College hockey talk; Shinder on college football; Wawrow previews Chiefs-Bills; Healey on Mets, Yankees

[00:00:03] Speaker A: The following program is brought to you in living color on dailygazette.com or wherever you get your podcast. The Daily Gazette Company presents the parting Shots Podcast. Now here's your host, Daily Gazette sports editor Ken Shot. Thank you, Scott Gizzy, and welcome to the Parting Shots Podcast, available wherever you get your podcast. Subscribe today. Thanks for joining me from the Parting Shots Podcast Studio in Schenectady, New York. We have a tremendous show for you. A lot of guests coming on this program, of course, as we always do every Thursday we'll chat about Union men's and women's hockey. The men coming off a tie and a loss to Alaska Anchorage over the weekend. They get set to host St. Lawrence and Clarkson this weekend in ECAC hockey play, and in doing so they're starting exams on Thursday, the final exams for the first trimester. So a lot going on with the both the men and women. The women are off this weekend. They were at the Clarkson in St. Lawrence last weekend, so we'll talk about that as well. Wolves also has more college hockey talk, of course. Last Thursday the NCAA announced that they're going to allow major junior hockey players from the Canadian Leagues, the qma, the Quebec League, the Ontario League and the Western Hockey League. There'll be a lot of they'll be eligible to play in NCAA hockey starting next season. So we talk with Union men's head coach Josh Algae about that. On Wednesday's podcast, I'll get the opinions of ECAC hockey commissioner, former Union College player Doug Christensen and Sean Hogan, the executive director of College Hockey Inc. Adam Schindler here with his weekly look at area college football, talking about the Union's win over Rochester last Saturday. And get ready for the Dutchman shoes against RPI this Saturday. And we'll talk about you all when he's lost to Stony Brook last Saturday. And then we're going to talk NFL with John Worreau. The Associated Press will be covering that big AFC matchup, a possible AFC championship preview up at Orchard park as the Bills host the undefeated Kansas City Chiefs. Tim Healey, our good friend from Newsday, we haven't had him on in a while and that's my fault because I just never got around to getting him on during the baseball season. But he was covering the Mets and also helped cover the World Series for News Day. He was on the Aaron Boone Zoom Call Monday. So we'll talk a little bit about that and we'll wrap up the Mets season and look ahead to 2025 and possible free agency situations involving Met the Mets Pete Alonso and the Yankees Juan Soto. So a great podcast. So we have a lot of stuff going on, so stay tuned. We're going to talk Union men's and women's hockey next here on the Parting Shots podcast. [00:03:00] Speaker B: Where do my friends and other students find their voice? We find our voice through the performing arts along with millions of other high school students. By expressing yourself in a role on stage, through an instrument or at the debate podium, the performing arts give us freedom to find ourselves, to find our place. [00:03:23] Speaker A: The stage is where I can play. [00:03:25] Speaker B: Perform and compete with my friends. [00:03:30] Speaker A: Performing arts at your school is where creativity meets courage. Encourage the students in your life to. [00:03:38] Speaker C: Find their voice through the performing arts. This message presented by the NFHS where. [00:03:46] Speaker A: We encourage all students to play, perform and compete together. Want to get all the latest news from the Daily Gazette on your phone or tablet? We have an app for that. The Daily Gazette app allows you to read all the newspaper stories and columns from our dedicated team of journalists. The app is free. You can download the app from the Apple or Google app stores. [00:04:10] Speaker D: Hi, this is Sienna women's basketball head coach Terry Prim. You're listening to the Party Shots podcast. [00:04:17] Speaker A: With Daily Gazette sports editor Ken Schotts. Welcome back to the podcast and it's time to have our weekly look at Union men's and women's hockey. Let's start with the men's team, the Garner Chargers. Tough weekend last weekend in hosting Alaska Fairbanks for a couple of games. They saw a three nothing lead disappear in the third period Friday night and settled for a three three tie. They had a shootout which meant nothing. Union won that. You know my feelings on that are just there's no reason for that in a non conference game. And then on Saturday the Nooks jumped out to a 3 nothing first period lead and held on for a 64 win over Union that knocked them out of the US hockey the ranked live top 20 poll. So they're getting ready to for a lot of things this week on and off the ice. Off the ice. The final exams for the first trimester begin Thursday and that's going to be really an interesting situation. They've been practicing, of course, they've been studying and getting ready for that this week and they have ECAC hockey games that close out before their Thanksgiving break. They've hosted St. Lawrence on Friday at 7 o'clock and then Clarkson comes in Saturday at 4pm of course Union had its media availability on Tuesday and we had a chance to talk with captain Cullen Ferguson, assistant captain Kaden Villegas and Nate Hanley. Here's what they had to say. Guys, you're going to face a couple tests this week. This weekend first started with the hockey on the ice with St. Lawrence and Clarkson coming in and then the exam starting on Thursday. So how difficult of a week is this for you guys, starting with Cullen? [00:06:04] Speaker E: I mean, yeah, it's a difficult week, but I think you just take it one day at a time. I think the nice thing about exams is your focusing on whatever exam you might have, and it keeps you in the present, so you focus on your papers, you focus on your test that you have to get handed in or have to get done. And then when it comes to the game time, you focus on the game. So I think it really just keeps you in the moment, and then you get to relax from that for a couple weeks. [00:06:30] Speaker A: Kid, how do you manage, you guys to keep that focus when you're practicing on your job and not worry about your grades? [00:06:36] Speaker F: Yeah, I mean, our team does a really good job of being prepared in the weeks before, so a lot of guys get their stuff done early so they don't have to worry about it when the game's all around. So I know that's the spot a lot of guys are in right now, and they'll get their stuff taken care of and then get the job done on the ice as well. [00:06:54] Speaker A: This last week, you know, dropping one to Alaska and then, you know, tying one. What was kind of the biggest difference starting with Colin, just from kind of the hot start that you guys were on, what were some of the things that you guys noticed that you guys didn't maybe do us particularly well? [00:07:08] Speaker E: Yeah, I think we just need to dial it in a little in the D zone. We need to stick to our structures. Like when we play. When we played rpi, our systems in the D zone were immaculate, I thought. And then when we had the two weeks off, I think we just got away from that a little bit. So we just need to get back to that. And we did a really good job with that yesterday in practice. I think we understood that we need to really stick to the basics and go back to the details, and that's how you win games here in the ACAC and in college hockey in general. [00:07:36] Speaker A: Nate, your thoughts on that? [00:07:37] Speaker C: Yeah, I think I agree with Colin. Structure problems, way too many holes in our defense that resulted in goals against. [00:07:44] Speaker A: But the way that we saw what happened in the league games this past weekend where Quinnipack loses two at home, including going to be shut out, Yale Gets five points on the road unexpectedly. Dartmouth, I think, was going to be a force in this league. How important is it to heading into the exam break to get six points this weekend and maintain your position where you are in the standings? [00:08:09] Speaker E: Yeah, I mean, I think the UCAC is deep this year and it just shows that anybody can win. In college hockey, any given night just comes down to whoever shows up and works the hardest. [00:08:21] Speaker A: Not your good. [00:08:22] Speaker C: Yeah, any weekend's a big weekend. Just treat this on the same as the others. [00:08:25] Speaker D: Kidding. [00:08:26] Speaker F: I mean, just right now, focus on ourself. Taking one game at a time and build up the points as much as we can early on. [00:08:34] Speaker A: Can I ask Nate or. Sorry, Josh, about. Sorry. See, you're important. You don't have any goals yet this season. Not that you haven't had chances. You've had some good chances. How frustrating was it there on Saturday? You had that open and missed it. [00:08:49] Speaker F: Yeah, I mean, sometimes you just don't get the bounces. And I'm gonna keep working hard and hopefully they come soon. But yeah, I just gotta forget about it and stay in the moment during the games, do what I can to help the team win. That's all I'm worried about right now. [00:09:02] Speaker A: Yeah, you mean last year you got off, you scored a goal in each of your first four games, went to a slide, scored again and went through a longer slide. But then you closed out the last season with five goals in your last four games. So is it a matter of just keeping that confidence and not trying to grip the stick too much? I think Josh was saying maybe so you're so maybe a little bit trying to upset or maybe grip the stick too much. [00:09:26] Speaker F: I mean, obviously you want to help the team out as much as you can, but for me personally, just trying to stay in the right mind and know that it is coming. As long as I just keep working hard, that's all I can worry about. [00:09:36] Speaker A: The fact that you at least are getting points on assist. You mean setting up plays and we set up. Ruth has been the game winner against RPI here a couple weeks ago. So being able to not let the goal scoring, lack of goal scoring affect your game, how important is that to keep, you know, you know, doing the playmaking? [00:09:55] Speaker F: I mean. Yeah, I mean, my favorite thing about hockey is being able to set your teammates up for success. And as long as I can do that, I'm happy. But obviously I want to get back on the score sheet with the goals to help