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Dear Mom and Dad,
Dream coming true tonight :)!!! U in?
Txt me back. TTYL
- Thomas
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Good luck to Thomas Hickey in his NHL debut tonight in Winnipeg.
Sign of a good period: a 3-interview intermission.
Here’s Grabner with Isles Radio, Tavares with TSN radio and Boyes with MSG.
Sign of a blowout: Opponent’s TV broadcast jumps on board to make it a 4-interview intermission.
Then there’s the PR pinnacle (Also known by insiders as, “Le Pinnacle”). That’d be a blowout in Montreal, where French TV and Radio turn a 4 into a 6-interview intermission. I can dream…
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It’s both the bane of my existence and the primary purpose of my job.
Hard copies of the 2012-13 Islanders Media Guide finally arrived today, right on time for opening night.
The guide, which usually occupies/haunts only my summers, benefited from an additional 20-ish rounds of edits throughout the fall thanks to the work stoppage.
I can’t wait for journalists to start pointing out mistakes!
Pictured below are the final six rounds of edits, which today capped off our “off-season closing ceremonies,” making a graceful tumble into a recycling bin.
Fans who caught John Tavares’ guest appearance on Boomer and Carton’s radio show this morning on New York’s WFAN may have been surprised when, seemingly out of nowhere, the duo began tearing Matt Martin to pieces.
CLICK HERE FOR AUDIO COURTESY OF CBS RADIO
Carton started the anti-Martin barrage with, “This Matt Martin’s taking too many penalties, I can tell you that right off the bat.”
Tavares was blindsided. After a few moments of stunned silence, he managed, in a muted tone, “Martin?”
Carton added, “I worry about him being on the ice, because he’s a little out of control and it’s penalty-penalty-penalty for this kid.”
Falling back on his years of media training, Tavares recovered, citing Marty’s NHL hits record and clean play.
Boomer Esiason, the show’s resident Rangers fan, added, “I hear that Martin may be on the trade block, is that right?…I’m thinking maybe Vancouver.”
Vancouver, eh?
Now why would Boomer Esiason care so much if Matt Martin were dealt to a west coast team?
Say Boomer, would that be the furthest NHL city from, I don’t know, Boston…the city of a certain loved one in your family?
It turns out JT was unfamiliar with Boomer’s daughter, Sydney – a student-athlete at Boston College. I do believe, however, that she’s met Matt.
You heard it here first – Matt Martin has taken this Isles-Rangers rivalry to another level… a, umm, romantic level.
Sources say that the first time Sydney brought boyfriend Matt home to meet the parents, Boomer wore a Rangers jersey.
I can’t wait ‘till Sydney comes home in an Orange and Blue #17.
Here’s an exclusive Photo, courtesy Matt Martin Creeper Pics LLC.
P.S. Dear Arthur Staple – Where you at on this story? Consider yourself scooped.
P. P. S. I love everyone’s reaction to the #Isles tweet this morning: Keep an eye on @JesseDEisenberg and #SkatesOnAPlane for an #Isles EXCLUSIVE today. Big player news. #ItsHockeyTime!
Like we’re going to break a trade or player signing on SOAP, just so I can chirp the guy or something? This blog sticks to hard-hitting news.
Now starting at center for the Harlem Globetrotters… #91… John Tavares.
This year’s warmups inexplicably came with matching pants, and the boys simply cannot get enough. Best part is I’ve not once seen a guy wearing it without a throwback isles knit cap… Usually with a big Pom Pom on top.
The jacket and hat is on sale now at the team store… The pants just materialize the first time you pull off a front flip alley-oop over a lowly defender on the Washington Generals.
Updated Jan. 17
EDITORS NOTE:
In hindsight, I definitely could have gone “Life Aquatic.” Please bear with me as I try to recapture mid-season form. One week of training camp just isn’t cutting it.
Spare sticks for the Isles two newest defensemen - 6’8 Joe Finley and 5’11 Thomas Hickey.
Looks about right.
For the record, even Hickey’s sticks still tower over 6’1 Frans Nielsen’s.
(Finley’s is probably the longest non-goalie twig in the org.)
The award for Best Headshot of the Day goes too…
Matt Carkner.
He was also the first headshot of the day - bright and early at 7 a.m. Matt just stepped right in for his closeup while his teammates were busy prettying themselves in the locker room.
Second place goes to the last headshot of the day, Matt Martin, for his one-year transformation into a pretty boy. Still not smiling though, so everyone knows he’s still tough - just better with the ladies.
Spending more time in one night with the Islanders General Manager than most journalists will all season: Priceless.
The Islanders are auctioning off a number of great items to support Long Islanders affected by Hurricane Sandy, but how the “Islanders GM Suite Package” is not yet inciting a bidding war is beyond me.
The package includes four tickets to sit in the GM’s suite during an Islanders game, during which you get to chat it up with the GM of your favorite team. If the Isles aren’t your favorite team, come to plant terrible trade ideas in Garth’s mind, stay for the free popcorn.
Don’t let “Assistant Equipment Manager for a Game” beat out a night with the GM. Shakey’s head is big enough already.
Click here for the full auction, which will end Tuesday, Nov. 20.