Comments on: WHY THE TIMES IS NOT ON THE BEATA note from NY Times sports editor Tom Jolly

By: Matt

Matt — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 14:38:09 +0000

Mr. Jolly makes many good points and quite frankly I don’t see why anyone assoicated with the Islanders whether it be fan, player, employee or what not, would feel slighted becuase the Islanders are not part of their regular coverage. The NYT has a different mission and readership then lets say the Post or Newsday. And honestly, the Islanders aren’t really all that relevant on the New York sports scene, they probably rank somewhere between the Red Bulls and Liberty. The only people who really care are us loyalists. Here’s an easy way for the NYT to notice the Islanders, put a winning team on the ice, make people stand up and take notice, put the onus on them to send a beat reporter out to the NVMC. Its not a given right unfortunately the Islanders do not belong to the NY sports royalty in fact they’ve given organizations like the NYT every reason pass on covering them from vague and misleading reports on injuries to a front office that at times looks like The Gong Show. Make them take notice, the best way to cure that is to win. Just win.

By: JOE RVC

JOE RVC — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 13:51:20 +0000

i met a times reporter a few years ago when i was drunk at a game …he had never seen a hockey game before and didnt know shit.he had previously worked in fashion …he was also slammin down gin and tonics

By: Dmarie

Dmarie — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 11:34:36 +0000

That was a very interesting read, I was never one for the NY times, I’ll say this much..this dude could make a great politician, he knows how to dance around the issue very nicely.(just my opinion)
NY times has never been a paper for the sporting fan.

By: Islander505

Islander505 — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 07:23:37 +0000

New York Times?

Who gives a chit?

There was a time, way back when I still lived in the NY area, that I thought the world revolved around the NYT.
After being out of NY for about 5 years, I figured out that THEY thought the same way about themselves. And I lost interest in their megalopolis pandering that completely ignores about 80% of the rest of the country (geographically speaking)

Screw ‘em. The entire newspaper industry is changing, and dinosaurs like the Times and the Washington Post will be the slowest to adapt. Some will not survive.

I’d be interested to know how many people from this blog have ever searched out a hockey blog on the NYT.
Cuz, I couldn’t be bothered.
I’d also be interested to know how many “readers” of the NYT actually go there (the paper version) looking for hockey news. My guess is NOT MANY.
The demographics of the NYT and Hockey simply don’t mix.

Fuhget ‘em.

The Islanders need NEWSDAY and NEWSDAY needs the Islanders.
(Unfortunately, too many powers that be at Newsday are slow to figure that out…but they are getting there).

Just my opinion…from two time zones away.

By: mtrico

mtrico — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 03:47:00 +0000

I have never liked the New York Times, and this just further supports my decision to never read it. At least when I read the Wall Street Journal, I know not to expect loca sports coverage. The Times is so full of itself it makes me sick. Besides, it should stick to what it does best, pushing a liberal agenda.

By: 13MoreYears

13MoreYears — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 02:45:33 +0000

Thanks to Mr. Jolly for taking the time to write that response! And props to CB for continuing to raise the issue!

By: TuxTax

TuxTax — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 02:09:42 +0000

Sarnia Sting forward DiBenedetto named OHL player of the week http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=386655

By: Shoe

Shoe — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 02:03:45 +0000

Chris

I understand exactly what you are saying. My point is not that YOU are the problem, but that the isles are the problem. I feel that this attitude of looking anywhere but inward is prevalent for the isles. Don’t you think this ridiculous injury policy is more proof of it? Look how much time they are dedicating to it…Scott Gordon is like a lemon used car salesman with his contradictory comments, DP is denying obvious reality, Snow is mum…over WHAT? Geez, all we want to see is a freakin quality team! Maybe Snow should be more interested in seeing if a maclaren, shanahan or someone like that might be able to help this team as opposed to trivial nonsense like this.

It is petty and, whether accurate or not, it gives the appearance of an org that has lost touch with reality and is completely lost with regards to its own fans….

I thought the times letter was great and I was only relating this to the isles to make a point about where the priorities of the team lie. I feel that it is appropriate for the media relations director to tackle this issue but the rest of the org seems to wrapped up in how little respect they get.

Keep up the great work!

By: Uncle Jr

Uncle Jr — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 01:56:29 +0000

Since you are taking issue with The Times for not sending a writer to games can i ask why no islander player/coach/assistant is alowed to speak with Steve Sommers on the air????

By: bCarey

bCarey — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 01:48:25 +0000

CB:

Figured as much. Just wanted to make sure I wasn’t a douche. You’ve been doing a great job since launch and I just wanted to run with the whole “douche” thing. Douche, after all, is a funny word.

On this Baumbach blog thing about the Isles relocating, it is in regard to a completely speculative piece that Forbes.com did on the Top Ten Sports Franchises Most Likely to Move. I thought Forbes was a more reputable publication than this. Take a look. It has more lists than VH1.

Link: http://www.forbes.com/2008/10/08/vikings-bills-marlins-biz-sports-cx_tvr_1008moving.html

By: Paul

Paul — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 01:41:00 +0000

All i know is Jim Baumbahs comment (go down a little past the Franchise moving comment and read where he say ” I would make fun of the Islanders” I dont like the fact that this organization turned into a Joke of a Franchise in the sports world, it piss’s me off!

By: Brian from Massapequa

Brian from Massapequa — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 01:37:36 +0000

I think the issue here is more about the “New York City” based attitude of what we call are major papers. The NY Times, the NY Post and the Daily News are NYC based papers that focus on the major sports teams based within the city limits (excepting the NFL of course). Whereas in Newsday’s coverage while weak in the last two seasons, has been increasing to a more “acceptable” level in regards to volume of content. Of course Newsday is based in Nassau/Suffolk which has one major sports team located here. The Islanders. I wish there was more coverage, but the papers devote their resources where they deem best. That is why I love Point Blank and B.D.’s column on “that site which cannot not be named”.

By the way as an example of my meaning from above, my father recently returned from Ontario Canada and informed that he brought me back a few days worth of sports sections so I could read the hockey coverage. Newspapers there predominantly cover hockey as that is what their readership demands.

Write a letter (e-mail) to your local paper if you want more coverage. If enough people speak up, they’ll oblige. If not, bring on the blogs.