FINALLY, SOME LIGHTHOUSE MOMENTUM
Carolina at Islanders, 7:05 pm
The Lighthouse Project has a healthy pulse.
The developers’ goal of having a shovel in Coliseum property ground this summer – perceived by many (including this space) as a longshot – is still a possibility.
Positive momentum, if not flat-out good news, could be officially detailed as early as next week.
Over the last 24 hours, Point Blank received more than a half-dozen anonymous tips in our Inbox that business was being conducted over the plans to transform the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum and surrounding property. When we finally connected with real sources on the side of the developers and politicians, the information was confirmed.
Make no mistake: an announcement that a deal is completed for the Lighthouse Project is not forthcoming this month. However, if everything falls into place, if both the developers and the community leaders complete their assignments, the once-dim prospects for the Coliseum re-development might finally gain momentum.
Stay tuned to Newsday and your local bloggers over the next week to ten days. The negative side is that if there is no news by mid-March, it could very well mean that the strong momentum blew up in the ugliest of ways.
But the people Point Blank spoke to today would have none of it. They all spoke in glowing, optimistic terms. One cited the Lighthouse Project as Nassau County and the Town of Hempstead’s “very own stimulus package.” Another was so excited that he quoted President Barack Obama’s call for change (I’m completely serious). The 60,000 Lighthouse-created construction jobs could have something to do with all the giddiness.
“Something changed over the last few weeks,” said a source. “If everyone does what they’re supposed to do, there could be a Town hearing soon. And if there is a Town hearing, reports that there was no chance of a groundbreaking ceremony this summer could turn out to be premature.”
ETC: Oh by the way, now Brooklyn wants the Islanders. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: the Lighthouse Project has a better chance of getting done than the Nets ever making it to Brooklyn.
The Islanders did not have a morning workout today on the heels of last night’s loss at the Garden. As of 4:00 pm today, there was no sign of a return for Trent Hunter, no word on any lineup changes against the Hurricanes. I’ll be with my children in Section 225 for the first period tonight, so stop over and say hi if you have a minute. Depending on how the game is and the quality of sugar rush my boys are on, I’ll eventually head home to work on a post-game report.
Talk about the Lighthouse and the game in Comments.
98 Responses to FINALLY, SOME LIGHTHOUSE MOMENTUM
Carolina at Islanders, 7:05 pm
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kevin says:
YES!!!
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JP39 says:
This is the best Isles news that I’ve heard in a long long time. Thanks for enlightening us as you always do, CB. Here’s to more good news in regards to the Lighthouse hopefully very soon! LETS GO ISLANDERS!!
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Mario says:
Thanks CB. That makes the loss last night better. I just wanted the readers to read this one paragraph from the Sound Tigers website about last nights game against the Wolfpack: Avery Factor: Early in the game, Avery was a non-factor but as the game progressed, he was seen jawing with Sound Tigers’ starting goalie Nathan Lawson and at one point needed the referees to step in between the two. Pascal Morency and Avery had their run-ins as expected but in the end the Sound Tigers came into the XL Center and earned a big win.
Seems like anger management is working. -
i may stop over. i hope its a good game. a win will make this news o so sweet. im starting to root for more wins. i know we need to stay in last place for the franchises sake but i dont want to be a laughing stock more than usual. atlanta is 7 points ahead so lets root for a win!
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o and mario, at one point as the team was exiting, avery sat there and laughed at them. not sure if that is totally true but it said it in the paper. what a douche. he lost too
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Darren says:
Thanks CB.
I will be looking forward to hear the rest of this story. -
Terrific news! Brooklyn can lump it – let’s hope the Lighthouse Project goes forward. It can be the gateway to better things for the franchise and the county.
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Who is Avery to be talking? The once NHLer is now scraping to make a team in the AHL.
This guy just doesn’t have a clue! -
I love it!I cannot wait til those public hearings. I hope that we Islanders fans are on our best behavior, showing support for Long Island and our team.
This should make TOH night at NVMC a much happier affair than may have been anticipated. I hope that people are encouraging and positive about this!
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Lawrence Teller says:
Chris,
If this is true – how does it affect the spending on UFA’s this summer – or for the trading of RFA’s this trading deadline?
LT -
Dan from Westchester says:
Yes!! This is exciting news!
Can’t wait for the follow up story on this.
Thank you CB for sharing this with us.
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Joe says:
Thats awesome, thanks a lot CB!
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guerin13 says:
great news!!!! not only does it appear the the lighthouse project is finally on the right track but on the same day rep. weiner comes out and says he wants the isles in brooklyn! doesn’t look like we’re leaving long island.
