New York Notables

Monday's entry has a few words on the NHL draft, a preseason split-squad against Edmonton, the latest taxpayer handout (including selective editorial coverage) to subsidize a local sports team, with a few other items.

Larry Brooks Islander bias old news

NY Post: Larry Brooks as usual shows up to write something on the Isles and even when he throws in some half-hearted praise about the DiPietro contract maybe being a good signing (after he gets in his shot at Charles Wang) or Trent Hunter's resigning while acknowledging the club's hard work and leadership under Ted Nolan and Bill Guerin only seems to be writing to make sure he gets his message out which is he considers the Islanders last in New York in terms of popularity and no one in New York notices or cares about the club and that they are not good enough to win.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
Let's just call a spade a spade. The editors at the Post choose to treat the Islanders this way and are more of a New York franchise then the East Rutherford, New Jersey Giants or Jets and thousands of people care and notice and have since the team first appeared on WOR-9 in the 70's.

The lack of coverage is subjective, done by design and no doubt a few life-long Ranger fans who have enough problems getting any recognition for their own team in New York City who control the agenda behind the scenes at the Post, Times and Daily News want it this way. The space in the paper designated for hockey coverage today is extremely limited.

In other words the Rangers are just as invisible inside New York City and are desperate for coverage because they cannot compete with the major sports who dominate year round.

Bottom line, it's reflective of a few individuals regulating the limited space for hockey coverage, no more and no less. It has nothing to do with any teams popularity in a market.

Mr Brooks writes something once or twice a year on the Isles and there is always some kind of negative spin or outright insult thrown in there about the franchise because he cannot help himself as a life-long fan of an Islander rival and today is no different.

This former Devils employee also has no problem getting in his shots at his former employer.

Mr Brooks was stuck with the Islander beat when they did win the Stanley Cup which he does praise but never could personally accept as a New York Championship Franchise that won like his favorite team never could. He makes sure to keep the New York Islanders on the outside whenever the chance presents itself. His disgraceful conduct claiming Mike Bossy wanted money for a retirement ceremony where he had to issue a public retraction then not writing a word on the event speaks to his true agenda.

Mr Brooks finds it very comfortable doing all he can to distance the Islanders from being a New York franchise but the reality is he even acknowledges indirectly on occasion is how many Islander fans are inside the city limits and at Msg for games and have been for close to two decades and only serves to contradict himself.

They came out in big numbers in March 2000 to cheer a club dead last heading for their seventh straight year out of the playoffs at a time Larry Brooks called the Garden, Nassau Coliseum Mainland in an old article I posted on my Islanders-Sound Tigers mailing list.

At the time Mr Brooks wrote this Butch Goring was just fired as coach at the worst time in franchise history with no reason for any New York Islander fan to attend a game of a team destined to finish out of the playoffs for a seventh straight year but did in New York City and in substantial numbers.

No, in this 75th anniversary season the Rangers had to go even a step
farther and turn the Garden into Nassau Coliseum Mainland, as the
substantial number of Islander fans, who invaded Manhattan last night,
filled the arena with chants of "Let's Go Islanders!" as their team
whipped the heroic home boys by 5-2.

Devils have the same problem with Post beat writer Mark Everson, who has been known in New York circles as Mark Neverson for his gloom and doom on the Devils.

As for Larry Brooks:
What's the expression, a picture is worth a thousand words?






Does Mr Brooks really think all these Islander fans inside Msg cheering for the NEW YORK Islanders are only from Nassau County?

Another sad day from the very limited hockey department at the New York Post, your act has gotten very old Mr Brooks, save the
half-hearted complements because it's clear the insults are the real agenda behind them.

Islander News Articles 10/28:

Newsday: John Jeansonne had reaction from Ted Nolan, DiPietro, Sillinger and Bill Guerin.

"We were rusty at the start, but I don't think that's an excuse to lose 8-2," forward Mike Sillinger said.

"I don't want to sit and make excuses," DiPietro said. "We did have an extensive layoff, but whatever it was, hopefully it's out of our system."

Newsday: Mark Herrmann wrote an article on the Devils Prudential Center and asked why the Islanders cannot get the arena renovation they need with an updated timetable of what's going to happen next in the approval process.

