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No sports talk in this space today, instead I want to tell you about a special event coming up for a very special person.
His name is Jaden Weeks. He would have been 9 years old in November.
(Picture taken by Daily Gazette photographer)
I knew Jaden for less than a year. We met during the Childrens Hospital Telethon. He was in the hospital with his mom Jessica as Jaden battled mitochondrial disease. He came down to the play room to talk with us about his stay in the hospital and play with Gem, the therepy dog. Jaden had a huge smile and questions about everything that was going on. He could have have been more engaging if he took classes for that purpose.
Over the months that followed, we met on several occasions, most of the time in the hospital. The last time I saw him was about a week before he died. He was laughing as we played a game where I say yes, he says no, back and forth quickly like Bugs Bunny used to do....I really can't explain it, you had to be there.
Jessica called me on a Sunday morning November 2nd to share the bad news. As sad as I was that day, I was also happy that Jaden was now pain free and able to play and laugh and cause mischief in a better place. I know Jessica struggles everyday with his absence, as do Jaden's friends at Paige Elementary School.
On Sunday June 7th at Paige (104 Elliott Street, Schenectady, 12304), the PTO will lead a memorial day for Jaden and his family. They have planted a special shrub and will dedicate a memorial stone in his honor. The day starts at 1:30pm and will be followed by a gathering in the school cafeteria with a light lunch. The school PTO is accepting donations to help defray the costs of the memorial and to help with programs that benefit the children of the school. To make a donation, send a check to the Paige PTO c/o Howard Williams 80 Hillcrest Avenue, Schenectady, NY 12304.
It should be a special day for a very special person. I hope to see you there.
Rich
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I'd like to think it was my blog that lit a fire under Siena. That would be ridiculous, as there are only a handful in this business who think they are important enough to have that happen., and they know who they are.
I am not one of those.
Besides, Fran McCaffery and Siena Athletic Director John D'Argenio both said this was a deal that's been in the works since right after the NCAA's. In fact, McCaffery said they could have had the deal done a week ago, if not for the Final Four.
In any event, it's done. Well, it's as done as any college basketball agreement can me. There is a buyout that would let McCaffery go to another school. This is pretty standard in the business, especially a business as transient as college basketball.
As I said in a previous entry, Fran has been rock solid consistant on his message that he wants to be at Siena and that it is one of the best jobs in the country. It is that because that is what he's made it. McCaffery, his assistants, the administration and the business leaders in the area who will be ponying up more cash to help pay for the deal have combined to make it a most desireable job.
This is a huge leap of faith from D'Argenio, Fr. Mullen and Siena and I applaud them for it. While Siena is competitive in many sports at the division I level, it is basketball that has put them on the map. Keeping McCaffery and his assistants around will only help that grown into something even bigger. If nothing else, it'll make it so people around the country spell Siena with only one "N".
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Fran McCaffery wasn't going to Arizona or Memphis or Washington State. With only those jobs open, there was time.
Now there's not.
Sean Miller took care of that with the announcement today that he was taking the Arizona job. Good for him.. he's earned it for sure enjoying great success at the Atlantic 10 power.
I am in no way saying Fran is a lock to be Sean Miller's sucessor for the Muskateers. In fact, according to a few who follow Xavier in Cincinnati, it'll probably be top assistant Chris Mack. But the fact that this is a job that makes sense for a McCaffery move should be the impetus for Siena to really crank up the contract extension talk.
Perhaps they already have. Siena athletic director John D'Argenio, through sports information director Jason Rich, e-mailed tonight to say he would not comment on any area of Fran's contract.
He did say the following regarding Fran's status at Siena.
“It is general practice in athletics that if another college or university is interested in someone on our staff, they will call my office to express that interest.”
“Siena is extremely happy with what Coach McCaffery provides to our campus. The athletic administration and the senior administration want him and his family to be comfortable at the college and would like to see them here for a long time.”
Reading between the lines of the last quote would indicate some sort of negotiation is underway. There is a swell of interest in the Siena community to come up with the money to make a contact extension a reality. We're talking some serious money here too.
Let me say this.. I am against contract renegotiation. What you sign, you should stick to unless you are exercizing outs or leaving the business altogether. That's a pipe dream in college basketball where schools with deep pockets are always looking for the next hot coach.