out even more. But either way, they come and just gotta keep Working to make it happen. [00:10:09] Speaker A: And Nate, you're on that line with Kaden and Ben. Just what has Kaden meant to you? [00:10:16] Speaker C: He's meant a lot to me. I mean, we've played together the last couple years. I think we work really well together and that's been showing. [00:10:22] Speaker A: Why has that line with you and Kaden and Ben been so working so much so far this season? I don't know. [00:10:28] Speaker C: I just know where each other are going to be. I think Ben's been a good ad. He's got a good shot. Me and Kaden are both playmakers, so it works out perfect. [00:10:36] Speaker A: Kaden, your thoughts on why the line's working so well? [00:10:38] Speaker F: Yeah, I mean, we get back to the bench every time. It's super positive. We look to find holes in the defense and we've been doing that lately and it helps when Ben has a hell of a shot and then you got hands over there with the high level IQ finding guys making plays happen. So it's nice working with those two. [00:10:54] Speaker A: You're wearing the A, so that must, you know, she shows you one of the leaders. How important is it for you to be a leader on this team? [00:11:01] Speaker F: Yeah, I mean, I'm a leader, but I feel like we also have 20 or so other guys that are all leaders as well. It's not a one man, not a five man, but the whole team is all involved in helping lead the way and I'm proud of the guys of what we've done so far and we just got to keep it going. [00:11:16] Speaker A: Colin, your thoughts on Kaden? [00:11:18] Speaker E: Yeah, I mean, he's an unreal leader. There's a reason he's wearing that A. He's one of the guys I wanted by my side at the beginning of the year and I want him, I want him to keep doing what he's doing. He's an unbelievable person, which I think is the number one reason that he's got it on his chest and he's an unbelievable player. So yeah. [00:11:37] Speaker A: Now let's talk about the Union women's hockey team. The Garner Chargers were up in the north country last weekend and they almost had another upset victory. They played the Clarkson got into overtime against the sixth rank Golden Knights. But Clarkson prevailed 3 to 2 in overtime. Union does get the point in two. Tony Macy's return to Clarkson where he was an assistant and associate head coach for eight seasons up there with the Golden Knights and then on Saturday the Union fell to St. Lawrence. Three nothing. So at one point, not bad. Couldn't get out of North country they played four straight nationally ranked teams. Mentioned beating Cornell a couple weeks ago and then almost beating Colgate. And they were all road contests. So it wasn't a bad situation for the Garnet Chargers. They're playing pretty well and they head into the exam break off this weekend. They don't play again until next Wednesday when they Visit Vermont. That's November 20th, if I'm thinking properly. Sometimes they do it, sometimes they don't. But they'll have a road game at Vermont on a Wednesday, so we'll see what happens there on Tuesday. Head coach Tony Macy, along with players Marin Friday, Sophie Matsoukis and Emma Hebert spoke to the media about the team. [00:12:58] Speaker G: And then all you guys are having. [00:13:01] Speaker A: This week and off to get ready for exams. So Tony, how important is it to have some time off here for players to worry about their academics? [00:13:08] Speaker H: Yeah, I think it's huge. You know, we gave them off Monday as well coming off the road trip there just to get things in order for the week. Get things in order for exams. You know, we'll stop some skates this week as well. Just a keep us fine tuned and going into next week. [00:13:27] Speaker A: Yeah, obviously you lost two up there, but you got a point out of the Clarkson game. So how would you assess the weekend? [00:13:34] Speaker H: Yeah, I'd say first game, I think we, you know, we played well. We had our chances. I do think, you know, three on three overtime isn't real hockey still. But you get into those situations and you know, they had a good bounce and they were able to put one home. But I thought that game, you know, we left a lot out there and it kind of set us up for the next day where I felt like we might have been a little bit sluggish. Same thing with Slough, though. I think both teams were a little bit sluggish. That game wasn't as crisp as the Friday nights we both had. So I think that's just part of the learning piece and making sure that we're ready to go on those Saturday nights. [00:14:18] Speaker A: Are you pleased with the way things are going right now? I mean, even though you lost this past weekend, I mean, are you happy with the way things are showing up right now? [00:14:28] Speaker I: Yeah, I mean, I'm overall pretty happy. We're not satisfied, obviously. I think we still have a lot of improvement to do and I'm excited to see kind of where we go from here. So happy, but definitely not satisfied and will go up for sure. Yeah, I think just after every weekend we want to continue to grow and build off how we Play. And so I think having this longer break after some tough weekends is good to reflect and kind of go back to improving how we play. Sophie, I think Emma said it, happy but not satisfied. I think we're still learning a lot and we're still putting that to play, but obviously, yeah, not satisfied with our outcomes. [00:15:04] Speaker A: It's up to you. You know, the last four games, playing ranked opponents, winning a game, you know, getting a point out of another and you know, losing another by a goal. Just how do you feel like you guys have kind of shown up against those, you know, up echelon teams as you guys kind of continue to grow? [00:15:19] Speaker H: Yeah, I think a lot of it is proving it to ourselves that we can be in those games now. Again, it's them buying into the structure, us playing with that throughout every game and giving ourselves a chance. You know, it obviously again starts with the back end from goaltender out and keeping five on five play. I think when we get into the special team stuff, you know, it's kind of can be a toss up either where our special teams are humming or maybe the other teams are. So we want to keep it five on five as much as we can and I think we've done a good job of that in those four games. [00:15:54] Speaker A: Well, I think you did that over the weekend. You came within like 20 some odd second of not having a penalty all weekend. I've never seen that where a team went an entire weekend without a penalty. Did you realize that at the time or not? [00:16:08] Speaker H: Yeah, it was part of our focus going in. Again, I think that for our team, we want to be 5 on 5 as much as we can. It helps for defending. It also helps for us to disrupt the other teams. So that's one of our focuses that we try to do every weekend. Yeah, yeah. [00:16:26] Speaker A: There's three penalties in the two games. I mean, I'm not sure the officials deserve to get a paycheck or not. That's doing their job. [00:16:32] Speaker H: Yeah, I had, I had one little conversation in between periods and you know, I thought there might have been a hook there and he's like, well, I could call a bunch more. I was like, no, just leave it. [00:16:41] Speaker C: The way it is. [00:16:43] Speaker H: You'll be fine. So no, I thought the refs actually did a really good job. Just kind of let the players play things out. [00:16:48] Speaker A: There's going down the line. How much confidence does it give you guys? That same question I asked Tony that you guys have kind of, you know, competed with these upper echelon teams, gotten to win, gotten to overtime and lost another Valley goal. [00:17:00] Speaker I: Definitely a lot of confidence. I think like playing these games. It, it's, it's exciting and it's, it's nice that we're, that we're in them, especially as a senior player, just seeing how much growth we have done. So I think definitely a lot of confidence. But again, I think we still have another level for sure. Yeah, I think just going off that as a program we want to continue to just develop a standard in how we're playing and how we're competing against top teams. So yes, it continues to build confidence, but I think we also just want to keep having that growth and having that culture continue going forward. I think definitely a lot of confidence proves to ourselves that we're in the game. [00:17:46] Speaker A: We'll have more College Hockey talk next as we examine the ramifications of the NCAA ruling last Thursday allowing major junior Canadian hockey players to be eligible to play in college hockey next season. We'll talk with Doug Christensen, ECAC hockey commissioner and former union player, and Sean Hogan, the executive director of College Hockey Inc. You're listening to the Parting Shots podcast. Hey pro football fans, it's time again to match witch with other pro football fans and win a prize by playing the Daily Gazette's you pick em football contest. To play, go to dailygazetteprofootball.upickem.net and make your picks before the first game kicks off each week. If you have the most weekly points, you win a $100 Hartford gift card. Play the Delegazette's you pick a football contest today. [00:18:44] Speaker D: Hi, this is Daily Gazette sports writer Mike McAdam. [00:18:47] Speaker A: You're listening to the Party Shots podcast with Daily Gazette sports editor Ken Schott. Welcome back to the podcast. And we had some major news the last Thursday in college hockey. The NCAA announcing that it will allow players who are playing in the major junior leagues in Canada. That's the Quebec League, the Ontario League and the Western League. They will be eligible to play college hockey starting next season. So it's going to be interesting to see how things shake out with that with recruiting, whether we'll see more college hockey teams come on board as there's probably going to be more players in the player pool and it's going to be interesting to see how things shape out with there and how it's going to affect schools like Union, like the ECAC hockey school, of course, six or six Ivy League schools. Of course the academic standards in the major junior leagues kind of may not are probably not as strict as the ones for NCAA hockey institutions, especially the schools that play in the ECAC hockey. So I had a chance to talk with a couple of people in the know about the situation. You're going to hear first from Doug Christensen, the ECAC hockey commissioner and the Forburn Union