Thursday, July 28, 2011

July 27, 2011, New York Islanders arena rally news story for HockeyPrimeTime.com




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Written by Denis Gorman
Thursday, July 28, 2011 03:52


Nassau County will hold a referendum Monday with a new stadium at stake. Proponents, including Islanders owner Charles Wang, believe it's the team's last chance to get a new building before its current lease expires in 2015.


The optimist would say that the sun is rising on a new era of success. The pessimist would say that that the sun is setting on Long Island’s only major professional sports franchise.


The sun-splashed, late afternoon rally in front of the Nassau Coliseum Wednesday was either the dawning of a new day in New York Islanders' history or the beginning of the end. The rally was designed to implore fans and residents to vote for a plan that would authorize the County to begin the process to build a new Nassau Coliseum.


A crowd of 2,800 – consisting mostly of construction workers and Islanders fans – gathered outside the building for the rally, which had Long Island rock band Blue Oyster Cult as one of the main attractions. Islanders owner Charles Wang was in attendance along with team executives and players, Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano, and other Nassau County politicians and labor leaders.


Mangano has introduced a plan to build a “state of the art sports and entertainment” complex on the grounds that the Nassau Coliseum stands. His vision includes a convention center and a minor league baseball stadium.


The plan would cost the County $400 million. But Mangano believes it will keep and create jobs and revenue streams in Nassau County, along with guaranteeing that the Islanders would stay on Long Island.


“Charles has made it pretty clear that he is passionate about staying on Long Island. I don’t know how much more the guy can do to get a rink built here,” Islanders left wing Matt Moulson said about Wang. “I love it on Long Island. I love the fans here – arguably the most loyal fans I’ve ever seen. They’ve gone through a lot. It’d be a little bit of a reward for them.”


Time is of the essence for the Islanders and the County to convince residents to vote for the new building with four days until the referendum. To that end, Mangano and his staff have spent the summer explaining the importance of the County Executive’s plan to residents.


“It’s about voter awareness. We’re doing tele-town hall, we’ve done e-mail blasts, we’ve held dozens of meetings throughout the County in different communities. We continue to advertise our website (www.nassaucountyny.gov/hub) that has the information and we attend events like this to bring about voter awareness,” Mangano explained. “This is an important issue. It’s one that deserves consideration. We hope that residents and voters will turn out on August 1.”


Along with the rally, the joint public relations push included interviews with WFAN radio host Mike Francesa Tuesday afternoon. Wang spoke with Francesa for over 20 minutes, a discussion that was highlighted by the Islanders’ owner’s criticism of Nassau County Democratic Chairman Jay Jacobs’ plan.


Jacobs, whom Francesa spoke with prior to his one-on-one with Wang, questioned if the proposed building had to be publicly financed. Jacobs also said he could put together a private group to build a state of the art arena on the 77 acres surrounding the Coliseum in a year and a half.


“Where’s the deal? He had 10 years (when) his party was in charge, he was running the show. He brought nothing that got completed. Where’s the deal? Bring it forward,” Mangano said when asked about Jacobs’ comments.


Wang’s Lighthouse Project was to be privately funded. The Project was stymied by Town of Hempstead Supervisor Kate Murray despite having been accepted by then-county executive Tom Suozzi.


Wang believes if ground is not broken by next summer there will not be enough time to build a new arena in Uniondale by the time the Islanders’ lease expires at the Coliseum following the 2014-15 season.


On Twitter: @HockeyPrimeTime and @DenisGorman

Photos by Getty Images


http://www.hockeyprimetime.com/news/headlines/islanders-stage-rally-for-stadium-referendum

posted by Denis P. Gorman at 10:58 AM

July 27, 2011, New York Islanders arena rally story for Metro NYC Newspaper

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Islanders hold rally for new stadium


DENIS GORMAN/METRO
NEW YORK
Published: July 27, 2011 10:07 p.m.
Last modified: July 27, 2011 10:39 p.m.
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Matt Moulson’s words were blunt and powerful.


“Charles had made it pretty clear that he’s passionate about staying in Long Island. I don’t know how much more the guy can do,” the Islanders left wing said during Wednesday’s rally to energize Nassau County residents to vote for Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano’s plan to build a new Nassau Coliseum. The vote is scheduled for Monday.


The Islanders were represented at the rally by Moulson, owner Charles Wang, defenseman Ty Wishart and goaltender Rick DiPietro. Mangano and labor leaders were in attendance as well.


An Islanders spokesperson estimated that 2,800 attended — many chanting “Build it now!”


NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, Islanders officials and Mangano have been steadfast that the team will not play in the Coliseum after the lease expires following the 2015 season.


Wang and Mangano have said Long Island would no longer be a viable place for families to live if the current Coliseum closes and the Islanders are forced to move. Nassau Coliseum is the second oldest arena in the NHL behind Madison Square Garden. The Garden is undergoing massive renovations and is expected to be completed by 2013-14.


Mangano unveiled a study in a late June press conference at the coliseum with Wang.


The Camoin Associates report said $1.2 billion in revenue, 1,515 construction jobs and 3,040 permanent jobs would be created if residents voted for the building. Mangano also announced that the Islanders will pay 11.5 percent of every dollar earned, and that the franchise and county had agreed to a new lease that would keep the team on Long Island through 2045.


Mangano’s plan calls for the County to use $400 million to build the building. The County Executive has termed the expenditure “an investment” in Nassau County. Opponents of the plan have complained that residents will face a tax hike.


Wang has publicly expressed his dissatisfaction with the politics surrounding the proposed new building. Wang complained that Democrats were in favor of the Lighthouse Project when Tom Suozzi was the County Executive but now are adamantly against Mangano’s vision for the new building.


Both sides voiced their opinions in interviews with Mike Francesa on WFAN Tuesday afternoon. Nassau County Democratic Chairman Jay Jacobs, who supported the Lighthouse Project, expressed his belief that Nassau County residents should not pay for the new building. He estimated that residents would pay an additional $58 a year in taxes and that it would take “a year-and-a-half” to build a new building and could be privately funded.


Wang disputed Jacobs’ arguments, stating that it takes “at least 30 months” to raise a new building and quoted a report that said “a worst-case scenario” residents would pay an additional $13.80 a year in taxes.


Mangano scoffed when asked by Metro New York about Jacobs’s assertions.


“Where’s the deal? He had 10 years [when] his party was in charge, he was running the show. He brought nothing that got completed. Where’s the deal? Bring it forward,” Mangano said.


The County Executive hinted at a fallback plan should the vote not pass. “We would have to explore other options. Obviously there is other property here but this option that keeps the Islanders and builds on this concept of a great sports and entertainment destination. It’s the ability to save 2,100 jobs and create 3,000. This is the way to go.”


Wang’s estimated the new building would be used more than 200 times a year and would seat 17,500 for hockey and 19,000 for concerts.



Follow Denis Gorman on Twitter @DenisGorman and Metro New York Sports @MetroNYSports.


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posted by Denis P. Gorman at 10:55 AM

July 26, 2011, Juventus-Club America World Football Challenge game story for Metro NYC Newspaper

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World Football Challenge: Juventus strike earns win



DON EMMERT/AFP/GETTY IMAGES

Alessandro Del Piero, left, of Juventus is challenged by Jorge Reyes of Club America during the Herbalife World Football Challenge match at Citi Field.

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DENIS GORMAN
NEW YORK

Published: July 27, 2011 12:40 a.m.
Last modified: July 27, 2011 12:55 a.m.
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On a night when lightning strikes filled the sky, it was a lighting strike off the foot of Cristian Pasquato that was the difference.


Pasquato’s goal in the 42nd minute gave Juventus a 1-0 win over Club America in the Herbalife World Football Challenge 2011 Tuesday night at Citi Field. The international tournament includes five MLS teams and eight international teams.


“This was a well-advanced club we played against,” Juventus coach Antonio Conte said through translator Michael Mitolo. “It was a very important test in our preseason training and we’re very satisfied with the result.”


The match was a preseason game for Juventus -- the historically significant Serie A franchise -- while the friendly was the second game Club America has played this season. The Mexican First Division team beat Queretaro, 2-1, on Sunday.


The game was delayed 36 minutes in the first half due to an electrical storm. A loud portion of the 20,859 hissed at the decision despite a half dozen flashes of lightning around the stadium.


“It was unfortunately stopped by the weather,” Club America coach Carlos Reinoso said through translator Marisabel Munoz. “I think that took some rhythm out of us.”


Despite being outshot 13-9 for the game, Juventus had the better of play in the first half. They did not break through until Club America goaltender Armando Navarrete lost control of the ball and Pasquato slammed the loose ball into the right side of the goal.


“Pasquato is a speedy winger. He likes the fly down the flanks,” Conte said of Pasquato, who finished with two shots on goal. “We are, as quite evidenced by our formations, lacking in that category on the wing. Pasquato offers that option for us. One of the reasons we brought him here was to occupy that role.


