On The Ball

Saturday, Dec. 15, 2012

Gino Turchi always told you exactly how he felt, and he never pulled any punches. I liked that about him, and I'll miss his frankness. He was a good friend. Gino died today at age 96. He was a local golfing legend and icon. No doubt about it. He not ...

Friday, Dec. 14, 2012

Two major doubles bowling tournaments this weekend get the holiday spirit in high gear. The New Era Senior Tour's "Digger's Doubles" event will be held Saturday at 11 a.m. at Uncle Sam Lanes in Troy. This special tournament has an Over-50/Under-50 format, so that the old-timers from the NEST can ...

Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2012

I disagree with the USGA's decision to ban anchored putting, even though I've given up on that crutch myself after I discovered that I was just as bad with longer putters as I am with shorter ones. Although long putters and belly putters are not banned, the act of anchoring ...

Wednesday, Nov. 21, 2012

Union College senior linebacker Noah Joseph has been named one of 10 finalists for the prestigious Gagliardi Trophy as the NCAA Division III player of the year. The Gargliardi Trophy is named after John Gagliardi, the legendary St. John's of Minnesota head coach who retired this week with 489 career ...

Monday, Nov. 12, 2012

Saratoga Springs native Dottie Pepper, the 47-year-old former LPGA star and TV golf color analyst, has decided not to renew her contract with NBC Sports and has been named an independent director for the PGA of America. Pepper, a 17-time winner on the LPGA Tour, including a pair of majors, ...

Saturday, Nov. 10, 2012

In my 27 years of covering the annual Union-RPI Dutchman's Shoes Trophy game, I don't think I ever witnessed a more exciting finish than what happened this afternoon at East Campus Village Stadium in Troy. Union's 34-28 overtime victory was vintage edge-of-your seat stuff. First of all, I thought Union ...

Monday, Nov. 5, 2012

It looks like a longer season for the several area fall sports teams that earned berths to the NCAA Tournament. We're still waiting to hear about The College of Saint Rose's fate in the NCAA Division II Women's Soccer Championship, but it's pretty certain the defending national champions will get ...

Friday, Nov. 2, 2012

I incorrectly listed Sunday's Huck Finn Capital Region Bowling Show qualifiers for Town 'N Country Lanes instead of Sportsman's Bowl (9:30 and 11:30 a.m.). Town 'N Country is the site of the handicap division rolloffs (at 1 p.m.) for the TV finals later Sunday night at Spare Time Clifton Park. ...

Monday, Oct. 29, 2012

Bowlers in the Schenectady league Monday night refused to let Hurricane Sandy push them around. So, despite warnings of severe winds and rain, they bowled in one of the Schenectady area's three Monday major leagues. I'm not sure many other bowling centers had the lights on tonight. And I understand ...

Friday, Oct. 26, 2012

This Union College football team has me wondering how good it really is. After an 0-3 start, and with some youngsters in very key positions, it appeared that it was going to be a rebuilding year for the Dutchmen. Very understandable. After all, several of their all-time best skill-position players ...