If 4's a crowd 4,000 is a party

Today Islanders.com is reporting that already over 4,000 fans have gotten their free tickets to the Isles draft party being held at the Coliseum on 26th of June. So with the crowd capacity almost the same as the Sound Tigers 2 playoff games( I’m sure the total will grow even larger in the next 4 weeks) expect the arena to be loud and the fans to be pumped. Last years draft featured locker room tours, activities for the kids, player appearances, selling of merchandise and ticket packages, and was hosted by ESPN’s John Buccigross. Although details are limited on this years party the tours, kids activities, and of course sales of tickets and merchandise are going to be there again this year, there is no word on who or if they will have a host (my suggestion Chris Botta.) Islanders crazy will be at the party and will be looking to see the fans reaction should Snow choose someone else or trade the pick. So on a quick call to Hockey Night on Long Island this afternoon I asked hosts Steve, Alex and their guest Gary Harding of The View From Section 317 what they thought the fans reaction would be if they didn’t chooses Tavares. They responded by referring to last years draft and the upset nature of the fans following by saying “ there would be some serious displeasure….I don’t think there would be riots in the streets but there would be many disgruntled Islander fans.” The idea of having to get a ticket to the party suggests that the team is expecting an enormous crowd and so far its safe to say the place will be packed. So to quote the Hockey Night on Long Island crew we just have to hope for the best(that they pick Tavares).

Tickets please

In a month the Islanders will be up in Montreal picking John Tavares(hopefully) and fans will be anxiously watching from the Coliseum. But this year the Islanders will be requiring tickets to come to the draft party. To have an idea on how many people will be coming the Islanders are requiring fans to order free tickets to come. The Tickets also can include a fathers day gift for dads in attendance. So pick up tickets at Islanders.com, break out the shorts and Isles jersey , say a pray, and head to the coliseum Friday June 26th and watch the draft with your fellow Islanders fans.

Corey Witt out as Islanders PR man

Islanders Crazy contacted the Isles two or so weeks ago to inquire about an interview with Islanders owner Charles Wang. We spoke to who at the time was Islanders PR man Cory Witt, then never heard back from the Islanders. To my surprise I found out that Mr. Witt and the Islanders have parted ways today after last season Chris Botta left the Islanders and now runs Islanders Point Blank. Tomorrow Islanders Crazy goes back to the phone to re inquire about an interview with Islanders owner Charles Wang. But we wish Corey Witt the best of luck in his future careers.

Just a Thought

This is an Islanders blog , but I also love to cover hockey in general so this is one of those times. Today I stumbled across http://savethecoyotes.com/, a fan made coalition to save the Coyotes from leaving Phoenix. The group has held as 2 rallies including one held last Saturday. A turn out of 500 people showed up to voice their support and a few local media and one Canadian news crew were also in attendance. As I explored more I followed links to Youtube videos of the rally and of a home made save the coyotes video. There I found something that is extremely upsetting not only as a hockey fan but as just a person. Here is one example of comments from some Canadian hockey fans.

HAHAHAHHAHAHA. What a fricken joke of a rally. Phoenix shouldnt have a team in the first place. Who the f**ck puts a hockey team out in the desert? Bettman is an idiot. Those dumb yanks are pathetic. I bet they couldnt even a name a person on the coyotes, yet ask any person in winnipeg and i bet he could name the whole 96 jets roster 13 years later. Put hockey where it belongs. Stick to your nascar racing and baseball.
　
Here is another example:

savethecoyotes is such a terrible website. Shut the f**ck up.You have the nerve to tell us that we're stupid for joining Make It Seven, yet your arguments to have an NHL team make no sense.Seriously, grow the f**ck up

Those are just a few examples of the comments I have seen while looking into this topic. I am in no way saying all or most Canadian fans use terms or talk down to phoenix fans, most are sympathetic but express their passion in a respect full way. The idiots who post comments like these do not further their case but make me feel less sympathetic to them. They of all people should know what is like to lose a team they love, but instead throw hateful insults onto the web in a display of idiocy mixed with hatred. Its sad to see it come down to stupidity on the internet. That’s just an opinion I encourage you to see for yourself. But in other news tomorrows Bankruptcy court hearing will begin what is likely to be a lengthy court procedure. The judge will make his ruling on who was/is in control of the team, expect an immediate appeal by the losing party and extreme anger if Moyes losses.

