Leading off today: Rush-Henrietta star Shenise Johnson will get to play in the Federation girls basketball tournement after it appeared doubtful this week, the
Democrat and Chronicle reported.
Under New York State Public High School Athletic Association rules, playing in an all-star game normally costs an athlete his or her eligibilty for the remainder of the season. Johnson, expected to be named the Democrat and Chronicle's All-Greater Rochester player of the year for the third time this spring, leaves this weekend to take part in the girls McDonald's All-America game on Wednesday in Milwaukee. Rush-Henrietta (24-3) won the NYSPHSAA state Class AA title last week and has a date with Murry Bergtraum (23-0) on March 29 in Glens Falls.
Rush-Henrietta officials learned last night that state officials had finally given Johnson the OK to play in the McDonald's game without penalty.
"I've been to Federations before. I've never been to the McDonald's game," Johnson told the paper. "What would you choose? I'm excited that I can play in both. My teammates are not selfish. They wouldn't want me to choose (Federation over the all-star game)."
Sylven Landesberg of the Holy Cross boys team is in the same boat as Johnson. He was selected for the McDonald's boys game but still has the Federation tournament ahead.
You've been screwed: Though it wasn't done voluntarily, each resident of New York donated one half of one cent to the re-election campaign of state Sen. Thomas W. Libous, R-Binghamton last week.
As I reported last week, Empire State Games officials list Libous as a sponsor of this summer's event in Binghamton. One of the perks he receives is having his name on posters and other promotional material that will flood the Southern Tier this summer.
The trouble is, the sponsorship money he is suppling comes in the form of a New York State Senate grant arranged by Libous. That fund is essentially a pork-project account for members to use on hometown initiatives. Some of the causes, such as helping volunteer ambulance services purchase new equipment, should be lauded.
This, though, has a strong stench attached to it. Libous is using your tax dollars to promote his name ahead of the 2008 election. I'd call it unconscionable, but that would be redundant considering that we're talking about a politician.
