Coliseum Referendum Links: 'We have no tower, sir.'
by Dominik on Aug 2, 2011 9:35 AM EDT
in Bits o' Islanders News
Email
Print
"Just a bridge, sir."
One thing we learned from watching results and reactions from the Coliseum referendum vote all night long is that some hockey columnists really do only pay enough attention to form a punchline and move on to the next generalist rant. Actually paying attention to the details and history of the topic their opining on? Not in the cards. As always, it's great to take a stance on an issue; but sort of pointless to do so without reading up on the topic beyond the next columnist over.
Before we get to the rest of the spectrum of Coliseum referendum coverage, here's a bit of hockey you may have missed yesterday: Evgeni Nabokov re-iterates he's coming to camp, and calls last year something other than refusing to report to the team that holds your contract. Something about rust and how Detroit would've waited and then ... well what, exactly? Throw you in cold for the playoffs?
But you know what? Whatever. After last night, I'm in greedy asset-hoarding mode. If no trade is available before training camp, let him report, let him show his fitness, and let the chips fall. Or the trade value rise, as it were.
Still More Hockey
- More from Mike Mottau on his eye and hip. Avon’s Mottau on the NHL comeback trail - The Enterprise
- On Frolov on Avery: Alex Frolov says Russian interview misquoted him, denies saying Sean Avery used racial slurs | New York Daily News and Even allowing for an error in translation, that can't be good - Jewels From The Crown
- Interesting. Only thing I wonder is what happens if they roll back the cap in the next CBA. Higher salary cap means larger core for teams - CBSSports
On Where Islanders Hockey Will Be Played
This was linked last night in our own pep talk, but it's still funny to hear politicians talking about RFPs for the site -- again. Newsday had much more, but the others were somewhat redundant items.
- In which the configuration, capacity and sight lines for hockey at [English bank of some sort] Center: Talk of Brooklyn Islanders Spurred by Monday Vote But Hockey Unlikely - NetsDaily
- This from Joe Conte, before the election, is worth revisiting for possible reasons why it didn't go the Isles' way.
- Nick with a post-mortem: Let There Be Light(house): Not With a Bang, But a Whimper....
- Yep. For Isles Fans, Another Devastating Loss - Bellmore, NY Patch
- B.D. Gallof posts Jacobs' outline: BDGallof: "Exclusive... Jay Jacobs letter…" " Deck.ly
- Puck Daddy on why it isn't the end, but it isn't good either.
- Chris Botta wonders what the next move is: NASSAU VOTERS SAY NO TO COLISEUM DEALCharles Wang, you have the next move · islanderspointblank.com
- Curious choices and not much hockey, actually: Nassau Coliseum: Top five most memorable moments in it's 39-year history - Yahoo! Sports
- Pro Hockey Talk, too: Islanders arena referendum voted down by Nassau County residents; What next?
- Bit more from Wang, Garth Snow in the aftermath.
- Bruce Arthur of the National Post does do some research and addresses the topic of stadium funding in a serious tone -- but then peppers his column with an assortment of half- (at best) informed swipes and Islanders punchline. Which is lovely. Essentially, a political/development philosophy stance wrapped inside rehashed one-liners devoid of sincere context befitting that serious tone. ... So...I understand Quebec wants our team, but -- Canada is America's hat, and that part of Canada goes oui oui for poutine, amiright? But they go meh meh when Marcel Aubut needed a building, amiright? [How'd I do?]
- The Times picked up a hilariously uninformed voter quote. Striking, how many of those there have been. Nassau Voters Reject Proposal to Overhaul Coliseum - NYTimes.com
- The Long Island Press report, with a few voter quotes.
- This is a few weeks old, reposted yesterday, and a bit bittersweet. But Mottau and Kevin Weekes on the three-way metro rivalry: New York Islanders - Spanning the Rivalries - New York Islanders - News
- The weather really did affect commutes and the polls, though I doubt it was enough to affect the election result. (Unless your divinity of choice really is a spiteful dick.)
- NEW: BlogBox reports from the a.m.: Eyes On Isles | Voice of NYI Fan, "You cannot defeat stupidity."
- NEW: Sporting News with obligatory "where will Isles end up" post.
- And finally, it involved money so Bloomberg even cared (the wire, not the mayor who owns the wire): New York Islanders Hockey Bond-Sale Plan Rejected by Nassau County Voters - Bloomberg
Pick-Me-Up Video
Not sure if this will bum you out or cheer you up. Probably depends on your orientation. "This is Home" Isles tribute video by "hiyaasamantha" on YouTube, which Keith has been pushing. Really picks up toward the end.
116 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
stuff
our weakest area is in net – so Nabokov is welcome to see if he can shake his rust – even if it doesn’t work out
DP has to earn a job this year
and am getting more excited about our future Nordiques
an 8 hour drive through Vermont and Montreal is a nicer prospect than ever setting foot on the Island again
of course, that’s Plan B now
Plan A is Queens/Brooklyn
Are you kicking Montoya to the curb?