John Tavares and the Cleveland connection

Following another disappointing season in 2002-2003 season the Cleveland Cavaliers were rewarded with the first pick in that years draft and the right to draft high school phenom LeBron James. Previous to “King James” rein over Cleveland the cavs were an after thought in the NBA world. Through seasons of one and done playoff appearance and others of pure futility Cleveland was never thought as a marquee team in the league. James who was the most anticipated and touted prospect in NBA history went first overall to the Cavaliers in what some call(and I agree) as the turning point in the franchise. James went on to win Rookie of the Year but the team still failed to make the playoffs. The following year tea hopes were higher as the built around James almost making the Playoffs but failing to once again. Finally in 2005 the Cavs reached the playoffs for the first time since 1998 going all the way to the conference finals where James achieved many “youngest ever to..” records showing the city he is a star. The Cavaliers continued to progress including sweeping their first two round opponents in this years NBA Playoffs. This may seem like a Cavs history lesson that you don’t care about, but there is relevance to the Islanders. James not only helped revive a “down in the dumps” franchise but has helped start to revive an entire city. This past Sunday ESPN’s Outside the Lines did a feature on LeBron and what he truly means to the city of Cleveland. Naming the segment “The Chosen One” ESPN focused on not only the revival of the team but of a city that has been crippled by the economic downturn the country has faced. Helping to bring back life to this blue-colored American city. James and the teams success has started to revive the downtown Cleveland area, bringing back business to nightclubs and restaurants. Also bring Cleveland together as one to root on their cavs, making Cleveland seem more like a thriving city than one of the cities hit hardest by the economy. With the Cavalier history/information session over its time for me to make the connection. LeBron James helped not only save a franchise but he is starting to save a city. Cleveland is beginning to make an economic turn around with the help of “King James” and the Cavs success. The Islanders need a superstar that can save the franchise and push the county and town governments to move on the Lighthouse project. If the Islanders draft Tavares on June 26th and are able to build up a supporting cast that can succeed, you will not only see a bigger spike in attendance but you will see hockey come alive like it did back in the 01-02 season. With unemployment at 8.9% in April The Lighthouse project is needed project to help put people to work. If the project can get under way and you have a winning product on the ice you will see an influx of people come to the “Nassau Hub” working, shopping, and living, like we have seen in Cleveland in the downtown area as the Cavaliers have become a force to be recon with. Long Island can thrive with the help of Tavares and the Islanders, with the Lighthouse stuck in political limbo Tavares could be the man to help push it into reality. Some may ask why use the cavs as a comparison instead of an NHL team like the penguins or capitals who after drafting franchises players both have become constant cup contenders. Well the cavs have had the same success in their respective sport, but there is more to the cavs story than just basketball there is civic pride and example of how a player on a sports team can help revive and inspire an entire city. Long Island and the Islanders can look to Cleveland as an example just what a star player can do, and if the Islanders decide not to Draft John Tavares it’s a missed opportunity they may never get back. (The first thing we should do if we draft Tavares is come up with a good nickname.)

Sports Illustrated gives Wang a bad rap

Yesterday I stumbled upon Sports Illustrated worst owners list in which our old friend Charles Wang happened to appear as the third worst owner in the NHL. SI game this as their reasoning:
"If I had the chance, I wouldn't do it again," Wang recently told Newsday about buying the team -- just what Isles fans wanted to hear. He may have opened up his sizable checkbook multiple times, but the software entrepreneur doesn't know much about running a hockey franchise. His impulsive, management-by-committee style has the team in a perpetual rebuilding mode. It often seems like he makes contrarian decisions for the sake of being contrary: Witness his hiring and firing of GM Neil Smith after just 40 days. This past season, the Isles limped to their worst finish since Wang's first year in the owner's box and he's threatening to move the team to Kansas City if he doesn't get a new arena to replace decrepit Nassau Coliseum.
What I feel SI fails to address is his passion for the team and his commitment he has made to do everything possible to keep the on Long Island and in Uniondale. Oh and by the way following that terrible season the Islanders had during Wang’s first season as owner, they made it to the Playoffs the following year for the first time since the 1993-94 season, I guess SI forgot to mention that. Also the rebuild has paid off in the final months of the season as Okposo and bailey among others developed into everyday Islanders even earning Kyle Okposo a spot on the US team at the Worlds. The piece also makes Wang seem like he only wants his project, the truth is he has waited patiently for the past seven years and for some reason has just now started to push the town and county to quickly move on this project, but he bought the team to save the Islanders so Long Island could continue to have a sports franchise. Of course Wang has come under criticism for playing to much of a role in making hockey decisions, but honestly every owner including Jets owner Woody Johnson. But overall SI makes him sound like he doesn’t care at all about the team(a notion in which some fans have bought into over the years) which I feel is an untrue sentiment. If he didn’t care why would he invest his money, time and heart into a team he didn’t care about. He wouldn’t, he would have sold the team or moved them by now if he didn’t care, but he has stuck around in a run down arena and trying to better the Island as whole with his Lighthouse Project. So for the owner SI ranked as the third worst in the NHL I say this to them and any other fan who questions his motives, If it wasn’t for him the Islanders would have been gone by now or in a similar situation as the Coyotes.

Sound Tigers Sign Wotten and Gleed to one year deals

Mark Wotten and Jon Gleed have signed one year, one way American Hockey League contracts with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers, which was announced today. Wotten who was immediately named captain upon joining the Tigers in 2006-2007 and has enjoyed being the longest tenured captain in the Sound Tigers history

out with the old and in with the new(a very HOT new!)

