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
Kiper Jr’s New York Giants & Jets 1st Picks in the 2022 NFL Draft
April has become a more important month than January for New York Giants and Jets fans. Neither groups has a team playing this weekend in the NFL Divisional Championships. Once again, the April draft will bring Giants and Jets fans the anticipation and excitement that other team's enthusiasts enjoy during the playoffs in January. On Wednesday, ESPN's NFL Draft guru Mel Kiper, Jr. released his first version of a first round mock draft. Let's see who he has going to the two New York teams with their first picks.
We Have Snow! Top Snowmobiling Trails for Capital Region Riders
Snowmobiling is no fun when there is no snow. Watching your $14,000 investment sit on a trailer with a cover on it in late December stinks! Now that we have some snow in the in the upper regions of New York, Massachusetts and Vermont, let's find some trails close to home. There are some smaller clubs that maintain awesome trails and some bigger ones that incorporate groups of land owners and associations. Season trail passes for many of these clubs run from about $30 to $100 a year. Some have volunteer stipulations for trail maintenance.
New York’s Original Mr. Met Passes Away at 83
Mr. Met has been as an important part of the New York Mets, as players on the team, at times. The lovable mascot of New York's National League franchise has been entertaining fans at Shea Stadium and then Citi Field each game since 1964. Unfortunately, the man that was the original Mr. Met for the first four seasons has passed away at the age of 83.
Albany, CBA and Cohoes Win On A Crazy Night In High School Hoops
As the temperature drops, the rivalries in high school hoops heat up. Tuesday night was no different on basketball floors in the Capital Region. There were 29 boys games on the docket and another 22 for the girls. A big shout out to Tamarac boys basketball for their #1 ranking in Class B in New York State. Congrats to Coach Eric Medved and the Bengals!
New York Sets COVID Rules for High School Hoops Championships
Last year, high school seniors in New York State played their final basketball games in mostly empty gyms with masks covering two thirds of their friends and coaches faces. The mask part won't be much different for now but full gyms are expected and even encouraged in 2022. That is a good thing for everyone involved, even if you still can't see the smile.
Can A-Rod Sneak By Cooperstown’s PED Roadblock?
The final tally of the Baseball Writers Association of America's National Baseball Hall of Fame ballot will come out next Tuesday. On that list is a 'who's who' of Major League Baseball records and accomplishments. The MVP, CY Young and other awards owned by the list of ballot members could sink a ship. However, many of the names that own much of that prestigious hardware are in danger of their time on the Hall of Fame ballot expiring with induction.
UAlbany Great Danes to Open Season Against the Georgia Bulldogs
Stillwater native and UAlbany Baseball head coach Jon Mueller announced the Great Danes' 2022 season schedule. The 48-game slate features 18 games at Varsity Field and 30 games on the road. In typical Coach Mueller fashion, UAlbany will open with one of the toughest baseball programs in the country, the Georgia Bulldogs. Georgia plays in collegiate baseball's #1 conference the SEC.
Could Troubled Deshaun Watson Be New York Giants Next QB?
As the New York Giants run through their candidates for the next general manager of the organization over the next few days, a not too distant eye can be kept on potential head coaching candidates. With each potential name, comes the speculation of what changes will be made based on the relationships of the individual that Big Blue hires. One of those candidates for the head coaching position brings with him the possibility of a major stir within one of the most buttoned up organizations.
Shen, CBA & Saratoga Heat Up The Road on Friday 518 Hoops
It was a typical mid-January Friday night in Capital Region high school basketball. Single digit windchills were dropping to negative numbers, road teams kept the buses running. However, that didn't deter some road warriors from dropping the heat on this Friday night in Section 2 hoops. 38 match-ups on the schedule in boys basketball and another 29 on the girls basketball slate.
What Ten Former New York Giants Highlight this Year’s NFL Playoffs?
Of the contestants involved in the six games this weekend, in addition to the two top teams that earned byes, none of the 14 NFL playoff participants are the New York Giants. No surprise at this point to Big Blue fans, many who went into the season with so much hope only to have it evaporate week by week. The root of the problem general manager Dave Gettleman and his young unproven Coach Joe Judge were sent packing a few days ago. However, some former Giants players are still enjoying the excitement of the postseason tournament.
Upstate New York Gets Another Chance to ‘Come On Down!’
ome game shows are more fun to watch at home than others. Great game shows can elicit the yelling of answers in excitement, even though you know that the contestants can't hear you. For young and old, 'The Price Is Right' has always been one of those game shows. Bob Barker and Drew Carey made you feel like you were part of the 'studio audience.' Now, Upstate New York, you have 2 chances to 'Come on down!'
Strawberry Tells ‘The Drive’ About His Favorite New York Teammate
On Thursday afternoon, former New York Mets and New York Yankees all-star Darryl Strawberry jumped on The Drive with Charlie & Dan. Strawberry just wrote a new book, "Turn Your Season Around: How God Transforms Your Life." Darryl is now an ordained minister and has written several best selling books about his struggles with fame and addiction. He has been open and honest about his struggles in the past and he was definitely that way on The Drive.