PB 1.0: TAKE ME OUT OF THE BALLGAME
Behind-the-scenes of NYI-NYR at the Stadium
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New Year’s Day, 10:15 am - The hoopla of the Blackhawks-Red Wings tilt at Wrigley Field today has brought on a slew of emails and Comments about the possibility of the Islanders ever playing in an outdoor game. Since most of you understandably missed it in the first version of Point Blank, I’m re-printing it. This was written 19 days after I left the Islanders as their media relations VP. At the end, I follow it up with my brief take on where I feel the game stands now…CB
From Point Blank, Version 1.0
Take Me Out of the Ballgame
Saturday, May 24, 2008
Larry Brooks, now writing columns on the Yankees when in the good ol’ days of the early 2000s he might have been at the Stanley Cup Final, today in the Post has an update on the potential of an NHL game at Yankee Stadium.
Larry’s article is fact-filled and unbiased.
So is the following:
The New York Islanders, and only the New York Islanders, started the process of looking into the possibility of having a hockey game at Yankee Stadium. This process started more than a year before the first word was ever written about it in the press. It began before there were plans for the Penguins and Sabres to play an outdoor game in Buffalo.
The initial reaction of everyone else in the National Hockey League? A roaring, bordering on snickering, chorus of Aerosmith’s “Dream On.” Their issue wasn’t about the Islanders being part of the game. It was the naysayers - the ones who didn’t put in the effort to dream big and then try to make it happen - tsk-tsking, “The Yankees will never allow a hockey game at Yankee Stadium.”
Meetings between the Islanders and Yankees went deep enough that an all-hands-on-deck session with several executives from each team met at Yankee Stadium. This meeting, held a little more than two years ago, was hosted by Yankees COO Lonn Trost, quoted in today’s article in the Post.
I was at the meeting. I was blown away by Trost’s sincerity and the commitment of the Yankees staff to see the hockey game become a reality. As a lifelong Yankees fan, I walked into it wondering if real progress could be made. I walked out of it three hours later saying to myself, “Holy crap, we’re gonna play a frickin’ hockey game at the cathedral in the Bronx.”
It was always understood the Rangers would be part of the game.
And still, the reaction of everyone else in the game? It wasn’t, “Hey, slow down. The Islanders don’t have the right to move this process along.” It was more along the lines of, “C’mon boys, stop it. You’re killin’ us. Ain’t gonna happen.”
Bottom line: if anyone really believes Bruins-Rangers over Islanders-Rangers is a significant ratings difference-maker, I can’t help you there. But anyone with an ounce of fairness and decency in their soul knows the New York Islanders should be part of any NHL event at Yankee Stadium.
*
An update: I’m not sure if the Yankees will ever be willing to host an NHL game at the new Yankee Stadium. But if they are, the talk of Rangers-Bruins has only become louder seven months after I wrote the post above. It will be a disgrace if the NHL shuts the Islanders out.
In all seriousness, I truly believe there’s only one thing that could happen at this point that might possibly move the needle in the Islanders’ direction.
The drafting of a superstar player. Just as today’s game at Wrigley is nothing without Kane, Toews and the revival of the Blackhawks, the Islanders have a much stronger case with the NHL and NBC with a John Tavares in the lineup.
Comments.
62 Responses to “PB 1.0: TAKE ME OUT OF THE BALLGAME
Behind-the-scenes of NYI-NYR at the Stadium”
Please Wait
Great point CB.
Tavares keeps lighting the lamp…bringing people to their feet by scoring BIG goals….every WJC newclip somehow involves a highlight of him…..so my question to some of you is (and you know who you are)
Where’s HEDMAN been?
Still think the islanders would be better off with a D man at the draft instead of Tavares?
TAVARES OR BUST !
Thanks for the article. I believe they will let the Ilses in. How can they not?
If this was their baby to begin with, they did all the legwork.
If Bettman truly wants to help out all of the league, he will understand this is huge for the Isles.
Yes their Owner is a little quirky, and Mad Mike made some mistakes. But they deserve it.
This would take everybody’s mind off the LightHouse Project, and all the doom and gloom people are feeling.
This team is going in the right direction, we will draft a superstar this June.
The future is bright on the Island….
I was going to email you a few days ago to get your response but I figured you would be on top of it and of course you were.
TAVARES IS THE KEY!!! We will not get a game here unless we have a superstar to showcase. If the Isles get Tavares and can show off the future between him, DP, Bailey and Okposo….This could become a reality. Though I think we are still more than 3-4 years away, we have to keep on trying and pushing for this to become a reality.
