ESPN's Snub and Isles Notes

Since ESPN walked away from NHL hockey after they lost the bid to Versus, they have limited their coverage and almost pretend it doesn’t exist.  Greg Wyshynski of Puck Daddy (http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/blog/puck_daddy/post/Disgrace-ESPN-SportsCenter-Year-in-Review-snubs?urn=nhl-wp20822) points out that ESPN’s year in review failed to mention those lost (or anyone else associated with the sport) to the hockey world this year in their retrospective sports tribute.

The Deaths of Derek Boogaard, Rick Rypien and Wade Belak (http://knightofcups-bondi.blogspot.com/2011/08/bonded-by-blood.html) this summer in addition to the Locomotiv tragedy (http://knightofcups-bondi.blogspot.com/2011/09/summer-to-forget.html) were great loses in the world of professional sports and to all of us as human beings and certainly deserved remembering.

Having worked at ESPN for a few years in the past, I encountered several great people, both from in front of and behind the camera. I found them to be passionate about their love of hockey.  I am in no way painting this “situational blame” with a broad brush, just agreeing with those who feel ESPN showed little class in this latest oversight in their piece.

Isles Notes:

David Ullstrom continue to follow concussion protocol; Jay Pandolfo is practicing and is close to return.  Michael Haley didn't practice today due to a contusion on his hand.

There were new lines at practice today.  (Remember, I still say something has to give.)

Moulson-Tavares-Okposo; Rolston-Nielsen-Parenteau; Grabner-Bailey-Niederreiter, Pandolfo; Martin-Reasoner-Wallace.

Arthur Staple reports Steve Staios and Rick DiPietro were on the ice as well prior to practice.