College hock player. And after that it'll be Sean Hogan. He's the executive director of College Hockey Inc. So here we are. First Doug Christensen and then Sean Hogan. How does this ruling the NCAA may last week regarding major junior hockey in Canada affect NCAA affect ECAC hockey? [00:20:24] Speaker J: Well, I think we all have to wait to see exactly what the implications are going to be. I do think that it's going to be incumbent upon ECAC schools to adapt and adjust just like every other program is going to be to a different player pool. I do think that our schools provide tremendous opportunities, both academically and from a hockey point of view for players who are trying to work their way to pro hockey. So I think we're a really attractive option to a different player pool. And I do think that our schools are going to have success in attracting players that are going to make our league better. [00:21:01] Speaker A: Yeah, of course, with the schools in the ECAC very academic, high academic standards, you know, we don't know what these potential student athletes coming out of the major juniors so what their transcripts were like. So I mean how much is that a disadvantage? A little bit. Having a stricter higher standards and maybe some other schools that could could hurt the teams in this league. [00:21:27] Speaker J: I think high academic standards always attract people. So just because players from major junior might not have as many of the higher academic achievers as we might think, there's going to be plenty of players that are going to be able to have great grades. Just because somebody plays major junior doesn't mean that they're not a good student. And I think that our league is going to really be competitive for those players. And at the same time I think that there's going to be opportunities for other players that might have been committed to a nice high quality academic school that might have a little bit more flexible academic requirements and for whatever reason they steer their attention towards a player and major junior and leave a player that is a really high quality player available for one of our schools. So I think that it's going to be something that we're all going to have to wait and see and adapt. But I am excited to see how our coaches are able to use both the academics and the athletics to be able to attract really good players. [00:22:30] Speaker A: Yeah, I mean, in a way though, if, let's say some of these potential major junior players go to the, like Michigan, Minnesota, all stuff, there could be a trickle down effect where the players who they had been looking at, maybe those kind of schools end up getting lost a little bit in the shuffle. And maybe CAC hockey is an attractive chance for them to come here. [00:22:54] Speaker J: There's no question that the supply is going to increase and what that's going to look like, whether it's players who decommit from their previous school, whether that's a player that is available now because they, you know, were playing CHL hockey and weren't available. But there's no question that there's going to be a wider pool of players for our coaches throughout our league to be able to look at and to be able to recruit. And I think for us as a league, if we're opportunistic and our coaches do a nice job, we stand to be able to add some really good. [00:23:27] Speaker C: Talent to our league in a way. [00:23:30] Speaker A: Does this maybe help college hockey, maybe expand, have more colleges add teams with, with the expanded player pool? [00:23:40] Speaker J: I don't know. I think that that's a separate situation. I do think that the house settlement, which obviously has a $2.8 billion price tag, is impacting a lot of universities across the country. So I think that the schools that would be looking to add hockey really have to see the new landscape as to what that's going to look like for them as an institution before adding a program. But I think once the dust settles and people look at it, never know what the donor is. You see with Arizona State or Penn State how that might happen. But I think that the expanded player pool won't be the impetus to add players or add a program. [00:24:20] Speaker A: Yeah, I mean, I think this was inevitable because with all the now they, the nlis and players starting, you know, having more control of their image, I guess it was just a matter of time this was going to happen. And maybe it does benefit Kyle Jockey down the road. [00:24:40] Speaker J: I think it's something that we all have to wait and see. I think that there is a concern about the American player and we have to make sure that we do the best that we possibly can to continue to develop outstanding players in the United States for college hockey. That is a concern that I have personally, but I do think at the same time for us in college hockey, we want to make sure that we have the best opportunities to attract the best players. And I think our institutions are investing in their programs and as a result of it, we're going to be really competitive both as a league and then nationally with an expanded player pool. [00:25:19] Speaker A: Well, Sean, obviously the ruling last Thursday, now we'll see major junior Canadian hockey players eligible to play in college hockey. How's this changed the landscape of college hockey here? [00:25:33] Speaker G: Well, it's a huge change. I mean, this has been maybe an overdue change, is something we've been discussing ever since I was a junior age player, which is over 20 years ago. I remember having conversations back then what it would be like if CHL players were ever eligible for college hockey. Really what it does is there's about 1500 players in the CHL that will now be eligible for NCAA Division 1 athletics. So that means there's a broader recruiting pool for our NCAA coaches. And I think it makes college hockey, NCAA Division 1 hockey in particular, the top of the pyramid. I think what we'll see now are more players possibly playing, you know, in the CHL at 16 and 17 years old, and then at 18, 19 years old when NCAA Division 1 school calls, that'll be our task, College Hockey Inc. To make sure that we're out there educating these families that understand the benefits of college hockey. When a college hockey team calls them. [00:26:27] Speaker A: Now, how important is it for them if they want to, you know, go the NCAA route, coming out of major juniors to have the proper transcripts? I know in talking with Josh Houji, there's some concern that maybe a lot of these guys players might not be eligible because of their transcripts and maybe they're not taking the right courses. [00:26:47] Speaker G: So that is correct. So the chl, we're in initial conversations with them again, College Hockey Inc. With initial conversations with them about being their education advisor for this new group going forward. So the current group of CHL players, they haven't thought much about college hockey or playing NCAA hockey because that was never an option until just last Thursday. But the group coming in behind them, the 14 and 15 years old, 15 year olds, it'll be important for someone to be in front of them, make sure they're getting educated and not only the benefits of college hockey, but what you need to do to stay eligible for college hockey. So I think what we'll see in this next group of players is a much higher percentage of those players being eligible because they've only known the college eligible route. [00:27:30] Speaker A: Now, I mean, how, how big is this? I mean, obviously there's just over 60 teams in college hockey. Could we see a possible expansion of the sport here and maybe seeing more schools add college hockey, maybe particularly on The west coast, you know, schools like maybe ucla, usc, Washington. I mean, I didn't talk with Eric Larson, Alaska Fairbanks this past weekend. He would like to maybe see some growth in out west and would help them get in a conference. And I mean, obviously they also have an advantage of being in WHL territory there where they can recruit the players. [00:28:09] Speaker G: Correct. So that's a great question. One of the things that we do at College Hockey Inc. Is we've been tasked by the NHL, through a partnership with the NHL, to try to grow and still play Division 1 hockey. So we're out there, I guess bird dogging is the correct word, meeting with athletic departments, trying to create more Division 1 teams, both the men's and women's side. And that's something that we work on every day. A broader recruiting pool I think would appeal to some athletic directors who are in tune with college hockey. But if they're not in tune with college hockey, it might not be. It's just another tool in our chest, but it might not be. Move the needle for them. What I think will move the needle, and one of the big selling points of college hockey as a whole is the biggest brands in college sports don't always win our national championship. We have tremendous parity in our sport. So where I think we're going to see growth is not always, and I wish it would be the power for schools, but they're going through a transition with the house settlement and now being told that $22 million of what used to be revenue now it now becomes an expense because there's going to be player revenue sharing or athlete revenue sharing. So it might be hard to add a sport at a school that's going to opt in to the house settlement. But the schools that don't, maybe a Division 1 school that doesn't have major college football. I think that's where we're going to see more growth in college hockey. Because college hockey, you can win a national championship if the investment is right and compete with the biggest brands in the world that you might not be able to do in your other sports. [00:29:38] Speaker A: How do you think this affects the junior leagues in the United States, the ushl, the NAHL and the Junior A leagues in Canada. How much of an effect will this be on them? [00:29:52] Speaker G: Well, there'll be an effect on all of the leagues, right? So now you have three new leagues that are now college eligible. So what's going to happen is that the kids who are in the North American League now, for example, probably remain in the North American League. The USHL is probably okay. They might need to reinvent themselves a little bit. But where Division 1 players come from could be different because you're going to see, you know, 1500 players that could play Division 1 hockey in the CHL be eligible. So there's a push down effect