That is certainly McCaffery right now. He has not only won game at Siena, he's done it with crafty recruiting and with players that are, but all accounts, good citizens in the community. Wouldn't you want to pay this guy whatever to run your program?
McCaffery has been very consistant in his message. I love my job here at Siena, there are few better for me right now. But, I will always listen if someone wants to talk.
Right now, Siena fans can only hope it's Siena that's in McCaffery's ear.
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Check this out.. The $1,500,000,000 (that's 1-point-5 billion) price tag on Yankee Stadium would cover the school budget for the city of Schenectady for the next 9 years, and that's without the proposed reductions.
For that, what do we get?
Well, if the money went to the school budget, the kids of the city of Schenectady would get to keep the 34 teaching positions that are on the chopping block. They would get to keep modified sports, the 1/3 of the athletic department that's facing the hatchet ("That will have a devestating affect on our program,"said AD Mary Ozarowski. "We're hoping something comes forward to save it"). It would also allow the pool the school built less then 10 years ago to remain open, a pool that serves not only the students, but also the community as well.
With Yankee Stadium, we get...
...ummm...
...ahhhh...
I've got it.. We get the opportunity to pay $2,625 for one ticket to a luxury suite. A price that Yankee general partner Hal Steinbrenner admitted today might be a bit pricey. By the way Hal, paying $9 bucks for a beer at the stadium is a bit pricey. 26-hundred for a ticket is flat out idiocy.
We also get stuck with a bill. According to the USA Today, the city's Independent Budget Office, a publicly funded agency that provides non-partisan information about financial issues, estimated the Yankees deal will cost the city $362 million. That does not include concessions the city and state made in building the parking garage and other infrastruture items.
Now to the Mets. Citi Field, which should(and might often) be called Bailout Ballpark, was a bargain at just $138 million to the city, according to the same USA Today report. Follow this now.. Citigroup will play $400 million over 20 years for naming right. You know, the same Citigroup that couldn't survive without a $45 billion dollar government(read:taxpayer) bailout. There's a real you paid for it.
Let's not be silly here and solely blame the Yankees or the Mets. They asked and they received. If anyone is to blame its the folks in Albany who continue to cower to the threat of team departure and hand over cash we really don't have to spend.
Time to step back a moment. I've been through all this before. I listened to the people of Rochester who said it was ridiculous to spend millions on a new ball park(Frontier Field) when the city schools of Rochester desperately needed things like textbooks and technology updates. Our return line everytime was, the money for ballparks etc. comes from a different section of the budget than education. This is the line we got from Albany and our representatives. It made sense too. If Rochester didn't spend it on a ball park, Buffalo would put it toward their waterfront project or some other city would build something else with it, but it wasn't going to education
The problem is with the system that allows all that money to go into a capital fund and not be transferred out to other places its needed.
That's what it's time to fix. How about we make New York's education system as much a source of civic pride as two cement structures.
Am I just not getting this? Let me know if I'm wrong. Post a comment or send me an e-mail to richbecker@fox23news.com.
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Welcome back.. hope you read along on our Siena website as we blogged about the Saints trip to Dayton. Great showing by the team, but now it's on to other things and a return to blogging here.
I am awaiting the start of the Kentucky press conference to announce John Calipari as their next head coach.
Wait a minute... John Calipari.. the guy from Memphis?
Yes the same John Calipari that gave this quote to reporters on March 27th
"I want to be here," he said. "This is where I want to coach."
He said that in reference to the Memphis job.. the one he had, the one where he had just received a contract extension through the 2012-13 season. A deal that included a reported annual raise of $500,000 and a $5 million bonus if he stays through the end of the contract.
So long bonus...so long honesty too.
I don't know about you, but I'm sick of coaches saying one thing then doing the other, which is exactly what Calipari has done. Apparently an 8 year, $31.65 million deal makes you change your tune quickly. I have no problem with a coach making a change to better his or his families situation. It's capitalism and what America is built on. Supply and demand works.
The slime factor continues to grow with these coaches who can't seem to get their words and actions in order. If you're not sure, then say that..
