THE NHL WINTER CLASSIC COIN TOSS (Fiction)
Also: NYI vs. NYR on March 24 in 3-D (True!)
From Boston, Matt Cooke-Bruins coverage for FanHouse
UPDATED at 11:00 am: A real MSG press release:
MSG, a leader in delivering state-of-the-art, cutting edge technology to viewers, announced today that it will telecast the March 24 Rangers-Islanders matchup from Madison Square Garden in 3D, the first network hockey telecast ever produced in 3D. MSG will also be the first network in America to offer home viewers a live 3D sports telecast. In 1998, MSG was the first regular provider of sports coverage in high-definition television, producing all Knicks and Rangers home games in that emerging format.
The Rangers will host a special viewing party of this historic telecast at the Theater at Madison Square Garden that will include appearances by popular Rangers alumni Mark Messier, Adam Graves, Ron Duguay, Nick Fotiu, Ron Greschner, Dan Blackburn and others, as well as fan contests and giveaways . Tickets to the 3D screening are $20 and available at newyorkrangers.com via Ticketmaster. MSG HD subscribers with 3D compatible televisions will be able to watch the telecast on a separate channel offered by Cablevision, and MSG is in discussions with other providers. For more information please visit msg.com/3D.
*
When I first heard about the Jets’ reaction to losing the coin flip to host the first-ever game at the new football stadium they are sharing with the Giants, I felt as most did. Owner Woody Johnson was being irrational, paranoid and politically very incorrect toward NFL commissioner Roger Goodell.
Then, as I was walking around the city on St. Patrick’s Day, some guy in a Rangers jersey and green hat stumbled out of the Mean Fiddler and over to me and said the Islanders suck and I suck (he obviously reads the blog, lol). It got me day-dreamin’…
Fiction: The NHL Winter Classic Coin Toss
(phone rings in the offices of the Lighthouse Development Corporation)
Gary Bettman: “Hey CBW, it’s the commish! How are you? Yeah, I’m sure Kate’s gonna come back with a great plan. Look, I wanted to give you an update on something.
“We’re going to do the next Winter Classic in New York! Isn’t that great? The Mets told us we can have Citi Field from Oct. 4 on, no problem. So here’s what we came up with. Sidney and the Penguins have to be in the game. Dick Ebersol wouldn’t have it any other way, you know that. Then it came down to your Islanders and Jimmy’s Rangers.
“What we decided to do was flip a coin. I did it myself, right here in our offices. For witnesses, I had Colie and one of the kids from newyorkrangers, I mean, nhl.com. We had some cake and made a little event of the whole thing. It was really exciting.
“Look, let me just come out and say it. The bad news is that the Rangers won. To make it really fair, we made it a best two-out-of-three!
“The Rangers are going to play the Penss on New Year’s Day on NBC. But here’s the good news. I’ve worked it out so you get the first VERSUS game of the New York teams! The Islanders are going to play the late game in San Jose. Hope you’re as excited about this as we are.”
Then I thought about how Islanders Country would feel if the NHL flipped a coin that came up Rangers and no one from the teams was there to witness it.
*
After missing four months of action with a hip injury that required major surgery, 2009 second round pick Mikko Koskinen has been sent to Utah of the East Coast Hockey League to play some games. Koskinen could re-join Bridgeport for the stretch run and any potential playoff action. With almost all of this season lost, the 6-5 Finn will need at least a full 2010-11 season with the Sound Tigers before his NHL prospects can be properly judged.
Comments.
102 Responses to “THE NHL WINTER CLASSIC COIN TOSS (Fiction)
Also: NYI vs. NYR on March 24 in 3-D (True!)”
Please Wait
That’s probably how it would go down, too.
Now you know why it’s so easy to hate Rag$ fans..
I am really looking forward to the development of Koskinen. I think that he has some legitimate talent.
Oddly enough this fictional scenario sounds similar to the actual Lighthouse proceedings and the TOH. Just substitute Bettman with Murray and the witnesses with Mondello, the firms that support Murray, and various others who are not supportive of the project.