Note-Steve Zipay's Ranger centric article mentions the Islander signings are outscoring the Ranger signings and gives the numbers vs salary, but little else.

Daily News: Brian Bohl does a game update.

Newsobserver: Lorenzo Perez Herald Sun: Provide the Carolina centric coverage.

NY Post: Mike Puma is the latest now to cover an Islander game for the Post in his limited space.

NY Post: Jay Greenberg & NY Post: Former Devils employee Larry Brooks of course do all they can to rain on the Devils parade for opening a new building by basically insulting the Devil fans, the City of Newark and the overall team for reasons that only show why hockey in New York is desperate for quality writers who want to make our sport more popular, not ruin it with articles that reek of envy in a sad display.

NY Post: Rumble section on sports celebrities led with Al Arbour coming back to coach next Saturday and a funny story on how he benched actor and Ranger fan Tim Robbins in a charity game a few years ago.

Ct Post: Michael Fornabaio has reaction from the players and coach on Saturday's loss at Norfolk. Jeremy Colliton's shorthanded goal accounted for all of Bridgeport's scoring. Darryl Bootland cleared waivers and skated on the right side with Frans Nielsen and Tambellini.

"I question our team's conditioning, first off," forward Jeff Tambellini said. "Three in a row, that's a joke. It's unacceptable to be blowing games when you have leads. Winning teams don't throw away third-period leads."

"We were doing everything we were supposed to do," coach Jack Capuano said. "We came out in the third period, and some guys thought it was going to be easy."

Norfolk Virginian Pilot: Has the Admirals coverage.

Islander News Articles 10/9:

Newsday: Greg Logan has the game recap where Poti and Kozlov praised the Islansders, Nolan and DiPietro were quoted about the loss with more speculation that Berard will be signed shortly.

Newsday: Logan also has an article with player reaction to Jason Blake having Lukemia.

NY Post: Dan Martin's game article centered around Mike Comrie's turnover that led to the game winning goal. Guerin and Comrie are quoted on the game as Berard's likely signing.

"When you expect a lot out of yourself and you're an important part of the team, there are going to be high highs and low lows," Comrie said.

"It can be heartbreaking when you lose and make a play like that, but you learn from it."

"You can shoot a lot and just fluff the goalie's pads all day," said Bill Guerin, who acknowledged that the Caps had more scoring chances.

Daily News: Brian Bohl showed up again, his article centered around Comrie's turnover, shot selection and thoughts from Nolan, DiPietro.

"Offensive guys like to make great offensive plays," coach Ted Nolan said. "Mike knows maybe he should have went up the boards with it. If he has one turnover a game and creates six on the other end, we'll take that any day."

"It's not always the shots, sometimes it's the chances that they get," said DiPietro, whose team held a 31-12 edge in shots.

"We just have to take better shots," captain Bill Guerin said. "I think we're shooting to shoot. Especially with bad ice, you have to keep things simple: get to the net."

Washington Post: Required registration for access to their game coverage.

Washington Times: Corey Masisak has the Caps Centric coverage of the game.

NHLPA Had a feature on Islanders goaltending coach Mike Dunham.

Toronto Sun: Mike Zeisberger, did an article on former coach Peter Laviolette's support for Jason Blake.

Edmonton Journal: Cam Tait, had another updated on prospect Robin Figren who again had a good game according to Oil King's management.

Islander News Articles 10/7:

Newsday: Greg Logan kicks off the coverage of the home opening win vs Buffalo.

Newsday: Mark Herrman showed up to do one of his three or four Islander articles a season to remind us how bad a franchise we are while crediting the early results and specifically Mike Comrie.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
Funny how Herrmann did an entire article the other day on the 94 Rangers and sold how things can be that way again for a few days but wrote the Islanders dynasty in 1980s might as well be ancient Rome to the current players?

Of course what's a Herrman feel-bad article without some reference to Alexei Yashin somewhere because he likely never watches the Islanders play and does not know the current roster. We may see Herrman Wednesday but my guess is we don't see him again until Al Arbour coaches against Pittsburgh.

Newsday: Greg Logan did an updated on Meyer being placed on waivers and what this could mean for a possible Berard signing.

Daily News : Someone named Brian Bohl
who likely is an A.P writer or associated with the Buffalo media covered the home opener.

