Stories like this one always seem to tug at the strings connected to your heart.
Maybe that’s the point.
As a fan base we have an emotional connection and investment to the teams we root for. In good or bad times our support or even disgust, is shown by our reactions. That is what makes this situation so interesting.
If you have not already heard by now, I am talking about a story posted on a small Long Island newspapers website last night, claiming the plug has been pulled on the Lighthouse Project. The story can be found here.
Now, I would like to offer a word of caution before I go on any further – in the history of the media how many times has a small local free newspaper beat out any of the larger, widely circulated or corporate media outlets with REAL sources. Likely not too many times. Not saying that the Long Island Press is totally inept or incapable of getting a lead on a story, just keep that in mind going forward.
This story was posted on the same day when Newsday gives prime real estate to a POSITIVE story on the Lighthouse – in fact it was a front page story and featured a poll claiming most of Long Island was in favor of the project.
Let’s play devils advocate here.
Is it so hard to beleive that the Town of Hempstead seeded this “breaking news” lead to the Long Island Press to in order to deflate the positive nature of yesterday’s Newsday article? It wouldn’t be the first time that the town resorted to these tactics. Does anyone remember their failed attempt at a website and a mailer they paid for with your tax dollars? Both of those ideas were met with much opposition and were hastily scrapped. The Lighthouse is a political football, make no mistake about that.
In the same breath, I am fairly certain in the time immediately following the Islanders’ home opener and Charles Wang’s press release regarding a meeting between he and Supevisor Kate Murray, the Lighthouse Development Group was under a media blackout. There was a period of about a week where we did not see or hear much about anything Lighthouse related.
It is no secret that Charles Wang is a smart, albeit shrewd businessman – I find it hard to digest that this situation is merely a coincidence.
Allegedy, all instances of the Lighthouse Project were removed from the dasher boards at the Coliseum as some noticed on Monday and personally I noticed the lack of the Lighthouse booth at Gate 13. I really didn’t think much of it at the time, but could this be premeditated on Charles’ part? I don’t know.
There is one thing that I am completely sure of – our emotions are being used to the fullest advantage by both parties. Much as they would be during a bitter divorce battle focusing on the couples children, those poor starving children in UNICEF commercials or similar children’s cancer charities seeking donations from kind hearted viewers. If you want to get the attention or even the full support of as many people you can – you focus on the children, or in this case the fans.
Emotions are a strong and dangerous weapon, in some cases the use of emotion is an unfair tactic because you are taking advantage of something that shouldn’t be played with. However, if you want to make a bold statement, who wouldn’t use this tactic? The silence of the Lighthouse officials up to this point is deafening – I hope Charles would be better than to play this game.
We may never know how this story came to be or even why, but please for the sake of the children (the fans) – be mindful of our emotions, those scars run deep and are carried with us for the rest of our lives.
Edit: The silence has been broken!!
Check out Newsday’s latest:
