NEW YORK ISLANDER FAN CENTRAL

The Next Kate Murray For Islanders? Hofstra President Stuart Rabinowitz

2012-05-28T20:31:00.012-04:00

This would be an image of Hofstra University President (since 2001) Stuart Rabinowitz hosting a fifty year celebration of Mets baseball in 2012 over several days, also having two hundred tickets available for free to students here.

The New York Islander just celebrated their 40th anniversary, and had student discounts for countless years.

Let's meet the man who has (and will) play a huge role in determining if Albany assists Nassau County in any kind of public or private partnership with regard to the Nassau Coliseum as Stuart Rabinowitz was front/center when awards were announced last December here.

I believe it's important to write no one is required to be a New York Islander Fan or support any team because they are neighbors with a professional sports franchise.

Having written that Stuart Rabinowitz has never employed the words New York Islanders or should be seen as a disinterested neighbor because he had the following when Ed Mangano's Casino plan came out for the HUB.

"We're not only opposed to a casino [near] Hofstra University, but we have every intention of fighting it," said Hofstra president Stuart Rabinowitz. " . . . If anybody thinks this is going to be less painful than negotiating between Wang and Hempstead, they're mistaken."

Days before the 2011 referendum, Mr Rabinowitz was named regional co-chairman of Governor Cuomo's Long Island Regional Economic Development Council here.

Stuart Rabinowitz was also given a full op-ed on 8/11/11 after the referendum defeat with his view of the Hub's future.

Rabinowitz made clear last September he approached a Baltimore developer, who was interested in the 2005 RFP during the Lighthouse.

In short, Rabinowitz will play one of the most significant roles in what happens moving forward.

He's already suggested a New Coliseum be constructed at Belmont as part of a HUB development, that has angered the Mayor of Floral Park, Thomas J. Tweedy, who has called for Rabinowitz resignation here & continued the attacks in Nov 2011 here along with many other issues over several articles here.

We respectfully, but unequivocally, call for Hofstra University President Stuart Rabinowitz to step aside and resign in order that the process leading to any proposed changes at Belmont Park are made transparently and fairly to ensure the communities surrounding Belmont Park are given the same consideration as Hofstra University has apparently been granted in determining the future of its neighboring 77-acre Coliseum site. The suggestion that Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, built for under $32 million in 1972, should make way for Hofstra’s grand vision for its own neighboring 77-acre site is incredible! Just because Hofstra University President Stuart Rabinowitz does not want a casino at the Hub near Hofstra does not mean it cannot be done there.

History:
Rabinowitz did comment on the referendum when announced last May 2011 I'm not sure that can be called an endorsement.

He did give somewhat of an endorsement of the Lighthouse Project in August of 2009 without mentioning hockey or the Islanders here.

On Dec 20th 2005, Rabinowitz personal letter to Tom Suozzi gave far greater depth of support to the Mets proposal for the property, but wrote he had not been provided the Wang, Rechler proposal but looked forward to working with the ultimate developer to ensure that our needs are addressed. here.

One of the proposals creates an attractive "university town" that is very compatible and complimentary to our existing University campus. We believe that Sterling Equities, New York Mets Development Corporation and the Blumenfeld Development Group ("SEIBDG Prposal") offer a comprehensive development with amenities that are attractive to our students, faculty, administration and staff.

In 2009 Rabinowitz made clear why Hofstra discontinued it's football program
here.

You will have to draw your own conclusions on the Jets departure, or if Rabinowitz had any control over the circumstances, they did make a cameo return.

Wang was the featured speaker in October 2009 at Hofsta's National Center for Suburban Studies which was a Celebration of Suburban Diversity here.

Conclusion:
Obviously there are no reported meetings between Charles Wang/Stuart Rabinowitz or much apparent local spirit despite the Islanders current radio partnership with the university which he had no comment about when announced in 2010 here.

The President of Hofstra University also seemed to have no past problem getting involved in the HUB development before he was named to this commission.

Any sports team seems to fit the bill for Stuart Rabinowitz, never mentioning the New York Islanders by name, despite their remarkable accomplishments, and charity work for Long Island.

Problem here is any state funding will most certainly only happen with an endorsement from Rabinowitz as co-chair of Cuomo's committee.

Here were his comments in January 2012:

5/13/2012:

"I really hope we get something that's doable" for this year's round of funding.

