The Morning Club Hangover and other observations

Hi There. It will be nice to return to my usual 2 to 7pm air slot. If you think doing what Dan and Pete do in the morning is easy, it's not. Plus doing the show alone makes it even harder. It really is a two man operation. There is a lot of prep work and organization behind the scenes before the mic turns on for the first time between 6:05 and 6:10am and the pace of the show is demanding. Come in and see for yourself. You can't do the Morning Club if you're organizationally challenged. The pace becomes even more frenetic when there are school closings. I was real happy with the nice weather that occurred while the boys were gone. Jim Scott gave me a piece of good advice on how to handle having to be up at 4am and arrive at the radio station around 5. It's called the afternoon power nap. It became my best friend Tuesday night when we had a basketball game on WWSC and even more so Wednesday night going to pick up my Dad at the airport at 10:30pm . I missed seeing the guys and their wives getting off the plane back from Vegas by 5 minutes. I was on the bridge heading to the parking garage when it touched down and arrived at the terminal.
On to other things. I'm starting with UConn coach Jim Calhoun and his rant after last weekend's game against South Florida. Some political activist idiot named Ken Krayeske asked the coach to justify his salary during Connecticut's economic troubles and how he's highest paid employee of the state. I'm defending the Coach on this one. You win a game and the first question thrown at you had nothing to do with what happened on the floor. Mr. Krayeske shouldn't have been allowed in the post game news conference to begin with. He was granted a photo pass. It was not the time and place to ask that question and Jim Calhoun showed great restraint before going off on that moron. Yet Jim Calhoun should be reprimanding and forced to apologize for his actions? It would be like me going to a news conference featuring a well known politician and asking a question of that politician that had nothing to do with why he or she was there to begin with.
Eldrick the Gimp returned to the PGA tour and all is well with the golfing world. Oh wait a minute, it isn't. He lost in the second round to Tim Clark at the Accenture Match Play Championship.
Speaking of returns, Marty Brodeur is back between the pipes for the Devils. Scotty Clemmensen plays lights out for 50 games and what does he get for his troubles? A trip back to Lowell, the garden spot of Massachusetts. Is it just me or do the New Jersey Devils have the personality of a wet fart? They're not the most exciting thing the NHL has going for them, but they win and that is all that matters.
On the other side of the Hudson, the Rangers canned Tom Renney. Nice guy who had no goal scoring what so ever. You can't replace Jaromir Jagr, Marty Straka, and Sean "The Pest" Avery and expect to be the high flying Edmonton Oiler teams of the 1980's.
Well I didn't get TiVo in time so I missed recording the Academy Awards and the 8 honors for Slumdog Millionaire. At least the host was cool. Hugh Jackman. That's right Wolverine from the X-Men movies. I also missed the season finale of "Top Chef." Don't tell me who won. They'll be showing it plenty of times.
Would someone please tell Nadya Suleman and her 8 newborn kids that the 15 seconds of fame are up. Enough already. Adult movie offers, appearances on Dr. Phil. Am I missing anything? To quote Susan Powter, "Stop the Insanity!"
Welcome back Dan and Pete, while you're recovering from the jet lag, I'm going to re-adjust my body clock to getting up at a reasonable hour...Leccese out.

Its gone, its really gone

Hi There. Just a quick note to let you know that the last section of Shea Stadium came down yesterday. Rest in Peace old friend...Leccese out