on all the leagues below that. So everybody's going to have to kind of find their footing, maybe reinvent themselves a little bit, get out there and market what they do and where they fit on the development path. And that's going to be up to each individual league. [00:30:38] Speaker A: I mean, obviously getting back to the eligibility question and the transcript, a league like ECAC Hockey, where you have six Ivy Leagues schools and Union RPI, Clarks in St. Lawrence to Colgate have great academic standards. High academic, academic academic standards. How does this affect them if they're, you know, going after players but maybe they don't have the right grades to get in. [00:31:09] Speaker B: Correct. [00:31:09] Speaker G: So that's one of the things that I think we're. College hockey kind of fits into this environment is not only educating on the benefits of college hockey, but educating on the benefits of the academic requirements for college hockey. So some of the best schools in the world offer college hockey and I think it's important that families all over Canada and the U.S. understand that and then understand the requirements. That's a little bit more difficult to get into the Ivy Leagues. There's academic rigor requirements and we need to make sure that these families at 14 and 15 years old who have a desire to participate in Ivy League schools understand those requirements. And I think we fit into that notch pretty well. [00:31:48] Speaker A: Unfortunately, we had the news on Tuesday with AIC announcing it's going down to Division 2. Is there a concern with their announcement and the announcement last Thursday with the eligibility allow for major junior players, that some programs might look at them at this and maybe not decide to stay in Division 1. [00:32:13] Speaker G: So I think the CHL eligibility and AIC, I don't think those are related. They just kind of happen at the same time. Where it is troublesome and concerning is the house settlement requirements that does, you know, issue pause for everybody. But I am confident that at most school schools that participate In NCAA Division 1, hockey is an important sport at those schools. So the athletic directors who are making decisions on, okay, where do we want to invest our dollars in the athletic department? I think hockey for most places, hockey's in that top tier. So while it does cause some pause and concern, I think we, we will still see long term growth. [00:32:56] Speaker A: Up next, my Gazette colleague, Adam Schindler we'll talk college football. We'll look back at Union's win over Rochester and get set for the Dutchman Shoes game with RPI on Saturday at rpi and also talk to you. Albany football's lost to Stony Brook. You're listening to the Parting Shots podcast. A game without a crowd is just a scrimmage. A performance without an audience is just a rehearsal. Without your presence, high school sports and the performing arts aren't possible. Ensure that these essential extracurricular activities continue to enrich the lives of students in New York. Purchase a ticket to your local high school's game or performance. [00:33:38] Speaker C: This message presented by NISVA and the. [00:33:40] Speaker A: New York State Athletic Administrators Association. Hi, this is four time Stanley cup champion and New York State Hockey hall. [00:33:50] Speaker C: Of Famer John Tennelli. [00:33:52] Speaker A: You're listening to the Parting Shots podcast with Daily Gazette sports editor Ken Shop. Welcome back to the podcast. And that's time to talk college football with Adam Schindler. The Gazette and Adam Union did something they hadn't done in a couple weeks. They scored and won. [00:34:10] Speaker B: Not only did they score, they scored at will for about the last 31 minutes of Saturday's game against Rochester. 34, 13 wins. That was really, really impressive. This was by orders of magnitude the best this Union football team has played all season. They did it despite still not really being able to run the ball as well because they just, they kind of leaned into the skid. They said, all right, if teams are going to take away the run, we're going to basically go old school west coast offense or air raid style or we're going to make short passes our running game. And then, you know, against a Rochester team that was giving them a lot of cushion. They were playing a quarter zone defense, giving the receivers a lot of cushion underneath. And then late in the first half, Rochester finally tried to bite in and on back to back offensive plays, Patch Flanagan did, Gil Rivera, both two long touchdowns, Unions on the board for the first time in about 160 minutes of game time. And then they, and they then get right back on the board within 68 seconds and they're really disabled to pull away from there. [00:35:14] Speaker A: Patch Flannig had a game probably of the season. 22 of 31, 325 yards, three touchdowns, just sacked only one. So that had to be good feeling for him. [00:35:23] Speaker B: Yeah, this was a, this was the feeling that I got talking to unions players after this game was we finally played the game we want to play now. It was linebacker Cole De Silva who said we still haven't played our perfect game. And they are clearly going to be looking to put that on the board this week because now it's time to. [00:35:44] Speaker A: Play for the Shoes. Yes. It's the only thing Union and RPI have left to play for. Neither team can go to head to the postseason. So how big is this game? This is the Capital Region Championship games. There's nothing left to play for. [00:35:56] Speaker B: Yeah, this is the game. You know, every year this is something any of these guys say. They could be, you know, Union could be nine and oh, and the one and then lose one game to RPI at the end of the season, and they consider that season, you know, not as successful as it could have been. And they could be 09 heading into the shows shoes game and beat RPI and they'd say, okay, we won the Shoes. This was a pretty successful season. Neither team has had the season that they want. You know, unions three and six entering this game. RPI is four and five. They're in the big mess of teams tied for third in the Liberty League. Five of the seven teams in the league are two and three or worse. So this is bragging rights, but it's, you know, it's New York's oldest college football rivalry. It's bragging rights that these teams desperately, desperately want. [00:36:40] Speaker A: Well, they had the press conference Wednesday over at rpi, and John Drock will get to experience his first Dutchman Shoes. And he said, you know, there's a tremendous history of this game in between these two institutions. It's one of the reasons I wanted to be at Union, to be a part of something like this. When you have a rivalry that goes back over 100 years and has a lot of roots in the entire alumni base, that emotion, that feeling of game day, it's a little bit different. [00:37:06] Speaker C: Yeah. [00:37:06] Speaker B: 130. 130, you know, plus years that these teams have been playing football against each other. No love lost between either of them. And, you know, this game has produced some tremendous, tremendous matchups. Union dominated the rivalry for a very long time in the early. In the early, early days before the Shoes trophy. In recent years, there have been some really, really fantastic games. You know, Union won 13, 7 a year ago in Schenectady, got the Shoes back for the first time since 2019, and the win that essentially got them into the playoffs. And then, you know, last time this game was in Troy, RPI won fairly easily against a Union team that was really struggling back end of the season. But you can usually expect a knockdown drag out game between these two teams. Especially when you consider that you have, you know, these teams both have a bunch of like fifth year Covid seniors who have been a part of this rivalry for a long time. And with one game left in all these guys college football careers, you can imagine that they're going to lay everything out on the line on Saturday. [00:38:11] Speaker A: And it could be a lot of motion for RPI because they're honoring the 1999 team that went to the NCAA tournament. So that's going to be even more motion. They went 90 that year in the regular season to get to the NCAAs. [00:38:23] Speaker B: Yeah, this is going to be a wild atmosphere down in Troyon on Saturday afternoon. [00:38:28] Speaker A: How many have you covered? [00:38:29] Speaker B: This will be my third shoes game. I did not see that I was not there for the 2022 game. I believe we had our Bob Weiner there as it was a day that happened to be the same day as the Albany cup just like it is last year. But I've been in the last two games in Schenectady. These 137 Union win last year and then the 1917 RPI win in 20 21. That is one of the most dramatic football games you'll ever see. RPI scores nine points in the last 30 seconds of the game. Converted soccer player who joined the joined the team that week kicks the game winning field goal to win the Liberty League title. As time expires, as rain starts to pour. Just wild, wild scene. So I'm expecting, I'm expecting a good one. [00:39:12] Speaker A: Well, speaking of rivalries, there was one last Saturday down at Stony Brook between Stony Brook and New Albany. And Stony Brook came up on the winning end of that game. [00:39:20] Speaker B: Yeah, this has kind of been a reversal of fortune for Stony Brook and Ualbany last this year. Stony Brook was a terrible team last year. They got their coach, UAlbany alum Chuck Priory fired and this year they're a top 20 team in FBS. They took care of this game and UAlbany's big issue right now is they just can't stay healthy. And that was especially true of quarterback Miles Burkett was already injured. Trey Lindsay, who's been in college for six years, been at Auburn, now spent the last two years at UAlbany, finally gets his first college start and gets hurt a handful of plays in. So true freshman Van Weber came in and even though, you know the Great Danes turn the ball over a few times and they lose this game 24 to 6. Webber was pretty good, created some big plays and might give a Glimpse of a guy who might get a chance, you know, moving forward to be the man. [00:40:10] Speaker A: No. Yeah. I mean, it's a lost season for Yalmie. They had a couple games left. They had to go to Rhode Island Saturday. So not any easier this coming Saturday. [00:40:19] Speaker B: Yeah, you know, Rhode island is going to be a tough game this