Islanders play-by-play announcer Howie Rose will not be returning for the 2016-17 season.
When Howie Rose took over for Jiggs McDonald back in 1995 I was annoyed, not because Rose was a bad announcer, it was that he was a Rangers announcer. His call of Stephane Matteau's conference finals-winning goal is one of the best in history.
But it had nothing to do with my team. But unlike a portion of Islanders fans, I gave him a chance, not because we both grew up in Bayside, Queens, although 20 years apart or went to the same schools (PS 205, IS 74, Benjamin Cardozo HS). It was because he was good at his job, very good in fact.
Rose's workload between the Islanders and Mets has become too grueling.
“It’s the textbook definition of mixed emotions. That’s exactly what it is. I don’t know that I’ve ever been more conflicted about a decision I have had to make in my life. But I’m confident I made really the only one I could make at this point in time in my career and life. Strictly, it’s the idea that I could have an offseason like most people who do what I do for a living. Maybe my wife would disagree on some level, but I think it’s only right that she has her husband around more than he’s been. Again, that might be open to her interpretation."
The 62-year-old was fortunate to call the Islanders first playoff-series win in 23 years and it was some call!
The birth of the "household agraphobe"
The Shawn Bates penalty shot
He certainly felt the fans pain
Howie Rose has called more Islanders games than anyone else. Some good, a lot bad. He never held back either, criticizing the team on more than one occasion. He was truly "the voice of the Islanders"
Put it in the books!!
MSG said that the search of his replacement will begin immediately. The logical choice is Chris King. The Islanders radio play-by-play announcer just finished his 27th season covering the team and 22nd as part of the radio broadcasts. King bleeds orange and blue and is evident during his broadcasts.
Another option could be Steve Mears, who was the radio voice of the Islanders from 2006-09. Mears has been the host of NHL Live since 2013.
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