Do we love ‘em or hate ‘em? That “stuff” you occasionally get as a promotional item for coming to a game. Some times they’re for “kids 14 and under only” and sometimes they’re for the first few thousand arrivals. You know what I’m talking about. The bobble-heads, the calendars, the mini-sticks and the koozies.

Some of these items are fun and collectible (and found on e-bay 24 hours after the game) and some are just god awful specimens of “What the hell were they thinking?” What they all have in common is a logo of the sponsor who decides to PAY for them so you can have one.

I double checked with the Islanders and the promotional schedule for this year won’t be available until mid-September depending on sponsorship deals. As we can see by the “Individual Game Ticket Sale presented by Sony/PC Richards” which will be happening Saturday at each of the Islanders team stores. So there is the first corporate tie in for the 2009/2010 season as Joel Rechlicz (Mr. "I'm just happy to be here") and Josh Bailey will be visiting the team stores from 10 - 11 am. (Joel will be in Hicksville and Josh in Massapequa.) ESPN 1050 am will be in Hicksville and WMJC 94.3 will be at the Sunrise Mall with plenty of fun stuff for visitors.

Okay, so let’s look back at some of the things I’ve collected over the years from going to the games. I know a lot of you collect the bobble-heads. Personally, I think they’re ugly as hell. But that’s just me. Last season, they got even uglier when they were shrunk to half the size. They now look like a Polly Pocket doll. Just gross.

Equally hated by me were the Celebre-Ducks. The Rubber ducks with the Islanders heads on them. WHAT THE HECK WAS THAT??? A bad dream while watching an Islanders game and reading Alice in Wonderland to a five year old? I’ve got a very cool little orange AM radio that is awesome looking, but couldn’t pick up a radio signal if I was IN the radio studio while it was broadcasting. I keep it anyway. It’s too cool looking.

Notice they’ve never brought back the Islanders underwear promo since that dreadful Jason Blake hat trick that turned into a rink full of flannel boxer shorts. OOOpps! He will never live that down. I have a pair of Islanders fleece gloves that I swear are both left hands, they’re uncomfortable, but I use them to skate in.

The calendars are always useful and nice to have. Then come March and the trade deadline you can see how many calendar boys are no longer on the roster. (It’s a fun game.) The year end poster makes it up on my wall each season, providing it’s printed on stiff enough paper to make it through the game that night and all the way home.

But the best promo of 2008/2009 had to be the military, camouflage colored hats for Military appreciation night. They are gorgeous. I have to thank IslesOfficial Doug for getting me one for my husband. It is his favorite. Sure the white hats are nice, but this one is just so different, it stops people in their tracks.

All I know is that I would love for these promotions to be something semi-useful as well as a sales tool for whoever paid for them. I’d like them to not be able to be used as weapons by the little kids in attendance. I’d like it to fit in my purse or come in some sort of protective plastic so I can put it safely under my seat during the game and not get wrecked.

**Rant coming: And I’d also like to not have to watch people lie and take four or five of something so that those arriving later to the game lose out. If you paid for three kids, and it’s a kid’s promotion, TAKE THREE. Don’t take THREE and then have each kid go to a rep and ask for THREE more for him and his brothers. THAT’S JUST RUDE! And if we have to wait outside for the promo to be given out and there is a crowd, if you push ahead of me or my daughter who are standing patiently waiting, I will more than likely kick you in the back of your knee or step on your foot. It’s a freakin’ collectable PUCK they’re giving out, not $20 bills.** Rant over.

So, what’s was your favorite all time promotional item you received from a game? What is the one you couldn’t stop laughing over? It’s early enough that maybe I can at least let them know what the public thinks. After all, why have a sponsor spend money on something that we will only toss in the trash. That doesn’t do anyone any good… and just leads to more pollution. Right?

I’m only thinking about the environment here. (Sure I am!)

Let's start the countdown clock to training camp, because it can't come soon enough!

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