It's Memorial Day. The day set aside for honoring those who served our country and gave their lives to protect our freedom.
Here's what's happening...
Hockey Playoff Roundup ----
NHL:
Stanley Cup Finals
Last night --
No games
Tonight --
Philadelphia at Chicago 8:00pm EDT on NBC (Chicago leads series 1-0)
Next game --
Chicago at Philadelphia Wednesday, 8:00pm EDT on Versus (Game Three)
AHL
Calder Cup Finals
Last night --
No games
Tonight --
No games
Next game --
Texas at Hershey Thursday, June 3rd 8:00pm EDT (Game one, best-of-seven series)
Leighton to start game two.
Hawks' Toews sees room for improvement.
5 things the Hawks and Flyers can improve on.
The Tampa Bay Rays wiped out a thre-run deficit Sunday afternoon, only to drop the finale of their seven-game homestand 8-5 to the Chicago White Sox, in front of 26,878 at Tropicana Field.
The Sox scored twice in the top of the first, with Juan Pierre scoring on an Alex Rios single, and Rios scoring on a Mark Kotsay ground out.
A Rios one-out homer in the third stretched the lead to 3-0, before Tampa Bay came back. Ben Zobrist belted a two-out homer in the bottom of the third, then drove in Reid Brignac with a sacrifice fly in the fifth, followed by an RBI single by Evan Longoria that brought home Sean Rodriguez with the tying run.
The excitement of the Rays comeback didn't last long however as in the top of the sixth, Paul Konerko, Mark Kotsay and Carlos Quentin all cam home on Jayson Nix blasted a grand slam home run into the left field stands, putting Chicago up 7-3.
Tampa Bay mounted another comeback, as B.J. Upton scored on a sixth-inning Brignac single, then Brignac scored on a Carl Crawford two-out line drive single to center, drawing the Rays to within 2, at 7-5. The rally fizzled there, and the White Sox picked up an insurance run on Omar Vizquel's eighth-inning double that plated Ramirez with the final run, giving Chicago the 8-5 win and a split of the four-game series.
Jake Peavey allowed five earned runs but fanned five over 5 1/3 innings to pick up the win, he's now 4-4. James Shields allowed seven earned over 5 1/3 innings to take the loss, he's 5-3.
Despite being just 15-12 at home, Tampa Bay is a major league best 34-17, good for a 3 1/2 game lead over the Yankees in the A.L. East. The Rays now embark on a six-game road trip, starting tonight in Toronto, with first pitch set for 7:10pm on 620AM WDAE and the Rays Radio Network, Sun Sports and MLB.TV.
Today in Elvis History:
1975 - The Elvis Presley song "T-R-O-U-B-L-E" hit #31 in the U.K.
2005 - The original broadway cast recording of "All Shook Up" was released. The release included 25 renditions of Elvis Presley hits.
Dario Franchitti wins second Indy 500
Fifty years ago, a wreath was placed around Jim Rathmann’s neck in Victory Circle at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway to start another Indianapolis 500 tradition. Dario Franchitti, a motorsports historian, savors the heritage of the Speedway and soaks up the ceremony of the 500 Mile Race, which celebrates its centennial in 2011.
So the Scot especially has enjoyed the customs during his two trips to Victory Circle. Though both wins have come under caution, the swig of milk (a tradition started in 1936) still tastes as sweet.
Franchitti handed Target Chip Ganassi its fourth Indy 500 victory in a dominating performance under a searing sun (90 degrees at the green flag) and worldwide spotlight – 45 years after his hero, Jim Clark, won at Indy.
Read the rest here.
The Indy Car Series moves to Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth this coming Saturday, June 5th, for the Firestone 550K. Coverage on Versus and the IMS Radio Network begins at 8:00pm EDT.
Shhhhhhhh! Smokey's trying to sleep!
CONCORD, N.C. -- Call it Roger's revenge.
Kurt Busch won Sunday night's Coca-Cola 600 for team owner Roger Penske, spoiling a dream day for rival owner Chip Ganassi, who started Sunday off with Dario Franchitti's victory in the Indianapolis 500.
Busch crossed the finish line .737 seconds ahead of Earnhardt Ganassi Racing's Jamie McMurray to complete a sweep of both NASCAR Sprint Cup races at Charlotte -- last Saturday's Sprint All-Star Race and Sunday's 600.
Read the rest here.
Nascar's Nationwide Series moves on to Nashville this coming weekend, with the Federated Auto Parts 300 Saturday, June 5th at 7:30pm on ESPN 2 and the Motor Racing Network. The Sprint Cup Series races on Sunday, June 6th. The Gillette Fusion ProGlide 500 presented by Target takes place at Pocono Raceway in Long Pond, Pennsylvania. TV coverage on TNT starts at 1:00pm EDT, with radio coverage on MRN starting at 12:00pm EDT.
The Star Spangled Banner
Oh, say, can you see, by the dawn's early light,
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars, thru the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming?
And the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.
O say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?
On the shore dimly seen through the mists of the deep,
Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes,
What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep,
As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?
Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam,
In full glory reflected, now shines on the stream:
Tis the star-spangled banner: O, long may it wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!
And where is that band who so vauntingly swore
That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion
A home and a country should leave us no more?
Their blood has washed out their foul footsteps' pollution.
No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight or the gloom of the grave:
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.
O, thus be it ever when freemen shall stand,
Between their loved home and the war's desolation!
Blest with victory and peace, may the heav'n-rescued land
Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation!
Then conquer we must, when our cause. it is just,
And this be our motto: "In God is our trust"
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!
John and Kim
Jimmy
Snoopy and Smoke
That's it for today. Now, go have some fun, but remember what this day is really all about. God bless you all, and God bless America! See you tomorrow.