Assistant coach Don Lacroix and Strength and conditioning coach Chris Schwarz have both left the team today as reported by Newsday’s Greg Logan. The team and coaches left on mutual grounds, leaving wholes in the coaching staff to filled by replacements of Gordon’s choice. Don Lacroix was a hand me down from the Ted Nolan days and Schwarz left to run his Physical therapy clinic full time up in Ottawa. Speculation has already started that a former well known recently unemployed Defensemen from the Islanders Dynasty years will fill the void on the bench, but that is pure speculation. In other news not really Islander related but still worth mentioning. The Nassau Coliseum has attract New York’s newest franchise, The New York Majesty of the Linger Football League. That’s right Women in their underwear playing football here at the Coliseum. SOUNDS GOOD TO ME! Seems like their will be football a lot more at the Coliseum this year. And on one final note the Islanders still have yet to contact me on an answer about my request for an interview with Charles Wang, hopefully one will be forthcoming.

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Kate Murray is a no show

Well once again Kate Murray failed to show up to a Lighthouse Meeting she said she would make time for. Newsday reports that a meeting set up by local labor union officials was blown off by Supervisor Murray, but town officials said that she was unavailable and would meet with the development group another time. This seems like another attempt by the town to make the developers and county look foolish, but is only hurting her in public eye.

Islanders Crazy is now on Twitter! and possible interview with Charles Wang

Its official we’ve entered the Twitter world so come check it out at http://twitter.com/IslandersCrazy and soon hope to have a Myspace page up. Also Islanders Crazy is excited to announce a possible interview with Islanders owner Charles Wang. I am patiently waiting to hear back from the Islanders PR people who were very kind during my initial request for an interview. Will keep you up to date on the interview request/possibility.

A sandstorms brewing in Phoenix

Today we are going to take some time out to talk about the situation that is developing in Glendale, Arizona and how it effects us in a way. A financially troubled team who was at one point competition for the Islanders for last place is in the middle of a possible move to southern Ontario if BlackBerry CEO has his way. Following Coyotes owner Jerry Moyes filling Chapter 11 Bankruptcy, Jim Balsillie offered to pay $212.5 million to purchase the fledgling Coyotes team on the condition he can move the team to a southern Ontario city. But NHL commissioner Gary Bettman wants to do everything in his power to keep the Coyotes where they are. Chicago White sox owner has intentions of purchasing the team and keeping them there but his offer is significantly less money than Balsillie’s offer of $212.5 million. The players and coaches of Phoenix were shocked upon the news of the potential buy/move, TSN’s Darren Pang said “they were preparing for a sale and everything moving forward.” The situation is undoubtedly more complicated than that, the league has questioned the validity of the chapter 11 bankruptcy claim and has removed Moyes as an official of the team. Another odd situation that comes into play is can an Arizona bankruptcy court tell the league it has to accept the offer with stipulations attached. Moyes goes to court on Thursday to hash out the first part of this desert soup opera. So where do the Islanders come in you may ask, well today commissioner Bettman said "We generally try to avoid relocating franchises unless you absolutely have to," while speaking at a Wall Street Journal-sponsored session with the commissioners of the four major North American professional leagues. He went on to say “we don’t run out on cities,” this is sort of a sigh of relief for Islander fans who fear the team will leave if Wang doesn’t get his Lighthouse Project approved. Wang for months has said will explore all his options of he doesn’t get word for the OK by the start of next hockey season. This includes selling the team which also ties into this Arizona desert sandstorm. Most likely a potential buyer for the Islanders would move the team to Kansas city, Hamilton(maybe), Las Vegas or any other NHL hungry city but with the move come the probable opposition by Bettman(who has been a vocal supporter of Wang’s Lighthouse Project). He would most likely try to have Wang sell to someone who intended on keeping them on Long Island, but it would come no where close to the situation at hand in Phoenix.

Politics rule the Lighthouse and on a daily basis the fans are reminded and reminded. Our hope dwindles and we are always left with a sense of distain and confusion towards Charles Wang and the Town of Hempstead. Honestly these days its hard to point figures at one side or the other because both make valid arguments. The Town of Hempstead does need to go over everything to ensure the validity and to make sure that the Lighthouse project doesn’t run into any legal issues later on but its understandable that fans and supporters alike have trouble trusting Kate Murray due to her recent stunts. But lets just put the Lighthouse and politics aside, The Islanders are Long Island’s last pro team that they will ever have. And if the team leaves so does pro sports on Long Island. Although we have the Ducks, The Lizards of Major League Lacrosse, and a smattering of other teams but they don’t bring the same attention as a pro team like the Islanders. The scariest thing is their no certainty the team will stay. Like Brooklyn Dodger fans know there is no guarantee your team will stay when there is a dispute over stadium and land. Walter O’Malley moved the Dodgers west back in 1958 after he wasn’t able to but suitable land to build a new stadium to replace the aging Ebbets field. These stories have similarities but this is the part where they differ, unlike National league baseball in New York there is no William Shea type character that is going to bring the NHL back to Long Island let alone any other pro teams. Even though Charles Wang says the Lighthouse is more than hockey, for fans its all about hockey. Everyone is in this together from long island residents to fans to the players and coaches themselves, Even though this more than hockey ITS ALL ABOUT HOCKEY!! So we as Islanders fans should not feel that our team will never leave, cause hey if the Dodgers could leave Brooklyn the Islanders can leave Long Island.