April 16

Well, another birthday has come and gone (well, there are a few hours left as of starting this post). 

Thank you to everyone for the birthday wishes, whether in person, text, email, Facebook post or over the phone. Some people I see every day, others I haven't seen in a while. All the wishes are appreciated. 

It was a low-key day and that is good. Saw some great people but others I would have liked to see I did not. That's okay. 

I used to feel like you had to do something big or special on your birthday and I didn't want it to be just a normal day. I probably liked my birthday too much. But I am realizing it doesn't need to be anything crazy. There are more important things in life and special days can be any day, for a number of reasons. 

So today. 

Work and baseball. Then we did go out to dinner. 

I think it's only the second or third time I've ever had school/work on my birthday as tends to fall over the schools April Vacation. 

In fourth grade (I think it was fourth) I had school on my birthday as we had so many snow days that we lost some of April Break. It's elementary school so I am pretty sure my dad came in and we had cupcakes or some other treat. I remember walking around the school to share the treats with certain teachers after my class got them. 

In college, I remember having class one year and going to a seminar (for extra credit) with a guest speaker. 

Work today was quiet with there being no school and people away, but very productive. 

Baseball practice was also productive. That's most important. The players also sang happy birthday which was embarrassing but appreciated. It's a special group of young men. I keep saying that but it's true. 

Dinner with the family was good. 

A good end to a low-key but good day. 

Thanks again to everyone. Onto tomorrow. 

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We also talk about dates often and I have a weird memory of remembering certain dates, often of bad events, either personal/family or more public/national events. 

Well, with it being my birthday, April 16 is also known for an awful memory. It happens to be the Virgina Tech shooting in 2007. 

We remember all the lives lost, 32 of them, on this date. 

Today, we’re honoring the lives of the 32 Hokies who were tragically taken from their loved ones and the Virginia Tech community on April 16, 2007. On the 2024 Day of Remembrance, we reflect on the tremendous promise each of them embodied for our world. #VTWeRemember 🧡 pic.twitter.com/MjEkHsotSV

— Virginia Tech (@virginia_tech) April 16, 2024

John, Billy and Jackie

John Sterling and Suzyn Waldman

I keep wanting to blog more but the topics I have thought about blogging about would either be overall themes and thoughts that might seem as too vague and inflict questions or just topics that nobody cares about. 

Then again, you likely don't care about the topics I am about to write about. Or you can find thoughts on all this elsewhere. 

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John Sterling, the voice of the Yankees on the radio, announced that he is retiring, effective immediately. 

It was first reported by Andrew Marchand of The Athletic and confirmed by both the Yankees and Sterling himself. 

Sterling will have a press conference on Friday and be honored on Saturday. 

The timing is interesting, and I wonder if we will hear more but he's doing what he feels is right for himself and you cannot fault that. 

For me, there were years of summers listening to John and Suzyn Waldman call Yankee games on WCBS 880 before the Yankees moved to 660 WFAN. 

I personally also think about listening to the end of game six of the 2009 ALCS as the Yankees won the pennant over the Angels and listening to John's call as I was in the car at the time. 

There are so many other great calls of Sterling's From the World Series, to other milestones, to no-hitters and perfect games, and so much more. 

So many iconic home run calls, and other calls with nicknames, from "Bern Baby Bern" to an "A-Bomb from A-Rod" to many others. 

We will all think of John as the Yankees radio voice, but he was more than that. 

Before John started with the Yankees, he broadcast the Islanders, Nets, Hawks and Braves. 

Just a tremendous career for John Sterling and a well-deserved retirement. 

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Let's get to the Billy Joel concert at MSG on CBS that took place on Sunday night. 

Yes, I actually watched and listened. Partly because it was on in my house, but I actually was interested and paid attention. 

There is certain music I like (mostly "oldies"), I just don't pay enough attention to it or know enough to really talk about it or anything. If only I paid attention to it the way I do sports. 

Lots of great songs played, and some that were not. 

Now, to get to the broadcast. 

First off, yes, a lot of people were not happy with it starting late due to The Master running long. 

During football season, this happens all the time with 60 minutes and other shows and broadcasts being delayed due to football games running longer than planned. 

Second, yes, the broadcast cut off when Joel was still playing "Piano Man." Someone at CBS likely had it set to cut away to commercial and the local news at a certain time and didn't make adjustments when the show ran late/long. 

Good to hear that CBS will re-run the show in full later this week. 

