WILLETS POINT BLANK
Reaction on radio to the Islanders-Mets news
FanHouse Wire: Wang Looking at Citi Field
In eleven minutes of radio, I was able to get across what would have taken me a long time to write about. This was my reaction to Wednesday’s report about the Mets and the Islanders talking.
Believe me, none of this is Pulitzer material. At least I got a shot in at certain reporters recklessly talking about the Islanders availability to be sold and move to Canada in a New York minute.
The interview with Bob McCown and John Shannon of “Prime Time Sports” in Canada can be heard here. Take care.
67 Responses to WILLETS POINT BLANK
Reaction on radio to the Islanders-Mets news
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Blizzard says: Thanks for posting the link to the interview I missed it live. Interesting to say the least. Nice dig too.
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Seth says:
great job CB. loved the way you answered all of the questions. keep up the good work.
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kevin fitz says:
I heard it live CB. Way to represent sanity for a few minutes. That show is crazy, I was listening to the show about 10 minutes before you went on and the disdain those guys have for anything American was quite apparent.
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Vas says:
#2 One of those guys was a complete idiot! The other wasn’t bad at all! You have to love radio personalities that know S**t about absolutely nothing and are so arrogant that it makes me puke! Just my take! BTW great job CB!
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4theisles says:
CB Bravo!!! for that interview — Readers please post comments on Fanhouse not only is it supportive of Chris, but also it gets the Isles message out “We are not leaving the area PERIOD.
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JJ says:
Thanks for calling out the Canadian media. I can’t believe one those guy’s ignorance:
1. First he denied that the Atlantic Yards project is a done deal. And continued to deny it even when he was corrected.
2. He said that the NHL wouldn’t care if the Isles left NY. Has he ever read anything that Gary Bettman has said? Bettman doesn’t even want the Coyotes to leave Pheonix, why in the world would he want the Isles to leave NY?
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Mark in Ottawa says:
C’mon – Let’s get this Queens thing done !
It’d be nice to talk about hockey and the future instead of relocation and bad news.
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Blizzard says:
…regarding the Canadian media:
This is just an observation however there might just be some validity to it. I would think that any possible destination north of the boarder would love to have the Islanders relocate there. They are young and up and coming and in a few years will be a contender. Hockey crazed Canada would love to have this team up there.
I take it as a compliment. But they cant have our team. No way no how.
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SavaFan1 says:
The Canadian media covets our team. Tough!
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miket239 says:
just get out of Nassau County already. 2015 will be here soon, if the 2012 prophecies are wrong of course haha, and the Isles can be in Queens WITH the Mets. its perfect.
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Johnnyjet says:
Good job CB. I’m a canadian isle fan and I can’t stand our ignorance when it comes to hockey. When I went to see the isles in Vancouver, the radio media was saying this will be the last time you see the islanders. It made me shake my head. I hate the media here and I am totally anti-canucks.I do love the giants which is the local junior team (they don’t get much media attenetion). I have been to new york many times to visit family and really like the idea of Queens.
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MR says:
Nice work in providing sanity to the insane hockey media. However, the commentator repeated something that I’ve heard before that I’m surprised you didn’t squash. He made a comment about Wang looking for someone to pay for his new arena. Now I know that there was State money promised in the beginning of this process, but the fact that you didn’t counter that point with the fact that Wang intends to fund a majority of the LH with his own funds does the project a dis-service, unless of course something has changed on that front. In that case I would apologize to you CB for being asleep at the wheel waiting for something to happen.
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P.S. that would me being asleep at the wheel waiting for something to happen. Not you. I may not have made that clear above. Sorry.
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JKP in Halifax says:
Chris with the Bobcat! Good stuff! Thanks for helping to straighten out the record up here.
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TM says:
Chris, nice to hear you talk up QUEENS and how NYI fans want to go to QUEENS and would love it there. Good job explaining how more media and more support via mass transit would be in QUEENS plus having a city atmosphere.
However, I think it’s more news than positioning. Why would Wilpon speak ONLY to provide leverage for Wang against TOH to get the LH project? What’s in it for him? Unless there’s fire where there’s smoke. All about money.
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I’m for it, and know many others feel the same. Town of Hempstead, Nassau County wants to mess this up…their loss. Queens would be just fine…orange and blue baby!
