Long Island and sports have always gone hand in hand. From the pee-wee stage to the big stage. Go to a local game and you will see excited coaches, parents and just plain fans. It doesn’t matter if it’s a Dragons linebacker making the tackle or your nephew in a Pop Warner game. We can’t get enough of it. And lucky for us, there is certainly a lot to choose from.
Professionally speaking, Long Island is loaded with teams in all different sports.
New York Islanders, NHL by Jon Jordan The history of this storied franchise is among the most revered in NHL history. They have played at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Uniondale since their inaugural 1972-73 season . A natural rivalry was born almost instantly with their neighbors from the City, the New York Rangers, an NHL Original Six franchise. The Isles failed to make much of an impact until upsetting the rival Blueshirts in the first round of the 1975 playoffs on a series-clinching, overtime goal just 11 seconds into the extra period by J.P. Parise. The Islanders, led by franchise icons Denis Potvin, Billy Smith, Bryan Trottier, Bob Nystrom and Clark Gillies, grew into one of the most legendary dynasties in the history of sports just a few seasons later, capturing four consecutive Stanley Cups from 1979-80 to 1982-83, and winning an incredible 19 straight playoff series - a feat that truly may never be matched. Only the Wayne Gretzky-led Edmonton Oilers, starting a dynasty of their own, were able to derail the Islanders from a 5th straight championship. Since the glory years, the team has struggled more often than not. Aside from a magical run to the Eastern Conference Finals in the 1993 playoffs, the Isles have found playoff success hard to come by. Off the ice, apathetic ownership and questionable management decisions crippled the franchise for much of the 1990s and the team failed to qualify for postseason play in seven consecutive NHL seasons. With a new owner in Long Islander Charles Wang and an infusion of talent on the roster, the Islanders returned to the playoffs in 2001-02, but fell to the Toronto Maple Leafs in a hard-fought, seven game series that etched many new memorable moments into Islander lore, despite the series loss. Including the 2001-02 season, the Isles have advanced to the Stanley Cup playoffs in 4 of the previous 5 years, though they have yet to make it out of the first round during that span. There is much reason for optimism for Islander fans, however, as Coach Ted Nolan - hired prior to the 2006-07 season - has the team back on track, battling for Eastern Conference playoff position once again this season. Mr. Wang has also proposed plans for The Lighthouse at Long Island, a renovation of the existing Coliseum and the development of the surrounding area into a major business and entertainment venue of which all of Long Island can be proud.
Long Island Rough Riders, USL 2nd Division - The Rough Riders brought professional soccer to Long Island in 1994. In their second season, big name players such as Tony Meola, Giovanni Savarese and Jim Rooney led them to a 19-1 record and the league championship. They once again took home the trophy in 2002 and look to add to that this season when it kicks off in April at the Mitchel Athletic Complex.
Long Island Ducks, Atlantic League - Born in 2000, the Ducks have become the model franchise in the independent Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. Team owners Frank Boulton and former New York Met Bud Harrelson have given the fans on Long Island a wonderful product, and they have not disappointed. The 6,000 plus seats at Citibank (formerly EAB) Park in Central Islip are rarely empty, and the family atmosphere created by the staff is second to none. The team mascot, Quackerjack, is the Ducks’ most recognizable face, much to the chagrin of Harrelson and Justin Davies, the West Babylon native that has been with the team since day one. The excitement at the ballpark reached peak levels during the Ducks fifth anniversary season when they qualified for the playoffs for the first time and rode the momentum all the way to winning the league championship in 2004. Their seventh season is just around the corner, starting on May 3rd in Bridgeport against their rivals, the Bluefish.
New York Dragons, Arena Football League - New York Dragons, Arena Football League- Islanders owner Charles Wang acquired the Iowa Barnstormers AFL franchise in 2001 and relocated the franchise to the Nassau Coliseum. The name was changed to the New York Dragons and indoor football fans hoped that the franchise would last longer than the two failed attempts for arena football at Madison Square Garden (the New York Knights in 1988 and the New York City Hawks in 1997-1998.) The Dragons have had success since their move east, winning three consecutive Eastern Divisions heading into the current season. The team lost their two top quarterbacks to season ending injuries and is 6-4 to remain in playoff contention. Aaron Garcia, the most prolific AFL quarterback in the league’s history, went down with a fractured tibia in a week five win at home versus the Orlando Predators. Newly acquired QB Nick Browder has given the team a spark and hopes to continue the team’s playoff appearance streak.
Strong Island Sound, ABA- Professional basketball is back on Long Island, ABA style. The original American Basketball Association was considered the ‘maverick’ or the ‘outlaw’ league when it went up against the NBA from 1967-1976. The New York Nets were one of the flagship franchises and eventually merged along with three other ABA clubs with the NBA. Julius Erving, Dr. J to most people, was the face of the league and franchise. Local hoops fans had a long drought until the 2005-06 season when that familiar red, white, and blue basketball starting bouncing out east again. The Sound had a very successful inaugural season in the new version of the ABA, which is an independent minor league in its second go-round. A slow start and blistering finish resulted in a Final Four appearance for the upstart club. Finishing the regular season at 16-14 and ranked 13th in the ABA Power Rankings, the Sound defeated the Birmingham Magicians at home by two. They then went to Harlem and ousted the division champion Strongdogs, propelling them to the Great 8 Tournament in Rochester. An intense game that went to double overtime resulted in the Sound knocking off the top seeded Indiana Alleycats and earning the respect of the entire league. Unfortunately the magic ran out after 10 straight wins when they were defeated by the league runner-up, the Southern California Legends.
Long Island Lizards, MLL- In 2001, the Lizards were founded as a member of Major League Lacrosse and won the league championship their first season and once again in 2003. They have finished in first place in the American Division three times. They brought the popular sport of lacrosse to the professional ranks and look to build on their success when their season starts in May. Their home field is the Mitchel Athletic Complex.
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