Sports this 'n' that

Jets coach Todd "Salad" Bowles never gave Christian Hackenberg a chance to play after the quarterback was drafted out of Penn State two years ago. This decision may yet come back to bite "Gang Green" on its collective tuchis.

On Tuesday, Hackenberg was traded to Oakland for a low round pick in next year's draft. Oakland coach Jon Gruden, unlike Bowles, may be willing to give Hackenberg a chance. When he was with ESPN, Gruden had nothing but praise for Hackenberg. Stay tuned.
==================================
Also Tuesday, the Mets acquired outfielder Jose Bautista, who was released by Atlanta two days earlier. Bautista started his career in the National League with Pittsburgh, but became a big star in Toronto, which let him walk after last season. Bautista should provide some veteran guidance, as well as injury insurance, going forward. Unfortunately, the Mets are 0-2 with "Joey Bats", having lost the last two nights to Miami. The Braves had Bautista platooning at third base, but the Mets have a platoon there already with Wilmer Flores, Jose Reyes, and rookie Luis Guillorme.
==================================
Rare is the occasion when an expansion team can challenge for a championship right out of the box.

That's exactly what's happening in the NHL, though, as the expansion Las Vegas Golden Knights will play the Washington Capitals for the Stanley Cup. Knights goaltender Marc-Andre Fleuery knows a little something about the Cup, having won a couple of those in Pittsburgh. I haven't followed the NHL enough this season to form an opinion, but might watch a couple of games just to pass time.
===================================
The way the media spins it, the NFL is catering to President Manchild (Donald Trump) with new rules regarding player conduct for the National Anthem. The league expects all players to stand for the anthem, or wait in the locker room while it's being played. Penalties will be assessed in the form of fines from the team to players or, if the league mandates it, there may be some flags thrown before the kickoff.

It's funny, really, how President Trump says he wants the athletes to respect the flag and the military, when he kept dodging military service in his younger days, and has criticized Arizona Senator John McCain, just because McCain had been captured behind enemy lines years ago.

I'd say that Vice President Mike Pence might want to dial up a faith healer to clean up Trump's brains........
==================================
Spring sports season officially ended at Troy High on Wednesday, as Shenendehowa ended the Flying Horses' softball winning streak at 5 games with a 6-0 shutout. Props, though, to coach Sean Geisel, who got his team into another gear over the last month, winning 9 of their final 11 games.

Catholic Central's season is over, too, as their softball and women's lacrosse teams were eliminated. The softball team dropped a 10-0 decision to Mohonasen on Monday, only to see the Mighty Warriors lose to South Glens Falls yesterday. Burnt Hills ended the Lady Crusaders' lacrosse season on Wednesday.

That leaves Lansingburgh as the only hometown school still in play. The Knights will play in the Class A semi-finals this afternoon at the Plumeri Sports Complex in Colonie, with the winners advancing to the title game at Bruno Stadium on Tuesday. Lansingburgh beat Mohonasen on Wednesday to advance.

We are assured of new champions in baseball in Classes A & AA. In addition to Mohonasen losing to Lansingburgh, defending AA champion Niskayuna fell to Colonie on Wednesday. Today at Bruno Stadium, Colonie will play Columbia, while Shenendehowa plays Ballston Spa. At least Mohon will have a chance to avenge the loss upon entering the Colonial Council next season.

Meanwhile, the Class B title game is set, and it's just as expected. Defending champion Albany Academy will play a rubber match vs. the only Section 2 team to beat them this season, Ichabod Crane. The game is scheduled for Saturday night at Bruno Stadium, but rain is in the forecast as of now, which could move the game to Sunday or Memorial Day, whether Section 2 likes it or not. The Cadets had a rematch of last year's title game Wednesday night, beating Saratoga Central Catholic, 4-1, while Ichabod Crane beat Hudson, 2-1.

Now, if the weather patterns change in the next 48 hours, I'd think it'd be nice if this was hyped up a lot more than it has to this point, wouldn't you?