On a sidenote, you gotta love Rangers fans. Always keeping it classy.
Amen to post #2
Hey #4 I would have said the same thing to the ranger version of chris botta. I am a Giants fan and I can say the coin flip never took place, however I am sure a lot of jets fans would rather have the monday night prime time game for a) exposure and b) you get to watch all the other games on sunday. Not a bad deal for the jets, but I still like that my Giants are opening up there building.
I feel like that happened in game 4 of the playoffs in 2007 when Witt’s goal was disallowed. The NHL was trying to figure out what explanation to give the Islanders except that the Referee gave them a different one and ruined the entire thing.
Woody Johnson finally finds something to get upset about: not having a “fair coin toss” for his new stadium with its $30,000 PSLs and $700 a game tickets. As Doug and Eddie on the “Puck Podcast” pointed out last week, two Swedish players, Henrik and Daniel Sedin, donated $1.5 million to help sick children in Vancouver. The NFL with billions of dollars, gave $1 million to help people in New Orleans.
Let’s face it, the Rangers deserve to host a Winter Classic. They have a very strong fan base which we totally lack. And Gary Bettman is a great believer in the Golden Rule: Whoever has the gold, makes the rules. And the Dolans do with their cable tv, sports teams, newspaper that 35 people have signed up to read online for $5 a week. The Islanders give out pictures of Alexei Yashin to contest winners.
Sad but true the rangers would win a “flip” and will play in a winter classic without us. The islanders and rags need an intense playoff series to really get the rest of the NHL to see how competitive and intense it really is.
Am i the only one who caught that little dig at the Mets in the story? Funny stuff.
At least the Giants and Jets have a new building.
Why rush Mikko back? We don’t need DP type complications.
This goes back to what I have been yelling about since you dtarted this blog. Wang doesn’t know how to play politics. If he was smart he would have Bettmanb and ally from the get go. I’m sure the NHL would have thrown some kind of bone to the NYI that could have led to increased Isles visibility. Sorry, but Wang is a joke of an owner. To be a good owner in this town you need to spinkle in a little Steinbrenner with a little Leon Hess and top it off with a Tisch.
Who cares. Not for nothing. I think its matter of timing. Isles have not done anything to derserve to play in winter classic. If it was few years from now different story. From marketing standpoint they taken nyr (original six) vs one of most popular top teams (wash or pitt). I think if tavares scored 50 and isles just came off a magical season winning pres trophy I think we would get it.
Besides what better team to get embarassed on national tv than rags
#13 I agree completely with who would br a better team toget embarassed on national tv but you have to admit it would be sweeter watching the isles showing up the rags in front of everyone
I have high hopes for this Mikko kid
CB, the Rag$ fan you ran into, maybe Colin Campbell??
I think NHL management makes a lot of decisions with coin tosses. I think Colin Cambell is a professional coin tosser.
CB - your encounter with the rags fan is why I dislike them! I have always found the Islander fans to be a little more classy with few exceptions. It’s like Target vs. Walmart, Lowes vs. Home Depot, night vs. day
The Jets do get the big stage though with a Monday Night Football opener. J-E-T-S JETS JETS JETS!!!!
Oh and GO ISLANDERS!!! Hopefully someday soon they get the Winter Classic.
And I’m sure Potvin sucks too!! Man these Rag fans need to get a life. I hate the Rangers, but if I saw Sam Rosen, I prob would only say - Its a power play goal
i call heads
Half way through the story the opposing team changes from the Penguins to the Caps?!! LOL!!
Excited to see what Koskinen can do. Would be nice if he worked out like Tukka Rask. Could we be so lucky?
Will the Islanders draft another goalie this year?
If the Rangers win the coin toss, they should play a doubleheader against the Pens and the Caps. That’s real iron man old time hockey
Actually, I would like it better if the dream was that Bettman works out a deal to use Citifield for three consecutive years. Rangers go first vs Capitals (let them get killed), improved Isles go second vs someone who could never host like Coyotes and the third year is Isles vs Rangers when we should be a powerhouse.