Siena's Fran McCaffery is a perfect example. While saying he has a great job at Siena, he also says any coach would be silly not to listen to another schools offer. He has indicated that there are not many jobs that would get him to leave Siena. At no time during any conversations with McCaffery has he backed off of that stance. I like where I am, but if there's something better for me and my family, I'll listen is McCaffery's consistant comment
Honesty...
Perhaps a quick visit to dictionary.com for Calipari might be in order. Seems he need a reminder as to what the definition means.
Couple of notes from the presser annoumcing Calipari as new head coach - Kentucky AD Mitch Barnhart says the 8 year - $31.65 million contract is guaranteed with protections for the University and the coach included. Barnhart added that the base salary is $400,000 with the rest of it coming from media and TV contracts. He also emphasized that the deal was signed.
Calipari said "This was a dream I had since we brought our (UMass) team down here in 1992. "At that point, I said, 'I'd love to coach here one day.'"
So it's a dream come true today for Calipari - at least until the next big opportunity comes along.
Your thoughts - click comments and post here or email me at richbecker@fox23news.com
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Couple of quick thoughts as we get set for semifinal Sunday in local college basketball... what a surprising Saturday is was.. for both Siena and UAlbany.
The Danes obviously pulled the biggest surprise, beating Vermont in overtime. It was exactly what Will Brown said it had to be..an ugly game of basketball. Sometimes ugly is good, at least for UAlbany, the team that often can't shoot straight.
Give credit to Brent Gifford who did a nice job on Marques Blakley, Vermont's superstar player of the year. Blakely is fantastic and did score 22, but they were a hard fought 22 and he was not able to get one of his ESPN-like highlights that often change the momentum of the game.
Will Brown has been looking for a combination of players all season long. Yesterday, the plan worked, putting the Danes one win away from another trip to the finals... For the Danes, another ugly effort could indeed be something beautiful.
Siena was supposed to beat Canisius, supposed to win the whole MAAC, supposed to go to the NCAA. Often times when expectations are that high, teams tighten up and get nervous. Sure appeared that applied to Siena yesterday as they got off to a slow start with the vasty-improved Griffs.
Then Alex Franklin got wacked in the head by Robert Goldberry. Both guys appeared to get knocked out by the contact. Fran McCaffery was less that thrilled with Goldberry's aggressiveness(Goldberry got called for an intentional foul).
Do you think that foul got Siena going? "A little bit," said McCaffery, who did not elaborate beyond those three words.
Right after that, Kenny Hasbrouck hit for 2 of his 16 first half points. Owen Wignot came off the bench for 2 threes. Franklin came back to score at the buzzer and this one was really over. What was supposed to be a close game, wasn't from there on out. The Saints 2nd half defense, as good as it's been all season according to the coach.
The ease in which Siena dispatched the Griffs the surprise.
What will today bring???
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Two tournaments, one town, where do you end up this weekend? Perhaps both?
If you were planning to check out both Siena and UAlbany Saturday, you fans can thank the America East, the tournament that was first to book its 2009 tournament here. They waited until the found out Siena's seed and time slot before seting the America East schedule. This kept the two teams from playing at the same time. (UAlbany 12pm, Siena 5pm)
Both tournaments are planning fan fests. The MAAC is in the atrium at the Times Union Center; the America East's is inside the PE Building, adjacent to SEFCU Arena.
On a weekend that offers so much for Capital Region basketball fans, it's a shame the AEC and MAAC couldn't have figured out a way to cross-promote their event. Perhaps offer a ticket discount to one event if you bring a ticket for another. Another idea would have been to coordinate with CTDA or a private bus company to offer a shuttle between the two venues.
UAlbany Vice President of Athletics Rick Coe told us the other day the conferences have a good relationship, but did not pursue any cooperative effort.
I have not yet asked that question to anyone from the MAAC, but I will.
They two tournaments will each enjoy great weekends, no doubt. As of last night, UAlbany had already sold 64% of its house for the first three sessions (Friday, Saturday afternoon and Saturday evening). The MAAC has some snazzy new court side seating for its corporate sponsors, each hoping to pry as many dollars as they can out of a very soft economy.
