News & notes

 Now, this is more to Kevin Huerter's liking.

In his 3rd season with the Atlanta Hawks, Huerter is enjoying the team's 3-0 start, which is what he was accustomed to at Shenendehowa, Atlanta defeated Detroit, 128-120, on Monday. Huerter, coming off the bench, contributed 9 points, after a 21 point game on Saturday. I think now I'm interested in seeing him play vs. Brooklyn and the Knicks on cable.

====================================

The Albany Times-Union named Atlanta Braves rookie Ian Anderson (Shen) as their Sportsperson of The Year for 2020 last week. Like his former teammate Huerter, Anderson made an immediate impact upon arriving in Atlanta, outdueling the Yankees' Gerrit Cole in his first start. If they let fans into the arenas in 2021, I wouldn't be too surprised to see Anderson start showing up at Hawks games, with Huerter returning the favor whenever possible.

=====================================

Don't be surprised if major retailers such as Target and Walmart, or even smaller stores like Dollar Tree, completely discontinue carrying sports cards, due to the influx of new collectors or speculators hoarding new product to resell on eBay or hold box breaks on YouTube, all in the name of turning a profit.

A recent visit to Walmart in the hometown revealed that all they have left in the card department is Upper Deck Hockey, plus, for gamers, the current iteration of Pokemon. Topps' Garbage Pail Kids chrome cards are the only other item available, as, yes, they can't keep WWE or UFC cards in stock, either.

These newbies don't care about the kids, as I'm not sure if any of them are parents themselves. It's gotten to the point where, according to one poster at Sports Card Forum, Walmart and/or Target are considering the prospect of no longer carrying sports cards.

And to these newbies, let me say this. It is not your exclusive territory. Leave something for the rest of us.

=========================================

Contrary to what had been assumed, Travers and Belmont Stakes winner Tiz The Law will race as a 4 year old after all. I guess the shortened 3 year old campaign wasn't enough to justify premature retirement to stud. We'll see.

Update, 12/30/20: Per the Daily Gazette, Tiz The Law has, in fact, retired.

News & notes

 Albany Academy graduate Andre Jackson, just starting his freshman season at Connecticut, has been sidelined with a broken wrist, with no timetable for his return. Jackson scored 4 points in his debut last month vs. Central Connecticut State, but hasn't hit the scoring column since. Best wishes for a speedy recovery.

=======================================

The next time you see Shaker grad Tommy Kahnle on a major league mound, it'll be for the World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers.

The Dodgers signed Kahnle Tuesday to a 2 year deal to fortify their bullpen. Anyone who saw him with the Yankees the last couple of years knows he can bring the heat.

=========================================

Kevin Huerter scored 11 points in his season debut last night as the Atlanta Hawks defeated the Chicago Bulls, 124-104. The Hawks, impressed with Huerter in his first two seasons in "Hot-lanta", have picked up the option on his rookie contract, extending it to the end of the 2021-22 season. 

The Hawks are one of the teams contracted with one of the Fox regional sports networks, available as a premium service on Spectrum Cable, but we'll see if/when they'll turn up on ESPN and/or TNT for national telecasts.

=========================================

Another Albany Academy alum, the Giants' Dion Lewis, was front & center, virtually, anyway, as the Giants announced they were donating a grant to the Albany High football team. Now, that's a good way to give something back to the 518, even though the Giants left the area for their current summer residence in New Jersey a few years back.

News & notes

 Bowling season in Section II has begun. However, Troy High will be a wee bit late to the starting gate.

The Flying Horses' home opener vs. Colonie, scheduled for Monday, was postponed, due either to COVID-19 issues on either side, or because, at that point, just getting to Uncle Sam Lanes, Troy's home bowling alley, might still have been an issue in the wake of last week's storm. No makeup date has been set as of press time. Troy now will open the season after the Christmas break at Albany on January 7.

========================================

Meanwhile, LaSalle opened its season on Tuesday on a sour note. The Cadets were beaten by Cobleskill-Richmondville in what appeared to be a dual meet with Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk. Jeremiah Lawyer was high scorer for Cobleskill with a 595 triple. LaSalle is right back at it today at Schalmont.

========================================

The 518 is mourning the passing of former Cohoes High baseball star Derek Becker, who was shot & killed in Florida earlier this week. After graduating from Cohoes, Becker played his college ball at Iona and Kaiser University. Our condolences to the Becker family.

