Charlie Voelker is the co-host of The Drive every weekday afternoon from 3 pm to 7pm. Charlie has been a part of the Capital Region Sports scene for over the last 25 years. In 1996 he joined Big Board Sports host and NewsChannel 13 sports director, Rodger Wyland in the UAlbany broadcast booth for football and basketball. Charlie spent 6 years in minor league baseball, then spent the next 17 years as the Associate Athletic Director for the University at Albany before retiring from that position in 2020. Charlie and his wife Kim live in Albany County with his son Andrew.
Charlie Voelker
Buffalo Bills May Be The Hottest Ticket In Europe
As the NFL continues to spread its brand across the world, the regular season games played on the other side of the Atlantic have skyrocketed in popularity. In January the league announced that the Buffalo Bills, Tennessee Titans, Jacksonville Jaguars, Kansas City Chiefs and New England Patriots will each play international games during the 2023 regular season.
Capital Region Hoop Fans Had Front Row To Three Of The Final Four
The Capital Region takes advantage of great basketball played in the region. This year was no different with the first and second rounds of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at the MVP Arena, played in front of sell-out crowds, including celebrities and sports icons.
Injuries Forcing New York Yankees To Dig Deep: So, Here’s Jhony!
New York Yankees' general manager Brian Cashman envisioned a much different pitching rotation heading north at the end of spring training in 2023. One by one, Pinstripe hurlers have gone down. The team announced another pitching injury to the ever-fragile Luis Severino on Saturday.
Mets Target New York’s 600,000 College Students With $15 Tix
Just after announcing their exclusive new "speakeasy" in right-field, the New York Mets told reporters that they are working on a new ticket plan exclusively for New York's 600,000 residents that are attending college.
Vegas “Hangover” Hotel Rooms Will Have UConn Dreaming of Albany
Winning a collegiate national championship takes high level preparation. That's why host cities like Albany, New York jump through hoops, literally, to roll-out the red carpet for the visiting teams, trying to think of everything that the host can to make their visit easier. That's why the NCAA continues to bring premier championships back to the Capital Region.
Did Star Wide Receiver Hint Buffalo May Be Next Destination?
It has been no secret that the NFL's Arizona Cardinals have been a bit of a mess lately. They are stuck with a talented-but-immature quarterback in Kyler Murray. So, after firing head coach Kliff Kingbury, the team is shopping their star wide receiver that was suspended for half the season.
Join The New York Mets Exclusive Fan Club! It’s Only $25,000
Well, at least we know how New York Mets owner Steve Cohen plans to pay for his luxury tax laden player payroll. The Queens based team announced on Tuesday that a new, exclusive speakeasy is available to fans in the right-field corner.
Latham Pitcher Endures Slow Return To New York Yankees
Shaker High School graduate, Tommy Kanhle is entering his 9th season in Major League Baseball. The right-hander from Latham has pitched well enough to earn a 2-year/$11.5 million contract with the New York Yankees through the 2024 season. However, Kahnle's second stint in pinstripes has gotten off to a slow start.
Will Rick Pitino Put St. John’s Back On Top In The Big Apple?
Rick Pitino's basketball resume is hard to compare to any other coach in the nation; head coach of numerous successful collegiate programs, as well as two NBA teams. Pitino has developed some of the best basketball players in the world. However, as the song goes, "all that shines, is not gold."
Acting Prez At New York College Dumps D-1 Athletics On 1st Day
On Sunday, Dr. Miguel Martinez-Saenz was granted his request for a personal leave from the college where he was president. An acting-president was named on Monday, seemingly prepared to execute a plan.
Sunday In Albany Was A Slam Dunk Winner For NCAA Tourney: SEE IT
Albany operates NCAA Tournaments very well. Whether it's men's or women's basketball, wrestling or hockey; the city, the county, the businesses and the fanbase all support the event with enthusiasm. From parking to fan-fest on a chilly weekend, a true team effort is always on display.
Bethlehem Grad’s Ears Guide Rookie MLB Manager
The days of the old grizzled Major League Baseball manager barking directions at his young players is certainly a thing of the past. Today's successful skippers are well versed in analytics, medical limitations and of course the rules of the game. What makes the great ones different from the rest, in a game where your stars make 30 times what some managers make? It's their relationships.
Movie Icon Cheers On Son In NCAA Tourney In Albany
Downtown Albany was buzzing on Friday with the perfect storm of St. Patrick's Day mixed in with round one of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament. Like any premier sporting event, featuring the best college players in the country, the stars wear out on Pearl Street.
Money Can’t Fix The Nightmare Facing Buck And The New York Mets
If one player was a lock to succeed for Buck Showalter in 2022, it was closer Edwin Diaz. When Timmy Trumpet's "Narco" began, that usually meant the game was ending for the Mets' opponents. The "lock" took a big hit in the WBC on Wednesday and in essence, so did the World Series dreams for Buck and the Mets.