So back to the original question - where is your money going and why is it going there. Would love to hear what you have to say. Post a comment here or send an e-mail to richbecker@fox23news.com .
Regardless of where you end up - enjoy the weekend.
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Conference call day is here! The annual chat with the MAAC coaches the Monday before the MAAC tournament.
Sometimes humorous, often tedious, here's a read on what the coaches had to say on a variety of topics.
Canisius – Tom Parrotta(9th seed vs. Loyola)
*We did come out(of the regular season) thinking we can compete with teams in the upper echelon of the league
Ed Cooley - Fairfield(5th seed vs. Manhattan)
* Interested to see our man Rossiter from Siena who is one of the best big men not there(on the all-MAAC team). I definitely voted for him, first team to be honest with you. He’s one of the most improved players in our league. Love the kid. He’s a tremendous player and an asset to the MAAC.
*With the year we’ve had, we’re excited to play anybody.
Kevin Willard – Iona(7th seed vs. Marist)
*We’ve had 2 really tough games with Marist, we won one and lost one. I think Chuck (Martin/Marist coach)has done such a great job of teaching defense. They’ve given us fits trying to score. It’s going to be a good matchup.
*We’re really doing well academically. That’s the best thing I like about my team right now.
*Gary Springer has been playing well over the last 4 or 5 games. Scott Machado has played flawlessly with the amount of responsibility he’s had to take on. We just need someone to make an outside shot for us.
Jimmy Patsos – Loyola(8th seed vs. Canisius)
*ON THE TOURNAMEN BEING IN ALBANY - They earned it because they sell 5 thousand season tickets. It’s a great tournament atmosphere. It’s great for our league. If people tune in on TV, you want a full building. I like the city of Albany. The tournament is for everyone. I think Albany is a great place for it.
*A guy like Frank Turner, he scares you. He can go for 30 and 10. He’s like Tiny Archibald, who played for the Buffalo Braves. He’s hard to stop.
Barry Rohrssen – Manhattan (4th seed vs. Fairfield)
*ON PLAYING A TEAM THE JASPERS JUST PLAYED - Maybe helpful to both coaching staffs that we played them so soon. One and done for most of us here in this tournament, so that’s motivation for all of us.
*When we guard some people, we’re okay. We’ve held a few teams under 40 points, and that’s pretty good. We had a shot to finish the regular season with double digit wins. Our offense let us down on Friday night and Sunday, not finishing off on defense is what shot us in the foot.
Chuck Martin – Marist (10th seed vs. Iona)
*We’ve got a lot of respect for Iona. We had two great games with them this season.
*David Devezin’s status – Dave’s going some good things. He missed 6 games this season due to injury. He’s having a solid, not great, but solid year.
*The mood has been great all season long These kids could have packed it in, but they didn’t. They continued to fight and let us coach them. I think the fact that we played well against Iona at their place, even though we lost there and beat them at our place gives us the feeling we can compete against them. We’ve got to do a better job of recognizing their changing defenses.
Joe Mihalich – Niagara (2nd seed vs. Iona/Marist)
*For finishing 2nd, we were rewarded by having to play Iona or Marist. Iona beat us on our home court, and Marist beat us in Poughkeepsie. It’s great to finish 2nd, but you look up and see who you’re going to play and it brings you right back down to earth.
Tommy Dempsey – Rider (3rd seed vs. Saint Peter's)
*I’m proud of the way we played this year. To lose a lottery pick and come back and go 12-6 in a league that is so strong this year is a good testament to how well our guys have played.
*To only have one all-league player in a year where we went 12-6 in the league. If Ryan(Thompson, 1st team pick) is our only all-league player, he must have had a special year. I’m biased. I think he’s the best player in the year. But you could make a case for all 5 players to be player of the year.
John Dunne – St. Peter’s (6th seed vs. Rider)
*I think we had lost a lot of games last year and we kept preaching to try to give ourselves a chance to win late. See what happens there. As the year progressed, we were closer and closer to that. We did that(got close) a handfuls of time early. We finally got one at home against Loyola where we won late. That gave us confidence that we could win a close game late. We got some breaks through this 5 win streak in the league. We gave ourselves a chance. We made some big shots down the stretch. Once you make a couple, you have the confidence that anything can happen.
