Road Trip

Since top rated draft possibility Duchene played last night, wonder if any Islanders top brass may have gone to check him out? ya think???

CON-Sult or IN-Sult?

Oh what a difference a day makes! Yesterday's Newsday article by Eden Laikin regarding F.P. Clark's statement that the Lighthouse Development Group's 6,500 page statement was "incomplete" caused quite a stir within those who back the project.

Numerous facts came out yesterday, in of all places, on message boards regarding F.P. Clark and political contributions they have made to Town Supervisor Kate Murray's campaign. Oddly, this seemed to be information that Ms. Laikin DID NOT have at the time of her first article.

(So much for investigative reporting, eh?) So it took some Internet savvy Long Islanders to dig up the dirt that a paid reporter failed to print the article in Newsday, which is owned by Cablevsion who also owns the NY Rangers. (I did that right, right? It's a local law now, isn't it?)

Also disturbing to me in this morning's article on page A6 is the statement by Oyster Bay Supervisor John Venditto "If you don't do it, (make contributions) you won't be competitive."

I'm sorry, does that statement imply that consultants don't get chosen for work if they don't grease the wheel? Why, yes! I think it does! The article continues to say this is a clear example for campaign contribution reform but let's not get off topic here.

F.P. Clark is paid for "by the town out of an escrow account funded by the developer." Read that. They are PAID FOR BY THE LIGHTHOUSE PROJECT. The longer this process takes, the longer they will get paid. According to the article, that bill has been $85,262 so far. Nice chunk of change for a company out of Westchester who decides to contribute $4,750 to the campaign of a Long Island Republican.

Wait, Murray said she gave back $1,000 of it in February. Hmmmm... Gave it back? Does anyone give something back for nothing? Especially in politics, do you ever get something for NOTHING?

Could she have said to them that the project was such an arduous one that she KNEW it would take SO VERY LONG to review that she didn't feel comfortable taking an additional campaign contribution when they would have SO MUCH work ahead of them? wink, wink.

Politics! Insulting to those they are supposed to represent.

Branching Out During the Islanders Off-Season

Before my travel softball hell starts up again and before we know who will be the name called up at the podium on June 26th, what should I do to entertain myself?

Why join yet another hockey related website looking for contributors. Why not? It's not like I have things to do or that I actually work for a living. Nah!!! I've got time.

So this morning there's an interesting little email in my personal account from Hockeybarn.com with a "gift" of NHL conference call access to Bruce Boudreau to the first TWO writers that respond.

If anyone has had email exchanges with me, you know I'm the fastest e-mailer in the East. No sooner do you hit send and count to five, my response is probably staring back at you. So certainly, I was one of the two to jump on the call.

I clocked out for lunch, locked my office door, plugged that spy earpiece thingy into my Olympus recorder and off I went.

So if you would like to check out a new website devoted to hockey and read what head coach Bruce Boudreau had to say about the upcoming Round 2 series, you can read my take on the 15 minute tele-conference.

As Islanders fans you may find the Islanders dissing at one point of the teleconference amusing. Or like me, you may get pissed off.

We Rocked the Red, Now Let's Rock The Vote!

You saw what the additional voters did for our recent Presidential election. Maybe NOW is the time to take that power to the streets of Nassau County.

We've heard it before. We've seen it with our own eyes. Who do the politicians work for? Themselves or their constituents? Who are they supposed to work for? YOU. The Voter. But you can't VOTE unless you REGISTER to do so.

Now, can our local politicians cross party lines if they feel a project is good for the public even if it will be a red mark on their own career? They should be able to, but would they if they don't see a change in the tide?

Let's think about this. As Long Islanders we feel that certain projects such as the Lighthouse LI project will benefit the area, but our voices may not be making an impact no matter how loud we protest, or how many emails or Newspaper comments we submit. The only thing that politicians see are VOTES on their own ballots.

But before you can VOTE, you need to register. How many of us here on Long Island who are ELIGIBLE to vote on the local level are not registered? Well? How many?


