POWER TO THE PEOPLE
Islanders get a pre-game show!
8:40 pm - Neil Best has broken the news on Watchdog, a Cablevision-sponsored blog, and takes a little credit for starting a movement – but y’all remember where the talk started about the Islanders’ being pre-game-show-less.
All that matters is, starting Saturday, the Islanders will have pre-game shows on their television broadcasts.
However it turned out this way, for whatever reasons, just rejoice. This happened because the fans spoke up. And, no doubt, as a result of some very high-level discussions.
Commence chippy comments, like “It’s their first victory in a while.” But it’s also okay to play it straight up and happy.
50 Responses to POWER TO THE PEOPLE
Islanders get a pre-game show!
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Chuck DiMaggio says:
Great news! The next job is to get Cablevision to make the islanders games assigned to MSG Plus 2 available in high definition. Their advertisement says all Islanders games are in high definition, but MSG Plus 2 has not been assigned a high definition channel on Cablevision’s system.
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beatlebailey says:
my thoughts exactly…and the announcer who does the in game interviews and updates at the coliseum should host the show. The guy does a good job I just cant remember his name
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Frank James says:
Thank God.
The chances of me sitting through a post game show after a loss is about 5%.
Pregame show I’m there.
I’ll watch that over Everybody Loves Raymond or a Friends rerun antday.
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Rick says:
A victory, sure, but we are talking about MSG here. Who knows, we may see Walt ‘Clyde’ Frazier as the host. ‘The Knicks, er, Islanders have that swiss cheese defense, but those jerseys are sure stylin’ & profilin’.’
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Nothing against C.J. Papa, but maybe MSG can make Tina Cervasio the host of the Islanders pre-game show.
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MT says:
Woo hoo!
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TuxTax says:
Saturdays home game is supposed to be on MSG Plus 2
Isnt it a home game? -
Jon says:
Dolan caved.
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It’s bad enough that the Isles play on the MSG family of networks, but this took way too long to happen. I’m glad someone finally talked some sense into them. I will be watching and enjoying. Now, granted, it’s usually the same information that gets summed up in that first 5 minute break before the opening faceoff, but having more time to go in-depth and watch more footage is always a plus.
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Steve S says:
We need Joe Duerr (is that how you spell it?) signing the National Anthem again.
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Pat says:
I think Joe lives in Florida now. Agreed – that he was part of the “Face” of the Isles Cup teams……
Sort of like Rene Rancourt in Boston, Roger Doucet in Montreal, Paul Lorieau in Edmonton and Wayne Messmer in Chicago —- these were important parts of the game experience.
Since TV never shows it anymore ( anthem singers) – its diminished….but I would hope that the Isles could come up with one solid voice for us….instead of treating it like American Idol.
Pat
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Patrick says:
All we need is new episodes of the Heals & Flats show and we will be all set
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Chris TMC says:
This is great and Im happy (and surprised) to hear it. Apparently even the Rags realized how unfair they were being, and that really IS surprising.
I do however think that the Isles are getting this to try and make up for bumping like 1/3 of their games off of the HD feed that cablevision openly advertises all the Isles games get.
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db says:
We do have a voice, for sure. I’ve noticed this year that people are actually listening to us, the fans.
By the way, major props go to you, Chris. You are giving us the strongest voice we’ve ever had.
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Islanders1984 says:
Anyone else a little concerned that Eric Cairns is one of our scouts
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guerin13 says:
woo hoo! we stuck it to the man! for once cablevision listens to their customers and does the right thing.
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toorude says:
how exactly did the message get through to cablevision? how was it that our voices were heard? dolan is reading this blog?
looks like bridgeport pulled an “islanders” by blowing the third period lead. the system is catching on through the organization. -
NYC NYI Fan says:
Perhaps Deb Placey can host the pregame show, as opposed to the perpetually upbeat CJ Papa. Or, why not bring in the guys that do Isles radio, to host the show?
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Hey toorude- do you have any clue what team is on top of the AHL Eastern conference? Didnt think so.
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Bob says:
Does anyone else think Garth Snow is the absolute worst fit possible for this organization? As terrible as Mad Mike was we atleast made the playoffs. (Granted we were a guaranteed first round exit, except for one year where we had a shot at the Conis.) Snow continues to bring in guys to help the kids to “transition” but these bums get all the ice time and can’t score. Bill Guerin sucked in Dallas. Doug Weight was done 5 years ago. It’s pretty sad when the best wrister on the team belongs to Richard Park. He couldn’t even stay in Minnesota as a 4th-liner. WE ARE PATHETIC. Rant over.
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I’m glad they gave in on this point, as I was about to insist on seeing the numbers for the past five years for ALL the pre-game shows just to prove it was prejudice.
Bob: Garth is NOT the worst fit for the job. Have to have a little patience and faith. This is the first year he is doing things his way. Give it time. He will surprise you. I promise.
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CB i read that the coliseum renovation has already been approved. Chris can you either confirm or deny this
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no, i am well aware.
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Jax says:
The renovation was approved a while ago, but Wang wants the whole deal before doing anything. He won’t pour Millions into the renovation unless the whole project passes. Can’t blame him. Why would he spend more millions and still make no money off it. I can’t beat him up for this one. You just can’t expect this guy to keep dumping millions into this team and not get a return on his investment.
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Ed J says:
YAY!!!! Now plz build us a nice shiney place to play & enjoy hockey…
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bCarey says:
The Cablevision deal is pretty much keeping the franchise afloat but it would be nice if it was in its last year. The Islanders and SNY would be such a nice fit. It’s embarrassing when all three teams play and one of our home games gets bumped to C-SPAN 2. I wonder what kind of ratings the Devils get on Long Island. Man it is STUPID. They can’t figure out how to broadcast the Isles on LI and the Devils in NJ? I don’t have to watch News 12 New Jersey. Figure it out. If it’s a marketing thing, I’m sure you could figure out a way to offer even more attractive simulcast packages to advertisers. What is the deal with this? Really gets me TO’d.