"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 Aug 2, 2011 12:34 PM EDT up reply actions
Positive Take Aways and thanks
I just want to take a second and thank the loyal readers and curators of this site for all the info, debate, laughs and wishful thinking during this time. If anything, the biggest positive may be the further solidification of the fan base of the Bastard Children of the NHL.
For me, the MVPs of the Areener Affair are Nick at Let There Be Light(house) and Dave (aka DPs Knees). The logic and stats and evidence really helped fans make their cases and convince some skeptics to vote yes. Thank you both.
I agree with the sentiment that getting a No from Nassau might be the best thing for the team. The shackles are off and doors are fully open now. My hope is that they stay in New York and in an area in which they can logically continue to be called the Islanders.
"He's depriving some small village of a pretty good idiot" - Mike Milbury on Ziggy Palffy's agent Paul Kraus.
by PGI on Aug 2, 2011 10:03 AM EDT reply actions 5 recs
Islanders fans lost in the past 24 hours: zero
The half-hearted Islanders fans were driven out long ago, back when Milbury was GM. Back when Spano’s mask was lifted. Back when the Isles traded Chara and Spezza and Luongo and Palffy. Back when the organization’s hope was crushed again and again and again.
The real fans will not let a mere political vote tear away their allegiance.
There are only die-hards here, fans who cling to the stories (and, in many cases, memories) of a hockey team who overcame extreme adversity 35 years ago so that they could claim 19 straight playoff series. A team that was powered by the character of its coach and its many leaders on the ice. A team that finally was able to break through after standing up to the big, bad Flyers, proving that they would stick up for one another when it mattered most.
There are only die-hards here. Fans who have not been torn away because of the actions of Dale Hunter, Darcy Tucker, or Gary Roberts.
There are only die-hards here, fans who have watched carefully as GM Garth Snow has collected an impressive number of intriguing players and prospects. Players who have, most notably this past season, given us fans reason to believe that the playoffs are not far away.
There are only die-hards here, fans who wear blue and orange even in the worst of times. Fans who coin terms like FnGO and COZO so that long, drawn-out exclamatory remarks can be expressed in two syllables. They are fans who shuttle strangers around town while removing spark plugs of loved ones’ cars just for a few votes. Surely they are not half-hearted fans.
There are only die-hards here.
by North Dakota Red Eagle on Aug 2, 2011 10:44 AM EDT reply actions 11 recs
This is best read
In John Facenda’s voice. Very well put.
"He's depriving some small village of a pretty good idiot" - Mike Milbury on Ziggy Palffy's agent Paul Kraus.
Holy cow, this is excellent
Even a sparkplug reference! I’m laughing and crying and cheering all at once.
Lighthouse Hockey: A flute with no holes is not a flute. A Dane with no holes is Frans Nielsen.
Man
I have tears in my eyes. I couldn’t agree more. All of these kicks in the ass from the rest of the league, the people of Nassau, crappy Nassau partisan politics, pundits, reporters, prognosticators, and all of the rest of the haters are just fueling the inevitable euphoria that we’re all going to revel, no bathe, in having stuck by our team through all of these difficult years. I truly believe that Snow is building something special and our mutual belief is going to be rewarded soon enough.
How incredible would it be if the Isles were champs sometime between now and 2015?
Thx for the post NDRE.
by DieHardDyingHard on Aug 2, 2011 1:03 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
this and this
"It don't make you a bad person" - Ron Bennington
don't like Knob-okov
He could have reported after healing up and showed some level of commitment last year, so he has more to do to earn my trust rather than say some nice things and give a half-hearted excuse. He’s talented and could sure help out with our thin, inexperienced, health-challenged goalie corps, so I’ll take him if he now wants to care and try, but don’t expect me to cheer for him yet until he shows a greater commitment.
Nabokov does know that the playoffs are an elimination phase, doesn't he?
That may explain his playoff performance with the Sharks. He thought if they lost the first 4 games he would just round into shape in the next round. He always wondered why there were so many months off between rounds and may just have realized that October is really the start of the next season.
Nassau Coliseum lost a veteran and an original Islander fan. ACC 1918-2011
by Hockey1919 on Aug 2, 2011 1:47 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Atlanta? Do the Braves want him?
I thought there was no longer a team in ATL
Any task BIG or small, Do it well or not at all
by Rickfansince76 on Aug 2, 2011 4:31 PM EDT up reply actions
Might actually be ideal
Gives him more time to work himself into form away from actual game play.
You know, for the playoffs.
Lighthouse Hockey: A flute with no holes is not a flute. A Dane with no holes is Frans Nielsen.
I live in Manhattan and use mass transit. If the Isles move to Brooklyn or Queens, I will be a season ticket holder. That’s my solace, the morning after. :(
It'd be interesting how many fans (well, attendance) they'd *gain* with a move like that
That seems to be the open, nagging question no one has the data on. But anecdotally speaking…
Lighthouse Hockey: A flute with no holes is not a flute. A Dane with no holes is Frans Nielsen.
