Cablevision Strikes Again!

Yesterday the NHL made the welcome announcement that Center Ice would be carrying the Bruins vs. Carolina Game 7 on their service and on their on line package.

This was a bonus for hockey fans as Versus actually had the rights to the games and only planned on cutting to the Bruins game once the Ducks vs. Red Wings game was over.

As an Eastern Conference fan, I was more interested in the Bruins/Canes game even though the Ducks had a great story going for themselves. I was ready to watch one and keep an eye on the other.

When I got home from work, I checked the Center Ice package channels (that are now all MLB channels now boo hiss...) and found the lower screen banner indicated the game was to air at 8 pm on SP1. I was content, turned on Versus at 7 pm and started watching their coverage.

At 7:55 pm, I went looking for the game. It was gone. The channel it was supposed to air on was blank. Other MLB/NHL channels were dark. There were scattered baseball games on some of the other channels but no Bruins.

I freaked. I tried to call the evil Dolan Empire and got the automated call answer that had no choice for programming information. Only BUYING more, reporting an outage or making an appointment. Talking to an operator was not an option.

I tried all the choices and some they didn't give me. "I'm sorry, I did not recognize that choice." And back to the original message my call went. The clock ticked by and by 8:15 pm, I was resigned to the fact that I was screwed. I decided to e-mail NHL's Center Ice about it, just for my own satisfaction.

I was reduced to web streaming the radio audio of the game from the Bruins website and keeping an eye on the Hurricane's live blog, watching Versus and expressing my disgust on Twitter.

Five minutes ago I received my answer from NHL Center Ice:

Thank you for your email. Cablevision had a technical error in their systems and did not air the game in NHL Center Ice. We apologize for this inconvenience. Please contact Cablevision in regards to this matter further.

Thanks,

NHL Center Ice

Dear Center Ice:

Cablevision's only technical error is they are a technological monopoly that reserves the right to disseminate entertainment in my area. Oh.... and if it ain't the Rangers, they don't give a crap.

Hello... Verizon? Let's talk Fios.

Congrats to Paul Maurice and the Hurricanes on a great win. THAT was a game 7! Too bad I had to listen to it instead of WATCH it for the first two periods of play!

Change is Good....

Greg Logan informed the faithful that both the training and coaching staff will have new faces this season for the Islanders.

So many of us complained about the training staff that I'm surprised they didn't storm the coliseum and remove Chris Schwarz themselves. Assistant coach Dan LaCroix was also terminated today. Personally, I think it should have been done sooner, but oh well.

Okay Scotty. It's your team now. Chose your assistants wisely.

The suggestion that a defenseman with Islanders ties will be brought into the fold leaves me with two words........

Eric...
Cairns.

Red Wings advance in a great hard fought Game 7. Someone measure Chris Osgood's shoulder pads though. He looks like that old Carol Burnett skit where she wore the curtain rod as Scarlett O'Hara.

Waiting for the Bruins and Canes to start overtime to see who advances in that series. Oddly, even without have any real affinity to any of the teams, the games are still very exciting.

Think You Can't Grow Hockey in the Desert? Just ask A Woman!

While listening to my my weekly dose of the NHL Hour on XM Home Ice, 204, Commissioner Gary Bettman took a call from a woman in Phoenix. She was very pleasant and wanted to thank Mr. Bettman for his support of the Coyotes in the fan's plight of keeping the franchise exactly where it is.

Mr. Bettman did reiterate the League's "covenant" with the fans, "We do EVERYTHING we can to FIX problems. We don't run out on the cities." You could tell that he was very sincere in his words as was the female caller from Phoenix who called in appreciation.

When Mr. Bettman asked her if she felt that Hockey belongs in the desert, her answer was simple. "YES! I wasn't a fan until I saw my first hockey game in 1997. Now I'm the President of the Booster Club."

Just as I have asserted all along, it is the female demographic who is becoming more and more important to this game and this league.

Regarding the court case surrounding the Coyotes, the NHL was in court today and I do not have any information on that as of yet. However, the City of Glendale itself has filed a suit because the wording in the lease requires all home games to be played in that arena. They feel they too can block the sale to the Blackberry king.

In addition, while I was researching the law suits, I stumbled upon this quote from Mr. Bettman by Bob Baum at the Associated Press.

"I don't know if he (Jim Balsillie) could get approved. That's as I said, something I don't get a vote on. If in fact it becomes an issue for board consideration, the board of governors of the league will make that decision."

So, for all those who believe that Gary Bettman is the man standing in the way of "MakingitSeven," think again.

And Speaking of SEVEN -- Two game sevens tonight and hopefully they will both be better than the one we watched last night.

