It's Saturday!

It's Saturday. Here's what's happening....

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Today is the start of International Chicken Wing Week.

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Hjalmarsson receives offer sheet from Sharks.

Report: Secret location for Fisher-Underwood wedding.

Army team wins Camp Victory street hockey league.

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Today is Teddy Bears' Picnic Day. Read all about it here.

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Today in Sports History:

1943 - Arthur Ashe, the first African-American inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame, was born. He had won 33 career titles.

1951 - Sugar Ray Robinson was defeated for only the second time in 133 fights as Randy Turpin took the middleweight crown.

1969 - The National League was divided up into two baseball divisions.

1984 - Dwight ‘Doc’ Gooden (New York Mets) became the youngest player to appear in an All-Star Game as a pitcher. He was 19 years, 7 months, and 24 days old.

1993 - Kenyan runner Yobes Ondieki became the first man to run 10,000 meters in less than 27 minutes.

1999 - The U.S. Women's soccer team defeated China to win the 1999 World Cup tournament.

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Today is Don't Step On A Bee Day.

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Riders look to tame Lions in BC,

The Riders are in Vancouver to play the BC Lions tonight at Empire Stadium. Kickoff is at 10:00pm EDT. Listen links are to the right on this blog.

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Today is Hop A Park Day.

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The Cleveland Indians combined a two-run second inning with a four-run eighth inning to beat the Tampa Bay Rays 9-3 last night, before 23,116 at Tropicana Field.

Matt LaPorta singled home Travis Hafter and Jhonny Peralta later scored on a wild pitch, putting the Tribe up 2-0. Tampa Bay got one back in the third, when Carlos Pena lined a two-out single up the middle to score Evan Longoria, making it 2-1. A fifth inning homer by Jayson Nix put Cleveland on top 3-1, then they stretched the lead to 4-1 as Shelley Duncan belted a seventh inning lead out homer. The Rays got one back in their half of the seventh, when a bases-loaded walk to Matt Joyce forced in Carl Crawford, cutting the deficit to 4-2, but that's as close as Tampa Bay would get.

Peralta homered in the eighth, scoring Carlos Santana and Austin Kearns ahead of him, then a Jason Donald double scored LaPorta, and the Indians had an 8-2 lead.

Each team would score a run in the ninth. Cleveland got theirs when Kearns bounced a double into the right field seats, driving home Santana. The Rays got theirs on a Carlos Pena homer to wrap up the scoring, giving the Indians a 9-3 win, snapping Tampa Bay's six-game winning streak.

Fausto Carmona got the win for Cleveland, allowing 2 runs on 5 hits, with 4 strike outs and 4 walks over 5 2/3 innings, improving to 8-7. James Shields took the loss for the Rays, allowing 4 runs on 6 hits, with 9 strike outs and 1 walk over 6 1/3 innings, sliiping to 7-9.

Tampa Bay is now 52-34, 7-2 in July, and are second in the A.L. East, 3 games back of the Yankees and 2 ahead of Boston. The Rays are home against Cleveland again tonight, with first pitch set for 7:10pm EDT. You can hear all the action on 620AM WDAE and the Rays Radio Network. Tonight's game can be also seen on on Sun Sports. MLB's All-Star break comes up after the Cleveland series. After this home stand and the All-Star Break, the Rays head out for nine games, starting with a huge three-game set at the Yankees beginning on Friday, July 17th. Tampa Bay will also play three at Baltimore and three at Cleveland, before returning home on Monday, July 26th for their longest home stand of the season, 11 games, with the first of a four-game set against Detroit, to be followed by three against the Yankees and four against Minnesota.

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Wyoming was admitted to the union this day in 1890. (Save a cowboy, ride a horse.)

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The Yankees lead the A.L. East by 3 games over Tampa Bay and 5 over Boston. Toronto is 12 1/2 back and Baltimore is 28 games behind.

In the A.L. Central, Detroit leads Chicago by 1/2 game, Minnesota is 3 games behind, Kansas City is 9 back and Cleveland is 14 games off the pace.

Out in the (not-so)wild A.L. West, Texas(Who acquired pitcher Cliff Lee from Seattle) leads the Angels by 4 1/2 games, Oakland is 9 1/2 back and Seattle trails by 16.