"We know we're a skilled line," Comrie said. "We're not satisfied after two games. There's a lot more we can all do out there."

"Both teams tightened up," DiPietro said. "It's tough starting a season back-to-back, but I thought we did a good job coming off with a lot of energy."

"It feels great, but it can turn around just as easily," Campoli said. "I'm just staying even-keeled and hopefully we can keep winning."

New York Post: Dan Martin showed up for his first game to remind us it was announced sellout in an article that read like someone who has not covered a game since last season and did not know the players.

"Comrie told us over the summer that he wanted to be the go-to guy," coach Ted Nolan said. "He's been our go-to guy."

"Our role is to score goals," Comrie said. "We've done that for two games."

"Mike Comrie is a dynamic player with the puck," Rick DiPietro said.

"The last 15 minutes, we kind of sat back," Comrie said. "We have to keep playing."

Buffalo News: John Vogal leads the Sabres coverage of the game.

“It was substantially better,” said goaltender Ryan Miller, who made 21 saves. “We didn’t have quite the offense we had on the first night, but again, the Islanders adjusted to us, too.

Sound Tigers website: Had game summary. Joey MacDonald played well. Tim Jackman, Ben Walter and Frans Nielsen (from Tambellini) had the third goal. Dustin Kohn had a good game in his AHL debut.

Ct Post: Michael Fornabaio updated his blog on the line combos on the Sound Tigers won won their season opener in Hartford Saturday 3-2.

Ct Post: had article on the season opening win.

"The last two weeks, everything we've been emphasizing to our guys to do, they did," said Jack Capuano, who won his official debut as Bridgeport's head coach. "That's why we were successful."

"Give our young defensemen credit. This is a tough place to come into," Capuano said. "I'm proud of those guys. They sustained a lot of pressure from the forecheck. They made a lot of good decisions with the puck."

"The last two weeks, everything we've been emphasizing to our guys to do, they did," said Jack Capuano, who won his official debut as Bridgeport's head coach. "That's why we were successful."

Hartford Courant: Bruce Berlet leads the Wolfpack perspective on the game.

Sound Tigers next game is the home opener Friday against Steve Stirling's Norfolk Admirals.

Edmonton Sun: Jason Vogel reported prospect Robin Figren played well in his return from injury that kept him shut down in Moncton.

Let's talk New York Islander print media game.

I always kind of laugh when once a year or longer a publication will mention the Long Island chapter of the Professional Hockey Writers Association of America awarded something to an Islander player or nominated them for a league award like the Masterson.

Where is this association of hockey writers when basically one person at Newsday covers the club on a full time basis during the season?

Can I apply after owning a mailing list for seven years, writing for websites and moderating/owning message forms regarding the club. I have problems even remembering the roster of people who have covered the club locally for the last seven years as hockey coverage in New York has decreased dramatically.

I think it goes like this:
Newsday-Valenti, Hahn, Logan
Post-Berman, Baum, Grossman, Martin, Everson-Brooks infrequent updates.
Daily News-Stephenson, Botte or Dellapina infrequent updates.
Times: Caldwell, Ron Dicker, A.P aside from features and rare Caldwell appearances.
NY Sun-Kevin Greenstein features only
Journal News-rare updates at best

No wonder the Islanders are reaching out to fans to start blogs and come report on games. I'm a little disappointed Chris Botta stopped ripping the media earlier this summer after getting into it with a few writers and promised a media-watch column every two weeks through the summer that he did not follow up on.

Just for reference when I started getting into hockey on-line a site called faceoff.com used to have weekly reports from Peter Botte from the Daily News. The Sporting News used to feature an Islander report from Alan Hahn weekly. Information was much easier to find and few sites were pay/subscription.

Those days are over and sites like that folded or scaled back hockey coverage or demand you pay for what I consider worthless content. Many teams do not have beatwriters on the road anymore to save money so you read the AP/ticker and club website for game information and check out the opposition. Once in a while a Newsday beatwriter like a Heyman, Powell or Howard will show up and the work looks like it's from someone who has only seen a handful of games because they are required, they provide nothing but filler and the die-hard fans know much more.

A major part of all this is the sports editor is the final say with regard to a teams coverage. I can only question the beatwriters content and effort here covering the club. It's kind of like fans blaming the beatwriter for the headline, papers have people to write the headline for a writers article, but we read something and blame the writer because his article is beneath someone else's headline.