Later all

Kate Murray Once Again Supplies my Morning WTF Moment

Oh good grief! Thank you Nick for your once again EYE OPENING article and findings on the antics of Town of Hempstead Supervisor Kate Murray.

It seems that the lawn mowing goats weren't quite enough. She has to bring out the heavy artillery and has now employed a bovine to do the job. Wonder how much IT will make per hour part time?

And don't they look nice in that photo together? Awwweee... Tom Suozzi and Kate going over plans working hand in hand for the betterment of their constituents?

Yeah, well that was THEN and this is NOW and she won't even be in the same room with the man. Who does this woman work for?

I implore anyone who lives in the Town of Hempstead to please register to vote so that you can vote come November. If you believe in what Ms. Murray is doing, fine. Please vote any way. It is your right. However, if you do NOT believe in what she is doing, it is YOUR OBLIGATION to tell her so by voting for her opponent, whomever that may be.

Please read all the other websites on the Lighthouse LI project for additional information. They are listed on the sidebar.

Again... WTF????

"Parity" or "Competitive Balance" = Game Seven

When I had the pleasure of speaking with Gary Bettman, I asked about the "parity" the CBA had cultivated in the League. He quickly corrected me and called it "Competitive Balance." It sounded so much more eloquent. But the outcome is still the same.

Call it a level playing field, call it whatever you want. I call it what has given us a prolonged Stanley Cup playoff series as three match-ups area heading into a game 7 in order to decide who moves on.

As fans, this is the best possible scenario. It's "edge of your seat" action every game. It also keeps hockey on the TV and in the media with larger coverage as the match-ups become more intense.

The only draw back I can see of extended playoff series are for the teams that actually play them. For the fans, the hardest part is just staying awake long enough to watch the late night game, especially when it goes into overtime. For the players, they have to PLAY that highly physical game.... well into overtime.

Do the extended series destroy a teams chances of actually making it to the final round? Will they have anything left in the tank to get past yet another opponent who may have had to extend less energy and spill less blood?

So while we await the final game of the long awaited match-up between Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin, we ponder the fates of four other playoff teams. Only the Blackhawks and Vancouver ended their series in six, with the Hawks tossing the last Canadian team out of the Stanley Cup race.

The eight seeded Anaheim Ducks are giving the defending Stanley Cup champion Red Wings fits as they stand on the doorstep of a one game elimination on Thursday. Once again, the NHL is the only league where a lower seed team can and does knock off the higher. Anything can happen in this game.

The only certainty for this year is that the Stanley Cup will once again be won by a US team. That fact doesn't bode well for NHL ratings in Canada, even though they claim ownership of the game.

The final outcome of this round will only make the next round that much more interesting. Yes, the Stanley Cup playoffs are a grueling time of the year for the athletes who endure it. For the fans, the grueling part is keeping up all the game story lines. We're exhausted.

Someone Woke the Bear

It's obvious the Bruins don't want to end their season tonight as they scored twice early in the first period tonight. For some reason, it almost seems as if I'm rooting for Carolina, but I seriously don't have any vested interest in this game other than it's a good one.

More importantly I truly impressed myself tonight with the last of my investment in lobster by making an exceptional Lobster Quesedilla and pairing it with the best Mexican pasta salad I've ever made.

Recipes to follow, and Bruins and Canes about to start the third. I may never leave the couch.

Mexican Pasta:

Two cups tri-color pasta cooked

1/2 cup Latino Blend frozen vegetables

1/4 cup sliced scallion or leeks

3 tablespoons Olive Oil

1/3 cup salsa

1/3 cup Roasted shelled pumpkin seeds (yes, pumpkin seeds)

1/2 package Sazon seasoning mix.

water as necessary

In a frying pan saute the veggies in the olive oil until slightly soft. Add the pumpkin seeds to toast for just a few minutes. Add the seasoning mix and Salsa. Saute until blended and warm. Add the cooked pasta and coat. Add a few tablespoons of water to thin out just a little. Keep stirring to coat pasta and keep from burning.

Um... that's it.

It's gorgeous and pretty healthy.

Wow, we've got Ducks & Redwings tonight too? I better stop drinking or I'll be asleep!

Need a Gift for a Hard to Buy for Kid?

Islanders unvail their new Kids Club for the '09-'10 season and I'm thinking this is really a good deal!





Personally, I'm thinking it's wonderful for the kids that are hard to buy birthday presents for. Put the kid's club membership info in a box with a shirt or hat and voila! Instant awesome gift that won't take up room in the den or break in an hour!

Give the gift of hockey, it'll set you apart from the rest of your family.

No... really... it will...

Caps Force a Game 7!

