TALKING LIGHTHOUSE WITH FRANCESA
On Kansas City, Tavares, Wang and everything else
Point Blank was on the radio with Mike Francesa this afternoon. To access an audio file of our conversation, click here.
The Islanders did not practice today. Per PB scout Matty The Usher, Wade Dubielewicz took pucks for an hour, plus Andy Hilbert and Sean Bergenheim skated.
Comments.
45 Responses to TALKING LIGHTHOUSE WITH FRANCESA
On Kansas City, Tavares, Wang and everything else
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mrlbem says:
It’s also on the WFAN website. Well done. Where did he get that Tavares BS? Glen Sather?
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BringBackNyles says:
If Mike got any inside hockey info I am guessing JD, and we all know he isn’t biased to the Islanders at all
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Matt King Isles 13 says:
todays practice was optional. hilbert, bergenheim, and sim skated. dubie took shots. weight, martinek, hilbert, thompson and bergenheim all used the weight room. witt, hunter, okposo, and comeau were all there but didnt do anything.
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Steve from East Islip says:
I’m thinking conspiracy. Wang has had plans to sell the team all along…he parts ways with CB…who then gives false hope to Islander fans while the deal is being worked on. This helps lessen the blow to Islander fans when the team abruptly moves.
Just kidding…
Time will tell. IMO, the only possible way the Isles stay is if either the Lighthouse, or some variation of it, starts soon. I’m going to be pretty mad though if the Isles land Taveras and then move to KC.
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Almost Gone says:
For what it’s worth, if Mike has any alligence in hockey, it’s with the Islanders. He has had more Islander guests than any other team and since he has always lived on the Island, he has been supportive of them more times than not.
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ny711ot says:
almost gone….francesca’s allegiance resides with the yankees, bill parcells and his horses…he is the biggest @=$$== on radio…
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AngryPete says:
Heard the interview with CB live today on the Fat Basta …. I mean Mike Francesa Show.
A JOB WELL-DONE CHRIS!
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DB says:
Well done, Chris!
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Paul * says:
Nice interview CB; Francesa tried to throw some bomb’s (Tavares and his sources)and you set him straight! Boy, i hope Wang loves longisland and the Islanders as much as you feel he does, then this whole thing might turn out alright and stay here on the Island.
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beatlebailey says:
What are the reasons to oppose the project? Traffic concerns? I dont see a downside. Wang is not asking for public money so WTF is the big deal??
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michael says:
francesa must have gotten that tavares rumor from sam rosen’s dentist.. oh wait..nm
i dont know where he got the rumor from.
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CB, thank you for setting the record straight for so many people. You know this better than anyone, and your reasoning is sound.
Beatlebailey – I think that’s the reason you haven’t seen organized opposition. The project hasn’t made enemies as of this point, and the last thing we need to do is start making them ourselves. The environmental review, which Kate Murray controls, isn’t done yet. The public comments have not happened yet. The final scope has not been settled. We have a long way to go, but at least people are talking about this in a constructive way.
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AZS says:
This is a joke that it even has to come to this …just get it done …only in the T.O.H. can someone want to spend 4 billion of their own dollars and not be allowed because of politcs …
If the Isles move I’ll never watch another hockey game as long as I live and I’ll move from the town …and I’m not joking …
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Macch says:
At least one Petition has been started
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Macch – I wrote that, it’s the same one as the main one that you can access by clicking on my name.
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Neil says:
Chris great job with Mike, because everyone knows how hard he can be on guests, but he has always been loyal to the Islanders. Another point that no one has brought up is the Islanders television contract. It is one of the better ones that any team in the NHL has from a dollar standpoint. Additionally no one mentions the situation out in Phoenix because from has been reported they are in big trouble with a new building.
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Nick ok great stuff… Didnt see if anyone posted it just help to spread the word
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isles316 says:
My friends the Kings fan is freaking out because why is no one questioning the Kings for playing there twice? It’s HIS owner that owns that building and has the connections. He is freaking out, histerical.
