I don’t see the “goons” as the biggest problem anyway. Most of the guys who do the real damage are actually fairly talented, and get beaten by goons when they transgress. Most of the enforcers are pretty honorable guys that play a relatively clean (and low minute) game. They get killed for taking bad penalties that see their ice time decrease and are usually pretty reluctant to do anything over the top because they get called for everything they do.
It would be interesting to see some data on suspensions for enforcers vs agitators vs others and what they are for, and who the initial penalties were committed against.
"Gervais...he looks danger in the fist with his face!" JPinVA
But it isn't the fourth liners that are creating the dangerous hits
No sooner was Cooke suspended than Keith Jones was praising how he would take this guy on his team in a heartbeat. Players don’t respect players and the league won’t protect them. Players care about wins and owners care about dollars, nothing else matters.
Sarcasm is my permanent font.
Well, what if I modified it a bit...
… and say that each team is allowed to keep one other player suited up and ready to go for every game? That person would be like a substitution in soccer. If someone gets injured, they can sub him out (the rule would state that person can no longer play the rest of the game).
This person can also come in just to give the team some fresh legs.
Anyway, I’m trying to understand how the fourth lines average around 6 minutes a game, which is just a few more shifts per team, and yet that would be a big difference in someone’s endurance? I don’t know, but then again, I’ve never been a hockey player.
Regardless, if the league did it (which I think we all agree would be better than cutting full teams), I’m sure the players would simply adjust and not go out of their way to finish every check. It would become a bit more of a speed game, rather than a physical one, which would further cut down on the possible violence. It would look more european.
Wait, I’m getting a bit queasy about that. Nevermind.
No goalie experience? NO PROBLEM! Come on down!
by ICanSeeForIslesAndIsles on Feb 15, 2011 6:03 PM EST up reply actions
with all of the TV timeouts, the fourth lines play has been greatly diminished
Remove the mandatory TV timeouts and force the full bench to play. Coaches can now double shift going into a TV timeout knowing the top lines will get a rest and then go back to then after the break. They could easily show full commercials then return to the game with a slight delay that would be caught up with in between periods. Sort of the reverse of what I do with my DVR. Fans at home get to see the entire game, fans at the stadium don’t have to wait around for a few minutes while the commercials run, killing the games momentum.
Sarcasm is my permanent font.
Glen Healy
Man, Dee Karl at hockeybuzz.com, caught this nugget from our former goalie
Glenn Healy, who was one of my favorite Islanders, was on the Ray Ferraro show yesterday morning. He voiced his opinion in strong words.
“This is a group that has figured out they don’t have the skill level to play at the ECHL level.”
“It’s laughable what is going on with the organization.”
He is “dead to her”…and me too (if that is exactly true)…I’m surprised.
"Gervais...he looks danger in the fist with his face!" JPinVA
WTF! We just beat
Montreal, Pens, Sabres….we are an awesome sub-ECHL team!
"..."
by Thaddeus Ballpheasant on Feb 15, 2011 9:53 AM EST up reply actions
Heals is still bitter about Maloney
He basically signed with the Rangers because he was mad at the organization, and apparently time has only festered his legitimate gripes into a mental illness. It’s been 18 years, Glenn, and Maloney works for Phoenix now. Time to quit carrying water on this and move along.
If anyone needs me, I'll be in the Angry Dome.
Lighthouse Hockey - a beacon of greatness on the rocky coast of sports blog mediocrity
Non-hockey scribblings at nightflyblog
by mikb on Feb 15, 2011 11:20 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Copyright infringement...
I was talking to the wife the other day and she said I invented that word. So it must be true!
Lighthouse Hockey: where "you better check yourself before you rec yourself" -bobl
If your life isn't pathetic enough already, follow me on twitter @JPinVA
Exactly
The reactions to the Islanders have been very strange. The 9-3 victory has been put down as if the fights nullified all the goals; as if the Penguins couldn’t stop pucks because there were fights later in the game.
And all this talk about AHL-level play, etc. makes no sense when the team keeps beating some of the better teams of the NHL. People confuse not making the playoffs with not being able to compete at all. What is wrong with everyone?
Long Island: Paying for four cups in decades of installments.
The 9-3 victory has been put down as if the fights nullified all the goals;
Not only that, people act like the Isles gooned it up after being down 6-0, when it was basically the other way around. And THAT’S HOW YOU DO IT. If you’re getting bullied, take a number, try to win the HOCKEY game at hand, and when the time comes when you can afford to give up a few PP goals, then you deliver the message without ambiguity.
Thanks, NHL.