By the way “NHL commissioner Roger Goodell”?
You forgot one thing CB. As Bettman tossed the coin, he said “Heads the rangers win, tails the Islanders lose”
Figure one more year of development for Koskinen. We need a backup for Roloson next year since Biron is all but gone and Dipietro is not factored into the teams future plans no matter what Garth says.
Who are we kidding the Isles would even get the respect of the coin flip. The NHL doesn’t care about our Islanders
Rags fan = classless… and that goes for the whole bunch of them.
You think our organization is disfunctional??? How can you play in one of the worlds premier arenas (if not #1), have a money printing press in the back room (TV/Arena), play in one of the most premier cities in the world and continually LOSE!!!!
That speards to fans discontent and makes them bitter and angry, hence CB is yelled at for no reason. CLASSLESS!!!
Sorry CB, Citi Field will be occupied this October. Lets go Mets!!!
Seems to me for fans in attendance, the Winter Classic is better suited to a football stadium instead of a baseball park. The basic configuration of the field matches the rink and sight-lines and proximity are better.
Next time, tell the gentleman that drinking at the Mean Fiddler in the first place shows that he’s only got enough of a brain to walk from Penn Station to 47th. The basement is nice for private parties but what kind of tourist yoyo actually tries to drink in the middle of Times Square on St. Pat’s?
Citi Field might be occupied in October but the Mets will not be playing baseball. Omar will be cleaning out his office..
stick to your day job
That was a hilarious read….I was laughing throughout the entire thing
I am with Woody. It reminds me of Rlaph Kramden when he tricks Ed Norton with “heads I win, tails you lose.”
always a nice compliment, having a rival claim you suck…
and someone please switch woody’s shampoo to his baby shampoo so we can eliminate those tears
It would have been even more entertaining if someone jumped OUT of the cake.
and why is Utah so freakin’ far!
Mikko….Mikko…Mikko
Although it was a very funny and very true imaginary conversation I could see that happening. I remember reading in the Daily News a few years back that The Islanders actually approached Gary Bettman to play an outdoor game against the Rags at Yankee Stadium and were shot down. From what I remember This occured either right before Pittsburgh/Buffalo or right after the game. Bettman said No that the draw wouldn’t be BIG enough and that no one in television land would watch. As Islander fans we are constantly slapped in the face by the league. Just look at the last few classics, HUGE draws and just about everyone watching them on TV. Go figure
I’ve got a great spot for a coin toss today. Let the event happen at Kate Murray’s office with Wang and all the press and politicians present to decide the size and scope of the LH. The only condition is that the shovels start tomorrow.
that’s funny about the rangers fan. They are all a bunch of tools.
How did you respond?
Is an Islanders/Rangers matchup 1-Jan-11 so far fetched? The NHL wants to promote Tavares as well (check out his larger than life poster in the NHL store in Manhattan - bestowed only to JT,Ovechkin, Crosby & one other whom I forget). Although I hate the rags, I think one of the original six should get one slot in the classic. Who better to match up with the rags - JT & their most hated rival Islanders. I think it would generate huge interest.
Syd shouldn’t get a second classic so soon, and Ovie can go the following year against Montreal or Toronto.
This part is true. From an MSG release:
MSG, a leader in delivering state-of-the-art, cutting edge technology to viewers, announced today that it will telecast the March 24 Rangers-Islanders matchup from Madison Square Garden in 3D, the first network hockey telecast ever produced in 3D. MSG will also be the first network in America to offer home viewers a live 3D sports telecast. In 1998, MSG was the first regular provider of sports coverage in high-definition television, producing all Knicks and Rangers home games in that emerging format.