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NyIsles says:
I really prefer the Mets not to have any share of the Isles franchise. They have their own problems. I’d prefer the Isles to stay on LI but moving to Queens wouldn’t be too bad if the Mets aren’t involved in ownership. Hopefully Wang could use Queens as leverage.
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mike says:
If Kate Murray would make a decision, this would be a non-issue. Does she realize that without the Islanders the Coliseum would be missing out on 42, plus nights of hockey. That building would go broke without them! Your not going to get anyone else to buy up those nights. She is a moron!
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Mike says:
I’ll be leaking a story tomorrow that the Maple Leafs suck and will be moved to a US city.
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Jon says:
Thank you for sticking up for Islanders fans everywhere. The reporting over the last few weeks has been embarrassing.
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goislesgo105 says:
Nassau County and the Town of Hempstead are NUTS if they let the Isles leave.There are alot of good ideas within the Lighthouse Project. I think a minor league baseball stadium with shops, restaurants and a waterway walk are great ideas!!They can’t seriously be considering building a casino?????
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Grandpa Ray says:
ahhhh.my two favorite heartbreaking teams within steps of each other..what a marriage
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IslanderFan says:
Nothing surprising with the Canadian media…..they should get it once and for all, The Islanders will never leave New York, i dont know what part of that they dont understand.
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vrinqueens says:
Just sell to Prokhorov (Russian Billionaire) who just purchased the Nets and is moving them to Brooklyn in 2 years.
Seeing JayZ in a Isles cap at at Nets game would be real nice. -
Paul says:
Flat out, I am not driving to Queens or Brooklyn for Hockey from Suffolk County!
Stop the madness.
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Toby says:
I partially agree 26. LIRR service would help BUT, I feel like moving to an outer borough would be, in essence, giving in. What about Suffolk? Tons of space. Would be easy to reconfigure an area to handle traffic.
Easy for me to say, I’m not losing $20 millon/ year.
Thank you Chris.
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CJCB says:
Just build it by already, this whole story is getting way to old, almost to the point of who cares where they go! Im SO sick of politics from the scum lvls of local to the politics of our once great nation. Its all a bunch of BS!!! It all stinks!!! I honestly would have no problem with Citifield Islanders or the Suffolk Islanders i just want them here, even if i end up leaving, lol!!
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gary says:
If they do leave, the area will fall apart–No one is going to want to put a park, buiding up only as the profit center wont be there–I guess Nassau/TOH will have to pay for the buildout—Oh yea—They bring no $$ to the table
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sean says:
NHL would not let a franchise leave NY. Idiots up in Canada would say and tell you anything to spread rumors and stir the pot. I say build in Suffolk county at Pilgrim. Nassau county sucks and would Never live in it. They are old fashion and don’t want any change.
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vukotaismyhero12 says:
Read today’s dailynews…mayor bloomberg even said he would be very open to having another team in queens
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bcarey says:
can the still do the Cup parade down Hempstead Turnpike?
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Lorne says:
Of course everyones first choice and mine is to stay in Long Island(Uniondale). However, if staying here means Brooklyn or Queens, then I am fine with that.
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StevieL says:
Went to last Friday nights Met game. Drove in. Left my house in Suffolk at 5:15 fora 7:10 start. Got there at 7:30. Traffic is crazy. Can’t see myself doing that a whole lot for a weeknight Hockey game! By the way, $19 to park at CitiField!! Be careful what you wish for!Find a Nassau or Suffolk solution, Please!
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I live in Suffolk, work in midtown Manhattan so weekday games after work might be more of a possibilty. At the end of the day, if the Islanders remain the Islanders with that beautiful logo/jersey, every single one of us would continue to support them once all the venting died down. And Blizzard (post #9) I agree with you. Good entry.
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Interesting that Wilpon mentioned to Daily News, “we’ve had TALKS (plural) With CW). Sounds like the process to move to Queen’s has already started.
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The issue that I am most dissapointed in is the chess game being played on both sides! Doesn’t matter Democrat or Republican these politicians are just pathetic! You have the GC folks complaining about the LH and its cons and then you have Mangano say he wants to put a casino up and that the traffic wouldn’t be bad at all! Good I hope GC chokes on their County Executive! What a joke this has all become!
