"Every year's a souvenir...

...that slowly fades away."

And so with those words on a late Wednesday night ended the greatest concert I, and I hope my friend Melissa (who joined me), have ever been witness to.

Billy Joel's first of two concerts at Shea Stadium did not meet expectations...they exceeded it by leaps and bounds.

It was a special "homecoming" -- so to speak. And as the All-Star Game was for Yankee Stadium, this was the beginning of quite the proper send-off to Shea. And it was only proper that Billy give one of the biggest concerts of his career in a place where "New York City meets Long Island".

Every note was filled with such emotion, and you could tell Billy was going to push himself to the limit with every song, no matter what it was.

One thing Billy Joel does so well, is recognizing and treating his home and past memories like a treasure. He pulled out all the stops on Wednesday, inviting special guests like Tony Bennett ("New York State of Mind"), John Mayer ("This Is the Time"), Don Henley ("Boys of Summer"), and John Mellencamp ("Pink Houses") to join him on stage. The songs that reflect images of New York, and most notably Long Island -- especially songs like "The Ballad of Billy the Kid" and "The Downeaster 'Alexa'" become that much more poignant.

Making sure to thank The Beatles for "letting me use their room" and bringing up memories of The Beatles famous concerts of 1965 and 1966, Billy ripped through a version of "Hard Day's Night" in the middle of "River of Dreams." He then later added "Please Please Me" to close out his normal set, and included "She Loves You" in his encore.

As the night ended, Billy put on his harmonica, and like every show (except the first of his massive tour) closed (or so we thought) with "Piano Man." You'd think Billy would want to send this rockous crowd of 65,000 fans singing along asking to "sing us a song, you're the piano man."

But no...

This is Shea Stadium, and we're going to end it on a different note. When Billy didn't get up after "Piano Man" I knew something had to be up.

Then he starts playing a few familiar notes (to me, at least!)

"A picture postcard, a folded stub..."

Wow, now this was a closer. As Billy somberly sang "Souvenir" you could feel the emotion running through the Stadium as they realized the show was ending, and that this stadium was seeing the last major show in its history.

Such fitting final words...

"Every year's a souvenir that slowly fades away..."

History...

The set-list (for you nerds like me out there):

Star Spangled Banner
Miami 2017
Prelude/Angry Young Man
My Life
Everybody Loves You Now
The Entertainer
Zanzibar
Allentown
Ballad of Billy the Kid
New York State of Mind (with Tony Bennett)
Big Man on Mulberry Street
Root Beer Rag
Movin Out
Goodnight Saigon
Don't Ask Me Why
This is the Time (with John Mayer)
Keeping the Faith
The Downeaster "Alexa"
Stand by Me
An Innocent Man
Boys of Summer (with Don Henley)
She's Always a Woman
Captain Jack
Lullabye (Goodnight, My Angel)
River of Dreams
A Hard Days Night
Pink Houses (with John Mellencamp)
We Didn't Start the Fire
Its Still Rock and Roll to Me
You May be Right
Please Please Me

Scenes From an Italian Restaurant
Only the Good Die Young
She Loves You
Take Me Out to the Ballgame
Piano Man
Souvenir

Early...

A month ago I would've called myself crazy to be blogging at 6am. My only excuse would have probably been, "I can't sleep, so this is passing the time..."

But I don't have that excuse this time.

Now its "I'm on a train heading to work, so this is passing the time..."

Now that I think about it, I never realized how ridiculously crowded the 5:55am train gets! Don't most people start work at 9am? (I should be talking...)

But seriously, I can't even get a seat! Sheesh!

Ok, ok...on a more serious note, Newsday's Greg Logan is reporting in today's edition that the Islanders have signed Jeff Tambellini to a one-way, two-year contract. Bout time...