The Rangers will host a special viewing party of this historic telecast at the Theater at Madison Square Garden that will include appearances by popular Rangers alumni Mark Messier, Adam Graves, Ron Duguay, Nick Fotiu, Ron Greschner, Dan Blackburn and others, as well as fan contests and giveaways . Tickets to the 3D screening are $20 and available at newyorkrangers.com via Ticketmaster. MSG HD subscribers with 3D compatible televisions will be able to watch the telecast on a separate channel offered by Cablevision, and MSG is in discussions with other providers. For more information please visit msg.com/3D.
CB
how the hell is this going to wrk? 3d? i didnt know tv’s had that capibility yet…. plus, dont you need a special pair of glasses for something like that?
CB- I think you just unveiled the secret TOH Development teams building by building redevelopment of the lighthouse plans. Coliseum—–HEADS!…..it’s tails…Oh crap. What do we do now…..LETS GO WATCH THE RANGERS IN 3d!
A new type of television that’s 3D capable was just released. It’s probably mainly a stunt to drive up interest in the technology. The glasses are actually fairly advanced–they communicate with the TV via radio and darken/polarize according to the info the TV has. Hockey might be an ideal candidate for this kind of broadcast because the entire game is covered by less than 10 cameras, and MSG is the ideal partner since they host so many different events that the cameras can be used for (Knicks, boxing, etc.) and have the biggest media market in the world. The biggest issue with 3D TV right now is a lack of content. This would be one of the first steps to addressing it. Kind of cool that the Islanders are going to be a footnote in history (if 3D TV takes off).
What good is a 3D game on MSG when 3D TV’s aren’t even being released till April for the average buyer - not to mention - NO ONE will have one - Oh and no MSG + viewing party for Isles fans?!
Stupid idea by stupid dolan!
3D tv? Who’s hosting it? Ralph Kramden? lol
Who cares about 3D, It would be nice if they would make every game available in HD! How many times does a game whether it be the Islanders, Devils or Rangers get bumped to that Standard TV channel 414. They should worry about the HD instead of 3D.
If they’re capable to broadcast in 3D then the third HD channel should be no problem…
who wants to see Nick Fotiu’s face in 3D? his nose would come right at you.
To be honest I wouldn’t want a Rangers v Islanders winter classic THIS year. The Isles and Rangers team are both developing young players and there teams now won’t accurately depict the true intensity of and isles rangers rivalry. However, in three years from now I feel the Isles will be a strong team with some serious talent and chemistry and the rangers will be better. Then, the rivalry at the winter classic will be much more exciting for us the true fans and for the fans that the nhl are trying to sell to. Winter Classic 2013 Isles vs Rags at Citi would be off the chainz.
.. Ralph Kramden lol ‘hummada hummada’
.. Hey ill give the Rag$ credit, they are at least trying, but how will it work for regular TV?
.. Funny stuff
I am actually going to the ragie game tonight at the garden with some friends (free tix). I am debating whether to wear my potvin T-shirt, or my leather islander Jacket with the huge logo in the back. I guess I can do both, I am in fighting mode!
Funny little shot at the Mets in there. I wish Bettman would read this thing and see that people call him out on his bias towards higher market teams. It’s a shame. Oh, and with the next Winter Classic potentially being in Pittsburgh from what I have read, it’s getting out of control how much of the league’s attention is turned to the Penguins franchise.
As for 3D; sucks I’ll be missing it. I’ll be at MSG to watch our boys with hopefully a good amount of others making the trip to enemy territory.
Since this 3D game is between the Isles and Rangers, why not invite alumni from both teams and make it a bigger deal for both teams? Cant call up Bobby Nystrom and Bossy and invite them too? Dan Blackburn? Really?? Maybe the isles should have a party at Champions and invite Mark Lawrence and Dan Plante..LOL
Matt Martin fighting is 3D = AMAZING
So the Rags bring in Dan Blackburn for their 3-D? What fans are itching to see that “popular” draft bust?
Knowing Cablevision, the 3D feed will be free but the special x-ray specs will be $50 and somehow good for one use only.
I’m interested to see a hockey game in 3D, but I don’t feel like sitting with all those Rag$. I’d feel dirty.