If you are 18 years of age or older, a US citizen and have lived in your present Nassau County residence for at least 30 days, you are eligible. It is not only your right, but in this economic climate, I'd say it's your DUTY to register and get involved.

It's not hard to register to vote. Bring your ID and proof of residence to a local DMV or the Dept. of Labor or Worker's Comp board. Don't feel like getting up off your butt, here's the website. You can download the form and mail it in!

The Lighthouse LI project has just submitted the complete response for the DGEIS to the Town Of Hempstead. Their next step next step should be the Town of Hempstead declaring the DGEIS complete and schedule public hearings. It would be beneficial for everyone if those attending the public hearings were REGISTERED VOTERS.

The voice of VOTERS cannot be ignored. If you are NOT registered to vote then you will only be considered background noise.

How about it? Ready to Rock The Vote on Long Island? Haven't things been done the same way for far too long? It's time to make Nassau County move forward into the future. Be part of it.

2009 Stanley Cup Playoffs Round Two

As the two final game sevens of round one are finalized, the stage is set for round two. This only means that we are getting closer to the end of the hockey season as teams are eliminated.

We start with 30, it comes down to two and only one goes home with the prize.

As expected by the majority today, the NY Rangers were eliminated by the Washington Capitals. They had so many factors against them. Yet until midway through the third period the Rangers looked as if they would prove the naysayers wrong and come away the winner.

They played better than they have most of the year. They dominated the Capitals and gave Ovechkin no room to work his magic. Avery actually played the role of hockey player instead of class clown. It was actually an excellent game.

As the Caps were booed going off the ice at the end of the second period, it must have done something to Coach Bruce Boudreau. When he returned for the third, he tweaked the line matchups just a little bit. With less than five minutes left of the third, Fedorov managed to get the puck passed Lundquist who had been standing on his head all night long. He stopped 22 of 24 shots. But it just wasn't enough.

Even more surprising was the Canes beating the Devils in basically the last 1:20 of the third with two quick goals. One to tie up the game and one to make it count. The Devils didn't even have time to react to the loss as it happened so fast.

Mrs. Staal will be very happy tonight as one of her baby boys netted the game winner for the underdog Canes.

This is hockey. It surprises you at every turn.

No bench meltdowns tonight. No game misconducts. Just edge of your seat, nail biting playoff action.

Come Friday, it starts all over again. The season is now down to Vancouver vs. Chicago, Detroit vs. Anaheim, Washington vs. Pittsburgh and Boston vs. Carolina. One of these eight teams will hoist the Stanley Cup come June.

And the rest of us will have to watch re-runs of sitcoms all freakin' summer.

*Thank you Twitter user Lori for your great shot of the board!

Will it Be Tantrum Tuesday?

It all comes down to this day for four Eastern teams. I hear so many people saying there's nothing like a game 7; do or die time. Who goes home and who goes on to round two. But having to get through a seven game series, that team that moves on is a little more spent than the one that only had to get through four games. Some lose their key players that helped them get through the series.

That is what will be so interesting tonight. It's not just WHO will win, but how they will win.

Brent Sutter is such a start contrast to fiery Ranger coach John Tortorella, so all the media attention before this evening's games will be on Torts more than likely led by his media nemesis Larry Brooks.

Do you ever wonder if Tortorella says "Brooks" the way Jerry Seinfeld used to say "Newman." I think he does. I'm sure he wanted to say a few choice things yesterday when Brooks attempted to press the coach for an explanation, a comment, a confession or at least a simple apology. What he received was the typical John Tortorella bristle that I was so afraid would have been representing the NY Islanders when they were in search of a coach.

All he needed to do was say it was a mistake, I shouldn't have done it and be done with that. Instead the team that never hands out details releases a letter with graphic details attempting to look like victims.

If there was a security problem he should have just taken the team off the ice One man cannot fight 20,000 fans with a water bottle and a hockey stick. What was he thinking?