Fran McCaffery – Siena (1st seed vs. Loyola/Canisius)
*We are very pleased with how we’ve played to date. This is the most challenging our conference has been in the 4 years I’ve been in it. We recognize what this weekend is going to be, a lot of intense close games. One of the team we may play, we played yesterday right down to the last possession. We recognize the talent in this conference. We’re looking forward to what will be an exciting tournament for the fans as well.
*To me the quality of the conference is not just what’s at the top. When you have your hands full with every team in the league every night…
*Everybody says you want to go in on a high note…sometimes it’s the right mixture, sometimes it’s not. What I would have liked to have done is go to Buffalo and win 2 games by 20 points. That didn’t happen. What we’re going to see this weekend is much like what we saw last week, hard fought games by both teams.
*Anytime you lose, it gets your attention a little bit more. When you win tight games, sometimes you forget why the game was tight. We had both experience this past weekend, we lost and had a game where we were trailing much of the game and had to dig out of it. I think the loss does help you refocus the way you play.
*I think we have to do a better job on the glass. We’ve done a better job this year, just not this weekend and we have to defend more consistently, which we have also done this year.
*I think Ryan Rossiter is one of the best 15 player in the league, but in fairness, if you put him on the team(all-league), who do you take off? Can’t say any of them don’t deserve to be on there. Ryan Rossiter has a had a fabulous year.
*You can’t dismiss any team(from competing for a MAAC title). Even Marist,(the 10th seed) with their ability to hit three, and with an excellent point guard, they’ve got a shot
*This is a fun team to coach. We work hard, they work hard. You tell them something, they do it to the best of their ability.
Kenny Hasbrouck – Siena senior captain
*We have to practice the same way we play in the games and I don’t think we’ve done that past few weeks.
*No one in the league likes Ryan Rossiter. I think it’s his boyish looks. He doesn’t do anything wrong, he just plays hard and when people say things to him, he just laughs it off. He’s gotten death threats 3 different times (by players on the court).
*We have a lot of confidence in our home gym. Our confidence is high When your confidence is that high, it’s hard to knock you off. The other thing is that other teams in our league don’t play in big gyms. It’s hard for other teams to adjust to that in the first half.
*Kyle Downey on all-rookie team – He deserves it. He’s in the gym all the time. He works so hard. He seems like he’s very experienced on the floor.
*Team to watch – Canisius. They’re on a roll. They’re playing great. Stinks we’re going to probably have to play them.
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You play for the team with the best regular season record in the league. You can stay with that team and make around $10 million a year.
--or--
You can play for a team that finished last in its division (albeit 8-8), a team that started 6-2 and still missed the playoffs for the 8th time in the last 10 years. You'll make, on average $14 million a year with about $40 guaranteed.
Which do you choose? I guess it depends on what you want out of life.
It's pretty obvious that Albert Haynesworth wants the money. It's why the Titans mammoth defensive end agreed to a deal with the Washington Redskins , 7 years $100 million with the possibility of growing that number to $115 million. Of that total, $41 locked in. He's got the possibility, according to ESPN, of making $32 million in the first year or so of the deal.
Too many players come out and make the silly statement that its not about the money as they sign a contract to leave a contender and sign with the Detroit Lions or some other team that has about as much a chance of winning a championship as I do of winning the Mega Millions.
The money involved here is hard to understand for those of us who will never make in two lifetimes what Haynesworth will make in half a season. What's the difference between $10 million and $12 million.. seriously, and don't tell me $2 million. When is enough enough? When do you focus on the win and not on the wallet?
Albert Haynesworth wants the Benjamin's, not the Lombardi. Or at least he wants the cash more than he wants the trophy...and that's okay. At least he's admitting it, which is more than you can say for many players.
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Tonight is the one of the busiest sports nights of the season. 44 high school basketball teams will tip off the playoff season, 11 games on the boys side, 11 on the girls side. Tomorrow, it's an even larger schedule, 70 teams involved, 15 boys games and 17 girls games. It is a basketball fans delight...