There are so many young professionals/families growing in the area
that this is an absolute no-brainer. You’ve got Park Slope to the south, Prospect Heights to the east, DUMBO/Carroll Gardens to the west, and Fort Greene to the north. ALL of those neighborhoods are redeveloping/being injected with money, I’m sure you would get a lot of Brooklyn hockey fans who would buy Islander season ticket packages (disposable income is a wonderful thing). The only big issue I could see with the area is parking, but I’m sure something could be done about that.
Official choice of Lighthouse Dog #1.
The limited capacity could actually help them in the early going
Make it a hot ticket, anyway.
Lighthouse Hockey: A flute with no holes is not a flute. A Dane with no holes is Frans Nielsen.
It's what helped the Mets in their first season at Citifield.
The NHL wants to keep getting bigger and bigger, yet they’re having trouble filling arenas. Is there a major detriment to the Islanders playing in a 14000 – 15000 seat arena? I don’t think so at all. You’re serving an area with a population of about 18 MILLION in the metropolitan area alone. Not for nothing, but when the Barclays Center opens, that place is going to be the shit for Brooklynites. Holy fuck, I’ll just draw up the proposal now and e-mail it to Charles myself.
Official choice of Lighthouse Dog #1.
Can you please? I still can’t see brooklyn as the savior but stranger things have happened.
What I want is to see the isles win the cup their last season in the coliseum and bounce to wherever a la CM Punk at money in the bank. I’d love to see the change in tone when the champion leaves town.
Hunter said he was just finishing his check.
by Turgeon1992 on Aug 2, 2011 1:18 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
I'll bet
they could probably do cheap “standing room” like they used to do in MTL…that way the poor young Brooklyn beatniks can go.
NY Islanders, just one irrational free agent signing away from contention!
Website:Lighthouse HockeyTwitter: @KeithLHHockey
by Keith Quinn on Aug 2, 2011 1:32 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Very true
But I hear the sight lines are not great for hockey. I’m worried the (design) ship has sailed on Barclay’s. Might be too much money to retrofit later to make it more hockey conducive. Fingers crossed. Would love them to be in Brooklyn….I’m just across the way in Manhattan…and as a side bar:
Is there an “official” Islander bar in NYC? Somewhere we can all get together to wtach games?
Sweet
Wish I could bring Lighthouse Dog #1 on the plane.
Lighthouse Hockey: A flute with no holes is not a flute. A Dane with no holes is Frans Nielsen.
Tim Thomas showing off the new Brooklyn jersey
Vote Yes on August 1st.
by Anarcurt on Aug 2, 2011 12:04 PM EDT up reply actions 13 recs
/snorts coffee, spills on screen
Lighthouse Hockey: A flute with no holes is not a flute. A Dane with no holes is Frans Nielsen.
Haha I love this
Just think about how many hipsters would go to Islander games ironically for the 1980s cups.
Official choice of Lighthouse Dog #1.
by Fabtraption on Aug 2, 2011 12:14 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
My faux vintage t-shirt is totally more vintage than yours
It only has three stripes on the stick.
Lighthouse Hockey: A flute with no holes is not a flute. A Dane with no holes is Frans Nielsen.
by Dominik on Aug 2, 2011 12:15 PM EDT up reply actions 3 recs
Funny thing is they would be wearing retor-Nordique tees as well.
Nassau Coliseum lost a veteran and an original Islander fan. ACC 1918-2011
by Hockey1919 on Aug 2, 2011 12:16 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Skating in skinny jeans is very difficult
They’ll have to go with either ironic 90’s acid-washed jeans or ironic 80’s NBA-style short shorts.
"He's depriving some small village of a pretty good idiot" - Mike Milbury on Ziggy Palffy's agent Paul Kraus.
by PGI on Aug 2, 2011 12:18 PM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
they may go for those Whaler/Flyer pants since they are hideous retro cool.
Nassau Coliseum lost a veteran and an original Islander fan. ACC 1918-2011
LMAO
We just had a conversation about these the other day at work!
"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
The Islanders would look like an in-line team.
Nassau Coliseum lost a veteran and an original Islander fan. ACC 1918-2011
Bring back Schremp!
Lighthouse Hockey: A flute with no holes is not a flute. A Dane with no holes is Frans Nielsen.
by Dominik on Aug 2, 2011 1:56 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
road jersey
Wife-beaters.
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
There will need to be a section accessible only through the basement of a Vietnamese restaurant
Vote Yes on August 1st.
by Anarcurt on Aug 2, 2011 12:25 PM EDT up reply actions 3 recs
The goal song would be replaced by some indie band
You’ve probably never heard of them.
Official choice of Lighthouse Dog #1.
by Fabtraption on Aug 2, 2011 12:32 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
I never heard of the last one
Vote Yes on August 1st.
by Anarcurt on Aug 2, 2011 12:57 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
and replaced after every goal since playing the same song two times in a row would be too "trendy."