week. It's a very, very good Rams team. And then, you know, home in a couple of weeks against Hampton to wrap things up in a game that, you know, Ualbany is going to want to close things at home in good, in good fashion and that's a more winnable game and a game that might be able to get this program some momentum back moving forward. And it's tough. You know, this team, each of the last two times that they've had a really program defining season, they haven't been able to follow up the next year. And you know, I'd like, you'd like to think that this time UAlbany will take a little bit quicker to bounce back than they did after 2019. [00:40:56] Speaker A: Yeah. Well, as we always do and the, towards the end of the segment we talk about our Eagles and that was fun on Sunday watching them dismantle Dallas Cowboys team that's going to be without Dak Prescott for the rest of the season. He's going to get surgery on that torn hamstring. And, and Cooper Rush played like Cooper Rush. [00:41:15] Speaker B: There are times that you could say, oh, we're not beating the best version of a team. It's not that fun. No, this was fun. Schadenfreude is real. And I can absolutely take pleasure in watching the Dallas Cowboys suffer. And obviously, you know, huge game coming up this week that'll be coming up as people are listening to this. [00:41:34] Speaker A: Yeah, of course. It was just amazing. That CD Lamb can't catch a touchdown pass because the season staring into the sun at that other end of the TNT stadium and he's saying they should put Kerns up. I agree. I mean there should be curtains up and I mean your own player can't see the ball and Jerry Jones is basically just chastised and say, oh, let's, let's, let's knock down the building and you know, come on, the NFL's got to step in and say, look, that's, that's the problem. [00:42:02] Speaker B: If nothing else, watching a 4:30 game at AT&T Stadium on television is a difficult experience with the way the sun works. I mean, this is not a new issue. This has been an issue for 15 years. Yeah, they have curtains, they put them up for non football events. But if anyone thinks that Jerry Jones hasn't completely lost the plot, what have they been watching for the last two decades? [00:42:27] Speaker A: Yeah, it's not going to get any better now there in Dallas, thank goodness. So let's see what they do against the Commanders on Thursday night. And as you said, the game will be going on by some of these people listening or even listening on Friday afterwards. So, so appreciate Adam and we'll, we'll talk next week. We'll wrap up the Union season and have one more U Albany game. [00:42:46] Speaker D: Absolutely. [00:42:47] Speaker A: That's Adam Schinder speaking of the NFL. We're going to preview this week, Sunday's AFC matchup between the Kansas City Chiefs and Buffalo Bill with John Worrow of the Associated Press. You're listening to the Parting Shots podcast. The Daily Gazette has some great subscription deals happening. Sign up today at www.dailygazette.com. and as always, when credibility matters, trust the Daily Gazette. Hi, this is Mark Kesterser, the voice of the NBA on ESPN Radio and college football on ESPN Radio. I grew up in Gilderland. I'm a proud member of the 518 and I go back over 30 years with Ken Schott. And when I'm not listening to his Schatzky radio, I'm listening to the Parting Shots podcast with Daily Gazette sports editor Ken Schott. Here's Ken. Welcome back to the podcast. And we have a big NFL game Sunday at 4:25 at Highmark Stadium in Orchard park as the two time defending champion super bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs visit the Buffalo Bills and what could be a preview of the AFC Championship game. And our good friend John Worrow, the Associate press will be covering the game and John is kind enough to join us for a few minutes here on the Parting Shots podcast. John, how's it going and how much you looking forward to this game on Sunday? [00:44:15] Speaker C: Shotzi, thanks for having me on. Well, you know, it's, why not, let's, let's actually have some fun this weekend. After having covered the Titans and the Jaguars and a whole host of nobodies here in Buffalo and covering those games, you get to cover a fun game like this. It should be, it should be entertaining. But let's, let's not blow it too far out of proportion. Despite the fact that, you know, the whole CBS crew is, I believe, going to be in town. [00:44:43] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:44:43] Speaker C: And Taylor Swift for that. Taylor Swift for that matter too, perhaps. [00:44:46] Speaker A: Oh my God, it's, it's going to be crazy there. I mean it's rare the NFL today travels until the postseason, but to see them coming to Buffalo for this, I mean, that. That's a hype. The hype machine is on. [00:44:58] Speaker C: Sounds like they've got some extra budget money to spend, so hopefully they enjoy the wings. [00:45:03] Speaker A: So let's talk about this game. The Kansas City Chiefs are undefeated, yet they don't seem like an undefeated team. They have escaped a few of these wins, especially what we saw last Sunday against Denver. A block field goal saves them from their first loss of the season. I mean, is this Chiefs team really a good 90 team or just. I wouldn't say fraud, that's probably too strong a word. But maybe they should be less than 9 and 0. [00:45:30] Speaker C: I don't know if they're a fraud. I wouldn't put it that way. I think somebody put it aptly a couple of days ago maybe, or yesterday. I'm not sure where I read it. But this is a team that's learned how to win and they're experienced in these types of games of close games and being able to pull it out, whereas other teams, be it the Broncos, especially last weekend, they don't know how to pull those games out. And thus the, you know, things just happen. They remind me in some ways of when the Patriots were owning the AFC east for a long, long time, where they'd win games like this. They. They weren't beating Everybody except in 2007 when they lost the super bowl, but came to Buffalo undefeated and on the way to an undefeated season before losing the super bowl and beat the bills 56 to 10. I don't know if this is going to be a 56 to 10 game because Buffalo's a far better team than they were in 2007. But there is something to knowing how to win and knowing what to do in getting to a victory that I think makes the Chiefs who they are right now. Are they good? Yes, very good. Are the Bills good? Actually, that's. I think that's the bigger question because they've beaten a lot of pushovers and have lost to Baltimore and Houston entering week 11. I think only Arizona. Arizona might be the only team that they've beaten with a winning record. So that's. I think that's. This is a mild post game. We're going to see where both teams are. Is it an AFC Championship preview? I don't know. I think Baltimore might say something about it. [00:47:09] Speaker A: That's true. But you and I talked at the beginning of the season about what the Bills fortune could be like. And you thought this could be a transitional year the way, I mean, the jets were looking with Aaron Rodgers back, the Dolphins with Tua. But as we see, Tua missed some time with the concussion. He's. We saw him Monday night lead the Dolphins to win over the Rams. We've seen the jets field gold fest. Yes, the jets are the jets, proving them once again. They got a coaching change and it doesn't seem to help. And the Patriots, I mean, they, they're okay, but they're not going to challenge. So I mean, right now the Bills seem to be in smooth sailing to win another AFC east title. [00:47:50] Speaker C: Their magic number is down to three. [00:47:52] Speaker A: That much? Wow. [00:47:54] Speaker C: You know, when you get out to an 8 and 2 start and you're in this kind of a flawed division, you know, that that's, that's essentially what happens. The Jets, I'm not, in retrospect, you know, perhaps I'm not sure. Maybe I should have been more down on the jets because I've never, I've never been convinced Aaron Rodgers was going to be the savior of that franchise. They're a team with a lot of talent but no cohesion. The Dolphins, I'm somewhat surprised that they're as bad as they are. They just can't seem to get it together. And I wonder if teams have caught up to all the, you know, all the pre snap movements and all the speed and all the other stuff and figured out just how to stop them, which is something that Bills have always been able to do. But I think the rest of the NFL is catching up to them. And who knows, maybe, maybe in fact, the Patriots might be the, the next team to contend for an AFC or chance to contend for an AFC title sometime down the road if they, you know, because they just might be getting their act together. [00:48:54] Speaker A: Yeah. I mean, how important is this game for the Bills as a measuring stick? I mean, I don't know if they're going to be. If they do get to the AFC Championship game, I don't think they're going to be hosting it. They have to hope the Chiefs maybe lose a few games down the road as we get toward the end of the season. And Baltimore, I mean, they've, they've been sort of inconsistent too with the Ravens. I mean, they've had some good games and then they throw us a couple sinkers. I mean, how important is it for Buffalo to, you know, at least maintain a number two seed for the playoffs? [00:49:22] Speaker C: Well, I mean, I mean, if, you know, they beat the Chiefs and they're one Game, they're essentially one game back for the AFC east top seed. Yeah, so that, that would be important, I think, for the Bills because they play better at home and confidence wise, you know, it would help. But as I wrote in my analysis yesterday, in the big picture, this game really means. Doesn't mean a whole lot. And yes, it's a juicy mass matchup and it should be entertaining. But keep in mind the Bills of the Bills have beaten the Chiefs three straight in three straight regular season meetings and they've lost to the Chiefs in three straight playoff meetings. So really the game until the Bills are able to beat the Chiefs in the postseason, which a lot of teams have difficulty doing, and people just kind of say, Bills fans just kind of look at them against the Chiefs and say, well, this is why McDermott can't win the big game. Well, tell me how many teams have beaten the Chiefs in the playoffs? And I can point to one. Cincinnati. Fine. And look at where. And I'm still not sure Cincinnati is all that good at this point. They