The alarm clock went off at 5 am Saturday morning.  Even though it does take me an insane amount of time to put myself together to go somewhere, the bell tolled not for me but for Big Angry Man.  While I was going to be spending this beautiful Saturday morning at the Islanders’ offices in Uniondale, he would be spending it training how to protect Long Island from the eminent danger of hurricanes, tornadoes and general disaster out in Yaphank.  His morning would be far more strenuous and civic minded than mine, but hey!  I can’t be a fireman the way he is, so he’ll just have to live with my less than heroic use of free time.

 

I broke down and took the gold Islander necklace from its little velvet box, sighed heavily and put it on.  Even though we were told business casual, I still donned my colors as I already have a business wardrobe of blue, orange and white.  I wore this along with my Islander watch, bracelet and pin.  They were not too overbearing, but enough to make a statement.  Hopefully, it was a quiet statement of support and not the shrill scream of an obvious lunatic.  I threw my 7^th Woman jersey in the car just in case.

 

I drove down Southern State with the windows closed and my cell phone in my lap, waiting for the call I knew would be coming.

 

“Where are you now?  Should I leave yet?  What are you wearing?  Where am I meeting you?”  The EXPANDED version of Marco Polo.

 

“Rte 135. Give it five minutes. What do you think I’m wearing? Park by the executive entrance.”

 

With that out of the way, I made record time to the coliseum from Rt. 135.  When I pulled in, there was already a large crowd by the entrance.  But I was headed past them and into the private lot by the side awning.  It was now 9:11 am.  As I knew I had a few minutes before my “partner in crime” would arrive, I made a quick phone call to Gary on his test run of The NY Hockey Report.  I knew he only had a few minutes, so I told him how great the crowd was developing as they lined up to buy tickets, and apologized for waiting till the last minute to call.

 

It was too warm to sit in the car, so I decided to get out and wait on the walkway.  I was soon joined by a very nice gentleman named Mike who was also waiting for someone.  We made small talk and I hoped he wouldn’t ask me who I was. 

 

“Are you waiting for Chris Botta?”

 

“No.  I’m waiting for a friend of mine.”  Silence was obviously not his friend as floodgates to information seemed to open as he told me in rapid sequence his entire employment history, how he had worked for Chris 15 years ago as an intern, how they recently reconnected, and how his PR firm and high profile clients could help.  All the while I could only think “Please don’t ask me what I do… Please don’t ask me.”

 

Luckily, Chris pulled up before that question spilled from his mouth.  As he approached us, I wondered if my being there was a great idea.  

 

“Dee Karl; how nice to see you.”  He greeted me warmly, but quickly added “what are you doing here?”  I didn’t know whether to lie or not.

 

“Kerry invited me.”  I felt like I just threw my best friend under a bus.

 

“Will Miss Vicki be joining you?”

 

“Yes.” (Pregnant pause.)

 

 “Alright then.  Would you like me to bring you in?” he asked, being a true gentleman.

 

“No.  Thank you.  I’ll wait just a few more minutes.  She should be right here.”   I didn’t tell him that I actually needed a few minutes with her to giggle and chirp before entering the building.   I became antsy waiting and walked up to Steve Biesel who was guarding the door with a sheet of names.

 

“Well, good morning!  How have you been?”  I don’t think he knows my name, but that’s okay.  I don’t remember his either.

 

“Good, good.”

 

“So if you’re here, am I assuming Miss Vicki will be joining you?”

 

“Absolutely.”  It’s apparent that everyone knows if they see me, my ‘partner in crime’ can’t be far behind.  It doesn’t have to be the other way around though.

 

It was now 9:25, and she was cutting it a little too close.  Of course as soon as I started to panic, that’s when she pulled up.

 

“Brian, how are you?”  They exchanged pleasantries as I was nervously attempting to get in the door.  I’m usually late for everything, but not for something that I’m told I should be prompt for.  The Security guard inside the door pointed down the stairs.  As soon as we hit the landing, we hugged and giggled like school girls.

 

“Do you believe we’re here?  Can you believe it?  And the season hasn’t even STARTED!”  We both felt the same way.  Nervous and excited and just plain giddy!  And we were both wondering at what point we would be asked to leave.

 

The “Wives Room” had leather couches lining the walls, but there were banquet tables set up in an “L” with folding chairs and a shirt and hat at each place setting.

 

“In the back!  Go to the back!  I want to be as far back as possible!”  We were.  The chairs were oddly heavy for folding chairs and the settings were very tight.  At first I tried to sit in the center of the table, but “Not there, that’s filthy!  No not that one, it’s gross.  Move down one, I don’t want to break up a set here.”  This was IQ’s version of musical folding chairs, and I kept schlepping my things from one seat to the next in dutiful obedience to the Queen.

