Journalism Multimedia Rally Coverage

Sarah Palin, the US Republican vice presidential candidate, is just the second woman to run on a major party ticket. But female supporters at a rally for Barack Obama in Eisenhower Park criticized the Alaskan governor, along with running mate John McCain, hours before the final presidential debate at the University’s Mack Sports Complex Wednesday.

Barbara Bellantonio, an East Meadow resident, said she voted for Dwight Eisenhower the first time she was eligible to cast a ballot for a presidential candidate. Now, the 71-year-old said she is hitting the campaign trail in support of Obama.

“I feel it’s so important that we elect him,” Bellantonio said. “I’ve never been involved in a campaign like this. I’m going on bus trip to Pennsylvania with the campaign on Saturday. I hung flyers on utility poles. I’ve never done that my whole life.”

Bellantonio was one of about 1,000 supporters, union and political activists who set up chairs and blankets on the lush green lawns in front the Harry Chapin Lakeside Theater Wednesday afternoon. She said she voted for the park’s namesake in her first presidential election in 1956 but no longer supports the GOP in part because of Palin.

“The thought of Palin as being the vice president is just too much to bear,” Bellantonio said. “Her stance on abortion, her views on climate change and the way she’s inciting crowds to say terrible things; I’m embarrassed for her.”

The rally came at a time when a Siena College poll reported that Obama surged ahead 22 percentage points in New York over McCain, leading 58-36 percent according to the 631 likely voters.

Rally organizers encouraged those in attendance to visit a booth set up with lists of phone numbers to registered voters in swing states like Ohio, Colorado, Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin in order to encourage voter turnout for the Obama-Joe Biden ticket for next month’s Election Day.

Carol Schlitt was one of the volunteers handing out phone numbers to other Obama supporters, where numbers for registered voters in Ohio were disseminated. She said the numbers were acquired from Ohio’s Board of Elections

“They are not all Democrats, but they are registered voters,” Schlitt said. “We’re trying to identify voters who support the campaign and then make sure they get out and vote on Nov. 4. Ohio is surrounded by battleground states, so we have a dozen phone banks running every week on Long Island…to try and help us with the swing state votes.”

Zach Stern, a student at Nassau Community College, said he is excited about voting for the president for the first time and said he is voting for Obama because of his social agenda.

“Obama’s very passionate with what he wants to do. It’s time for a change,” said Stern, who said he disagrees with McCain’s stance on abortion. “A woman has the right to do whatever she wants with her body. People who are against that; it’s just [puzzling] to me.”

Suffolk County Legis. Jon Cooper supported Obama over New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton in the Democratic primary. Cooper was rewarded by serving as the emcee for the event, sharing the title with Nassau County Executive Thomas Suozzi.

“We weren't always all together, but we're together now,” Suozzi said.

David Crosby, Graham Nash, Bruce Hornsby and local musicians were slated to perform. No McCain backers or protesters were visible before the free concert, though Republican lawmakers in the media spin room said before the debate McCain still has a chance to gain ground on Obama despite slumping in national polls.

“I think the American people want to understand how he’ll strengthen our economy as it heading towards another rough road,” former Mass. Gov. Mitt Romey said. “I think his policies strengthen America and will get us out of a recession faster and keep it from being deep."

Isles Open Up Coliseum With Win

Isles Open Up Coliseum With Win

by: Brian Bohl | Senior Writer - NY Sports Day | Sunday, October 12, 2008

UNIONDALE, NY - Rick DiPietro dressed for Saturday night’s home opener but sat on the bench for a second straight game. DiPietro's status for future games is still uncertain. 

But the Islanders provided the best remedy for an unstable goalie situation by producing an offensive explosion. Last season, the Islanders scored a NHL-worst 189 goals. Yet the Isles started a new campaign at Nassau Coliseum by erupting for four first-period goals, galvanizing a sold-out crowd en route to a 5-2 victory over St. Louis in the home opener. 

Andy Hilbert, Bruno Gervais and Doug Weight each registered a multi-point game, helping the home team improve to 1-1. First-year coach Scott Gordon also picked up his first NHL victory, earning a congratulatory handshake and souvenir from captain Bill Guerin. 

“Billy gave me that game puck and said, ‘I hope there are many more to follow,’” Gordon said. 

Guerin, who added an empty net goal in the final minute, said his coach took the milestone in stride. 

“He keeps himself in check pretty well, but I think he was pretty happy,” Guerin said. 

Mike Comrie, Trent Hunter and Sean Bergenheim propelled the Isles to a 3-0 lead in the opening 16 minutes, supporting backup netminder Joey MacDonald. After stopping 27 shots in a 2-1 season opener, MacDonald logged his first NHL victory since March 27, 2007, posting 24 saves. 