Glen Sather put security for the Rangers tonight in Washington into the league's hands. The league has responded. They will make sure the security is adequate. Considering that Washington DC is responsible for the security of the first Black President in US history, I think they can manage to protect one hot headed coach and a team from the Big Apple.... seriously.
But they won't be able to protect them from the wrath of Alexander Ovechkin.

The Devils and the Canes will start a little later but will be just as entertaining I'm sure. It will prove to be a Hurricane blowout if they can once again get in Marty's head early in the game. The Devils had better show up to play tonight or perhaps even Sutter will blow a gasket for a change.

Rockin' The Red all night long. I may be tailgating on my porch because it all comes down to now.

I Hear Crickets....

I got nothing.

We've beaten the John Tortorella saga to death and I really don't want to get ripped again for it.

I could say how happy I was that Jason Blake had a two point game in Switzerland this morning, but I've already had my say over at Leafspace.

I could also say how happy I am for Scott Gordon for his second win of the tournament.

Should I mention the six game suspension to Donald Brashear for his hit on Rangers penalty kill machine Betts? Should I really open that can of worms? No.

I can tell you that I get more information off Twitter than I ever imagined possible and it's pretty damn well addicting.

I have no news on the Lighthouse LI Project to discuss, so that's out, and I'm to a point where I don't even really care any more whose name Garth Snow announces at the podium on June 26th. Just get it over with so we don't have to wonder any more.

Tomorrow is the big night of Game Sevens. It's going to be a big night. So I won't waste your time.

Or mine..... I do enough of that all damn day.

Night.

USA Gold in 2009

Just to revive the Team USA train of thought, I happened upon this article on the USA Hockey website.

Two Women's teams and the Men's U18 teams have won gold this year so far. That says a LOT about the USA hockey program. Doesn't it neighbor to the north?

The Tortorella Rule?

So it turns out the NHL does have balls when it comes to the NY Rangers after all. Yesterday when Steve Zipay had interviewed John Tortorella after practice, it seemed as if the whole ugly display would just disappear as the Rangers chose to just sweep it under the locker room, logo rug.

"I've been asked, as far as that situation, not to comment on that." Torts told the media. He was told to say that by his boss, the NY Rangers (who are owned by Cablevisoin, which also owns Newsday... and News 12.... and TV station MSG and MSGPlus... and any other media outlet you can find on Long Island. I'm really getting tired of seeing that disclaimer in every hockey article I read in Newsday. I KNOW WHAT THE HELL THEY OWN!!! 90% OF MY MEDIA COVERAGE!... but I digress....)

The whole scene was caught on video from various angles and replayed on Youtube over and over again.

It shouldn't have happened, but John Tortorella is a passionate man in a passionate sport coaching a team that fans are passionate about. They are passionately loved and passionately HATED. But he is the Coach, he is supposed to know better.

In Larry Brook's NY Post article this morning he stated that there is actually a memo from September of 2008 that states there should be no contact with fans and specifically indicates the spraying of water. Hmmmm.... Ladies and Gentlemen, first the League gave us the "Avery Rule" and now we have the "John Tortorella Rule."

Thou shalt not spray water upon fans in the arena. Will they elaborate on that memo and continue "thou shalt not brandish hockey sticks in a threatening manner or poke them through the seams of the glass"?

He let the fans get the best of him. It was disappointing considering he is a quality coach. As my husband said to me this morning, if he felt the situation was out of hand he should have walked the team off the ice until the arena security could get it under control.

I liked that idea. It would have been classy. However, it also may have started a riot. But Tortorella should not have become so angry as to need to be restrained. Did he seriously think he was going to jump into the stands and take on the heckler Mano y Mano? Who does he think he is? Mike Milbury? What kind of shoes you wearing John? If they have laces, it doesn't work.

The Rangers will hit the ice at 2 pm today on their own turf. The Ranger fans do not have the greatest reputation for crowd control. I wish Coach Boudreau luck this afternoon. He just may need it.

Rockin' the Red.... all day long! Go Caps, Go Devils!

*photo from the National Post.