I frolicked in Shea Stadium during Game 5 of the 2000 World Series when the Yankees beat the Mets.
I roared for the Miami Hurricanes while surrounded by 75,000 Florida State fans at Doak Campbell Stadium for a season opener.
I even brought a Jets fan into Oakland for Monday Night Football, sat next to him and lived to tell about it.
I've been to Army-Navy football, Yankees-Red Sox and Yankees-Mets games in the regular season and dozens of Yankees playoff games. So I know a little something about energetic, frenzied crowds at big-time rivalry games.
On the train heading toward Madison Square Garden on Monday for my first foray into the Islanders-Rangers rivalry, I figured it would be somewhat comparable, especially since both teams are chasing the playoffs.
What I experienced at the Garden was unlike anything I could have expected.
The atmosphere was flatter than a cake with no yeast. Flatter than an uncapped bottle of soda after a day. It was dead. Boring. Blech. A microcosm of the energy crisis facing our country.
Islanders-Rangers at the Garden is supposed to be crazy. Fans screaming and yelling the whole time. Not on this night.
Maybe it has something to do with the fact that the Rangers are in 12th place in the eight-team playoff race. Maybe it's a bigger-picture statement about the state of hockey in this country. Maybe people just stayed home to watch the latest episode of "The Hills" on MTV. I don't know the answer, but I do know the performance was worse than anything Keanu Reeves ever offered on film.
There was very little excitement leading up to the start of the game. Usually fans don't need any type of alcohol to get fired up for the start of a rivalry game. Just knowing that the opposing team and its fans are in the building should be enough to get things going. This easily could have been Rangers-Kings or Rangers-Canucks. I saw more enthusiasm at the Islanders-Canadiens game two Saturdays ago. And that was a 1 p.m. start.
As the game progressed, there were the customary "Ohhhs!" on near-goals and big hits. There were a small handful of "Potvin sucks!" chants, which I welcomed at least for the emotional display but laughed at since the guy hasn't played professional hockey in 19 years. Some traditions in sports are good. This one, not so much.
Overall, it seemed like a pretty weak display from Rangers fans. I understand the history behind the chant, but "Nineteen-Eighty-Three" is much more derisive. Didn't hear so much as a "Nineteen" from the crowd.
Islanders fans disappointed, too. Very few "Let's go I-lan-ders!" chants were audible.
When the Rangers scored to tie it at 1 just 26 seconds into the third period, the Garden crowd erupted, just as you would expect from the home team after a quick goal in the final period to tie the score.
There were one or two edge-of-your-seat moments late in third, which if a home crowd can't get fired up for that in a tied game with a few minutes left, then the league should just step in and disband the franchise on principle.
This game will be remembered fondly among Rangers fans on Tuesday morning because we as a people tend to fcous on what happened most recently.
The shootout brought the necessary excitement that is a natural byproduct of the format used to determine the winner of a game after overtime. Again, if a home crowd can't stand up for that, put your hockey sweater in a bag under the sink and pray for the pipes to burst.
Comments (29)
Come to the Coliseum on Thursday!!
MSG has become too corporate. Especially for week night games.
Hey Mark not every game can be a barn burner. A one to one defensive battle is not gonna light your hair on fire but that is exactly what you should have expected going into last nights game. Teams battleing for their playoff lives are going to play it a little tighter because no one wants to be the guy who blew the two points. Were you at at the 7-5 game a few weeks ago? I was and I was wiped from the verbal onslaught from Ranger fans. Not to mention the fact it was a Monday night. Come to our barn on Thurs and you'll see real fans in action.
I couldn't disagree with you more. I was at the game last night, in section 416, and it was rocking up in the old blue seats. !983, last cup you'll ever see chants were in full force, plenty of DP sucks, fights and everything. The garden was certainly rocking last night, and perhaps the beer clouded your eyes, because from about the seven minute mark of the third period on, the building was on it's feet, including the shoot out
"DP Sucks" chants were available to hear, although most of them came after he made one of his 56 saves.
