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JONES LEADS AHL ROCHESTER IN SCORING AS A DEFENSEMAN

  Maybe the woeful Buffalo Sabres are doing  ZAC JONES   a favor after all. While the Sabres remain likely to run their NHL record  for futility to 15 straight playoff-less seasons, Jones is  leading their top farm team in scoring as a defenseman,  for crying out loud. In 18 games with the AHL Rochester (N.Y.) Americans,  prior to Friday night’s 6-3 victory at Charlotte, N.C., the  5-11, 190 pounder from Richmond had 20 points  including 19 assists and one (game-winning) goal. Jones  ranked 14 th  in league scoring overall, the only d-man  among the top 34. What’s more, you’ve got to believe the New York  Rangers, who signed him originally (as a third round draft  choice) six years ago, could use Jones now, especially on  the power play, with the loss of 2022 Norris Trophy  recipient  ADAM FOX  to what has been reported as a  lengthy injury. Jones unquestionably is at his best with the puck on...
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WHY CAN'T (WON'T?) TV CALL OUT FOOTBALL'S BAD ACTORS?

  Just when you think there couldn’t possibly be more lack of civility and sportsmanship than displayed by those overpaid slugs in the NFL … along comes college football’s Ohio State/Michigan game Saturday from the Big House … which, under the circumstances, seemed appropriate. “ A little chippiness already. To be expected,” said Fox TV  analyst  JOEL KLATT  … later (but not much) amended  to “a LOT of chippiness.” A better, more accurate description would have included  “cheap shots, mayhem and/or assault” You almost felt  sorry for the game officials. Almost. On every snap there was, at a minimum, holding and/or  players getting in each other’s faces, exchanging  obscenities. And a lot worse. At one point a player head- butted an official and wasn’t tossed from the game Wonderful. Of course, just about every call that went against a player  or team was met by prolonged indignation. Whatever the  coaches are teaching players nowada...
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LAME DUCK AG GETTING HEAT, NEVERTHELESS, ABOUT NEW GAMBLING EMPORIUM

  More stuff … college football, mostly … But, starting with … state senator  SCHUYLER  VANVALKENBURG , whose quest to eliminate all  forms of gambling, legal as well as illegal, in the  commonwealth now has him accusing lame duck  Attorney General  JASON MIYARES  of ignoring a  request to issue an opinion on the Roseshire, recently  opened betting parlor currently subject of a lawsuit  brought by Henrico County officials against the Virginia  Racing Commission. In September, the VRC granted a gaming license to  Roseshire, the last step in the process that allowed the  facility to operate (lawfully) as many as 175 historical  horse racing (ie, slot) machines. VanValkenburg and  DAN SCHMIDT , chairman of  Henrico’s Board of Supervisors, in particular, had argued  the commission’s decision was based on a 30-year-old  referendum in which county voters okayed parimutuel  betting on horse raci...
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0FFICIATING HURTING (ALL SPORTS) AS HOKIES LEARNED, THE HARD WAY

  Trying to catch up … knowing we never will … Officiating (all sports) is at an all-time low … perhaps  reflecting widespread difficulty finding willing  participants on local level. Or is it simply a sign of the  times. Draw your own conclusions. *****  Boy, did Virginia Tech get the short end of what  ESPN’s  LOUIS RIDDICK   described as “a really bad  call” in  Saturday’s 34-17 loss to Miami, Fla.  Down by 17 points but showing some offensive spark in  the second half (after scoring three points total in the  first), the Hokies completed 17-yard pass-run play that  carried inside the Miami 40 ... nullified by an inadvertent  whistle. Get this: QB  KYRON DRONES , ignoring blitzing  BR Y CE  FITZGERALD,  who had him low, around the ankles,  launched a perfect toss to  AYDEN GREENE  … but,  with ball in the air, suddenly you heard the whistle.  ESPN’s crack crew didn’...
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