Nassau Coliseum lost a veteran and an original Islander fan. ACC 1918-2011
by Hockey1919 on Aug 2, 2011 1:09 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Good point.
Vote Yes, dammit!
by ICanSeeForIslesAndIsles on Aug 2, 2011 2:20 PM EDT up reply actions
The ice will need to be local
Frozen water dredged from the Gowanus Canal.
by DP'sknee(andhipandflubugandotherknee) on Aug 2, 2011 12:45 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Food will only be served by food trucks and the only beer they'll carry is PBR
Official choice of Lighthouse Dog #1.
by Fabtraption on Aug 2, 2011 12:49 PM EDT up reply actions 4 recs
With less than 14,500 seats
We could consider the Barclay’s a “Boutique” arena. With Shake Shacks and pop up mixologist stations for the cocktails.
Lambert would have to start writing fawning Puck Daddy posts about the Isles
But only in an ironic sort of way.
Lighthouse Hockey: A flute with no holes is not a flute. A Dane with no holes is Frans Nielsen.
I'd have to get a t-shirt that says "The first Cup was better"
But I really wouldn’t want anyone else to be able to buy it.
Lighthouse Hockey: A flute with no holes is not a flute. A Dane with no holes is Frans Nielsen.
by Dominik on Aug 2, 2011 12:52 PM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
The organist would be replaced by a DJ
who only plays vinyl, natch.
Official choice of Lighthouse Dog #1.
by Fabtraption on Aug 2, 2011 12:55 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
All Beastie Boys
all the time
NY Islanders, just one irrational free agent signing away from contention!
Website:Lighthouse HockeyTwitter: @KeithLHHockey
KeithLHHockey Keith Quinn
Hell yes! RT @RollingStone The @BeastieBoys are now available in action-figure form: bit.ly/o7xCTC
1 hour ago
NY Islanders, just one irrational free agent signing away from contention!
Website:Lighthouse HockeyTwitter: @KeithLHHockey
It's a kickass video
I’m really digging the new album. Reminds me of vintage Beasties with some dub thrown in.
Official choice of Lighthouse Dog #1.
Really?
Sweet. I hadn’t bothered to check it out.
This post has not gone through hipster filter.
Lighthouse Hockey: A flute with no holes is not a flute. A Dane with no holes is Frans Nielsen.
Of course it hasn't been filtered.
I sense no irony and a sweet touch of naivete.
Nassau Coliseum lost a veteran and an original Islander fan. ACC 1918-2011
New Brooklynite Islanders fan prefers fisherman jersey
That logo was misunderstood, you just don’t get it.
Official choice of Lighthouse Dog #1.
by Fabtraption on Aug 2, 2011 1:40 PM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
I've stated the same thing
I don’t even have the money at the moment, but somehow I would figure out a way to be a season ticket holder if the team moves into the city.
Official choice of Lighthouse Dog #1.
Les Fish Stiques
Claude LaPointe didn't make as good a pun, sadly.
by LaChance at Glory on Aug 2, 2011 11:41 AM EDT via mobile reply actions
Wow nets fans are hypocritical
They dont want the islanders in “their” building. But they don’t mind the nets stinking up the Prudential Center. Devils fans can point the finger right back at the nets and their fans because the devils missed the playoffs last season, the first season the nets started playing in The Rock.
"Its the letter D"
by Rory B. Bellows on Aug 2, 2011 11:57 AM EDT reply actions
Remember when the Nets played in Nassau?
by edavidmorris on Aug 2, 2011 12:00 PM EDT up reply actions
oh, to hell with that
Remember when the Nets played in PISCATAWAY??
And the man behind that move was our own Roy Boe, whose cash-flow difficulties forced him to sell the Islanders to Pickett at around this time. He also wound up selling the Nets.
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
Possibly the only other professional team with less of a fan base than the Islanders
I could care less what all 23 of them think.
by JPinNYC on Aug 2, 2011 4:24 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
NO WAY
@KatieStrangNYI In response to inquiry from Newsday, Barclays Center CEO Brett Yormark said venue “will have an ice rink to support professional hockey”
by edavidmorris on Aug 2, 2011 12:01 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
In today's NHL
Could the Islanders survive with the lease terms they would get at the Barclay’s?
Damn good question
Would hate to see Prokhorov play hardball, but have to figure he very well could.
Lighthouse Hockey: A flute with no holes is not a flute. A Dane with no holes is Frans Nielsen.
KatieStrangNYI Katie Strang
“Due to the venue’s design, the capacity for hockey would be several thousand seats less than for basketball,” Yormark said #Isles
39 minutes ago
KatieStrangNYI Katie Strang
Yormark said “we hope to explore hockey opportunities in the future,” but focus at hand is on building the “best” sports/entertainment venue
KatieStrangNYI Katie Strang
Yormark: Barclays Center will have ice rink tinyurl.com/3sjddzn
14 minutes ago
Larry Brooks
NYP_Brooksie Larry Brooks
by KatieStrangNYI
Nets’ owner Mikhail Prokhorov’s spokesperson tells Post via email that he has, “no interest in purchasing another sports team at this time.”
