The Future of the Islanders

When it comes to doing pieces on hockey, the following is exactly the kind of piece that I abhor doing.  It's not because it isn't important because it is for the future of the New York Islanders in this instance.  Rather, it is because it shouldn't have to come to this and talking politics (of any kind) is clearly not a strength of mine.  Tomorrow, the fate of the Islanders will decided when voters in the area will decide if the team will get a new arena in Nassau County, where the current Nassau Coliseum is located.

Now, why the feeling that it should have never come to this?  The basic idea behind the vote on Monday is because the owner, Charles Wang, wants a new arena built for the Islanders.  Here is one reason for and against this idea, as I see it:  the reason for is that the current Nassau Coliseum is a dump.  No other way to describe it, really.  So, what's the reason why it hasn't happened yet?  According to sources familiar with the situation, Wang wants the taxpayers to foot the bill.  Now, given Wang's track record as Islanders' owner, he hasn't exactly been the kind of owner the Islanders, or any other team for that matter, should want to bat for them.  When it comes to the contracts of Alexei Yashin and Rick DiPietro, who was the guy that ultimately green-lighted those deals?  If you answered Wang, step on up and claim your prize of absolutely nothing.  Now, granted he is trying to do what's best for the team, it seems that many of those decisions don't pan out the way he intended.  If he wants this measure to pass, it would be a good idea if he puts some of his own money where his mouth is, and not rely on the taxpayers to foot the entire bill.