I also found it interesting that it was presented as Billy Joel being live when others were reporting that this was a show that happened a few weeks ago. 

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Lastly, it's Jackie Robinson Day around Major League Baseball. 

The league has done a good job of recognizing Jackie and what he did both on and off the field by retiring number 42 around the league and having everyone wear 42 on April 15 every year. That day is used because that is the day Jackie broke the color barrier in 1947. 

People have talked about different, and possibly better, ways to honor Jackie. We will see if baseball changes that one day. 

That's one thing sports does well, is honoring it's history. 

UConn....National Champions Again!

Photo: The Athletic

For the second year in a row, the UConn men's basketball team has won the National Championship! 

Another championship for Danny Hurley, and UConn finishes on top after being the best team basically all season. 

What Hurley has done for UConn is tremendous. As great as the team was under Jim Calhoun, they struggled under Kevin Ollie (despite the one championship in 2014) and Hurley brought them back to prominence. 

There is a reason his nickname is "The Carpenter." 

This is championship number six for the UConn men. 1999, 2004, 2011, 2014, 2023 and now 2024. 

Per Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports on Twitter, Hurley becomes just the fourth coach since 1965 to win back-to-back championships. The others: Billy Donovan, Mike Krzyzewski, and John Wooden. That's good.....actually great company. 

Also, from a local high school sports perspective, Donovan Clingan, who played at Bristol Central High School, gets his second National Championship. Unlike last year when he was a backup, Clingan played a major role in what UConn did. 

UConn, the capital of the basketball world again! 

Baseball Time!

Kiwanis prior to the first day of tryouts

It's baseball season! 

High school baseball season, that is. 

We are underway with practices and scrimmages with opening day this weekend. 

I'm looking forward to this season for Ludlowe baseball. I always look forward to the season, but this season especially. It's a special group. 

A fantastic group on the field and even better young men. I know that's cliche, but it really is true. 

A senior class we have talked about for at least a few years. 

Guys I have known since they are in elementary school, and I had them as campers in Parks and Rec camp. Others who I haven't known as long but have developed a bond with. 

I always talk about this, but the bond with these athletes goes beyond the sport. Yes, we are coaches, and they are student-athletes, but it's more than that. It's always being there for them and then becoming friends for life. That's what sports is about. 

I got to know the senior class well when they were freshman, and I was going to watch and help out at a bunch of their games. 

It goes beyond the seniors though. It takes everyone to be a special team. It's about the full program. Those juniors and sophomores on varsity as well as everyone on the JV and freshman team. 

A lot of the current varsity guys got experience last year and some even got varsity experience two years ago. Hopefully all that pays off. 

It's a terrific coaching staff to be a part of, led by Head Coach Ken Geriak. Then it's Jeff Love, Tommy Howell, Chris Howell, and Vin Riccio. 

It's a long season. 20 regular season games. Hopefully eight playoff games. Looking forward to it being a lot of fun. 

Take it a game at a time. 

Game one is Saturday at 11am at Lyman Hall. We will see what happens! 

What a Run

Another Ludlowe boys' basketball season is in the books. 

And what a season it was. 

12-8 regular season, with a state tournament and FCIAC tournament berth. 

This was the first playoff appearance since the 2020-2021 season, which was the COVID schedule/postseason. 

It was a tremendous run in the state tournament this season, advancing all the way to the Division III Final Four. 

Wins in the state tournament over Killingly, number three ranked Wilby in dramatic fashion and Waterford to get the chance to play Lewis Mills in the state semifinals in what was an exciting finish, coming up just a point short. 

Congratulations to all the players and coaches on a tremendous season. 

Tate Mahoney had an amazing season. He set a number of school records and put himself high on the list for others. A couple records that he set were points in a game with 39 and three-pointers in a game with eight. Both of those Tate set on February 14 in a win vs Darien on Senior Night. 

Tate was named All-FCIAC first team and Charlie Mahoney was named All-FCIAC third team. 

Head Coach John Dailey picked up his 100th career win on January 19 with a 49-29 victory over Westhill. 

There were so many other great accomplishments. 

However, it's about so much more than that. This was just a tremendous group of young men, both on and more importantly off the court. 

A senior group who cared about the entire team, from the freshman all the way up. To the seniors, Jake Medor, Luke Cristodoro, Porter Davis-Whatley and Tate Mahoney, Congrats on a tremendous season and careers and best of luck. 