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Mike in Bohemia says:
I hope TOH/Kate Murray is getting the message they don’t hold all the cards. My commute to the games would be twice the distance, but I wouldn’t mind a bit if they went to Queens. It seems most of the fans would be okay with it. If it happens, the Coliseum site will rot for years, and TOH/Murray will have gotten what they deserve.
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(Sim)ple says:
Steve, listen to the Mets and ‘take the train to the game’. This would help the Islanders so much because not only would a subway take you to the game, but so would the LIRR, and a bus too for that matter.
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doug says:
CB,
I haven’t heard your interview since the company I work for blocks Internet Radio and TV however, I’m sure you hit a home run. Also, since I live in NJ, having the Islanders playing in Queens or Brooklyn would be ideal to me since I could use public transportation to attend the games.
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DUKE KNIGHT says:
I agree w/#27, Suffolk would be perfect for an NHL team….I used to live C.I. and the old hospital grounds can accommadate Wang’s LightHouse…if im not mistakin’, theres old rails/or used to be on the eastside of the site/Carlton Ave that can be connected the mainline of the LIRR off of Suffolk ave…It can be an option…plus the southern state pkwy is just south of the courthouse..what traffic would there be? still easy access to the arena and the area is not to close to residential. GoogleEarth it Wang.
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Russel Ginart says:
CB-Can Wang get out of the NVMC lease earlier than 2015? Are there any loopholes that Wang could use to leave the Island ASAP? Most NFL teams have clauses in their leases that allow a team to leave for many reasons such as the stadium must be in the top 15% of league standards. Does Wang have any OUTS from this lease, or is he stick unitl 2015?
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geduffer says:
I would love to see them in Queens to stick it to the TOH as long as Charles owns the team. If the Wilpons were to buy the team, that would push me to being a full time Sharks fan.
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JtorBust says:
Wang keeps team , we move to Queens , I become a season ticket holder again, Wang goes back to running CA, stops meddling in hockey affairs, we become a real franchise again. I think that most Met fans are Isle fans and Yank fans are Rags fans , so this would be a homerun…
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Dennis says:
I live in oceanside.I walk outside my building,get on a train and i’m in brooklyn in 25 minutes and i keep my season tickets.If they move to queens and i have to drive,i’m done.
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Eastonhockey says:
#1- isles are not some up n comming team. Just cause they have players who score 12-18 goals a year doesn’t make them better then any other team in NHL.
#2 Wang loves being NHL owner as it makes him feel important but how do we know that he isn’t broke? Maybe Wang is low on $$$ and can’t fund the isles. The isles have lowest payroll cba will allow. They have lowest paid gm n coach. They save every penny possible. It would not surprise me to find out Wang is asking NHL for $$$$
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Pete says:
I too would strongly consider becoming a season ticket holder again, if they move to Queens.
I live in between Flushing and Hempstead, so the distance is no problem, actually it’s usually easier to get Citi Field than NVMC.
Go for it!
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Steven says:
Should the Mets play in Willets Point and east enders want to take the railroad, the first or last stop on the line is Port Washington. Parking at the train station lot, I believe, becomes available after 5 P.M. While there are other lots a block or two away, it’s not necessarily a parking paradise and the train fare is quite expensive. For what should have been a lifetime of acquired wisdom, Kate Murray’s name will forever be attached to failure if she can’t negotiate a deal.
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Michael says:
Being from Eastern Suffolk I only see about a eight games a year at the Coliseum. Every five miles this team moves west will mean a game that I’ll likely have to miss. The city sucks. Move out east.
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James says:
Well Dennis, sorry to hear you would be done, but in all honesty I think a move to Queens would gain the Isles many more season ticket holders than it would lose.
Just because its best for a few doesn’t mean it isn’t the best option.
I support a move to Queens, Brooklyn or a stay in Hempstead. I am tired of the games, I am tired of the talk from people all over this country who for some reason still think the Isles will move to KC. I am tired of people who don’t know what they are talking about telling me that my team is not going to be in NY in a few years.
We need good news, the Pens were saved about 10 years back and then became Stanley Cup champs. I hope history repeats itself.
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Al L says:
Paul #26,would you rather ‘flat out’ travel from Suffolk to Kansas City? Come on now! If you are an Islanders fan,unless you live on the outer reaches of The Sound,Flushing Meadow is quite convenient either with a stop on the LIRR or by automobile. If you aren’t willing to pass the border of Nassau for another 15 miles to see the Isles,you evidently aren’t much of a passionate fan.
