**4:32 pm: Well, here's another story on the Radio situation from someone with a far better grip on the story than me. http://www.themirl.com/sports/ check it out.

Also, the Islanders announced that Rick DiPietrowill indeed be the starting goalie for tomorrow's home opener. WHAT.A.SURPISE!

Seriously, if they didn't start him there would be conspiracy theories left, right and upside down. See you at the barn Ricky!

Sorry. But anytime I can invoke that R.E.M. song title -- I will.

But this morning, it makes sense. With Wednesday's pre-release of information concerning the pending deal the NY Islanders have with Hofstra radio station WRHU ripples were sent through the 'net just like dropping a pebble in a pond. A small splash that circled outward.

There was a lot of talk about the inability of the Long Island Radio Group's family of stations to adequately broadcast their signal for games. With their tower located pretty far East of the Coliseum, people would complain you couldn't hear the game if you were in the parking lot.

Well, that's what you wanted? That's what you may get. Hofstra's radio station is listed at 470 Watts of power and 55.0 Meters (approx 20 miles I read). WMJC, 94.3 was 2600 watts and 96 Meters. Um, yeah. I see a difference. How's that slogan go? "As local as local gets."

When Steve Mears and Chris King graced the airwaves and the Coliseum with their presence, the games were carried and called on Bloomberg radio 1160 am.(or according to a friend 1130 am) The signal was occassionally difficult to find, but always came in loud and clear.

One of the great features of a home game at the Coliseum was always the post-game show from what was then The Blue Line bar with a guest appearance by an Islander or coach. (Everyone remember that awkward Ryan Smyth interview when he hid behind his daughter? I do.)

THIS WAS RADIO GOLD!! (That's a shout out to LunaticRadio.com)

No matter the outcome of a game, good or bad, I would drive home listening to the post game report with Kinger doing the "out-of-town scoreboard" to keep me informed of what was happening throughout the league that night.

I WANT THAT BACK!!!

I WANT Chris King's amazingly entertaining intermission features podcasted on the website. I want to turn on my XM radio and hear the Islanders broadcasters, not the out-of-town broadcast stream.

I realize that there are factors associated with radio broadcasts that I don't understand. I know that with the proliferation of the internet and mobile apps that radio may seem to be a dying medium. BUT IT'S NOT! Radio is still an important part of the media triangle (TV, Print, Radio). Shouldn't it be treated that way?

Also a frequency issue is the Islanders announcing a partnership with Optimum WiFi (read CABLEVISION) to make the Coliseum a "Long Island's largest WiFi hot spot." Just great.

There is hardly enough room to bring your coat and your dinner to your seat, now people will be balancing their nachos, beer AND their laptop. I forsee a lot of ruined electronics in the future. Now, if there were CUP HOLDERS as they have in Bridgeport, MAYBE this wouln't be so bad. But it will increase the time you spend on line getting through security. I'm just sayin'.

When I asked the MSG team on Twitter where the pre-season feature was, Deb Placey from MSG tweeted me back that HockeyNight Live carried the Islanders preview. I guess I missed it. I've been spoiled all these years so I was waiting for that stylized and well produced 30-minute show we would get to kick off the season. Some of which had beautiful scenery from far off training camp sites. (How else would I ever see Moncton?)

I have the one from 2006 and tape. Maybe I'll just watch that.

I am going to try to get to the last day of training camp to check in on the guys as they get ready to REALLY start the season. Unless I get stuck at work.

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