Lighthouse Hockey: Send us your cold, your poor, your healthy goalies.
by Dominik on Feb 15, 2011 12:51 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Elliote Friedman's reference to the Miracle on Manchester had me laughing
He proposed that much like the Kings responded to the Oilers laughing at them, the Islanders should have scored 6 goals and shut the Penguins up. I pointed out he may have missed the first half of the game where the Islanders did what he suggested.
Sarcasm is my permanent font.
also lost in this...
all the Pens goals were on the PP… where they had two 5 minute PPs with both teams depleated… and all they could muster in 60 miutes with more than half a period of 5-on-4… was 3 goals. HA!
So… Grabner and Moulson 4, Shittsburg 3… who’s laughing now?
Lighthouse Hockey: where "you better check yourself before you rec yourself" -bobl
If your life isn't pathetic enough already, follow me on twitter @JPinVA
I'm pretending
Glenn Healy never said this. He’s still my hero as a 12 year old
"Their blog leader, Dominik, is a very reasonable fellow who writes very well and is dedicated. He didn’t have, from what I can tell, any part of that post. I suppose who he employs to post for him reflects on his blog, but it’s a shame." ~ Angry Penguins Fan
Contributor to Lighthouse Hockey not sure if I'm the Sniper or the Enforcer.
It hurt looking at that
I’m hoping she’s wrong, but you know her right? She usually isn’t.
"Gervais...he looks danger in the fist with his face!" JPinVA
by Keith Quinn on Feb 15, 2011 10:13 AM EST up reply actions
depends on your definition of “know her”
but I wouldn’t even question anything she says.
Plus I heard someone else mention the same thing too
"Their blog leader, Dominik, is a very reasonable fellow who writes very well and is dedicated. He didn’t have, from what I can tell, any part of that post. I suppose who he employs to post for him reflects on his blog, but it’s a shame." ~ Angry Penguins Fan
Contributor to Lighthouse Hockey not sure if I'm the Sniper or the Enforcer.
She is 100% trustworthy.
If she says she heard it, she heard it.
Let Us Go, Islanders! (Ever notice how strange that sounds without the contraction?)
by TheMetalChick on Feb 15, 2011 2:57 PM EST up reply actions
I'm focusing on the game tonight - enough of all this talk - it happened, it's over.
I can’t read any more shit words from any more of my childhood heroes.
You only figure 8 once.
by The Black Map on Feb 15, 2011 10:15 AM EST up reply actions
Healy
I think I’m going to style of my goalie mask from the Healy now. But I’m not sure I could wear a Hasek. Maybe an Osgood? He said nice things about the Isles this year.
I still have my Cooper HM-30 cats' eye and chinstrap
Smitty FTW.
If anyone needs me, I'll be in the Angry Dome.
Lighthouse Hockey - a beacon of greatness on the rocky coast of sports blog mediocrity
Non-hockey scribblings at nightflyblog
I still love Michael Haley...
And Martin, and Gillies.
Hell, my favorite play was JT axing Mr. Overrated’s ankle with his stick, and I don’t care what anybody says. 99 percent of fans love what our guys did, and I’m guessing most players in the NHL liked it too.
"Their eyes were bright, their eyes were burning, It was team." - Russian hockey player Sergei Makarov, on the US kids after they beat the Soviets
by BobbyNystromOwnsYou on Feb 15, 2011 10:59 AM EST reply actions
I just hope this ...
ruckus doesn’t somehow change Martin, make him reluctant to assert himself his way to avoid the spotlight and bad press etc.
that would be a shame.
i’m less worried about that with Gillies.
Gillies doesn't seem like the kind of player who will be on the island long anyways..
A journeyman is all he really is.
"Their eyes were bright, their eyes were burning, It was team." - Russian hockey player Sergei Makarov, on the US kids after they beat the Soviets
by BobbyNystromOwnsYou on Feb 15, 2011 12:24 PM EST up reply actions
More skewed nonsense on Puck Daddy (Interview w/ Pens GM Shero)
"Gervais...he looks danger in the fist with his face!" JPinVA
Excellent response in the comments though by Cc
Cc’s response:
""Listen, tap the guy on the shoulder and say, ’Let’s go.’ OK, we answer the bell."
Max Talbot and Matt Cooke simply do not “answer the bell.” Anybody that watches hockey on any kind of regular basis knows this, despite what the Pittsburgh faithful would like us to believe. Talbot and Cooke are both players with skill, yes. Neither is a goon in the mold of Gillies or Godard. But the Pittsburgh team is built around guys (Crosby, Malkin, Cooke, Talbot, Letang) that are skilled AND are addicted to slew-foots, head shots, slashing, etc.. Then others (Godard, Engelland, Rupp, Asham, Adams) answer the bell for them. That’s just how the Pittsburgh Penguins team is composed.
