The blog is going to be sponsored by Fanhouse (where Botta is also currently writing) and AOL.

I've actually known this for about two weeks now. I will not reveal my source, but I'll tell you that I've been dying to break the news since I found out. It just wasn't my place to let you guys know early.

But Botta's staying, so cheers to that!
:cheers:

I know, it's his teenage babysitter.

Not exactly....
:rotflmao:

Your Dad is the Aol Exec? :P

Miss Cleo?

Shouldn't she have seen bankruptcy coming?

Well, I actually have babysat for him a few times, and that's how I know....

I wasn't planning on giving that up, but since this was turning into a guessing game rather than a discussion of the site staying up... :yea:



Now can we get off me and appreciate the fact that we get to read this blog for another six months? :yes:

WHY DOES HE NEED A BABYSITTER?
HE SEEMS OLD ENOUGH :rolleyes: :P

Anyone notice the change in Botta's blog since NYI stopped sponsoring it? Less Kool-Aid, actual criticism of things, Wang/Dey shot down, anti LH posts, not deleting posts etc.

I prefer the recent version. Hope the new AOL sponsor doesn't change that.

I just wanted to bring this thread back to the top because IPB is one of the BRIGHT spots of this season.
Why did I do this you ask?
Well, because I ventured over to Katie Strang's "Isles Files" and checked out her latest entry...

She's cold. NO chit??? In Buffalo? Who would have thought???
I can only imagine if we had a February game in Edmonton what her entry would be.

"Tuh-Tuh-Tuh-Tuh-Twittering frrrrrum, Edmonton, update to come."

Ugh.

Botta's less kool-aid stance doesn't stop his over-the-top accusations at times. "Baumbach tweets the truth..." Really? From Baumbach, such an objective voice on the NY Isles.

True. But at least he's always talking hockey.

If I wanted to know who was cold, I'd visit a morgue.

:dontknow:

How do you know that her comment isn't some tease to a greater story about.... maybe how the weather affects her hair? the types of soups she likes to warm herself up? There could be some gold in those first few words. Isn't this why Newsday gave the Isles such a up-and-coming young reporter?


:dontknow:


It's weird... sometimes I wish Logan was back.

When he first began...I gave Logan a hard time, only because I enjoyed Hahn so much.
But Logan turned out to be a very solid beat writer (IMO).

I haven't been fair to Katie Strang at all but when I read some of the stuff she writes,
even my conscious doesn't allow me to regret what I've said.

:dontknow:

Steve - I think she uses the smileys to specifically taunt you !

You might be right. Either that or LEDZEP is dating her and has compromised her computer.

:dontknow:

please do not tell my wife :torrey:

Someone agreed to marry you?

:P

Steve, I really think you are far too critical of her blog posts.

blogs or as tom insists on calling them :blah: ogs are more free flowing and allow for personality. Print articles are news. If you truly hate her personality, just read the news articles. But don't keep condeming the woman for putting out personal thoughts she would utter had you been standing in front of her having a conversation.

She did it for the $ and model looks :torrey:

She knows very little about this hockey team.....and sadly, no one cares but only the diehard fans.

Dee,

You are right. I'm overly critical.
But, I reread everything I post and sometimes I go back and edit.
(obviously I chose not to edit this one, think of me as you will)

To me, when she establishes herself a credible writer worthy of covering an NHL
hockey team, particularly my NY Islanders with their rich history, that is when I lay off.

I expect alot more than personal musings to fill a gap, pass the time or be used as a teaser for things to come. Like I've said all along. 2 years removed from being an intern.
I'm tired of this REBUILD having ALL facets be part of a "work in progress".

I have high expectations, what can I say?

Just call me the meanie.


:dontknow:

High expectations??????? Are you sure you're an Isles fan????? :D

:goofy2:

Yes, high expectations.

I expect to have an owner who cares about HOCKEY first. Who'll hire NHL capable personnel
that will hire an NHL capable coach and staff. Run a first class organization and market as such
via a dept led by someone who knows the game of hockey and can RELATE to NHL fans
without having to go on message boards to gauge their passion.

