An Open Letter to the NHL Community from a Proud Islanders Fan
by 19InARow on Jul 23, 2011 7:50 PM EDT
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PrintLHH Editor's Note: It's summer, baby. 'Tis the season for FanPosts like these.
Scapegoating (per Wikipedia): "Process in which the mechanisms of projection or displacement are utilized in focusing feelings of aggression, hostility, frustration, etc., upon another individual or group; the amount of blame being unwarranted."
Dear Fellow NHL Enthusiast:
I’ve been an Islanders’ fan since the summer of 1983. In that time, I’ve endured a lot: loss of the Cup to Gretzky’s Oilers (after having missed the four straight championships); essentially the defection of such stars as Pat LaFontaine and Brent Sutter; the dismantling of the ’93 team, including trading Pierre Turgeon for a past-his-prime Kirk Muller (who wouldn’t even report); Fishsticks; Mike Milbury; not just bad ownerships, but a criminal one in John Spano; Mike Milbury; an arena that was a relic 15 years ago; the systematic trading-away of such talent as Roberto Luongo, Bryan McCabe, Todd Bertuzzi, Ollie Jokinen, the 2nd overall pick in 2001 (Jason Spezza), essentially the 1st overall pick in 2000 (DiPietro over Heatley and Gaborik), Tim Connolly, Norris Trophy winner Zdeno Chara, 48 goal scorer Ziggy Palffy; almost 20 years since our last playoff series victory; and Mike Milbury. That’s a lot for we fans to take. So, when you vilify our team, you should know that you’re preaching to the choir. You don’t know nearly as much of the hardship, as we do.
But there is something you probably don’t realize.
All of the nastiness, the utter disrespect, the lazy article writing, the scapegoating…the Isles franchise has experienced this before, back in the 70s, when we were a fledgling start-up existing in the shadow of Manhattan’s Original Six New York Rangers and their media machine. The New York Islanders were a terrible joke, but we began compiling talent. Lots of talent: Denis Potvin, Billy Smith, Bobby Nystrom, Clark Gillies, Bryan Trottier, Mike Bossy, et al. But even that talent wasn’t enough to win one Stanley Cup, much less four in a row.
Any experienced hockey fan knows that talent, alone, does not win the Stanley Cup. There must be hardship. As evidenced by that championship Isles team, from the stars to the role players, guys must be not only willing, but eager, to spill blood for each other, to run through the proverbial wall, to win for the guy next to him, to be a family. Fat contracts don’t accomplish that. Neither does being the latest media darling. You know what helped to build the dynastic Islanders?
All of the nastiness, the utter disrespect, the lazy article writing, and the scapegoating.
Which brings me back to the current team. On February 11th 2011, in a game versus the Penguins, these Islanders finally had enough. The unwarranted disprespect wasn’t just from other hockey fans and writers, and it wasn’t just from the other teams. The refs and the "powers that be" were allowing other teams to take liberties with our beloved Islanders. It had become a mob rules field day, whereby players would run the likes of John Tavares with little or no consequence. Someone had to step up and, as with any tight team, the entire team stepped up. If it had been the Flyers, Bruins, or even the Lightning fighting back, it would have been viewed as what it was: old-time hockey where a group of young players stood up for itself and became a team. However, on cue, the greater hockey community chose not to see it that way for one simple reason: it was the scapegoat New York Islanders who had done it. Gasp!
When you, the hockey fan, write your childish comments like a good little lemming; and when you, the sports journalist, write your lazy, uninspiring, uninformed articles; know that you are playing your part to distinction. You are helping to shape this very young, very talented hockey club into a future champion. You are doing what was done a few decades ago, which is precisely what my team needs now to take the next step.
Because, you see, talent and competitiveness may be vital ingredients to a contending team, but when you add a generous helping of pissed off, you’re creating a Champion who is going to come into your building and hand your butt to you.
So, as a fan who genuinely loves the New York Islanders, thank you for that. Thank you so much. And keep up the good work!
Sincerely,
--A Patient Isles’ Fan
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Amen ...
The above is proof that “Islanders fans are different” & that our team will be in the playoffs this season. Huzzah!
Bleeding orange & blue since '72.
Great fucking article
I tip my hat to you, sir
Bang On
Excellent article. Did you happen to catch Terry Koshan’s shit of a writeup in the Toronto Sun bashing the Islanders over the Yashin story.
by Isle Of Weight on Jul 23, 2011 11:45 PM EDT reply actions
Nope!
