“ONE TEAM, ONE FIGHT”
Dave responds from Camp Bucca, Iraq
UPDATED: Memorial Day, 9:30 am - In response to many Comments and emails sent our way to Dave, who posted on yesterday from Camp Bucca in Iraq, he wrote the following response. One Islanders fan even contacted us with a very kind offer to send his autographed Andy Hilbert jersey to Dave in Iraq.
First of all, thank you everyone for your generous outpouring of support. Actually, the men and women of the 306th Military Police Battalion “Centurions” are your true local heroes on this Memorial Day. Their headquarters is just around the corner from the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum. They arrived here at Camp Bucca, Iraq on Christmas Day and have been serving with honor ever since.
I dropped by their headquarters this morning on the way to my compound to see if I could get a picture of their unit to send. I ran into a Master Sergeant and a Staff Sergeant and began explaining my post. When I mentioned my disappointment in finding only Ranger fans, the Master Sergeant nodded in agreement. But Ryan, the Staff Sergeant spoke up, “I’m an Islanders fan. Was born and Islanders fan, will die an Islanders fan. ” My face must have lit up like a Christmas tree because the Master Sergeant smiled and said, “I think you just made his day.”
Then Ryan began to tell me about growing up a few blocks away from the Coliseum. “Saw every playoff game during the dynasty years,” he said. “Don’t remember them, but I was there, watched them on my dad’s lap.” He talked about some of his favorite games he had seen over the years. “Remember when the Islanders were playing the Rangers and DiPietro took on Montoya in preseason? I was there.”
He asked about this season and I told him it was a tough rebuild year, but good to see the young kids get ice time; the emergence of Mark Streit, the development of Kyle Okposo. I told him about the last Islanders game I saw, when I took my boys to Atlanta January 29th and saw Kyle score the game winner late in the third when the Thrashers had the momentum. We talked about the draft and both agreed we wanted to see John Tavares in Islanders blue and orange. Ryan assured me there were other Islanders fans in the unit and we talked about getting together for a draft day party.
I left the 306th HQ with a spring in my step and the thought that there was no better place to spend Memorial Day than here in Camp Bucca, following the example of service by those who have sacrificed so much for our freedom. It is an honor to serve with the 306th MP Battalion, a unit from a community that supports their veterans like none other in America.
Today, as they say in the Army, we are “one team, one fight.” Today, we are all Islanders.
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Sunday, 9:00 am - On Memorial Day weekend, an Islanders fan posts from Iraq:
It’s 105 here in the shade at Camp Bucca, Iraq. My last good view of the states after we flew out of Ft. Dix last month was the sun setting over Long Island. I stare at my 8 x 10 autographed picture of Andy Hilbert on my wall (my wife won’t send me my Islanders hat because she’s afraid it will get crushed and I will be upset) and I’m suddenly hit with the possibility that not only are the chances not good I won’t see #11 AH in an Islander uniform next year, but the chances are growing that I might not have an Islanders team to cheer on when I return, a team I’ve passionately followed since ’75-’76 when I was 10 years old.
I was excited when I arrived here and found the 306th MP BTN from Uniondale – lots of fellow Islander fans, right? No, heartbreak – Rangers or Devils. Almost to a man in private, they hang their heads and confess, “I used to be an Islander fan, back when I was growing up… but the ’90s were just too hard and the Rangers or Devils won the Cup and …” the words drop off, a wistful and semi-apologetic glance says it all.
Perhaps it’s darkest before the dawn, but I refuse to believe in a hockey universe without the Islanders. So this Memorial Day weekend, knock off the doom and gloom and get out there and make Long Island safe for the Islanders, win one for the vets – keep the Isles in LI.
Dave
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A couple of years ago I chided my friend George because his annual columns about the Islanders were always nostalgia trips. He kept a promise to me and did a few contemporary stories my final year with the team. Today, George talks a little Lighthouse and reminisces about when the Islanders used to play games in May.
Comments.
107 Responses to “ONE TEAM, ONE FIGHT”
Dave responds from Camp Bucca, Iraq
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Eric says:
Who is this guy? Does he even watch hockey? Some of you fans are a buch of babies.
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blitz says:
His comment about Wang trying to build the LH (a planned urban development style design) in a county that pretty much never heard of the word ‘planning’, let alone used it, was spot on.
LI is absolutely clueless on urban planning. Suburban sprawl no more folks, time to actually use the remaining land on the island wisely.
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david b says:
interesting
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Defensewins says:
CB
I don’t think this Lighthouse thing has a chance in hell anymore(not because of the above article, in fact I didn’t even read it, but that’s just my overall feeling from everything else I’ve seen). Where do you see the team going when(or for the optimists still out there–if) the team moves? Brooklyn, Suffolk, Queens, Canada, Kansas City, or a darkhorse location?
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19 Isle in NJ 22 says:
That story seemed like that of a frustrated observer … However it’s unacceptable to just throw hands up in the air and give up … ONE maybe TWO people are the major cogs in the wheels of the Light House … no names need to be mentioned.
On this Memorial Day weekend we are reminded of those that made the ultimate sacrifice… there were times in battles Americans were in dire straights … think of the war that gave us Independence … what our fore fathers faced … and in the most dire times they pulled it off … This is not the time to throw hands up in the air … it’s the time to turn up the heat and empower ourselves to fight this battle. Happy Memorial Day Everyone!!!