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mrlbem says:
CB,
Are you at liberty to say whether any of the positive statements came from anyone with or representing the TOH? Every other party involved with the project has touted its benefits. We’ve all been waiting for TOH to get aboard.
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Coach B says:
Did the pre-season game in Kansas City have anything to do with getting things rolling?
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walter says:
hope???
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Jon #2 says:
The Federal bailout bill was changed to allow funds to be used for sports arenas. The Lighthouse is now a shovel ready project.
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StevieL says:
Keep hope alive!!This team is getting ready to return to glory! It makes sense! As bad as this season has become, it sure is ending with a good feeling for us fan’s about the future of this team! Go Wang Go!
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Pat says:
Best news I heard all day. Great for Long Island and of course our ISLANDERS.
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Mikey says:
Wonderful news! I am audaciously hopeful!
Check out Nick Classic’s blog for a little more info. Let’s pack the house at those hearings!
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Thanks for the plug, Mikey. I do have a little teaser on there.
Also – quick thing for all you fans planning to attend Town of Hempstead Night: a few fans are putting together a White-out for the Lighthouse. Wear a white shirt to the game in support of the Lighthouse, and we’re hoping to start a “Light-house!” chant as the Town rep drops the first puck.
This is definitely welcome news, and we’ll all have more details for you tonight.
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Carmine says:
Thank Jesus this is the best news I’ve heard in awhile. This brightens my outlook on life. Not even the thought of that duschene Avery coming back to the NHL can ruin this news for me.
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Ron from Lindenhurst says:
DON’T STOP BELIEVING!
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Can someone post the link to Nick’s blog? thanks.
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TM says:
Wake me when it’s official. I’ll only believe it when I see a shovel in the ground. Until then, nice to hear that Queens and now Brooklyn are interested in the Isles.
“Make no mistake: an announcement that a deal is completed for the Lighthouse Project is not forthcoming this month. The negative side is that if there is no news by mid-March, it could very well mean that the strong momentum blew up in the ugliest of ways.”
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Jethro09 says:
I’m all for the Bklyn Islanders, probably because I live there. But in all seriousness, I hope this Lighthouse Project gets approved sooner rather than later. I could only imagine the excitement around the team if it goes into this draft and July 1 with their cap space being able to positively say that a renovated coliseum is on its way.
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Matt says:
Don’t thank Obama from me…
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Mike from Philly says:
C.B – Great News, I have a feeling that with all the pull the Islanders were getting from Queens and Brooklny may have cause the TOH to get their butts in gear. Can you imagine an offseason that could possibly land us Tavares, the LH project, and maybe, just maybe, we finally are heading in the right direction!
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lol. STOP IT!!!!!! All kidding aside good news which we all need but lets not get ahead of ourselves.
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Chris, I enjoy the blog as it’s informative but pardon me if I believe Rep. Wiener before I believe you on the BROOKLYN matter. Wiener said today on radio that the arena in Brooklyn would get done. It will take a while but it will happen. He said the rest of the Atlantic Yards project might not happen or will need to be scaled down but the arena will happen. When someone from TOH or LI government says something official about the Lighthouse is when I’ll listen.
“Oh by the way, now Brooklyn wants the Islanders. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: the Lighthouse Project has a better chance of getting done than the Nets ever making it to Brooklyn.”
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B.P. says:
Fantastic news Botts. Fantastic, even if it isn’t “DONE DEAL EVERYBODY” Definately shows positive momentum.
That being said, I’m still glad Brooklun and Queens want us. Brooklyn is a pipe dream most likely but it is still nice to feel the love lol.
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matt says:
this is great news…I wonder what happened all of a sudden over the past few weeks….
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slsangus says: Some Isles math:
Developing Okposo, Comeau, Bergenheim, Neilsen + Tavares/Hedman + Lighthouse + recovered DP =
????
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Great news. Support The Lighthouse Group on facebook giving away tickets to a Saturday game. I am going…White-out for the Lighthouse full force, baby!
Barack can kiss my pale tuchis,33 MikeinRichmondVA. -
frank nyc says:
YaYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!
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HilbertSnipe says:
I am as giddy as a college kid with a full handle of popov vodka right now! WAIT A MINUTE… I am a college kid with a full handle of popov vodka right now! Cheers to the Lighthouse!
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Wow. Everyone take a breath its a few people saying they like the idea of a lot of jobs coming to LI and to compare it to Obamas stimulus package is going to scare the he!! out of a lot of people. People don’t want to get screwed 10 years from now after building the lighthouse. Watch what you quote!
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Oh yeah, and there is an awesome clip on the main interface on NHL.com about Butch Goring and deadline deals. Besides that, Alfredsson broke his jaw… which is very bad for us :/.