KatieStrangNYI Katie Strang
As a point of reference, Barclays Center capacity will be approximately 18,000 for basketball. Ice rink a “few” thousand less #Isles
NY Islanders, just one irrational free agent signing away from contention!
Website:Lighthouse HockeyTwitter: @KeithLHHockey
Like sands in the hourglass...
We should mock gameplan how the next four years are going to go, with each tactic, leak and faux announcement from every reporter, team owner and politician. I bet we could nail it at a 50% rate.
Lighthouse Hockey: A flute with no holes is not a flute. A Dane with no holes is Frans Nielsen.
SNY_Studio SNY Assignment Desk
by SNYtv
Nassau County Exec. Mangano will hold a press conference today at 2:00pm regarding the solicitation of proposals for Nassau Coliseum site
Look through this guy’s tweets…promising
http://twitter.com/#!/nickhirshon
NY Islanders, just one irrational free agent signing away from contention!
Website:Lighthouse HockeyTwitter: @KeithLHHockey
At this time Prokohorov would be buying a team committed to playing 3 seasons in a stadium he does not own.
Nassau Coliseum lost a veteran and an original Islander fan. ACC 1918-2011
nickhirshon Nick Hirshon
Jay Jacobs on #Isles relocation rumors: “Where is he [Charles Wang] going to go that’s better?” #VoteYesAug1 #VoteYes #Isles #IslesArena
4 minutes ago
You’re kidding, right? Seriously, Jay Jacobs? He could go to any one of the municipalities that actually WANTS the fucking team.
Official choice of Lighthouse Dog #1.
Jacobs is something
“Jacobs said he has Democratic allies in Legislature who support his idea.”
The idea being let Wang self-fund a deal that doesn’t make economic sense? I’m sure he has Democratic allies who support the idea of Wang giving out free soda to commuters at LIRR stations.
by DP'sknee(andhipandflubugandotherknee) on Aug 2, 2011 1:14 PM EDT up reply actions
Need a pick-me-up?
Hockey Prospectus reviews the Islanders system. Ranks us 2nd overall and ‘nothing short of elite’
Vote Yes on August 1st.
by Anarcurt on Aug 2, 2011 12:02 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
Cool
Been waiting for that one!
Lighthouse Hockey: A flute with no holes is not a flute. A Dane with no holes is Frans Nielsen.
Me too! Totally pumped
"It don't make you a bad person" - Ron Bennington
is it possible to read this and not be the MOST excited about Ryan Strome?
I submit that it is not
"It don't make you a bad person" - Ron Bennington
I am really excited for the amazing nordiques team in 2015 after reading that.
Hunter said he was just finishing his check.
by Turgeon1992 on Aug 2, 2011 1:26 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
I've been thinking a lot about this
First of all, I’m a hypocrite. In all other areas where they used public spending to build arenas (including breaks the Mets and Yanks got) I was vehemently opposed. The bottom line has always been, no matter what the promises are of revenue or boosts to businesses in the area or an impetus for growth, those promises are always over stated.
But I voted yes b/c I believed this was the last chance to keep the Isles here, and I love them more than any other team I follow. I’m worried for the county I live in, that there will be absolutely nothing to see here and giant 70-acre hole in the middle of the county.
But I couldn’t ignore that it bothered me that the county said any revenue from the Coliseum would go into the county coffers to be used at their discretion, b/c I don’t trust them. Part me thinks $58 per household might’ve been a minimum, not a maximum.
So the solace I take is that from people I spoke to that voted ‘no’, because they did so based on distrust of the county and feeling like SOMETHING will get done. That the county won’t let the Isles leave, but that a building should be built privately. And I’ve at least made myself believe that’s true.
But think about it. If I’m being objective there’s only been two extremes proposed. First, private funding but a MASSIVE rebuild of area and infrastructure that included compromising the residents of Garden City (a non-starter for most politicians). Or second, complete public funding accompanied by promises from a county that despite the residents paying the highest taxes in the ENTIRE COUNTRY, still have a $100M deficit.
I think there is something, somewhere in the middle that could be agreed to that would allow for a new Coliseum and the Isles to stay right where they are. Hopefully Wang has one more run in him, which I have to admit at this point, is highly questionable.
"It don't make you a bad person" - Ron Bennington
Well said
I’m a hypocrite on this matter, too — although past stadium/arena proposals I’ve opposed for my beloved teams did not have this much kicked in by the actual team owner himself.
But the distrust of the County did nag at me, and the fear this was the best remaining alternative got me hoping for its passage. In past situations, it’s been an urban setting that would still retain its character whether or not one of its pro teams left. In this situation, my sympathies were with L.I. residents who want their leaders to finally do something to build that setting in the first place — something that keeps young people around and active. I don’t think an arena does that, but as an anchor for inevitable development that would follow — that’s the happy middle — I was hoping it would happen.
Lighthouse Hockey: A flute with no holes is not a flute. A Dane with no holes is Frans Nielsen.
