POINT BLANK LATEST: Named National Hockey Writer for Fanhouse; Still hope to find place for PB

 

Point Blank on Twitter

 

With change comes opportunity. Beginning next week, I’m joining AOL as national hockey writer for NHL Fanhouse. I’m very excited to be taking my act on the road and to have no boundaries in the beautiful game of hockey. Based out of New York, my assignments will include features, columns, opinion pieces, podcasts and live coverage. AOL has given me a tremendous opportunity and I plan on running with it.

 

My goal to find a full-time home for Point Blank remains. Time is running out on my personal deadline of Labor Day weekend, but possibilities exist. If the posts slow down over the next week, please know it’s because I’m working on my first Fanhouse pieces and attempting to finalize a deal to keep Point Blank alive and thriving.

 

Can I do both? Absolutely. Do I want to do both? Absolutely. In this business and in this economy, sports writers and bloggers have multiple affiliations. If I’m fortunate enough to have two, that’s nothing. Look around. One of my new colleagues at Fanhouse has five sites listed under his email signature. My editors at AOL support my wish to continue Point Blank and I’m very grateful for that.

 

Everything I may accomplish in this end of the business going forward is a result of the off-the-charts support I received from Islanders fans during the first year of this blog. Everything.

 

Even my invite to the AOL offices in Virginia was because of a reader - a transplanted Long Islander, a business executive at AOL who asked me if it was okay if he told some of the editors about my work. The kindness of strangers is astounding. Thank you to all of the PB readers, and also to the Islanders for the chance to start a writing career.

 

Four people in my life know about the Fanhouse gig as I post this. (I need to call my mom now). There’s a strong likelihood you’ll see my byline attached to stories on some of your least favorite teams in the next few weeks, so I wanted to give your hearts fair warning. Hopefully, you’ll recall the dozens of positive Islanders stories I wrote despite their record last season and not hold a grudge against me.

 

As soon as I have news one way or the other about Point Blank, you will be next to know. I’d really like to continue covering the Islanders, and I’m still hopeful. Thank you.

 

CB

144 Responses to “POINT BLANK LATEST: Named National Hockey Writer for Fanhouse; Still hope to find place for PB”  

  1. 1 cgs878

    Congratulations Chris!

  2. 2 Ajax

    BEST OF LUCK CB!!!

  3. 3 JPinVA

    Congrats CB. Good luck at AOL. I guess I might have to start paying htat $5/mo subscription fee again.

  4. 4 MickeyBoy7

    Mazel Tov…nothing but the best.

  5. 5 Rob

    Congratulations, Chris. Best of luck at Fanhouse, and even moreso, best of luck finding us all a new home for PB!

  6. 6 bergie20

    congrats on the new gig! hope that you can still find a home for pb!

  7. 7 james

    congrates CB.

  8. 8 Marc from Troy

    Well deserved, CB. Best wishes for both the Fanhouse gig and for keeping PB alive!

  9. 9 steve

    congrats and best of luck….looking forward to more of your work

  10. 10 figgy

    CB -
    Many Congrats! I’m so happy that the entire country will be able to share in your wonderful writing! Just try and do as few positive Ranger stories as you can… it just hurts the heart to think about it.

  11. 11 mt275

    Congrats…. I had posted before that you should consider putting up a simple DONATE button… and let us chip in to keep PB alive.

  12. 12 Mike

    Congrats CB! Thanks for being upfront and honest with us. Looking forward to reading more of your stories in the future. Cheers!

  13. 13 Quez

    WORD!

  14. 14 James

    Congrats! Keep up the good work!

  15. 15 Stumpy32

    We truly are everywhere. Thanks to the Isles fan in VA (who I no doubt passed by in all those Isles-Caps late 90s/early 00s games while I was in college in DC) for getting CB employed.

    Congrats, CB. I hate to echo the popular line here, but words can’t describe how much this site has become part of my daily routine. The only thing close was, if anyone remembers, that late 90s site called http://www.isles-list.com, where they sent out a daily email with Isles chatter on it between fans. Wasn’t any real articles, but it was a g-dsend to those who didn’t live in NY at the time.

  16. 16 stevedepot

    Congrats CB.
    I hope PB continues. The articles and opinions have been off the charts here lately. Good things happen to good people. I look forward to reading more great articles from you. All we can say is thank you.

  17. 17 Matt

    congrats and good luck Chris! i wish the islanders could just support Point Blank because this is clearly the best place to get Islanders information.

  18. 18 jimfromstjames

    Congrats CB, good to see at least you will still be writing/blogging about the best game on earth, now the rest of the leagues fans will know what we already know…

    Just please keep plugging the Isles, they need all they can get.

    just don’t be too kind to the team on Broadway, the ZZZZZDevs, maybe, Phili, OK, but not THEM!!!