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Billy-no-not-Jaffe says:
Sad to admit, but Wang will sell the Isles the first chance he has. It is only logical. Wang has been a savior of sorts, and I think he has come to really like the sport, but it is not in his blood, he does not love hockey….certianly not enough to keep losing lots of money every year. He was not in it to make a killing, but also not to get killed. His so called loss of $300MM is likely based on accrual accounting, meaning that the real cash basis loss on operations is closer to $5-8MM per year. That is still a lot of money to lose without any end in sight, and if you don’t love the game any are willing to absorb unlimited ongoing losses that are bound to worsen in a dilapidated building.
Charles will sell to the KC folks as soon as he can, and our beloved NYI (I have lived and died with them since 1974) will be gone. There is no other outcome becuse of Mondello and Murray. -
doc says:
Is it me… or is George Vecsey sort of missing the point??? The following statement is a little off base and just shows how big a mountain Wang has to climb in order to get this done.
Vecsey states:
“…But Wang has a better idea. He does not merely want a new arena on Nassau County land. He has blatantly tied any new arena into an agreement for him to build something called the Lighthouse — theoretically, $3.7 billion worth of housing and stores and hotels, in a county that historically does not do planning…”
It’s amazing how mis-informed the people (the general public and the media) are about how this development was first proposed.
NASSAU COUNTY/Tom Suozzi asked for bids to develope the land around the NVMC.
Wang and his group won the bid with their proposed design of the area including them refurbishing the NVMC with their own money.
The media in general just doesn’t get it. They keep portraying it as if Wang is holding everyone hostage and proposed this development on his own.
Frustrating… very frustrating.
DOC
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Dave says:
Wang loves Long Island too much and his put too much money and effort into this team to watch them go to Kansas City. If he does sell, I’m willing to bet it’s going to be to someone who will keep the Islanders in New York.
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Dave:
If he can get equal value to offset his losses by selling to a local interest, there is nothing to stop him. It will be a sale to the highest bidder. Unfortunately, outside interests are probably hungrier for a team than local interests, and so ready to pay more.
I don’t blame Wang for taking the highest bid. I see it as a 90% chance right now that NYI are somewhere else. It is a matter of when, not if. -
themass says:
It doesn’t even matter anymore. After a dreadful year the fans should be looking forward to the #1 overall draft pick, but we’re looking to Oct 4 to see what Wang will do with the team we love. I hope they remain in NY and look the same at least.
Theres no point in looking in AZ to whats going on with the Yotes. The NHL wants teams as spread out as possible. They don’t want to lose that franchise. But the Isles are in an area that has the most NHL teams around. Within a 5hr drive of NYC theres at least 5 teams. That makes bad news for us Islander fans. Who will our new team be then? -
MSA says:
No disrespect, but @8 Dave, you think he will keep them in NY by selling them for millions less because he is a nice guy? If the team was viable in Nassau (with the way the only way to make them profitable- Lighthouse) he would keep them. If he keeps getting stonewalled, he is a savvy businessman. Sadly, Billy-no-not- Jaffe, is dead on; if he sells, it is to the highest bidder. He was smart enough to sell the Dragons (for a profit) and now they are desperately trying to keep the AFL afloat. Wang got back some of his dough. Our only hope, aside from a TOH miracle, is Brooklyn, Queens, or Suffolk, giving him an offer too good to pass on. If not, it is game over.
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Mike from Philly says:
The Islanders should start playing “The End” by the Doors at their home games this year. A sad conclusion to what has become a sad franchise. It stinks that the Islanders were never able to get their stride and capitalize playing in the NY market as there always seemed to be some issue that was alway bigger then just the hockey. I pray we move to Queens but it is starting to look more and more likely that the Rangers will become the only NY team around there parts soon.
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This whole fan dishearteness reminds me of the phrase… “Quitters Never Win … Winners never Quit” … I haven’t quit … Islander fans aren’t Quitters … we don’t expect our team to quit … and do not tolorate that … so Islander fans shouldn’t quit on the team right now … Sure it looks bleak … and discouraging … but we are fans with a competitive spirit … HUNGRY for success … we are backed into a corner … and an animal backed into a corner is most dangerous … doesn’t it just Pi$$ you off?!?! Lets also let Charles know that although we support him … we also expect him not to quit … and if feasible to take ALL legal action possible to FORCE the TOH to negotiate in good faith on the makeup of the LHP.
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JayK says:
Just a note on George Vecsey: he has said repeatedly that of all the NY teams he has followed through the years — and there’s been a lot of them — none were greater than the Islanders’ dynasty. He’s a true lover of the Isles.
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Jerry says:
To Eric #3:
George Vescey is just about the greatest sports columnist in the country. He’s not a self-promoter like Lupica and others. Just an old fashioned newspaperman with a gift for capturing an event/game/ time and communicating it to his readers. And he loved the Dynasty Islanders. So this is sad to read. -
Dave H says:
I just cannot believe that this is it for the Islanders here on LI. Sometimes in these type of negotiations, it has to appear as all is lost for some key people to finally get off their butt and do something. We as fans need to do our part, continue to let local politicians know that this matters to us. I think in the end the Islanders will still be here on LI.