seem, they can't seem to get their act together. But a long winded way to answer your question, this game is interesting. It's a shiny ornament dangling on the tree for a cat to knock off. Perhaps. But at this point, the only game that matters is the Bills beating the Chiefs in the playoffs. And when that game and when that does happen, then we can take this. This is a serious rivalry. [00:51:05] Speaker A: Yeah, I mean, yeah, you know, Buffalo, I mean, excuse me, I mean Buffalo, you say Josh Allen has been playing well, but the thing that we talked about, you know, everybody's talking about last year the Chiefs had to go on the road for most of those playoff games. And I said, well, let's see what they could do on the road in the playoffs. Well, they won. So I mean, I mean there's got to be a fight. They got a. Buffalo's got to find a way in the postseason season to slay the, slay the champion and take him down. I don't know if they get confidence from a win on Sunday, but we'll see what happens. [00:51:39] Speaker C: Well, again, that's the thing. And we talked about how this is going to be a down year for the Bills. Back in the pre season, back before the season began, I was looking at 910 wins. But so many things can happen. And I do credit Sean McDermott for, and Brandon being the front office, the general manager for bringing players in who can make an immediate impact. And I'm referring to Keon Coleman, Dwayne Carter defensive tackle and Ray Davis, though Carter and Coleman are both currently hurt but they've got depth that's proven to be proven to step up. I like the move that the Bills made in bringing in Amare Cooper because that settled the offense. Cooper's hurt. He may play this weekend, but with his if you look down the road to the playoffs, then I think Cooper is a very valuable, valuable addition because he makes the receiving group better. Also coming back is Matt Milano. They're opening up the window for his return at practice Wednesday and so that's something to look, look ahead to as well down the road. Keep in mind when we look back at last year's game against the Chiefs in the playoffs, the Bills were very banged up on defense and we're missing not only Matt Milano but Terrell Bernard who has become the glue of their defense at middle linebacker. Bernard's going to be playing this game and I'm curious to see what kind of an impact he makes because he makes a difference and he could have made a difference back in January. [00:53:16] Speaker A: Well, the Bills on Tuesday already ruled out wide receiver Keon Colton with a wrist injury. Me how if Cooper's not able to go, what's going to happen then? [00:53:26] Speaker C: Well, then you're going to see more of a game like the Bills played on Sunday against the Colts where Josh Allen is going to maybe have struggle finding, you know, hitting his targets because that's just the way things are as a receiver group. And this is why we're all looking at this being a down season without, without Stefan Diggs and Cooper essentially replaces Diggs. But they've won the past two games though. Cooper not pretty, but they've won them. And they do have an offensive coordinator that is good at in Joe Brady who's good at making sure they have a balance, attacking, making sure they lean on the run, which is essentially what happened against the Colts last weekend where the Colts forgot seemed to forget they had Jonathan Taylor in the backfield for the second half. He ran for 107 yards in the first half and on 16 carries and I think he had five carries in the second half. Here's the one thing that the Chiefs aren't going to do. They're not going to forget about the running game and that's what good teams do and that's what and the Colts aren't a good team. So that's something that, you know, this is why I'm intrigued by this match up because we're going to find out exactly, you know, kind of where the Bills are with some missing pieces in. [00:54:45] Speaker A: Patrick Mahomes does it doesn't seem like he's there. That's okay. Get your cough button next time, right? [00:54:52] Speaker C: Yes. [00:54:54] Speaker A: Patrick Mahomes does not seem to have as having a great as a season as we usually see but my God, he still manages to make the plays when he has to. And you know Kelsey has Travis Kelsey's been up and down. He seems like he's maybe starting to get in. But how scary is this Chiefs team if they're not really playing well? [00:55:16] Speaker C: Well, I think the opponents have something to do with that too. And I think we're seeing. I mean I've seen I keep referring back to the Patriots because I think the Chiefs are now the new Patriots in many ways because they have that quarterback. Even the Mahomes and the comparisons between Mahomes and Brady are probably incomplete because they're two different players. But I've seen Tom Brady struggle or have difficulty with a no name receiver corps and they win by defense. They did that a lot. They did that for a lot of years. It wasn't just Brady winning those games. And that's where you have the Chiefs who have a running attack they're getting. They should get Pacheco back at something before the end of the season. I think they but they lean on the running attack. They have a quarterback who can win games for you and they generally have a defense that gels by the end of the season and start playing and starts playing lights out. So they're a complete team. And that's excuse me again what I think the Bills are building for because the Bills are. The Bills are winning games in different ways as well. Home. It's not just because of Josh Allen. [00:56:26] Speaker A: Well it should be a lot of fun on Sunday. I know you're going to enjoy it and we'll look for your coverage on the Associated Press Sunday. John, I appreciate a few minutes. [00:56:33] Speaker C: Well like I said earlier it's. It's no Eagles Cowboys or Eagles Giants. But you know what. You know how how many people get tired of watching those games? [00:56:42] Speaker A: Well I think, I think CV I mean Jim, that Jim natch was sort of trolling the 425 games on on Sunday. I mean obviously he was wondering welcoming by people who had to suffer through the Arizona jets game. And I think it was you know a little bit trolling on the Eagles the Cowboys getting away. That turned out to be because the CBS had two bad 425 games in their window last week. So they're probably hoping for something Closer on Sunday? [00:57:03] Speaker C: Well, yes, exactly. But I mean, who wants to watch the cow? Well, it is fun watching the Cowboys lose, isn't it? [00:57:09] Speaker A: Yeah, it is. As an Eagles fan, it was very much fun on Sunday. [00:57:14] Speaker C: Right, right. It's also fun watching the jets lose for some reason. I don't know why because you know, I did like Robert Soleil. But I don't know, maybe there's, there's something about. There's just something about watching the big guys lose every once in a while. [00:57:28] Speaker A: Have you told Dennis was like junior about that, about the Jets? [00:57:31] Speaker C: Oh, I think if Dennis follows me on the Twitter machine, then he knows what my feelings are about that. I think at some point during the game, the jets are Arizona game, I think I posted a note that said something to the effect of if you want to see if you're into watching Aaron Rodgers complete one 3 yard pass after another, boy, do I have a game for you to watch. [00:57:53] Speaker A: Yeah, I felt bad for, I mean, you know, obviously the Eagles Cowboys was a national game. Of course, everybody here in the Capital Region had to suffer through the Jets Arizona broadcast and they really couldn't get jump out of that because it's. You have to keep your local. So my son and I went to a sports bar in Latham with caters to Philadelphia sports fans. So we were able to watch the Eagles destruction of the Cowboys on Sunday and just enjoy with our fellow Eagles fans here in the Capital Region. [00:58:19] Speaker C: What a surprise. [00:58:21] Speaker A: John, appreciate, always appreciate a few minutes, my friend. We'll talk soon. [00:58:24] Speaker C: Thanks, Ken. Always appreciate, appreciate having me on. [00:58:28] Speaker A: All right, that's John Warrior, Associated Press. We're gonna talk some baseball with Tim Healey of Newsday. Looking back at the Mets and Yankees season. You're listening to the Parting Shots podcast. If you really want to know what's going on in your community, you have to read the Daily Gazette. We don't take a side. We're right down the middle and we're going to get to the truth. Our reporters and photographers are out in the field bringing you updates every minute with trust, accuracy and integrity. From the first page to the last page. Independent, probing, journalism work. Finding out what's going on in the community where nobody else is covering. It's who we are. It's what we do. [00:59:31] Speaker F: Hi, this is Army West Point hockey head coach Brian Riley. [00:59:35] Speaker A: You're listening to the Parting Shots podcast. The Daily Gazette sports editor, Ken Schott. Welcome back to the podcast and my next guest. I've been meaning to have one for a while this season during the baseball season, but things seem to get away from me and I'm glad to have him back here. We're doing a talk a little Mets and Yankees baseball. It's Tim Healy of Newsday, covers the Mets for Newsday and does a great job. And you were a busy man this fall with lots of postseason action. How are you recovered? [01:00:06] Speaker D: I'm working on recovering, let's put it that way. It was definitely a busier October than I'm used to covering the Mets, but it was also a heck of a lot of fun. So they had quite the run and it was really cool to be there for it. Some of the coolest moments in franchise history, really, at least recent franchise history. So I, you know, this sting of them losing still stings for fans, I'm sure. But I think everybody will look back on the 2020 formats quite fondly. [01:00:35] Speaker A: Yeah, I will talk to you. Although first of all, I should also mention you were the only news day baseball writer not only picked the Dodgers to win the World Series, you picked him in five. [01:00:47] Speaker D: Yeah, we had our staff who covers baseball. We had a lot of Yankees and six Yankees and seven guesses. And I went with Dodgers and five. So I pretty much nailed it. And I made sure to let everyone know after the fact. [01:01:02] Speaker A: Does this get you a raise? [01:01:04] Speaker D: I wish. I wish. [01:01:07] Speaker A: Well, we'll talk