This was a tough game! The Penguins were so close to taking the series, but one overtime goal gave the Caps another shot at life. So back to Washington boys.



Dan was playing "Count the ex-Islanders on the ice." He came up with six. Tiger Track Tom Liodice corrected us and made it eight if you add coachs.

This really is one heck of a series.

Even better than the hockey tonight was my THIRD item made with my $35 worth of Lobster. Tonight for dinner I made Lobster Club sandwiches. There is nothing more decadent than Lobster club.

Okay, here were go

Good bread of your choice. I used soft Italian bread, no seeds

3 cooked lobster tails sliced in rounds

six sliced Turkey bacon cooked flat & crisp in the microwave

Six sliced large red tomato

Iceberg lettuce

Oliveoil Mayo (or regular mayo, but the olive oil one is really really good)

Do I really need to tell you how to make a sandwhich? No. But if you toast the bread slightly and then put it together, it's amazing.

I also made pasta salad with shrimp, peas and scallions in a honey mustard sauce that seemed to work well with the sandwhich. And I STILL have enough for Lobster Quesedilla tomorrow!

Oh, Blackhawks up 2 - 1 in the second.

Kate Muray didn't show up to a Lighthouse meeting today with Tom Suozzi and the developers.

Victor Hedman should be coming to Long Island some time in the beginning of June.

And my brand new laptop battery isn't charging.

SOB!!!

Night!

ToH Tax Dollars at Work: Supervisor's Father makes $40/Hr as a Clerk

That was my WTF moment of this morning when I turned the paper to page 6 and read the latest article by Eden Laikin regarding Kate Murray's 83 year-old father being hired by the town one month after he retired from the town.

Hmmmmm..... That retirement came with $39,735 in severence pay from his $130,542 annual salary as a law assistant. He's REALLY taking a cut in pay now that he'll be working PART TIME and making $40 or almost $50,000.

Ms. Murray? My mother is 80 years old and about to lose her house. I'm certain she would LOVE a part time job, but she hasn't been able to find one as no one is willing to hire an octagenarian. Your Dad is making $40 an hour when the going rate for clerical aides is $17 an hour. I'm certain my mother would take $12. She'd be a bargain.

Can I call you about it?

No wonder the town and county have no money for anything if this is their hiring practice.

New England Lobster Pie

Are you sure you want to do this?

I'm warning you. This is by no means "low fat" or heart healthy. But it is amazing. The first time I had it was at a little place in New Hampshire called "Lizzie's Lobster Pot." The restaurant is no longer there, but this mushy, gooey, buttery concoction stuck with me.

Okay, here goes:

Meat from two 1 1/4 lb steamed lobsters.

1 stick of butter or good margarine

1/4 lb bay scallops

1/4 lb large shrimp

1/4 cup chopped sweet onion or shallots

1/3 cup chopped red or green pepper

1 sleeve Ritz crackers, crushed fine

2 tblespoons heavy cream

Splash of white wine

Parmesean cheese

salt & pepper

In a frying pan sautee the scallops & shrimp with 2 tablespoons of the butter along with the onions & peppers. When the seafood is cooked, throw a splash of dry white wine in the frying pan and then add the rest of the butter and the cracker crumbs. Sautee until all ingredients are soft and drenched in the butter.

In a well greased pie pan or corning ware (about 1 qt) arrange the cooked lobster meat pieces. Pour the cracker seafood mixture over the lobster meat and arrange so there is seafood and crackers in what will be each bite. Pat down slightly.

Drizzle the heavy cream over the top and then sprinkle on the parmesean cheese.

Bake at 350 for about 15 - 20 minutes. Keep an eye on it. Everything is actually cooked, so you just want it hot and a little brown. Don't over cook it.

Serves two.

Make a salad to balance out the gazillion calories you're going to eat. But it's awesome.

Empty Handed Once Again

I was hoping for hardware, there will be none.

I'm sure it was a wonderful experience for Kyle Okposo and Scott Gordon. It just would have been better had Team USA been able to win a medal.

Truth of the matter is with the Stanley Cup playoffs going on it is more than likely that this Team USA won't be the one going to Vancouver in February of 2010.

Canada wins Silver as Russia goes home with gold.

Well... there ya have it.

Happy Mother's Day 2009!

To all the mothers out there, Enjoy your day. It's a tough job and only women can handle it!

Oliver asked about my recipe for the New England Lobster Casserole. I'll post it later, but you may want to see the video before you ask about it.

Have a great Day. Enjoy friends and family. Because after all, our friends are the family we chose for ourselves. Mine will be here at 2 pm. I better get my fat butt in gear if I plan on actually feeding them!