“I didn’t know him coming here, but he’s a hard worker and he deserves everything he’s getting,” Gordon said. 

Comrie initiated the scoring just 2:18 into the game, taking Richard Park’s feed before slamming a hard shot past Chris Mason. 

The Islanders continued the pressure and showed more positive signs that Gordon’s system could pay early dividends. The power play was the league’s second-worst last season, though Hunter ensured the club of a power play goal for a second straight game to make it 2-0 at the 13:47 mark. 

“That was pretty close to the efforts we had in the games we had during exhibition season,” Gordon said. “From top to bottom in our lineup, that was a pretty consistent effort from everybody.” 

Barret Jackman’s interference penalty put the Isles up a man. Hunter capitalized on the opportunity, taking Weight’s pass near the blue line before blasting a 50-foot shot past Mason (29 saves). 

Hilbert, who heard boos towards the end of a playoff-less 2007-08 season, turned the jeers into thunderous applause in the opening period, first by setting up Bergenheim’s tally and then on a highlight-reel worthy shorthanded goal. 

“The building was rocking,” Hilbert said. “It sure was a lot of fun. They were so enthusiastic and loud.” 

Hilbert battled in the corner near the Blues bench to keep the puck in the offensive zone; a move that paid off when Bergenheim took the pass and fired a wrist shot between the circles. His shot wasn’t hard but hit Mason’s leg pad on the low stick-side, trickling past the goal line for a 3-0 lead just 1:33 after from Hunter’s goal. 

“As long as there is the right support there for a defenseman and a third man coming back, we’re going to be as aggressive as possible,” Hilbert said. “We don’t want to quit on any play. We kept the play alive and Bergy had a great shot.” 

St. Louis tempered some of the enthusiasm when Brad Boyes completed a one-timer off Paul Kariya’s centering pass. Boyes was left alone near the crease, preventing MacDonald from sliding over in time to stop the slapper. 

The Islanders reestablished the three-goal edge before the first intermission despite playing down a man. Hilbert raced into the Blues zone, making a swift backhand-to-forehand move before firing a quick shot. Mason made the save as Mark Streit collected the rebound and slid a pass right on Hilbert’s stick blade. Boyes was late getting back, helpless to prevent Hilbert’s skillful backhand goal. 

MacDonald prevented the Blues from forging a comeback. Keith Tkachuk, who scored two goals in the Blues opening game win, made it 4-2 with 12:13 remaining in the game, converting a power play opportunity off a rebound. Kariya, a former perennial All-Star, picked up his second assist of the contest when Tkachuk scored his third off the season. 

St. Louis would not score again as MacDonald ensured he did enough to earn his first victory since his time as a Boston Bruin. Gordon credited the 28-year-old for playing well for a second straight day as DiPietro continues to rest his surgically repaired left knee. DiPietro dressed and served as the backup, much as he did in the loss to the Devils. 

MacDonald’s best save came late in the second. Tkachuk exited the penalty box at the same time the puck slid to center ice. The former 50-goal scorer raced in for a breakaway, getting off a low shot that MacDonald stopped by kicking out his leg to preserve the three-goal lead. 

“It’s a turning point in the game if they would have scored,” MacDonald said. “My job is to come up with the saves when I have to and the guys put the puck in the net when they had to. That’s the difference between last night and tonight.” 

Hilbert also cited the Tkachuk breakaway stop as a momentum-shifter. 

“He was unbelievable tonight,” Hilbert said. “That save was one of the better ones I’ve ever seen. He’s really picked us up and played great tonight.” 

The Islanders tight defense allowed the club to forge a 34-26 edge in shots. MacDonald also earned a few chants from the home crowd, especially after turning aside two Jay McClement shots in succession with 3:34 remaining. 

“You don’t hear that in too many arenas,” MacDonald said. “It’s pretty good. It’s great fan support and I’m glad we gave them a great effort tonight.”

DP Still Sitting As Isles Begin Season

DP Still Sitting As Isles Begin Season

by: Brian Bohl | Senior Writer - NY Sports Day | Sunday, October 12, 2008

UNIONDALE, NY — Any lingering questions about Rick DiPietro’s status for last night’s home opener against St. Louis were answered when Joey MacDonald led the Islanders from the dressing room to the Nassau Coliseum ice last night for the pregame warmup. 

First-year coach Scott Gordon was vague about DiPietro’s availability to start following the pregame skate. Entering the third year of a guaranteed 15-year deal, DiPietro dressed for a second straight night and acted as MacDonald’s backup as he recovers from surgery to his left knee he had during the offseason. 

Gordon decline to address DiPietro’s specific condition and would not confirm if the left-handed netminder would be the choice to start Monday’s matinee against Buffalo at home. 