Well, actually, the Isles needed to make it one-way because any more reassignments to the AHL and Tamby's gotta clear waivers. Such was evident last year when Jeff was sent down to Bridgeport before most of the other Tigers to help with the playoff push, it was totally because of games played, and not by performance. But the time is now for Tamby to deliver. Garth and the team is putting faith in this kid to produce, and maybe with a new coach, it may come.

(And as I'm typing that previous paragraph, I got myself a seat!)

On the two-way front, Jeremy Colliton and Ben Walter signed two-way, two-year contracts. They will be competing for the final spot on the roster and both made great strides last year in their progress. Walter showed some great tenacity for the net, and impressed in his early debut here on the Island. Colliton matured leaps and bounds from last year, adding a more gritty style of play to his game. We saw him his first professional fights of his career and he took a bigger leadership role in the lockerroom down in the Bridge. Plus, he's one of the most accessible and nicest guys in the lockerroom, so its good to see him back.

Frans Nielsen and Bruno Gervais are reported to have rejected their qualifying offers, but its said the Isles will continue to negotiate with both players. I have no doubts that both will be back with the organization next season.

And tonight I'll be in the "other stadium" -- Shea Stadium, taking in the Billy Joel concert! Will give me some fodder to sepak about tomorrow morning for sure...

Until then, be good, enjoy the day, and for those that ARE going to the show tonight (come on, we ARE Long Islanders!)...enjoy!

(Did I just actually say that...I feel very...corporate shillish...)

Ted Nolan off the Island (Original, No?)

Ready for Day #2 of the new job and I come from you back on the LIRR!

Oh lordy, I've become one of those train bloggers...

I knew that would happen one day...

I also knew that this Ted Nolan situation would eventually come to a foregone conclusion, and that came yesterday when he and GM Garth Snow agreed that it would be best if Teddy did not return as coach next season.

The Islanders stated that the main reason for this was a difference of opinions on the teams direction for the upcoming season.

As much as I hate to see Teddy go, this was a move that had to be done.

I had many people ask me, "Tom, what has happened to the Isles? They canned a GREAT coach!"

Great coach? Yes.

Have I agreed with everything he's done here? Not really.

Infact, there were MANY times I disagreed with Ted's actions throughout his time here.

There were times I wished he showed more emotion and fought for his team when he didn't agree with a call or decision by the league.

Then there were times where his complete lack of confidence in the Isles young prospects and inability of using them in key situations almost made me cringe.

Sure, call it biasedness, but these kids need a chance to make it in the NHL, and with Ted Nolan at the helm, they wouldn't get it.

It hurt to see Jeff Tambellini get 5:00 ice time per game. A 40-goal scorer in the AHL needs more consistent ice time. Yes, he hasn't shown anything to prove he deserves it yet, but give him a whole season's worth of ice time. It could help.

This is not a bash-Ted entry, by all means. Its just to show that this decision was best for all involved.

I wish Ted the best in his future endeavors. I'm sure he'll succeed more with a team that's more suited for him.

For now, the search for a new coach begins. And knowing this team, lord knows where that could lead us...

...and we're back!!

Hey remember me??

Well I'm back from my vacation (cruising along Western Europe takes a lot out of you!) I've got rid of my jet-lag and am back and raring to go.

I'm currently blogging right now from the Long Island Railroad. I know what you're thinking right now: [I]"Tom, aren't you going to be at Prospect Camp?" (Which just conveniently just happens to start today)[/i]. Unfortunately fans I will not be. I just got a new job witha publishing company and am starting today so I get to miss out on seeing the new boys and meeting the lot of you that will be watching. it saddens me but I've got to make a living somehow! This will NOT affect my coverage however...I am GUARANTEEING THAT.

A lot seems to have changed player-wise since I've gone, especially on the Bridgeport end! I will hopefully get to those and analyze these moves when I get home and have the time.

But for now I just wanted to check in and say that I have not disappeared!

Off to work...

Off for a few days...

On this crazy UFA-Canada-Day, I am off for a few days with my family, so don't be surprised if this site is inactive for a bit.

I'll be back soon. Don't miss me too much!