 

The room filled up within minutes, but mostly because it seemed every Islander employee was lined up against the walls dressed in their corporate issue Tan polo shirts.  Amazing how an organization that has been able to renovate their marketing concepts still has some of the ugliest employee uniforms I’ve ever seen.  Even the Hawaiian shirts from past seasons were better than these bland colored, gas station issue garments.

 

With all the invitees seated, the doorway became jammed with the guest speakers.   At the back of the line, I could see Kerry’s blue eyes searching the room for us.  He waved and I timidly waved back trying desperately not to call attention to myself.  I took out my notebook, but left my camera in its case as it seemed there was no one else who looked quite as much a tourist as I did.

 

Chris Dey, the new Sr. VP of Sales, Marketing and Operations, started the meeting by welcoming everyone and began the introduction process.  He was very pleasant, and didn’t’ seem at all uncomfortable in his “Master of Ceremony” role.  Garth looked great as always.  A little grayer perhaps, and a little less comfortable talking to a large crowd than he is talking one on one, but still strong and confident and in great shape.  He has the demeanor of a Massachusetts politician. His only drawback was his soft speaking voice.  We needed to stay quiet to hear every word he said, and we did.  Maybe that is a ploy on his part.  Or maybe it’s just his way.  But he makes you concentrate on what he’s saying whenever he speaks. (I did tell him he needed a microphone when I spoke to him in the hallway.)

 

Nolan was a bit more casual in his kaki shorts and polo shirt.  In contrast, Ted never has trouble captivating a large crowd and controlling it.  Years under the media spotlight has trained him well.  What a perfect balance of information, humor and confidence he presents every time he speaks in public.  The audience always walks away believing everything he tells them.  This is why we have the saying “in Ted we Trust.”  It’s a feeling he cultivates.   He truly is grace under pressure.

 

Within 30 minutes it became painfully uncomfortable as the temperature in the room soared.  Some blamed the heat from the vast array of chaffing dishes waiting to be served, but it was apparent there was no cold air blowing into that room at all.  Now, you can’t put a woman over 40 in a room with a rising thermometer. It’s just cruel and unusual punishment.  As time went on, the men too became uncomfortable in their suit jackets and we needed to pause for a few minutes, escape to the hallway, hit the buffet line, and then return to our seats for the balance of the presentation.

 

IQ and I bolted from the room to make our way to the Ladies room.  We stood in the bathroom splashing water on our faces and wiping away the makeup that was fast melting.  IQ had to put her hair up with the only thing she had in her purse… a pencil.  We tried to stay out of that buffet room as long as possible.  IQ went in one direction, and I went in another.  I noticed Jason Lockhart, Website/Publications Coordinator and Mike Scortino, Game Operations Mgr, further down the hall.  We chatted and they didn't try to throw me out either.

 

Once back in the room, we perused the buffet table.  It was only 10:30 am, so for the two of us (especially IQ) the wide array of food although beautiful wasn’t anything we wanted.  She opted for the fruit and a croissant and I just went straight for the coffee and a turnover.  Besides…. Big Angry Man has taught me one thing… “I don’t do food lines.”

 

Once we returned to our seats people began to interact with each other, just being cordial.  Everyone was very pleasant, but you could see they were all still sort of wondering “What am I doing here?”

 

Chris Dey resumed the meeting by introducing the man that needs NO introduction:  Mike Bossy.  His new title is now “Executive Director of the Islanders Business Club.  He briefed everyone on what they planned with their networking events designed to help everyone build their own businesses while expanding subscribers.  A gentleman who had brought in over $400,000 in new business to the Islanders organization in the way of sponsorship took center stage for a few moments explaining how he used the contacts he already had to bring business in by showing them what the Islanders were really all about.

 

Look for the Islanders to become far more community-charity minded this season which began very early with the donation of $50,000 by Bill Guerin and quickly matched by Mike Comrie.  They understand they are a big part of Long Island and they intend to make an impact this season off the ice.

 

The floor was then opened for suggestions and without getting into minuet details I will tell you this:  Many of the ideas were good ones.  So good, in fact, that the Islanders had already put them into place earlier this summer.  I began to wonder if IQ and I were the only ones in the room that actually read the website. We seemed to spend in inordinate amount of time of the lack of the Islanders being involved in Youth Hockey on Long Island.  While I appreciated the fact, it was hard to move onto the next topic.  We discussed the media coverage at length as well, and a few other minor topics such as the volume in the arena and the breaks in the action. .At least what you saw was that everyone indeed wanted to HELP.  Obviously, this was now becoming the off-site marketing dept.  This may not be the newest concept in business, but it's innovative for a HOCKEY club.  Go to your customers and ask them how they think you can get more customers.  Brilliant!  It will probably work.