========================================

Former Glens Falls star Joseph Girard III is on the sidelines as Syracuse has paused basketball activities for the 3rd time this season following a win over Buffalo last weekend. Seems one of the Bulls tested positive for COVID-19, and the Orange aren't taking any chances, considering that coach Jim Boeheim has recovered from a positive test for the virus himself.

==========================================

UAlbany heads into the holiday break with its men's basketball team still searching for its first win of the year.

The Great Danes dropped a 70-65 non-league decision to Niagara (MAAC) on Tuesday. Meanwhile, the Lady Danes fell to 2-4 after getting blown out by Fordham, 71-42. Ellen Hahne led Albany with 13 points while Grace Heeps added 8 in a losing effort. Logan Thayne got into the game in the 4th quarter, but didn't score. The Albany men are now 0-3 on the season, with league play soon to begin after the break.

News & notes

 According to the Albany Times-Union, WNYA (Spectrum cable channel 1215) has signed on to carry Siena College men's basketball home games once again, likely with Robert Lee again at the mic. Would that, in the interests of equal time, they would give the Siena women some opportunities as well.

======================================

Siena has rescheduled their home series against Monmouth College and Canisius, which were postponed due to coronavirus issues.

Monmouth will be in town first, on January 3-4, with Canisius to follow on January 8-9.

=======================================

The NFL is mourning the passing of Hall of Fame linebacker Kevin Greene, who passed away on Monday. The cause of death remains unknown as of press time.

Greene, born in Schenectady in 1962, spent 15 seasons in the league from 1985-99 with the Los Angeles Rams, Pittsburgh Steelers, Carolina Panthers, and San Francisco 49ers. In recent years, Greene was a defensive coach with Green Bay and the Jets.

Toward the end of his career, Greene dabbled in pro wrestling, appearing in a couple of WCW pay-per-views, including a match against former Chicago Bears star Steve McMichael, who made a smoother transition to the mat game.

Rest in peace, Kevin.

UAlbany goes to the dogs (UAlbany vs. UMBC, 12/19-20)

 UAlbany's men's basketball team finally opened their season, and there was finally some live game action at SEFCU Arena. The University of Maryland-Baltimore County Retrievers were in town, having already played a few games prior to Saturday's twilight tilt.

Or, as a more famous Great Dane may put it, ruh-roh!

Will Brown's Great Danes were swept, 65-64 on Saturday, and 65-60 today. UMBC (6-1) have not lost since losing their season opener to Georgetown. Brown's son, Jackson, a freshman from Catholic Central, did not play in either game. Dear old Dad may have him learning the playbook over Christmas break, or is just holding him out until he feels his son is ready.

Meanwhile, Colleen Mullen's Lady Danes split with UMBC in Baltimore, winning by a 66-56 count on Saturday, and then collapsing in the 4th quarter today in a 61-52 loss. Grace Heeps, the former Columbia star, had 3 points in each game. She's starting, but isn't getting a lot of scoring opportunities at present. Logan Thayne (Hoosick Falls) saw some time in today's game, playing 7 minutes, but no points.

UAlbany drops to 2-3.

News & notes

 UAlbany's women's basketball team, fresh off a loss to Marist on Tuesday, are on the road today, opening a 2 game series vs. the University of Maryland-Baltimore County (UMBC). The men open at SEFCU Arena vs. UMBC. Men's game starts at 4 pm, with the Sunday game set for a 2 pm tip. The women's tip-off is at 1 pm both days.

Meanwhile, just as Siena was about to begin its men's season, their season opener vs. Drexel, set for Tuesday, has been postponed, as has their series vs. Canisius next weekend. The women's road trip to Canisius, as previously reported, was postponed on Monday.

Siena, meanwhile, has lost sharpshooter Gary Harris, who has decided to enter the transfer portal. The fits & starts to the season caused by coronavirus are making a lot of athletes anxious, we can understand that. As with the women earlier this week, it was reported that a "tier 1" player, unidentified, either made contact with someone who had the virus, or tested positive. As the vaccines are just being made available here in the 518, and elsewhere, some people just can't get them soon enough.

====================================

Belated congratulations to Stanford women's basketball coach Tara Vandermeer, who became the all time winningest coach in NCAA history earlier this week. What you might not know, and I didn't know until I'd heard after the game, that Tara is a UAlbany alumni (class of 1971, I believe).

====================================

Troy High got some good news from the NYPHSAA on Friday.