Thanks for re-posting that CB … and Happy New Year to you, your family and all my fellow Islander and Hockey Fans!!
CB … I made the same exact point as you just did regarding Tavares’ importance to the Islanders in securing the privelege of playing in a future outdoor game at the New Yankee Stadium (if allowed in the futre) … a great way to spotlight the NHL’s newest future star.
CB — this site is the best blog for Islander hockey and an insiders look into how things work inside an NHL club. You gotta find a way to make a living off this … everyone should be able to cash in on their passion an talent… keep up the great work. This site will only grow more as the passion of Isles fans is unending.
Interesting article, I was one who missed it the first time around. I was always confused as to why it was always Isles-Rangers and then suddenly in the past year or slightly less, it became Rangers-Bruins.
Tavares stepped up HUGE in yesterdays WJ game. Before that game I knew he had the skills to be a difference maker, but yesterday make me a true fan. With Canada down 3-0 he just took the team on his back and brought life into Team Canada.
ps What if we sign Ty Conklin, he seems to be key in getting to play in an outdoor game. :p
Happy New Year everyone!
CB, thanks for re-posting this. I agree it would be an absolute disgrace to shut the Islanders out in favor of some manufactured “rivalry” that doesn’t exist - hell, the teams aren’t even DIVISION rivals! If there’s going to be an outdoor game involving the Bruins it needs to be vs. Montreal. Period. I hope the league sees what a folly it would be to shut the Islanders out, especially since the atmosphere whenever we play the Rags is high when they’re not outside. I could think of no better way to attract casual fans than putting that passion on display.
As for yesterday’s game, I don’t want to belabor a point others have made. I just don’t know how anyone could watch that game and still prefer Hedman.
CB, hate to repeat stuff, but it is retty clear that Tavares or someone like him is the key to the Isles being involved in one of these games, but if you or anyone else is looking for a fair shake from this league (despite the commisioner saying he grew up a fan of the championship teams)for the Isles, I would not suggest holding one’s breath waiting. What in the last 25 years has the league done that was a fair shake for this team? NOTHING. The only reason the commisioner is working so hard (and I am pretty sure he is, behind the scenes) on getting the Lighthouse done is because he knows that the league would take a tremendous hit if a team with NY in its’ title was to ever have to relocate. That is a nightmare he does not want to face, even if we know locally that the Isles do not have the same advantages as the NHL version of the “evil empire”. As long as we do not hear Bettman talking about how it might benefit the organization to move, we should be confiudent that the Lighthouse will be done, even if it is not going as quickly as we would all like it to go. Tavares would really help there, too.
call me debbie downer -but I actually dont get excited over the outdoor game hype
its just a matter of time before something stupid happens at one of these events due to the conditions of the ice
Tavares ? yeah , he’ll be the dude pulling a Thrashers jersey on during a hot summer day in june 09 because I cant see the isles not surpassing these stiffs in the standings in the coming weeks .I think we should focus on the top 6-7 players in the draft ranking as a whole so our hearts dont get broken by focusing on tavares or hedman
No way Bettman lets the Isles play outdoors until a deal is struck for a new arena. In Bettman’s eyes, the Isles are dead men walking until then.
I agree 100% C.B that a player like Tavares is the key to not only the Islanders becoming a better team but also be reconized and respected aging throughout the hockey commnuity. This team is treated (and in the past it was their own fault) as if they play out of Des Moines and not NY! As much as the Thrashers are giving us a run for the money at John Tavares I am holding out hope that the hockey Gods will reward us. I was always a fan of Tavares but watching this kid put team Canada on his back yesterday down 3-0 and scoring a hat trick to help win the game was unreal. We need a gamebreaker!
To be honest with you, this outdoor game is a great gauge to see how others look at us. Peruse some other hockey sites and it is blatently clear how little respect we get when the talk turns to future outdoor games. We’re basically seen as a non-entity. I’m almost glad that the game at Yankee Stadium fell through this year, because in the end we probably would have gotten snubbed to the Bruins (I mean, come on NHL!!! There isn’t any blood-hatred there!!!) and it would have made us look even worse. Hopefully we can get a standout young goal scorer and bring some positive attention back to the Island, and THEN we can get our outdoor game.