And yes, the last half of the third period and the shootout was enthusiastic. Which is what I wrote in the piece above, so there's no need to disagree there.
my point is that any game in that situation would be exciting. I was just expecting more throughout the game from the Isles-Rangers rivalry.
Hey Mark, What do you expect from a bunch of corporate losers in Manhattan. I'd be flat too if my team could only score once in 57 tries. A good game I thought. See you at the Coliseum!
i see where your coming from to an extent. The place wanst "flat" as you would say, however, the game was more nerve-racking than intense because it was a must win game for the rangers. if it was a back and fourth event the place would be shaking. but it was more of a "cant watch" kind of games. ive been to way too many of these games and i guess you picked the wrong one. and please dont bash rangers or islanders fan, or their traditions.
What game did you go to? I was MSG and the place was electric. Stop taking nyquil before sporting events... The Garden was buzzing.
This article was clearly prepared before even attending the game. The guy that wrote it isn't a hockey fan, and he had already mapped out that he was going to complain that the 18,200 at an ice arena can't compare to 56,000 at a baseball stadium. Baseball is the world's slowest and most boring sport. He is even forced to compare the World Series to a regular season hockey game...
i agree Jake, mark stick to entourage and baseball, theres nothing more annoying than someone who isn't a hockey fan trying to write about it, and the fact that your in a position to display this in newsday for people to see is even worse. Not even close to describing what the game was actually like. I hope your fired.
Alot of corporate fans at the Garden. Check out the rivalry on Thursday at the coliseum. Much louder building and better atmosphere for arguing between fans. Outside smoking areas are always fun!
This article is a joke, as an Islanders fan who has been to the Garden and Coliseum for these matchups to say there was no energy is a pathetic attempt at takin an easy shot at hockey. I agree, stick to your college sports and ESPN and don't worry about hockey. We have been around since 1900 and have survived just fine. Your article was a joke!
Potvin chant not good for the game? CMon. Point to one tradition in any sport that matches up?
Hey Tom,
that entourage comment was funny. good job.
- La Monica
First off the Potvin sucks chant....gottta go. Not sure what game all these people were at, but I have to agree for a hockey game it was quiet. Its a shame when the noise at the Garden closely resembles the noise at a PGA tour event. Hey, I understand there is not much for the Rangers fans to look forward to, but have some pride...get up and cheer! I know I did, only to be told to sit down by a fan. Hey if thats your idea of rockin, why not stay home and watch it in front of the big screen. You were able to hear a pin drop in that place until the start of the 3rd(when Rangers fans werent crying for a penalty). Second...keep up the DP chant, shows the intelligence of the fans. Really...keep Lundquist hes good....raeally he is! Last I have to say give up on the season, and work on getting some tail to shovel that ice in between periods and commercial breaks...at least that may keep the Garden a little interesting (no teams that play there are).
It was a clean hit, let it go already.
Hi guys. I've been following this site since the Smyth trade. I was born in Kamloops BC Canada and grew up watching Bob Nystrom on our local team. I then saw how knowledgable and dedicated the fans on New York Island were when he joined your team.
I would like to say that it is very important to all of Hockey that the New Your Islanders succeed. Teams built around players with heart, that bring it every night, are what hockey was built on.
As for this reporters comments. Like all sports, Hockey has tons of things to watch other than when a goal is scored. Yes, the real magic doesn't happen every game, but name a sport that does.
Kevin T.
Victoria, BC Canada
Maybe you sat in a boring section. I was there, and there was a lot of energy where I was. I've been to lots of Rangers/Isles games, and sure this game wasnt crazy, but it sure wasnt boring. Most Rangers fans are nervous about the fact that they are on the outside of the playoff picture.
Maybe you were bored by a goalie making 55 saves. Maybe you shouldn't be reporting on something that you barely know or care about and go back to reporting how high school football "matters".
