"Wides" wishes the Boosters, a Happy Holiday Season - Santa visits too
by: Gary Harding | Sunday, December 12th, 2004

UNIONDALE, NY - At our holiday meetings, the Booster Club usually has a player or two to hang out with Santa and Sparky; which usually signifies the begging of the Christmas season.  This meeting had all the fun and frivolity, as well as the man with the big red suit.  However, Islander players were not present at the meeting, with the 90+ day lockout in progress.

To our benefit, Islander radio play-by-play man John Wiedeman was our guest this night (Tuesday, December 7^th), and to one and all, he did not disappoint.  John immediately stated that he is indeed in hockey withdrawal.  He was definitely glad to make it here, but according to him, “At least you do not pay for parking at the hotel.”

Wiedeman has had a lot of time on his hands with calling no hockey.  To keep him busy, he has been working on his house to prepare him, and his wife Kelly, for a new addition to the family.  John and Kelly are expecting their first child in late February (congratulations to the happy couple!).

Then, John started to turn his attention about the lockout.  He began to talk about the impending meeting between the Owners and Players Association (the meeting was two days before the meeting on the 9^th).  He is hopeful that this meeting was going to be the start to a potential resolution to the deal.  He is optimistic and crossing his fingers that something is going to happen.

“I have had an off-season from May until late August.  And this extra time is nice but it is time to get back to hockey, and I hope that you feel that way too”, replied John.

He turned his thoughts to Bridgeport, and hoped that the Boosters in attendance were coming out to see the Sound Tigers.  He really thinks that the AHL is fun to watch, because of a few reasons; first, the talent level and the excitement of the players, and wanting to play better to make it to the NHL.  Second, the price of a ticket to the game, is nicely priced and conducive to the fan to go and see it.  And lastly in the case of Bridgeport, it is the Islanders franchise, and so close to home; that makes it good to get to know the guys before they make it to the big club, so that when they do, “they will feel like they are already a part of the Islander family.”

He then turned to the audience for questions.  As usual, Steve Fine is the first to respond (he holds the record for 189 consecutive meetings with the first question… LOL!).  Steve asked if he felt the lockout was going to last for the season.  And if it did, would John and Chris work more games?  John had said that there would be some type of agreement that would take place.  Most likely, the first one would be on December 26^th (Boxing day).

The talked turned to the situation on the lockout.  John discussed the fact, that it is the owners looking for a cost ‘certainty’ as opposed to the luxury tax situation that is being talked about by the NHLPA.  The NHLPA offer, according to John (via www.tsn.ca), the average salary would be reduced from 1.8 million to 1.3 million (about 24%).  The rookie cap salary would be reduced from 1.3 million to 850 thousand.  John hoped that the owners would take this, and look at it to see whether it could be viable.  These owners know that there are problems to solve.  They are aware that the TV ratings in hockey are lower than Women’s volleyball.  They realize that if they do not fix the problems now (which they should have fixed 10 years ago with the last Collective bargaining agreement), then they will not be able to survive.

John expressed some views about the relationship of the players and the fans, and expressed that it has been less than it was in the past, but in general, “hockey players are still quite personable people.  But they are restricted in what they can and can not do.  You look at what happened in Detroit a few weeks ago in basketball, and you know that in the future, this will be directed to the players as well.”  Management is going to have do a tremendous amount of ‘damage control’ and try to get the fans to come back to the game.

John, with some of his free time, is trying to get the game out to children in middle schools that may not necessarily watch or play the game.  He feels that getting the kids into the game, and hopefully, because of my efforts, we hope that it gets the kids to follow the game, and hope to get more interested.  Although it may require more equipment than a basketball or football game, they have to try it.  Then, if they can, to get a chance to see the game at its highest level, and maybe see it from close in, to see the speed, the checking, the emotion.

He then started to talk about the players that have left for Europe and was asked about how the players would be able to get back, if there is an end to the lockout.  John said that the players “have a clause into their European contracts that would enable them to leave right after the agreement has been made.”  The players in Europe, although are making money overseas, but the one thing that is important that the “conditions over there, are so much worse over there, than they are over here.”

“Do you think there may be some contraction of teams?” was a question from a member.  John really thought that there would be a situation in Pittsburgh, especially with the team that is dire need of a new arena.

John discussed about the new move of the broadcast to 1130 Bloomberg radio from 1050 ESPN.  He feels that the new station will be able to give an even stronger signal, and have less programming difficulties than 1050 did (more than one team broadcasting at the same time).  “1050 got a deal from the ‘enemy’.  It was a business decision, and some dollars changed hands.  We wish them well, but we got a great deal.”  However, he got some ideas, to add a NASDAQ report to add to the broadcast.  He even told Kinger (Chris King) to work on his knowledge of the European Bond Forecasts.

When it came to lowering payrolls, the subject came to Alexei Yashin.  John felt that if the owners get the cap, then there has to be some serious math involved in fixing the numbers, so that all of that current contract will not happen for the remaining years, but that funds will be diverted for a few to even 10 years.  Also, there may be a system to change the arbitration system, so that if a player can get a potential increase, there may be a way that ownership can bring down a contract, if there is a potential for play going on the downside.

John fielded questions on a variety of topics, including Bridgeport, more about the situation with the players, (and he promised to smack some guys around for some of the attitudes of the players) and other selected hockey issues.  He was a gracious guest, and had some of the crowd in stitches with some of his comments.  He really provided a lot of praise for the Boosters, and thanked them for the constant unwavering support of the team, and knows that the organization should recognize that fact a little more.

Of course, what holiday meeting of the Booster Club would be, without visit from the Jolly old guy in the red suit.  He brought Candy Canes for the members, and wished us all a Happy holiday season.  And from all of us at the Booster Club, our wishes go to all of you as well.  And let's all ask Santa for the NHL to come back soon!

The next meeting for the Booster Club will be in January 2005.  More information will be coming as soon as it is available, depending on the situation on the lockout.  Keep www.nyiboosterclub.org on your favorites list, and we will let you know about any future information.

Click on the pictures below for a larger picture.  Enjoy!