From The Sharp Mind that brought you the Crackberry

Comes a new fantasy! www.Makeitseven.com is an email address gathering initiative by Jim Balsillie and company in order to try to strong arm the NHL into letting him buy the Phoenix Coyotes.

The website only gives you two opens. Sign up to receive info:

It's an exciting time for professional hockey in Southern Ontario and it has nothing to do with the playoffs. Jim Balsillie has made an offer to purchase the Phoenix Coyotes and relocate them to Southern Ontario. Jim stated, "I am excited to move closer to bringing an NHL franchise to what I believe is one of the best un-served hockey markets in the world". Read the full release statement here.
We are building an exciting online community to help promote bringing Canada its seventh franchise. Sign up here for updates and alerts as we build this site and show the hockey world that we are ready!
Together, we can make it seven!

Or reading their press release, or "full release statement" as they call it.

Interesting enough that statement is:

TORONTO (May 5, 2009) – Jim Balsillie tabled an offer today to purchase the Phoenix Coyotes, following the team’s bankruptcy filing. The offer to purchase the team for $212.5 million (U.S.) is conditional on relocation to Southern Ontario, to become the seventh NHL franchise in Canada.

So in other words, this isn't really a deal at all if it's conditional on them relocating which needs to be agreed to by the NHL.

I wonder how many Coyote fans have joined up so far? If they don't want to join the mailing list, they can always join makeitseven.com on twitter. Nothing like using the monster you helped create to your best advantage.

It's going to be an interesting fight considering how the NHL just pumped quite a bit of cash into that franchise to keep it where it is.

Gary Bettman on the NHL Hour on XM 204 and NHL.com live today from 4 - 5 pm will probably be asked about this for the entire hour. I'm thinking this is the same thing as Brian Burke telling everyone he's getting John Tavares at the draft in June.

Is there something in the water in Toronto when there's no hockey going on? Seriously...

Because Every Cloud has a Silver Lining

Even when most people won't look for it.

Joshua A. Bernstein is doing a wonderful series on this year's milestones. The first installment is Forwards. Even though you may not find anything earth shattering, trust me, these are facts that will be repeated in coming years for many of them as their NHL careers progress.

Last night, on the one year anniversary of his departure, IslandersPointBlank's Chris Botta was the final guest of the season at the NY Islanders Booster Club. He had a lot to say, so much so I ran out of time on my digital recorder. But you can only find out what he said if you are a member of the club and receive their newsletter. You don't have to be local to join up.

Team USA advances to the semi-finals by beating Team Finland today. Kyle Okposo had an assist along with my original boy, Jason Blake. At first I was a little worried with Esche still in goal, but he pulled through. Next up, Friday against Team Russia. THAT will be a real test.

Good Luck Scotty!

Wacky Wednesday!

It's only 7 am and I woke up with one eye feeling as if it was glued shut. Luckily, it was my good eye.

Once again, I don't know why the hell I read the paper or listen to the news when I first wake up. It just makes you want to crawl back into bed.

First, on the local political side. Did you see another developer is asking for answers from the Town of Hempstead for their Mitchell Field Project? Did any of us know there was a Mitchell Field Project going on??? Well there is! A stone's throw from the Coliseum parcel.

Now, if this project with it's 160 apartments and 44 town houses gets pushed through by the ToH, won't that be VERY telling? The development is not by a Long Island firm but by a Virginia developer. Ten percent will be "affordable housing."

Hey!!! Garden City, what do you have to say to that????

*Note: That's just a photo a random photo of buildings.

Next up, the Phoenix Coyotes file bankruptcy and look to sell the team. Enter the man who would be king in Canada, Jim Balsillie. The NHL let out a collective gasp. I'm sure they're really happy now they just pumped money into the franchise. Ouch.

As mentioned however, I'm sure the Toronto Maple Leafs are constructing their argument against another team in their market. This should be interesting.

The first face transplant in the United States is revealed, and I wish I wasn't eating breakfast at the time.

Team USA takes on Team Finland today in Switzerland and it's a must win game. I wonder if Sean Bergenheim was on team Finland, if Kyle Okposo would get into a pushing match with him? We'll never know, will we. Good Luck Scott. If Jason Blake hits the post again instead of the back of the net, tell him you're going to unleash ME on him. That should motivate him.

The Islanders create a "Who's Your No. 1 Draft Pick" contest to take winners to Montreal to the draft and some fans complain about it. WTF?

The Islanders Morning Coffee email has a new, very cool look and daily information. Sign up and it will be delivered to your in box daily.

Let's see what other surprises can pop up today. I'm sure there will be some.

What Willets Point has over Uniondale?

Support from a local government for an economic development and growth plan.

