I am so not happy. Not just because I seem to be the last one to know, but because I seriously believe in the talent of those who will not be renewed for the coming season.
We are on the brink of making headlines for the coming season, but the voices creating those headlines will be fewer. I'm sad about this.
I'll admit, as big an Islanders fan as I am, I would only listen to the radio broadcast of Mears and Kinger when I wasn't parked in front of the TV. Those were rare occassions. I wanted to webstream their broadcast in the blog box in 201, but the band width at the barn wasn't good enough to sustain the signal on my laptop.
During previous seasons when they would actually POST the audio of the games after the fact, I would webstream them at work and listen to a game I had already seen. I enjoyed the color commentary. I enjoyed the enthusiasm. I enjoyed the voices.
I think of Miriam the Islanders fan from Queens who only has a radio to follow her beloved Islanders. XM radio was kind enough to give her an XM radio and subscription when she couldn't get the Islanders broadcasts on the AM band when they changed over from Bloomberg. There are those out there that actually DO listen to the radio broadcast. Now they are silenced and replaced by the TV broadcast.
There is a difference. Much will be missed. Howie and Billy don't do every move. As fabulous as they are, they do not paint the game for you so you can see every move in your mind. They are fun, they are passionate, they are TV. I am sick.
Then there is the case of my friend CJ. Much maligned when he replaced Deb Kaufman for the MSG Plus broadcasts, he worked hard to improve. Seriously. You don't know how big a hockey fan this man actually is. He loved his job. He loved being an in-arena announcer. He loved doing sports for Channel 10/TV55. He was beside himself when he was asked to join MSG Plus for Islanders games. It was like a dream come true. For MSG Plus (again, Dolanvision) not to renew his contract, I am sad.
Things are bad all over financially. Everyone is cutting corners to meet the bottom line. If I told you what Fed Ex did with their employees, you'd probably be really surprised.
I am always the one who tries to look on the brightside. I believe in the adage when God closes a door, he opens a window. The saddest part about finding this out tonight is that although God closed the door on these talented men, he closed it as they walked out of "our house."
ugggh...
Okay... Thursday Lighthouse Project information regarding the August 4th public comment meeting at Hosftra University theater.
Tonight.... I need to sulk a little while and tomorrow I'm busy with the family.
PS... sorry for the typos, I'm really tired and doing 9 things at once.
New York Islanders Blogger • 
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