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Moose says:
Hey matt, YES WE CAN MEET AT THE LIGHTHOUSE!..yes the LH will create jobs but its completely different than obama’s plan because chuck wang is picking up the bill not US gov
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Islanders1984 says:
why is alfredsson breaking his jaw bad for us
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JimInTheU.K. says:
It finally great news for the Lighthouse. Being an Isles die hard living in the UK I now have another reason to go back to LI to see my beloved Isles live once again. Lets Go Islanders!!!!
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I am aware of that Moose but a lot of people are not hence the watch what you say statement!
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bCarey says:
sing it with me (real men of genius style): MEET ME AT THE LIGHTHOUSE!
awesome.
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Bob says:
I was just looking to see who is playing tonight and according to the Isles team website (player listing) Hunter was listed and Hilbert was not, just informational we’ll see soon enough.
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Rick says:
Just saw on ESPN.com that Richard Park will be out four weeks with broken ribs. I’m happy to have him on our roster, but this certainly removes him from possible trade bait. Apparently, a couple of our vets have figured out that an injury around trade deadline time will keep them on LI.
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SIR WILLIAM says:
Click on over to Nicks Lighthouse blog or Logans blog to get a different view of the LightHouse project…..SW
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Isles1984 – Alfredsson’s jaw means that Ottawa has more of a chance to get a better draft position than the Isles.
I think he tried to get an autograph from President Obama today and got tackled by the Secret Service.
We can’t catch a break! -
Oh, and SW – I did click over to Nick Classic’s blog. It seems you were under the impression that it was YOUR blog. It’s a neat trick circumventing CB’s guidelines on comment length by leaving 87 paragraphs over there (and apparently, on Logan’s blog too), but you should just start your own blog and link it. It’s like Bill Simmons wrote a column and stuck it in Nick’s combox.
I’m sorry if it’s too much snark; I’m guessing you’re just not up on the netiquette, which is why I bring it up.
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Finally TOH is getting the message that this project will create jobs to long island, it is a win/win for everyone! I thought Okposo and Comeau looked solid last night as well as Nielson and Bailey. Al Arbour said in the early 70′s he had young talent that battled every night. They were also in every game, I am starting to see that in this team as well! Something tells me Okposo will turn out to be a Ranger killer in the next 3 years!
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Yes… but less talk about Alfredsson because I don’t want to divert the attention away from tonight’s MUST-LOSE and the potential lighthouse news. Sorry Botta.
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Nightfly, I offered this to Chris first and he declined. I abided by his guidelines and his rules.
Logan has no rule and I could find nothing
on Nick’s site that prevented me from posting my opinion.I did notice that you could not refute any of my points…….SW
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admin says:
Hello. I’m at the game. Trent Hunter took warmup and is in. The Islanders scoreboard didn’t have Park’s injury and the NYI haven’t given me an update, but someone else told me Richard is out a few weeks with broken ribs. It doesn’t effect trade value much, because Islanders were not considering offers. Not worth dealing him for a 3rd round pick…CB
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AZS says:
I think I might actually get emotional …
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SW – I didn’t refute anything because I haven’t finished reading it yet!
But even if I wind up agreeing with you, there’s still the length of the thing in a comment. Nothing prevents you from putting it in a combox except for courtesy – which is to post it on your own blog if it’s that long, and link back to the original post so the guy gets some traffic. I appreciate that you did email CB first, however. -
I do not have a blog therefore there is nothing to link to……SW
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I wish I had as much spare time as some people. Wow.
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d-man says:
sw-eet jesus… someone is coo coo for complaining instead of coco puffs
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big jim says:
thanks for a little good news cb!!
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Brendan Witt on the power play, at forward. MC’s trade value now is now, uh…CB
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Eye on the island says:
that one was for danis
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SW, You make some points that should be considered. But in all fairness to Wang you do paint him as too much of a villan, when he is one of the most generous people on Long Island. This lighthouse project if approved will save the Islanders, but for now we can take the Islander sout of the equation. This project is just plain good for Long Island. Its going to create jobs ( which these days many people need) and its going to create afforable housing for people of Long Island. Which really is soemthing Long Island needs considering that over the last ten years it has been a mass exodus of people leaving LI because of the housing situation.
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drew says:
The funny part is that Witty actually looks good playing center. LOL!
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What a boring friggin game.
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4195mary says:
Yayyyyyyy Joey!! Nice save. Pictou’s finest.
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Crappy, at least get into a scrap or something.
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Can Sim be more useless, he cost us the 5th goal.
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Bob Bassen says:
Sim-Comrie-Guerin. What a friggin line.
UGH! -
hale says:
that line is a disgrace..i would rather see three kids who at least try…what a joke…also ha ha ha witt is on the power play..how about putting bergenheim out their instead..stupid
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James says:
Wait a second here: someone is arguing that Wang is trying to make money off the Lighthouse Project? Holy crap, what a concept.
If I owned a business, I would try to make a profit too. Otherwise I wouldn’t be in business for long and would have to close shop or sell it to someone else who might be able to make it profitable.
I know, it’s that kind of renegade thinking that has me hailed as a visionary in some circles, and as reckless cowboy in others.
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Thats funny lol
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Shoe says:
I am grateful for the good news on the L’house and also grateful that we won’t have to see the likes of Jon sim on this team much longer.
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WOW! Sim is the worst hockey player in the NHL.
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HAHAHAHA Sim just fanned on a breakaway!
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Smokey says:
Sir William:
What is your grand conspiracy theory? That Wang will develop the real estate and ignore the Islanders by going cheapo after he gets his land deal? Wouldn’t he have done that already? Yet he’s authorized the monster Yashin deal, the buyout of the monster Yashin deal, the very well-informed Streit deal, the outrageous Smyth offer that was trumped by a further outrageous Colorado offer, and extensions for all the Islanders’ pet favorites (including Brendan Witt and Trent Hunter). What, is he gonna start letting the billions roll in from the Real Estate and THEN decide to cheap out when he has even more money to throw around? Does that make any sense?
You invite people to further refute your theories, yet that’s like inviting people to refute your belief in God. It literally cannot be done unless you have sublime metaphysical capabilities of garnering knowledge– in this case, Charles Wang and Scott Rechler’s actual thoughts and memories.
Even so, your logic involves several non sequiturs. “Charles Wang is ALLEGEDLY a crooked accountant; therefore, he will skimp on roster spending and screw the Islanders and their fans.” “Charles Wang can break the SMG lease; therefore, it is in his best interest to break the SMG lease.” “Charles Wang can make a profit on his real estate; therefore, it was his only reason for purchasing the Islanders.” No, I can’t refute the veracity of any of those statements; but their logic is pretty suspect. Just saying.
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Tim Jackman deserves an extension. The guy plays with passion every shift.
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Pritchett54 says:
Arent watching the game? How was the jackman fight? Did he hold is own?
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No extension for Jackman, unless the Islanders can’t find someone who will help increase offense. Jackman plays with heart, but heart ain’t winning any games.
If Wang wants to make a profit on the property, that is fine by me, as long as he continues to provide for the Islanders.
I’m disappointed that the team is getting blown out tonight, but that’s what 30th place teams do sometimes.
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pritchett
jackman jumped the cane for running into macdonald and basically pummeled him.
Sim scored a goal! Mr. clutch strikes again!
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Jackman is the man. Comrie stinks but Im glad to see him fight.
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Cb or anyone else at the game- did it sound like they were pumping in crowd noise tonight? The cheering sounded manufactored to me.
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ISLESFAN999 says:
I like Jackman as a 4th liner. We could use him like Asham was a 4th liner but not the heavyweight. Our 4th line should be hilbert jackman and a heavyweight.
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i agree islesfan.
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Isles 1984…..Do you really think that middle income people are going to inhabit Wang’s LightHouse apartments? You’ve got to be kidding me. Let me know when you move in.
Smokey…I see where you got your name from. All smoke. Not one question answered nor one point refuted….SW
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How about this:
(Heavyweight) – Thompson – Jackman
I would’ve said George Parros, but he re-signed with Anaheim.
Jackman can play on my team any day.
**
For the record, “my team” is usually a bunch of former neighborhood kids-turned-office drones. So, maybe that’s not a ringing endorsement of Jackman.
But I think he’s doing a good job this season.
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Gary says:
Lawrence Teller #12 – This doesn’t affect the player transactions at all. You don’t trade RFAs until the offseason unless they may get an offer sheet that you’d have to match and you don’t sign UFA’s until the team improves enough to see a benefit out of it.
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Jim Clark says: I’ll believe the Lighthouse will be built when it is built. Too much can happen. When push comes to shove, I think the pols will offer a rebuilt Coliseum, The Wanger will say and sell the team to another town and the pols will pull a “Who killed Davey Moore”.
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Agreed 999 and James. Whoever said no extension for Jackman isnt watching the same team.
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JayK says:
Sir William, I posted to Nick’s site, and I think I did a pretty good refuting of some of your dopey points, but not all of them. that’s because not all of them need to be refuted. You repeatedly say things that are true, and adorn them with all sorts of conspiratial whispers, like you know something that nobody else does. You seem real proud of your arguments, but they’re actually fairly laughable. If you were in a formal debate, rather than an Internet give-and-take, you would be absolutely crushed.
CB i was beginning to have a bad day, many thanks for making it better