This year hasn't been kind to the New York Islanders. First, they endured a rough start to the season that derailed their Stanley Cup dreams that may NHL pundits - myself included - had them in the Stanley Cup Finals battling for the Cup. Secondly, they opened up their brand new UBS arena to 6 consecutive losses before beating the NJ Devils as covid ravaged through their team. The worst was yet to come as their storied past wasn't even safe. In January, Hall of Fame and 4 time Stanley Cup champion Clark Gilles passed away succumbing to his private battle with cancer. Last month, Jean Potvin passed; brother of two-time Stanley Cup champion former Islanders captain Dennis Potvin. This month brought more bad news as the Islanders received word about Mike Bossy's health fading. Unfortunately, that where Islander fans were tortured even more.
Beginning Sunday night, multiple Twitter accounts (and other online news sources) reported that Mike Bossy has passed. This was not the first time online news has been inaccurate - and certainly won't be the last. At least popular Barstool Sports Podcast apologized for the inaccurate information they had, but the real problem is in our reporting. We can understand that news needs to be reported - hell otherwise the name "news" is lost - but whether it's Bossy or a nobody like myself, this is news that can wait. With all Mike Bossy has accomplished in his life, the last thing that he and his family needs is contradictary & inaccurate reports like this. Frankly it's disgusting. For what? To get more Likes than your competitor? Is that really worth journalistic integrity? Some of those sources elected to delete their reporting. IF YOU HAVE TO DELETE IT THEN YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE REPORTED IT!!!!!
Ok...I forgot the age we live in. Journalistic integrity is about as dead as disco, but it needs to rise like a Pheonix.
Bossy is one of the greatest NY Islanders to ever play - arguably the best - and his life should be honored whether he passes or continues living! The man holds the record for most consecutive 50-goal seasons. He is one of the most prolific scorers to ever touch the ice on any level. He scored 38 goals in 63 games in his final season with a bad back and THIS is the treatment he gets as he and his family deal with a difficult situation? I know I'm getting repetitive, but THIS ISN'T HOW YOU TREAT A PERSON OR A HALL OF FAMER NONETHELESS!
As fans prepare to grieve for their hero, their idol, their friend, teammate, coworker, uncle or father, the internet wannabes that want to break the news need to remember that someone's life is much more important than click bait or a Like. If that's what we would on this site, I'd hope YOU call us out on that nonsense. I wish the Bossy family my best during this difficult time, but there will be a day when someone will break news about myself and I'd get more respect than Mike Bossy was shown this week.
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