Let the bashing begin !
arite heres the deal...islander fans are the most un loyal fans in the world and as for the chants they use the chicken dance song for rangers insults...let me tell you...real cool guys?
and mark you have no idea what your talking about...i was at the game and it was nutz.. so stick to somthing else like gymnastics to write about
being a rangers fan, the atmosphere was more hush because of the circumstances surrounding the game. we seem to get our hopes up too often. Mark, "fantastic article" 1. you work for NEWSDAY 2. you work for NEWSDAY, get a real job
Exactly the point-- look where you were! what do ranger fans have to cheer about?? NOTHING-- go to the coliseum on thursday and you'll see fans who actually HAVE a reason to cheer!!! Our islanders actually WIN games
you are a joke and ovbioulsy not a true hockey fan i watched every single one of the rangers games this year on tv and it was apparent that the fans where going nuts...one of the best games i have watched all year, felt like a playoff game....if any 1 wants to read a real article of what happen here it is
http://nyrangers.com/gametime/recap.asp?id=2731
What a joke. Im an Islanders fan who got sucker punched 3 times while trying to cool a heated argument down between my friend and a rangers fan. A third party stepped in and hit me for no reason; all I kept repeating was "relax we're all here to watch hockey." I guess thats the Ranger/Purinton/Gutless puke way. sucker punches. but the main point is saying the game was flat and there wasn't enough arguing is an idiotic thing to say.
Hey, I agree, MSG is too Corporate. All I see when I go there is yuppies with shirt and tie on, mainly people who got free tickets from their job, etc.
Come to Nassau Col. on Thursday. I asure you it will be nuts, and a good working-class crowd will be really into the game. TRUST ME on that fact.
Hockey! You guys are all DBs for wasting your time and posting in a hockey forum. You should realize that hockey is a neutral-zone trap away from becoming disbanded. And it should have happened years ago, right as the Thrashers and Predators entered the league.
Who cares about the Islanders or Rangers? I can't wait for hockey to disappear off the sports landscape completely.
As far as the writer's comments about the Garden being flat, he is missing an important point about how the two arenas are built. The Coliseum is a more steep arena, where people are packed in, more on top of each other and therefore louder, while the Garden is a bigger building, more spread out and not as loud. I was also at the game and it seemed intense but muted...probably in part due to the building. As a side note, where was Dancin' Larry?
As far as the "corporate" aspect, the fact that someone has a suit on doesn't mean those individuals can't be real fans. Out of all the events and teams that go through the Garden, Rangers games tend to have fans that are the most knowledgable and loyal and least "corporate." I don't like the team but respect the fans.
Unfortunately for this Islander fan, watching hockey live usually means attending games at the Garden, becuase if you work in NYC and hold down a non 9 to 5 job, you aren't getting to Uniondale in time for face off due to the lack of public transportation.
Note to Chuck Wang...provide shuttle service (preferably with a bar) from Merrick LIRR. There are plenty of Islander fans that reside in NYC.
Thanks to all for your comments, even the ones that insulted me.
Open dialogue is a wonderful thing.
I'll be at the Isles-Rangers game at the Coliseum on Thursday and we'll compare the atmosphere here on Friday.
Those let's go Islanders chants have been very loud all season at Msg, when we killed the five on three, when Blake scored half the building erupted, in overtime you could clearly hear LET'S GO ISLANDERS CHANTS ON TELEVISION and corporate Msg fans booing.
Give our fans some credit Mike, Isles fans have done well this year at Msg.
I watched the game on TV from Iraq and all although I couldn't see all 18,200 fans reacting to every shift, it looked and sounded like the building was buzzing from start-to-finish. In addition to the 57 shots, the Isles blocked another 25, and god knows how many shots missed the net. The Rangers very nearly rung up 100 shots. Amazing
Hey Moron or mark or whatever your name is. If you think that there is more excitement at a Baseball game than an Islander Ranger game well then your sister probably got all of the male gene's in the family and your father should be dissappointed. Hockey is one of the most if not the most physically and athletically demanding sports out there. Why dont you check out the Islander Ranger game at the Coliseum tonight. It would be better than you watching "Gilmore Girls" like you said in your other article. You know its people like you than can write to the masses that spew this crap to people outside hockey's core to give a false pretense. Your editor should be ashamed of you as am I.