Isles’ radio tandem sacked

July 21, 2009   ·   Derek Felix   ·   Jump to comments

It is with great disappointment that I bring to the attention that there will no longer be an Islander radio team. Apparently, the decision was made by Charles Wang and Team President Chris Dey to not renew the contracts of solid tandem Steve Mears and Chris King. This per Newsday’s Greg Logan in his On The Islanders Beat blog.

What a shame as both were an excellent duo who worked hard to give fans a respectable radio broadcast. Part of the problem might have been that there were plenty of nights you couldn’t find the Isles on the radio. If you did, it was usually Bloomberg but sometimes, it wasn’t always reliable as we learned coming back from MSG on many a night last season.

The decision has been made to simulcast TV voices Howie Rose and Billy Jaffe. Something which Cablevision is quite familiar with as they provide similarly for the Sabres in simulcasting legendary Rick Jeanneret and partner Harry Neale. While we like both Rose and Jaffe, it’s awfully disappointing that such good people in Mears and King won’t be heard anymore on the airwaves. While it’s still possible that the veteran King might be kept around to work pregame and postgame, it looks like it’s the end of the line for the 29 year-old Mears who had excellent promise. We were fortunate enough to meet him a couple of years ago at The Garden and he was a very sincere person. Wishing him the best of luck in his radio career!

One thing which doesn’t really add up is the timing. Something Logan refers to here:

Hard to believe that, at a time when the franchise has an opportunity to turn things around with the drafting of John Tavares, it cuts back the number of people who tell the team’s story to the public. Who will conduct the postgame soirees at Doolins’ Pub after home games at the Coliseum now that King and Mears are out of the picture? They were devoted members of the franchise “family,” and no one worked harder at their jobs.

Just when the troubled club gets Tavares and seems headed in the right direction, this happens. What are Islander fans supposed to think? They can use as much exposure as possible. Especially with the kid coming to Long Island. It really makes you wonder.

They will play an exhibition game in Kansas City. Let’s hope that’s the only time they’ll ever set foot there.