I stopped caring about any potential hypocrisy because all levels of government fund all sorts of stuff with my tax dollars that I disagree with and I have to suck it up for others (wars, nonsense education reform). I even have to accept that churches and groups I am unaffiliated with get tax exemptions. Sometimes I would like government to do something helpful for a cause I really care for.
Hunter said he was just finishing his check.
by Turgeon1992 on Aug 2, 2011 1:33 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Completely OT, but NYC-related
My mother has spent the past two months in Manhattan, seeing plays, visiting museums, watching people. (She’s a professor, former actress; this is her thing.) She’s having a ball, but finally had to vent this complaint:
They make lousy cocktails here! Bad cosmo at one place, bad manhattan and bad sidecar at another! I finally gave in and bought my own supplies.
Knowing her, she’s probably tried a ton of establishments, but it’s hard to make it stiff enough for a gal who grew up on a farm.
Lighthouse Hockey: A flute with no holes is not a flute. A Dane with no holes is Frans Nielsen.
Its a damn shame that they now hire bartenders based on how firm their abs/asses are and size of their boobs/pecs instead of the ability to make a damn drink!
Nassau Coliseum lost a veteran and an original Islander fan. ACC 1918-2011
After three or four
Firm Boobs/Ass >>>>>>>>>> quality of drink.
STOP effin' messin' with my FnGO!!
by Nova Scotia Isles Fan on Aug 2, 2011 12:20 PM EDT up reply actions
*That's* my mother's problem
She’s using the wrong yardstick.
Lighthouse Hockey: A flute with no holes is not a flute. A Dane with no holes is Frans Nielsen.
and here I thought beer goggles were meant fot the opposite affect.
Nassau Coliseum lost a veteran and an original Islander fan. ACC 1918-2011
Wow, you are on a serious Airplane kick aren't you.
I can picture the old people walking into the polling stations saying, they’re flashing and they’re beeping. I can’t stand it anymore! They’re blinking and beeping and flashing! Why doesn’t somebody pull the plug!" Airplane series = classics.
I was impressed by the other bloggers/readers of other blogs came over to sympathize with us yesterday and regardless of the accidental blocks issued (just kidding Keith) I was happy to see that there are more people than just Isle fans that care about the state of this team. Most other blogs have the traditional cyber-smack-talk, adolescent aiming for a self proclaimed knockout blow. However yesterday other fans were coming over to genuinely offer support and lighten the mood. I believe that speaks volumes to the character and identity of this blog.
Thanks to everyone who participates in this blog. This is a special place and yesterday we had solid evidence. That’s what I am choosing to take away from yesterday.
"Look at my new clothes," said the Emperor to the Nassau County residents.
by metalcoconut on Aug 2, 2011 1:05 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
Well I'll take that and...
proof that Jay Jacob’s head is empty and that he is soulless.
"Look at my new clothes," said the Emperor to the Nassau County residents.
I'm always hesitant to quote Airplane II
But like Fletch Lives, I still swear it’s got great moments even if few have seen it!
Share those sentiments. It was good to seek. So many here kept me even keel. And Keith accidentally banning BP still has me laughing today. (No offense, BP!)
Lighthouse Hockey: A flute with no holes is not a flute. A Dane with no holes is Frans Nielsen.
Here's hoping that yesterday's vote
is like Scraps dying in the metal detector….all a cruel joke
by 4PeatSake on Aug 2, 2011 1:51 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
I've been drinking Gatorade and water all morning
and I still have a pounding headache. This is a worse hangover than any Ive had from drinking. The longer I have to think about it though, the longer I try and focus on the positive that may come out of this. I can only hope that with yesterday’s outcome, Suffolk County sees this as an opportunity and steps up with an effort to land the Isles. In the end, if that were the outcome, it would end up being a monumental victory for the Islanders as opposed to a very disappointing loss.
I have to hope that this is like the day you’re called into your boss’s office and told you’re being laid off because of financial cutbacks, only to land a job a couple weeks later that totally blows away what you previously had. For a little while it stings and you don’t know what you’re going to do, but once you get the new job offer, you look back and realize that the heartache was a positive that was necessary to make life better.
I’m crossing my fingers. Life without the Islanders is a life I hope I never have to see.
I went to an Islanders Power Play and all I got was this broken stick
by Chris McNally on Aug 2, 2011 1:13 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
I think of this as being in a rotten situation because it is safe and known and then when you are finally forced to choose, you life becomes SO much better.
The Islanders and Nassau county is almost like an abusive relationship. The sooner all options are exhausted the sooner they will come up with a viable solution that isn’t a re-hash of the same old nonsense. I am not at all worried about the NO vote, it was a decisive vote, but as my Dad always said, “not all bad happens for the worst.”
Nassau Coliseum lost a veteran and an original Islander fan. ACC 1918-2011
Nick Hirshon
nickhirshon Nick Hirshon
Will discuss potential Islanders relocation to Queens on Power Play radio show at 5:30 today. Tune in at wcwpsports.org #VoteYesAug1 #Isles
6 minutes ago
Nick Giglia
LetThereBeLH Nick Giglia
Also – I’m changing this account name sometime in the next week. Watch for that
NY Islanders, just one irrational free agent signing away from contention!
