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It’s Charles’s Vision; It’s Charles’s Team |
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Is that possessive correct? I always get that wrong.
As I made my way to the Coliseum this afternoon, I couldn’t help but think about all the other press conferences I snuck out of work for. Many of which were for the Lighthouse Project. But now I was heading there to see Charles Wang announce new owners of the team he calls “his baby.“ To me it seemed like a good-bye party . The mood in the room certainly wasn’t one of celebration as it was when Ratner won the Coliseum bid or when Scott Gordon was announced as head coach., or Bill Guerin was named Captain.
No, this was definitely different. Not a funeral, but not a party. Perhaps that due to the new partner’s low key attitude. They are nothing like Brett Yormark who commands a room. While Jon Ledecky has already been involved with an NHL team, they seemed like novices.
“What I’ve realized, even in just a few short weeks, is how much we still need to learn.” Scott Malkin told the room in quiet tones. As new owners, they don‘t seem to actually own much at the moment. There will be this two-year transition. It seemed odd to some, so Mr. Malkin was asked about it. “What I admire greatly about Charles’ approach is he’s focused on what’s best for the team. The future of the team. I’m not sure I would have had the vision Charles did. But I’m learning every day from Charles and I‘m seeing how valuable this kind of a transition is..”
When questions of Brooklyn and the Barclay’s arena arose, Mr. Wang answered as he has since he signed that 20 year lease. He believes it will be ‘great’ and the fans will be ‘great’ and they’re looking forward to going into a “first -class arena.” When asked if the seating configuration of the Barclay‘s could be changed, he said some seats had already been added that were better than the seats that exist. I take it that was an admission of the obstructed view seating without admitting it.
Scott Malkin didn’t say if they would be considering putting in an offer on the portion of Barclay’s center that Ratner has placed for sale. He said they’d do what was best for the team. Does that mean they should extend themselves even more and plunk down more cash for the Barclays?
Ratner already over-estimated it’s worth and will take a hit when he does sell. But maybe it’s not a good time to think about over-extending themselves. They haven’t even gotten their feet wet and they admitted up front -- they have a lot to learn.
“We are going to be on a listening tour for two years.” Ledecky told Newsday’s Mark Herrmann. “Working behind the scenes we can be most effective. Charles remains in charge of the team and we support what he and Garth are doing on the ice. If we can be helpful and provide direct feedback, that would be great. But right now, as Scott indicated, we’re really on a mission to learn and to absorb.”
In my eyes, Ledecky stumbled when he praised the Coliseum’s sight lines as even better than those in Pittsburgh. While some said it’s just the company line, I feel with sight lines in Brooklyn being a bone of contention, it just stung. “This is a fabulous place to play hockey.”
We know. That’s why we didn’t want to lose it.
It also bothered me when they both talked about “community” and how important a professional sports team is to a “community.” Which community? The community around the Coliseum here in Uniondale, or that one at Atlantic Yards? If it’s both -- that’s more than a ‘community.’
Both Mr. Malkin and Mr. Ledecky, failed to answer Mr. Herrmann’s second question regarding keeping ties to the Coliseum. It was a lead into Bruce Ratner’s promise to fans to bring the Isles back for six games a season. No mention of that, and no mention of Ratner either. That concerned me.
I’m certain what Mr. Wang liked about these new partners is their lack of bluster and ego. They give the impression of being humble and down-to-earth and thanked Charles for the ‘privilege’ of being chosen. There was no mention of the $428 million dollar price tag that privilege cost. Nor was there any indication of the percentage of ownership Charles Wang retains for the next two years. No matter how many times he was asked. He wasn’t giving up those numbers.
Garth Snow said nothing during the press conference, and after the photo op, where I’m sure we’ll get some great shots from Bruce Bennett in the front row, Snow stood over to the side and talked hockey -- just hockey.
Colin McDonald was placed on waivers only a few hours before and Anders Lee was already making his way up to travel to Boston for tomorrow’s game. Grabovski’s IR paperwork was filed making room for Visnovsky to return.
As someone who could never hide their emotions, Garth Snow asked me “Hey, Dee. Don’t tell me a two game losing streak has you down…”
No, just losing the place I was standing in. I climbed up the stairs, coffee in hand as the press scrums continued. The sky was gray and the wind whipped across the vast, empty asphalt. And just as always… I got stuck in traffic on the Southern State parkway.
New York Islanders Blogger • 
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