There is nothing particularly wrong with this – it’s how a lot of successful teams from the past have been composed, most famously the 70’s Flyers, where Bobby Clarke could hack at anyone he wanted while Schultz, Dupont, Kelly etc. answered the bell for him.
The difference is that Pittsburgh fans/players/management/ownership will not admit what their team is made up of. Crosby has a mean streak that’s a mile wider than Gretzky’s was. Malkin did more dirty stuff in his first four years in the league than Mario did in his career. The combination of chippy guys that won’t fight and a slew of goons to back them up has always created fight-filled games. Nothing new here except the wild hypocrisy of everybody associated with this team.
Just own it, Pens fans. You don’t see Flyers fans shirking from the fact they they historically won through intimidation. Pittsburgh doesn’t lead the league in penalties because they need to protect themselves – they lead the league in penalties because they are a dirty team. And once in a while, when the power play doesn’t scare anybody because Crosby and Malkin are hurt, and the score is really lopsided, teams that are sick of the Penguin’s crap are going to want retribution."
I watch hockey because I love the game...I watch the Islanders because I hate myself. ~JPinVA
by NYI_22 on Feb 15, 2011 12:22 PM EST up reply actions 6 recs
Any coincidence that the name Shero is tied to both franchises?
Sarcasm is my permanent font.
Rec'd like my liver after this weekend.
Lighthouse Hockey: Send us your cold, your poor, your healthy goalies.
I keep hearing the Pens gooned it up to keep pace with the Flyers.
So that means the Islanders are even more than justified because the play in the same Division as both of them.
Sarcasm is my permanent font.
ding ding ding
no more calls… we have a winner!
Lighthouse Hockey: where "you better check yourself before you rec yourself" -bobl
If your life isn't pathetic enough already, follow me on twitter @JPinVA
Shero on Cooke "In the (Columbus defenseman Fedor) Tyutin case, (Cooke) was talked to by me and the coach. I talked to him after the Savard hit."
Glad to see those talks are working.
by 54_Fighting on Feb 15, 2011 12:38 PM EST up reply actions
I know, right?
Oooh, a stern talking-to… what’s next? Timeouts?
by sayvillelax94 on Feb 15, 2011 4:36 PM EST up reply actions
I wonder
The extent of the NHL and Yahoo’s relationship, especially since the NHL has had the occasional game streamed on yahoo sports this year.
PD had one article about Mario being a Hypocrite, which was written by Leahy and then Wysh and Lambert (who btw I linked to one of his tweets the other day where he said his eyes were rolling out of his head when he saw On The Fly discussing Martin being like Bertuzzi) post pieces defending Mario. Then Wysh had an article bashing Z’s statement and now this post too.
On nearly every post the commentators seem hugely against Mario from the Leahy post on. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a yahoo blog (well I only read PD and Shutdown corner really) have such an about face and so many stories on one incident. Is Sherro or Z’s comments really that important now? I could see linking to them in a round up of whats going on, but not deserving of their own full fledged posts.
"Their blog leader, Dominik, is a very reasonable fellow who writes very well and is dedicated. He didn’t have, from what I can tell, any part of that post. I suppose who he employs to post for him reflects on his blog, but it’s a shame." ~ Angry Penguins Fan
Contributor to Lighthouse Hockey not sure if I'm the Sniper or the Enforcer.
in addition
Justin Bourne (who writes at PD) had Lambert on a guest post at his own blog, and it was quite harsh to the Isles.
If anyone needs me, I'll be in the Angry Dome.
Lighthouse Hockey - a beacon of greatness on the rocky coast of sports blog mediocrity
Non-hockey scribblings at nightflyblog
I need to start following Bourne, I love his posts on PD.
"Their blog leader, Dominik, is a very reasonable fellow who writes very well and is dedicated. He didn’t have, from what I can tell, any part of that post. I suppose who he employs to post for him reflects on his blog, but it’s a shame." ~ Angry Penguins Fan
Contributor to Lighthouse Hockey not sure if I'm the Sniper or the Enforcer.
his tweets are pretty funny
He’ll also retweet Isles stuff that we may otherwise miss.
If anyone needs me, I'll be in the Angry Dome.
