Suffolk County, NY, Supervisor Richard Schaffer called
for discussions to begin between Suffolk County Exec Robert
Gaffney and the Islanders "about building an arena" for the
team, according to Hadrick & Moore of NEWSDAY. Calling the
relationship between the Islanders and Nassau County Exec
Thomas Gulotta "irreparably destroyed," Schaffer said that
Suffolk County should try to keep the team if they leave
Nassau. Gulotta responded with a statement quoting special
counsel Joseph Ortego as saying that anyone interfering with
the Isles "will find itself the target of a multi-million
dollar lawsuit" (NEWSDAY, 9/22). In N.Y., John McQuiston
writes that Isles execs "were quick to respond" to the
invitation from Suffolk, and said they would "be delighted"
to make it their new home (N.Y. TIMES, 9/22). Also in N.Y.,
Anthony McCarron writes that the NHL will inspect the
Coliseum only after a NY State Supreme Court judge "decides
whether to make permanent" the temporary restraining order
against the Islanders. In other news, SMG President Wes
Westley said that SMG "has removed the scoreboard hoists
that the Islanders insist are not safe." Westley: "I don't
know what they're afraid of now" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 9/22).
ISLES RESPOND TO "BULLY" ON WEB SITE: In N.Y., Marc
Berman wrote that, in "an internet ambush," the Isles
"skewered" Gulotta on their official Web site, www.xice.com,
calling him "a bully" and asking readers, "Who is the real
pig at the trough?" The team downloaded 19 letters written
between the Islanders, PA-based SMG, Gulotta and arena-
maintenance firms that do "not make the county look good at
all" (Marc Berman, N.Y. POST, 9/21).
REAX: In N.Y., Larry Brooks called the Islanders'
leadership of Seldin, and co-Owners Howard Milstein and
Steven Gluckstern, a "shameless, self-serving trio." He
added that the team has sold around 2,500 season tickets and
"doesn't have either an operating ticket sales force or
marketing department" (N.Y. POST, 9/20).