3-D won’t help the Rags make the playoffs, and everyone will probably get a headache anyway….NICE
If they hypothetically got Citi Field and had the rink set up…and were so opposed to doing Isles-Rangers…why not a day and night game? Rangers vs the NHL-endorsed Pens, and Isles vs the NHL-endorsed Caps. Then they get both of their beloved teams in action, and neither NY team feels slighted.
MSG is in negotiations with other providers for 3D use? They are still in negotiating over HD use. Other cable companies will not get HD or 3D until Rick DiPietro breaks Brodeur’s games played record
#10 - You’d have to be as stupid as a Rag$ fan to miss that.
#32 - Why would Citifield be occupied in October? That is unless you’re talking about the repair crews that will be trying to fix up that retro craphole. The Mets season will be ending Sept. 29
Wow. Thanks for the Info for 3D! I just bought my tickets for theatre. Sounds cool.
….I am a Jet fan. For about as long as I have been an Islander fan. When they left for….cough GIANTS Stadium they were relegated to squater tennent status. They still share the same stadium as the Giants and will always be in there shadow. Woody should just deal and not complain its what he gets for sharing a stadium with an older more established team. As far as Im concerned they should have their own stadium…oh yeah the west side thing caved in so the Long Island fan base still has to go to Jersey.
Also just another classy Rag fan……………….drunk and stupid.
Right, create a channel that zero (0!) people can watch, but not for the thousands that want to throw the remote through the screen when we can’t get our team in HD.
Rangers/Islanders in 3D, great. Now we can see them both suck with funny glasses on.
CB, I hope you pulled the Ranger’s fan’s jersey over his head and pummeled him!
Is 3D t.v. out yet?
The NHL has such a bias toward Crysby. Just make the “winter classic” a game for the Pens every year. The “winter classic” is a spectacle anyway. NBC is more concerned with the hype than the game of hockey. The players could never show up and I don’t think NBC would notice.
Dear G. Bettman, stop adding spectacles to the game of hockey and focus on making the sport respectable.
What, no Smellivision?!?
Blizzard I agree with you. Woody decided to join the Giants in the new Giants stadium instead of building his own Jets stadium. This is what you get. Jets will always be second class citizens in the Meadowlands.
I’m an Islander fan since late 1975/76 season. I’ve seen a few drunk and stupid Islander fans too… The Ranger’s don’t have exclusive rights to the drunk and stupid fans.
DOC
sorry cb this is a swing and a miss.i come to this site for non fiction
I would rather see Sarah Bernhardt naked than watch the rangers in 3d!
Not sure any of you know this, but the Jets were approached by the Giants to go partners in the new stadium because cost overuns turned it into a billion dollar stadium and the Mara’s who own the Giants did not have that type of money so they needed Woody Johnson and his billions to help foot half the the costs. Without Woody’s money, the Giants would not have any new stadium to play in. It would have been an empty shell. So basically the Jets are 50/50 partners in the new stadium. So I understand about Woody complaining. He is no longer a tenant, but a real partner in that stadium.
Instead of broadcasting in 3D, Dolan and co. should put ALL Islanders games in HD. I am tired of watching the MSG Plus (or whatever its called) channel when the Isles get bumped there. It looks like an Islander game way back in the Sportschannel days with Jiggs and Eddie.
And if you have NHL Center Ice you don’t get HD or 3D.
I think the Jets got the better of the deal; they play the first exhibition game there, Host the first Monday night game & Thanksgiving day. But as a long suffering Jets fan, that could give me heartburn BEFORE the Turkey Dinner does!!
Rangers Suck!
I concur, RAG$ and their fans suck..
MSG can provide a seperate channel for 3D Ranger games but we can’t have the islanders in high def if the devils are playing?
Tails never fails
I think the guy in the Ranger Jersey was Kate Murry’s little brother!
I’d rather see Kate Bekinsdale naked in 3D than watch the Rangers (in 2D, 3D or HD)
#77 I think the Giants would have still gotten there new stadium without Woody’s money. Lets get real here they are one of the premier nfl franchises and have an extremely loyal fan base.