CB - I’m in the crew that missed this piece before on PB1.0. I was thinking about this last night while “socializing” at Jake’s Dilemma on the Upper West Side last night. The Isles need a marquee player with marquee value to sell in this kind of a game. The first outdoor match-up featured Crosby, Malkin, and a dynamic offense w/Buffalo. Today’s tilt features
Kane, Toews, and two of the most tradition steeped franchises in hockey. The Isles need a selling point…no doubt Tavares should be the pick if it comes to that.
Chris, with Fritz gone, is Joel Rechlicz going to get a shot?
if we get tavares our depth at center will be great as well as this team. hopefully then we get a shot at the classic. it is a little stupid that they put awsome players before intense rivalrys.
the pens were put on the map when they took crosby. washington came back to life after grabbing ovechkin. the blackhawks resurgence is mostly due to toews and kane. screw all the “build from the goal out,” this team needs their tavares. he’ll put people in the seats, wang won’t lose money, lighthouse will pass, free agents will sign, and maybe we can get that outdoor game. i don’t see how hedman can revive the franchise.
Weather would be prefect today for a game in NY. Shame it did not happen.
I’ve said before, I’ll say it again….if the NHL ever holds an outdoor game at Yankee Stadium and snubs the Isles in favor of a Rangers/Bruins or anyone else tilt, I will fly back (from 2 time zones away) and picket outside Yankee Stadium.
I would picket right along with you.
I wont care if they pick other teams again, but if they give it to the Rangers- YET AGAIN- and it is not because they are playing US, I will be frickin livid.
we will never get the game before the rangers…it will be rangers-bruins or rangers-maple leafs.
That’s not the point, and I don’t think anybody here wants us to get the game before the Rangers. I, as well as most of the people I’ve spoken to, think that if the game is in NY it should be Islanders/Rangers.
I decided I can’t get into the draft and trade issues, who we should get or trade because I get lost in the shuffle, I know the product I like on the ice, and certain players grow on me as I watch em, I know which guys I like and why but everyone’s opinions are different.
But I will say if they ever have an outdoor game in NY and do not pick the Islanders, I absolutely agree it would be total disgrace!
Ciao
It’s really sad because non-hockey fans will naturally think the Bruins - Rangers have a big rivalry because of the Sox - Yanks rivalry. Most non-hockey fans probably think of the Islanders like the Mets, not having a rivalry with the other big New York team. It’s really too bad. Also the Bruins record isn’t helping our cause.
Either way, if the game ever does happen… I think that people will watch no matter which the teams. Its a hockey game outside!!
Alan, exactly. I’m watching right now even though I couldn’t care less about the 2 teams playing. Wouldn’t fans want to see hard, passionate hockey by 2 teams that genuinely hate each other? Today is a great example of what a showcase for the game that could be.
Hopefully Montreal gets the next Winter Classic (as part of their continuing centential celebrations), giving us time to have Tavares and a team on the rise.
It will be a disgrace when, after all the legwork the Isles did they get frozen out of an outdoor game. Note that I said “when” and not “if”, because I feel it is inevitable that the only New York team that will be involved in an outdoor NHL game will be the Rangers. And the reason is NBC.
Think back over the last two and a half seasons of NBC’s NHL coverage. Have you seen the Isles? No. NBC had Isles/Devils at the end of the 2007 season, in a game with huge playoff implications… and they gave it back to the RSNs to feature a meaningless game between the Sabres and Flyers. As long as NBC is involved in the Winter Classic (and since they get priority scheduling over even the CBC, one would believe that they will be), the only New York team that NBC will put in a showcase event will be the Rangers. And I’m not even sure a marquee name on the Isles would swing the pendulum in our favor.
If the Islanders are shut out of a game at Yankee Stadium they only have themselves to blame. This organization is considered a dysfunctional joke because of the horrible decisions Wang has made involving personnel. So though Ill always be an Islanders fan, I understand why the NHL would want the Bruins to play instead.
exactly it will never be rangers/islanders..it will be rangers/fill in the blank..if you were running the NHL you would do the same thing. the isles have themselves to blame for being the 2nd rate organization we are now viewed as by the rest of the league
CB,
Thanks for reprinting the Islanders involvement in the Hockey Classic. Happy New Year!!!