Very High expectations. Ones that extend into journalism for my team.
From a decent radio signal and SET station to even a beat writer.

eh, someday.

It's a work in progress.

:lol:

Katie Strang being put on the Isles beat has nothing to do with Charles Wang.
Put blame where blame is due.
Call Newsday's Editors and complain.

Mark Herrmann wrote a piece on John Tavares that bordered on brilliant. Mark Herrmann much of the time covers golf.

You don't like your beat writer, complain about it to those that gave her a job. you can't pin this on Wang.

PS: He cared enough about your team to make sure you got John Tavares. Don't be surprised if they care enough about it to get you.... Taylor Hall.

And PS... if you were listening to that first town hall meeting with Snow... he said FIVE YEARS.

We're in year THREE.

I am not pinning this on Wang or our Isles.

Just tired of every aspect of this rebuild being BELOW acceptable to the point where
some fans ease into a level of complacency.

We are a sad sack organization. Ad yes, even with who gets assigned to cover us.

Had we NOT been a sad sack org. Perhaps we'd get better coverage.
Make sense?





;)

Good grief.

Dee, we're in year 3 of a rebuild. Yes.

Tanking for Tavares last year.

FALL for Hall this year??

Insert quip here for next season.



For some of us, it's more about seeing these kids in a situation where they will NOT fail
and possibly make some progress and gain confidence along the way.
The entire hockey operation, while in a rebuild is being run by people learning on the job.
Care at all for the poor development of some of our supposed blue chippers?
Comeau, Bergie and especially Bailey? What about our centers? Better yet our defense.
Ragtag and only 1 (Streit) worth anything.
Yeah, point to the "5" year plan. That's great. We should do that and be patient.
We get it. Buy time. Buy time and please buy some tix packages.

"The Wrecker" <--- expected to develop into an enforcer, heavyweight at the NHL level.

Scott Gordon and his "system" expected to develop into a bonafide NHL coach.

Jack Hillen, cough, excuse me, just puked in my mouth a bit.

I cannot continue. Have a great weekend Dee.
We agree to disagree and I lost track about what I was yapping about anyway.

:lol: :P

WHY CANT WANG PUSH THE ISSUE AND SAY "IF YOU DONT GIVE ME A SEASONED VETERAN COVERING MY TEAM I'LL PULL YOUR PAPERS CREDIENTIAL'S"
OR IS ALL HIS THREATS SAVED FOR THE FANS?
SOMEWHERE DOWN THE LINE THIS ORGANIZATION HAS TO STEP UP AND SHED THE SECOND CLASS CITIZEN MENTALITY
WHATS THE WORSE NEWSDAY CAN DO NOT COVER US :dontknow:


AND WELL THIS SAYS IT ALL

HERE MY CHILDREN EAT sh!t THERE JUST MIGHT BE A DIAMOND WAITING FOR YOU LATER ON

Hmmm,

I wish he cared enough for me to NOT hire Chris effen Dey.

there's so many more,but I'll sht up now.

Have a great weekend again.

:banana:

I wonder if the penguins boards looked like this while they sucked while waiting to turn into a Stanley cup winner.... hmmm... Just a thought.


And Tom, you can't tell papers what to do or what not to and you can't pull their creds.

And as far as Chris Dey is concerned. Just remember. sometimes the devil you know is better than the one you don't.

Keep that in mind over the next few months.

WHY NOT?
DONT LET THEM IN FOR FREE
NO ACCESS
DO THEY GIVE THE ISLES FREE AD SPACE IN THE PAPER?
I'LL GIVE YOU SAYING I DONT WANT XXXXX TO COVER THE TEAM MAY BE TOUGH
BUT ACCESS SEEMS TO BE THE TEAMS BALL
IT SEEMS TO LOGICAL SO I'M SURE THERE MUST BE SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE IDEA
BESIDES BETTMAN GETTING ALL HOT AND BOTHERED

The biggest turn off to the die hard fan with Strang's blog is we were used to Greg Logan using that blog to post his latest oberservations at camp, workouts, the latest on players that have stories such as DP's status, pulling Guerin off the ice, and we didn't have to wait for the news as written as news, getting it to us quickly. He was THE sole source for our coverage and he covered it like a reporter. Katie reports the news in print and on the site, but in between our void is now filled with the "Life and Times of Katie Strang and the NY Islanders : ) ".