“You know what, I’ve done a lot of talking about Rick and I love talking about him but I’m not going to take away from what our team did tonight,” Gordon said about taking questions about DiPietro’s health. “For the time being; we’re going to pass on that tonight and I appreciate your patience with that.” 

DiPietro said after the game that reports about his knee experiencing swelling were inaccurate and added he is working his way into game shape. He also said he could have played in an emergency if MacDonald was injured. 

“I don’t know where that came from,” DiPietro said about the report previously published on TSN’s website saying DiPietro had “swelling and fluid” around the knee. “If there was enough swelling where it was a problem, I obviously wouldn’t be on the bench backing up.” 

MacDonald made 24 saves in picking up his first NHL victory since March 27, 2007 when he was a member of the Boston Bruins. The 28-year-old helped a four-goal first period for the Islanders stand-up, including a stop on Keith Tkachuk’s breakaway late in the second period to preserve a 4-1 lead in front of a sold-out crowd. 

Wade Dubielewicz was not brought back as DiPietro’s replacement in the offseason, allowing MacDonald to make the jump from AHL Bridgeport to the big club. The 6-0, 200-pound goalie said his current predicament will help him become accustomed to playing on short notice. 

“It’s a long season and a lot of games,” MacDonald said. “Rick is going to play a lot, and it’s important for me to be ready when I get the opportunity to be there and give the team a chance to win when I get to play.” 

Bill Guerin, the Islanders captain, said MacDonald has provided the club with a boost. 

“Joey really stepped up the last couple of nights and play great, and that’s what we needed,” Guerin said. 

At least DiPietro was in uniform, which wasn’t the case for a handful of his teammates. Mike Sillinger, recovering from hip surgery, came to greet the sold-out crowd in a suit. First-round pick Josh Bailey and Blake Comeau also were in street clothes because of undisclosed injuries. Both players sat out the Devils game and are waiting to make their 2008-09 debuts. 

Neither DiPietro nor Gordon would say if the former No. 1 overall draft pick would be ready for Monday. 

“If I wasn’t backing up, there’d be something to talk about,” said DiPietro, who also had hip surgery in March. “I’m going to do everything the doctors tell me to do and whatever the coach tells me to do. The doctors have a plan for me so that once I start playing, I’m not going to have to take nights off.”

Islanders vs. Devils Preseason Game Story

Devils Dominate Isles, 3-0

by: Brian Bohl | Senior Writer - NY Sports Day | Friday, October 3, 2008

UNIONDALE, NY — First-year coach Scott Gordon inherited an Islanders team that ranked last in the 30-team NHL in goals (189) and goals per game average (2.30).

Despite a fresh face on the bench at Nassau Coliseum last night, the same offensive problems were on full display in a 3-0 preseason loss to the Devils. First line forwards Bill Guerin and Doug Weight did not dress while goalie Rick DiPietro also sat out.

Devils coach Brent Sutter played almost all of his top players. Martin Brodeur played all 60 minutes, logging 17 saves to post the shutout. The Islanders struggles to pressure the future Hall-of-Fame netminder. The top line-consisting of Frans Nielsen, Jeff Tambellini and Trent Hunter--couldn’t sustain rushed while prized rookie Kyle Okposo registered just two shots in 23:07 of ice time.

“I need to shoot more,” Okposo said. “That’s the bottom line. I made some poor decisions with the puck. I was in the slot several times where I didn’t shoot. I just have to get that cemented into my brain that I need to shoot that puck.”

Opening Day is one week from Friday when the Islanders travel to the Prudential Center to face the Devils. But the exhibition preview didn’t go well for Gordon’s Coliseum debut. Zach Parise took advantage of backup goalie Joey MacDonald’s mistake, skating around defenseman Jack Hillen before banking home his first goal of the preseason 14:24 into the first period.

MacDonald mishandled the puck on the side of the net, chipping it into the slot where Parise took the puck away from Hillen before backhanding a shot past the out-of-position goalie. Gordon said miscommunication between the rookies Hillen and MacDonald led to the scoring opportunity.

“I think Jack might have told Joey to play it, but in saying that, it was probably Jack’s puck all the way,” Gordon said. “But it was one of those things where he was trying to hit it with his backhand instead of his forehand.”

Patrick Elias added some breathing room 5:21 into the second period, ripping a slap shot from the left circle that beat MacDonald stick side. Elias also set up the final insurance marker, finding defenseman Anssi Salela with a cross-ice pass before the blue liner ripped a slapper from the high slot for a 3-0 edge 14:03 into the third.