Lighthouse Hockey - a beacon of greatness on the rocky coast of sports blog mediocrity
Non-hockey scribblings at nightflyblog
The Chris Simon and Pronger suspension for the same infraction typifies the NHL's bias
First of all, a fan here pointed out how convenient the 9 game suspension for Pronger was…Not only was it so he can get back in time for a Stanley cup run but he also was able rest up…This is fucked up…He actually benefited from his blatent attempt to injure someone with a kick with a sharp blade…Simon got 30 games, taking him out of the playoffs, for the same infraction and also they suspended our top dman, Sean Hill for failing a drug test a while back right before the playoffs…Thats fucked up…So NHL essentially put the FIX in like the mafia…I haven’t heard of any other players getting suspended for PED’s since Hill did and I gaurantee a decent % of these players are using…
Now, Mario Ladouche, goes off about whats unfair about the league and how the Isles made a side show out of the game but he allows guys like Cook to stay on his team and continue to go out there and hurt other players????Fuck you, LADOUCHBAG!!!Youre a scum bag, hypocrite…AT least the Isles fired Simon, showing what the org is all about…Fire Cook and then we will take you seriously, until then you are simply, LADOUCHEBAG
by KO21 on Feb 15, 2011 12:42 PM EST reply actions 2 recs
The real question is...
Do you think the Pens goon it up in retaliation in April or are they going to be “the bigger” team and live by their word and just “play hockey”. I personally think we will see a dirty play against Tavares or Grabner. I also think Martin, Haley, Gillies, and Konopka will be their and given the green light to protect our players as they see fit if this is the case.
It’s a shame that the fact we scored 9 goals and dominated the game has really taken a back seat to the beating we placed on them. If the roles were reversed everyone would say how weak and pathetic we are and how great of a team Pitt is and that another Cup is within their reach. I am proud of the way this team came together and hope this can be a catalyst for changing the tides.
Will be interesting, won't it?
Do you think the Pens goon it up in retaliation in April or are they going to be "the bigger" team and live by their word and just "play hockey".
They’ve certainly painted themselves into only one possible response.
(Of course, for the Pens, even “playing hockey” involves an ample share of cheap shots.)
Lighthouse Hockey: Send us your cold, your poor, your healthy goalies.
There's going to be so many league people there
And probably Refs with more years that it’s going to look like an All Star game.
Gary Bettman has assured Mario that Crosby will score 5 goals and get 3 assists.
"Their blog leader, Dominik, is a very reasonable fellow who writes very well and is dedicated. He didn’t have, from what I can tell, any part of that post. I suppose who he employs to post for him reflects on his blog, but it’s a shame." ~ Angry Penguins Fan
Contributor to Lighthouse Hockey not sure if I'm the Sniper or the Enforcer.
by Mark D on Feb 15, 2011 12:51 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
So bitter that he is having a statue put up showing him plowing through the Isles D circa 1993 in front of their new arena
Talk about warping reality.
Let Us Go, Islanders! (Ever notice how strange that sounds without the contraction?)
by TheMetalChick on Feb 15, 2011 3:00 PM EST up reply actions 2 recs
LOL I forgot about that
As if he did all that much plowing in that series! Maybe we should put up a statue of himself staring at the ice while Volek and Ferraro celebrate.
Also notice that all of a sudden, Mario Lemieux and Glenn Healy are on the same side of this thing? That’s the 2011 Islanders, people – bringing people together.
If anyone needs me, I'll be in the Angry Dome.
Lighthouse Hockey - a beacon of greatness on the rocky coast of sports blog mediocrity
Non-hockey scribblings at nightflyblog
Whoa...really?
A little over-the-top, no?
You only figure 8 once.
by The Black Map on Feb 15, 2011 3:30 PM EST up reply actions
But to hear it from a Pens fan
ooooo, Mario really doesn’t want the statue, and made sure from his request that the players weren’t Identified so that no one was embarrassed.
"LHH gives me a chance to vent my spleen. The NHL never took my calls anyway.." ~ Hockey1919
Contributor to Lighthouse Hockey not sure if I'm the Sniper or the Enforcer.
The article I read said that they were Islanders defensemen per his request.
Let Us Go, Islanders! (Ever notice how strange that sounds without the contraction?)
by TheMetalChick on Feb 15, 2011 4:52 PM EST up reply actions
Can you site the article? I can't believe he'd stoop to that level.
I thought he wanted the players to not be identified like the iconic Jonsson and Gretzky image.
Sarcasm is my permanent font.
Dug for the original thread over at the arena
here it is.
The orig article says that the statue will show Lemieux splitting two nameless Islanders defenders, as per Marios request. So while he doesnt want them to have individual names on their jerseys, he nontheless wants to make-pretend that he dominated the Islanders by calling out the team that ruined his last chance at glory.