Website:Lighthouse HockeyTwitter: @KeithLHHockey
I hope Nick changes his Twitter handle to FuckNassau
Official choice of Lighthouse Dog #1.
by Fabtraption on Aug 2, 2011 1:44 PM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
Along those lines...was thinking
if the improbable “private” areener deal takes place, Mr. Charles Wang should gloriously sponser the building himself and call it the FUNC (or F U Nassau County) Pavilion.
Perhaps "Remember the Lighthouse" would be more appropriate.
"Look at my new clothes," said the Emperor to the Nassau County residents.
by metalcoconut on Aug 2, 2011 4:16 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Deep Thoughts
1) If Jay Jacobs told Kate Murray that her ass was fat, would she hold it against him?
2) Would Kate Murray’s plastic surgeon be denied HMO reimbursement for submitting a claim that read" removal of a goiter (sp?) from the small of patient’s back"?
3) What is largest: a) a mole on mob wife Ginny Sac’s ass, b) a wart on Kate Murray’s fanny, c) the giant void to be left in the center of Nassau County starting 2016?
If Kate Murray has a plastic surgeon
it’s obviously the worst plastic surgeon. Can we get some lipo at least? We can at least start with a haircut that doesn’t necessitate a bowl right?
"It don't make you a bad person" - Ron Bennington
She doesn't get her haircut for the aesthetics, she gets it for the soup.
We’ve already established that for unlimited soup, people would do anything around these parts. Including eating at the Olive Garden,
Nassau Coliseum lost a veteran and an original Islander fan. ACC 1918-2011
Still on the 2nd Stage of Grief......ANGER
Freaking Nassau County hypocrites………..I will skip the 3rd stage… obviously Bargaining didn’t work.
Even though I am 2800 miles away, the Islanders have/ will be my team. Just want to take a whole lot of 2 X 6’s and smack a bunch of losers upside the head. Gonna be a while before I get over this.
The roof the roof the roof is on fire
The roof the roof the roof is on fire
The roof the roof the roof is on fire
We don't need no water let Nassau County burn
Burn motherf******s burn
by FireGarthSnow on Aug 2, 2011 2:25 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
Stop blaming the voters of Nassau county. It was a bad business deal for Nassau residents regardless of the Islanders. Wang should have kicked in a higher percentage of revenue and include the TV rights as income or guaranteed to spend at least $700M on renovations (so in essence nassau was only kicking in half of the Renovation costs) and signed an agreement to that effect before the vote if he had desperately wanted this to pass.
In the end you can blame Nassau County or it’s gov’t or residents but Wang played politics and lost. Wang could have gotten this through with a greater commitment to Long Island and the Islanders but he wasn’t willing to take the risk he wanted Nassau to take the Risk and they said NO.
by Leetch4prezofNYR on Aug 2, 2011 6:29 PM EDT up reply actions
Wasn't the Lighthouse Project a great commitment to Long Island?
Official choice of Lighthouse Dog #1.
No it was a great commitment to greed. Wang was putting money in getting, twice out, and leaving the infrastructure changes to accommodate these changes to Nassau county. Which would have …………wait for it…………raised taxes to pay for it. Meadowbrook is shot as it is at rush hour. Imagine an additional 4000 cars and 3000 people on the Hempstead train every day. Water lines, electricity, etc etc etc. All of that would have been Nassau headache to fix, while Wang and Rexall are racking in Millions for selling residential/offices/businesses built on County property. He also wanted the Town/county/EPA building codes waived. He could have offered to pay for the additional infastructure and it would have been passed but he didn’t want the expense to cut into his profit margin.
by Leetch4prezofNYR on Aug 2, 2011 6:53 PM EDT up reply actions
yea, the town and county are hard to deal with no doubt
but Wang has been a bit disingenuous himself.
"It don't make you a bad person" - Ron Bennington
would have …………wait for it…………raised taxes
Whew, that was the longest. Wait. Ever.
Lighthouse Hockey: A flute with no holes is not a flute. A Dane with no holes is Frans Nielsen.
Ahh, yes yes
the greedy man who hases losing 25 million a year. I hate greedy bastards like that…always paying their taxes and losing money. Jerks. Honestly, if he was going to build Hempstead a city, the least they could do is widen the roads, put a train stop in and make the sewage and water work.
Private citizens now paying for civic infrastructure to develop a dump. Please.
PS, you wouldn’t want governmental responsibilities cutting into your bottom line either.
NY Islanders, just one irrational free agent signing away from contention!
Website:Lighthouse HockeyTwitter: @KeithLHHockey
by Keith Quinn on Aug 2, 2011 10:51 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Disagree with you here
I agree that most recent project was a bad deal, but the Lighthouse would have been good.
