Sports this 'n' that

Here is the sad reality of semi-pro football in the 21st century.

Aside from a season opening puff piece that El Cheapo Media did when the season started, the Troy Fighting Irish are relegated to low priority status. It's bad enough during the balance of the regular season, when you're competing with the Tri-City Valleycats across town and, when Arena Football is in session, the Albany Empire, who have become a proven draw in their first season.

Even though Saturday's home finale vs. Auburn started well after the Travers had ended at Saratoga, no one at El Cheapo Media, or any other media outlet worth their press credentials, for that matter, could be bothered to travel to Lansingburgh High, the Irish's home field. No television cameras to be found, a far, far cry from the 70's, when the Metro Mallers, at the peak of their popularity, had a weekly half hour magazine show on WAST (now WNYT). There are no programs to be had, so, unless you were able to print the roster off the website, you had to rely on the PA announcer to see who's who.

For what it's worth, the Irish finish the regular season at 8-2 after beating Auburn, 54-28. Yes, the scores resemble the Arena game, or a lopsided high school or college game. The two teams will meet again, right back at Lansingburgh, on September 8, in the first round of the Northeastern Football Alliance playoffs.

The Irish's, and the league's, for that matter, Facebook page hasn't been updated recently. Troy's only losses were a season sweep at the hands of division champion Syracuse. Here's to hoping they'll draw a bigger crowd in thirteen days.
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Such hopes, though, could be problematic if the Tri-City Valleycats also have a post-season berth. With nine games left, Tri-City holds a four game lead over Lowell in the Stedler division after dropping a 7-6 decision in 10 innings to McNamara Division leader Hudson Valley on Saturday. The 'Cats close the home portion of their schedule starting tonight vs. Aberdeen. The regular season ends Labor Day at Vermont, with the playoffs starting two days later. After the home finale Tuesday, Tri-City returns to Lowell for a three game series that could decide the division, so, stay tuned.
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Saratoga, they say, is the "Graveyard of Favorites". That held true Saturday, as Catholic Boy won the Travers in a mild upset. Local trainer Chad Brown's duo of Good Magic & Gronkowski, the latter named for New England Patriots star Rob Gronkowski, finished near the back of the pack. After all the hype, Wonder Gadot, the filly named for Wonder Woman and film star Gal Gadot, finished last. No one saw that coming.

For what it's worth, Patriot haters are probably happy Gronkowski finished 8th.
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The Little League World Series wraps today with South Korea meeting Hawaii. No one saw that coming, either. The New York tabloids wasted space hyping the team from Staten Island, but they fell in the US semi-finals to Georgia. As the late Walter Cronkite put it, ever so deftly, that's the way it is.
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Speaking of the Patriots, how is it possible that the NFL's Evil Empire can have three pre-season home games? They host the Giants on Thursday, but the starters likely won't see much action. Both are 2-1, after the Giants beat the Jets on Friday, and the Pats fell to Carolina. Let's remember that Patriots owner Bob Kraft is also on a couple of committees, and thus his team will get preferential treatment, particularly just one road game in August.

Meanwhile, the NFC East figures to be a little more competitive now that the Washington Trumpets have signed Adrian Peterson. The defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles have struggled of late, losing by a count of 5-0 the other night, and it looks like they're ready to move on from Nick Foles as their starting quarterback. Getting Carson Wentz back can't come soon enough for them, it seems.