And I don’t want to! Who needs the stress. I get the proper Isles dissension from you peeps.
by 19InARow on Jul 24, 2011 12:43 AM EDT up reply actions 3 recs
Nice job, 19
Twelve recs (and counting) for … your first FanPost, was it? I had fun reading it but had a hunch many more would love it.
And it even passed the quite-stringent LHH FanPost grammar test. :)
Lighthouse Hockey: A flute with no holes is not a flute. A Dane with no holes is Frans Nielsen.
by Dominik on Jul 25, 2011 1:59 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Naturally, this article will be cited by a host of people who want to continue calling us goons, but i really don’t care. In time, this article will be cited by us when everyone else jumps on our bandwagon… When all of a sudden, the Isles are a good team. When all the pundits forget all the crap they’ve been saying about us and start talking about how good this team is. At that point, we’ll whip this baby out (and maybe a few more in the same vein) and say “are you willing to admit now that we knew what we were talking about, people?”
That day will be some time this upcoming season, so long as “Yes” wins out on August 1st. Count on it.
Thanks for the article, 19-in-a-row. Keep this page bookmarked, guys.
Only half a year 'til Opening Night! ... *Sigh!*
by ICanSeeForIslesAndIsles on Jul 24, 2011 12:04 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs
Most Excellent
"I bet Calgary wishes they had a backup goalie as their GM" - Pauly C
Contributor to Lighthouse Hockey not sure if I'm the Sniper or the Enforcer.
Someone go check the oven
I think that big helping of CROW is almost ready to be served to the hockey world.
by IslesinAZ on Jul 24, 2011 12:46 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs
Another great article.
We will in the parking lots of uniondale
We will fight in the lighthouse of montauk
We will fight on the sunrise highway
We will fight in the bars of Huntington
We will never give up
Never have so many needed so few to vote.
I say this
YOU BETTER VOTE NOT JUST YEA
But
FUCK YEA on Aug 1
by Torch7 on Jul 24, 2011 9:13 AM EDT via mobile reply actions 1 recs
Well said...
But, how do you become an Islander fan in 1983? Man, that’s bad timing. As far as the national media; especially the Canadian media who never miss an opportunity to take a dig at the Islanders, F’em. They lump every that happen since ‘83 together like there’s been one owner and GM to blame. It will be special to when the team is winning to watch them have to admit that the Islanders are good and a contenter.
I became an Isles fan in ‘75, when they started to turn it around. People always forget the tough playoff losses to Toronto and the Rangers before the Cup wins. Everyone was asking for the team to be broken up; that the player mix didn’t work.The playoff series that turned everything around was the one against the Bruins. Boston thought they could push the Islanders around. Well, Gillies and Nystrom and company beat the hell out of O’Rielly and Milbury. It was great.
But, how do you become an Islander fan in 1983? Man, that’s bad timing.
My first year as a dedicated Islanders fan watching games and really following the team was 1994. You wanna talk about bad timing?
Let Us Go, Islanders! (Ever notice how strange that sounds without the contraction?)
by TheMetalChick on Jul 24, 2011 12:14 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Me too!
1994 was when I really starting following the Isles.
by North Dakota Red Eagle on Jul 24, 2011 5:26 PM EDT up reply actions
Its not that Im young
I do remember when the Isles were winning, I was just a little girl who didnt care lol. I called myself an Islander fan if someone asked me Islanders or Rangers because I am a Long Islander and I knew the Islanders were the winners. But I didnt really care about sports growing up and nobody tried to get me in to sports. My dad liked football, but thats it. In the summer of 1993 I started hanging out with a friend who is a hockey freak, and he got me in to the game. Then everything changed. We are still close to this day and either watch or go to most games together.
Let Us Go, Islanders! (Ever notice how strange that sounds without the contraction?)
by TheMetalChick on Jul 24, 2011 9:21 PM EDT up reply actions
I was 12YO in 1972, the birth of the NY Islanders!
So I gues I must be older. I did see it all and most importantly remember most of it, if not all. MANY similarities with this current team and the mid 70’s team which was getting ready to take over the entire hockey world and dominate for close to six years. The 1979 team was just as goood as any cup winning team. John Davidson had the series of his life for the Rags, if not 1979 would have ben our first cup. The “Drive for Five” team was “hoodwinked” by the NHL, in changing the palyoff format from 2home, 2away, 1-1-1, to 2home 3away and 2home. This team would have taken the mighty Oilers to seven games had that format NOT been changed. That could have been the “drive for six.”
As for the current team? The way I see it, the possabilities are endless!!