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I am not saying this to be a downer, online petitions are a waste of time.
We, as Islander fans, need to CALL elected officials, and politely ask to speak to them. if you are in their district they will listen. Politicans do what will get them reclected, if they feel a groundswell of support for working to keep the islanders, they will.
Sadly,I live in Rockland bu tthos ewho live on LI, need to pack Hempstead town meetings, take the microphone and voice your opinion supporting saving the Islanders.
I am on record as saying the Lighthouse porject is too ambitious, I have knocked the idea of a Grand Canal, but these people are not even meeting Wang halfway
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http://www.thestarphoenix.com/Sports/York+Islanders+hold+training+camp+Saskatoon/1186614/story.html
Islanders will announce on Monday camp will be in Saskatoon and they will play the Western Conference in preseason.
Mike Sillinger/Jyri Niemi comment.
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JKP in Halifax says:
Bummer on Sask. I loved having them here and took my kids both years to Moncton to see the team. Oh well…:(
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Mike from Philly says:
Way to go Chris! What a move by Wang yesterday, this thing is all over the media and I am sure the fools at the TOH and their ring leader Murray are fully aware of it.
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Matt King Isles 13 says:
#19 the kings aint going anywhere. The staples center is the 2nd most famous arena. Dont worry.
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Marc says:
Chris – Great job on WFAN today – to get on the Friday of Championship Sunday is quite an accomplishment. When I heard Francesa start with the Taveres rumor I was going to scream, but you shot it down quickly! Here’s a question that someone posed earlier that I haven’t seen answered… god forbid something happens to Wang, who would own the team? Also, IF Wang wanted to pull out the KC card, could he theoretically do so considering the lease and TV contract? Best news of the night… Thrashers won it OT… Isles are now seven points up in the Tavhe sweepstakes!
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Chris A says:
Great job Chris… any reactions to this bit from LeBrun’s blog on ESPN
We’re not so sure the NHL is thrilled with the idea of hockey in Kansas City despite the new rink. But we wonder if Wang hasn’t had enough and whether he won’t get a call from BlackBerry billionaire Jim Balsillie?
The Hamilton Islanders, anyone?
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MiKe says:
So would they be the Kansas City Islanders? Or would they change the Isles name? I want to see the jerseys. I want a Bergenheim #20! lol
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sec. 308 says:
Methinks the town supervisor is A) using the Lighthouse project to plot a run at Suozzi B) deer in the headlights or C) looking for some quid pro quo.
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Jisles says:
This organization has had such putrid management over the past 15 years. Whether it was Wang or his predecessors. The culmination of bad owners, crook owners, bad drafts, bad trades has led to bad seasons and had made the organization look like a circus. Because of this the fans have stayed away. This is the reason. Not becuase of the building. The awful decisions that have been made have been rehashed over and over and we all know and I am tired of hearing this team’s fanbase is dead and has no following. CB I take your word that Wang loves this team and he wants to win but he has made some really bad decisions when it came to the hockey operations of this team and in turn hurt the franchise. I could care less about the LH but if it means keeping the islanders here then we have to do it. If this gets done Wang should hire a president of hockey operations that will help guide snow and the franchise and Charles can concentrate on the LH development. However, if the team leaves then the only people to blame is Wang and the politicians. ISLANDERS FANS RULE. WE ARE HERE. START RUNNING THIS THING IN A PROFESSIONAL MANNER AND START WINNING BACK THE ISLANDER FANS AND LONG ISLANDERS WHO CARE ABOUT THE TEAM AND WANT TO SEE A WINNER!! I think that says it all for everyone who loves this team. That is all we want. LETS GO ISLANDERS!!