Doug
The Isles are as intresting to watch as paint drying. NOT a chance in hell they EVER play outdoors. Next year should be Boston vs Montreal at Fenway.The closeest they get to outdoors is that A-HOLE mildew announcing for NBC.
between periods of today’s Winter Classic, Milbury comes on and tells us that the Blackhawks are going in the “right direction” with their young players…I almost threw my shoe at the set…if it weren’t for this ____ (fill in your own expletive) and his draft shenanigans, we’d have Luongo, Jokinen, and take your pick (Heatley, Gaborik, Spezza) and then maybe this Isles-Rangers outdoor issue wouldn’t BE an issue…and by the way, Milbury wouldn’t know the “right direction” with a compass, Onstar and satellite imaging
I know I’ve got to let it go, but I agree with rb above. That Milbury can hold himself out to be an analyst qualified to comment on how to build a hockey team is a cruel joke. If I were the owner of the Islanders, I’d never let him set foot in the Coliseum again.
Post 27 hits the nail on the head.
What does the NHL or anyone else owe the Islanders? NOTHING !
The Islanders have been nothing but a mismanaged bunch of clowns over the past 15 years. I have been a die hard isles fan for close to 30 years. When the franchise decides to start doing things the right way and actually build something worthwhile instead of trying to sell us a false bill of goods, others may take notice. At least they had the decency this year to admit publicly that they had to rebuild from the bottom up. Until then…deal with being looked at as a laughingstock of the league.
right on rb. i can’t even watch the intermission report because I want to punch this ahole in the face. And Wang couldn’t even fire him the right way, he reassigned him work on ticket sales or some community bs. This is why we are a joke.
i look at the blackhawks and i think that is the example for us. great drafting (keith, seabrook, toews,byfuglien, kane) smart trades (sharp, eager, havlat) and the right big name UFA’s (campbell). they are a shining example of a good rebuild.
I was looking at hockeysfutures.com today, and they have the Isles ranked 26th among NHL with prospects.. I think that’s sort of discouraging, considering everyone thought we had a great draft.. What do you think about that, CB?
Btw, I’m rooting for the hawks right now. haha
Though last years game was between “expansion” teams I would expect the “Original 6″ matchups to continue for the next two years. Montreal & Toronto next year, but not sure where. Then Rangers & Bruins in 2011 at Fenway. So we have time to grow if that is what it will take to get into a Classic.
To show why the Isles are not even a THOUGHT in NBC’s thinking here - there is an on screen graphic which shows either a replay or highlights something - and has the logos of “all” the NHL teams below. Clearly you can see those of the Devils ( Devils?), Flyers, RAGS, Bruins, Pens, and a few other teams. See if you can find the Islanders logo? I think NOT.
Till we get a team nearly as good as our dynasty teams - we will not be NBC’s darlings. I vote for a game at Fenway next year. When WE get to have a good team - then Isles vs Rags at Citi Field or Jankee Stadium. We have bigger problems than worrying about being part of the Winter Classic - and as other posters have said - we do not deserve it.
DOes not diminish hte work done by Isles management - but Richard Park will not sell tix to the game. Simple as that. And I love Parkie.
Happy New Year!
Why does it have to be Yankee Stadium? How about Shea or the New Met Stadium? How about the Meadowlands?
Also, What Star Power does the Rangers have? Very overpaid Drury or Gomez? Lundquist who has a very hard time winning a shootout? I think a healthy Rick (all-star with a face the networks will love), a growing Okposo and Bailey is plenty.
If it were Isles Rangers then the rivalry is the star because it is the best in all of sports.
Maybe the Isles should trade for Conklin since he has now played in all three! That seems to be the key to getting in the game. It is a disgrace the Isles created this concept and can’t get respect from the NHL on this or suspensions or anything.
I mean we needed a new building for years but they didn’t rig the draft lotto for us like they did for Pit.
I guess the NHL has to saction a game but I think at this point if the Isles can they should set up their own.
I’m no Ranger fan… but I don’t think Lundqvist has any problems with the shootouts. I’m pretty sure he has a very good record with shootouts - but that’s just off the top of my head.
DOC
Couldn’t tolerate the NHL self-love and Wrigley Field–love during the broadcast. O for the good ol’ days when Wrigley Field was rightfully viewed as the dump it is, populated by unemployed spectres full of anger and rage, “rooting” for a team run by owners just looking to cash in on the cheap a la the Florida Marlins. Wrigley Field—living proof that a good marketing executive can sell anything to a yuppie. A Schlitz, anyone?—that’s now vogue, too. Ask anyone in marketing…
Pat #39, I noticed the absence of the Islanders logo on the NBC crawl, too! I said to my husband - look NO ISLANDERS logo between the Devils and Rangers. Figures we get left out of the loop. We really are a non-entity in the big picture. SAD!