We are all Islanders, even if we are in Jersey!
by Russel Ginart on Jul 24, 2011 10:20 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Nice post :)
I was 6 when the Isles won their first cup.
I wish I could have experienced all of this. Instead, I have yet to see the Isles win a playoff series!
I truly believe however that good times and plenty of wins are coming up soon for this team.
Let Us Go, Islanders! (Ever notice how strange that sounds without the contraction?)
by TheMetalChick on Jul 24, 2011 11:06 PM EDT up reply actions
I was 14. My friends were fans, but I was more a baseball kid. I even remember a sleep over where we played a game where each kid had to name an Islander. Around and around the circle until you couldn’t name one. I’m pretty certain I was out, first round. Spring of ‘83, I found a new friend, Pete, who was an Isles’ freak. For those ‘83 playoffs, I was still only 13 years old, so I wasn’t allowed out past a certain time to see the games at Pete’s house. By the fall, I was 14, old enough to stay out later. But not much later, because for the ’84 Isles/Rangers series, I had to listen to it on the radio. When Ken Morrow scored on Hanlon, I remember screaming silently (because I was supposed to be in bed…strict parents) at the top of my lungs, in the dark, with my headphones on. That game was when I really became a fan.
by 19InARow on Jul 24, 2011 11:40 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
I got to consciously enjoy the final two Cups
But was too young and clueless to really appreciate what my dad was showing me. As a sign of my obliviousness, 1984 was a cruel realization that they didn’t win every year, and 1985 was a cruel realization that they didn’t get to the finals every year (fisting Flyers).
It seems the more I learned and appreciated hockey, the worse my teams got.
Lighthouse Hockey: A flute with no holes is not a flute. A Dane with no holes is Frans Nielsen.
You think that sucks?
In my life, the Isles have yet to win a playoff series… I wasn’t even born for the ’93 playoffs.
AND, I'm a Mets fan!
by sayvillelax94 on Jul 25, 2011 10:48 AM EDT up reply actions
This
’93 was probably the year when I really became an Islanders fan, and that was a mix between having friends as fans and growing up on Long Island (alright, Queens/LI border), but when I really got obsessed was when the team took a major nosedive and I moved to Rags country (Westchester). All the abuse I received as an Islanders fan just strengthened my passion even more, and I still get some shit about it at work even. I tell them, just wait. Just wait…
Official choice of Lighthouse Dog #1.
by Fabtraption on Jul 25, 2011 11:12 AM EDT up reply actions
Ha
Yes, you post-’93 fans may very well be the most impressive of all.
Plus, you have to put up with us farts talking about better times…
Lighthouse Hockey: A flute with no holes is not a flute. A Dane with no holes is Frans Nielsen.
heh
Some of my earliest memories as an Islander fan come from watching the Never Say Die 25th anniversary video. You get a great overview of the Isles history and then at the end they have Milbury talking about all our great prospects for the future with McCabe, Bertuzzi, etc. It’s been a rough period to grow up an Islanders fan to say the least.
On the bright side, at my first Islanders-Rangers game they had an awesome mashup of Chara taking a slap shot combined with footage of Madison Square Garden blowing up from Godzilla.
Pr*j*ct**ns lead to long term injuries, just ask the asian guy from Inception
If its any consolation to the post-93 fans, the pre-80 fans had it just as bad.
We suffered, we endured and then we gloated.
Nassau Coliseum lost a veteran and an original Islander fan. ACC 1918-2011
Spot on!
"If the bell needs to be answered, we've got the guys to answer it." "If they want to start something, that's fine."- Trevor Gillies
good job, 19!
We may be in the box, but you get the penalty.
Lighthouse Hockey - a beacon of greatness on the rocky coast of sports blog mediocrity
Non-hockey scribblings at nightflyblog
My Sentiments Exactly
What really grinds my gears is the misinformation about the organization as a whole relayed by fans and journalist. Don’t get me wrong. A lot of criticism compiled about this team is earned. It’s the far out, totally uninformed and inaccurate criticism passed on by Islander fans, other team’s fans and journalists that almost by default are assumed to be fact. When infact … couldn’t be further from the truth … or sometimes based on twisted half truths and the “pile on” mentality this team has suffered through for as long as I can remember (fan since 77-78).
We should start a thread sometime after the August 1st Ref. that challenges each of us to come up with 10 common half truths or total lies about the Islanders that is propagated and regurgitated throughout the NHL fan community and the NHL’s journalist corps., and then respond to each one of them with facts.