about, we'll talk about the Mets in a little bit here. But I want to mention we're taping here on Monday and you're on the Aaron Boone, Boone Zumba call with the Yankees. Pick up his option. What was the mood like during that press conference with Baron Boone? Does he seem happy and he's ready to go for 2025? [01:01:26] Speaker D: He does seem happy. And one of the most interesting pieces of it was to talk about a contract extension or lack thereof. The Yankees last week nearly picked up his 2025 option. They did not say, okay, yes, 2025 and another year or two, let's have a whole new contract. They didn't do that. And Aaron Boone said there are no contract extension talks ongoing right now. He did say maybe see what happens, you know, deeper in the off season after the Yankees take care of some more pressing business. But as things stand right now, it's going to be a contract year for Aaron Boone, which of course lends itself to possible change. So, yeah, that could be one of the biggest storylines for the Yankees for all of 2025 if things don't change. [01:02:16] Speaker A: Well, here's the funny thing about the Yankees I went through to grow through the Georgetter era anywhere. Managers, you know, watching from Philadelphia, watching and just going through managers left and right. And now with house time, Brenner in charge, there's only been two managers since George died, and that's been Joe Girardi and Aaron Boone. So, I mean, it's almost like Pittsburgh Steeler esque, where they're not changing coaches or managers like that. So how important has the stability been for this team? [01:02:48] Speaker D: Well, I guess it's been important, but they haven't really won much of anything this century. So it's hard to say really, between Torrey Girardi and now, boom. The Yankees have had three managers for as long as a lot of their current players have been alive. So as much as fans might, you know, scream and cry about, you know, George is rolling over his grave, how George would do this or that sign Soto5. Boom. Like how different things would be, you know, it's been quite some time that the Yankees have not operated that way. Now. They won just one title this century, 2009. [01:03:29] Speaker A: Don't remind me. Don't remind me. [01:03:30] Speaker D: Yeah, yeah. Sorry to the Phillies fan, but they embarrassed themselves this year in the World Series, especially in Game 5 at home. So Brian Cashman has a way of doing things and he's going to stick to that, win or lose. So it's just sort of who the Yankees are. [01:03:49] Speaker A: Now, what happened to the Yankees, especially at that game five, what happened? [01:03:53] Speaker D: They stink, man. They were the worst. I've been saying this since the summer, when the Yankees or when the Mets just plowed right through the Yankees in all four games of the Subway Series. The Yankees were the worst great team I'd ever seen. They won what, 96, 97 games, something like that. Al's title cruise to the World Series. And yet that. There was a sense that I couldn't shake that they just weren't very good. And that got exposed big time when you faced a team like the Dodgers. So, you know, they just totally collapsed in the moment ball drops in center field. Aaron Judge. Garrett Cole doesn't cover first base. Bing, bang, boom, off season. [01:04:40] Speaker A: Yeah, as I was just. Just stunned by all that. I mean, I mean, let's face it, though, the Dodgers were the better team in that series. [01:04:47] Speaker D: Absolutely they were. They were the better team in every series they played. And it seemed like as the Dodgers advanced in the postseason, their next opponent was a little easier than the opponent before. They started off with the Padres, who were maybe the second best team in all of baseball, snuck by the Padres in Game 5. So they had the Dodgers had the Mets in the nlcs and the Mets gave him a nice little run for their money, lost in six games, but the Dodgers were clearly the better team. And then in the World Series, of course, beat the Yankees in five, won fewer the game than the Mets lasted. And you know, the Yankees were just outclassed in virtually every way. [01:05:26] Speaker A: Well, let's talk about the Mets now. I mean, they started slowly. Grimace turns things around. We had the OMG movement and then they made it to the National League Championship Series. Well, let's start with your general assessment of the season. [01:05:40] Speaker D: Great season, heck of a lot of fun. They looked, they looked like they weren't going to amount to anything one third of the way through. And then pretty much out of nowhere they just turned it around and they had some massive contributions from guys who were not likely to make massive contributions. They had a guy named Mark Vientos take a massive, massive step forward. They got an MVP caliber year from Francisco Lindor. Big success of a rookie season as manager for Carlos Mendoza. So there was a lot to like. There was a lot to like. It'll be curious to see how much of that carries over to 2025 for the Mets. But as far as 2024 goes, big success. And I would say I don't think this is a hot take either, that the 2024 Mets are the most enjoyable, memorable, et cetera team in franchise history since 1986. I think even more so than the couple teams they have sent to the World Series since then. This team, the fan base really rallied around. [01:06:43] Speaker A: Yeah, well, the way the season started, the Mets lost their first five games. They did go 1511 in April, but a 919 may probably had fans wondering if the Mets were good. Doomed to another bad season. To me we can say Grimace's appearance at Citi Field started them on their way to success. But I think that two game London series in June with the against the Phillies was the start of the turnaround. When they won that second game and how they won it and rallying it went to win it and turning a game ending 2, 3 double play to clinch it. Your thoughts about that? [01:07:12] Speaker D: I agree with you. I think had that second game in London ended slightly differently and the Mets went all that way just to lose twice, they would have come back stateside and it would have been an entirely different, different vibe. But that it was that they pulled that, that they won a game first of all and that they won in the fashion that they did with that crazy double play. And then it was Luis Torrens, who was brand new to the team, really showed some stuff, won that backup catcher job, all of that just sort of snowballed and provided with them with, I say, a pretty big emotional lift going into the stage of the season in which they turn their season around. [01:07:58] Speaker A: Yeah, I mean, the postseason was just incredible. The way they rallied to beat the brewers in the NL Wild Card and then took care of my Phillies in the NL Division Series. I knew the series was over after when the Mets rallied to win Game 1, because the Phillies offense, which started getting like gangbusters early in the season, was back to what it was when they're just chasing pitches and not. Yeah, and just blows my mind. They can't play situational baseball anymore. It's just. That's another matter for another time. But. And then, you know, they took the Dodgers in six to six games in the nlcs. I mean, how much was it to see the Mets get that far, especially when you're not expecting it? [01:08:36] Speaker D: How much what? [01:08:37] Speaker A: How much fun was it to see the Mets get that far, especially when you weren't expecting that? [01:08:42] Speaker D: It was. It was a lot of fun, especially because the whole thing started with the crazy Atlanta, Milwaukee, Atlanta sequence to finish the regular season. So, yeah, from. From my perspective as a beat writer, I'm packing for potentially as long as two weeks, you know, end of the regular season, into the postseason, and it's just an unbelievable sequence for them to lose three games in a row in Atlanta, Milwaukee, then. Then beat Milwaukee and then go back to Atlanta. And the Lindor home run, probably one of the biggest, maybe the biggest regular season moment in the history of the Mets, that Lindor home run to beat the Braves and clinch a playoff spot on the final day of the regular season. And then Alonzo's home run, that really secures his legacy, no matter what happens with his free agency. There's just. There were a lot of moments. It was quite a roller coaster, quite a whirlwind. Racked up a lot of extra airline miles, for sure. So it was. It was a great time. [01:09:53] Speaker A: I mean, that last end up being the Monday after the. What was supposed to be the end of the regular season. How crazy with that. You see the Mets win that first game of the doubleheader, the Braves win the second game to clinch their spots. Also, you have two teams celebrating. I've never seen that before. [01:10:11] Speaker D: It was. It was bizarre, especially because some of the players on those two teams are friends. So they had a little moment. Some of them, like Francisco Andor and Ozzy Albies, for example, Sharon agent, live in Orlando area in the off season. They hang out at home, play for a couple minutes and, you know, cheers themselves. So it was a. I had. I've never seen anything like that and I probably won't in the future. It was. Was highly, highly unusual and I think just added to the drama and fun of it all. [01:10:41] Speaker A: Yeah. Carlos Mendoza, his first year on the job and he's the first rookie Mets rookie manager to lead them to the playoffs. Talk about the job he did and the patience he had early in the season when things were not going right. [01:10:56] Speaker D: I think he did a good job. He seemed to gain the trust and respect of the players, which of course is important. He pushed a lot of the right buttons pitcher management wise and as you said, yeah, he had patience in the beginning of the season when they were in their lowest lows in May when the bullpen would blow it basically every other night. He said they'll turn it around and their good players will start to play better, etc. And that wound up being true. I think it was easier in the moment for Mendoza to take that approach because he didn't really have another choice. You know, this was from the start a bridge year for the Mets. So if they just proved to not be very good and sold some pieces at the trade deadline, which I think internally they expected, then, you know, so be it. So it goes. Nobody will really remember, but the way it sorted out for the Mets, Mendoza ends up looking