Sports this 'n' that

While schools are on spring vacation this week, New York's Section II is trying to make up previously postponed games from earlier this month. To do it, teams are being asked two play two games----against different opponents----on the same day, as was the case on Monday.

For example, Troy High had a road game scheduled at Shenendehowa that was originally penciled in for noon. Yesterday's papers reported that the game had been moved up an hour to 11 am, giving the Flying Horses time to reach their 2nd destination of the day. Yes, they played two road games instead of one. Troy lost to Shen, 5-1, but bounced right back to beat Niskayuna, 9-6, so their record stands at 3-6 headed into a scheduled evening road game tonight at Voorheesville, one that may not get played due to the heavy rains hitting the home district this morning.

10 days ago, Troy played a make up game at home against Saratoga, less than 24 hours after getting whacked by Burnt Hills. Problem was, few outside the school knew the game was being played that day, as the school's website hadn't updated the schedule. I knew there was a lacrosse game scheduled that day (CBA beat Troy), but not baseball, and of course, the lack of media attention wasn't helping. However, it would be in Section II's best interests going forward to leave Saturdays and Sundays available for make up games rather than subject these kids to playing two games in as many cities, as Troy and other teams did on Monday. Even the people in charge have a lot to learn.......
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Unfortunately for the New England Patriots, "DeflateGate" isn't over yet.

A federal appeals judge overturned judge Richard Berman's reversal of the 4-game ban imposed on Patriots QB Tom Brady, and although Brady and his lawyer, Don (We hardly know) Yee, could file another appeal, enough is enough. It turned into what amounted to a vendetta against the Patriots, a means for NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell to save face after looking the other way, if you will, in letting the Patriots take liberties with the rules over the years. I had thought Goodell would've fallen on his sword after the Berman ruling, but nope. He can expect, however, to find no more free deliveries of Velveeta cheese and other Kraft products.....!
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ESPN dismissed Curt Schilling last week after the former 2-time World Series hero (Arizona, Boston) made some more disparaging remarks, this time about transgendered people. You'd think they would've dealt with Schilling and his venomous remarks a lot sooner than this instead of a suspension here and there.

Then, it was announced that Mike Tirico, the voice of Monday Night Football the last few seasons, would be leaving the network for NBC, which apparently is interested in grooming a successor for Al Michaels on Sunday Night Football. Coincidentally, when Michaels left ABC/ESPN for NBC, who took his place on Mondays? It was Tirico. Now, Jon Gruden will be looking for a new partner. Word is that Sean McDonough, who's called college football and college basketball for ESPN the last few years, and was CBS' lead baseball announcer back in the day after leaving the Red Sox, has the inside track.

Then again, the other shoe could drop, and Gruden could follow Tirico out the door, especially if some team, pro or college, needs a new coach.
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You have to feel sorry for fans in Atlanta and Cincinnati these days.

The once-mighty Braves have reverted back to their woeful, pre-1991 form, and the general excuse is that Atlanta is in rebuilding mode as they prepare to leave Turner Field in favor of suburban Marietta next season. Considering that they moved their top farm team, which had been in Richmond, Virginia, for eons, to Gwinnett, Georgia a few years ago, it seems ownership doesn't dig the bright lights of the big city anymore. Now, they'll represent Atlanta in name only, much the same way the NBA's Washington Wizards (formerly Bullets) did for years when they played their home games in Landover, Maryland. Lest we forget, the NFL's Washington Americans (that's the alternate team name for 2016, kids) play their home games in Landover these days. The Braves looked just shy of pathetic in getting swept by the Mets over the weekend. Remember when "The Ted" was a house of horrors for the Mets? That now seems like a distant memory.

The Reds essentially mortgaged the present by letting Todd Frazier (White Sox) and Aroldis Chapman (suspension-Yankees) walk after last season, and one shan't be surprised if, despite putting up a fight against the Mets last night, Bryan (Sale) Price might be the first manager to be fired this season, with Atlanta's Fredi Gonzalez possibly leaving in step with him.
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Headlines on Monday claimed that Philadelphia Eagles QB Sam Bradford wants out after 1 season, this after the Eagles traded for him last year. The injury prone Bradford only has Chase Daniel as a backup after Mark Sanchez left for Denver as part of the QB Carousel a few weeks back. It's not that Bradford would be bucking to follow (Tortilla) Chip Kelly to San Francisco, but if we see rumors prior to Thursday about Bradford heading back to the NFC West, with Colin Kaepernick headed the other way, then........!