Albany Events

Albany operates NCAA Tournaments very well. Whether it's men's or women's basketball, wrestling or hockey; the city, the county, the businesses and the fanbase all support the event with enthusiasm. From parking to fan-fest on a chilly weekend, a true team effort is always on display.

Downtown Albany was buzzing on Friday with the perfect storm of St. Patrick's Day mixed in with round one of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament. Like any premier sporting event, featuring the best college players in the country, the stars wear out on Pearl Street.

Prior to an 18-year professional baseball playing career that spanned the globe, Yonkers New York native, Brian Sweeney grew up around the fire house. His father was a fireman. The Kansas City Royals pitching coach still reflects on the basic lessons learned from his father and his own fire fighter days, in Clifton Park.

In the preseason MAAC men's basketball coaches poll, Siena was picked to come in sixth place. The Saints don't often get their deserved respect but they roll into Rider Friday night in second place in the conference with less than 2 weeks remaining in the regular season. Coach Carm and the green and gold are the last team to defeat Rick Patino and the first place Iona Gaels, who have won seven straight since.

Anthony Volpe and Jasson Dominguez are making their major league spring training debuts for the New York Yankees this week. Both have reputations that have preceded them for years before either will play a game in the Bronx. Volpe is expected to compete for the starting shortstop job for Aaron Boone's 2023 squad. Dominguez is not.

This week over 1400 collegiate athletes are competing in Lake Placid for the 2023 FISU Winter World University Games. The site of two Winter Olympic competitions in 1932 and 1980 provided the perfect infrastructure for the international event. However, many of the competition sites and training areas needed drastic updating to be considered for such a high-profile winter sports event. In stepped the State of New York and the Lake Placid is shining with Gold Medals.

New York State has some of the greatest varieties of fishing opportunities in the country. From world class fly fishing for trout to floating a worm off of a lake dock for crappie, the Empire State has plenty of cool places to drop-a-line! The Department of Environmental Conservation announced "Free Fishing Days" for 2023. The free days are sure to provide the awesome experience of being a New York State angler.

Could you imagine 30 year-old Babe Ruth hitting the free agent market in 2022? Would the "Sultan of Swat" been the first $500 million player? Would Brian Cashman be forced to break the bank for a player that most would consider the most popular baseball player over the last century? How does current New York Yankee, Aaron Judge compare to "The Bambino"?

Many of us that enjoy the outdoors, constantly explore the vacation housing market, especially near lakes. Boating, fishing, hiking and skiing are often popular activities for those seeking that perfect, quiet getaway from the day-to-day craziness of everyday life. The vacation housing market skyrocketed during the pandemic. Even with mortgage rates hitting decade old highs, there is still a brisk demand for that perfect lake house. One Adirondack village now can stake the claim as the "best place to buy a lake house."

Last week, in the midst of the holiday season, New York's Governor, Kathy Hochul granted clemency to 13 individuals that exhibited remorse, demonstrated the effects of their rehabilitation, and have displayed a commitment to improving themselves and their communities. Among the 13 grantees are two prisoners that are currently serving sentences for murder and a woman that is a domestic violence survivor, in prison for manslaughter for the death of her abuser. Another woman convicted of the same crime was absent from the list.

Those NFL fans that believe you have to have a top draft pick to rebuild your team have not watched the New York Giants this year. So, why do some teams "appear" to tank a season to get the top pick, like the Jacksonville Jaguars "appeared" to do in 2020? The Jags ended up with the much-hyped quarterback out of Clemson, Trevor Lawrence, notably a franchise changing player. The Jags have a chance to make the playoffs this year. However, the tanking philosophy may have cost the Jacksonville fans at least 5 years of playoff football.

Many love a good calzone. Those of us that enjoy the pizza cousin, have probably had some really good ones and some incredibly bad ones. The dough, the sauce, the fillers and/or the cheese can each make-or-brake the half-moon shaped crusty fold-over. I have to admit, when I first read that the winner of the "World Calzone Championship" was made in New York, I immediately thought "Brooklyn, maybe Manhattan." I should really start thinking west instead of south.