    Could AOL host IPB???

  19. 19 GZ

    Congrats Chris! I just bookmarked your new site.

  20. 20 AngryPete

    As a national hockey writer for NHL Fanhouse, lemme ask you this …

    DO YOU HATE THE RANGERS? lol

  21. 21 Mark P

    Congrats! And just remember your roots….no matter what Teddy and AOL tell you….Alex O has a long way to go before he can be compared to Bossy.

  22. 22 Joe in Massapequa

    CB, great news and best of luck. I look forward to continuing to read your work.

  23. 23 kevin fitz

    Congrats CB! You deserve everything you get .

    Just a thought about the future of Pointblank. Now obviously I do not know any of the details about your meeting with the Islanders a couple months ago when it was decided they would not support you full time for this blog anymore. But now that you have another job, the amount of money you would need to make off pointblank would be less then before. Is there anyway of going back to the Islanders and letting them know that your financial needs would now be lower and see if they can provide enough sponsorship money to keep this alive?

  24. 24 bossy22

    Congrats to you and your family. You thanked us PB fans, but you left out the most important…..family. Nothing is possible without their support. Cheers

  25. 25 Joey303

    Congrats Chris -you deserve it!! Maybe you can convince Garth to go out and get Kessel from the Bruins!! All the best

  26. 26 Phil

    Congrats CB! Well deserved! Just remember to finish every story with a good “Rangers suck!” I think that would be a good pen name…Best of luck. I’ll be reading.

  27. 27 Alex G

    Congrats CB! Well deserved!

  28. 28 Blizzard

    Nice, congrats…….hoping PB lives on!!!!!

  29. 29 Bryan

    Great news! Congratulations!

  30. 30 Shoogah

    Congrats, CB! If IPB can’t live on, at least your writing will.

  31. 31 Isles fan Ken

    Congrats, best of luck at Fanhouse, I’ll bookmark it now. Also, good luck in your search to find a home for Point Blank. Try not to write too many nice stories on certain teams…

  32. 32 Swan

    Go get ‘em CB.

    Congratulations!

  33. 33 Travelchic59

    This is such great news, CB! Very happy to read this. Hopefully, you will still be able to find a new home for PB. I have my fingers crossed. All the best with the new gig.

  34. 34 johnRVC

    congrats CB

    Goodluck!!

  35. 35 Healy

    Congrats Chris, I look forward to reading your future work. I share in your and everyone else’s hope that IBP can keep going as well.

    Still the best thing to happen to Islander fans in a long while.

  36. 36 Froggy

    Congrats Chris, great to hear! Best of luck at the new gig.

  37. 37 randy boyd

    never heard of fanhouse before, but it has now been added to my favorites list. best of luck to you, CB. I am certain that your talents will be well appreciated by even more hockey fans now.

  38. 38 Ron

    Congratulations! I’ll be sure to check it out and make it one of my daily reads!

  39. 39 isle5

    Good Luck CB! Lets keep Pointblank alive!

  40. 40 Alex O

    Congratulations CB, could not happen to a better writer, I will make sure to read all your articles over there

  41. 41 JD (e_godard)

    goodluck Chris!

  42. 42 TwistedWrister

    WOOOOHOOOO!!!!

    Congratulations CB! Even if Point Blank can’t make it, I’m so excited to hear you found a new job.

    Best of Luck. I’ll be reading it just like PB… every day!

  43. 43 Daniel

    Congrats and best of luck! You already have a nice following with us, and I am sure now hockey fans around the country will now have a new favorite writer.

  44. 44 Vlad from Brooklyn

    Good luck Chris. Hope it means more sources and connections around the League.

  45. 45 Dan from Westchester

    Congrats CB. . Now the rest of the league will get to know Isles fans best kept secret.

    This blog was ahead of its time for us fans. . Do hope you are able to continue / find a place for PB for the upcoming season.

    Best of luck with the new gig. . just bookmarked the site.

  46. 46 UIF

    Best of luck and congrats, CB.

  47. 47 Tavares #1

    Congrats!

  48. 48 Bri on Li

    Congrats and good luck, Chris, hope we see you here for a long time as well!

  49. 49 Steven

    Congratulations Chris! You have earned this opportunity and I’m so happy for you that you’ll be able to continue working in the field that you love. You have done such a great job in the last year. You have no idea how much your fine work has rejuvenated my interest in the Islanders and hockey in general.

  50. 50 Rob in NJ

    Good luck and congrats Chris! Keep PB alive! Can’t wait to read the articles for your new gig.