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25yearfan says:
#19 – re the building being empty for 42 days — maybe Ms. Murray will propose use as a goat breeding facility, so she can export her brilliant “bio-maintenance” plan to other municipalities around the US…. In fact, this can be expanded as an incubator for all her great cost-saving ideas.
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#43 Dennis! You live in Oceanside and would not drive 12-15 miles to Queens to see your favorite team,but would pay the LIRR and travel 25 miles to Brooklyn? Unless your tolerance for enduring traffic is that low,I cannot understand you problem. When I lived in Brooklyn and had season tickets,I found no problem driving 28 to the Coliseum. Oceanside to Flushing Meadow??? You’ve got it made,kid!
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Dennis says:
Yes Al,to be honest my tolerance for driving is that low,because most people who do drive CAN’T.I am not leaving an hour early(at least)during rush hour to get to queens for a 7pm game.Then if its the same as the mets pay 19 dollars to park my car.I’m a yankee fan and gave up my ticket plan with them for the same reasons.I’ll take my nice relaxing ride on the train to brooklyn for 13 dollars and walk downstairs into the arena.
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Ken nyc says:
Move to Queens and be done with it, long live the orange and blue! TOH, you had your chance and blew it.
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Bryan says:
I live in the town of Islip and personally would love if the Isles moved to suffolk, but its a terrible idea. For a team struggling to build a fanbase the last thing we need to do is move further away from 10 million people. I would love if the team stayed in Nassau and somehow got a LIRR line to connect to a new coliseum/ light house project. I would be perfectly fine with taking the commute to willets point by train and watching them in a brand new arena in queens.
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Dennis, cant you take the train from Oceanside to Woodside and then Woodside to Citi? Probably take a while though right?
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JPinVA says:
“It’s all about money”… Now THAT’S breaking news.
Why is Charles Wang painted as the benevolent savior, while the Wilpon’s are painted as the greedy money-grabbers in this?
All I have to say, is it’s good to see you’ve gotten your old job back.
Good work.
Still.. Sanjay sits alone. -
isles72 says:
good job c’botts .
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1972 means I'm Old says:
Bryan 50: Thank you. I’ve followed the team religiously BEFORE they drafted Billy Harris in 1972, and I’ve been to the NVMC ten times in my life—usually via the kindness of others who have automobiles.
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Build it they will come….
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Let’s see! Ronkonkoma to the city off peak during the week is $10.75 plus a $2.50 subway fare, which looks a lot like a $26 round trip. Now consider a family of four. 26 times 4, $104 to get there and back ,plus approx $75 for a non nose bleed seat,times 4 is $300. Now we also got to eat and I will be conservative and say $15 a head times 4 is $60. All in $464 for a Tuesday night game plus commute time which is an hour and twenty minutes from Penn to Ronkonkoma. I have no idea how long the subway ride is from Willets to Penn, but I’m guessing at least 20 minutes. So I figure 2 hours commute time each way plus a $460 night at the game! I don’t think so! I think most Suffolk resident Islander fans say “No Thanks” to Willets Point Islanders!
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Isles fan says:
I wonder when the Isles move between now and 2015, what is Ms. Murray’s end game.
Does she want “her” builders to get to build office buildings on the property ??
I don’t see how anyone without an attachment to the Isles would be able to update the Coli on thier dime.
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Giaco says:
(54) Or you can spend 20 bucks and a 40 minutes and just drive there…
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Frankie D says:
There is no way the Isles would move to suffolk. They would lose half of the already depleting fanbase. As far as Kate Murray losing because the Islanders move to Queens or anyplace else, think again. I’m sure she has her stubby mitts in the Casino project that is being proposed. I said this over a year ago, that she wouldn’t approve the LH project because she has another agenda. Another use for that land and it didn’t include the Coliseum. So let’s get this over with and move to Queens. Let the GS crowd deal with more traffic then the can handle.
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admin says:
Thread closed.
Good work Chris. Awesome with the punch at the Toronto ‘newspaper’ and did a good job of fielding Bob’s questions.
The man definitely did/does not sounds like he cares much for this franchise.