Let Us Go, Islanders! (Ever notice how strange that sounds without the contraction?)
by TheMetalChick on Feb 16, 2011 10:54 AM EST up reply actions
What a tool
Is there also a statue of Healy making the save afterward?
And not for nothing – how ridiculous is it for the owner of the team to put up a statue TO HIMSELF in front of the arena? Granted he’s the best player they’ve ever had, but a statue of himself is… well, geez, it’s the sort of thing dictators do.
To make the ego life-size, the damn thing will have to be larger than the Statue of Liberty.
If anyone needs me, I'll be in the Angry Dome.
Lighthouse Hockey - a beacon of greatness on the rocky coast of sports blog mediocrity
Non-hockey scribblings at nightflyblog
i say let him enjoy his statue...
i need something to vandalize when in pitt…
NYI Hockey! We'll get that winless month yet!
They should have left the names and one should have been VOLEK.
Sarcasm is my permanent font.
Wouldn’t be surprised, just another disconnect from reality
"LHH gives me a chance to vent my spleen. The NHL never took my calls anyway.." ~ Hockey1919
Contributor to Lighthouse Hockey not sure if I'm the Sniper or the Enforcer.
bottom line...
forget about the NHL, and how it handles their supensions. if a player wants to be a physical force hes got to be aware of the consequences, not so much from the NHL, but by players from the opposing team.
bottom line…. talbot knew he had a target on his back that game, he can hear martin chirping in his ear, hense, the blocked punch. instead of just throwing down the gloves and settling it like men (the reason why fighting is apart of the game) he bitched out like the female part that he is. there would have never been a line brawl, there would have been some sort of balance being restored..
big hit, suspect hit, or an ileagal hit = A FIGHT.. now if u dont want to throw down and defend your actions, dont play physical or be ready bc someones comming for u.
the one law of nature i belive in, is balance, and how it always needs, or gets restored..
by LETS GO ISLANDERS!!! on Feb 15, 2011 6:01 PM EST reply actions 1 recs
Well said. . .
Despite all the electronic ink wasted by pundits and posters (not here; on other sites), the very simple point and lesson arising out of Friday’s game is this:
If you’re going to play the game “on the edge” (whether over it or not, but just at or around “the edge”), you can’t decline to answer the bell when asked. Actions like that are the real “travesty”, Mario.
All else that was brought up by posters (not here) and pundits alike (DP vs. Johnson, NHL discipline, whether fighting should be part of the game)is mainly sideshow and misses the point. Cheapshots happen, big hits that are at the edge of clean but hurt guys happen. I don’t think players get all that worked up about the actual incidents, short of a guy who is repeatedly reckless or is clearly out to injure. They get worked up if that guy won’t take his medicine afterwords. If guys like Cooke, Talbot, Phaneuf, etc., answer the bell when asked, NONE OF THIS HAPPENS.
That’s what it is. That’s all there is.
by Hey Hanrahan on Feb 15, 2011 6:48 PM EST up reply actions
big hit, suspect hit, or an ileagal hit = A FIGHT.. now if u dont want to throw down and defend your actions, dont play physical or be ready bc someones comming for u.
Id take big hit out… I think fighting just because someone got a good, fair, clean hit on you is lame. But suspect and illegal hits, definitely.
Let Us Go, Islanders! (Ever notice how strange that sounds without the contraction?)
by TheMetalChick on Feb 15, 2011 6:52 PM EST up reply actions
ur right
didnt want to put big hit in there but, i was trying to say if u wanna play rough u have to be ready to defend yourself… you can give it, but u better be ready to take it….
a clean big hit shouldnt result in a fight
by LETS GO ISLANDERS!!! on Feb 15, 2011 11:10 PM EST up reply actions
well then we definitely agree!
Let Us Go, Islanders! (Ever notice how strange that sounds without the contraction?)
by TheMetalChick on Feb 15, 2011 11:45 PM EST up reply actions
Add me in to the agreement tally as long as clean hit is removed from the equation
Sarcasm is my permanent font.
happened way too many times with sutton and witt on our blueline. Boy could they throw big "legal" body and hip checks.
Proud Islanders fan, the organization that iced the greatest team to ever play the game and won 4 straight cups. Best overall player in the nhl right now=Pavel Datsyuk.
And never forget "The Twisted Sister-We're Not Gonna Take it Retribution Game" against the pens where we beat their ass on the scoreboard 9-3 and on the ice, getting retribution for their cheapshotting wussy asses!:
http://www.nhl.com/ice/recap.htm?id=2010020823&navid=sb:recap
by OzzyFan on Feb 16, 2011 1:17 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
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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.