Observations from the Glens Falls Civic Center Press Box

Hi There. I don't what is more tiring. Spending 3 straight nights calling high school sports at the Civic Center or 2 days of morning drive fill-in. I discovered early in my radio career (if that's what you want to call it) getting up at 4am is a pain in the posterior and not my thing.
Congratulations to the Lake George girls and Ft Ann boys for winning the Adirondack League titles. I'll be honest with you, neither game was a thing of beauty. They were downright double bag ugly affairs. I haven't figured out yet if the girls game was a great defensive battle or the offenses were really that inept. I'm thinking it may have been a little of both. One more point to make on the girls game. Lake George has won 6 straight league titles. That's 3 classes who have started as freshman and finished as seniors and all they know is winning the Adirondack League. Rob Tefft is a good guy and I like him a lot, but where was the dance to "Low Rider" Friday night? I hadn't seen the Lake George girls play all year. Talk about a letdown.
As for boys game, did Jake Nelson get fouled after receiving that inbound pass with 2 seconds left? Probably, but the officials let the teams play and you never want to see a game end like that on the free throw line. Gotta give Ft Ann credit though. Switching up the defense from a 2-3 Zone to a Box in 1 and isolating Nathaniel Miller was good strategy on Kevin Nassivera's part.
The Civic Center is a tough place to play at. When you're used to shooting and playing in a tight gymnasium setting to going to the Civic Center where its open and at least 30 to 35 feet from the back of the baskets to the end of the dasher boards, depth perception becomes a big problem. I was telling someone I know who I saw at the Civic Center that the normal on court pre-game routine should be thrown out the window and teams should concentrate during the 15 minute warm-up on getting comfortable shooting free throws and playing a little Around the World working on shots from different spots on the floor.
With sectional basketball seedings coming out Wednesday, I'm starting to believe that there is not a great local team who can make it past sectionals. Queensbury hockey is best choice for a run at a state title. I thought at the beginning of the season that their goaltending maybe questionable, but Travis Marlow and Dylan Hafner haven't missed a beat. Props to Evan Greenwald of South Glens Falls for making the all CDHSHL team as its goaltender. He saw a lot of rubber this year playing for a 1-21 Bulldog team that was young and over matched in every game. Don't ask me about wrestling. I think I've said once before I don't understand wrestling and lacrosse.
If you had A-Rod's press conference and apology lasting more than 35 minutes...You lost!
Mets fans if you want to see something really depressing, log onto wfan.com and click on the photo gallery section. The demolition of Shea Stadium is just about complete. Next year another stadium of my youth will be rendered obsolete when Giants Stadium is replaced in the Meadowlands. Thank heavens Madison Square Garden still exists.
After watching repeat episodes of "Big Bang Theory" and "How I Met your Mother" again last night, I thought February was a sweeps month. Hello CBS? It's time put some new episodes on. It was bad enough last year with the writers strike. What's your excuse now? The water cooler is lonely. Dan, John and myself need something to talk about on Tuesdays.
I must be getting old or something must be wrong with me when I didn't get excited about the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue. In fact I called the magazine up and asked not to receive one. Kathy Ireland will always be my favorite model. I'm still waiting for my digital radio S.I. Did you lose it somewhere in the warehouse with all those leftover football phones you used to give to new subscribers?
My seeds from Burpee and Cooks Garden came today...Leccese out.

Nothing says love like spending Valentine's Day in the press box at the Glens Falls Civic Center