The school's fall sports teams that have completed their seasons (women's tennis, swimming/diving, golf, soccer, & cross country, men's golf, soccer, & cross country) have been designated as "scholar-athlete teams" by the association. What that means is that these kids are excelling in the classroom, reaching the honor rolls in their respective grades (9-12), as well as on the field. Congratulations.

News & notes

 The Northeast-10 Conference cancelled its winter sports schedule on Tuesday, but left it open for member teams, such as the College of St. Rose, to schedule non-conference games this season if able, and the Golden Knights intend to do just that. Stay tuned.

===================================

The Giants moved defensive back Jarren Williams back to the practice squad on Monday following a 26-7 loss to Arizona. Williams, a UAlbany graduate, recorded 1 tackle on special teams.

===================================

UAlbany's women's basketball team was back on the road Tuesday, dropping a 67-48 decision to Marist (MAAC). Grace Heeps had 6 points in a losing effort. Logan Thayne made her season debut, playing one minute late, but did not score. The Lady Danes fall to 1-2.

News & notes

 While UAlbany's women's basketball team has yet to play at SEFCU Arena, the Lady Danes accepted a last second invitation to play Seton Hall, out of the Big East, on Sunday.

Coach Colleen Mullen's club cashed in, upsetting the Lady Pirates, 71-66, to even their record at 1-1 on the young season.

Grace Heeps started for the Lady Danes, but had just 2 points. Fellow frosh Logan Thayne (Hoosick Falls) didn't play, as Mullen opted not to put her on the floor.

================================

Speaking of UAlbany, Jarren Williams was promoted from the Giants' practice squad for Sunday's game vs. Arizona as they needed help in the defensive secondary.

Unfortunately, the defense could not contain Kyler Murray or the Cardinals' offense, and the Giants fell out of 1st in the NFC Least with a 26-7 loss. The Washington Deviants move into first after beating San Francisco.

Albany native Dion Lewis scored the only touchdown for Big Blue, atoning for losing a fumble earlier in the game.

==================================

What the NCAA giveth, it also taketh away.

The 2021 women's basketball tournament will be played in a bubble in Texas, meaning that the tournament will not be at Times-Union Center or the Albany Capital Center in March.

Seeing as how Texas hasn't exactly been a safe haven for its citizens during the coronavirus pandemic, this decision wasn't the smartest.

===================================

After getting swept by Fairfield over the weekend, the Siena College women's basketball team didn't need any more bad news.

But, a day after the men's team's series this weekend at the ARC vs. Canisius was postponed, the women won't be heading to Buffalo to play the Lady Griffins after all. Their series has also been postponed.

Here, then, is the official statement from Siena:

It's like the old Morton's Salt commercials. When it rains, it pours.

====================================

Albany native Bobby Fish is back on the DL in WWE's NXT division.

Fish underwent surgery last week to repair a torn tricep muscle, an injury sustained during NXT Takeover: War Games on December 6. Fish will be out of action, though he might still be available for interviews, until February at the earliest.

Caught like a deer in the headlights

 Heading into a weekend series at Siena, the Lady Stags of Fairfield University had already played 2 non-league games, going 1-1. As it turns out, that was a big difference in their series with the Lady Saints.

After winning by 12 on Friday, Fairfield turned up the heat on Saturday night. Sam Brown smashed the team's single game scoring record with 39 points, mostly from 3 point distance, as the Lady Stags completed a 2 game sweep, 76-44. Rayshel Brown (no relation) led Siena with 17 points, while Isis Young added 13. Ahniysha Jackson (Albany High) scored the first 3 points of the game for Siena, but was shut down by the Fairfield defense after that. Fellow frosh Grace Field (Holy Names) didn't play for the 2nd straight game (coach's decision).

Following is an ESPN highlight reel from the Saints' point of view, including comments from Coach Ali Jacques.

Siena (0-2) heads to Buffalo on Friday to open a 2 game set vs. Canisius.

News & notes

 The New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) announced Friday that there will be no sectional or state tournaments for winter sports in 2021 due to coronavirus concerns.

That means that, for the 2nd straight season, there will be no state tournaments, but this time, once the regular season ends, that's it. The idea, of course, is to minimize the risk of additional COVID-19 cases resulting from extended road trips across the state.

With vaccines due soon, things could return to normal within a year's time. Stay tuned.

====================================

LaSalle Institute's hockey team is chomping at the bit to play this season, but if they do, it won't be at Hudson Valley Community College's Robert Conway Ice Arena.