  51. 51 Islesin2010

    Congrats Chris. Well deserved, going to miss you and PB

  52. 52 Danny T

    This is great to hear Chris, you really deserve this. Spread this great game to the masses.

  53. 53 NYI FAN

    CB, good luck to you! I guess you couldn’t wait for one of those ten thousand or so promised jobs the Lighthouse Project promised, :)!!

  54. 54 Spud 31

    Congrats and best of luck!

  55. 55 admin

    Thanks so much, everyone. Very kind of you to reach out. My first stories for AOL should be next week and I hope to have some requests for NYI player interviews fulfilled then as well. Thanks again. Enjoy the rest of the summer…CB

  56. 56 NHP FF

    Congrats, best of luck, one more blog to check while I’m “working”

  57. 57 Brian

    Congrads CB, just bookmarked Fanhouse, hopefully PB will find a new home.

  58. 58 isles99

    its good to see you have found a new home man. hope it all works out. and can someone please send me the link to aol fanshouse?

  59. 59 Scoundrel

    Wonderful news! Best of luck with the new gig, Chris.

  60. 60 Matt

    Good luck CB. As another transplanted LI’er living in the VA suburbs of DC, it isn’t a bad place to be if you end up moving here.

    Hopefully, PB lives on…

  61. 61 Frank James

    Outstanding.

    Well deserved.

    It will be great having a fresh voice out there.

    I expect to see you rise dramatically as a national voice on hockey.

    Thanks for the site.

  62. 62 RPchief

    Good for you, you worked hard to give the Islanders fans something great this year, now go get famous…

  63. 63 Frank nyc

    Thats awesome Cb. I have been a reader of fanhouse for years now. Looking forward to reading more of your writing in a new context. Hope PB stays a live but congrats on your new gig

  64. 64 Sab

    Congrats Chris!!! All the best! I look forward to reading more!!

  65. 65 Blizzard

    ….jusr remember where you came from…..lol!!!!

  66. 66 Brian

    Congrats CB! Your Fanhouse column will be a daily must read just like PB has become for me.

    Stumpy32 - I remember the days of isles-list. Too bad that one day it just disappeared. Back in 95-99 I went to a bunch of Isles-Caps games in DC when we would buy group sales tickets with people from that list.

  67. 67 Isle_in_LA

    That is awesome news CB! We are all very proud of you. Please don’t forget about us! Best of luck.

  68. 68 CMB

    I am very happy for you.

    Best of luck with your new endeavor—and retaining your old one.

  69. 69 Pete M

    Great news Chris. I figured you’d land on your feet. Best of luck and look forward to your continued success both on AOL and here on PB.

  70. 70 STP

    That’s awesome, Chris. For you, your family, and us readers. :)

  71. 71 Dr. Generosity

    Congrats Chris!

  72. 72 Potvin5

    Spectacular news CB! It’s nice to know that hard work and dedication can still pay off in this world. Your passion for this great game and our team, your knowledge of hockey and access to insiders have made coming to PB a daily “must read”. Fanhouse readers will find out soon enough. We have the best kept secret in the hockey universe. Good luck in the new role and good luck in locking up support for PB to live on!

  73. 73 double W

    Great to hear CB. I look forward to your appearance on HNIC sattelite Hotstove!

  74. 74 C.J.

    Chris,
    The only mandate from Islander fans is that you continue to DO US PROUD!!!!

    Help put NYI and JOHN TAVARES on the map. They need every bit of positive publicity they can get.

    My personal request…. 15% of your articles are focussed on NYI. ;) Thoughts?

    Best of luck!!!!

    -CJ

  75. 75 Numbers65 in Ohio

    Great news! Step 1: COMPLETE! #1 signing of the summer!

  76. 76 Dyingfour#5

    Way to go Chris! Best of luck, and thanks for being upfront with us. AOL just signed on a winner.

  77. 77 chip saunders

    Like everyone else,congratulations,your talent will shine through nationally.

  78. 78 Strummer's Army

    Proud of you Chris! I told you, you found what you are meant to be doing. :) I believe now things will easily fall into place for you to keep Point Blank going. Just please no stories on how Sean Avery is trying to overcome him issues and be a good guy because ya know…..he’s scum.

  79. 79 VanVoorhees

    Welcome to Virgina Chris!

  80. 80 Kevin27nyi

    Congrats chris!

  81. 81 Isles6

    Congratsulations Chris…but from a selfish standpoint, and I am sure that I am not alone on this, I hope you get the opportunity to find out if you can do both. The day this blog ends, will be a sad one, but you already know that. We are all grateful for every day it continues.