Hi There. Well we've arrived at a double dip weekend. Valentine's Day and President's Weekend. Since we all know how much of a failure I am with members of the female gender, its hard to get excited about Valentine's Day. However, if I could hop in the DeLorean with Doc Brown I would go back in time to 1984 and tell the real life Lucas (that would be me) not to rip up the Valentine that a girl named Nancy is going to send during one my classes. One of the bigger regrets in my life. I screwed that one up big time.
On to other things. Adirondack League basketball at the Civic Center. You got Lake George versus Whitehall in the girls game, and Lake George versus Fort Ann in the boys. Both games will be on the mighty 1450 WWSC.
I'm starting to get tired of seeing the crew of the US Air flight that had to land in the Hudson River. They're showing up everywhere now. Is the de-briefing finally over?
If anybody or anyone from Miracle Flights reads this blog, please stop calling my home at least twice a day. Now there's a good reason why Congress should extend the national do not call registry to include not for profit organizations.
Is it so bad at CBS that there's no other talent in the news department to do the big interviews except Katie Couric? Can't Steve Kroft or somebody else do one on occasion? What about Jim Nantz, James Brown, or Greg Gumbel?
If the NBA holds an all-star game in Arizona, would anybody care? I didn't think so.
One of the added benefits of losing weight besides all the good for you healthy stuff is buying slacks with a smaller waist line. I'm down to 225. The weight loss marathon I'm running still has lots of miles and that extra 365 yards to go.
This just in, the Grammy's were held last Sunday. Damn, I missed them. Better get TiVo now so I won't miss the Academy Awards.
In getting to know my laptop, I've discovered why people get into Texas Hold 'em poker. It's very addictive and I'm becoming addicted.
Speaking of addictive, try True North snack crisps. They're available at the store with the Bulls-eye logo. I love the pistachio ones. Disclaimer: They contain nuts, so if you're allergic don't eat them.
Enjoy the weekend. I'm now going to put on headphones and listen to my extended mix of "Love Stinks!" by the J.Geils Band...Leccese out.

Brass Bonanza will never die and other thoughts from the weekend

Hi There. Spent an enjoyable birthday with 5500 hockey fans at the Civic Center. Note to AHL commissioner Dave Andrews. Get in touch with the Flyers, the new owners of the Phantoms and tell them to come here and play. Even it's for only a couple of years its a win-win situation for all parties involved. The Flyers win by having their own team to keep developing their prospects. We also know that dual affiliations don't work. The city wins by getting to prove that we belong back in the AHL and deserve that second chance other cities have gotten. The Bethlehem/Allentown area would need a minimum of 2 years to get a new facility built. One thing did not sit well with me Saturday. I wish the Rats P.A. Announcer would have introduced Kevin Dineen as the Portland Pirates coach. He probably would have gotten the biggest ovation of the night. Hearing "Brass Bonanza" played before the opening face-off was so surreal. That song has been a part of my life since I was nine years old and my uncle took me to that first Whalers game back in 1975. What's even more surreal is I still get chills when it's played. My birthday treat was going to Burger King and getting an order of BK breakfast shots. I could eat about 8 to 10 of those little sandwiches easily. I settled for 3. Didn't have any cake or rich chocolate dessert.
One more hockey note. If you have the NHL Network whether it be on cable or dish check out the series, "Voices." Dave Strader was featured and it was great. Every once in a while I'll think about how many great people I've met through the game of hockey. Strades is one of them. Seeing him at Queensbury High football games with his wife Colleen as a spectator, I would tell him that I would defer to him if he wanted to call the action. He'd laugh and pass on my offer.
There's TV show on VH1 called "Best Week Ever." The Knicks last week qualified for being on the "Worst Week Ever." They gave up 61 to Kobe and lost to the Lakers last Monday. Then LeBron knocks down 50 plus points against them Wednesday, and to top it off they blow a lead to the Celtics and lose Friday. Hopefully none of the players wives left them or their dogs died. That would be a real bad week.
Well Duquesne University made headlines again and it was for something good this time. No whining about John Grisham. The men's hoop team knocked off Xavier, who is ranked in the top 10. The Dukes are a surprising 15 - 7 overall and 6 - 3 in the A-10 conference. I'm not sure if they're NCAA worthy yet, but the NIT is a real possibility.
The Adirondack League Basketball Championship games are coming up this weekend and it will be interesting to see who's gonna play in the boys game. There's a 3 way tie in the East Division between Ft.Ann, Ft.Edward and Salem. Then over in the West, Lake George and Corinth are tied.
Unfortunately I have to bring this up because it just won't go away. It's the latest steroid witch hunt in MLB. The only name brought up was that of Alex Rodriguez. These tests occured 6 years ago and the information gathered was supposed to be confidential! 103 other players were found to have juice in their samples. Why weren't they called out and how come A-Rod's name the only one released? I have to know how the reporters got this information and who gave it to them? I honestly really don't care. If these athletes who know what the long term health consequences are want to inject or rub the stuff into their bodies, as far as I'm concerned let them do it whether its legal or illegal.
Mr.Cloutier, would you please stop telling everybody my age and my lack of sexual experience in the same sentence. My life story has already been made into not one, but two movies: "The 40 Year old Virgin" and "Failure to Launch." You also spelled melon wrong. It's with one "L" not two. This just in Pete. Another C-list celebrity has landed at the Warren County airport and wants talk with you over a danish and latte in the coffee shop. Better head over. The police escort is waiting.
Thanks for the growler of Belgian Tripel Clay, I'm saving that beer for special occasions. If Duquesne makes the field of 64, I just might have to toast them with some of it...Leccese out.