To date, Mr Rabinowitz enthusiasm for the Islanders has been on par with Kate Murray.

It's time to hear the words New York Islanders from the President of Hofstra University, about their forty year neighbor.

For those wondering where is the entry on co-chair Kevin Law? Still researching.

I found Mr Law/Wang image shaking hands at referendum announcement inside Coliseum, and listened to his testimony before the legislature in February 2012, but I did take a jab at him (with Rabinowitz) in a 1/29/12 entry.

New York Signs John Persson To Entry Level Contract

2012-05-27T20:49:00.002-04:00

Red Deer Rebels: Official twitter feed reports New York has signed 2011 draft pick, John Persson to an entry level contract.

Red Deer Advocate has also linked to this information as the teams primary coverage.

NYIFC Comments:
Persson was signed in March to a Bridgeport ATO contract, participated in their playoffs, and played very well.

Signing him to an ELC was the next step for him to make a full time AHL/NHL jump, but it was not necessary until 5/31/2013.

New York Media Has Officially Proven NY Not A Major Hockey Market

2012-05-27T11:03:00.014-04:00

A few words updating our Aug 2011 entry to surviving tabloid professional journalism.

Is this what we can expect when the New York Islanders make a deep run at a Stanley Cup hopefully in the very near future?

Let's open by giving the Devil his proverbial due in Scott Burnside of Espn who once again defines tabloid journalism in 2010 here. Dolan's writer Arthur Staple played this game on the Lou Lamoriello Devils a few times.

I looked back at the April 2002 opening round series vs Toronto to see the ten-fifteen plus New York Islander articles each day in four local papers.

What a difference a decade makes? Even back then the decline in hockey journalism in New York was well underway vs the major sports.

Even Los Angeles has done better than New York with their honest amateur hour mistakes getting the team name wrong/where the Kings play.

It's been far worse here.

Expect it to only get worse in the finals.

It has been a sad show seeing the future of New York playoff coverage after a season of hockey hidden in baseball, NJ football, and basketball's town.

These playoffs have only confirmed what we already knew, there is no dedicated major hockey media in New York any longer. Most of what came out seemed like ad money leftover from the Msg/Knick/Jeremy Lin ad budget that had to be used.

This says nothing about the middling/weak ratings locally/nationally where three fan bases watching could not produce big local numbers between NBC once again cancelling local viewing parties to pad ratings with misleading headlines.

Dolan's media on television/print proved it's entirely about their own team or saving coverage money. In their newspaper, former Ranger full time writer Arthur Staple never worked harder since he was on their beat.

2012 also confirmed again how cheap Dolan could play with teams he pays to hide, not having Devils road post-game coverage in early rounds, then forcing combined coverage of two teams on one channel with long-time salesman, Al Trautwig, controlling all spin.

It was sad seeing a Yankee rumor take the front/back page from a conference finals game, but after six months of no back pages, no journalist, you could practically see the scramble of news editors desperately searching for anyone who ever covered hockey in the past.

Those who surfaced wasted no time insulting us pretending to play instant expert or wave the pom poms for the future resume/employment, the dust rising from outdated hockey cue cards painfully apparent.

Only thing more comical was one headline article giving the Rangers a playoff clinching win against Washington in game six.

Even former Islander writer, Mike Lupica, tried to insult us by playing instant expert a few times before going back to baseball/regular news, you can almost see him telling his bosses, no more hockey.
edit-Ok, he had a few appropriate words for Lamoriello Sunday, in part of one column.

Is there a bigger walking cliche than Filip Bondy?

One writer even claimed the Islanders and Rangers played in the 2004 playoffs.

2012 has confirmed hockey in New York is a niche sport more than ever with a much smaller fan/media bandwagon than ever.

It's been terrible, the future will only be worse. Perhaps those pay walls are a good thing for the fans to keep some of these writers away?

Interesting former Dolan employee, Katie Strang, who covered less than five Islander centric game all season, pretended to insult everyone's intelligence by giving our team grades starting with owner, but passed on giving one to her former boss at Newsday in James Dolan?

At least Mr Dolan got it right about one local team being close to a cup last January.