  82. 82 Dan from Hicksville

    Great news and best of luck Chris! You have just convinced me that good thing DO happen to good people. I look forward to going out to BOTH sites on a daily basis.

  83. 83 Gary Harding

    WTG Chris, I am so glad that you got something that will make you happy! I wish you nothing but luck and success! You deserve it mate!

  84. 84 MikeinRichmondVA

    CB: Congradulations on your new job !!!! Islanders mgmt lose is Fanhouse/Isles fans gain. Welcome to Va. thru AOL

  85. 85 Angelos

    Best of luck CB!! Keep PB alive!

  86. 86 7th Woman

    Congrats.

  87. 87 Al L

    This is a wonderfully deserved break for you,Chris! It is a damn shame and unfathomable lack of understanding that the Islanders organization would place such little value on the love,passion and bridge you have been between the fan and the Franchise. The fact that they have decided against continuing such an important investment in a vehicle such as Pointblank gives one the impression that the mindset of viability of the NY Islanders is on shaky ground. I have little doubt you will find a sponsor for this in valuable Blog with the wisdom and good sense Dey and the Islanders evidently lack.

  88. 88 Todd Aronovitch

    Best of luck, Chris. Thank you for everything.

  89. 89 Zarley Z

    Congrats and good luck Chris.

  90. 90 dp

    Wishing you all the best on the new gig. I just bookmarked fanhouse, looking forward to reading your work there and I’m still hoping that some corporate entity somewhere realizes what pointblank can do for them.
    Cheers

  91. 91 Barbara

    Just added FANHOUSE to my favorites,SOOOO happy for you. Seriously, I won’t read any Ranger$ are Stanley Cup contender stories. Other than that, you are it!

  92. 92 Steve

    Congratulations Chris.

  93. 93 db

    Great news, CB! Best of luck!

  94. 94 Staten Islander

    Certainly great news on such a bleak day. Good luck Chris

  95. 95 Mike

    congrats!

  96. 96 Jeff Kuntz

    Chris, the only people happier for you than than we are … are your family, and the sports editor at Newsday.

  97. 97 pablo

    I wish you all the best, their is always a place for great talent.

    God Bless

  98. 98 thomaskarl

    Congrats CB! It is only just that we be compelled to share you with the rest of the hockey lovin world.

  99. 99 MT

    Congrats! Looking forward to your pieces

  100. 100 JT

    Congrats CB! I will be looking forward more great reading, not just about the isles, but now for the whole league!

  101. 101 Devon

    The best news I’ve heard all week. Now, on to finding PB a home. You deserve all the good things.

  102. 102 Jimmy

    Did someone say Isles defacto spy scout?!?!?

    You’re sure to come across insight into other team’s prospects, tensions w/ current players - please remember your roots and pass this information along to your good buddy Garth.

    Seriously though - CONGRATS!! Much deserved.

  103. 103 Newf

    WOW! Great job. Another website to bookmark and read with my coffee at work in the mornings. ;)
    Keep up the great posts and I have my fingers crossed with legs, arms and eyes to see you at both PB and AOL.

    Go Isles!!!
    Newf

  104. 104 Neil

    Congrats CB. Well deserved. You know, you should have called when you visited AOL, I live right near the campus.

  105. 105 Willis

    How exciting! I hope you enjoy it, congrats.

  106. 106 billy

    Congrats CB, so u will be covering the whole nhl and not just the isles with the fanhouse?

  107. 107 Isles fan in Scotland

    A big congrats Chris!! NHL fanhouse has a new reader!! :)

  108. 108 hathead68

    Congrats CB!! Just bookmarked Fanhouse. Next up hopefully a new home for IPB. Amazing how this site has really made us passionate Islanders fans more like an Islanders fans “family”.

  109. 109 25yearfan

    CB - I can’t believe you didn’t set an October 3 deadline…. LOTS OF LUCK & SUCCESS IN THE NEW VENTURE! 25

  110. 110 german islesfan

    Congrats Chris!

  111. 111 art

    CB best of luck! You were never a homer but if you are no longer part of PB { I hope you are if you want it] I think you will be a true independent commentator of the Isles and all the other NHL teams. This new gig will expect you to call them as you see them without the concern of implied censorship.

  112. 112 19 ISLE in NJ 22

    Great News Chris!!!!

    Getting a home for Point Blank too will be a great Daily Double!

    I have a good feeling about you working out something for Point Blank … hopefully someday it will get so big there will be a 30 minute cable TV version of it on SNY ;)

    Congrats again!!!