The Groundhog saw his shadow. Six More weeks of winter, yeah right. It's more like 8 to 10 weeks.

Hi There. Depending on where you were, the groundhog either saw his shadow or didn't. The ones in Pennsylvania and Ohio saw shadows, and the ones in Staten Island and Georgia didn't see them. Nothing has been resolved. Besides, what moron came up with the idea to wake up a hibernating rodent and make a weather prediction out of it? What were you thinking? The groundhog had to wake up sooner or later to go to the bathroom? New York mayor Michael Bloomberg got bit by the one in Staten Island. The fact that they have wildlife other than big grey squirrels in Staten Island caught me off guard.
The Superbowl was O.K., nothing special except for the fourth quarter. I thought the Steelers played scared and made enough plays to win the game. When you have no rooting interest for either team, you watch with a different perspective. Also I thought the commercials were O.K. Nothing stood out. I think the Clydesdale ads have run their course. The NFL needs to come up with a better idea for its half-time show. Bruce Springsteen was adequate. I was so glad he didn't play, "Born in the U.S.A." When you have so much material to choose from and have only 12 minutes it makes it hard to trim down a set list. I watch the Superbowl for the football, not to see a show of patriotism and reaffirmation of our country's values. We have enough holidays to do that for us. On that note, I didn't need to hear Faith Hill sing.
So Michael Phelps took a bong hit. Big Deal. You win 8 gold medals, you're entitled to one free pass and he's just used it. I'm upset that the person who took the photo made some serious money selling it to the newspaper and that paper published it to begin with. George Orwell was right in the novel,"1984." Big Brother is indeed watching you and it comes in the form of a camera you have in your cell phone.
I'm not sure what to make of the woman in California who just gave birth to octuplets. That's right she gave birth to 8 kids and she has 6 others. Plus she's a single mom. We are finding out more and more about her and something doesn't seem right with the whole thing. Where was the accountability in all this?
One good thing about Joe Torre's new book. The excerpts generated enough buzz that at least I didn't have deal with Mets fans begging management to sign Manny Ramirez. Is it that important to be on the back page of the Post or Daily News?
If I hear one more person whine that CitiGroup should back out of its ballpark naming rights deal with the Mets, get over it. The deal was made in 2006. Bailout or no bailout. My worst nightmare is that they do back out and the place gets re-named Ebbetts Field. Hey it already is Ebbetts Field anyway, why not just finish the job put the name up next to the sign.
Pitchers and catchers arrive for Spring Training in 10 days and the NASCAR season kicks off this Saturday. Maybe spring will arrive sooner than we think.
Finally the dreaded birthday comes up Saturday and to borrow this from Erik Kuselias over at Bristol Tech. You tell a person your age by saying your favorite athlete who wore the number that corresponds. It's tough to find a famous 43. So this year I'm going with Richard Petty. My favorite was 2 years ago when I turned 41 so I could say Tom Seaver. I'll be watching the hockey game at the Civic Center and then head to Saratoga and the Center for Educational Studies and Advancement to get some higher learning. I've got to pay some fines for an overdue book.
Enjoy the weekend while I take another Geritol...Leccese out.