NY Islanders Play By Play Man Doesn't Care Too Much About The Islanders

The New York Islanders have had a pretty rough season so far in the NHL and it only got worst after their 13th straight loss versus the Islanders.

MSG and Islanders play by play man Howie Rose thought that the game was sent to a commercial and decided to air out how bad the team has been playing along with the fact that he would rather be covering spring training for the New York Mets.

The major problem for Howie, someone in the production truck didn't send it to commercial:



Rose apologized during the 2nd period intermission of the MSG telecast and it's possible that this rift might cost him his job.

(Courtesy of Bob's Blitz)

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DISH Network pulls plug on Devils, Islanders, Knicks and Rangers

Subscribers of the DISH Network, who also happen to be fans of the New Jersey Devils, the New York Islanders, the
New York Knicks and/or the New York Rangers, woke up Friday morning to the realization they no longer had access to the MSG Network and MSG Plus as well as no idea when their sports viewing experience would be fully restored.

According to the New York Post, DISH Network Corporation, the second-largest United States satellite provider, and the Madison Square Garden Networks failed to reach an agreement before the October 1 expiration of their previous carriage contract. The impasse in negotiations occurred when the two sides could not come to terms on how much of an increase in fees would be paid to Madison Square Garden.

No new talks have been scheduled.

In the interim, MSG has encouraged DISH subscribers to switch to other cable or satellite companies for access to their favorite programming on MSG and MSG Plus.

Meanwhile, DISH has stated it will make ESPN Classic, NBA TV, NFL Network and other pay channels available at no extra charge to those affected by the blackout.

This is small consolation to the nearly 350,000 DISH subscribers in the Tri-State Area who have been looking forward to the start of a new season for their beloved basketball and hockey teams.

"We are disappointed with DISH's decision to drop MSG Network and MSG Plus. DISH has rejected numerous fair and reasonable proposals at rates, terms and conditions consistent with our deals with other operators," said Dan Ronayne, Executive Vice President and General Manager of MSG Networks. "Instead of negotiating for a new agreement, DISH has decided to deprive their customers of our award-winning networks and their favorite New York teams."

On the flip side of the coin, Dave Shull, Senior Vice President of Programming for DISH, had this to say: “These are really tough economic times and we have to make sure we have the flexibility with our customers to meet their needs and provide content at a reasonable price.”

Doesn’t this empty rhetoric between millionaires haggling over huge slices of a billion-dollar pie sound eerily similar to the ramblings of Charlie Brown’s school teacher in the Peanuts' television specials?

And if either side is looking for a sympathetic ear, it won’t find a single one among its loyal customers who are the real losers in this asinine dispute.

Click here to read the original article on Examiner.com, which includes relevant links and a special video presentation.

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The Magnificent Seven: The Most Important Players in NY Sports Today

As the fiercest hurricane in twenty years prepares to slam the East Coast with winds in excess of 130 miles per hour, another storm is brewing which fans of the major professional sports leagues will embrace with open arms.

Between September 9 and October 26, the 2010 regular seasons for the National Football League (September 9) and the National Hockey League (October 7), as well as the 2010 postseason for Major League Baseball (October 6), will monopolize the airwaves with their respective opening acts.

However, on October 26, the ‘perfect storm’ ensues when the National Basketball Association lifts the curtain on a new season to give rise to that ecliptic moment on the calendar where sports fans can have their pick of meaningful games to watch, at home or in-person, among the four major sports in North America.

And with the steady approach of this annual confluence, player performance, prospectively and retrospectively, is broken down, dissected, and examined ad infinitum like at no other time during the year; especially in New York where the demands for success can overwhelm those with the strongest of resolves.

In light of this information, there’s no time like the present to enumerate the seven players in New York sports who had and/or will have the most significant impact on their teams as baseball’s postseason looms on the horizon and the NBA, the NFL and the NHL prepare for the dawn of their new seasons. One player per team will be named.

CC Sabathia, New York Yankees

It can never be overstated how valuable Charles Carsten Sabathia has been to a New York Yankees starting rotation that has been beset by inconsistent performances from A.J. Burnett and Javier Vazquez throughout the season, hampered by shoddy post All-Star break showings from Phil Hughes and decimated by an injury to Andy Pettitte.

Sabathia leads the Yankees in wins (18), ERA (3.14) and strikeouts (160), which place him in first, eighth and ninth in the American League in those respective categories.

And although second baseman Robinson Cano may receive more consideration and support for the American League MVP Award, Sabathia’s candidacy should be taken as seriously as his bid to win the Cy Young Award.

Hitting may rule the day in the Bronx but, ultimately, pitching wins championships. And of the current postseason contenders, no starting pitcher has been nor will be more crucial to their team’s success than CC Sabathia.

Angel Pagan, New York Mets

New York Mets third baseman David Wright leads the team in home runs (21) and RBI’s (86), but Angel Pagan has given the Mets hope for the future.

In an outfield where Carlos Beltran’s best days are behind him and their search for another steady corner outfielder is ongoing, Pagan has quietly emerged as a star in his own right.

Pagan leads the Mets in batting average and, among all National League outfielders, he is first in stolen bases (32), sixth in hits (137) and seventh in batting average (.294), all while playing a Gold Glove-like centerfield for the majority of the season.

So along with first base (Ike Davis), shortstop (Jose Reyes) and third base, Pagan has given the Mets’ front office one less position to concern with reloading this coming off-season and opened up intriguing trade possibilities involving Carlos Beltran.

Amar’e Stoudemire, New York Knicks

Prior to the beginning of the 2005–06 NBA regular season, Amar’e Stoudemire underwent microfracture surgery on his left knee and, as a result, ended up playing only three games for the Phoenix Suns during the campaign.