Okay, take away the fact that the area is roughly HALF the size of the Lighthouse project at 60 acres as opposed to almost 150. Forget the idea that in this smaller acreage, they are calling for more than TWICE the number of residences. (And a good portion of them are actually classified as LOW INCOME HOUSING and not SECOND GENERATIONAL.) Put aside the fact that 45 of these acres are/were owned by other people and need to be acquired and/or claimed by the city, and sideline the fact that businesses, jobs and people need to be relocated.

This project is getting an all out "gung-ho" hype from the local politicians and some of our own fans.

Do you know what bothers me about it?

Those 60 acres they want to build homes, stores, a convention center, a school and a park are going to be built on.... HAZARDOUS GROUNDS as admitted and indicated in the NYCEDC'S own brochure.

It will require seven feet of landfill in order to raise the area above the flood level, and that's after they attempt to clean out the area they want to occupy. (Do you really think that digging out and refilling will keep the toxins from escaping especially if they have already hit the ground water level?)

Oh, and about that little "traffic" thing that we make so much of on Long Island. NY seems to have a different way to look at it. "Yeah, there'll be traffic, just about the same amount as there will be by 2017 if we do nothing." Solution? Deal with it.

Check out their information on their final environmental impact statement. Interesting stuff. But hey! They're ready to BUILD, right? Isn't this what we're being told?

Come on Charles and Company! Move to Queens! We're ready to rock if you are! Hell, check their published time line:


Timeline for Willets Point Redevelopment
Below is the estimated timeline for major milestones in the redevelopment initiative.


Spring 2008: Seek ULURP Certification Release recommendations of M/WBE Task Force

Summer 2008:

June 30 - Queens Community Board 7 Hearing and Vote
July 11 - Borough President's Hearing July 30 - Borough President's Recommendations Issued August 13 - City Planning Commission Public Hearing for the DGEIS
September 12 - Notice of Completion for the FEIS

Fall 2008

September 24 - City Planning Commission Vote
October 1 - Launch Workforce Assistance Program


Spring 2009: Select developer

Spring/Summer 2009: Continue site acquisition and relocation

2010: Begin site preparation, remediation, and construction

Notice the swiftness at which the city can move. Astounding, isn't it?


Hello: Town Of Hempstead, Republican Party Chairman, large scale developments CAN actually get done in ONE political term not lifetime.


Now, all this being said, and this is simply my personal (suburbanite mother & housewife) view, I would never want to see my hockey team on this site.

Hockey arenas are generally built with a good portion of the area below grade. As they have already admitted, the ground below grade is "hazardous" from decades of dumping. I'm not very comfortable with my team, my friends or my family sitting in an environmental time bomb for 42 games a year.


Unless they can guarantee me that from hanging out in the underground weight room, Rick DiPietro will mutate and grow two more arms to make incredibly brilliant saves, I'd like to continue to fight for the big grey parking lot in Nassau County that already has a hole in the ground called the NVMC.


Thanks... but no thanks.

Dear Toronto Sun: Do Your Homework!

So in my normal Google Searches that I have going, I came across this little gem from GARY LOEWEN of the Toronto Sun in his Offside Monday column. While his style seems to be acerbic and sarcastic, I can deal with typical Canadian shots at our team and the hockey sense of one Mike Milbury, but I took great offense to a tiny error in his reporting of something going on so very far away from him when discussing the Lighthouse project.

"Let’s get the taxpayers to bail out the myriad bonehead moves that have sunk the franchise.
Get the governments to build a new facility to attract the fans and take their attention off the team."

Uh, Gary. There is no "taxpayer" bailout here. Actually, it's more like the taxpayers will benefit as they usually do when a commercial property moves into a neighborhood to take up some of the slack in an unbalanced budget.

Now, in an effort to correct Mr. Loewen at Sun Media, I sent an email and received a response stating that he had done research and that the developers were seeking a grant.

Hmmmmmm..... I'm just wondering exactly what research "source" this news outlet in Canada chose to use. Certainly not one that gave him accurate information.

But that's right... Brian Burke also has John Tavares signed to a contract with the Leafs already too... Right?

Stepping Up to the Mic

And talking hockey with Brad Kurtzberg last night at WGBB AM studio in West Babylon.

The last time I was there was October of 2007 and I was exceptionally nervous. This time, with so much more experience in the hockey world (yeah, right) I was far more comfortable and actually didn't feel like I was going to throw up. No. Last night my biggest worry was "Dear God, please don't let me curse on air."

Brad and I have become good friends in the last two years and we talk all the time. He knows me well, and yet he STILL asked me to come in. As a passionate hockey fan, our conversations can become quite "colorful" to say the least. With the front cover of Newsday proclaiming Wang's remorse for purchasing the Islanders, I thought for sure I'd let one or two profanities slip. Luckily.... I didn't.

As the last of four guests last night, I was happy to hear the first guest, Kevin Greenstein from InsideHockey.com have some pretty similar views on the upcoming draft to my own. I also listened intently to Dave Maloney discuss the pitfalls of the NY Rangers and kept myself from laughing at their early exit from the playoffs.

When I first arrived at the studio, I talked to Brad about the shocking end of the NJ Devils season and wondered how Lou Lamarillo felt about it. After all, Brian Burke may be the Pope of hockey, but Lou Lamarillo is certainly the Godfather!

Sure enough, Brad asked Matt Sweetwood of NJDevs.com how Lou was handling the defeat and what he planned to do in the off season.

With Adam behind the glass at the mixing board and Brad at the mic, the show's timing was as perfect as a Rolex watch. Then it was time and the mic in front of me went "live."

Maybe espresso wasn't the best thing to drink in the car on the way over to the studio? I think the speed at which I let loose even surprised dear friend Brad. I just knew as the last guest on, with the clock ticking, I had to get it all out there before the clock struck 10.

I had only been prepped with "Okay, be ready to talk about the draft and about the Lighthouse." I was. But then additional questions started coming and still managed to run out answers at lightening speed.

My only regret is calling the draft combine "Columbine." I realized it in my head the second time I said it and felt like an absolute jerk and started to wonder to myself what else I could have possibly said incorrectly.

I'll have to take a listen. You can too as Rob Kowal (the man that hardly sleeps) already posted the podcast last night after 11 at www.nyhockeytalk.com.

*Additional hockey notes: Carolina stuns the Bruins 3 - 0, NBC lets the Ducks & Wings go into triple overtime and doesn't cut away to celebrity poker, Team USA takes on Mark Streit and Team Switzerland today at 2:15 pm (they had better win damn it!) and Stan Fischler called me "The Ultimate Ice Cashew".... and I loved it.

Newsday: Who Needs This?

WE DO!

Thank you Newsday editors for a headline that finally made me read the main part of the paper before I headed straight to the comics. Sensationalism at it's best, eh?

Wang's Regret: Sorry he bought the team. That's a good one too. I really enjoyed that one with my Sunday breakfast.

While both articles by Jim Baumbach and Liz Moore are far more fair and equal than some of the previous articles, those who chose to give them a careless glance may NOT come away with the full picture.

If all you read are Wang's Options and The Next Steps, you may come away with the conclusion that this is a done, dead deal. Please hold off printing the obituary while there is still a pulse.

Okay, big picture: We have a political pissing match in Uniondale over Republican vs. Democrat demographics.

Bigger picture: Our economy on Long Island is suffering greatly as a whole and can ill afford a setback in growth and stimulus at the hands of one township.

The innuendo in the Dark days for the Lighthouse article that really pushes my buttons is the possibility of Democratic voters moving into those proposed 2,306 residences being part of the underlying effort to hold up the process.

Dear Town Of Hempstead: Please be advised that since the Lighthouse project will be built in stages, you have a few years before you have to worry about WHO or WHAT will move into your neighborhood. But let's think about this, by the time those residences are ready to be occupied the political make up of this country may be quite different.

The Democratic government that is currently in power may find themselves with a huge backlash against them attempting to turn the US of A into a socialist "Canada Light." I wouldn't worry about where the Democrats will live. I'd worry about FIXING THE REPUBLICAN PARTY ITSELF!!

Continue on into today's Newsday to the Editorials section and read 'Heavy lift' defined regarding a different multi-use development in Brentwood. It states the obvious, the Island is in desperate need of housing as well as jobs.

If residents don't have affordable places to live, they will leave. If they leave, there is no tax revenue from them to fund the government and its services. If there are no services or work force, the businesses will have to leave. If the businesses leave, Long Island will eventually be a nice memory and a dying community. Where will your perfect vision of suburbia be then Town Of Hempstead?

My favorite line in today's newspaper is also in that editorial as it closes with:

"Instead of shooting at each other in the tall grass, everyone needs to pay attention to the big picture, which is much the same as at Pilgrim: the need for sensible, economically and environmentally healthy development."

The LighthouseLI Project can be completed in it's multi-staged build-out to be beneficial to all of Long Island AS WELL AS be environmentally sound. Solutions for all possible problems exist. But to blindly dismiss an entire project because of perceived concerns is a death sentence.

No one left on this Island will care in 10 years who is a democrat and who is a republican because our best days will be behind us.

Smarten up people! We have still have an opportunity to move forward, but only if you let yourself be heard.

*As an aside: I am scheduled to be on air with Inside Hockey's Brad Kurtzberg tonight on WGBB's NY Hockey Talk. Brad is subbing for Rob Kowal this evening and asked if I wanted to come along for the ride. The show is webstreamed from 9 - 10 pm and will be available on podcast. The url is: http://www.nyhockeytalk.com/. Hopefully I won't suck.

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.