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.

Here we go Steelers, Here we go. Pittsburgh's gonna win the SuperBowl

Hi There. Well football fans we've arrived at Super Bowl Sunday and our final pick of the year. Come on now, you honestly didn't think I was gonna pick the Pro Bowl? If you read the heading, I'm taking the Steelers to get that first ring for the other hand. I think their front 7 will make Kurt Warner's life a living hell and Willie Parker is gonna run the ball enough to open up the offense for Hines Ward and Heath Miller to have big days. My pick is and you're also getting a score. Steelers 27 - 13. This choice has nothing to do with the fact my sister went to college in Pittsburgh. It has nothing to do with the fact my brother in law and his family are from, "The Burgh." I just think the Steelers are a better team. Remember, we also said that about the Patriots last year and look what happened.
I just mentioned that my sister went to college in Pittsburgh. She's an alum of Duquesne University. Well her alma mater is not to happy with noted author John Grisham. His latest novel, "The Associate" deals with a character who attended Duquesne and was involved in a drunken rape scene that happened off campus. They feel it shines them in a bad light. The fact that Mr. Grisham even mentioned the school in one of his novels should be a compliment. Most people outside of Pittsburgh haven't heard of Duquesne. It could be worse, you could have been mentioned in "Paul Blart, Mall Cop" as the place where you know who dropped out of after only a semester.
Speaking of "Paul Blart, Mall Cop." A sequel is in the works. Now we've had two signs of the apocalypse for 2009. Kevin James is one lucky guy. On his tv show he got to have Leah Remini play his wife and now he's got a hit movie.
I received an e-mail yesterday that did not thrill me. I found out that the health club where I'm a member plans on closing the location where I work out in the next month and consolidating operations to 2 locations. Note to the owner Al. I understand the current state of the ecomony (It sucks) and you're doing what's best for business, but I wish you would change your mind and keep Queensbury open. You just don't get it and never will. Let the Queensbury location continue to be the black sheep of the family. Let the Queensbury location continue to be different and just leave us alone. I almost changed health clubs when you took over, but I stayed because of the many friends I've made and care too much about these last 8 years. I'm thinking of becoming a free agent and hiring super agent Scott Boras to represent me in my search for that special place to work out at. If you'd think I'd fit in somewhere let me know and maybe I'll take a look.
For all you Adirondack Redwings fans, tune into MSG Tuesday night. Adam Graves #9 will be hoisted to the rafters to join Giacomin, Leetch, Gilbert, Messier and Richter. Hard to believe it was 20 years ago when that puck he sent on net in game 7 against the Hershey Bears in double OT got by "Trees" Laforest and created such a roar that the seismology lab at A.C.C. thought an earthquake happened.
Mike Richter is one of my favorite people I've met doing this job. He was recently approached about running for the congressional seat vacated by Kirsten Gillibrand when she got promoted to the Senate. If you didn't know, he owns a home in Essex County and attended prep school in Lake Placid. If Mike Richter is going for it, I may just register to vote to help get him elected.
Enjoy the weekend...Leccese out.

Dad's Outback is no fool and other meaningless thoughts

Hi There. With no football or hockey I thought it might be a quiet weekend of meditation and intellectual stimulation. Boy was I wrong! Had to run two easy errands and with my folks down south for the winter, my Dad said to drive his Subaru once a week. So I chose yesterday. I go to warm it up at 7am and move it so I could load recyclables and other assorted things for disposal at the transfer station and then go to workout. It started fine. I thought I was good to go. Move ahead 8:30. I'm ready to leave and what happens? If you guessed it wouldn't start you're right and you get to play the bonus round. So I unload everything and put it in my SUV. I get back home after my workout thinking I might have to jump the thing and it started up no problem. That car is no fool.
The other thing that happened yesterday revolved around barbecue sauce. You read right, barbecue sauce. Not just any sauce though. I've discovered this stuff in North Carolina called "Bone Suckin' Sauce." If you love really good barbecue sauce, I highly recommend it. Thinking I couldn't get it locally, I ordered it online. After my workout, I go to The Silo to pick up a couple of things and what do I see sitting on a shelf? If you guessed Bone Suckin' Sauce, you're right and now have a spot in the Tournament of Champions.
In between being outsmarted by an Outback and finding barbecue sauce, there was a hilight to my day. It happened at the place I work out. I got to take the group fitness class that I love. Nothing beats an hour of Body Combat to make you sweat, feel better, and bring out the warrior in a person. Part of the fun of taking that class are the people who take it with you. To my right was a friend who is an instructor. I hadn't seen her in a long time. We just smiled and over on the other side of the room were two other friends and we just waved. That was a bonus. Thanks Sonja.
The Leccese Curse reared its ugly head over the weekend. 3 of the 4 high school basketball teams I mentioned in Friday's entry lost. Granville was spared.
If the Professional Bowlers Tour is on television, I watch. Growing up I'd watch it on ABC Saturday afternoons and now I watch it on Bristol Tech instead of college hoops. Somewhere in heaven Chris Schenkel is smiling down on me.
Speaking of Bristol Tech. I wouldn't mind meeting someone like Linda Cohn. She know sports, likes the same teams (Rangers, Giants, and Mets) I do, and as a bonus played goalie on the ice hockey team in college. Now there's a female I wouldn't mind bringing home to meet the folks.
Did you hear about the girls high school basketball game in Texas where the final score ended up being 100 to 0. The coach has been fired and all h-e-double hockey sticks has broken loose. Since it was a Christian school that won the game, maybe the coach should explain that god told him to run up the score. That might put everyone at ease. It works for the evangelists.
I'll figure out how to get even with Dad's car while watching the CBS comedies and Bourdain tonight...Leccese out.