Charlie Voelker

Monday was a big day for sports wagerers that reside in the State of New York. After watching the New York Racing Association successfully launch their mobile app and seeing their fellow enthusiasts in other states being able to bet on NFL games right from their phones, New Yorkers can finally join the party. On Monday New York State Gaming Commission gave the OK for 9 operators to launch mobile sports betting sites for the state.

Many of us go through our days looking to just get through the work hours. When they're over, it's on to the next few to call our own. What we do with those precious minutes often differs amongst most. Some focus on work goals, others personal accomplishments. The elite and the bold, at times the foolish, take on feats that have yet to be accomplished. It is amazing what people can do when they set their minds to something. What's even more amazing, is when people are able to physically conquer terrain faster than anyone else has. That's what Katherine Spector of Kent Cliffs in Putnam County, NY did on October 16th.

My perspective may be tainted from working in mid-major Division I college athletics for a long time. I do believe in free enterprise. However isn't high school, even more than college is about educating our youth enabling them to be better adults? Should we have a 14 year old thinking about making a profit on his or her basketball skills or using those abilities to help make their team better? I'm not sure there is a right or wrong answer with this one. I just know it begs a question.

I have to admit, naked anywhere except in my house isn't in weekend plans. Things could change, however, at this stage in the game, I doubt it. Now, some people have different plans for their weekend nakedness. According to Wendy Liberatore of the Times Union, hundreds plan to head to Howe Caverns for a naked romp beneath the earth on Saturday.

As you get deeper into August, the weekends get bigger at Saratoga Race Course. This weekend is no exception. Friday looks to be a terrific day at the Spa highlighted by the 8th running of the Tale of The Cat handicap. Saturday will feature two big stakes races, the 116th running of the Saratoga Special and the main event on Saturday, the Fourstardave Handicap. Chad Brown's Raging Bull will be the horse to beat in that one and Sunday is the first giveaway of the year featuring the Saratoga Cooler Bag. Giveaways are limited, so come early.

The Tampa Bay Lightning came ready to play. The New York Islanders let them. It was a blow out from the start as the Bolts Captain Steven Stamkos scored his first goal of the series just :45 seconds into the game. Tampa Bay stormed out to a 3-0 lead in the first period and never looked back. The Islanders had their chances to make it 3-1 but Andrei Vasileskiy was his amazing self and stifled any of New York’s attempts.

What is true, is the fact that both sides have given each other no reason to trust each other. The COVID protocols were a perfect example. Major League Baseball making the Designated Hitter universal last year and taking it away this year. Another example is deadening the baseballs without the blessing from the MLB Players Union, same goes with the current storyline of pitchers using sticky substances. Major League Baseball put out a memo without consulting the Players Union about the enforcement of foreign substance rules for pitchers.

Mathew Barzal put the Islanders on the board with just over 7 minutes remaining in the 2nd period. New York’s offense looked sharp and matched the Lightning shot for shot. But it was Varlomov’s acrobatic act, save after save that was the difference in today’s game.

Maybe it just took a trip to Minnesota to wake up the sleepy bats of the Bronx Bombers. Analytics haters cover your ears... the percentages are starting to play out for the Yankees hitters. Is DJ LeMahieu a .249 hitter? I don’t care what they are putting on the baseballs, DJ will be closer to .300 than .250 by the time September comes around. Giancarlo Stanton is destroying baseballs...when he is healthy enough to be in the lineup. Aaron Judge has been the consistent hitter on the team. Gio Urshela is doing everything that you would want out of Gio Urshela. So, what’s the problem? Well, Gary Sanchez continues to be an enigma. He shows flashes of such greatness followed by “what was that???” Remember when Clint Frazier took Brett Gardner’s job? Now he’s been bumped to right field by fellow young star that fans are waiting to blossom, Miguel Andujar. Frazier is currently batting the Northway (.187, I-87 for those unfamiliar with the interstate reference). Andujar is actually starting to hit and should be fine, if the Yankees can find a position for him. With the Yankee hitters beginning to show some life in Minnesota, GM Brian Cashman has to have an eye focusing on his stretch run pitching plans. Should New York make a trade? Right now Gerritt Cole, Domingo German, Jordan Montgomery are a solid 3 to start with. Will 3 get the Yankees to the playoffs? Jameson Taillon has yet to prove he can be counted on. Corey Kluber has been more than you could have dreamed of, when he can get on the mound. He is not expected back until mid July at best. Luis Severino has a timetable known only to the organization but it should be sometime in late summer. Jonathan Loaisiga and Aroldis Chapman have been lights out at the back end. Now the Yankees just need to score enough runs to get their pitching to the back end and that is beginning to happen the way tha Brian Cashman dreamt it.

The Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum opened in 1972. At the time, it was a state of the art facility. Its oval design with highly sloped seats put the fans right on top of the action. The players and performers can feel the fans, not just hear them. The building is so antiquated, they have to bring in portable trailer bathrooms to accommodate the crowds. There still aren’t enough. There are no real corporate suites or club viewing areas. It’s a 1970’s arena. The Nassau Coliseum earned the nickname, “The Barn.”