Comments on: ALL-STAR GOALIES DON’T GROW ON TREESGallof on some of the frustration aimed at DiPietro

By: Ganja Skateboard

Ganja Skateboard — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 02:31:56 +0000

Interesting. Thanks!

By: Bill TheTinChick

Bill TheTinChick — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 01:17:55 +0000

Any NHL goalie can be a “top five” when “on his game”. The difference between the REAL “top five” goalies, and Brian Boucher, (and Rick DiPietro), is CONSISTENCY. Rick has shown ZERO consistency in his career. Some blame the Defense, some blame his injuries. But no one ever stops to think that maybe the Defense sucks in part BECAUSE of Ricks antics, or that he’s injured because, while he’s a very good athlete, he’s just not a very good GOALTENDER. When you’re constantly out of position, and relying on little more than speed, reflexes and blind luck to make saves, how much stress do you think you’re placing on your hips? Knees? Groin? Back? Again….he’s injured BECAUSE he’s not very good at his position, not the other way around. For every “spectacular” save he makes, bear in mind that if he’d been square to the shooter, and/or properly positioned, it would have been a “routine” save. For every time he plays the puck, look at his Defensemen, confused, discombobulated, and oftentimes on the receiving end of a hit from an opposing player, (see B. Witt), because Rick has thrown them off track with his (poor) decision making. The Organization will simply not allow us a day without force feeding the Rick Kool Aid they’ve been pouring down our throats since he was (mis)drafted. He’s a good goaltender, sure. But he’s nothing special. He’s the FIFTH best goaltender in the Atlantic Division, for Christ’s sake. How can ANYONE, in good conscience, call him “top ANYTHING-other-than-30″ in the League? Take off the #39 Blue and Orange goggles and watch OTHER Teams, and their goalies, play. It’ll open your eyes, but QUICK.

By: Matt

Matt — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 00:02:18 +0000

“suburban team” LOL. You’d be surprised how many fans are from the queens, brooklyn area. The main problem with the Lighthouse Project at this point from what I understand is the evironmental aspect of it. Welcome to Long Island whose “environmentalists” can’t get out of their own way.

By: Frank James

Frank James — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 20:53:32 +0000

Doc,
I never said the Stars or any of the other teams were minor.
Those comments (post 32 on this thread) were from the responses posted on espn.com.

By: doc

doc — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 20:43:20 +0000

I see your point…

By: Stumpy32

Stumpy32 — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 20:40:53 +0000

Doc – yeah, we’re in agreement, in the sense that we can draw at the Coliseum (or Coliseum site) with a winning squad. However, I believe that it’s not good enough to draw 16,000 people a night (however great that would be right now). We need to create a stronger brand, beyond that of the “suburban team.” We need to start bringing in people from outside LI. Sure, they must have a few season ticket holders outside Nassau and Suffolk, and fans like me who grew up on LI and live in the 5 boroughs. But to be able to be a top professional organization, they need to reach past what seems to be as a fading community with minimal large, strong F-500 businesses. That’s the key to survival in today’s sports world.

This goes beyond whether or not the Lighthouse project is approved and completed – although it could be a moot point if it’s not. This is for the strength of the franchise, and the continued unwillingness of the franchise to understand where it lives. It is unacceptable to me that we have 17 million people at our doorstep (NYC metro area), and we market to, as you say, 1.4 million of them. We need to be better than that.

By: doc

doc — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 20:22:03 +0000

Stumpy:

My first impression was that you were arguing in favor of relocation… stating that Nassau was too small of a population to survive. So I was just pointing out that there is more than enough people to draw from in Nassau and whatever few may come from Brooklyn, Queen and Suffolk. I realize that is not where they primarily draw from… but nonetheless there are fans in those counties that come to Islander games.

But I think we are in agreement that if they start putting a winning team on the ice… they will sell out at the NVMC. Right?

