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NEW YORK -- Pleased with the progress made during the New York Islanders first season in Brooklyn, Brett Yormark is looking forward to the teams second year at Barclays Center.I thought we ended the year in a much better place than we started, said Brett Yormark, the Chief Executive Office for Brooklyn Sports and Entertainment, which oversees business operations and marketing for the Barclays Center. When you look back at those playoff games they were some of the most dramatic moments weve had here.Pointing to the improvements the arena made with game presentation, including the hiring of a hockey-centric group to take over game days, Yormark said the atmosphere during the Islanders run to the Eastern Conference semifinals -- and their first postseason series victory since 1993 -- showed hockey has arrived in Brooklyn.However, Yormark wouldnt comment on reports the Islanders were already considering leaving for a new arena either near Citi Field, home to baseballs New York Mets, or Belmont Park.I cant speak to that, Yormark said Monday in a Q&A with media before the teams preseason opener against the Philadelphia Flyers. All I can speak to is that collectively our team here at Barclays Center will do everything we can to provide the fans and the players with a first-class experience. And thats what Im focused on.The Islanders moved to the Brooklyn arena -- home to the NBAs Brooklyn Nets since 2012 -- last year after spending the franchises first 43 seasons at the Nassau Coliseum on Long Island. The deal with Barclays Center on a 25-year lease was announced in 2012 after a failed attempt to secure public financing for a new arena on Long Island and zoning approval was rejected for a privately funded development plan that would have included renovations to the ColiseumNewsday reported earlier this month the lease has an opt-out clause with a January 2017 deadline for either side to terminate the deal. The Islanders could do it effective the end of the third season, and either side could do it for after the fourth season.I dont have a crystal ball, Yormark said. I cant tell you what the future holds. But I can tell you adamantly that were committed to providing a great season for everyone involved.To that end, Yormark said arena management conducted focus groups with fans in Brooklyn and on Long Island, asking what they liked and what they wanted to see improved.One of the top complaints was about transportation on the Long Island Rail Road after games. Fans were displeased with the service during the season, but noted it had improved for the playoffs, and Yormark said the LIRR had agreed to maintain the additional schedule of trains after games this season.Among other topics Yormark addressed:- Fans can expect to see more Islanders branding and signage around the arena, so they can feel this is their home. He also said there will be more equal availability of Islanders and Nets merchandising at the arenas retail stores.- With fans desire for more weekend games, Yormark noted there were 18 games scheduled on Fridays, Saturdays or Sundays this season, an increase from last year. Its something we need to look at and see where we can make more improvements for next year, he said.- The teams ticket base had grown, with a marked increase in Manhattan residents who grew up in Long Island. He said the Long Island base had stabilized, while acknowledging some full-season ticket holders had chosen to trade down to partial plans.Weve addressed everything fans had their hands raised about, Yormark said. Im sure there will be more during the course of the season. Well remain flexible like we were last year. Well continue to learn and where we can get better, we will.---Follow Vin Cherwoo at www.twitter.com/VinCherwooAPNike Shoes Ireland Sale . The deal is pending a physical, assistant general manager Bobby Evans said. Traded from Seattle to Baltimore on Aug. 30, Morse also can play first base and right field to give manager Bruce Bochy some flexibility in writing his lineup. Nike Factory Outlet Ireland . 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Buy Nike Shoes Online Ireland . -- Bryant McKinnie came out of his stance and lowered his shoulder into a practice squad player, causing a crisp thud to reverberate in the Miami Dolphins practice bubble.LAWRENCE, Kan. -- The words that tumbled out of Iowa State coach Matt Campbell this week may just as well have come from Kansas counterpart David Beaty, whose woebegone teams face each other Saturday.I continue to challenge the senior class and I continue to challenge the team, Campbell said, because this senior class does have a chance to put their stamp on this thing and theyve got a chance to come back here some day and say, `You know what? We changed this. We laid the foundation.The Cyclones and Jayhawks, both winless in the Big 12 and each 1-8 overall, are in the midst of massive rebuilding jobs under young, charismatic coaches. And while Campbell is in his first year and Beaty in his second, it is clear that they both have a long way to go.Still, that doesnt mean they are already looking ahead to brighter days.Were really fortunate because (the seniors) steadied the ship. That group has not allowed this program to say, `Hey, listen, were just going to go by the wayside and play for next year, Campbell said. I told our kids, I told our coaches, Im not playing for next year. Im playing for right now.The Cyclones have at least come close to breakthrough wins this season. They blew a big lead and lost by a field goal to then-No. 13 Baylor. They lost by a touchdown a week later to Oklahoma State. They rallied down the stretch in a 31-26 loss to Kansas State. And they made life tough on then-No. 14 Oklahoma in a 34-24 loss that raised plenty of eyebrows.Two of them belonged to Beaty, who has the utmost respect for Campbells rebuilding effort.They are a lot better than 1-8. They are the best 1-8 team in the country, he said. Maybe one of the best 1-8 teams you really have seen.The Jayhawks have had their share of close calls, too. They blew a 23-14 second-half lead against TCU, and were competitive into the second half against Oklahoma State.But theyve also been repeatedly blown out, leading some to wonder whether Beaty is up to the task.I have a lot of questions a lot of times about how ourr guys continue to move forward, he said, and how they are so resilient, and the answer is just quite simply in our seniors and their character.dddddddddddd They have done a really nice job. They deserve a great finish here to end their senior year.As the Jayhawks prepare for their home finale, here are some things to note:Big 12 DROUGHTThe last time the Jayhawks won a Big 12 game was 2014, when they beat Iowa State with Clint Bowen as interim coach. They have lost their 18 conference games.AS FOR THE CYCLONESIowa State has only won two league games the past two-plus seasons, and one of them was last year against the Jayhawks. That was a big reason why Paul Rhoads was fired after the season and Campbell was plucked away from Toledo to rebuild the program.Unfortunately the last few years it comes down to this game, whos going to be at the bottom of the Big 12, Iowa State quarterback Joel Lanning said. We dont go into the game thinking that. We go into the game thinking, `One game at a time, one week at a time.QUARTERBACKS A-PLENTYIowa State and Kansas have both used plenty of guys under center. The Cyclones have mixed the running ability of Lanning with the big arm of Jacob Park, while the Jayhawks have used Ryan Willis, Montell Cozart and this past weekend, freshman Carter Stanley.Neither coach was willing to identify a starter this week. Expect several to play.INJURY UPDATESKansas expects to have offensive lineman Joe Gibson back from a neck injury, while Cozart and safety Mike Lee have passed through the schools concussion protocol and should be available.RUNNING IT UPThe Cyclones plan to rotate freshmen running backs David Montgomery and Kene Nwangwu along with veteran Mike Warren, who has been the starter all season.Its a good situation in my mind, Campbell said. Its hard to have one guy carrying the football all the time. I think its a great situation for us. ' ' '