The Night Sam Rosen Got Good And Angry

Over a 40-year career, Sam Rosen has enjoyed critical acclaim not merely for his objectivity but for his smooth delivery of the fast play, not to mention his trademark, "IT'S A POWER PLAY GOAL!" 

"It didn't matter whether John Davidson was Sam's analyst or Phil Esposito or Joe Micheletti," says The Old Scout, "Sam was a cool cat and a splendid representative of MSG Networks."

But Sam was suitably emotional when he called "IT'S A POWER PLAY GOAL!" and other occasions when the spirit moved him.

However, there was one incident during a Rangers-Islanders game on April 5, 1990 at The Garden, when both Sam and J.D. really blew their respective stacks.

It was the first game of the playoffs – won by the Blueshirts 2-1 – in which tempers flew out the window and out past the Hudson River; last seen over Hoboken.

The Rangers broadcasters took umbrage with the Isles ice cop Mick Vukota as he went after Blueshirt defenseman Jeff Bloemberg while the Isles toughie Ken Baumgartner assaulted the home team's Kris King.

In the book "Rangers Vs. Islanders," co-written by Zach Weinstock and The Maven, we detailed the hyperactive reactions of Sam and J.D.

"Oh, look at Vukota," yelled Rosen. "Oh, look at that jerk!"

Rosen's anger was spurred by the knowledge that Bloemberg was a Born Again Christian and, as such, did not believe in fighting. Whether Vukota knew that or not is a moot question, but he hit the defenseless Blueshirt "with about 25 rights before the Rangers pacifist finally decided to grab his assailant's arms."

Weinstock and The Maven then quoted the equally-alarmed Davidson who bellowed, "The Islanders look like garbage on this play."

Eventually, the dustup was cleared and we ended our brawl review with these words: "Off the ice, Rangers scratches Lindy Ruff and David Shaw cursed Al Arbour and called him classless. Al andBattlin' Billy Smith – now the Islanders goaltending coach – had to be held back by security."

We authors concluded our report thusly: "Who was out of line? Who, if anybody, was not? Everyone had an opinion!"

Especially seething Sam and joust-weary J.D.