  113. 113 Chris Mc

    Congrats CB! AOL is definitely lucky to have you on board. Nothing but the best and hope to see Point Blank alive for a long time to come.

  114. 114 Chris Mc

    Plus, you got a little shout out on Newsday.com from Neil Best on your new gig!

  115. 115 teddy

    Go getem tiger

  116. 116 Hubie McDonough

    Congratulations CB! Well deserved!

  117. 117 Viper

    Congrats, Chris! Great to see your career is taking off again! Very well deserved. Fanhouse has a new avid reader in me. Please keep PB alive and well if you can somehow find the time… We’re with you in your new career!

  118. 118 19404ever

    Let’s go Botta, **-***

  119. 119 pointblank rocks

    hard work pays off CB good job

  120. 120 CrackheadTheo

    Nice work CB! You da man!

  121. 121 Rob

    Congratulations Chris, Best of luck!

  122. 122 Dan Sec 303

    Congrats and best of luck.

  123. 123 BringBackNyles

    Congrats..best of luck….remember us Isles when you do the national stories!

  124. 124 BrianAlbany

    Congrats CB! I’m going to check out Fanhouse for the first time now…Don’t forget about us Isles fans, haha…

    Thanks for everything as always and I’m still keeping my fingers crossed about PB…

    GO ISLES!

  125. 125 isles08025

    Good Luck Chris

  126. 126 ExtraButterRVC

    Congrats - good to see you making moves! Isles really made a mistake not keeping your services and getting the most out of them. I just can’t find it in me to think that they truly value their die hard fans.

  127. 127 Will C.

    That message sounded like CB is a Rangers beat writer now. HOPE NOT! Yikes…..

  128. 128 beatlebailey

    Great News CB! Never read fanhouse before but I will be now. Congrats to you for taking care of business. Now please find a way to keep PB going.

  129. 129 Islander505

    Based on my experience with Fanhouse over the past few years, you WILL have to become an unabashed raving lunatic fan of the Capitals and worship the ground Ovechkin walks upon.

    But hey, whatever pays the bills.

    Congratulations Chris Botta.

    HAVE FUN and run with it.

    From two times away.

  130. 130 dose

    “Can I do both? Absolutely. Do I want to do both? Absolutely.”

    all of us who shudder at the thought of losing this islander-fan town square know where your heart is, even it doesn’t work out.
    cb is a mensch.

  131. 131 michele

    congrats to you chris, in today’s econony. Its good to see someone getting good news. You deserve it. Hard work pays off. I’m glad someone saw it.

  132. 132 a REAL hockey fan

    …Congrats on the gig Chris!

    Funny thing is that was just reading AOL fanhouse yesterday and i read it about 2 days a week or so, but ill make sure i read it more!! Good luck and BIG BIG THANKS for trying to keep point blank running! (which we all selfishly want lol)

    See on the board Chris….

  133. 133 JoeRiverside

    Congrats Chris. It’s not easy making a living from writing/reporting. Your hard work and talent has paid off. Best Wishes.
    Joe

  134. 134 Obs

    Grats CB, I’ll be bookmarking your new site. I look forward to a heavy dose of Isles news nationally now. ;-)
    *Cheers*

  135. 135 Numbers65 in Ohio

    Greetings CB! They had better put your picture to left with the other columnists. Judging by the number of comments on their blogs, they need our support over there. I already put it in my favs. Eagerly awaiting to see your mug over there along with a classic CB blog to go with it. Again Congrats! Thanks for keeping IPB ALIVE! It’s the best of both worlds for all. The rest of the hockey world deserves to enjoy CB, even if there not all Islanders. GOD BLESS you and your family!
    Jonathan

  136. 136 battery jackson

    congrats man, keep up the good work. the game needs ya

  137. 137 Joe

    great job cb

  138. 138 kevin27nyi

    what happened?

  139. 139 Shoogah

    Ok. So I just experienced life without IPB. Didn’t like it one bit.

  140. 140 Numbers65 in Ohio

    Whew! Back online!

  141. 141 Jeff in Oyster Bay

    Your hockey knowledge reigns supreme.

  142. 142 Cary

    Couldn’t happen to a better sports blogger! Congrats CB and we all really really hope you find a way to make PB work as well.

  143. 143 Pete

    Chris, congrats on the AOL gig. Let us know where we can send our praise to the “Powers That Be” at AOL.

    You got quite the following here, make sure you link your AOL Fanhouse stories here, so people will click, read, and comment.

    Can definitely see you being one of the most-read columnists there. Just keep us in the loop here.

  144. 144 therain93 -- terriers fan

    Congratulations Chris! ( ‘ :

    Hopefully there will still be room for some IPB too! ( ‘ :

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