In the N.L. East, Atlanta leads the Mets by 4 games, Philadelphia is 5 1/2 behind, while Florida is 10 back and Washington trails by 12.

In the N.L. Central, Cincinnati leads St. Louis by 2 games, Chicago and Milwaukee are 10 1/2 behind, Houston is 13 1/2 behind, and Pittsburgh is 18 games off the pace.

San Diego leads the Dodgers and Colorado by 2 games in the N.L. West, San Francisco is 5 behind and Arizona is still last, 17 1/2 games out of first.

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Baseball's "Sad Lexicon," about the Chicago Cubs double-play trio, was published in the New York Evening Mail 100 years ago today:

These are the saddest of possible words

“Tinker to Evers to Chance.”

Trio of bear cubs, and fleeter than birds,

Tinker and Evers and Chance.

Ruthlessly pricking our gonfalon bubble,

Making a Giant hit into a double—

Words that are heavy with nothing but trouble:

“Tinker to Evers to Chance.”

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UMass's Casey Wellman talks about his days in the USHL.

Former Lincoln Star Stephen Schultz skates in Islanders' Prospects Camp.

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Let's see: Sitting on the floor of his messy room, reading a book...Yup, that's Jimmy!







Snoopy Boo, King of the couch.








I think I'll stay right here until something exciting happens, or until it's time to eat. Whichever comes first.




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Today in Elvis History:

1963 - Elvis Presley recorded the song "Viva Las Vegas." The single was released in April 1964.

1971 - The album "Love Letters From Elvis" hit #33 in the U.S.

2001 - The Elvis Presley compilation album "Blue Suede Shoes Collection" was released.

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Today is Clerihew Day. It celebrates the birthday of Edmund Clerihew Bentley, whose middle name became a form of light verse.

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From http://www.tampabaystorm.com

The Tampa Bay Storm (10-3, 2-1) punched their ticket to the playoffs on Friday, winning their second and final meeting against the Dallas Vigilantes (1-12, 1-8) by a 56-34 score. The win also extended Tampa Bay’s winning streak to eight consecutive games, while Dallas dropped its 10th straight.

Tampa Bay’s defense held Dallas scoreless throughout the entire fourth quarter, while the Storm offense outscored the Vigilantes in each period after matching its opponent’s touchdown total in the first quarter. Quarterback Brett Dietz’s touchdown pass Hank Edwards clinched the victory, putting Tampa Bay out to a 49-34 lead early in the final frame. The win was punctuated by Cliff Dukes, who registered a forced fumble late in the fourth quarter.

Dietz recorded a career night, breaking his career record of 86 touchdown passes in a single season, throwing six on the night that spanned a total of 329 yards. He bested Dallas’ Collin Drafts, who completed 25 of 42 passes for 228 yards and four touchdowns. Dietz spread the ball around throughout the night, as three different receivers including Tyrone Timmons, Sedrick Robinson and Hank Edwards each caught a pair of scores on the night, with Edwards leading all receivers with 133 receiving yards. The Vigilantes’ Derek Lee and Matt Fields served as Drafts’ primary targets, as each hauled in two touchdowns apiece.

Tampa Bay and its opponent both got off to slow starts offensively, scoring just one touchdown apiece in the opening quarter. Dietz lit the scoreboard first, putting Tampa Bay up 7-0 with a 30-yard completion in the endzone to Sedrick Robinson. The Storm defense, however, was much more impressive. Tampa Bay applied pressure up the middle, harassing Drafts and forcing Dallas receivers to commit infractions by executing tight man coverage. The Vigilantes seemed to find the paint to counter Tampa Bay’s initial strike, but the score was called back due to pass interference. The pressure continued on the ensuing play, as the Storm forced opposing kicker Mark Lewis to send a field goal wide, preserving the one-touchdown lead. It didn’t last long, however, as Dietz committed a turnover after overthrowing his intended receiver, allowing Dallas’ Delenall Reid to field the ball off of the endzone nets for an interception. Drafts capitalized, finding Matt Fields for the tying score.

Dietz propelled the offense forward in the second frame following the slow start, throwing three touchdowns, each to a different receiver. The Storm passer capitalized on a big fourth-down play in which he found Tyrone Timmons to re-gain the lead. The touchdown pass marked Dietz’s 87th of the season, setting a new single-season career high. Dietz, however, was just getting started. Although Dallas would come back to tie the game an additional time in the period, Tampa Bay managed to take a 28-24 lead into the intermission after Sedrick Robinson reeled in his second score of the night and Mark Lewis added three points for Dallas with a field goal as time expired in the first half.

