Yo E, whassup? How’s Vinny? Say hello to Johnny Drama for me.
Kevin Connolly, also known as “E,” has gravitated into ESPN’s orbit in his post-Entourage days. Connolly is the director of the latest ESPN 30 for 30, Big Shot (Tuesday, 7 p.m.).
If it is possible for a team in New York to be anonymous, it would be the New York Islanders. They haven’t made much noise since winning those Stanley Cups way back when.
Connolly, though, looks like he has an interesting story to tell.
Here’s an excerpt from Connolly’s write-up on the 30 for 30 site:
My personal connection was the driving force behind wanting to tell this story, but as the filmmaking process began I had to step away and look at it objectively to decide exactly what story I was going to tell and how I was going to tell it. The core of John Spanos story is that of a man unabashedly chasing the American Dream — and his American Dream, which I believe most men share, was to own a professional sports team. He grabbed his balls and schmoozed and lied and forged documents and made it to the top. He didn’t stay there very long, but he did it. During the interview, Spano recalls walking into the Coliseum and thousands of fans rising to their feet and chanting, Save us Spano. Imagine what thats like for this young guy, raised by middle class parents in Ohio. He was lured in by the promise of fame and adoration. It was the lifestyle he desired, not the money.
I won’t watch unless Turtle brings over a couple of bottles of his famous TEQUILA!!!
I happened to record this last week and watched just last night. As all 30 for 30s, this one was terrific. I had no idea that this is part of the Islanders lore and also forgot about those terrible, terrible jerseys the team changed to for a brief while.
>>> If it is possible for a team in New York [City] to be anonymous, it would be the New York Islanders. <<<
Sack-sack over the past 18 years? Yes, definitely.
But “anonymous”? That’s a tough one, Ed.
Nameless? Incognito? Unknown? Secret? Have the Islanders since 1983 been anonymous? No more so than the Bulls post-Jordan, the Bears post-Ditka, the Cubs for 100+ years, the Blackhawks from 1993-2009, or the White Sox since, like, forever (even AFTER 2005).
Would a Chicagoan bristle at any of his teams being called “anonymous”? …
It’s not quite like saying the Buffalo Bills are from New York City, but the Islanders are also from somewhere else.
In fact, it came as a surprise when the team introduced themselves as the “New York” Islanders in ‘72. They were expected to be called the Long Island Ducks.
Long Island is Newsday territory – not Post, Daily News, or Times. It’s Long Island Rail Road territory – not the subway. It’s Hofstra — not Columbia or NYU, and certainly not West Point or Rutgers. It’s suburbs, highways, beaches, mansions, golf courses – not yellow cabs and the iconic skyline.
The Isles’ upcoming move to Brooklyn can arguably be considered a “relocation.” This is not the Detroit Lions and Pistons moving to the suburbs. This is literally about a hockey team leaving its very own island for the big city– and praying the fans follow.
Considering that the Giants and Jets play their games in New Jersey, there's a big argument to be made for the Devils & Nets being considered as NYC teams. And THOSE guys were anonymous. (After winning their first Cup, the Devils STILL were up in the air about moving to Nashville! After two consecutive appearances in the NBA Finals, people STILL shrugged at the thought of the Nets moving from East Rutherford to Brooklyn.)
The Isles tho? The glow of the dynasty did not simply vanish after they won that fourth consecutive Cup in 1983. They fell to Edmonton in the finals in ’84. They were very competitive the rest of the decade. East Coast hockey fans don't think of Easter without remembering that playoff OT marathon vs. the Caps in '87. The Islanders' rivalry with the Rangers was still red-hot, and they didn’t truly crash until 1989. … Pat LaFontaine forced a trade to Buffalo in ’91, but in ’93 the team was back in the conference finals against eventual Cup-winner Montreal. In ’94 they got knocked out of the first round by the eventual Cup-winning Rangers.
It was in 1995 when things started getting seriously ugly at Nassau Coliseum. Ownership was disinterested, management was overwhelmed, and the fans stopped showing up.
Kevin Connolly’s excellent ESPN film takes it from there.
And Ed – you’re welcome for the history lesson.
Thanks.