A total group of kids who cared about each other and the program and were incredible fun to watch and be around. 

Besides the seniors, it was guys like juniors Charlie Jones, Charlie Mahoney, Ryan Torello, Juan Stcherbina Castro, Jack Short and Andrew Fraise. It's sophomores Brennan Martino, Arlo Sollinger, Devin Brenner. Finally, it's the freshman like Timmy O'Neill, Gavin Mertz, Tyler Geriak, Carlo Noecker and Johnny Stauss. And that's just the varsity and JV guys. Then you have the freshman team. Too many to name. Bright future for all. 

To the juniors, sophomores and freshman, use this run to feed into next season! 

Tremendous job by the coaching staff of John Dailey, Joe Bossio, Darren Lee, Marty Conlon and Earl Coleman. These guys put in so much time and effort and just want what is best for the kids. 

Always a pleasure to help out in any way I can. 

Looking forward to see what these guys do next season. 

What a season this was. 

Relationships Through Sports

Rob Adams and Mike Buswell interview Ludlowe Head Coach John Dailey following the Falcons win

In sports, there are so many relationships and friendships made. 

Between, players, coaches, fans, and so much more. It's part of the aspect of being part of a group. 

These relationships are between those on the same team, and those on opposite teams. 

There are also relationships formed between other people involved in sports. 

With all the different aspects of sports I am and have been involved with, I have made so many relationships. 

From playing to coaching to working in sports, to covering as a writer and broadcaster. 

Some of those relationships transcend through multiple teams and sports. 

Well, what I am getting at and burying the lede, was tonight Ludlowe hosted Waterford in the CIAC Division III quarterfinals. 

Where have we seen Waterford before? Well, in the Babe Ruth baseball coverage. 

That leads us to Matt Shampine and Colby Sheehan, who were a part of the Waterford Babe Ruth team that Rob Adams and I have seen and covered often as part of the Trumbull Babe Ruth coverage. 

Shampine, who we have gotten to know well, and Sheehan, are both a part of the Waterford boys' basketball team. 

When we saw the matchup last Thursday and I realized they were on the team, I mentioned it separately to Rob and Mike Buswell, who is the Trumbull Babe Ruth coach as well as a former FCIAC assistant boys basketball coach (including Ludlowe at one time.)

Well, that led to Rob and Mike deciding to call the game tonight. 

As Rob said, Matt Shampine, (Ludlowe Coach) John Dailey, and some other guy (me) all involved in the game, why not? 

It was great to chat with Shampine and Sheehan for a bit. Great young men and terrific multi-sport athletes as well. 

As for the game, it did not go in Waterford's favor, as Ludlowe came away with the 70-48 victory to advance to the state semifinals. The Falcons led 16-0 after the first quarter and never looked back. 

Ludlowe will play Lewis Mills on Wednesday at a time and site to be determined. 

A fun night of hoops and friendships. 

Super Saturday - FCIAC Boys Basketball Style

During intros before Ludlowe/Ridgefield

One of the best, if not the best, days of the high school sports year is the FCIAC boys' basketball quarterfinals. That was this Saturday, also known as Super Saturday. 

Eight teams, four games. All at Fairfield Warde. 

Lots of great players and coaches. 

Tremendous job by those running and working the day. From Dave Schulz and Matt Narwold to Jack Kelly, Franey Donavan, Art Cockerham, and so many others. A total team effort for a long day. 

On the court, the first game saw an upset, with the six-seed Danbury, knocking off the three-seed Stamford, 50-46. 

In game two, Trumbull got out to a 15-3 lead over Warde after a quarter and came away with a 57-38 victory, despite Warde cutting the deficit to four in the fourth quarter. 

The third game, much like the previous one, saw a team jump out to a convicting first quarter lead. Staples led Wilton 19-5 after one period, in route to a 60-43 win. 

The nightcap saw the number-eight seed Ludlowe get out to a strong 12-6 lead after the first quarter, before the top seed Ridgefield outscored the Falcons 20-9 in the second quarter to take a halftime lead. The Tigers would eventually go on to win by a score of 55-37. 

Trumbull will meet Danbury in the first semifinal on Tuesday at 5:30pm at Wilton High School. Staples and Ridgefield will face off in the nightcap at 7:15pm. The winners head to Thursday's championship. 

Listen to the semifinals and championship on Robcasting Radio with Rob Adams on the call.