Examples would be —
- Garth Snow the backup goalie is so horrible that he signed DiPietro to a 15 year deal. — Fact: Garth Snow was just made GM the same week as DP was signed to the 15 year deal. The genisis of that long term deal was being orchestrated by Milbury, Wang and DP’s agent and was in development for almost a full year. I have a feeling that behind closed doors Neil Smith was adamently against this deal thus causing his departure. Just my take.
Here’s another one I read today from a Canadian website, it’s more like a half truth:
- (paraphrasing of course) Garth has no idea what he’s doing. Of course the Islanders are going to be a great team eventually. They’ve finished at the bottom of the league the past 6 years and have all these top picks. All he needed to do is buy the Hockey News before draft day and make their picks. He hasn’t made any acquisitions of note except for the draft. — Fact: The Isles have finished in the bottom 5 the past 4 seasons and drafted in the top 5 three times (1-1st and 2-5th). In 2008 Garth traded down from 5 to select Bailey and accumulate more draft picks. Garth had to do this because he inheritted a team with a totally depleted prospect corps, and was more like an expansion team with journeymen sans the benefit of a top 1 or 2 overall pick after his first season ended in 2007. Heck … he didn’t even have a 1st round pick that year. A ton of the Islander’s prospects were drafted in later rounds. Nino (5th), Johnny T (1st), Josh (9th), Ryan (5th), Calvin (12th) & Brock (30th) are all first rounders drafted since 2008. Six 1st round picks in 4 years. Every draft is a crap shoot with no gaurantees. The two extra picks were acquired by making trades … not standing around. It’s the later picks for depth that will make the Islanders really dangerous …. Hamonic, MacDonald, Martin, Wishart, Lee, Cizikas, Kabanov, Petrov (hockey Gods willing), Nilsson, Poulin, DiBo, Rakhshani and Donovan to name a few. How about the acquisition of Grabner and free agent signings of Moulson and Streit?
Here’s a middle digit salute to all you Isles bashers that pile on the team with little fact to back your trash up. Trust me when I say us diehards are the biggest critics of the team. However, our criticism is more founded…. and common critique that many fans may have of their own teams.
I remember back in ‘78 when I was still learning about the game and the team … It wasn’t easy to find them on TV then. Living on Staten Island we had no cable, and relied soley on WOR when they carried the occasional game. I got most of my info on the team from the NY Daily News, NY Post and Staten Island Advance. They weren’t always kind in print to the team in 1978 when they were already a San Jose-esque power house. There was no internet and sports center for me to supliment my thirst for info on the team I found interest in. There was only print and sports phone (212-979-xxxx) … remember that? I remember even in 1988 calling sports phone to see if the Islanders clinched 1st place in the Patrick Division (they did), when that entire division was over .500 ( real over .500).
Bottom line is … The Isles have always been the step child to the NY market, playing in the step child league of major league sports. I can’t wait for ALL these Isles players from all over North America and the World to be able to bring the Islanders’ Stanley Cup back to their home towns in Canada, US and Europe so us Isles fans can tell ’em all to suck it!
by 19 Isle in NJ 22 on Jul 24, 2011 1:46 PM EDT reply actions 6 recs
I agree totally
Suck it! Especially Kirk Muller, Ryan Smyth, Dan Hamhuis, Paul Martin and whomever else has jilted the Isles for reasons unexplained. L.I. is a great place to play and live especially when making an NHL salary. The fan base is unquestioned in their support. I can only hope that being an Isles fan for 33+years, I can finally see the construction of the new Fort Neverlose. We have to go out and vote YES!
"Hating the Rangers since before I was born."
YES! I remember Sports Phone, I used it quite often.
The mighty Oiler Dinasty? NOT so mighty (IMO) they cruised getting out of the West, by playing such NOT SO big powerhouses like: Wiinapeg (1.0) as JPinVA would say, LA, Vancouver. When they did get to the finals they were fresh.
What did the islanders have to do to get there? Get by the Patrick Division (the best division at that time) in the first two rounds, which were blood baths vs. the Caps, Flyers, Rangers. All this just to get to the semi-finals, then play teams like Boston, Monteal, also rough and tough series to get to the final. By the time the Islanders got to the finals they had three times more battle scars, than the mighty Oilers, or anyone else they faced. ONLY one true Dinasty: the NY Islanders!
We are all Islanders, even if we are in Jersey!
by Russel Ginart on Jul 24, 2011 10:33 PM EDT up reply actions
Those comments in Bottas site typify everything this post and the original post is all about ...