...and a sports producers horror. How can you possibly cover all those games? The answer, you can't, so you spend hours pouring over the brackets trying to find the most competitive game, the best matchups, the places where upsets are possible and last, but certainly not least, logistics.
There are several boys and girls doubleheaders set tonight and tomrorow. Those are logistical winners. The committee, in my view, has done a great job of staggering starting times. I'm sure they didn't do it to make our jobs easier, but they did, allowing us to get to more school and be able to feature more Section II athletes, which is the ultimate goal of every FOX23 Time Warner Cable high school sports show.
Quick time out for a thank you: To all the coaches and scorekeepers who take the time to report their scores, thank you very much. We rarely get to cover a game from beginning to end, so getting your help with a score report and some statistical information is huge. Thank you for all your help this season!!!
I read with interest this morning a Times Union article about the Bethlehem teachers working with the school on its budget situation, with consideration to some possible contract adjustments to help. That the teachers union would even consider this is commendable. Superintendent Michael Tebbano, according to the article, will release a proposal for the budget cuts Wednesday night. If the teachers do decide to adjust the contract or offer some "givebacks", I hope the school board and superintendent will remember that when the economy turns around. There are an awful lot of businesses with their hands out right now honestly looking for help. Hopefully, they too will look in the mirror and ask themselves, when times were good, did I help and if the answer is no, will reconsider next time they have a chance.
Just my thoughts. I always welcome yours. Please post a comment here or e-mail me at richbecker@fox23news.com
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Happy to be able to say the River Rats will all be okay. What a scene that must have been, the entire team standing in the median of the Mass Pike trying to figure out if they all survived.
Before we go too far, I want to say what a trememdous job coach Jeff Daniels did handing the entire ordeal. The players said he was calm and composed in getting the team together at the scene. He maintained that attitude with the media, answering all of our questions in three seperate media meetings. If anyone had questions about Jeff Daniels ability to lead men, they were answered loudly with his handling of this near tragic event.
The team got together last night for a light skate at RPI. Casey Borer was there, which is remarkable since he was the one who suffered the worst injury, broken vertebrae in his neck. Indications are he will play again, just not this season. Best wishes to Casey for a speedy recovery.
It's amazing to me that we don't see more of these situations. Consider the miles teams cover in the course of the year, the number of accidents is fortunately very low, with the number of injuries to players, staff and coaches even lower. Thank good drivers, good pilots, and good luck for that and hope it continues.
*****
Couple of other things on my mind - Siena's effort in the Bracketbuster. Very solid in the first half, a performance that accomplished exactly what these BB games are for, to give teams a chance to show off on a national cable audience. Second half proved the Saints have some things to button up before the MAAC and/or the NCAA's, but judging them on the body of work Saturday, the grade is high.
By the way, is there a guy who gives more than Josh Duell. Two banged up knees with braces that look like they weight more than some of the children in the crowd, he still takes charges, gets up and down the court. I've never been more impressed with him than this season, even in the limited minutes he's played. If he can step out and hit some three's like before, which is something Fran McCaffery mentioned yesterday he'd reallly like to see, he'll add even more value to the Saints bench.
Which brings me to Mr. Instant Offense, Clarence Jackson. He is becoming this season's Tay Fisher. Need a scoring boost, call on CJ. Right off the bench, I mean he wasn't in the game for more than 10 seconds, a three. 4 of them in the 1st half lead the Saints to that 40-19 1st half edge. Nice for Fran to be able to look down the bench and see that.
UNI coach Ben Jacobson left very impressed with the Saints saying that they would be deserving of an at-large bid to the NCAA's if needed. Saints will be back at the TU Center in 2 weeks hoping to make sure they don't need it.
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After a few days away from the computer(Rangers game with my daughter and 2 friends on Sunday, then a trip to Vermont to take the kids to my in-laws for vacation week), I return to watch Alex Rodriguez sitting in Andy Pettitte's Tampa hot seat.
Today was Alex's day to check into camp, drop some urine in the cup (at least he said he did) and then go out and face the music.
55 minutes of questions, including a prepared statement and about 26 questions later, he walked off the dais, hopeful that this is all behind him now.
Guess again, Alex.
Every place he goes this season, every visiting stadium, and if he's struggling, the billion dollar Yankee Stadium, A-Rod will be dogged by his use of a steroid.
