Oh Josh Bailey!

I’ve been attending sporting events since I was a teenager. But I’ve never gotten a baseball or a puck or anything in all those years. Not that I was ever really concerned about it. I do own a batting practice home run ball hit by Robin Ventura when he was with the Mets. Okay so my brother Eric is one who got it and then gave it to me a few months later. I still own it.

On Thursday the Tavares Watch came to my town as the New York Islanders came to play the Florida Panthers. The Isles had won four in a row. A big no-no in the Tavares Watch but it was fun to see those games.

So after four in a row I went there thinking that if they won in my presence, well that couldn’t be bad. But if the Isles did lose, that wouldn’t be bad either. It’s win-win.

So me and Jessica got there early and were able to catch the pre-game skate. Doug Weight and Bill Guerin both spent time lobbing some pucks over the glass for some kids that were there. I didn’t think much of it other than “oh that’s always nice to see.”

The pre-game skate is just about over except 19 year old rookie Josh Bailey is still out there. Just before he goes in he picks up a puck with his had and lobs it right over to guess who. Okay, not me. At least I don’t think so. But Jessica was standing next to me wearing my Islanders jersey and I’m pretty sure that’s who he tossed it to. I did have to use my natural athletic ability to catch it but none the less. Mission accomplished. I reach up, catch it, and give it to Jessica. This works out because it’s kind of like giving to myself.

And if that wasn’t enough Bailey then scored a goal (he’s second ever) and had an assist and to top it all off the Isles lost 3-2. All in all a perfect night at the hockey game.

It’s beautiful, isn’t it?

Tavares Watch 2009

When you root for a sports team that stinks, you have to find other interesting ways to wade out the season.

So this year for fandom of the New York Islanders I determined early on that the one thing that would make the season worth something is if they get the first overall draft pick. So pretty much be the worst team in hockey.

Yeah, I know there is a lottery system in place. For those of you who aren’t familiar with this here is how it works.

“The first 14 picks of the 2008 Entry Draft are determined by the NHL’s annual Draft Drawing, a weighted lottery system that is used to determine the order of selection. The 14 teams that do not qualify for the 2008 Stanley Cup Playoffs, or clubs that acquired those clubs’ 2008 first-round draft picks, participate in the drawing. The Club selected in the drawing may not move up more than four positions in the draft order, thus only the five Clubs with the fewest regular-season points have the opportunity to select first overall. No Club can move down more than one position as a result of the Draft Drawing.”

You got that? So if the Islanders finish last overall they will have the best chance of winning the lottery and won’t move down more than one spot.

So looking at the top two draftees available we have John Tavares (a super stud goal scorer) and Viktor Hedman (a super stud defensemen). Either one is a win, but Tavares has been talked about for the last couple of years and one thing the Islanders could use is someone who can score.

Which means that this NHL season has essentially become Tavares Watch 2009. And how are we doing in Tavares Watch 2009? Well let’s check the bottom of the standings.
Standings     1/7/09      GP W L OT Pts
27 Ottawa Senators           38 13 19 6     32
28 Tampa Bay Lightning 39 11 18 10   32
29 Atlanta Thrashers        41 13 23 5    31
30 New York Islanders    41 12 25 4    28

Right now looks like by being last in league by three points means we are first in Tavares Watch 2009! I have been told that rooting for my team to lose is a horrible thing and this may be true. However I find that I cannot actually watch a game and root against the Islanders. It’s only when I check the scores.

And with 41 games in the book this means we are halfway to our goal of last overall. Listen, the truth here is that I’m hoping Tavares can have an impact like Alex Ovechkin is having in Washington or Sydney Crosby in Pittsburgh. And really there’s nothing wrong with that.

Tavares Watch 2009 continues next when the Islanders visit the Calgary Flames. Go Flames!

Hockey Season is Here

About five years ago Jessica was nice enough to buy me the NHL package on DirecTv.  Being a New York Islanders fan in Florida, it was a fantastic gift.  Now I could watch my team all the time.  But more than that I got watch pretty much any and every game I wanted to that year.  And that was the year that I finally got to see Hockey Night in Canada.

Hockey Night in Canada is like Monday Night Football (but it’s on Saturdays), in case you didn’t know, except it’s better not only because it’s hockey (hockey > football) but because it was more than just a game.  The conversations that would go on in the studio, wacky Don Cherry and his wackier suits, the whole show was everything a hockey fan could ask for.  Since that year I’ve not had the NHL package again.

However there is good news.  The NHL Network will be showing HNIC here in the good old US of A!  So while I’m still get over the Mets collapse and the Jets so-so start, I really find myself looking forward to hockey season.  All this despite knowing the Islanders will stink.