Al If You Are Listening, Please Stay Off The Bench!
It seems like my entire life I’ve been going to sporting events. As a youngster I went to a sports camp and always had a passion for sports. Records are part of sports, in fact a big part of sports. I am not sure you can watch an hour of ESPN without someone discussing a record or featuring someone who broke or is approaching a record.
Let me just say I am a big fan of records. I was reading the other day that in November, Hall of Fame coach Al Arbour will go behind the bench for the New York Islanders one last time as he takes over the team he guided to four straight Stanley Cups. The funny thing is, I was a huge Boston Bruins fan growing up and when I went to Hofstra I could see Nassau Coliseum from my dorm room. While I was in college the Islanders were a dynasty led by Al Arbour and I worked at Nassau Coliseum with my roommates Kenny and Barry selling beer and other things.
The NHL and the NY Islanders will have Arbour sign a one-day contract and then lead the Islanders against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Nov. 3, marking his 1,500th game with the franchise. Islanders coach Ted Nolan will pass his responsibilities to the man who holds the NHL record for most games coached with one team.
“Every day last season I would walk by that big board outside our locker room at the Coliseum that lists the franchise’s award winners and milestones,” Nolan said in a news release, referring to the Islanders’ home arena in Uniondale, New York. “And every day it would kill me when I’d see Coach Arbour made it to 1,499 games.”
Does 1500 sound that much better than 1499? His record most likely will never be broken. Especially in today’s sports where you either win now or you get fired quickly. I don’t really understand this move.
- Is it a public relations stunt?
- Is it to put fannies in the seats?
- Is it to make Al feel good?
I didn’t like it when the Chicago White Sox signed Minnie Minosa in 1980 allowing Minnie at age 54 to play in a baseball game for the sole purpose of having him play in 5 decades!
As I said I love records! I love records when they are broken the right way! Al, you left coaching 13 years ago. If you miss the game that much, do it for an entire year…not just one game! Don’t worry…your record won’t ever be broken and 1499 games still sounds great to me.
This is just one man’s opinion. I look forward to hearing your thoughts and knowing if you think I’m right or wrong.
August 15th, 2007 at 10:35 am
The answer to all 3 of your questions is “yes”.
I remember a couple of years ago when the opponent let the Connecticut girls basketball player limp to the basket uncontested for a layup. She was injured and needed a bucket for some kind of scoring record. Totally ridiculous.
August 15th, 2007 at 5:02 pm
I agree with Robert the answer to all three of your questions is “yes”, but heck give the guy the extra game.
August 15th, 2007 at 5:42 pm
I agree, all three answers are “yes”. And I think it’s great that he is going back for one more game. It gives him one more opportunity to experience his passion and the team gets the chance to be led by a Hall of Fame coach.
I bet they sell a few extra seats simply to see him in action, record or no record. It is a publicity stunt, which has gotten everyone talking. As long as the NY Islanders don’t loose as bad as the Yankees did last night (Orioles 12, Yankees 0) then it should be an evening to remember and will close with a standing ovation.
When you are 75 years old, you too might just look back and say “If I could only go back for one more (fill in your own blank)”.
August 16th, 2007 at 6:57 am
I must admit I am surprised at everyone’s response so far.
Maybe I am old school and too sentimental. But records should mean alot and extending them for the sake of just extending them to me is meaningless.
I guess I am alone on this one.
Merrill
August 16th, 2007 at 9:17 am
Our obsession with round numbers for records is ridiculous…one more win is not more special…it’s just contrived.
Nolan Ryan is the all-time leader in strikeouts with 5,714. He stays in shape and pitches batting practice to his minor league teams sometimes. This doesn’t mean the Astros or Rangers should sign him for a day and let him go out pitch until he strikes someone out to get to 5,715.
The NHL games coached record is 1,499…there is nothing special about making it 1,500 when he’s not really the coach anymore.
August 16th, 2007 at 1:45 pm
Nobody is going to see Al in action. Do you really think that if the game ends in a tie, he’s going to set the lineup for the shootout? Or that he’ll do anything but hand someone a water bottle?
This is simply one way that the Islanders hope people will come and watch their miserable team.
This is as silly as Buck O’Neil (one of my favorites) setting the “record” for being the oldest player to play in a professional baseball game.
They are oddities. Points of interest, maybe. But they aren’t records. Because they aren’t REAL.
August 16th, 2007 at 2:15 pm
I agree with Tony- If the Islanders want to have an Al Arbour night that would be great, but it is very tricked up to make him the coach for a night just to reach a round number of games.
I would like it a lot less but would understand it more if this one game would get him the record.
As it is, it just seems silly and unnecessary.
August 17th, 2007 at 10:52 am
It seems that one day contracts are common in the sport of hockey. It is worth mentioning that in 1997 the minor league Detroit Vipers signed Mr. Hockey Gordie Howe to a one game contract, thereby making him the only professional hockey player (and perhaps athlete in any sport) to play professionally in 6 different decades. He skated one shift, gave a guy a rib shot with the butt-end of his stick, drew a penalty and promptly re-retired.
These things are, as others have mentioned, silly and most likely unnecessary, but, as evidenced by this thread, great conversation starters!