Mike Comrie nearly put the Islanders on the scoreboard four minutes into the second, sending his backhand attempt just wide of the goal line with a shot that beat DiPietro but flew just wide. That futility was indicative of the team’s struggles, especially on the power play. In eight minutes with the man advantage, the Isles went 0-4 with just three shots.

“It’s tough because you want to get the ball rolling,” Comrie said. “We’re trying to do our best to learn the system. At the same time, we have to let our creativity and hockey sense take over in the offensive zone.”

Gordon took over for Ted Nolan over the summer, inheriting a team that did not claim one 30-goal scorer last season. Miroslav Satan and Ruslan Fedotenko both signed with Pittsburgh as free agents while the Islanders signed Weight and defenseman Mark Streit to bolster the offense and the lineup. Weight will wait to make his home debut Oct. 11 against St. Louis and Streit, who is being counted on to quarterback the power play, was minus-2 and took two minor penalties against the Devils.

To help maximize talent, Gordon is trying to install a system similar to the one he used to earn AHL Coach of the Year honors with the Providence Bruins. The 45-year-old said the problems can be identified using film work and the three remaining preseason games.

“Our transition from defense to offense was too deliberate at times,” Gordon said. “We have forwards who are waiting for the puck and we’re holding on to the puck. We have defensemen going back to the puck and our forwards not going back to help them. You just show them the video and usually a picture paints a thousand words.”

http://www.nysportsday.com/news/combined/Devils-Dominate-Isles-3-0.php


Audio piece aired on 88.7 FM (www.wrhu.org) on Oct. 2, 2008. All pictures courtesy of the Associated Press.

Islanders Kyle Okposo Story

Is Okposo the Real Deal?

by: Brian Bohl | Senior Writer - NY Sports Day | Friday, October 3, 2008

UNIONDALE, NY — It can be difficult for any highly touted rookie to make an immediate impact. A young scorer can galvanize a moribund franchise in the NHL, providing excitement to a franchise struggling to forge an identity.

The Islanders front office insisted all summer that the club is going through a transition, with the rebuilding project centered on young prospects like Kyle Okposo. After a nine-game introduction at the end of last season, the 20-year-old winger is looking to fulfill the expectations fans and ownership has placed on the seventh overall draft selection in 2006.

Okposo’s acclimation could determine if the Islanders can avoid the last-place predictions found in many industry publications. Mike Comrie was the Islanders leading scorer last season. But he logged just 49 points, which ranked 108th among all NHL scorers. No Islander cracked the 30-goal mark and just Comrie and Bill Guerin registered more than 20 goals.

New Islanders coach Scott Gordon put Comrie at center on Okposo’s line. The results weren’t pretty in a 3-0 preseason loss to the Devils Wednesday night at Nassau Coliseum. Comrie said Okposo possesses the skills to become an impact player.

“He’s a great player,” Comrie said about his linemate. “He’s one of those guys who creates a lot of plays because he’s so strong and his feet backs the defensemen up.”

Okposo scored two goals and added three assists in his brief call-up, capping a season that started when the 6-0, 195-pound forward was still playing in college for Minnesota. The St. Paul, Mn., native said his game plan before the Oct. 10 season opener is to get more shots on net.

“I want to make that play and get my teammates involved, but sometimes you have to be willing to pull that trigger,” Okposo said. “I’ll be looking to do that more.”

Gordon watched Okposo get off two shots—one each in the second and third periods— in 23:07 of ice time.

The Islanders scored just 189 goals last season and only added 37-year-old Doug Weight in the offseason. Miroslav Satan and Ruslan Fedotenko left for Pittsburgh, meaning the new coach needs to get offense from some new faces.

“The Devils are a pretty big team and they take up a lot of space,” Gordon said about the defense Okposo faced. “There were a lot of opportunities. He probably should have taken advantage of the shot opportunities. But the fact is he had the puck in the offensive zone, which is an important part.”

Okposo isn’t the only member of the self-proclaimed youth movement to garner attention. The organization announced the signing of 2008 first-round pick Josh Bailey to a three-year entry level contract Thursday.

“This is an exciting day for the organization as we continue to build our team with young players like Josh who have very bright futures,” Islanders General Manager Garth Snow said in a statement.

Bailey, who scored 28 goals and contributed 67 assists for 96 points in 69 games for the OHL’s Windsor team, is slated to begin the season with AHL Bridgeport barring an unexpected development.

“This is an exciting day for me and my family, especially when you sign your first NHL contract on your birthday,” said Bailey, the ninth overall draft pick. “It’s certainly a day I’ll never forget. I still have a lot of work to do and I’m willing to do it.”

http://www.nysportsday.com/news/combined/Is-Okposo-the-Real-Deal.php

Below is the audio piece that originally aired on WRHU, 88.7 FM on Friday, October 3, 2008.

All pictures courtesy of the Associated press