Travelchic 59 -
DiPietro is # 39 - not I.
Hey, Doc:
I don’t know his overall shootout record but I can think of numerous occassions in the past few years when DiPietro, Dub, and Mac have outdueled him. Remember everyone will tell you the Isles have the much less talented team and much smaller payroll but their goalies almost always outduel Lundquist. I have seen him not do well againt many other teams in those situations but admit I don’t know his overall record.
Perhaps NBC didn’t use the logo because they are not airing any Islanders games? Or, just another example of being overlooked. I can’t tell.
This year’s winter classic was good, but just not quite as entertaining as the first. But I still enjoyed it.
The NHL will never give the islanders the game as long as Charles owns the team. They hate him. A Rangers-Bruins game would be a game filled with skill of which the isles have none. Aside from Kane and Toews Chicago also his Havlat, the Bulin wall, Sharp, Brian Cambell, and a shit load of other talented players that will make the game look good. Even if the isles get tavares who else do we have to showcase? Ricky? If he ever gets healthy maybe… thats not enough to make people intrested and bring new fans to the sport which is what the winter classic is designed for.
Considering the seemingly good relations between the Isles and Yankee people and the Yankees hatred for all things Boston (and I can’t think the Yanks and the Dolan’s are the best of pals, either) Any chance the Yankees could be asked to put their foot down and not allow use of Yankee Stadium unless it’s Isles vs. Rangers?
Steve Webb Jr. What talent does the Rangers have?
If the NHL wants to grow the game in the USA then they better start showcasing USA talent like DiPietro, Okposo, Weight, Guerin.
Sinse the Ice-Landers are playing like dead wood its time to dump the dead wood. Look like Mr Fritz bleeder was sent on his way. So Hmmm time to sign HALEY from the Bridge he would of lumped up Orr !!
Maybe Wang should 1 up the league, and alter his stadium plans to have a retractable roof so we can play “Outside” whenever the hell we want…
lol Great idea, outside.
G. Howatt:
I wasn’t a fan of having Fritz on the team ever… but what makes you think Haley would have “lumped up” Orr?
Let’s please stop stating things as if they are facts.
Speculation is NOT FACT!!!
DOC
I think we have a golden opportunity in the next two months, to possibly gather two or even three first rounders. If we are willing to part with some parts we never plan on using, we might be able to push some of our assets from second and third rounders to firsts. Pock, Sim, Tambellini, Walter, Gervais, two of the second rounders, and our 5th,6th, and 7th rounders as well as others, could be used to sweeten deals. Teams hate spending there first rounders for rentals that leave the next year and this is a way that they get something back in return for there investment. Columbus, Colorado, Pitts., Edmonton, Chicago, and Calgary could be teams looking to make a push. And Comrie, Guerin and Weight are not our future. Guerin might look good on the other side of Crosby. Food for thought, or maybe over wishing.
They ought to find a way to play a NYC game in Central Park. Yeah, I think the Isles and Rangers should play there.
Obviously Chris you talk to people “in the know” about this so you have a much better idea then I would about the Isles playing in this game. Call me an optimist, I still think they play in it. Say it is next year, you have Isles/Rags. The year after that, you move it up to Fenway with Boston/Montreal. It makes way to much sense. Rangers can headline. They don’t need another big name to pull viewer numbers. Just as Crosby pulled numbers playing Buffalo. A team only Buffalo cares about.
i dont see why there cant be more outdoor games. every team that CAN host an outdoor game should be permitted to, once a year. there must be a way!
of course the islander will not finish in the bottom two…..you know that.
Unfortunately, any outdoor game taking place in NY will include the Rangers. Their Fan base is too large to ignore. It will be Rangers-Some other team. Rangers-Islanders will not happen because the NHL will not broadcast a game that can degenerate into an all out brawl with bad blood on national television. The Winter Classic is a showcase for the most talented and not a stage to air our dirty laundry.
My fact is that HALEY would lump up Orr..
I remember a comment from Hal or Hank Steinbrenner I think this past August … not exactly sure when … and the NHL can talk all it wants about how the OLD Yankee Stadium option was just to complicated to do this season … but it was more than that … Hal or Hank said something to the effect … that there is NO WAY …. a team from Boston is going to have a shot at being the last team to win at Yankee Stadium … and that was pretty much it … don’t remember the paper … but there was a quote to that effect… maybe CB knows more since he was doing stuff with MLB during the all-star game in July.