Instead, the Cadets' temporary home will be across town at Frear Park Ice Arena, a venue coach Tim Flanigan knows pretty well from his days as a player at Troy High, when Troy had a hockey team. Conway Arena is being used for COVID-related activities at HVCC this season.

=====================================

Women's college basketball finally began for Siena and UAlbany on Friday. That's the good news. The bad news is that whatever momentum the Saints & Great Danes had in the 1st half evaporated at halftime.

Colleen Mullen's Lady Danes, on the road at Hofstra, scored only six points in the 2nd quarter, and that was the difference in the game, as the Pride dispatched UAlbany, 63-45. Grace Heeps, the former Columbia High star, had just 4 points in a losing effort. Freshman Logan Thayne (Hoosick Falls) did not play (coach's decision).

A hastily scheduled home game vs. St. Peter's, set for today, was cancelled when St. Peter's began their MAAC schedule with a two game series. The game will not be made up. We think.

Back at home, Ali Jacques' Saints blew a six point halftime lead, held to nine points in the 3rd quarter, as Fairfield won the first of a two game series, 68-56. Isis Young, graduate transfer from Syracuse via Fordham (didn't play for the Rams last season due to injury), led Siena with 19 points in her 518 debut. Ahniysha Jackson, a freshman from Albany High, contributed six points. Another frosh, Grace Field (Holy Names), didn't play (coach's decision). The teams meet again tonight at the Alumni Recreation Center. The game can be heard on WVCR-FM (88.3), and accessible online through a link on the station's website.

Update, 8:12 pm: Siena has uploaded a ESPN highlight reel from Friday's game:

=======================================

For what it's worth, the Lady Saints' broadcast team consists of Joe Mixie, who called Tri-City Valleycats games in 2019, and would've probably done so again had they played this summer, and retired columnist Steve Amedio, who had two tours of duty with the once proud Troy Record, before hanging up his pen a few years ago. Give 'em a listen. You'll be glad you did.

News & notes

 When UAlbany's women's basketball team takes the court this afternoon at Hofstra University, there will be a noticable 518 bent.

Sophomore Grace Heeps, formerly of Columbia High, transferred from UMass-Amherst to return home to the Capital Region. Freshman Logan Thayne comes from Hoosick Falls. We'll see if coach Colleen Mullen starts either one of them today (3 pm tip).

====================================

Troy High's winter sports schedule has been revised again. It was reported that the winter sports season would be delayed another week for bowling and indoor track, starting no earlier than December 21, so we'll see if the season opener for the Troy keglers vs. Colonie is still on track.

The schedule, as of now, per Schedule Galaxy:

Dec. 21-Colonie.

January 7-@ Albany.

January 11-Ballston Spa.

January 13-Guilderland.

January 14-@ Shaker.

January 20-Niskayuna.

January 26-@ Saratoga.

January 28-@ Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake.

Feb. 1-CBA.

Feb. 4-@ Shenendehowa.

Feb. 8-Senior Day vs. Schenectady.

Feb. 11-@ Averill Park.

===================================

Troy-CBA swimming/diving revised schedule:

January 5-Bethlehem.

January 12-@ Ballston Spa.

January 19-@ Niskayuna.

January 24-Schenectady.

January 28-Albany.

Feb. 2-Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake.

Feb. 9-Senior Day vs. Guilderland/Voorheesville.

Feb. 16-@ Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake.

There might be more before the league championships take place February 25-26.

======================================

Troy basketball revised schedule. Boys' games are listed, with the women at the opposite venue.

January 12-Ballston Spa.

January 15-@ Shaker.

January 19-Niskayuna.

January 22-Columbia.

January 29-@ Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake.

Feb. 2-@ Bethlehem.

Feb. 5-@ Averill Park.

Feb. 9-CBA (women have the night off).

Feb. 12-Senior Night vs. Saratoga.

Games vs. Albany, Shenendehowa, Guilderland, Schenectady, & Colonie have yet to be rescheduled.

Update, 2:02 pm: Basketball, along with other high risk sports, is postponed pending approval from state health officials due to recent surges in COVID-19 cases in the 518.

=======================================

Siena's women's basketball team begins their season tonight with the first of a 2-game series vs. Fairfield at the Alumni Recreation Center. Fans will not be admitted due to coronavirus concerns. Tip time is 7 pm. The game can be heard on WVCR-FM and/or the Siena website.

