…but shame to offer Charles Wang, owner of the New York Islanders. After I praised the organization for seeing it fit to hire blacklisted Head Coach Ted Nolan and bringing on GM Neil Smith and Pat Lafontaine, Wang manages to make me look like an idiot by turning around and doing this:
UNIONDALE, N.Y. (AP) — Neil Smith was abruptly fired after less than a month as general manager of the Islanders and replaced Tuesday by New York goalie Garth Snow, who retired to take over the position.
— Quoted from “Snow falls into Isles GM role“, July 18, 2006, on http://www.sportsnet.ca.
And then this happened…
New York Islanders senior adviser Pat LaFontaine advised Islanders owner Charles Wang on Tuesday night that he is resigning, a source told The Canadian Press.
— Quoted from “LaFontaine leaving the Island“, July 18, 2006, on www.sportsnet.ca.
Now, I’ll admit that it doesn’t take much to make me look like an idiot—I think I can do a good job of that myself—but what the hell is this guy thinking?
The New York Islanders were once the envy of the NHL, but in recent years, they’ve struggled with mediocrity and inane management. It looked as if they were turning things around…and then today happened. Now the once crowning NHL franchise has become the clowning NHL franchise. They make the Bruins look like a well-run organization!
So, for firing your GM 40 days after you hired him, for making things so bad that your team’s senior advisor—who was hired on the same day as your former GM—also quit, and for replacing your former GM with your recently-retired, unburdened by experience, backup goaltender who is clearly going to be your puppet…Mr. Wang—it would be so easy to come up with something rude with your name, but I’ll fight the urge—SHAME ON YOU!
A message to Ted Nolan: If you know what’s good for you, you should get the hell out of town before you’re dragged down with that sinking ship. The Islanders are running aground.
What are you thinking?