“As you can tell, [last night] he played very well based on the game plan that was fly up the wing. We’re going to keep him close to our [vests] and make sure we can integrate him to the squad. We have this need for a winger.”


Reinoso made mass substitutions to start the second half, including replacing Navarrete with Hugo Gonzalez. Reinoso was adamant that the change in goal had nothing to do with Pasquato’s goal. Navarrete and Gonzalez each finished with a save.


“Not at all. I made four or five substitutions at the half,” Reinoso said. “I wanted to give all the players [playing time].”


Juventus limited Club America’s opportunities by sagging in the box. The tactic, akin to the trap in hockey, forced Club America to pass laterally instead of vertically. Club America’s shot attempts were mostly harmless, except for one in the 64th minute Gianluigi Buffon had to dive to stop along the goal line. It was one of the two saves he made on the night.


There are four games remaining with Club America taking on F.C. Barcelona in the finale at Cowboys Stadium on Aug. 6. Juventus will play Chivas de Guadalajara tomorrow in Raleigh, N.C.



Follow Denis Gorman on Twitter @DenisGorman and keep up to date on everything going on in Metro New York sports with @MetroNYSports.


http://www.metro.us/newyork/sports/article/927243--world-football-challenge-juventus-strike-earns-win

posted by Denis P. Gorman at 10:49 AM

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

July 19, 2011, Jason Bay story for Metro NYC Newspaper

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Mets lose as Beltran, Reyes near return

AL BELLO/GETTY IMAGES

Jason Bay played on Monday, but with Beltran returning soon he might not for long.

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DENIS GORMAN
NEW YORK

Published: July 18, 2011 11:14 p.m.
Last modified: July 18, 2011 11:25 p.m.
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The question posed to Terry Collins was simultaneously simple and complex.


His team is undermanned, but one of the presumed key components has been in a season long hitting slump. So now the question was when or if Terry Collins determines that left fielder Jason Bay needs to sit.


The decision did not come in last night’s 4-1 loss to the Marlins.


“I don’t think after the (All-Star) break, the way Jason swung before the break and having a four-day week, he needs rest. He needs to play. He needs to play to get back to where he was before the break,” Collins said before last night’s makeup game in which Bay hit sixth in the lineup.


He was in the lineup because Carlos Beltran missed his third straight game with the flu. Bay went 0-for-2 with a walk and a ninth inning sac fly. He may have caught an inadvertent break when Scott Hairston, who hit cleanup against last night, fouled a ball off his shin during his only at-bat. He left the game and a Mets spokesperson reported that Hairston suffered a “left shin contusion” and is “day to day.”


But Bay may have also proved to his manager, and more importantly, himself, that he can still drive a ball. He crushed a Leo Nunez 95 MPH first pitch fastball to dead center with the bases loaded and one out that scored Daniel Murphy with the Mets’ only one. It was the second hard hit ball in as many days for Bay, who had hammered a Kyle Kendrick pitch five feet foul of the right field fair pole in Sunday’s 8-5 loss to the Phillies.


“Absolutely,” Bay said when asked if those at-bats were cathartic. “Sometimes you go awhile without doing it and you think, ‘Man, where is it?’ I know I can because I do it in batting practice. I know it’s there. It’s not something where I sit back and (say), ‘Man, maybe I just don’t have power anymore.’ I know I do. It’s just a matter of being consistent with it.”


Bay’s post-game briefing was diametrically opposite of the one following Sunday’s loss. He had gone 0-for-4 and misplayed fly ball along with repeatedly hearing the Citi Field crowd’s displeasure.


“It’s not the first time. Imagine how frustrated the fans are, do you think that I enjoy it? Do you think I’m enjoying what I’m doing out there?” Bay asked rhetorically when questioned about the fan response. “I’m more frustrated than anybody.”


Signed to four-year, $66 million contract in December 2009 to provide potent outfield bat to a team was coming off of a 70-92 season in which it collectively hit .270 but only 95 home runs, Bay has underwhelmed. He is only hitting .248 (82-for-600) with 12 homers and 76 RBI in 163 games spanning the 2010 and 2011 campaigns. In 68 games this year, he has a .232 batting average, 6 home runs and 29 RBI.


What has gnawed at Bay and the Mets in recent days is that he appeared to have battled through the slump prior to the seven game California road trip that ended their first half. In a 17 game span between June 16 and July 5, Bay hit .352 (24-for-68) with four homers, 16 RBI and 13 runs scored. But since the Mets’ 6-0 win at the Dodgers on July 6, he is in a 3-for-his-last-32 slump with a run scored and a RBI.


