Blogging is Tough when there is TOO much going on!

Hey! This is MAY in Islander Country! I’m supposed to be day dreaming and looking for things to write about. Instead, I can’t keep up. If blogging is supposed to be short, quick personal thoughts, then this is truly going to be a blog tonight.

Islanders Open House Part 2: Wish more people were there. CJ Papa did a great job on the big stage, but he always does. The Blue & Orange silk tie was a nice touch too. There was a great video presentation on the draft prospects narrated by ESPN’s EJ Hradek. I kept an eye on both Garth and Ted as they watched the video looking for some sort of reaction at certain players. Nada. They just watched it on the jumbotron like everyone else. Good work though from the ITV crew.

Chris Dey talked about the new Islanders Community incentives to get kids to play hockey. “A Goal in every driveway.” Not a bad idea, they are planning on giving out street hockey sticks and goal nets. Great, they are arming our youth. Just kidding. It’s a interesting concept in growing the game from the ground up.

In July the Islanders will start making appearances at local hockey rinks to help better prepare kids for both on and off the ice. They’ll then host a “Hockey Night on Long Island” (hey! Where have I heard THAT before?) where they will invite entire teams to a game to celebrate their local rink.

They are also going to see if they can arrange for an Islanders team practice at any facility that can actually house them. Oh Great! They thought the Coliseum locker room was awful? Wait till they see the one in the Dix Hills Rink. (Don’t get pissy at me people, I’ve never actually seen it, but I have skated there and wondered if it was built sometime during the 40s. It just looks that old.)

Expect the Islanders to draft the best possible player available at the time this year in the draft. And since they have some good picks available, Garth is pretty confident it’ll be a good year for the NY Islanders. He’s hoping for young, home grown talent to grace the ice at the Coliseum. They are working very hard with the revamped scouting staff to go over all possible scenarios for Draft Day.

There are so many events planned, you’re just going to have to check the website and print out the calendar… like I did…. Because I can’t retain it all.

After Garth and Ted did their little Q&A thing, Bruno and Jon Sim were invited up on stage. Thanks to Inside Hockey’s Brad Kurtberg for making me laugh for the first time in 9 days. As Bruno and Sim walked up the stairs to the stage, Brad leaned over to me and said “Jon, this is the Coliseum, incase you don’t remember it.” For some reason, that just struck me funny. Hopefully ITV didn't get the maniacal laughter coming from the second row.

Even funnier…. Ted Nolan signed more autographs than Sim did. Our coach has rock-star like appeal.

Equally appealing, Garth Snow met with every fan that wanted to talk… and talk… and talk…and never once walked away from them or cut them short. Two gentlemen, armed with a prospect report newsletter tried to pin him down to an answer as to who he will take with the first round pick. That wasn’t happening, but Snow was grinning ear to ear when they said they loved the Ryan Smith deal even though it didn’t work out as planned in the end.

“Did you get that Dee?” He asked me as I waited with my Blog Box buddies waiting to speak with him.

“Yes, Garth. I got it.”

So the truth is, Garth made that historic trade, and would do it again today if it presented itself. He gave away one Swedish brat boy and one disgruntled Russian and came away with Capt. Canada. Other than having to buy stock in Kleenex, it was a good move. Had Ricky not taken a knock to the noggin', who knows where the team would have ultimately ended up.

Let’s see what sort of history making moves he makes this summer. We know he’s always good for a surprise or two, as well as a laugh. I don’t know where else you’re going to be able to get up close and personal with a major sports team’s GM.

Let’s see Lou Lamoriello stand for 2 ½ hours getting grilled on contracts and trades by the average Joe. Uh… yeah… right.

More in the next few days. Keep checking back.
B4

NYI Open House 5-14-08 & 20 Questions

Well, if you missed it, and I know it certainly seemed like a lot of you did, there was some interesting information to come out of tonight’s event. It’s too late for me to go through all the stuff that will be covered by the website, and everyone else. But I will tell you a little secret.

We complain we don’t get enough TV coverage? That should soon change. Look forward to the debut on June 18th of an all Islanders TV show to air on… dare I say it? ACTUAL TV! Yep. The people who bring you ITV are going to try their hand at a half hour Islanders Illustrated TV show that should air once a month over the summer, and then once every two weeks once the season starts. A grand undertaking, but we certainly deserve it.

On another note that made me supremely happy (ok, all things considered, just somewhat less miserable) we are being treated to a very, VERY special guest MC for the June 20th Draft Party: ESPN’s own John Buccigross. I have loved reading this man’s work for years, and his latest book “Jonsey” is one of my favorites.

Now, for all of you who have ever had burning questions about the NY Islanders but were afraid to ask, or just didn't have anyone TO ask... NOW is your chance! Whether it's a question about the glory day Islanders, present day or just hockey in general, you've got a limited window to ask away.
Check out http://nyipointblank.blogspot.com/.


There are other interesting events planned throughout this “not really” off-season for the NY Islanders, but it’s late, and I’m tired. So I’ll try again to fill you in another day.
Night all in NYIC.

Spending Mother's Day with Sid the Kid

I basically relaxed and did just about NOTHING today except eat, drink, shop and read. But I made sure that dinner was over and done with by 7:30 in order to be in front of the TV to watch the Battle of PA. And what a game it was.