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2012-05-25T00:01:00.001-04:00

5/24/1980 New York Wins Stanley Cup

2012-05-24T00:01:00.000-04:00

New York Islanders For Now A Time Of Meaningless Speculation

2012-05-22T15:06:00.005-04:00

We know the 2012-13 New York Islanders have the following players locked in barring a trade in a sport with few major trades.

Moulson-Tavares
Grabner-Nielsen-Okposo
Bailey
RFA Martin-Reasoner-Niederreiter

Also a decision has to play out with Parenteau.

We also know a lot of prospects who got a long look here need another chance from day one of camp because that's what development is.

Otherwise why draft/develop them?

Cizikas, Ullstrom, the many prospects in Bridgeport/college/juniors/2012 draft.

How do you go this far with Rhett Rahkshani after how he produced and not give him a full shot in the NHL?

On defense there are three key players signed, a lot of prospects who also did not look out of place at this level, along with decisions on Reese/other veterans.

Calvin deHaan played one game here, Mark Streit said he was ready to play at this level, how do you keep a first round pick in year four off the NHL roster?

I want to see former AHL all-star, Mark Katic get a full shot at this level because a year ago he had speed, and skill that stood out, if his shoulder goes again, so be it.

Anyone see anything so bad to suggest Donovan or Ness cannot play at this level?

This club could use Donovan's size badly on the backline.

In goal there are decisions to be made on Montoya, another on RFA Koskinen.

Obviously regardless of what happens with DiPietro/Nabokov it seems obvious Poulin or Nilsson can come up and play well if needed.

Sure, a lot of players are available that their former teams will be glad to be rid of in a trade, how do they help the New York Islanders?

Yes, there will be a new draft class, also a free agent period where the risk/reward factor again is not good for a mediocre overall group of players.

Beyond that it's all a matter of meaningless speculation about a season that may well not even take place.

One thing I will write that is not speculation.
1. You stick to your plan if you are Garth Snow.
2. No such thing as having too many prospects.

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2012-05-19T10:57:00.002-04:00

New York Notables

2012-05-18T04:57:00.017-04:00

I found it fascinating former assistant gm, Gordie Clark, had a mild shot at the Isles (I guess Mike Milbury) for one reason why he left long ago in 2012?

But of course we have the past articles/comments to fact check.

In June 2001, Milbury gave him the additional assignment of heading the Sound Tigers operation here after already having the title of Assistant GM of the New York Islanders.

In July 2000, Clark's review of many former draft picks was dead wrong here.

In 1999 (guess who) praised Clark and the staff for the draft here with a ton of terrible choices, who then correctly praised Clark for Martinek here & made sure we knew Clark was the one who traded a top prospect for Adrian Aucoin here.

For those on Cody Rosen watch hourly, we did discover the original article where the Isles exchanged 9th round picks over dinner reservations here.

The best ninth round pick story is an Islander one. A few years ago
at the one in Boston, Harry Sinden had a dinner to go to so Gordie
Clark agreed to swap ninth round picks the next year so Sinden could
leave early.

Clark did leave the organization days prior to the 2002 draft, over money and philosophy, and it was not pretty here.

Clark said he was "looking for more of a commitment" and cited a "difference of philosophy."

And as it played out, Larry Brooks that summer took a cheap shot at the Isles for the dismissal, and I believe that article included a shouting match between Clark/Wang, after years of Brooks criticizing the clubs choices before he signed with Cablevision on 9/11/2002.

Mike Milbury got his final contract extension six days later here.
**************************************
Followup On Botta/NY Times Tom Jolly Entry From April 2011:

@ChrisBottaNHL Congrats on the new gig, Chris!
— Tom Jolly (@TomJolly) May 17, 2012

Chris Botta ‏@ChrisBottaNHL
@TomJolly Thanks, Tom! Thank you for the opportunity @nytimessports I loved it and hope to finish strong until end of NYR season.

04/5/2011 A Jolly Good NY Times: Meet Chris Botta's New Bosses.

NYIFC Comments:
Staged stories indeed. Funny a Dolan employee gone since June of 2002 had a comment on the Isles as former assistant gm, and the same day more cheap shots calling on current assistant gm, Doug Weight, not to become a sycophant as current assistant gm?

Truly sad.
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Charles Wang was in NYC for Smile Train on Wednesday while Dolan's paper was writing about how Mangano needs to borrow money to pay him (and others) past refund tax money from 2006-07.