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BTBoss says:
CB – what are the chances if the Lighthouse falls flat and doesn’t get the approvals, that Mr. Wang and Bruce Ratner become partners in both the Nets and Isles and have them both play in Brooklyn?
Maybe a trade off of 50% of Isles for 30% of Nets or something like that. Mr. Wang would love I’m sure to be a part owner of an NBA team as well as saving the Isles from moving off the Island and Mr. Ratner gets his 2nd tenant in the new arena. -
VALENTINO says:
CB
Will you be covering any of the combine? Does it start this week?
Would love to see some of your thoughts about that… -
Gillies Goring says:
This Vecsey line needs qualifying: “The Devils have inspired leadership and play in downtown Newark.”
The Devils struck gold when they turned to a city with a mayor looking to leave a legacy. Sharpe James, incidentally, was eventually convicted on five counts of fraud. TOH pols are corrupt, I guess, but just not in the way that gets new arenas built.
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Ed J says:
Its sad but true, the Islanders are an after thought and its seems unlikey they are staying here. Queens or somewhere close would be great but i will not get my hope, this team ( if they keep on this plan ) will be good. But a good team with an old barn is like a chicken trying to survive around a trio of straving lions. I love this team and always will but reading about this everyday is killing me and I can’t imagine what it is doing to Mr Wang.
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Big Van Vader says:
Where is suffolk in all of this? Patiently waiting until Wang is serious about moving? On October 4th? MY FRIGGIN BIRTHDAY!?!?!? (Yes…..yes, it is….)
If the Devils can pick up and leave the Meadowlands for Newark, why can’t the Isles just go to Suffolk? Weren’t they saying a few months back that they would welcome the Isles? If it’s still a yes from them, PERFECT SOLUTION.
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Noomz says:
Vecsey makes a silly conclusion that Devils in downtown Newark is an “easy train ride from LI”.
It’s at least 2-hrs door2door from Zone 4 (western nassau) to Penn to NJ plus transfer wait times. That’s a 4 hour r/t commute for a 2.5 hour game. I go once a year, just to experience NHL hockey at new rink.
The “easy train ride” is to go to MSG and root for the visting team. Dolan must be frothing at prospect of raising tickets further. Hope Rangers fans dont mind paying extra for the Isles diaspora who still want to watch some hockey games in person.
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G. HOWITT says:
where is the islanders alumi in all this stuff !!
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michael says:
for those who have facebook, kate murray is a recent addition to the site.. it appears as tho she monitors her own page, altho one can never tell, better to be safe than sorry and leave a comment for her!! i’d advise against joining her “supporters” tho!! LETS GO ISLANDERS!
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Noomz… That’s an excellent point about the Vecsey article. I read it and couldn’t really believe that he said Newark is an easy commute from Long Island???
This article is full of holes and is nothing more than standard fare reporting. Even amateurish at best. A lame attempt at capturing and reinforcing a mis-informed public about what is really happening with Wang and the ToH.
I don’t care how “great” a writer he’s regarded as… this article is poor.
Goring’s helmet is a nice little memory of the glory years… but hardly the first thing that pops into my head when I recapture those images stored away in my brain. I have a thousand others to be honest.
He also states that Hamilton, Winnipeg, Quebec City and Saskatoon are the type of Urban areas that the NHL needs to be successful. I might not know my geography and history as well as others… but are those really Urban cities? And didn’t 3 out of those 4 “cities” already have and lose NHL franchises in the last 15 years???
Nassau County, Eastern Queens, Western Suffolk has a higher population than those four Urban Cities do combined and in a smaller radius.
I don’t get it.
DOC
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Jet Plane says:
Great post Billy #8, those are pretty much my thoughts exactly. Wang has evolved into a well intentioned owner but if there is no light at the end of the tunnel (and there doesn’t appear to be), the only smart thing to do is to cut your losses and sell. I love the idea of Queens or Brooklyn but in all honesty, I don’t see that happening. I know the TV deal is huge but prospective out of town owners will purchase the team feeling they can overcome that loss with their own indigenous revenue streams or else they wouldn’t be buying the team. The contract, while very lucrative won’t necessarily keep the franchise in the area.
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Matt says:
great article. it’s sad that the Islanders may be no longer in a couple of years but for the diehard hockey fans like myself, the garden and newark are only a train ride away. if they do move, i hope kate murray is happy because she really seems against this project. i hope we don’t hear from her “well things could have been different” after the fact.
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kabbage19 says:
Let me first say that I have been an Islanders fan for 35 years. I live near Red Deer, Alberta (about halfway between Calgary and Edmonton). I have often sat by and read how some of those on here are critical of the Canadian fans and the Canadian media (sometimes I offer a rebuttal!).
I will say this thou, we love our hockey teams in Canada. There was a time not so long ago that the teams in Calgary and Edmonton were in danger of being moved. The hockey fans in Alberta made it a political issue. They bought shares in the team (they were only onesy-twosy shares, but it showed they cared). The communities rallied around their teams. They weren’t selling out any games before it all started. Now they sell out every game – Edmonton didn’t even make the playoffs this year!
If you care about the Islanders on Long Island, don’t just sit at your computer and complain on blogs and hope someone important reads your blog. Make it an issue. An important issue. Be creative and find ways to keep the team on Long Island. I you do not show you care then you do not deserve an NHL team on Long Island!
Islander fan forever!