quite smart and patient, et cetera. So he had a good year and you know, the Mets expect more of that. [01:12:10] Speaker A: Yeah, I mean, how much momentum with the way the season ended, does that carry over into next season? And can the Mets be considered the favorite to win the NLEs in 2025? [01:12:19] Speaker D: I think it doesn't really carry over at all and I certainly would consider them the favorite to win the division. They lost half the roster to free agency. So we have to see what happens this offseason and they have to rebuild the rotation. They definitely need a few reliable relievers. They need to figure out what's going on with Juan Soto and Pete Alonso. So on paper, right now, the Mets are simply not a good team. Granted, they will be spending a lot of money and making a lot of moves this offseason to make themselves a good team by February and March. But what the 2024 Mets were so they were so unlikely in the way that they came together and ended up succeeding with Jose Iglesias, not only with his OMG song, but also his Actual on field performance was just absurd. It was like a 1 out of 100 thing. The seasons they got from Anaya and Severino. So a lot went right. I'd say close to everything went right for the 2024 Mets and the 2025 Mets are going to be different. It's going to be a different roster, it's going to be a different feeling and different atmosphere around the team. So we'll have to see what sort of character, what sort of personality that team develops over the course of time. As far as favorite for the division, you know, again with the whole offseason to go, really I put them third behind Atlanta and Philadelphia. They were third this year. The Braves are going to get a lot of healthy guys back. The Phillies should still be pretty good. They have an interesting offseason coming up. So the analyst is going to be highly entertaining once again. [01:14:02] Speaker A: Well, let's start. You mentioned Pete Alonso and Lonzo. Let's talk first. Pete Alonso, I mean he's meant a lot to this to the Mets and I mean the Mets. The way the Mets fans treated him, saluting him toward the end, end of the season, thinking that this might be it. I mean is it, is this it for Pete Alonso as a New York man? [01:14:20] Speaker D: No, I don't think, I don't think it's it. I think they will resign him. They have together Pete event Pete Alonso is more valuable to the Mets than he would be to other teams. And the Mets likewise mean more to Pete Alonso than any other team will. Ultimately it'll come down to dollars, of course, but I think if it's close then Pete Alonso is going to be back with the metal Mets. The big uncertainty there is how much will the Mets want Pete Alonso if they sign Juan Soto. So I think the Juan Soto question needs to be resolved first before they move in other directions handing out other nine figure contracts. But at this point I do think Pilonzo will be back and Juan, so. [01:15:05] Speaker A: You just mentioned him. I mean obviously Steve Cohen's got the money. He's not afraid to spend it and so does agent Scott Boris recently said he wants to top the Ohtani contract. So is will Steve Cohen be willing to spend that kind of money for Juan Soto and take him away from the Yankees and make the Yankees upset? [01:15:26] Speaker D: I would be shocked if Juan Soto gets more than the 700 million that Ohtani got. That just, it doesn't compute for me. You know, when Scott Boris gets talking to these billionaire owners, we'll see where all the dust settles. Anything is Possible, I guess. But, you know, Juan Soto is a great player, but he's not Ohtani, so I don't think it will go quite that high. That said, Steve Cohen has more money than any other individual owner in baseball, so he can outbid anybody if he wants. I do think Soto ultimately goes back to the Yankees because the Yankees coming off the season that they had, coming off the season that Soto had, and them all falling just short in the World Series to on top of that, lose Juan Soto, to not just. Not just lose him, but lose him to your crosstown rival would be, I think, an indignity that they cannot suffer. So I think Hal Steinbrenner is going to have to just pay. [01:16:33] Speaker A: Yeah. Do you have a Hall of Fame vote? [01:16:36] Speaker D: I do not. [01:16:37] Speaker A: Okay, I'll ask this anyway. You know the recent passing of Pete Rose, banned for baseball, for gambling. Do you think he should get in the hall of Fame? [01:16:47] Speaker D: I've long thought that Pete Alonzo should be in the hall of Fame. [01:16:53] Speaker A: P. Rose Petros. Yeah, he's Alonzo. That's why. [01:16:57] Speaker D: Oh, I'm sorry. I'm sorry. Ask me again in 15 years about Alonzo. No, no. But I long thought that Pete Rose should be in the hall of Fame. I am not of the generation. I did not live through his career and his ban from baseball. So I don't have those memories and feelings and emotions associated with all that when that went on. I'm just a guy who grew up knowing that Peter Law, excuse me, Pete Rose had more hits than any anybody else in the history of baseball. So to me, Pete Rose should be in the hall of Fame. Barry Bond should be in the hall of Fame. I get why he's not. He's on the permanently ineligible list, and the hall of Fame does not want him in the hall of Fame. That's their prerogative. Fine. But I think if you have a museum dedicated to the history of baseball, which the hall of Fame is, then Pete Rose should be in it. [01:17:59] Speaker A: Let's face it, there's some unsavory characters in the hall of Fame that no. [01:18:02] Speaker D: Doubt, some truly awful people in the history of baseball. Absolutely. [01:18:05] Speaker A: Yeah. It's. It's. I grew up with Rose, you know, as a. You know, he played for the Reds and he came to my. Phillies will help him win their first World Series in 1980. And he. It's one of those things where I. If the gambling is just basically, as a manager, maybe. Maybe you have to bench out on the plaque somehow because we just recognize what he did. On the field. But I think now maybe down the road they'll finally relent and let him in. But it's a shame that it come to this. Yeah. [01:18:37] Speaker D: Yeah. I think noting on his would be plaque that he is on baseballs, he's on MLB's permanently ineligible list is would be a perfectly reasonable thing to do and way to go about it in those circumstances. [01:18:51] Speaker A: Yeah. And we should say the Major League Baseball does not run the hall of Fame in Cooperstown. That's a separate entity. So I mean if the hall do that, they can do that, but we'll see what happens. But Tim, enjoy doing out there with if you're off season, take some time off. Eventually of course everything you're just at the general general managers meeting in San Antonio. Anything newsworthy out of that? [01:19:17] Speaker D: Not really the most interesting thing. There was some hub up there and of course we've learned since that Roki Sasaki from Japan, the next Japanese phenom is coming over this off season. So that's going to be another Mets, Yankees, Dodgers, etc Padres battle. There's a lot. He's a fascinating player with a fascinating upcoming free agency, so that'll be a lot of fun to follow. [01:19:42] Speaker A: Yep. So hey Tim, always appreciate it and enjoy your off season and then we'll chat. Especially we have any news on Pete Alonzo, Juan Soto affecting the Mets and we'll talk soon. [01:19:53] Speaker D: Great. Sounds good. Thank you very much. [01:19:55] Speaker A: That's Tim Helium, Newsday. I'll be back to wrap up the podcast and have the latest winners in the Daily Gazette's uping of football and Auto Racing contest in just a moment. You're listening to the Parting Shots Podcast. [01:20:08] Speaker G: SA. [01:20:45] Speaker A: Explore the benefits of subscribing to the Daily Gazette like our convenient E Edition app, personalized newsletters and unique reader rewards when you join. Start your membership today offers redeemable at www.dailygaza. hi, this is Daily Gazette reporter Ted Rem Snyder. You're listening to the Parting Shots podcast with Daily Gazette sports editor Ken Schott. Back to wrap up the podcast. The Week 10 winner in the Daily Gazette's yous Pick Em Football contest was Patty Fusco of Schenectady. With a 13.1record, Patty wins a $100 Hannaford gift card. Congratulations, Patty. The VIP winners were my Gazette colleague Adam Schinder, along with Scott Lucher of Capital Land GMC. They both went 11 3. Adam improved to 101 and 51. I went 9 and 5. I am 103 and 49. I'll announce the you Pick a football contest winner's name and that winner's name will appear in Thursday's Daily Gazette. To play, go to dailygazette.com and click on the U Pick'em Football banner the week 36 winner in the Daily Gazette's auto racing contest with Beth Clements of Mechanicville with 75 points. Beth wins a $50 gift card. Congratulations Beth. The VIP winner was me. I had 55 points. This was the final auto racing contest of the season. The VIP champion was Scott Lucher of CapitaLand GMC. He finished with 515 points. Dwayne Leach of All Season Equipment was second with 505 points. Jerry Peel of Frankenstein's was third with 445 points. I was fourth with 425 and Nick Platel Grand Premier tires finished with 335 points. Thank you to everyone who participated and we'll see you next year. Just because COVID 19 mandates are easing, that does not mean you should relax. Be vigilant. If you have not gotten vaccinated or received a booster shot, please do so. Do it for yourself, do it for your family and do it for your friends. Don't forget to download the Daily Gazette app and sign up for our E Edition so you never miss a headline. Subscribe today at www.dailygazette.com. we have a lot of great specials going on. When credibility matters, Trust the Daily Gazettes. That wraps up another edition of the Parting Shots Podcast. I want to thank members of the Union College men's and women's hockey teams Doug Christensen, Shawn Hogan, John Worreau, Tim Healy and Adam Schinder for being a part of the show. If you have questions or comments about the podcast, email to me at shot that's s c h o t t dailygazette.com follow x and threads at Slapshots the views expressed on the Parting Shots Podcast are not necessarily those of the Daily Gazette Company. The Parting Shot Podcast was a production of the Daily Gazette Company and Daily Gazette sports Editor Ken Schott. Thanks for listening and I'll catch you next time from the Parting Shots Podcast studio in Schenectady, New York. Good day, good sports.