“Right now, the results aren’t great, aren’t there, but I don’t feel as lost as I was early on,” Bay said. “I feel like I’m having good at-bats. You don’t want to say it’s close all the time but I feel like I’m in a better place even though I’m not getting those hits.”


The Mets (47-48) recorded just three hits, their second worst output of the season. Clay Hensley (1-2) only allowed a first inning double to Willie Harris in earning his first as a starter since August 16, 2007. Chris Capuano (8-9) surrendered seven hits and four runs in 7 2/3 innings.



Follow Denis Gorman on Twitter @DenisGorman.


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http://www.metro.us/newyork/sports/article/920450--mets-lose-as-beltran-reyes-near-return--page0

posted by Denis P. Gorman at 10:44 AM

Monday, July 18, 2011

July 18, 2011, New York Mets featurey column for Metro NYC Newspaper

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Mets’ hustle running out of steam

MIKE STOBE/GETTY IMAGES

Mike Pelfrey dropped to 5-9 with the loss.

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DENIS GORMAN
NEW YORK

Published: July 17, 2011 9:17 p.m.
Last modified: July 17, 2011 9:37 p.m.
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Mike Pelfrey stood at his locker while being interviewed and stared across the clubhouse offering responses in hushed tones. It was a scene that had played out in the past.


On this day, Pelfrey was the subtext to the Mets’ 8-5 loss to Philadelphia because of his maddening inconsistency. He displayed stretches of dominance — such as the eight consecutive retired batters between the third and fifth innings — interspersed with two hits allowed to Phillies starter Kyle Kendrick (5-4) and a one out, three-run homer to Michael Martinez in the fifth. The home run was Martinez’s first in the major leagues.


“I don’t know,” Pelfrey said when asked about trying to find consistency. “I wasn’t sharp again. I made a mistake and he hit it. Have to go out there and execute pitches which I didn’t do very well [yesterday].”


Three-and-a-half hours after Pelfrey threw a 93 MPH sinker that Jimmy Rollins watched sail into Ronny Paulino’s glove on the game’s first pitch, the Mets had lost two-of-three in the series to fall to 47-47 on the season.


The Mets did not have David Wright, Carlos Beltran or Jose Reyes in the lineup. Wright continued his rehab from a lower back stress fracture last night in Single-A St. Lucie. Beltran missed the last two games of the series with the flu. He arrived at the park, according to Terry Collins, and received an IV. But the manager “was not sure he’ll be in there [today].”


Reyes, who has not played since July 2 with a strained hamstring, ran the bases before the game and reported that he was fine. He will play for Single-A Brooklyn tonight and, depending on how he feels, could return to the Mets’ depleted lineup Tuesday for the start of their three-game series against the Cardinals.


The standings may suggest that these four games are vital to the Mets’ playoff hopes, but the Mets have won 42 of its last 75 games on grit and are still .500. They are good enough to compete on a game-to-game basis, but not good enough to compete come October. There is no shame in that. Twenty-two of the sport’s 30 teams won’t compete in October.


To judge this campaign negatively because the Mets won’t be a playoff team is short-sighted. What the 2011 season has been is a chance to determine the on-field personnel to rebuild the franchise around while establishing standards of play for future editions.


Presumably, those standards don’t include being pulled after allowing four runs on six hits in five innings as happened to Pelfrey, or a slugging outfielder going 0-for-4 and leaving five runners on base as Jason Bay did.


Over the course of the first four months, Alderson and Collins have learned that they might have useful pieces in Justin Turner and Daniel Murphy. Now they have to decide if there is a closer on their roster.


Collins announced in the aftermath of Tuesday night’s trade of closer Francisco Rodriguez that he would experiment with Pedro Beato, Bobby Parnell and Jason Isringhausen. Parnell did not pitch in the series finale. Beato walked three and yielded three unearned runs in the eighth. Isringhausen struck out two in the ninth but gave up a hit and a walk.


“I’m going to cut a little slack. It’s been seven days since Beato has been out there, it’s been seven days since Izzy has been out there. I’m going to go on the fact that they haven’t pitched much,” Collins said. “But as I said (Saturday) I don’t care who you are. When you take the field, people are watching. You have to go out and get the job done. There are times when you have to shut the door to give yourself a chance to win. That was one of those opportunities and we didn’t shut the door. I’m a little disappointed.”



Follow us on Twitter @MetroNYSports and @DenisGorman.


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http://www.metro.us/newyork/sports/article/919539--mets-hustle-running-out-of-steam--page0

posted by Denis P. Gorman at 12:34 PM