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A sliver of light for all the doomsayers … One of the MAJOR hitches for Wang in regards to selling the Isles to an out of town buyer is that the Isles are worth much less without the TV Contract … the TV Contract becomes useless if the Isles are to move out of town … and Wang is not going to want to eat the difference in the value with and without the contract … that would probably equate to about $90M difference … so a buyer is going to have to take that hit if they want the Isles and then hope that the new city’s local cable / TV station will be willing to make a long term financial commitment for huge bucks to help make up the difference … and city’s like KC have an extremely small Ad/Rev generating ability.
So even if the LHP doesn’t happen … more likely if Wanger sells … it’s for a Brooklyn or Queens ownership … but who’s buying in this economy … in NY or anywhere else?? Basille? Isles may be too big a price tag to move out of town.
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MiKeT239 says:
Spectator Management Group aka SMG has put nails in the coffin of the Islanders for years. Now the TOH is banging in the final nail or 2. WHat a shame. DId I mention how SMG is a PHILADELPHIA based company? And that its the LEASE on the property where NVMC stands they hold in place that has had a stranglehold on the Islanders and choked them for so long.
BLAME SMG.
BLAME SMG.
BLAME SMG. -
islanders1984 says:
Sens. Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand sent a letter to Gary Bettman saying a move of the coyotes to ontario would hurt the sabres. Where is the concern of these two senators when it comes to the New York Islanders and this project
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A Nets move to Brooklyn gives the Isles a real option. Let’s hope it happens.
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Dave 2 says:
Its 105 here in the shade at Camp Bucca, Iraq. My last good view of the states after we flew out of Ft. Dix last month was the sun setting over Long Island. I stare at my 8X10 autographed picture of Andy Hilbert on my wall (my wife won’t send me my Islander’s hat because she’s afraid it will get crushed and I will be upset) and I’m suddenly hit with the possibility that not only are the chances not good I won’t see #11 AH in an Islander uniform next year, but the chances are growing that I might not have an Islanders team to cheer on when I return, a team I’ve passionately followed since ’75-’76 when I was 10 years old.
I was excited when I arrived here and found the 306th MP BTN from Uniondale – lots of fellow Islander fans, right? No, heartbreak – Rangers or Devils. Almost to a man in private, they hang their heads and confess, “I used to be an Islander fan, back when I was growing up… but the ’90s were just too hard and the Rangers or Devils won the Cup and …” the words drop off, a wistful and semi-apologetic glance says it all.
Perhaps its darkest before the dawn, but I refuse to believe in a hockey universe without the Islanders. So this Memorial Day weekend, knock off the doom and gloom and get out there make Long Island safe for the Islanders, win one for the vets – keep the Isles in LI. -
The PolishPrince says:
Dave @ 35 – God bless and godspeed. Stay cool and safe and thank you.
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#29 Isles1984: Agreed. Get the senior US Senator Schumer on record and On Board. He’s from nearby Brooklyn and has power & authority. Kirsten is new with little power & from Upstate so she likely has no interest in buttering our LI bread over the Sabres’.
The Sabres lease at HSBC Arena ends in 2011. Their hockey tradition has zero Stanley Cups and large Canadian fanbase due to its proximity to the border.
Start a “Help Save the Isles, Schumer” campaign. Let Ontario take the Sabres since they already support that team and its already in their territorial market.
the NHL is awfully quiet on Isles matters. What’s their stance on the Islanders specifically?
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Staten Islander says:
Dave, Thank you for your service and Lets go Islanders!
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Ann Aquarian says:
This is so depressing. I am too young to remember the Islanders glory years, and all I wanted to do was see them win the Cup once in my lifetime.
Now, I just want them to stay on LI.
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Some of you are pathetic. Where is your pride? We are not losing this team! Show some freaken fight!
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Section 320 rocks!!!!!! says:
#1 a recent forbes magazine issue named KC as one of the worst 10 spots in the country to have a sports team.
#2 I agree with #7 now is the time to fight and not bow our heads in defeat and that fight continues on June 1st at the Garden city library where Kate Murray will be the featured speaker then possibly continues on June 2nd at the public board meeting and then the LH team is going to be at the farmingdale library on June 3rd and the levittown library on June 6th. So we have plenty of opportunities to show our support.
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facebook has a group called save the islanders. it has over 1000 members, not much activity on it though.
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jas says:
From the sounds of the article he has written off Wang, LH project, and the Isles. I believe Wang will ultimately see that the team is kept locally if LH can’t get done.
He also makes it sound like you can’t enjoy hockey unless you win the cup every year. The team had a nice run in the early 90′s to the conf finals and the Toronto 7 game first round loss was an awesome memory filled series. Then the Ryan Smith trade and improbable playoff clinch beating the Devils on the final day of the season. So there have been some bright spots along the way.
I believe we will take Tavares who will be an immediate impact. This team will turn around quickly and Wang’s annual losses will decrease. Also the value of the team should increase substantially. I think this will help him hang in a little longer than it looks like right now. If they take Tavares, the next day I put my money down for 4 tix packages for next year. Opening night will be awesome and I want to be there! When Wang sees the excitement on opening night for Tavares and if DP is back I think it will rival the excitment of the Toronto series and he will know he needs to hang in there.
Practicing my chant “Let’s go Islanders!” -
CB, first off thanks for moving Dave2s message up top and giving it the attention it deserves!!! And Dave, thank YOU for sharing with us.
JayK (16): I do not have any reason to doubt your assertion that Vescey loves the Isles. However, simply loving a team does NOT give one an informed opinion of the matters at hand. Doc (9) is definitely correct… even the good members of the media are for the most part getting so much of it wrong, and it is unbelievably frustrating.
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Strummer's Army says:
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE TO OUR COUNTRY GEORGE! I really appreciate it.
I pray to God we don’t ever have to watch Andy Hilbert in an Islander uniform.
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phil says:
Can Wang get out of this lease if they do not approve the project?
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Seriously – 19 Isles (and post 30) are right. What is wrong with you people? Nothing is over and you’re all willing to roll over and die – you know what, if we’re not willing to stand up and fight then we deserve to have this team move far, far away.
I chose to fight – there are plenty of others here who also chose to fight. We need you next to us, not bickering over where the team should move.
Jesus, I can’t believe this needs to be said again.
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Thanks CB, you made my Memorial Day weekend – make that ..”chances not good I will see #11 AH in an Islander uniform next year.” For the record, I am a big Andy Hilbert fan, he plays with grit and heart.
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From one Vet to another ” Thanx Camp Bocca Vet for serving our country and helping to keep us FREE”. Me and my fellow Vets will keep you in our thoughts and Prayers, Stay SAFE.
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Steve S says:
Add George Vescey to the list of people who can’t comprehend that the arena as a standalone is not economically feasable for Charles.
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Jim Clark says: Thanks to all our servicemen and women past and present.
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dan from va beach says:
Dave,
Take care of yourself!
and THANK YOU for taking care of us!
GO ISLES>>>> ** ***
Dan~ -
rb says:
Vecsey is completely wrong on the Devils…this year, contending for the NHL’s best record in a 2-year old arena with “downtown ambience” served by public transportation (HAHAHA if you’re at all familiar with Broad Street in Newark – bring your Kevlar vest!) the Devils averaged a lousy 15,790 per game, 24th (!!) overall…and this coming off a sustained period of Stanley Cup and playoff success
the minute Cheap Lou leaves and/or Brodeur retires the Devils will go back to the crappy team they were before, and their attendance will fall to 12,000…they will sink to even less relevance than they are now
by comparison, Islanders attendance (albeit lowest overall) was 13,773 per with a fan base battered by years of Milbury incompetence and a team contending for last overall
I repeat, if the New Jersey taxpayers (and I am an angry one) hadn’t been held up by the corrupt Sharpe James, Dick Codey and other lackeys funneling money to Newark, it would be the Devils looking to take their sorry carcass back to Kansas City where they started out…the league NEVER should have allowed them into this market
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Actually a stand alone arena IS economically feasible IF Wang is the owner of the building. It would also be economically feasible if the County were to pay for the renovations and sign them to a fair lease that almost all other NHL teams have. But these two options are not going to happen in the TOH. Therefore, in order for Wang to keep the team where they are the LH needs to happen.
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Bedell says:
thank you very much for your service Dave. As a 15 year old I will try to do anything possible to help the isles stay here. Make calls, send emals, start petitions what ever I can do to assure the Isles are here playing and hopefully playing well in uniondale when you get back.
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Joe says:
Thank you for your service, Dave.
I hope that something can be worked out to keep them in Queens or Bk at least. If its Queens, its only an extra 10-15 minute drive so Id be happy with that.
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rob says:
lets go islanders .
i just made a new site. has town of hempstead numbers
savetheisles.webs.com
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Will C. says:
Thanks for your service, as a NY’r most of the country has forgotten why we do what we do. They don’t get it. As for the Isles, we stuck around through situations a lot more dire than this. Spano, gluckstern & Milstein etc. I think we can make it through. But without Charles we would be up a creek. Don’t know if I could be a fan anymore without the Isles. I would still play and coach, but my heart dies with them if we move out of the Island. But I will always hate the Rangers.
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Where is Bettmen? talk is cheap!, why isn’t he pro-active and sitting down with all parties involved and get something done. the guy has his NHL talk show and thats all he does talk about the light house project. Just putting that out their?
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Pete DeBenedetto says:
Any cause is worth fighting for if there is one fool left that believes in it…
…Captain Jack Sparrow
There must be more than 15 Islander fans that can show up for an event.
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West Coast Fan says:
An owner traveling to Canada to watch one of his potential top prospects play doesn’t strike me as someone disinterested in the future of the franchise. He wouldn’t have to do that to ensure he’s getting adequate market value in the event of a sale.
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jonsson3 says:
Thanks for all you do Dave!! You’re a true hero!
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Pete says:
SMG are the greedy bastards who do not care about anyone but themselves. Fans should walk in with their own food next year and Wang should allow it.
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Thanks for your service Dave.
Be safe.
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I flew home from Boston today, taking JetBlue airlines. I was able to listen to XM radio which played an interview from two days ago with the commish. They talked about the reason why Phoenix probably will stay put and the reason why Quebec and Winnepeg had to jump ship. It seems like all the reasons why Quebec and Winnepeg had to leave, are just like the issues the Islanders face today. No arena anytime soon. No potential buyers…terrible economy. Unfortunately when the Islanders were brought up by a NY caller, the commish, barely talked about the situation the Isles are facing and moved on to the next topic. Are we really the red headed step child??? Or is their behind the scenes things going on. Is it possible that the Blackberry owner will try and take on the Islanders from Wang if the Lighthouse isn’t approved by October and Phoenix is set to stay put?….I guess we wait and see…If the Isles are to move, I would like to see them move to Hamilton rather then KC.
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Pete M says:
Thank you for your service Dave, especially as we remember our servicemen past and present on this Memorial day weekend.
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hud says:
Dave, thanks, sitting on the beach in San Diego relaxing thanks to people like you. Let’s keep our Islanders where they belong, and, take JT of course.
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Hek ! the islanders’s don’t even get parking concession’s the government has them by the Hum!. Come to think of it what will happen to the county without the team’s extra income no were to be found I NO!. with that all said i have HOPE !!
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this whole thing is very tiresome
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DLR says:
This board was refreshing in its enthusiasm this season. Then, the mindless Tavares parade started in conjucntion with political bashing. Guys, wake up. The Isles are important to us, not the average person of politician. Why have we turned a VERY questionable Lighthouse project into a slanderous liberal blog? Ive heard enough and so have many readers. Lets move on and keep the chatter on hockey!
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isles99 says:
ok its time for everyone to realize that wang is not getting his entire lighthouse project done….the republicans want to preserve their “suburban character” i.e. the LHP is too big….im a huge isles fan but wang needs to scale back his project if he wants progress…the current model isn’t going to cut it….i know the heampstead govt. is corrupt but so is wang people. why does wang want to shoot for the stars? i know the stand alone arena isnt economically feasible but do we really need a minor league ballpark? im sure there are other parts he can cut out becuase if he doesn’t, he won’t see anything get built….
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chris,i love your work but you do a great job of arousing the people. you have to preach reality instead of fantasy. your doomsday pieces get a great response but if you urge people to tell wang and rechler to scale back the project, maybe we can see some sort of reconcialatory response from kate murray and company. the only way this gets built and we see our islanders stay is if both sides negotiate. i know murray hasn’t shown up to meetings but she will if the project is scaled back somewhat….she is not stupid to not realize the benefits of the project. there are always two sides to a story and not just one. this post might be long but too many people have the wrong ideas. the only way to mediate it the issue is to find the middle ground.
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It’s not about dem or republican, it was the exact opposite with Gulotta back in the day the R wanted it and the D didn’t. Now its opposite and doesnt matter. This is simple, whoever is courageous enough to not care about their party and care about Long Island will save this. If it is no one than it is sad to see so many powerful people be so self centered and spineless.
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Vecsey writes about Anders Kallur’s jockstrap, Goring’s helmut, and Harold Snepsts bad pass – but neglects to realize today {may 24) is the 29th anniversary of the Isles first Cup and the start of a dynasty.
Tonelli to Nystrom in OT against the Flyers. Their 6th OT victory of the playoffs. Let’s remember the good times too.
Beep Beep BeepBeepBeep!
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Isles99 – this “Blame Wang” stuff has to stop. The 60-story building already came out, which proves they’re willing to negotiate. The problem is that if nobody from the Town of Hempstead can be bothered to meet with them they don’t know what to take out and what not to. This mindless assumption that it will look exactly like the renderings only seems to exist on the side of those AGAINST the project.
DLR – no Lighthouse, no hockey. Doesn’t matter whether or not you like that.
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Nick, the arguments from our fans in favor of the Lighthouse are senseless generalizations. The Politicians dont lack compassion or sense because they ignore our small market , underperforming team. The blatant disregard for fiscal prudence on this board is mind boggling. Just borrow money, build alot, and hope it works. Hmmm, where have I heard that before? Thats why we are in a recession.
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Funny how you made a senseless generalization about something you clearly don’t understand and are for some reason trying to boil it down to just hockey.
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nick classic,
i appreciate work you have put forth in regards to the LHP and for the record, i am a democrat and i am FOR the lighthouse project. your assertion that “the mindless assumption that it will look exaclty like renderings only seems to exist on the side of those AGAINST the project” is completely wrong and rather insulting. im blaming wang only to the extent that some parts of his project are just extraneous or unnecessary. nick, think about it? do we really need a minor league ballpark? im sure just elimanting that part adresses some of the sewage, traffic, and other issues. this is my third post so im out.
i dont know what DLR stand for but heres my rebuttal:
the lighthouse project as it currently stands=no hockey. Doesn’t matter whether or not you like that. -
DLR (71): This is not a “liberal” thing. Complaining about the ridiculous actions of elected officials (and their unelected puppet masters) does not give one a reason to presume that those doing the complaining are necessarily “liberal” themselves. Fact is that there are many “conservative” people who are pro-Lighthouse and are not happy with whats going on. Furthermore, they would be just as unhappy with the way things are going no matter what party the people doing it belonged to.
And isles99 (72): OMG, I cant believe I read this again. Please, read up on this project… when you do, you will abandon this misguided idea that the size and scale of the development is ALLLL Wangs idea. The truth is that Nassau County are the ones that decided how big this development was ultimately going to be- and THEY are the ones who decided what plan would be approved. If Wang had made the project teeny tiny and didnt include all of these things, Nassau County would have picked a DIFFERENT plan because this is the kind of scale development THEY decided they wanted! This is not speculation, this is fact. Please, just accept that.
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Darn I know I’m over my limit now (well past) – but Isles99 – I actually think we’re in agreement here. If they NEGOTIATE and decide something like a minor league ballpark has to come out, then fine. The whole point is that they have to sit down and hash it out, because otherwise they’re just jerking us around. I’ve told everybody I speak to in the Town of Hempstead that most of the people here would calm down if someone would just indicate a willingness to work out a solution.
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Excellent point, Nick (like usual!) Negotiation is the key here. And I agree that, if the TOH was talking ti the LH group about all the things they will change to make things agreeable to everyone, nobody would be complaining!!! That is what we WANT to happen. Nobody that I know of is making a case that the LH project has to be EXACTLY as stated rigt now, nobody cares about that, what people care about it that it ultimately happens- for the benefit of Long Island itself.
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ok this is my 4th and hopefully last post….we are in agreement in the sense you described but my orginal point was that far too many people blame murray and not many utter a word about wang’s ambitions. the heampstead govt. will sit down if the plans are cut back some what. it seems to me that the heampstead govt. doesn’t want to sit down and negotiate right away, they just want wang to cut down on his plans without saying so. so going back to my original point, i just want people to tell wang that maybe he is too ambitious. this might be tacit negotiating but it is the only way that things will get done. the heampstead govt. doesn’t have the “balls” to tell wang what i just told you guys. and that is a shame. im just trying to mediate the situation. fans should speak to both parties and not just one.
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Willis says:
I don’t think Dave’s hanging up the towel just yet like a few of you are saying (and doing). He’s a guy who wants desperately to have that dynasty again; but he is so far removed from it now that all he can do is dream and hope.
Well guess what people, we’re here and we can make the difference that Dave only dreams of. AND we can hope too. We deserve another dynasty people, it’s time. We’ve (and the org) paid our dues and we’re taking the correct steps.
With what we’ve read recently it seems Mondello’s the man to focus on. What is he scared of – 1200 democrats moving in is not a threat to the 45k plus repubs who kept Kate in office last time. It’s gotta be something else.
Regardless, let’s take this one step at a time, and let’s follow Wang’s lead. This guy is a money making natural, let’s see what his next move is and take our cue from there. We can play a great supporting role if we do it right.
And let’s remember, we are fans of the Hew York Islanders HOCKEY TEAM. The “organization” is taking the right steps logistically to better the team’s future. And the team’s going to be here for at least another couple of years. What can happen in that time?Let’s let this team grow,amidst an optimistic and proactive fan base, and let’s make a pact that we’re going to help decide the future for this once great (and hopefully soon to be great again) franchise slash team.
I guess basically I’m saying it’s not lost yet! Don’t abandon ship!!
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mrlbem says:
As some have already said, Vescey is one of the best sportswriters in the Country and has professed his love for the Dynasty Islanders on more than one occasion. However, I really think he missed the mark in this article.
And I really think, in terms of fighting on, that we should turn Joe Mondello’s comment, about the protesters being paid by Wang, against him. At future rallies, we should have signs that say “JOE, WHO”S PAYING YOU?”
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isles316 says:
Thanks for your service Dave. Stay safe and when you come home, the islanders will be here waiting.
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Amen Willis!
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Roger Farina says:
Thanks Bobby. 29 years ago was WAYYYY to long ago.
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Isles Dawg says:
CB,
You always manage to grab a new prospective excellent post.Dave,
We hear you loud and clear. We will do our part here as you do yours there. Stay safe and thank you for your service and sacrafice. GOOOO ISLES!!!!! -
Excellent idea POST 85.
And I really think, in terms of fighting on, that we should turn Joe Mondello’s comment, about the protesters being paid by Wang, against him. At future rallies, we should have signs that say “JOE, WHO”S PAYING YOU?”
Classy, no speaking or shouting required. Just let the sign do all the talking.
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dose says:
there is a reason TOH is not negotiating.
they don’t want this to happen. period. from their perspective, it is exactly the correct strategy. so far, they have no reason to want it to happen, thus no reason to negotiate. kate murray and even mondello are ‘little donald segretti’ in the overall scheme of things. they have what they think are sound political reasons for their positions, but they are surrogates for those against the LH because it is not their plan and it won’t be their design and construction firms doing all the work. not enough is in it for them to get on board. HELLO?! -
Chris f says:
So you ask your friend to write a story about the current state of the Islanders and he writes an obituary. Gee, thanks!
Uh, no. George wrote the stories I pitched him two and three years ago. I don’t work in the Islanders office anymore…CB
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Nick Classic..#47
Ya know I luv ya buddy, and have nothing but the greatest admiration and appreciation for what you have done to keep the Isles on LI.
But until Wang gives some indication that he has not thrown in the towel, then all the fight in the world by you and every other Islander fan ain’t gonna mean a thing.
And for the last 8 weeks or so, Wang has done nothing, showed no sign, to indicate that he is willing to show the same kind of fight that you do.
Indeed, his actions (inactions) over the past 2 months give every indication that he is cutting his losses and preparing this franchise for a sale.
Just my opinion, and I hope that I am wrong.
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Islanders505: What you are saying doesnt make financial sense. Remember who is footing the bill this entire time. Why in the world would he still be paying all these people if he was “cutting his losses”? The LH group is continuing to do what they need to do- it just isnt considered “newsworthy” by Rangers-owned papers and the like.
