Oh boy, what did I start?
Across the diverse nooks and crannies of the web, my Rebuilding the Isles blog received some interesting reaction over the weekend.
It seemed that most of the positive response came from fans who understood that my trade proposals were deliberately bizarre and one-sided, given the fact that I noted that no fewer than three times in my blog.
Most of the negative response came from those who seemed oblivious to my tongue-in-cheek humor, and my warning that "Not much of the stuff I'm about to suggest has a legitimate chance to happen, and I am only taking the Islanders' future into account."
"Honestly," wrote Keyboard Quarterbacks reader Tim La Rocco, "you sound like a kid trying to make some trades in NHL 2006 for PS2."
A good observation, Tim -- although I actually have NHL 2006 for the PC, not the PS2.
I'm sure if I plugged some trade offers into the game, I'd be able to get Joe Thornton in addition to Jonathan Cheechoo and Milan Michalek and Mats Sundin in addition to Carlo Coliacovo. And I could also probably lead the current Islanders team into the playoffs, another virtual impossibility in real life.
The whole point of the blog was to seize upon the frustration of Islanders fans and get people talking about the team again after a demoralizing home loss to the Rangers last Thursday. In that regard, at least, I was at least apparently somewhat successful.
Notably, TSN.ca’s weekly ‘Backchecking’ column stumbled upon my blog, and summarized that, "RW Mark Parrish, LW Shawn Bates, C Mike York and C Oleg Kvasha -- all unrestricted free agents at the end of the season -- could be moved in deals if the Islanders fall further out of the playoff race."
That article subsequently caught the eye of noted hockey blogger ‘Spector,’ who proceeded to dissect my blog in his ‘Trade Rumours’ column this weekend.
Spector correctly stated that my trade suggestions "fall into the realm of wishful thinking," and did go on to skewer me (appropriately), for my failure to recognize the recent rise in the value of the Canadian dollar -- thus making my remark about "poorer Canadian teams" almost completely invalid. I stand corrected.
I found myself growing increasingly concerned that my blog had been widely misinterpreted for fact, rather than fantasy. So in light of all the mixed reaction, ranging from hilarity to outrage to confusion to delight, I feel compelled to caution sports fans that what you read in blogs is not always the gospel truth, but often the myopic opinion of their authors.
Mark La Monica and I use the Keyboard Quarterbacks blog as an opportunity to engage the everyday fan's unique point of view. We try to write with the passion and sense of humor of fans, and sometimes, we can get a little carried away. But that's the whole point.
Alan Hahn, Newsday's Islanders beat writer, could never suggest that the Isles were going to trade Mark Parrish -- unless he had quotes or information from strong sources to back up those facts. We in blogland have a little bit more creative freedom. That's why we have fun with trade suggestions, opinions, and other trivialities, and that's what makes us different from what you can read in the newspaper.
So hopefully everyone now understands that I am not the biggest idiot to come on to the hockey scene since the guy who invented the glowing puck. I'm grateful for everyone who wrote in to tell me what they thought, good or bad, and if I haven't responded to you yet, I promise I will in the next few days.
Enjoy tonight's game against Tampa, and happy reading.