Tampa Bay shifted the momentum in its favor in the third quarter, holding Dallas to a field goal rather than the Vigilantes’ second touchdown in the period, while also scoring twice and making key defensive plays. Drafts gave Dallas its first lead of the game after hooking up with Fields for the second time on the night, but it didn’t last as Dietz countered with a strike to Tyrone Timmons. Sedrick Robinson set up the score, delivering a spectacular block that allowed the Tampa Bay wideout to cross the goal line. The Storm defense then continued the scoring when Cliff Dukes recovered a fumbled snap and returned it in the endzone to give the visitors a 42-34 lead after Lewis converted his second successful field goal attempt of the game.

The Storm sealed the contest in the fourth quarter despite Dallas recording and interception to open the fourth stanza. Dietz’s touchdown to Hank Edwards proved to be the game-deciding score, which gave Tampa Bay a 49-34 lead. Cliff Dukes then padded the lead by forcing the second fumble of the night, this one recovered by Tim McGill. Terrence Royal capped the scoring in the game’s final minute with a touchdown from the goal line.

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Did you know that this is National Shampoo Week? (That's okay. Neither did I.)

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From http://www.nascar.com

Kyle Busch won a Nationwide Series race Friday night he thought he had lost and left Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Joey Logano frustrated and dejected.

In a green-white-checkered finish that took the Dollar General 300 three laps past its scheduled distance, Busch beat Logano on a restart on Lap 202 and held the lead until a caution for a wreck on the Chicagoland Speedway tri-oval froze the field and made Busch a winner in the series for the seventh time this year.

Busch got a break when series points leader Brad Keselowski ran out of fuel on the final caution lap before the last, abbreviated green-flag run. Keselowski's misfortune allowed Busch to move to the front of the outside line, beside his teammate.

Busch was able to pin Logano to the bottom of the track and clear Logano for the win. The race ended under caution because the wreck occurred after Busch took the white flag to begin the final lap.

The victory was Busch's 37th all time, breaking a tie for second with Kevin Harvick for career wins in the series. Rookie Brian Scott ran third, followed by his Braun Racing teammates David Reutimann and Jason Leffler, as Toyotas swept the top five positions.

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Scott Rueck Introduced As Oregon State Women's Basketball Head Coach.

Single Game Tickets, Three Game Packages for Football on Sale Monday.

Football away game tickets on sale now.

Quizz is number one, says ESPN.

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Telstar I, the first privately funded satellite, is launched on this date in 1962, sending the first commercial transmission of live television via satellite. (Just think: Without this technology, we wouldn't be able to see live telecasts of Australian Rules Football.)

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Coming up:

Tonight --

Baseball: Cleveland Indians at Tampa Bay Rays 7:10pm EDT

Nascar Sprint Cup Series: LifeLock.com 400 at Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, Illinois 7:30pm EDT

CFL Football: Saskatchewan Roughriders at BC Lions 10:00pm EDT

Sunday --

Baseball: Cleveland Indians at Tampa Bay Rays 1:40pm EDT

Baseball: XM All Star Futures game at Anaheim 6:00pm EDT on ESPN2

Monday --

Baseball: All-Star Break

Tuesday --

Baseball: MLB All-Star Game at Anaheim 8:00pm EDT on FOX

Wednesday --

Baseball: All-Star Break

Thursday --

Nothin' Doin'

Friday --

Baseball: Tampa Bay Rays at New York Yankees 7:05pm EDT

Saturday --

CFL Football: Edmonton Eskimos at Saskatchewan Roughriders 4:00pm EDT

Baseball: Tampa Bay Rays at New York Yankees 4:10pm EDT

Arena Football: Tampa Bay Storm at Jacksonville Sharks 7:00pm EDT

Nascar Nationwide Series: Missouri-Illinois Dodge Dealers 250 at Gateway International Raceway in Madison, Illinois 7:00pm EDT

Sunday --

Indy Car: Honda Indy Toronto on the streets of Toronto, Ontario 12:30pm EDT

Baseball: Tampa Bay Rays at New York Yankees 1:05pm EDT

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That's what's happening today. See you tomorrow!