If you read the IPB comments it could bring you down…Botta was very critical of the Isles for the Yashin talk, maybe it was deservedly…So the “so called” fans were on the “proverbial” ledge…Its like they are all Bottas sheep over there…Don’t get me wrong, Bottas interviews are great…He does allot of great work. It just that he likes to rattle HIS FANS cages, sometimes…
Islanders Mythbusters
I love the idea of debunking the misconceptions about the team. One has to be “The Islanders are Cheapskates” myth. Because offering expensive contracts to free agents who turn you down to play for contenders, paying untold millions in repairs on your arena, losing millions due to a lousy, binding, oppressive lease and fielding a team of prospects that were needed to refill your bare minor league cupboard makes you a cheapskate.
Sadly, no amount of logic will ever sway the garden variety sports section comment cretin. But it would give those who want fight the good fight some extra ammunition.
"He's depriving some small village of a pretty good idiot" - Mike Milbury on Ziggy Palffy's agent Paul Kraus during Palffy's contract holdout in 1998.
Growing up on the Island I met a lot of the Islanders
and everyone I talked to really liked living in the community and participated.
I think I mentioned before that Billy Smith was at times our assistant Little League coach and would hit us fly balls
good times
You have mentioned Billy the Battlin Little League coach before
But it’s always good to hear again. (And honestly, how many more members/readers have we added since the last time a lot of our stories surfaced?)
Lighthouse Hockey: A flute with no holes is not a flute. A Dane with no holes is Frans Nielsen.
Dide he ever beat up another teams coach? That would rule,.
"We can't get pushed around," Haley said. "What commentators say about us, that's their job. My job is to try and limit as many people who want to take liberties with our guys as possible."
by BobbyNystromOwnsYou on Jul 25, 2011 8:58 AM EDT up reply actions
he was pretty vocal-- really nice guy too
he would hit us fly balls and say stuff like “evrery time one of you little farts drops one you owe me a beer”
by Torch7 on Jul 25, 2011 9:31 AM EDT up reply actions 5 recs
LOL!!!!!!!!!!!
Let Us Go, Islanders! (Ever notice how strange that sounds without the contraction?)
by TheMetalChick on Jul 25, 2011 10:18 AM EDT up reply actions
Im fucken pissed the fuck off!!!
Lets Go Islanders!!!
over what, KO?
Let Us Go, Islanders! (Ever notice how strange that sounds without the contraction?)
by TheMetalChick on Jul 24, 2011 10:12 PM EDT up reply actions
after reading that article! Im being overly dramatic...
I was more psyched than pissed…:)
Thats good.
I had a vision of you crackin skulls.
Which is kinda funny in and of itself since I dont know what you look like lol.
Let Us Go, Islanders! (Ever notice how strange that sounds without the contraction?)
by TheMetalChick on Jul 25, 2011 10:43 AM EDT up reply actions
Bravo!
The slagging from the other fan bases, the media, the refs, et al; doesn’t phase me one damn bit though.
I was a Whalers fan so I was already used to it. Makes me fuckin’ bullet proof to those turd burglars!
Everybody who wants to slag the Isles can, in the immortal words of Darryl Hammonds as Sean Connery:
“Suck it. Suck it long and suck it hard.”
So, full steam ahead, dam the torpedoes, ready the forward batteries, sound battle stations, lock and load, fix bayonets, put on the foil, hoist a hand to the league, the powers that be, the other fans, the opposing players and all the hacks that became sports writers because they were too stupid to work at McDonalds and give them the single finger salute!
This means two things: WE’RE NUMBER ONE AND FUCK YOU!
Jeff Carter to Columbus? Wait, I've seen this one before, it was called Shanahan to Hartford. Advice? Don't buy a Carter jersey.
by BrassBonanza10 on Jul 25, 2011 2:42 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs
This is a great post
I’d love to hear posters talk about watchin Islanders hockey with their dads / grandfathers / etc.
Cause that’s what it means to me. Sitting with my dad at the kitchen table, as he just gets home from another 10 hour day, while he eats dinner and we put the Islanders on Sportschannel on the small TV. He could barely stay up to watch the end of the game.
If we lose this team, our Island has lost it’s only sense of sports pride that it ever had.
Please vote yes. I want my sons to grow up with this hockey team and watch the games with me just like I did with my dad.
