WC update, Mr Botta, Newsday/Cablevision

New York Islander Fan Central | 5/13/2008 10:21:00 AM | | | |
Finland will again play team USA in a rematch at the WC on Wednesday as the Quarterfinals begin. If there is anything printed on Bergenhiem's playing status I will add it to the blog.

For the semi-finals in Quebec City, the winner of CZE-SWE will play the winner of NOR-CAN, and the winner of RUS-SUI will play the winner of USA-FIN.
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Point Blank: Mr Botta continues blogging, tells us about the Islanders concept for podcasting that never happened he hopes will and talks about some segments completed which include one where Garth Snow was interviewed.

He also talks about Ryan Jankowski who oversaw the 2006 draft among other subjects and feels he will do an excellent job.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
I expected nothing less from Mr Botta but great Islander information as his blog remains very active from a first class individual who obviously is a fan of the Islanders above all.

If Garth Snow's comments are correct that he's trying to sign prospect Stefan Ridderwall and bring him to Bridgeport you have to think Joey MacDonald with a one way signed contract for next season already would become the Islanders new backup goaltender and Wade Dubielewicz could be moving on but I suppose anything could happen in that regard.

Truth is Dubie could start for a few teams in this league right now and I have little doubt he would do an excellent job. The Islander fan in me wants him to stay and the Dubielewicz fan in me wants to see him start for someone.

SI.com: Richard Deitsch also praised Mr Botta today writing he was one of the few pleasures of interacting with the Islanders franchise during the past decade. He predict's Mr Botta will be proved as a visionary when it comes to the relationship between professional sports teams/bloggers and echoed Adam Proteau of THN in that the Isles are far poorer today without him.

Newsday: Several writers contributed to today's report on the sale of Newsday to Cablevision and what's ahead with the Dolan family comments.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
I think I read the same thing a decade ago when Sportschannel and Msg merged, next thing we knew the Islanders home opener was taken off television, playoff games were put on Metro, Islander coverage starting getting reduced and ratings went down.

If folks think I'm not being fair here or overestimating the impact because I'm an Islander fan all I can do is invite you to look at what the people covering Msg in the media say in this article by John Koblin in the New York Observer here this is what insiders say covering sports under Cablevision, not myself.

I cannot add to that.