As a long-time Albany Patroons fan, I supported the gold and kelly green for many, many years – through two championships and five regular season titles. And in supporting the team, i also rallied against their opponents and rivals. In the early 1980’s, the Patroons’ closest rivals were teams like the Lancaster (Pa.) Lightning and…
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The Return of the Albany Patroons, Version 3.0
Once upon a time, there was a minor league basketball team that played its games in the Washington Avenue Armory. Waay back in 1982. And from 1982 to 1993, the Albany Patroons won two CBA championships and five regular season titles. Phil Jackson and Bill Musselman both guided the Pats to CBA playoff titles. George…
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“And here comes Mugshots Bro from out of nowhere!!”
It’s Sunday afternoon, and I want to test out a lens I haven’t used in a while – my super-telephoto Soviet cadiatrophic lens, the MC MTO-11, an 1100mm f/16 piece of glass that can pick up images half a mile away. My plan – stand at one end of the half-mile oval at Saratoga Harness…
Read MoreA new adventure for a former Albany Patroon
For the past six seasons, I’ve operated as the statistician with the National Basketball League of Canada. For the last four of those seasons, I’ve worked in one capacity or another with David Magley, a member of the 1983-84 Albany Patroons championship squad. Two of those years were when Magley coached the Brampton (Ontario) A’s,…
Read MorePhil Jackson and the Peter Principle
According to all reports, Phil Jackson will step down as president of the New York Knicks today. And thus, at that moment, the Peter Principle is proven once again. Let me explain.
Read MoreGet an Albany Patroon to run your sports league
I have never shied away from my love for the long-departed Albany Patroons basketball team. Two championships, five regular-season titles, and a slew of NBA players and coaches came from our little Continental Basketball Association team. And today I want to take a moment and salute one of those former Patroons and his successful involvement…
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The Trading Cards of the Albany Patroons
The Albany Patroons have always had a special place in my heart and in my sports memory. I was a fan during their days at the Armory; I cheered for them when they moved to the Knickerbocker Arena; I cried when they moved to Hartford; I celebrated when they came back to the Armory; and…
Read MoreBye-bye, Orlando Predators
During the years when Albany had a top-level Arena Football team, the Firebirds had several “rival” opponents. There were the Tampa Bay Storm, who never seemed to lose when they came to our building. There was the Detroit Drive, with quarterback Art Schlichter, who would take bets on everything and anything. But mostly, the biggest…
Read MoreRemembering Fritz Walker
It’s November of 1989, and the Albany Patroons are about to host the Omaha Racers at the Washington Avenue Armory for the season opener. The Pats had a new coach, former General Manager Gerald Oliver, and most of their nucleus from the 1988-89 season (Mario Elie, Vince Askew, Clinton Smith). But before the game began,…
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When Muhammad Ali fought at the Washington Avenue Armory
Yes, it’s true. There was a time when Capital District boxing fans could see the greatest prizefighter of all times, the former Cassius Marcellus Clay, later known as Muhammad Ali. Yes, you could actually travel to the intersection of Washington and Lark Streets, and pay a few dollars to watch Ali decimate his opponents. And…
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Chuck The Writer 
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