Rodgers “Intends To Play For New York Jets”
With over 475,000 viewers watching The Pat McAfee Show on YouTube.com on Wednesday afternoon, Aaron Rodgers announced his intentions to play for the New York Jets.
Athletes At College In Upstate New York Accuse Coach Of Bullying
A women's lacrosse coach has been accused of consistent abusive behavior by a number of her former student-athletes in a letter sent to the president of the university.
General Store In New York Is First To Score New-Iconic Candy Bar
Certainly products can instantly trigger memories for us. The 'Reggie Bar,' named after Hall of Fame slugger Reggie Jackson is one of those products for me.
Boeheim Sinks Critic; Host Axed By Syracuse Radio Station
ESPN Radio Syracuse host, Brent Axe had a big old target on his back, by openly criticizing former Syracuse basketball coach Jim Boeheim. The basketball coach for decades has been one of the most powerful individuals in Central New York. Until Monday, Axe hosted the afternoon drive show in Syracuse, weekdays from 4pm to 6pm. That was until the power of Boeheim finally took the host down.
Pitching Injuries Force Decisions For Boone & New York Yankees
In professional sports, you don't want to plan on injuries. However, you have to be smart and prepare for them. New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman lured the biggest pitching prize of the 2023 free agent market, Carlos Rodón, to the Bronx. The GM certainly didn't want to plan for his left-handed pitcher's replacement in mid-March.
Why Did Syracuse Have To Force Boeheim To Leave?
'Thank you but we'll take it from here' was the message to a legendary college basketball coach with the second most collegiate wins ever. Jim Boeheim's 47-year coaching career put Syracuse basketball on the map. However, Boeheim's tenure wasn't without controversy, including its ending.
MSG-Banned Ticket Holder Travels 1000 Miles To Cheer Knicks
Larry Hutcher has to go to great lengths these days to see his beloved New York Knicks, who prior to Tuesday night, had won nine straight games. Hutcher has been a Knicks season ticket holder since the 1975-76 season, less than two years following the last New York NBA championship in 1973. His tickets were revoked by Madison Square Garden in October.
MLB Pitching Coach Credits Clifton Park Fire Dept For Team Effort
Prior to an 18-year professional baseball playing career that spanned the globe, Yonkers New York native, Brian Sweeney grew up around the fire house. His father was a fireman. The Kansas City Royals pitching coach still reflects on the basic lessons learned from his father and his own fire fighter days, in Clifton Park.
City In Upstate New York Intends To Pay Gang Members To Behave
For those that aren't in favor of rewarding bad behavior, you may be torn reading this story. With a bizarre solution to violent crime in his city, an upstate New York mayor intends to reduce gun violence by paying gang members.
Mets’ Prospect A Court No Show, Syracuse Judge Threatens Warrant
A New York Mets prospect angered a Syracuse judge last week by not showing up for a scheduled court appearance. The player's lawyer tried to explain the circumstances behind the player's absence but the judge didn't agree.
U.S. District Judge Advances Flores’ Lawsuit; Includes NY Giants
Big news came out of a U.S. District Court on Wednesday, one that will rattle more than a few teams and the NFL. A judge ruled that former Miami Dolphins head coach and current Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator, Brian Flores can continue to pursue his discrimination cases against several NFL teams and the league.
Finance Commissioner Of Upstate NY County Accused Of Stealing
A non-profit recreation and swimming organization that is funded by it's membership trusted a County Finance Commissioner to be their treasurer. Unfortunately, as life goes sometimes, unexpected surprises happen.
Could Draft Provide A D-Line Family Reunion For New York Giants?
The New York Giants have a lot of needs going into the official 2023 NFL season that begins on March 15th. As the calendar turned to the third month of the year, besides paring down rosters to create room under their salary caps, team personnel were ensconced at the NFL combine in Indianapolis, searching for their future stars in next month's NFL Draft. Big Blue, like many teams, are looking to beef up their defensive line.
Polar Bear’s Lumber Behind New York Yankee’s Playoff Power
Should the New York Yankees actually thank one of their cross-town rivals for the power surge displayed by one of the Pinstripes' stars during the 2022 playoffs? It seems like they should.
Check Out Some Serious Faces From New York Yankees Photo Day
Photo Day is one of the rights of spring training in Major League Baseball. Players are all dressed up in brand new home uniforms and the media gets to take some cool images. Last week, Getty Images photographer Mike Ehrmann got some pretty mean faces from a determined 2023 New York Yankees squad. Check them out!
Prison Is The Next Sideline For This Ex-New York Jet
2013 Fifth round NFL draft pick out of Vanderbilt, Zac Stacy played running back for 3 seasons in the NFL. Stacy suited up for the (then) St. Louis Rams in 2013 and 2014. Then the Centreville, Alabama native hooked on with the New York Jets for 8 games in 2015. Now he will put on a new uniform, one representing a Florida prison.