At least they spend money wisely on something at MSG. It certainly is not their teams.
i cant picture what it will look like. does it give you a back of the net view so what Bruno Grevais is shooting you have to duck b/c he misses the net most of the time?
I really hope that all the Rags fans pay $20 to go sit in front of a big screen and see the Islanders beat their team- in 3D.
what a joke.
I have Verizon and see 0 games in HD, unless they’re on NBC or VS. So this year, I saw 2 Isles - Flyers games in HD on VS…of course they lost both games…What a joke. MSG sucks. I find it insulting enough that the Isles & Devils are broadcast on MSG Network and have to be subjected to Al Traudwick. Can you imagine if the Rangers played on a network called THECOLISIUM OR THEROCK?????? F MSG, Cablevision, Optimium, Dolan, the Rangers and everyone in that horrible organization….
Sitting on the LIRR with my Isles jacket on, some strange choooch shouts “Potvin sucks”, to which I reply “yeah, the life out of you”!
# 93, next time say: “Why yes, he does suck. He sucks his THUMB because all 4 of his other fingers have rings on them”.
Good one CB - Tell Colie Campbell to get a spine next time he goes to the doctor.
The 3D that Cablevision … and any other cable companies will air is a muted version of the real deal. There is a format war going on in the broadcast industry. Cable vs. Satellite and Broadcast. Broadcasters of traditional over the air TV have just relinquished their old spectrum to the FCC. The current spectrum they occupy is limited for digital / HD TV. The company I work for is one of the companies converting to 3D TV facilites. The bandwidth due to the algorithms required to process the “real” 3D is immense … much more than a cable system can process on one channel. Thusly … to the rescue a refined format using existing technology … the old 3D glasses technique with “modified” HD TV to assist.
Because of $$$$$$$$ issues Cable is hoping that the 3D TV technology being deployed will win the day. Satellite … like Dishnet & Diretv are working with Sony and other leaders on a deep field TV technology that doesn’t require glasses … but is a layered TV technology that tricks the eye … My boss calls it the digital 200 Gal. fish tank … because that is the effect. I saw it last week… look Ma … no glasses.
Just as Blue Ray won the recent disc wars … hopefully the right 3D technology will winout (no glasses) … let Cablevision catch up with technology. They’re only trying to stay ahead of the curve by lowering the bar.
Eric #77, it’s a fact the Mara’s do not have the unlimited supply of dollars that Woody Johnson has (as an heir of the Johnson & Johnson Company). The Mara’s are not poor by any means, just not as rich as Woody Johnson. It’s also one of the reasons that the WHOLE stadium has PSL’s for Giant’s season ticket holders but the Jets are only charging PSL’s for the lower 2 levels. This is a fact. I am not being disrespectful to the Giants, just pointing out a fact that the Mara’s could not fund the entire cost of the stadium on their own. That is why they approached Woody Johnson to share the cost of the new stadium. They needed him and his fortune to fund the other half of the stadium due to cost over runs.
Travelchic, the only reason why the Jets are charging PSL’s for the lower 2 levels in the lack of demand. The Giants sold out all their PSL’s because the could. The Jest are still trying to sell out theirs. I do agree that the Giants wanted Woody’s money to split the cost.
as much as i love hte islanders, they’ve done nothing to deserve to play in the winter clasic
As anyone notcied the Yankees have commited to a college bowl game? I doubt they can get ice built in 3 days. if they do have the winter classic in NY, I can see it shaking out this way at whichever stadium they use:
Rangers/national team jan 1 on NBC
islanders/Devils the next Sat night on NHL Network and MSG
BU/BC played at fenway and in between fenway had public skating, i could see the NHL doing this.
100
It’s hard enough being a Mets fan nowadays. Allowing the rangewhores to desecrate CitiField will just add insult to injury.
ill see you at the HD Garden fest. should be interesting.
Isles/rags should wait a 2-yrs before winter classic. unfortunately rags will play against pitt or the canadians. same ole story for the isles.