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Mr. Paul says:
Hockey on SNY – never happen. Cablevision subsidizes all three area hockey teams – one through direct ownership, the other two [especially the Isles] through broadcast rights. Plus Wang and papa Dolan are best friends.
Truth be told – if it weren’t for the old SportsChannel/Fox Sports New York/MSG Plus broadcast rights deal that goes to at least 2030 the Islanders would be playing under a different name in a Canadian or western US city. -
TP says:
Now can NYI get their games back on AM terrestrial radio? It’s a complete joke that a supposed professional NY sports team is not on AM radio full time. I believe NYI are the only NY pro team to have this dubious distinction of sinking so low. (But then again NYI isn’t really run like a pro team.)
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TP, I agree with everything you said. At least when the Isles were on Bloomberg, they had a modicum of decency, now, that is all out the window. Well, they began to sink to minor league status when they introduced Sparky the Dragon (as we all know, magical dragons are indigenous to Long Island).
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Stumpy32 says:
I don’t give a crap about being on AM. I’ll take FM radio, AM radio, whatever – so long as it doesn’t crackle and fade out when I’m in the Coliseum parking lot. It’s like the old days again – circa 1992 – when we were on about 7 different AM and FM stations, all of which with a combined wattage of 500, and all operating out of nowhere near LI.
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NYC NYI Fan on Nov 12th, 2008 11:45:11 said:
they began to sink to minor league status when they introduced Sparky the Dragon (as we all know, magical dragons are indigenous to Long Island).
This argument is oft repeated but makes no sense. How many giant lions do you see wandering around in LA? How many brown Bears you see sightseeing in Boston? Polar bears in Toronto? Giant orange Youppi monsters in Montreal? Sabertooth tigers in Nashville? Penguins in Pittsburgh? Yeti in Colorado? I believe the only teams inthe NHL to have never had a mascot have been the Oilers and the Rags, maybe 1-2 others. You want to be in their category that badly??? -
Yes, because it is clear that the Islanders are attempting to obfuscate the issue that they have a SH-T team by pretending that everything is fine as long as Sparky is there.
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The fact of the matter is that this is a very puerile and low level marketing ploy, much like they have changed there uniforms throughout the years. They are desperately attemtping to garner interest in the team. All of these stunts do nothing, they only alientate the fan because their pathetic marketing scheme is transparent. They should concentrate their efforts into producing a worthwhile product on the ice, whereupon, they will not require these carnival tactics.
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This is my opinion.
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Its complaining for the sake of it as far as Im concerned. You are complaining and making a big deal because you dont like the MASCOT enough? Come on.
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mstone says:
Awesome!
Glad they realize there are two hockey teams in this town – and only one pro team on Long Island.
Look forward to more of CJ Papa – he is the only guy to get you through a horrid Islander loss and make you feel like its going to be ok and I will come back to watch again despite blowing these leads- plus Howie and Billy are just great to listen to – I am liking that team!! -
Perhaps you do not see what I see, the idiotic mascot is a microcosm of the Islanders, a big joke.
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Look- I know this is an assumption on my part but you are an adult, right? I mean technically? Well, unless you are under the age of eleven mascots are not really geared toward you, anyway.
LOL- it really is funny thought that an adult would make such a huge deal out of not enjoying something geared to little boys and girls. If the kids like him, that is what matters. And they do. So if you dont like him, thats tough dragonball-z on you!
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I am an adult, great leap of logic.
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Further it is not the issue of the mascot. Perhaps I am mistaken, but it is the entire carnival atmosphere under which this team operates that is most frustrating.
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Michael says:
Its about time we get a pre-season show. It will be interesting to see how the ratings do after so many fans pleaded to have one again.
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Blah Blah Blah says:
NYC NYI, Don’t bother…If you mention anything negative about the Isles, you are Billy Guerinteed to get a contrary and usually condescending response from “Chris TMC”. She will take your legitimate gripe and turn it into you being a child or her favorite: “complaining for the sake of complaining”. You can’t win, as she will stalk the board endlessly, insuring that she ALWAYS gets the last word. She will dismiss any attempt for you to rebut her comments with her incessant, inane, and repetitive statements.
Sparky was a cheezy cross marketing stunt for a now defunct AFL franchise. That team is gone, but the stupid mascot remains.
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Dragons 4 Life says:
You are totally wrong mr blah blah. The Dragons are far from dead as they have made the playoffs 3 out of the last 4 years. And they do not use sparky anymore. And incase you haven’t been to an islanders game lately, the Dragons draw a bigger crowd seeing as the islanders are playing terrible
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Ryan Tendrup says:
WOOOOOO!! Pre-game show!!!
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UIF says:
Nice. Glad there’s a pre-game finally. I’d like to think all of our hollering had something to do with this.
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WHO is stupid, “blah blah”?
Excellent points there about the Dragons- yeah, you really have a clue what youre talking about lol. -
Yup blah blah. She has major issues. HF people hated her and are glad she’s gone and she’s ruining IM too for the reasons you mentioned. Many have her on Ignore. Only a matter of time before CB’s spot is sick of her too. Glad the pre-game show is back but if it’s just Trautwig/Fischler and MSG promos then why bother?
I just saw this article on Newsday, It’s about time MSG stepped up and gave us our Pre-Game show. Us Islanders fans have to step up more often and let our voice be heard! Now build the Lighthouse!