Of course the major part of talking about the Islander media starts with new beatwriter Greg Logan, who was assigned to cover the club after Alan Hahn was
re-assigned the Knicks beat last summer. Let me start by writing anyone would have been an upgrade from Hahn after 05-06 who seemed to have an problem with some players and clearly the clubs PR director, Chris Botta was not happy with his work or lack of effort.

Worst of all Mr Hahn got very lazy and sloppy in his reporting of the games and information after the lockout. He never reached out to all the players on the roster. We read more on our European players in Europe and Canada in season then we ever did in Newsday. How long has Radek Martinek been here? Anyone ever read one quote from him in Newsday, even though he tries to give an interview once in a while on FSN.

Was it that tough for Mr Hahn to update his mailbag when in Pittsburgh their writers did one every week or two through the lockout? He claimed to be a life-long fan of the club and wrote two books (that badly needed editing) was it that hard for him to show some enthusiam if he grew up a fan? He ignored the clubs 25th anniversary of the 1980 cup during the lockout and only after fans contacted Newsday were some token features written with excepts from his book the following Sunday.

Mr Hahn sure had no problem constantly reminding us in his limited space that we are not a major market team so our space is limited.

Early years Hahn rated a solid C+ but his final year declined all the way to an F and not because of his negative view toward a losing team in 05-06. You want the beatwriter to tell it as it is, but from my perspective he just did not have any enthusiam for his job and the work was as sloppy as the club on the ice. In fairness Milbury was either a tough person to interview or one who fills quotebooks and makes the job easy. Later we found out his father passed away so maybe that was a problem all season his last year also.

Greg Logan: I don't want a homer covering the club and he shows signs of being one once in a while. Maybe he wants a good relationship with the club but so far I have to give him high marks. He took over the beat during some very tough times in the front office last summer.

If Logan wants to be critical that's great. A few times he seemed to take the high road during adversity where Snow and Nolan deserved some more tough questions, especially Nolan who went with Dunham too long and it practically eliminated the club from playoff contention. I like his blog updates and he does a good job but I don't think he understands this is the only newspaper blog the Isles have and the club needs all the updates it can get. Steve Zipay will put up three small updates in a day, Logan will do three big updates in a month. Meanwhile several of the other major papers have their their writers blogging because they understand the space in the paper is limited for hockey. The Islander blog at Newsday is critical to the coverage of the club.

Logan's work running down the Smyth trade was outstanding as was his getting an
interview from an airport as he flew here from Edmonton. Logan was also quick to point out blog views equals coverage. Islander fans set record numbers in Newsday
and newspaper coverage/backpages increased. That's what he mentioned in his first blog and he followed through which is what die-hards like myself look for.

All writers miss some items in reporting, Logan is no different but he had a very good first season here and I would rate his work a solid B under a lot of fan scrutiny from folks behind keyboards who have it easy like myself.

Peter Botte: I cannot blame Mr Botte for not being allowed to cover games, that goes with sports editor (Leon Carver?) at the Daily News. When he reports his work is usually very good and brings a lot of information. He knows when the club deserves credit and when they deserve to be ripped. Never saw any tendency where he played favorites.

Botte's been around for a long time on the Islander beat, he no longer is permitted to cover road games and the News will sometimes not send him to home games. I would give the editor an F and Botte a B+....

New York Post: Evan Grossman left for NHL.com in season last year and aside from an infrequnet Dan Martin home game article that read like A.P coverage we have not had a new full-time writer named to this point. What's interesting here is I was never a fan of Grossman's work at the Post but his Islander/NHL features at NHL.com are outstanding. I have doubts the Post will spend money on a full-time replacement and Larry Brooks noted the Isles ignored him in a conference call this summer so clearly Botta is not happy with the club's treatment.

Post sports editor Gallo has never given the Isles a fair shake in the Post, he get's a F while Grossman unitl the point he left rated a C. Grossman created a stir in Ottawa in the 2003 playoff when he picked the Islanders to upset the Senators.

New York Times: Again a F to the sports editor for not assigning any beatwriter to the club, Dave Caldwell game articles were so infrequent I cannot give it a fair rating, his Islander work from years ago would rate a B.