Surprisingly though, the Suns would go on to post a 54-28 record and reach the Western Conference Finals before gallantly falling to the Dallas Mavericks in six games.

The New York Knicks won’t even come close to achieving similar results if their $100 million man misses any significant time due to injury this coming season and beyond.

In the most talent-laden free agent market in NBA history, Stoudemire became the cornerstone in plans to resurrect one of the marquee franchises in the league as well as the best big man the Knicks have had on their roster since Hall of Famer Patrick Ewing.

Fresh off a season in which he averaged 23.1 points and 8.9 rebounds per game and played all 82 games in the regular season for the first time in his career, the 27-year-old Stoudemire appears primed to lead the Knicks into an era where mediocre basketball is a thing of the past.

But if Stoudemire’s shoulders aren’t broad enough to carry that burden, the Knicks will have to look to the NBA Lottery for answers.

Eli Manning, New York Giants

When starting quarterback Eli Manning left the New York Giants’ preseason opener against the New York Jets after suffering a three-inch laceration to his forehead, fans of ‘Big Blue’ held their collective breaths knowing full well they could ill afford to lose the Super Bowl XLII MVP.

However, twelve stitches and one missed preseason game later, Manning was back in the saddle again, accompanied by an enormous sigh of relief.

Over his six-year career, Manning has proven to be extremely durable. After starting in 87 consecutive regular season games through last season, Manning has the third longest active streak among NFL quarterbacks; behind only Brett Favre (285) and Peyton Manning (192).

This distinction bodes well for the Giants, who need Manning to play all sixteen regular season games for the sixth straight season more than ever.

With back-up signal caller Jim Sorgi on injured reserve and third-stringer Rhett Bomar still waiting to take his first regular season snap, New York’s depth at the position is severely compromised; which is why the Giants have started to make inquiries about Arizona Cardinals disgruntled quarterback Matt Leinart in a classic demonstration of desperate times call for desperate measures.

Therefore, New York’s hopes for a successful 2010-11 season ride largely on the health and well-being of one Eli Manning.

Darrelle Revis, New York Jets

Click here to read why the Jets’ Super Bowl talk means absolutely nothing without Darrelle Revis.

John Tavares, New York Islanders

Last season, New York Islanders rookie center John Tavares finished first on the team in points (54), second in goals (24) and third in assists (30). Among rookie skaters, Tavares finished second in points, tied for first in goals and third in assists.

Islanders captain Doug Weight said that “John’s going to be a big piece (of an Islander rebuilding effort)” after Tavares’ first NHL game last year, which is why the 19-year-old was taken with the first overall pick by the Isles in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft.

In his sophomore season, Tavares will be expected to continue the steady progression toward becoming one of the elite players in the league while elevating the play of his teammates in the process.

Tavares has also been a huge draw at the box office for the Islanders. After winning the Draft Lottery, the team’s ticket sales department reported a "300% increase in phone calls and e-mail inquiries” from 2008-2009 and were "on pace" to renew 90% of its season tickets in 2009.

Henrik Lundqvist, New York Rangers

Behind a porous defense, Henrik Lundqvist single-handedly carried the New York Rangers to the brink of making the playoffs last season.

Lundqvist faced the third most shots of any goalie in the NHL, but yet finished eighth in the league in goals against average (2.38) and save percentage (.921).

And no one in the Rangers’ locker room took losses harder, as well as take the most responsibility for those defeats, than Lundqvist did.

Entering the 2010-11 season, the Rangers will once again rely heavily on Lundqvist to keep their anemic offense in games and cover for their glaring defensive liabilities.

There it is, folks. Agree? Disagree? Your voice is welcome to be heard.

Click here to read the original article on Examiner.com, which includes relevant links and a special video presentation featuring one of the most important players in New York sports today.

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NY Islanders May Start Bidding for Ilya Kovalchuk at $100 million

The New York Knicks may be dominating the headlines in the Big Apple with the courting of LeBron James and other prominent NBA free agents but, make no mistake about it, they are far from standing alone in their quest to make a big splash in this summer’s sports free agent market.

Although little attention is being paid to it for obvious reasons, NHL free agency is also in full swing and a once-proud franchise, with plenty of money to burn, appears to be prepared to make a financial commitment that could drastically alter its fortunes for several years to come.

According to NYDailyNews.com, New York Islanders general manager Garth Snow has held discussions with the agent for Ilya Kovalchuk, a perennial 40-goal scorer and the league’s top unrestricted free agent.

Reports indicate that Snow and Islanders owner Charles Wang are preparing a lucrative, long-term offer for the 27-year-old Russian left winger that could be high as $100 million over 10 years.

After seven seasons with the Atlanta Thrashers, in which he averaged 42 goals per season, Kovalchuk was traded to the New Jersey Devils last season, where he had 10 goals and 17 assists in 27 games and led New Jersey in scoring during the playoffs, but was never quite the dynamic presence he was expected to be on a team that was heavily favored to win the Stanley Cup.

Instead, the Devils, who finished second in the Eastern Conference, were unceremoniously ousted in the first round by the 7th seeded Philadelphia Flyers and, thus far, Kovalchuk has spurned their efforts to resign him as he tests the free agent waters.

Meanwhile, the Islanders, whose investments in huge contracts doled to players like Alexei Yashin and Rick DiPietro have resulted in negative returns, seem to be making a strong push to capitalize on the availability of a player of Kovalchuk’s ilk that will certainly improve the NHL’s 20th ranked offense and help end New York’s three-year playoff drought.

But it remains to be seen whether complete confidence can be placed in the veracity of the aforementioned reports because, in this summer of free agency, where there’s smoke one can usually expect not to find fire.

Click here to read the original article on Examiner.com, which includes relevant links and a special video presentation featuring Ilya Kovalchuk.

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