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Thanks for the update Dave on this beautiful Memorial Day 2009… Many thanks of gratitude to the men and women like you, willing to make sacrifices for all of us. Be safe.
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Blizzard says: #93….I agree. Something is up. Just about the only thing we have heard from Wang is that he regrets he bought the team.
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Wang hasn’t been inactive. He’s traveled with Snow to visit with potential draft picks… he’s had players in to visit him here on the Island.
I’m sure there are a lot of behind the scenes planning and managing of the LHP that is going on… I doubt the man (Wang) is sitting at home doing nothing… give me a break.
The media can keep harping on the one time he said he has regretts… (and wouldn’t you with losses in the 300 million range and a local politician blocking progress for a requested development plan?)
Just because local writers keep bringing up that one quote doesn’t mean that Wang is repeatedly stating this.
DOC
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Dave stay safe and Thank you!!
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Isles6 says:
For one day, as much as the team needs the Lighthouse, this is not the day. To all of the Islander fans and those who are fans of other teams, hockey or not, that wear those uniforms. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. You can not be rewarded enough for what you do.
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KO21 says:
I would be ashamed of myself If I switched from the Isles to the Rags, no offense to the soldiers but how could a real rags fan respect those kinds of fans???
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Hats of to the lone Isles fan, sergent
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The saddest thing is these men are risking their lives for the “idea” of democracy, maybe we need to think REVOLUTION!!!!
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For all the talk about scaling the LH project back, that would work only if Murray actually showed up to a meeting to ask Wang if he was flexible to do that. What does that tell you about the intentions of the TOH..
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John says:
I am an MP with the 306th MP BN and I am probably the biggest Islanders fan in the unit. I can also guarantee that there are a lot more Islanders fans in the 306th. I was born and raised in Garden City and although I wasn’t old enough to remember the great dynasty of the 80′s I still have many great memories of my own. Memories like the Shawn Bates penalty shot against the Maple Leafs during the playoffs. It would kill me not to have the Islanders in my backyard anymore. We need this team here forever, especially when they are playing for the cup in 2010-2011, that is of course after they draft Tavares and get Petrov over here.
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Chris TMC #94
“Why in the world would he still be paying all these people if he was “cutting his losses”?”
There’s a big difference between “paying all these people” (those that are still here) and continuing to build and promote his product, expand his business base, expend resources to solidify and brand that business, hire bigger and better assets to make his plans work, and generally go beyond the initial risk capital he originally scoped…cuz he did not foresee the bumps in the road (TOH, Kate Murray).
From my seat, two time zones away, Wang put all the eggs in the initial basket (The Wang/Rechler Joint Plan for Nassau County’s RFP) expecting that it would fly once Nassau okay’ed it, and is now at a loss to respond (emotionally more than anything else) to the roadblock and can’t (or doesn’t want to) figure out a way around it.
He is a deer in the headlights right now.Reflected by his:
1/Complete silence lately, short of a so called announced “deadline date”
2/Failure to be FAR MORE vocal and public (note to Chuck…let someone do that please…your public game is not good…HIRE a BOTTA type hitman TO DO IT) with a willingness to negotiate a scaled down project if necessary. (Clearly he doesn’t want to).
3/The shoestring that the Islander team headed into the offseason with. No splashy collegiate homeboy signing (I know, I know….dead horse), Snow saying there will be no “BIG” UFA signings, reduction in sales and PR staff, and simply a sense that he is taking the Youth Movement (i.e. CHEAP) a little too far.
A Black Hawks type team (low payroll-high potential) is very marketable in the pro sports re-sale game right now.I’m just sayin…Chris TMC…
Just sayin….Wang should be clearly and more publically stating and demonstrating deeds that he is desperate to keep the team on LI…I don’t see that.
(And I’m not saying that I blame him, he’s beaten and weary).Just my opinion…from two time zones away.
My solution?
Isles fans–YES NICK, IT’S TIME FOR ISLE FANS TO GET UGLY, need to become far more demonstrative, vocal and indeed NASTY.
(short of picking on VET’s of course).Make Mondello and Murray feel the heat.
Bring back the 60′s.
Shut down the TOH for a day?
Otherwise, it’s over….Wang is beaten.
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“Shut down the TOH for a day?”
Isn’t it the Long Island way to go to extremes from time to time?
Wasn’t the whole suburban “Levittown” concept considered extreme post WWII?http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QTHIJ5gNesM&feature=related
Isn’t the LightHouse Project a tad extreme?
Islanders need to think X-Stream in 2009.
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Islander505 (105): “those that are still there”- huh??? Wang is paying the very people that the Town of Hempstead hired! You dont realize how much scratch they are continuing to pay out right now. The LH group is paying everyone- that is what the developer does in these situations. Its not a few bucks, it is millions- and they are still paying it all. That is not the action of anyone “cutting their losses” by the very definition of the phrase.
The Lighthouse project is doing what they can do at the moment. Just because the ball is in the TOHs court right now there is no reason to jump to wild conclusions. It is the point that the process is at right now. Check out Nicks blog (lettherebelighthouse.blogspot.com) and you will see what things are up to.
But even though I know you are mistaken with that, I absolutely agree with you that people need to be more active. The Lighthouse Project cannot stand beside themselves, thats what we have to do.
It’s Over!