It's different and not what we want from our only beat writer. We want a professional. A reporter.

Dee...

her posts show a lack of thought and/or personality. After reading her blogs, I know where the ozone missing from above Australia has gone. It is between her ears.

Agreed. One of the things that I would have completely supported if the Yankees had done it (and I can't stand that org) is if they banned the NY Post from the Stadium after that fiasco of reporting about ARod and another woman in Toronto. Sorry, but some things aren't newsworthy and aren't the domain of a sports reporter. To have reporters following players and then reporting on their extra marital affairs I thought was BS.

I wish the Yankees had contacted every NYC area team and said, "we are banning the Post from our lockerrooms, the press box, the stadium and any other place we can because this was out of bounds. And while it was our player's personal life this time, it could be yours next time." And I would have been furious with the Mets and Isles if they didn't join suit....although the Isles seem to have banned anyone from the Post years ago LOL.

The one thing that terrifies reporters is a lack of access. I don't believe in doing this to people who report and are critical, but players personal lives should be OB.

Again, if everyone really has a problem withe the coverage they should complain to Newsday IN WRITING and not just here.

I'm not 100% certain, but I'm pretty sure the Newspapers are not allowed to be denied access based on an agreement with the League. I'll check, but I'm pretty sure that's the deal.

Now, certainly, they can make it difficult for ANY reporter to get the stories, but I'm pretty sure they can't be DENIED access.

Great idea. Let's "ban" the only major media outlet who gives a flying flip.

I am more than willing to be patient as long as there is steady progress in player development. I like how the bridge has some decent prospects developing with lots of ice time the way a rebuild should be. But this Gordon is making me sick trying to fit square pegs into round holes. Shouldn't be this way. He should taylor the 'system' to fit the players, not the other way around. If we end up with Hall, I wont be happy about another last place finish, but I will accept the addition of tremendous talent with an open mind. By then, it will be year 4 of the rebuild and no more excuses. And 7th woman is correct about the comparisons with Pittsburgh. If we end up with an organization similiar to them it will be worth it.

Some people here have gone off track with knocking blogs or reporters or people who really don't have any kind of influence in the product being put out on the ice. Having worked in the media, I'm used to the negative reactions. It's part of the business.

But let's stay in the arena here. First, it shouldn't take five years to turn a team into a decent one -- with free agency available. The Islanders management chose to field this group/half of the team wouldn't make a team seriously contending for the Stanley Cup.

We have the worst group of defensemen probably since the first two years of this franchise. Some will point out other years but during those seasons there was good, young emerging talent.

Here the Islanders have one defenseman who would make a Stanley Cup contender -- Mark Streit.

Second, you could put the best goalie in the net, and the team would be hard pressed to make .500.

Third, you build a team from the goalie to defense. You can win a lot more games 2-1 than 6-5. It's a poorly put together team.

When the Islanders selected John Tavares, there was a feeling that management would get serious. Instead, they play the cheap game much like a kid who won't let the others play with his football if he isn't allowed to be the quarterback. (Insert TOH and Wang).

It's all fine and good here since it's Wang's money. But I felt conned here. The buildup of John Tavares and who do they sign? A 40-year old goalie who can't move and Biron, who isn't about to lead any team to the promised land.

Add in the fact I had to change my season tickets seats twice because there were railings in the way. LOL.

All I ask for is a little effort in trying to improve a team. I don't call improving the team giving players like Martinek, Meyer, a 40-year old goal, multi-year contracts. It's depressing, especially when I'm forking out 60 plus bucks a game, 7 bucks for parking, mounds of money for cold hot dogs. BTW, a friend found a dead fly in the bun of his hot dog recently.

SHHHH KEEP IT QUIET
THEY'LL WANT TO CHARGE YOUR FRIEND EXTRA FOR THE EXTRA PROTEIN :fear: