Monthly Archives: May 2009
This is what you hope a good blog and Reader Commentary can do. Early Friday morning, we linked to a story in Newsday about some pushback on the EIS of the Lighthouse Project. A reader contacted us with some information: Frederick P. Clark Associates, the Westchester-based planning company working for the Town of Hempstead, has contributed money to Kate Murray’s campaign committee the last three years. We wrote a post about the revelation.
As a result, reporter Eden Laikin started work on a follow-up. In the Comments space on Newsday‘s website, she asked for public reaction. PB reader John Kingston was interviewed by Laikin. Newsday’s story on the contributions and conflicts on all sides is now online and should be in Saturday’s print edition. Okay, so Ms. Laikin didn’t credit Point Blank – thanks to the reader known as “Hye Dray” – for breaking the story. Nevertheless, John, “Hye Dray” and everyone on this site daily should take a bow and be proud. Good stuff. Comments.
This is how the right or wrong move at the NHL Draft can change history. Mike Bossy was almost a member of the Cleveland Barons.
“Early in the morning on draft day, Cleveland called,” Bossy told Point Blank today over the phone from his Quebec home. “They were interested in me, but wanted to know what my salary demands were.”
Pierre Lacroix, who went on to fame as the GM of the Stanley Cup-winning Avalanche, was Bossy’s agent back in 1977. Lacroix was just as shrewd back then.
“I guess Pierre didn’t want me to end up in Cleveland, because I think he threw out contract numbers that were outrageous in that era,” Bossy said with a laugh. “All I know is, we never heard from the Barons again.”
The phone in the law offices of Denis Gauthier were quiet for a long time. In 1977 the draft was held in a hotel conference room, was not televised and pick-by-pick updates were not provided. Bossy was left to sit in his lawyer’s office with Gauthier and Lacroix until the call finally came.
If it came. “There was a point when I was really wondering,” said Bossy. “The draft started at 9:00 am. The call from Cleveland was an hour or so before. Other than that, we didn’t hear from anyone for a long time.”
Guess those four years in Laval of the Quebec Major Junior League didn’t answer all the questions. Bossy’s lowest goal output in junior was 70. His highest was 84.
“It was said that I was too small, wasn’t physical enough and couldn’t play defense,” said Bossy.
Naturally.
“Hey, that’s the draft for you,” Bossy said, endearingly defending the teams that passed on him before the Islanders picked him at No. 15. “I never looked at the players selected ahead of me as being out of place. Jere Gillis (No. 4, Vancouver) and Lucien DeBlois (No. 8, Rangers) were what you’d today call power forwards. They were big, physical guys who could play defense and score. Jere and Lucien were outstanding players in the Quebec League. They were taken where most people had them ranked. (Laughs) I just felt that maybe I was drafted a little later than I should have.
“It’s a crazy process, and it was even back then when you were drafting 20-year olds instead of kids who are 18. The New York Rangers had two picks before I was drafted. The Toronto Maple Leafs had two picks before I was drafted. It’s amazing to think how it could have worked out differently for me and the Islanders. I’m forever thankful for how it worked out.”
‘Twas a far different scouting culture when Bossy was a prospect.
“Teams evaluate players today differently than when I was drafted,” he said. “The players didn’t meet with the teams like they do now. There were no physical evaluations, no scouting combines. They went completely on what they saw from scouting games. The draft is a thousand times more sophisticated now than back then. I’m curious to know if the success rate of drafting is any better. I would hope it is.”
The Islanders’ debate when it was time to select at No. 15 has become legendary. GM Bill Torrey and Quebec scout Henri Saraceno took the dilemma to coach Al Arbour for his input. There was Dwight Foster, a right wing from Kitchener with Ontario League goal totals of 23, 39, 36 and then 60 in his draft year. And then there was Bossy, with the off-the-charts offensive statistics but iffy reputation in his own end.
“Al’s perception was that you could teach people how to play defense,” said Bossy.
The Islanders made their pick and Torrey called Gauthier’s office in Quebec. The lawyer handed the phone to 20-year old Mike Bossy. The young man spoke with Torrey, then with Saraceno. Just when he thought the pleasantries were over, Arbour got on the phone.
“There’s a spot on this team if you can earn it, Michael,” Arbour said to Bossy. “Welcome to the Islanders.”
*
Among his many responsibilities with the franchise, Mike Bossy runs the Islanders Business Club. The IBC has its final event of this season on May 6 in Carle Place and Mike will be there. Go here to learn more about the event, the IBC and how you can do business with Bossy. Tell him I sent you.
Comments. Lighthouse discussion continues in next thread.
Well, of course Frederick P. Clark Associates helped Kate Murray push back on the Environmental Impact Study of the Lighthouse Project. As noted by the politically-savvy Point Blank reader known as Hye Dray, Frederick P. Clark Associates has contributed to the Committee to Elect Kate Murray for the last three years.
Only natural that a company based in Westchester County feels strongly about a candidate running for Supervisor of the Town of Hempstead in Nassau County. Duh.
Look, we get that this is no big whoop, that it’s politics as usual. We believe – although we haven’t received confirmation – that Clark Associates has consulted for the Lighthouse Development Group. (That turned out to be false.) Our reader’s findings just illustrate how twisted this all is. Here is the Comment from Hye Dray:
Excuse me – how can Frederick Clark Associates be trusted? I have mentioned I was politically active. And in politics if you want to know the truth – find the money. Well I ask you all to check this link.
Scroll down about 1/3 of the page. It is in alpha order. You will see contributions to Committee to Elect Kate Murray in the amount of $4,750.00. According to the data, the first contributions began in 2006, but the bulk of money came into her campaign coffers in 2008.
$4,750 is not much in politics, but keep in mind there are limits to how much a campaign can raise from corporations and individuals. I am letting Newsday know of this as well. It should get them to look a little harder at the facts – I hope. Chris, I hope this helps. And if you can get this into the hands of the Islanders’ powers that be, I think it could be of use.
Comments.
On Wednesday, the Lighthouse folks submitted their response to the Town of Hempstead’s comments on the Environmental Impact Study. On Thursday, Kate Murray and company broke out some consultants from a company based in Westchester to tell Newsday the study is incomplete.
The most ominous part of the article is when writer Eden Laikin reports that “repeated calls” to Lighthouse officials for their response to the Town’s response to their response were not returned.
With Charles Wang pushing for approval by the start of the season, there are times when you just want to make like Billie Joe Armstrong. Wake me up when September ends.
Comments on the Lighthouse here, draft in next thread.
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