The American Basketball Association screwed over the Saratoga Racers.

Sports fan know this pain. It’s not a pain of losing in the postseason to a better opponent. It’s the pain of something happening in the game that could be easily rectified with an official’s proper call. In baseball, the best example of that would be Don Denkinger’s “safe” call at first base in the…

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The Saratoga Racers deserve better.

Back in February, with the Albany Patroons on hiatus, and the New York Phoenix’ new season not starting yet, my winter basketball minor league experience seemed closed. Then I received a phone call that the Saratoga Racers – a team in the American Basketball Association – needed an announcer for their games. Ah, why not.…

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20 years later, a return to the ABA

I received a Facebook message Friday night. A friend of mine needed a PA announcer for their basketball game Saturday night, as their regular PA person was not available. Quickly checked my schedule. Yeah, I’m free. I can do it. This was a very important game for this team. The Saratoga Racers were playing a…

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Albany Patroons to sit out 2026 season … I still can’t believe I typed that headline.

The Albany Patroons have a very long history. The team began in 1982 as an expansion franchise in the Continental Basketball Association. During their time in the CBA, the Patroons won two championships (1983-84 and 1987-88), and provided a pathway for several players and coaches to matriculate to the NBA. Then, in 1992, the Patroons…

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A third Patroons coaching loss this offseason.

Earlier this year, the Albany Patroons family lost one of their own – longtime Patroons assistant coach (and later head coach) Charley Rosen passed after a long battle with cancer. And earlier this week, the Patroons mounred the loss of former player and head coach Micheal Ray Richardson. The old adage is that death comes…

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Micheal Ray Richardson was a good man.

“Did you hear about Sugar?” the text message read. At that moment … I knew what that message could mean. I responded back. “Please don’t tell me he died.” Even though I feared the answer. But it was true. Micheal Ray Richardson, former NBA superstar who went from legend to drug addict to recovery to…

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The Patroons need to win today … or the season is over. UPDATE: The season is over.

By the time you read this blog post, I’m most likely on my way back from my 40th college reunion (and yes, there will be plenty of blog posts about it this week). I’m racing back because tip-off for the Albany Patroons’ Game 2 playoff matchup against the Capital Seahawks. And the Patroons must win…

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The finale of the Route 5 Rivalry was won by …

I had a horrible nightmare Saturday night. I dreamed I was at the scorer’s table of the finals between the Albany Patroons and the New York Phoenix, with both teams fighting for that one playoff berth for the next round. The game was tied in the final moments. All of a sudden, I heard someone…

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