The curse of "Smallbany" strikes again

 After months of anticipation and hope turned into nervous waiting, the Tri-City Valleycats found out that they won't be affiliated with Major League Baseball in 2021 and beyond.

MLB's plan to contract 40 minor league teams, with the former NY-Penn League being split up, among others, sees the Valleycats' nearly 2-decade association with the Houston Astros come to an end.

Why is this?

Despite the fact that the 'Cats, 3-time NY-PL champions, have been a consistent draw in Troy since arriving in 2002, despite the fact that MLB signed off on the San Francisco Giants, the spiritual successors to Troy's lone major league club, bringing their 2010 World Series trophy to Troy in 2011, the empty suits governing MLB don't see any long-term value in matching the 'Cats with another MLB team.

Here is the 'Cats' official statement, via Twitter:

The Valleycats remain committed to bringing professional baseball to the 518, and being a vital part of the region. How that happens remains to be seen, of course, but you wonder about the mindset of major league sports and the perception of the 518 as a small market, hence the derogatory name, "Smallbany". While the NCAA will have basketball & hockey tournaments across the river at Times-Union Center, Major League Baseball treats the 'Cats like red-headed stepchildren. Shame on them!

News & notes

 There won't be any "high risk" winter sports in junior colleges (i.e. Hudson Valley Community College) this year, as HVCC, Fulton-Montgomery Community College, and other junior colleges have cancelled high-risk sports for the winter, due, of course, to COVID-19.

That doesn't mean, of course, that the McDonough Sports Complex at HVCC will be completely dark, pending approval of high risk sports such as hockey and basketball, for high schools. LaSalle plays their home hockey games at Conway Arena inside the McDonough Complex, and, if you go by the school's Twitter page, they're chomping at the bit to get started with just practice.

All we can say now, of course, is to stay tuned.

====================================

518 Alumni Watch: Syracuse sophomore Joseph Girard III was held to just 3 points Tuesday in a 79-69 loss to undefeated Rutgers. Girard played all but 6 minutes for the Orange (3-1).

As noted yesterday over at The Land of Whatever, former heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson earned $10 million for a recent exhibition vs. Roy Jones, Jr.. The total gate the night of the event was in the neighborhood of $80 million. The Catskill native has maintained that he wasn't interested in a full-on comeback. Next thing you know, he'll be like George Foreman, selling kitchen appliances....!

=====================================

Troy High's booster club is selling protective face masks for $8 a pop to benefit the football team as the Flying Horses prepare to begin a "Fall II" season in March. $8 is too much for one mask, even at most retailers. 

To better illustrate the point I'm making, I invested in a pack of 25 masks a while back at Walmart for $15. Maybe the booster club might want to reconsider the price tag, as the masks go on sale Saturday.

News & notes

 Per Schedule Galaxy, and barring any further coronavirus-related complications, Section II basketball should start the 2nd week in January. Troy High would open on January 12 vs. Ballston Spa, with the boys at home, and the girls on the road. Stay tuned.

================================

The waiting game for the Tri-City Valleycats continues, per the Albany Times-Union.

GM Matt Callahan had been promised a final decision from Major League Baseball on Thanksgiving, but what is holding up said decision is litigation from teams on both sides of the coast.

The Staten Island Yankees are suing the NY Yankees and Major League Baseball, alleging that the Bronx Bombers had reneged on a deal that had promised SI that they would never be abandoned. The big league franchise have taken over the former Hudson Valley Renegades, previously affiliated with AL champion Tampa Bay, and will play, along with the Brooklyn Cyclones (Mets) in the new Mid-Atlantic League next year. The 'Cats would like to 1) have major league affiliation and 2) play in the MAL, but everything is up in the air at the moment.

The other litigation involves the Fresno Grizzlies, who, like the 'Cats, were aligned with the Houston Astros, but the parent club was switched in 2019 to the Washington Nationals. The Grizzlies are in a similar fix to the 'Cats, but are pursuing litigation, likely for the same reason as the Baby Bombers.

Oh, what a tangled web........!

===================================

After 25 years at WNYT, part of which was spent as a weekend sports anchor, Mark Mulholland is moving to the main anchor desk.

Mulholland succeeds the retiring Jim Kambrich for the station's 5 & 6 pm newscasts, starting December 7.  He will also continue as a general assignment reporter in Saratoga County as his schedule allows, per the Times-Union.

That's how you reward someone for yeoman's work.