He would have been more believable if he showed up with his cousin, the man Alex says brought the drug (most likely Primobolan, according to experts based on A-Rod's use of the street name, boli) and then injected him with it. That was a problem for me. As far as we know, the cousin doesn't exist. You had a chance to be honest a long time ago, Alex. You lost the benefit of the doubt. The cousin needs to show up, or that part, for me doesn't count.
Telling Peter Gammons of ESPN you had no idea what you used, only, upon further reflection, coming forward with it today, further hurts your credibility.
I also thought bringing in Don Hooton(he heads a foundation now run in his son Taylor's memory, a son who died due to steroid use) was in VERY poor taste. Rehabbing your image is one thing. Using the father who lost a son to the very thing you have admitted to doing just stinks. A-Rod's interest in working with a foundation that discourages the use of steroids is admirable. How about just doing it and not trying to get credit for doing it. Having Don Hooten at the press conference today was dispicable.
A-Rod made the point that his best years were when he says he was clean and that he started exploring performance enhancing drugs due to a neck injury he suffered with the Rangers. Here's a novel idea - if your neck is a concern, check with a doctor, not some cousin who's muleing drugs from the DR.
Alex said he hoped today was another step toward repairing damage caused by someone who was stupid, ignorant, and naive years ago. If he thinks that will happen with one press conference today, he is apparently still all three of those things.
What do you think? Would love to hear what you thought of the news conference? Post a comment here, or e-mail me, richbecker@fox23news.com.
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I really tried to think of something sporting to write today, but like Yukon Cornelius in Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer...nothing!!!
Instead I sit here bouncing two very unreleated things around the inside of my skull. They have nothing to do with each other, yet are occupying all of my thoughts.
One is what the heck do I get my wife for Valentine's Day. Let me say this is a holiday I can't stand. I don't have any different feelings for my wife on February 14th than I do every other day of the year. I just feel more pressure on that day to come up with something nice, something different, something I think she's really like. Every year we say we won't be exchanging gifts. Cmon.. you know as well as I do that's a classic trap. You know, like the "do I look fat in this dress" question. There's only one right answer no matter what the correct answer is.
So here it is Friday and I've got nothing. I'm not gaining on any ideas either. Perhaps it's because of the other thing on my mind.
I've been in the news business for 23 years. I've heard, seen, and read about other plane crashes. So why is the Colgan/Continental flight that went down in Buffalo monopolizing my thoughts?
I was in the newsroom last night when the urgent crossed the wires, plane into a house near Buffalo. Maybe because I worked for 8+ years in Western New York, maybe it's because I have driven past the Buffalo airport hundreds of times and maybe it's because I've seen countless planes go overhead while passing the airport, but for some reason this affected me differently.
This is the first fatal crash of a commercial airliner in the United States since Aug. 27, 2006, when 49 people were killed after a Comair jetliner crashed on take off in Lexington, KY. Air flight is still the safest way to travel, although that is a hard point to sell today.
I watched intently last night, at the office and when I got home, switching from FOX to CNN to MSNBC to see what people were saying, hoping that like the US Airways flight in the Hudson River, there was some miracle ending. This time...no.
50 fatalities right now, including 49 who where on the plane. I was atonished by the calmness of the brother of one of the victims who spoke to the media at about midnight. He was awaiting the arrival of his sister who was coming for a visit. He was calm, composed and even repeated information several times as waves of media kept coming. People are remarkable in the heat of the battle.
At some point today, I will have to turn my thoughts to sports and focusing on a busy Friday. At no point will I stop thinking of the 50 people who died in this crash and the families who have to live without them. We'll get back to talking sports here tomorrow. Right now, those wins and losses just don't seem that important.
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Brett Favre says he's done this time. Do we believe him. Based on all the things he said yesterday in a conference call, it seems as if he's really done.
He did not ask the Jets for a release which would allow him to sign with another team.
He left 13 million on the table (Jets sure do welcome the cap help).
He said his decision was "nothing I'd second guess, no"
Sorry, I don't believe it. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.