 

It was getting late and the meeting had gone on far longer than Mr. Dey had expected.  He announced that he would call another round table or contact everyone via email, but that the employees were really needed upstairs selling tickets.

 

Just as I was packing up to go, Chris Botta began pointing at people in the room.  “You, you, you and you – Dee.  Come with me.  I’d like to have a 10 minute meeting on the media subject.”  He left the room.

 

“You go, Dee; I’ll wait for you out in the hall.”  IQ was smart, she just wanted out of that room, but she also wanted to be able to mix and mingle with the big guns.  So as I ran after Mr. Botta, literally, IQ stood in the hallway enjoying the cooler climate and conversations. She’d have plenty to tell 4Cupz when she got home!

 

One by one, we filed into the renovated conference room.  Now, having been in the corporate world for more than 20 years, I found it odd that no one sat at either head of the table.  This was Chris’ meeting, but he sat in the center chair on the far side.  Thinking that he actually called me in there to take notes (I did have a steno pad with me) I sat directly across from him.

 

The 10 minute meeting lasted 40 and we ended up going over the same things as in the other room.  I had two tense moments as I was getting just a little frustrated that we weren’t getting very far in the conversations.  The first was when Mike, the gentleman I had found out SO much about in the parking lot, brought up not signing Jason Blake.  Of course that hit me like an electric shock and I could do nothing but glare at my host directly across the table.  He didn’t even have to say a word.  One hand gesture to me and I knew what he was thinking.  “What?? It’s not MY fault.  Move on.”

 

I took a deep breath, starred at the empty coffee cup in front of me, and let the man continue.  Then the Youth Hockey League topic reared its ugly head again, and I started wishing I was in the hall with Vicki.  After several minutes, the second “let’s beat a dead horse” moment came when we were again discussing the coverage in the print venues.  Over and over and over the same things were said.  One idea that they should be fed better was actually entertained.  Hey, I’ve been able to get husbands by feeding them well, but I can’t imagine you can get a better game review by dishing up Lobster Thermador.  Besides, SMG would screw it up anyway.  I tried to counter them at times, but it was four against one.  I finally conceded.  “Ok!  Gentlemen, I get the point.” 

 

I tuned things out until I heard Chris utter one sentence that I THOUGHT would turn the conversation around.  “So you don’t think the two top reasons for low attendance are on-ice product and ticket prices?”  He was fishing, and no one took the bait.  I was floored.  At that point, my mind went on vacation.  Luckily, it was now so late; Chris had to end the meeting.  He thanked us all and everyone left.

 

Out in the hallway IQ was talking to Garth who had already spent an hour outside walking the line of fans.  “This was not a day to wear black.” he quipped.  Actually, it had become so warm it was obviously not a day to wear anything but shorts and a tank top.

 

IQ and I then took a little tour of the freshly painted Coliseum before heading outside, during which she told me all about her breakfast with Bossy, Ted and Kimberly Dey who is in charge of the Islanders charity organizations.  I apologized for keeping her waiting.  But I didn’t need to.  She had pictures and a huge smile on her face.  I had a notebook with nothing in it and makeup half way down my face.  She obviously had a great time.

 

As we walked out into the box office area, we saw so many people that we knew.  Even the two girls we met at Iceworks occasionally and who buy tickets at the glass from time to time.  Someday, we’ll ask their names.  We were so engrossed in talking about what had happened in the two rooms we weren’t even looking for Dubie and Bruno.  But I did stop dead in my tracks for Steve Mears.

 

We hadn’t seen him since he was a guest at the Booster club.  He was with our other good friend, Josh Bernstein from ITV.  We talked with them for a good 10 minutes about a wide range of subjects, but it was getting late for both of us and I really needed to leave.As we walked back to our cars, I watched the line.  It seemed endless and it was already 12:30!

 

Now I know the critics will say “Yeah!  They were all Ranger fans buying tickets to the Ranger games.”  And to that I will say…  THEN THEY ALL OWN THEIR OWN ISLANDER JERSEYS BECAUSE THERE WAS A TON OF THEM OUT THERE.  I’d also say... “Why don’t you go wait on line at the Garden for tickets?  That’s where YOUR team plays.”

 

All I know is the turnout seemed far better than anything I had seen before for a sale event.  The direction the front office is taking is better than anything I could have hoped for.  So now we just need for Ted to turn these guys into one cohesive team and we’ll be set to go.

 

Are we there yet?  Yep.  We certainly are.