Proud to root for the Jets, Mets, and Islanders!!!
by CharlieIsles on Jul 25, 2011 7:50 AM EDT reply actions 2 recs
This fanbase's victim complex is getting out of control, frankly
by AP77 on Jul 25, 2011 10:39 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs
Please Snow
If there was ever the right time for a BIG signing – this is the week! Give us a big D, or a big forward, or a great #1 Goalie and I think that will bring out a Big vote!
BIG signing
So…does that mean give $4 million to Chris Campoli, or $5 million to Zherdev? Or Ray Emery on a 5-year deal? Or is there someone else available I’m missing?
Lighthouse Hockey: A flute with no holes is not a flute. A Dane with no holes is Frans Nielsen.
Actually.........
Dom, I was thinkin of you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I'm afraid I'm past my prime
And demand too much money on the open market.
Plus: Very little heart.
Lighthouse Hockey: A flute with no holes is not a flute. A Dane with no holes is Frans Nielsen.
I hear Blake Kessel just released himself from some shitty team that didn't even sign him to a contract yet
We should get that guy.
Official choice of Lighthouse Dog #1.
He can do that?!
Wish I had that kind of power
by sayvillelax94 on Jul 26, 2011 12:55 AM EDT up reply actions
Can't believe I missed this...
…over the weekend.
Nice job 19. I completely agree that the US v THE WORLD attitude will push them over the top.
Lighthouse Hockey: Home of the "STROME-BOLI"!
Don't forget to vote "YES" on Aug 1st!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZL1Tx11vn6U
Hmm, hows that for a goal song?
Just uh… dont play the video- it might freak people out a bit lol.
Let Us Go, Islanders! (Ever notice how strange that sounds without the contraction?)
by TheMetalChick on Jul 25, 2011 12:49 PM EDT up reply actions
Well in that case
I’m compelled to offer You’ll Never Get To Me.
Lighthouse Hockey: A flute with no holes is not a flute. A Dane with no holes is Frans Nielsen.
Don't know that I've EVER seen so much hair on one stage!
Interestingly, just gave my friend a ride down to Fall River (in HER ‘91 Mercedes, albeit low-end model – and NOT very comfortable) and Lizzie Borden’s house last night (she’s good friends with Heather Graham and a few other horror writers, who had been at this year’s NECON – think that stands for New England Conference or Convention….)
I've ridden in some poor old Mercedes
And my back didn’t like it one bit.
Lighthouse Hockey: A flute with no holes is not a flute. A Dane with no holes is Frans Nielsen.
Just to stoke the fire even more-- From Smuck Daddy-- Lambert
WHAT A DICK!!!!!!!
“New York Islanders: Evgeni Nabokov(notes) will definitely be with an NHL team this season. If you want to call the Islanders that.”
Schmuck Daddy is like all other Yahoo! bloggers: Too stupid to get a job with a real journalism outfit.
Seriously, ignore that tool.
Actually, pretty much ignore anybody who writes on any topic for Yahoo! in general.
They’re too stupid to waste time with and reading anything by a Yahoo! contributor is just that: A waste of time.
Be honest, you knew when you finished the column that you wasted whatever time increment it took you to read it of your life and you’ll never get it back.
In the immortal words of R. Lee Ermy in Full Metal Jacket:
“I THINK YOU’VE BEEN CHEATED!”
And now, for you and all my fellow Isles fans, another quote from The Gunny:
“LEMME SEE YOUR WAR FACE! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRHHHHHHHH!!!”
Jeff Carter to Columbus? Wait, I've seen this one before, it was called Shanahan to Hartford. Advice? Don't buy a Carter jersey.
by BrassBonanza10 on Jul 26, 2011 2:59 AM EDT up reply actions
BULLSHIT
YOU DON’T CONVINCE ME
NOW LET ME SEE YOUR REAL WAR FACE
AAAA-HHHHhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
by Torch7 on Jul 26, 2011 7:36 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions 1 recs
Rec'd like Pyle's sanity!
Jeff Carter to Columbus? Wait, I've seen this one before, it was called Shanahan to Hartford. Advice? Don't buy a Carter jersey.
by BrassBonanza10 on Jul 27, 2011 9:17 PM EDT up reply actions
With or without the comments?
If you included the comments, I think my assertion that he and his Yahoo! contemporaries are mildly retarded may have, possibly, sort of, offended him.
I regret nothing!
Jeff Carter to Columbus? Wait, I've seen this one before, it was called Shanahan to Hartford. Advice? Don't buy a Carter jersey.
by BrassBonanza10 on Jul 27, 2011 9:20 PM EDT up reply actions
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1979-80
Source: Uploaded by user via NYIslanders on Pinterest
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.