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George T. says:
This one is going out to you Chris and everyone else who cares about the Isles. Reading pb from day one and finally responded for the first time. New yorker all my life, went to junior high in Island park, after lived in queens and now live in brooklyn. Many friends still on the Island, and this is the response I get from a big majority of them. They all basically said that they dont have a problem with Wang building a new coliseum, they have a problem with everything else he wants to build around it. They do not want the traffic it is going to cause and they definately do not want all this extra as they put it non local long islanders in other words people coming over from queens, brooklyn or the rest of new york city coming into long island and making it their homes. They are afraid that this will turn hempstead tnpike and nassau county into another overpacked city jungle, this is what they want to avoid and thats why they live on the island and are willing to pay these overpriced taxes, for a better way of life for them and their children. I personally believe long island needs a place like the light house project,and some of them said yea you dont care cause you dont live here. This sounds selfish to me. Now living in brooklyn it sometimes takes me over an hour and a half just to get out to the coliseum from the belt parkway. If the light house was around I’d come a few hours before the game and hang out at its many spots and make it worth while. Long island has nothing like this to offer except for maybe lets say roosevelt field. We as isles fans want this but we are a small number in comparison to those long islanders who do not care about hockey and especially the isles, and I think Kate Murray is aware of this. Thanks guys.
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I’d like to think it’s not so much a circus in the Isles org anymore. If anything, I would think having Trots, Boss, Goring and Jiggs, who all know of the great years of Isles lore, wouldn’t waste their time if they felt the Isles were a joke. Even if there is a paycheck involved.
As odd as it sounds I think it’s been solidified since Garth was named GM.
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JC Frank says:
Great job CB. Did Mike give you the name?
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kingbet123 says:
Good job, CB.
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gustav Farley says:
I would be very tick off that the NY Islanders hockey club will move to KC if the team not able to get the lighthouse project
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Mike Olivo says:
Someone tell me why Mike Francesca only talks hockey when there is controversy. He has CB on today, a couple months ago he covered the Sean Avery thing. Other than that nothing. He is awful and wouldn’t care if the Isles pick up and go cause it makes zero difference to his show.
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Quagmire says:
That was a great spot on WFAN yesterday. I’m so glad this issue is finally getting the attention it deserves.
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Brian says:
Francesa talked about it because Islander fans called into the show. That’s why.
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Mark Berner says:
It’s my understanding that SMG is the stumbling block to the lighthouse project and their contact may be longer than DP’s.
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Steve C. says:
Great job on the Francesa show, Chris. Get our message out there and stop the anti-Isles bias that’s going on. There’s more work to do, though. Let the Coyotes or Lightning move to K.C., not the Isles!
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dee kranky says:
dee karl is now resorting to kissing the butt of a teenager.how come no one sees this woman for the idiot that she really is?does she really contribute anything to the betterment of the islanders as a whole?does she ever talk about the on ice product other than how much she swoons over the latest player?i really couldnt care less what you old ugly ass wears to the games.let some kid have a shot at the fun you hag.someone put her out of her misery.someone put us out of our misery
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I actually listen to WFAN throughout the entire year like a moron waiting for a shred of hockey talk or news or a caller to be heard.
That moment never comes.
Thanks for your radio show CB.
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Jim Clark says: Amazing how Mike Francesa’s sources who tell him what the Wanger is thinking have never told him who Tavares is.
If we are going to lose our team, let it be to a deserving city like Winnipeg or Quebec City. Not Kansas City which won’t be able to support the franchise like it should. -
As Islander fans, we need to start helping out! I can’t imagine living without being able to go to Islander Hockey games. I can’t imagine wathcing NYR vs KC games.
We need to start some sort of petition that is wide spread. Not just to Long Islanders but even to Ranger and Devil fans. I’m sure that they would miss the rivalries that the three tristate area teams have created.
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WarrenG says:
Everybody needs to do anything they can to get this project in motion. Someone suggested storming town meetings, calling the city reps. PLease if i still lived in NY i would, but i only get to see them 2-3 times a year when they come to Florida. I would hate it if they left as i do go to home games when i go back to my parents in NY. LIGHTHOUSE PROJECT FTW!
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Outstanding!!! Way to go, Chris Botta!
You made so many good points… and Francesca is SO clueless about all of this its unreal.
Listening to it for the 3rd time .. Great Job CB!!!