It was just last year when Brett Favre sat at a podium and tearfully told us alll he was done with football. He told us then that his decision to retire was based on the fact that he didn't want to play anymore. He said during the conference, "I know I can play, but I don't think I want to."
One month later, he was a New York Jet. A great start to his career for Gang Green ended with a thud. Too many interceptions, too much trying to be a hero and failing. Favre says he simply "can’t throw the ball like I once threw it.”
OK, still sounding vaguely familiar. When NFL camps open next year and Brett Favre is in the woods somewhere or bulldozing trees somewhere on his property, then I'll believe that he's not coming back. Until then, the jury is out.
While the Jets now have to formulate quarterback plans for next season. Erik Ainge, Kellen Clements and Brett Ratliff are currently on the roster. There are others on the market right now, Derek Anderson of the Browns comes quickly to mind. I'm sure there are others who would make Jets fans happy now that they've lost their starter.
No matter what happens then, there is one person in New York who could not be happier that Brett Favre decided to retire. For that, Favre should watch his mailbox for a thank you note that reads...
Dear Brett,
Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you for taking the spotlight!!
Love,
Alex
"You name it in professional football, and I've done it," Favre said. "Very few people, if any, can say that. I've received way more honors than I probably deserve. I've had my share of mistakes. I've had my share of lucky breaks. I wouldn't trade my career for anything."
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Spent most of yesterday(Tuesday) at Gore Mountain covering the Section II Alpine Ski Meet. While I know little about skiing(my wife and kids love it), it sure seemed as if we have some pretty talented skiiers in Section II. Special thanks to Dave Switz of NYSEF and Valerie of Burnt Hills ski program and Bill Rice of the Daily Gazette for the help yesterday.
Anyway, if I wrote yesterday, the end of Siena's game with Loyola would have been the topic. The Saints won the game despite often times sloppy play, getting back on track after the loss at Rider.
Let me first say I was getting ready to do post game standups and turned my back as the game was ending. Mark Cooper, a student from Cohoes High School who covers Siena as part of the Breakfast Club bloggers, was watching and told me what happened.
As Kenny Hasbrouck was running out the clock on the victory, fellow Baltimorian Jamal Barney of Loyola stole the ball away, ran down the court and dunked the ball. The two points did three things:
a)Got Barney to his MAAC leading points average of 19 PPG
b)Changed the outcome of the game for bettors (Spread was 14.5, Barney's basket took it from a 15 point Siena win to a 13 pointer)
c)Infurated Siena Coach Fran McCaffery who was gesticulating wildly toward the Loyola bench. That was short lived as Loyola coach Jimmy Patsos, who gesticulates wildly all the time, offered apologies and an explanation to McCaffery, which he accepted as cooler heads prevailed.
Patsos explanation to the media after the game was that Barney, who is playing his first season of college basketball had no idea how much time was left, that he was following his coaches order to play hard for 40 minutes and that Barney was in tears in the locker room over the incident. He said he explained the situation to McCaffery, spoke to Barney and assured all of us that what was seen as unsportsmenlike conduct would not happen again.
Patsos is a good guy and sure seems to be an honest guy, so I am giving him the benefit of the doubt that Barney just made a mistake.
Kenny Hasbrouck is not.
"He just made their team look worse," Hasbrouck told reporters after the game, clearly angered by Barney's move. "It was a bonehead play. I don’t know why he did it. People say it could have been for his average or stuff like that. I don’t really know why he did it. It’s just an ignorant play."
Immediately after the game, a few fans mentioned the point spread deal. I don't pay any attention to point spreads, so I had no idea what the line was. I do think the budding Oliver Stone's need to settle down. Unless Barney's shot came from the grassy knoll, I think the idea that he stole the ball to impact the spread is ridiculous.
If Barney was intent on affecting the outcome of the game to benefit bettors, don't you think he would have done it in some subtile way? He had 39 minutes, 58 other seconds to do something.
Barney made a bad move, and he looks silly for it. But to me, that's the extend of the deal. I suspect this will come up at MAAC Tourney time should Siena play Loyola. You can bet Kenny Hasbrouck will remind his teammates of the incidcent.
But other than than, can we just consider this case closed. What do you think??? Post your comments here or e-mail me your thoughts at richbecker@fox23news.com.
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