Monday, May 22, 2023

News & notes

 Less than 24 hours after the worst loss in team history, Albany Empire coach Tom Menas' 2nd go-round ends after just 2 games.


It's clear that Antonio Brown has ruined the franchise. A four game losing streak (and counting), longest in team history. He brought Menas back after the rebellion that cost him coach Damon Ware and several players, including QB Sam Castronova, who burned his former team on the field in a 79-34 blowout in Jacksonville on Saturday, and two way player Trevon Shorts, who helped West Texas beat Albany at MVP Arena two weeks earlier. 

Menas acknowledged Sunday that his vision doesn't gibe with whatever Brown's vision is, and resigned, rather than risk being fired a 2nd time. This ain't George Steinbrenner vs. Billy Martin back in the 70's & 80's by any stretch.

WNYT reports that Brown is claiming he will hire LaSalle football coach John Audino, who has gradually turned that program around in 5 seasons there, but Audino told WNYT he hasn't been contacted. Clearly, Brown is grasping at straws, looking for someone who can turn the team around, not realizing that any coach he hires has to deal with Brown's diva behavior. Previous owner Mike Kwanek, now in Jacksonville, didn't use social media after losses the way Brown does.

Will Audino take the gig? I hope not. Brown is looking at him because of more than 2 decades of success at Union, and the good reputation Audino has. Brown had told reporters previously he would suit up for the Empire's next home game, set for this Saturday at MVP Arena, but if he thinks he can put extra butts in the seats based on his own reputation as a 7 time Pro Bowler in the NFL, he's wrong. He's toxic, and he needs to go. The National Arena League may need to step in and resolve the issues he has with minority owners Steve & Charlotte Von Schiller, who still own 5% of the Empire, though Brown has claimed otherwise.

Antonio Brown came to Albany on the run from Florida law enforcement (child support and a lawsuit from a jeweler), and weaseled his way into ownership of the Empire. I don't think he finishes 2023 in Albany, but, rather, in a Florida courtroom, followed by one in Albany.
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In happier local sports news, the Tri-City Valleycats snapped a 5 game losing streak Sunday in sweeping the Washington Wild Things, 4-0 & 9-5. Under minor league rules, each doubleheader game is 7 innings minimum. Coincidentally, as the 'Cats begin a 6 game road trip tomorrow, high school baseball, which also goes 7 innings a game, takes over Bruno Stadium today, starting with the Class AA semi-finals. Today's schedule:

7 pm: Bethlehem vs. Shenendehowa.
4 pm: Saratoga vs. Niskayuna.

The winners will play a best-of-3 series set to begin Wednesday, but rain is in the forecast for Wednesday, so who knows?

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