As soon as it started and they showed the packed arena, I couldn’t help but just sit back and say “Wow!” That’s what playoff hockey looks like. It’s amazing. Is it really true that the address is 66 Mario Lemieux Place? Sorry, but to me, that’s cool as well. And in looking at their website, there’s actually a tab for “Season Ticket Waiting List.” Wait, let me repeat that… the OLDEST building in the NHL has a WAITING list for Season Tickets. I guess that’s what happens when you have about the brightest stars in the league playing under one roof.

Only two minutes after this game started there was blood on the ice. A deflected puck smashed the face of Braydon Coburn and he lay on the ice with both gloves over his face while blood dripped to the ice. He did not return to the lineup.

Within minutes of the ice being scraped and play resuming, Upshall and Kennedy broke into a brawl more like a bar fight that spilled into the streets. They were possessed and neither was backing down. Both ended up in the box. With all the stoppages it was easy to see this game was going to be far longer than expected.

I am very impressed with Dupuis. He made some beautiful moves weaving in and out of traffic, passing the puck through legs and picking up his own pass. Actually all the passing is amazing to see. They just KNOW where to find their line mates.

I was dismayed to see Downie back in the line up after he had been out for the last three games, but his shifts are limited since he only seems to have one purpose: Agitating. I don’t like him.
Now for all of those out there who have this conspiracy theory that the NHL wants Sidney Crosby in the finals, and some other unpleasant comments that NBC is the “Nothing But Crosby” network, let me just say if that was truly the case, then the war room would have given Sid the goal that he was robbed of that hit Hatcher in the head and then tapped the post and just squeaked on it’s side past Biron, but his glove obstructed the camera’s view, though any mathematician could have proven it’s position over the line. It took forever for Toronto to determine “No Goal” and Sid was disappointed of course, as he KNEW it was over the line and Biron sold the save.

The Pens had chance after chance taken away from them with Malkin’s broken stick on the ice interfering and killing at least 3 chances for the Penguins to capitalize on a power place with seconds ticking off the end of the first.

When Jeff Carter tied it at 1 in the 2nd period, it was a brand new Hockey game and Sydney seemed to be energized, but Hartnell picked up a pass that was meant for Dupuis. It was beautiful if it had worked. Sydney slowed down, spun around and passed right to Dupuis coming in on Biron, but Hartnell got his stick there first. Not to worry, Hossa took the lead at 13:43 of the second on the power play. Thinking this game was in the bag, I started to search the internet and read threads on my NYIC message board. That was a mistake.

With only 23 seconds left of the 2nd, Mike Richards managed a short handed goal that just shocked Fleury. Again, it was anyone’s game. I guess I should pay more attention. But I didn’t pay attention and I missed an unusual “Let’s give the Goalie a penalty for trying to keep guys out of his crease” penalty on Biron. I can’t fault Biron for taking a whack at Ruutu. Biron got 2 for roughing and Ruutu 2 for diving, it went well with his last penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct to end the 2nd. If Biron had to take the penalty, he should have made it more worth his while.
Maxine Talbot made it 3 -2 on a Downie turnover at 11:09 of the third. I may not like Downie, but if he wants to help the Pens win, I’ll say “Thanks. “ It turned out to be the game winner even though Jordan Staal added an empty netter at 28.8 left of the third.

Game Over at 10:26 pm EST at 4 - 2. Pens are now 2-0 for the series and heading into Philly.
Ok. Are you wondering why this Islander Uber Fan is writing about this one? Simple. A) Boredom B) It IS hockey C) Rob Scuderi IS an Islander (sort of).

And as outlined in Newsday today, if the Penguins go on to win the Stanley Cup this year; Rob Scuderi will be the first Long Islander to have his name inscribed on it. That fact alone is reason to root for a Penguins win! Let’s give hockey on Long Island a little shot in the arm and let all those kids currently in youth programs all across LI have something to dream of!

Happy Mother’s Day 2008

This is just a quick personal note to the Mothers in MY life on this pleasant Sunday morning. Thanks for putting up with the fact that I can’t stand sending out cards. I’m horrible at it and they never leave the kitchen table. I have a Hallmark Gold Crown membership, and I buy them. They just sit here until I actually see you. Sorry about that.

Thank you for dealing with our family’s schedule. Between the travel softball thing, the hockey thing and the Fire Department thing… I know everyone tries to work around us and even accepts when we can’t be somewhere or are perpetually LATE.

To my Mother who now understands the way to start conversations with me is to ask what happened the night before at the game. She never liked sports before. Now she wakes up to read Greg Logan’s articles and calls me to ask where he is when he’s not the one writing them. I find that wildly amusing.

To my Mother-In-Law who knows the heart-break I felt losing Blake from the team when I told her Kozlov wasn’t coming back. And thanks for being able to run up to the Coliseum on a minutes notice when your son couldn’t go with me.

Thanks to GG also for being the best Grandmother and Great Grandmother there could be.
Thanks also to my daughter, who is the reason I am a mother. You’ll put me in an early grave, but I still love you.

Thanks to everyone who understands when I say “No. I can’t come over. There’s a game on…. And you don’t’ get VS.”

Penguins vs. Flyers tonight. Chocolate covered strawberries, champagne and comfy clothes on my couch. THAT is what I’m looking forward to this Mother’s Day.

Enjoy all!
7th