That area on Long Island needs some infrastructure investment as it is. The County just needs to direct their funds in a more useful fashion. There is no shortage of cash, just a shortage of brains in the legislature. That’s the kind of thing they should be spending money on.
oh, BOO FUCKING HOO
The county has to handle infrastructure! Water, electricity, roads… all for that greedy private person!
Well, genius – what the fuck do you think the county does for every other resident in the fucking county??
Seriously. You want Charles Wang to pay for the infrastructure improvements? Did you cut the city a check for your utility improvements? If the main breaks and you lose water, or power, do you call a repairman and shell out money, or do you call Con Edison and bitch and whine that they didn’t preventively show up to repair the problem before it happened and inconvenienced you? Do you bitch when your tax bill and utility bill comes in?
Charles Wang has ALREADY paid for the infrastructure through the millions in lease payments to his landlord – the County – which has, in typical slumlord fashion, refused necessary improvements and repairs. He’s paid property taxes. He’s provided jobs which further fuel receipts. If the team leaves and the Coli is empty, the losses to the town and county would dwarf what the bond issue would have cost. And that’s not even going into the extra residents (and revenue) that would have come with a successful redevelopment. The town and county would have gotten millions out of that deal, and if they have to spend some of it to make sure their new residents have proper services, well, that’s their fucking job, that people fucking vote them into office to fucking do, instead of dicking around and playing stupid schoolyard games with the future of Long Island. Well, congratulations, kids – now, instead of a percentage of something you get all of nothing. How’s that choice working out for you? Welcome to the fucking Mensa convention.
The building code issues and the EPA impact statements were all done and approved on the county level when this was about the Lighthouse Project. It was a done deal, until Kate Murray hired away the company that prepared all those reports for Charles Wang and then started opposing the very proposals they had helped create. It was all overblown political bullshit motivated by one party not wanting the other to look good for doing something constructive for the future of Long Island. So Wang jumped through that hoop and changed his plan, and predictable as the sunrise, immediately the other political party decided to whine and complain.
Had they stopped caring about who gets what credit, there would have been plenty to go around for all, and the Islanders would have been playing in a brand new Nassau Veterans Memorial Arena three fucking years ago.
So frankly, you can fuck the fuck off with this “we would have been paying for Charles Wang’s stuff” bullshit. His portion of the tax bills and utility bills would have paid for it, exactly the same as the rest of us.
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
by mikb on Aug 3, 2011 11:41 AM EDT up reply actions 5 recs
Greed...from a Ranger fan....that is funny
Please review Dolan’s life and then come back here and tell us about greed. The Jets could still be playing in NY if it wasn’t from the Dolan family. The NFL has talked about moving the draft because they are tired of dealing with the Dolans.
"Look at my new clothes," said the Emperor to the Nassau County residents.
by metalcoconut on Aug 3, 2011 12:08 PM EDT up reply actions
Ridiculous
You are forgetting the fact that it was THE COUNTY that chose the size and magnitude of teh Lighthouse Project. The other proposals that didnt have all of that WERE REJECTED.
You need to get the whole story straight- not just remember part of it and fill it in with what you imagine to be true.
Let Us Go, Islanders! (Ever notice how strange that sounds without the contraction?)
by TheMetalChick on Aug 5, 2011 12:10 PM EDT up reply actions
no we can blame nassau county politics
Its what lured Mr. Wang in the first place. They promised him redevelopment and he has gotten shit in return.
From Newday
Garden City developer Vincent Polimeni raised the possibility that private developers could build an arena and rent it to Wang.
Fucking parasites. Now they want the deal that the county would have gotten or like the current lease? Now it’s a good deal right? Now someone thinks the terms could be okay? I am really hating humans lately.
NY Islanders, just one irrational free agent signing away from contention!
Website:Lighthouse HockeyTwitter: @KeithLHHockey
Official choice of Lighthouse Dog #1.
by Fabtraption on Aug 3, 2011 5:52 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Ah, Bender… he makes me see the merits in robosexuality.
Let Us Go, Islanders! (Ever notice how strange that sounds without the contraction?)
by TheMetalChick on Aug 5, 2011 12:29 PM EDT up reply actions
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
Related FanPosts on Lighthouse Hockey
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recommended FanPosts
Recent FanPosts
Featured Stories
Islanders Schedule
In Association With
Latest Puck Daddy - NHL from Yahoo! Sports
- Why the Devils and the Kings are evidence the Capitals shouldn’t trade Alex Ovechkin
- Eulogy: Remembering the 2011-12 New York Rangers
- Stanley Cup Final: 5 keys for New Jersey Devils and Los Angeles Kings
- Friday’s Three Stars: Devils head to Final; Brodeur, Kovalchuk the difference in Game 6
- Devils eliminate Rangers in Game 6, ending fear of the past, setting course for the future
SBNation.com Recent Stories
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
Source: Uploaded by user via NYIslanders on Pinterest
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
Source: Uploaded by user via NYIslanders on Pinterest
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
Source: Uploaded by user via NYIslanders on Pinterest
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.