By: Stumpy32

Stumpy32 — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 19:42:46 +0000

Doc – listen, I’m under the belief that the Isles would draw just fine in the Coliseum or anywhere else if they had even a semblance of a competitive, near top-level caliber team on the ice. However, you mention a few places that the Isles don’t draw from – namely, Queens and Brooklyn. Frankly, I don’t see how the Isles make any attempts to draw from anywhere other than Nassau and far western Suffolk.

I believe the Isles could survive and thrive in Uniondale, but they need to go after more than the Newsday readership. This LI-centric marketing never existed before about 10 years ago. Sure, we were never going to make a run at the Rangers for the most popular team in the area. Even when we were winning Cups, the Rangers owned whatever back pages hockey got in the NYC newspapers. But, hell, can’t we try, just a little, to tap some parts of the largest city in the world? We’re really not that far, and I’m sure I’m not the only person who lives in the city and supports the Isles.

The fact is, we’re eons smarter in marketing than the Devils. The Devils are arguably the model NHL franchise for the last 15 years. And where are they in attendance? #28, a mere 300 or so more people on average than us, in a new arena easy to get to from anywhere via public transportation. My feeling is that, throughout all their winning, their marketing was poor. At least we market to Long Island. Where in the hell do the Devils market? Secaucus?

I just feel like, to be successful in this arena or the next, we need to tap people outside the Nassau/western Suffolk base. We haven’t done that in over a decade, and that’s hugely important if we want to maintain a footing in the NYC market.

By: doc

doc — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 19:02:46 +0000

Frank James:

Did you forget that Texas has a team called the Dallas Stars???

“All of the teams are minor” is not really true.

Stumpy:

Nassau County is not a small population.

There are approximately 1.4 million in Nassau alone with less than 300 square miles of land. That’s about 20 miles x 15 miles. Pretty densely populated if you ask me.

That’s not including Queens, 2.25 million people in just over 100 sq. miles, Brooklyn 2.5 million people in 70 sq. miles and Suffolk 1.5 million people in 900 sq. miles.

The solution to drawing big crowds…???

Win. Simple as that.

DOC

By: ISLESFAN999

ISLESFAN999 — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 17:47:38 +0000

The islanders need to lose. I actually think not having DP this year is a good thing. Let him heal 100% and let him play with tavares next yr!!!

By: ISLESFAN999

ISLESFAN999 — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 17:45:10 +0000

The real problem with the islanders is the pricks who wont allow wang to build the lighthouse. If that happens the isles would attract free agents and we would be a very good team in 3 yrs!

By: Frank James

Frank James — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 17:35:22 +0000

I was just posting it up there for people to see.
Didn’t mean to hijack the thread.
Getting waaaaaay tooooo tired of the same stories (no offense to Chris- I mean total coverage of the Isles).
3rd period collapses.
Rick’s injuries.

It is what it is.

The Isles are not a good team.
The Pens looked like they were on a power play the last ten minutes of that game.

Rick is hurt.

What else can be said?

I posted here previously that I was sick of seeing teams get rewarded for tanking. Like the Pens in getting Lemieux and winning the lottery on Crosby. Then they get a new arena.

I said maybe it would be best if Rick sat for a long period and finally was able to get the rest and rehab needed.

That buys Gordon and the prospects time.

Also it would give them a better chance in the draft lottery.

I am a huge hockey fan and I can barely stand to watch the Isles anymore. Because of the consistent 3rd period collapses.
It’s like getting kicked in the stomach every 2-3 days at exactly 9:30PM.

I hate the Rangers and acnnot even watch the Devils anymore.

Seeing Parise at the top of the goals leaders makes me sick.

Sorry to vent but we need something catclysmic here on the Island.

Either a new arena.
An insane trade by another GM where the Isles pick up a Rick Nash or Iginla for a bag of pucks.
Or getting the #1 pick and having Tavares actually be a top player.

Love the Isles.
Love the players.

But man it is getting real tough to keep tuning in and showing up just to get kicked in the stomach.

********************
Glad the event in Rockville Center went well.
I had to travel for business.
Next one n Nassau county I’m in.