Monday, December 11, 2017

Sports this 'n' that

As the saying goes, the rich get richer.

Former Yankee star Derek Jeter is now part of the ownership group in charge of the Miami Marlins, and one of his first trades benefits his old club, with outfielder and reigning National League MVP Giancarlo Stanton going to the Bronx for 2B Starlin Castro and 2 minor leaguers. There go the Marlins' chances of landing a postseason berth in 2018, as there are rumors their other stars, outfielders Marcell Ozuna & Christian Yelich, could be next to go.

The problem for the Yankees, though, is this. Where do you fit Stanton in the lineup? It's one thing if he's a DH batting alongside Aaron Judge & Gary Sanchez, but Stanton is also a very capable defensive outfielder. Can the Yanks afford to put Jacoby Ellsbury and/or Brett Gardner on the bench to accomodate Stanton? Or are there other moves coming? Stay tuned.
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If you've wondered why there was no account of a girls basketball game between Shaker and Troy High on Friday night, wonder no more. According to Dave Johnson of The Record, the game was postponed (reason unknown), and pushed back 2 weeks to December 22. The venue has also been switched, as the game will now be played just up the road at Siena College's Alumni Recreation Center. The Lady Horses, unfortunately, are off to an 0-4 start after losing to Baldwinsville in a non-league tilt on Sunday, 49-30, and are now off until Friday, when they host Mohonasen.

Updated, 12/13/17: Shaker is hosting a charity double-header at Siena on 12/22, as the Blue Bison's boys will play Albany Academy in the nightcap.
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The USGA has finally done away with a controversial rule that allowed home viewers to contact them about perceived rules violations during televised tournaments. You know, the sort of thing that cost Lexi Thompson an LPGA tournament earlier this year. This way, Joe & Jane Sixpack can't influence the outcome of a tournament any longer. Why that practice even started, I'll never know.
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Former WWE Cruiserweight champion Rich Swann flushed his chances of regaining the title down the chute on Sunday when he was arrested and charged with domestic abuse and unlawful imprisonment----of his own wife. WWE has suspended Swann indefinitely, but if recent cases of sexual harrassment in other workplaces are any barometer, consider Swann gone if he's convicted. He faces up to 5 years in prison if convicted.
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The Philadelphia Eagles locked up the NFC East Sunday, defeating the West leading Los Angeles Rams, but at the expense of losing QB Carson Wentz for the season with a torn ACL. Luckily, the Eagles had brought back former starter Nick Foles as a backup, and Foles likely will be the starter the rest of the way, which includes rematches with the Giants & Cowboys over the final three weeks.

Add the Giants. After losing, 30-10, to Dallas on Sunday, Big Blue may be inviting more criticism after flushing another lead down the tubes. It's a lost season, everyone knows that, but it may be time to cut bait on Eli Manning after the season and let him test the free agent market. After 14 seasons, and gradual regression over the course of the last 3, it may be time for Manning to take his talents elsewhere, like, maybe, to Denver, where brother Peyton retired after winning the Super Bowl a couple of seasons back.

Add the Cowboys. Yes, they've woken up just in time, but that doesn't mean they're guaranteed a playoff spot just yet in a stacked NFC playoff pool. And they get Ezekiel Elliott back in time for the holidays.
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Saturday's Albany Cup basketball games between Siena and the University at Albany may be the last ones for a while. Per WNYT's Rodger Wyland, writing in the Albany Times-Union today, Siena seemingly wants no part of playing another Albany Cup at the University's SEFCU Arena, which doesn't have the capacity of the cavernous Times-Union Center, which drew more than 9,000 fans on Saturday as Albany defeated Siena, winning the Albany Cup for the 5th time in 6 years. Well, here's a compromise. Why not use the Capital Center, just up the hill from the T-U Center? Or the ancient, acoustically challenged Washington Avenue Armory, which will be shaking anew next month when the Albany Patroons return to play in the North American Premier Basketball League? The T-U Center is Siena's home, and they're comfortable playing downtown. UAlbany should think about claiming the new Capital Center for their alternate home......

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