It's Thursday!

Happy Thursday to you. Here's what's happening....

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Today is Tapioca Day.

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Golfing with Stanley.

Ping Pong for Stanley.

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Today is Cow Appreciation Day. (That's udderly marvelous.)

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Jerseys off our backs scheduled for Saturday.

Riders set to celebrate retro style.

The Riders bring their 2-0 record back home this coming Saturday to host the 0-2 Edmonton Eskimos. Kickoff is set for 4:00pm EDT. Listen links for the game are on the right side of this blog.

If your cable providers offers them, you can see this Saturday's game live in the U.S. on the NFL Network, or online at ESPN3(Formerly ESPN360).com.

Check out Riderville.com for the latest on "Canada's (And Clearwater, Florida's) Team."

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Police said a South Carolina man fired up a chain saw and started chasing two college students who had been playing disc golf. It was the second time he went after someone with the power tool.

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Today in Sports History:

1876 - George Washington Bradley of St. Louis pitched the first no-hitter in baseball in a 2-0 win over Hartford.

1973 - Nolan Ryan of the California Angels became the first pitcher in two decades to win two no-hitters in a season.

1985 - Baseball players voted to strike on August 6th if no contract was reached with baseball owners. The strike turned out to be just a one-day interruption.

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Today is Saint Swithin’s Day. According to old English belief, “St. Swithin’s Day, if thou dost rain, for 40 days it will remain; St. Swithin’s Day, if thou be fair, for 40 days, will rain nae mair.”

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Split-personality Rays in position for playoff push.

Shields to start as Rays visit Yankees tomorrow.

The Rays have a record of 54-34 at the All-Star break. They're 9-2 in July, have won 8 of their last 9 and 11 of their last 15, and are second in the A.L. East, 2 games behind the Yankees and 3 ahead of Boston. After MLB's All-Star break, the Rays head out for nine games, starting with a huge three-game set at the Yankees beginning on Friday. 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. You can follow the Rays on 620AM WDAE and the Rays Radio Network. Saturday's game at the Yankees can be seen on FOX at 4:00pm EDT. All other games can be seen on Sun Sports.

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Former boxer Mike Tyson says he's dedicating the rest of his life to caring for others because he considers himself a "pig" who has "wasted" so many years of his life. (Well, alrighty then.)

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The Yankees lead the A.L. East by 2 games over Tampa Bay and 5 over Boston. Toronto is 12 1/2 back and Baltimore is 27 games behind.

In the A.L. Central, Detroit leads Chicago by 1/2 game, Minnesota is 3 1/2 games behind, Kansas City is 10 1/2 back and Cleveland is 15 1/2 games off the pace.

Out in the (not-so)wild A.L. West, Texas leads the Angels by 4 1/2 games, Oakland is 7 1/2 back and Seattle trails by 15.

In the N.L. East, Atlanta leads the Mets by 4 games, Philadelphia is 4 1/2 behind, while Florida is 10 back and Washington trails by 13 1/2.

In the N.L. Central, Cincinnati leads St. Louis by 1 game, Milwaukee is 8 1/2 behind, Chicago trails by 9 1/2, Houston is 12 1/2 behind, and Pittsburgh(which hasn't had a winning record since they last won the division in 1992) is 18 games off the pace.

San Diego leads Colorado and the Dodgers in the N.L. West by 2 games, with San Francisco 4 back. Arizona is still last, 17 1/2 games out of first.

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The Five Second Rule? It's a myth. Researchers at Clemson University tested the Rule and found that bacteria was transferred from tabletops and floors to the food within five seconds.

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Lancers' Marshall hurt in Red Wings' prospect camp.

Force hold tryouts July 25th-28th.

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Here's Jimmy with Mommy and the Boys, one year ago today.








Snoopy and Smoke always want to know what's going on.






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Today in Elvis History:

1957 - Elvis Presley's single "(Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear" hit #1 in the U.S.

1957 - Elvis Presley's single "All Shook Up" hit #1 in the U.K.

1963 - Principal photography began on the Elvis Presley film "Viva Las Vegas."

1989 - The white suit and cape that Elvis Presley wore during the "Aloha From Hawaii" TV concert was stolen from the home of Presley impersonator Charlie Stickerod.

1997 - The Elvis Presley album "Platinum - A Life in Music" was released.

2003 - Lisa Marie Presley performed an acoustic version of her new single "Sinking In" on "Live with Regis and Kelly."

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USA Hockey announces Under-18 select team

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - Twenty-one players who participated at USA Hockey's Boys' Select 17 Player Development Camp have been selected for the 2010 U.S. Under-18 Select Team that will compete at the 2010 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament from Aug. 9-14, in Breclav, Czech Republic and Piestany, Slovakia.

The Boys' Select 17 Player Development Camp was held July 7-13, at the Sports Centre at MCC in Rochester, N.Y.

Highlighting the roster are six players who were members of the 2009 U.S. Under-17 Select Team that competed at the 2009 Under-17 Five Nations Tournament, including Jay Williams (McLean, Va.), who led all goaltenders at the 2010 Boys' Select 17 Player Development Camp with a .964 save percentage and 1.20 goals-against average, and Cason Hohmann (Plymouth, Mich.), who finished tied for third at the camp with nine points (3-6).

Other returnees from the 2009 U.S. Under-17 Select Team include forwards Alex Racino (Merrill, Wis.) and Lukas Sutter (Whitefish, Mo.) and defensemen Brian Cooper (Anchorage, Alaska) and Connor Murphy (Dublin, Ohio).

The U.S. roster also includes forwards John Gaudreau (Carney's Point, N.J.), who led all players at the Player Development Camp with 12 points (5-7), and Tanner Sorenson (Anchorage, Alaska), who led the camp with nine goals (9-1--10). Craig Duininck (Plymouth, Mich.) will add depth to the blueline, as he finished second among the camp's defensemen with five points (1-4). Steven Michalek (Glastonbury, Conn./.936, 2.02) will share the goaltending duties with Williams.

Five players on the U.S. squad played in the United States Hockey League last season, including forwards Seth Ambroz (New Prague, Minn./Omaha Lancers), Theo Di Pauli (Woodridge, Ill./Chicago Steel) and Hohmann (Cedar Rapids Roughriders), as well as returning defensemen Cooper (Fargo Farce) and Murphy (U.S. National Under-17 Team). The USHL is the only Tier I junior hockey league in the United States.

For a complete roster click here.

NOTES: The 2010 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament will feature eight countries separated into two groups. Group A (Czech Republic, Finland, Russia, United States) will play its preliminary games in Breclav, Czech Republic, while Group B (Canada, Slovakia, Sweden, Switzerland) will play its preliminary games in Piestany, Slovakia ... Team USA has finished in the top three of the Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament nine times since the tournament's inception in 1991, including a first place finish in 2003. The U.S. finished second in the tournament six times (1993, 1994, 1996, 1999, 2000, 2006) and finished third twice (1991, 1995) ... The U.S. roster includes 12 forwards, seven defensemen and two goaltenders. The 21 players represent 13 states, with three players coming from Ohio ... The 2010 U.S. Under-18 Select Team will be coached by Tim Army, head men's ice hockey coach at Providence College ... Army has twice served as an assistant coach for the U.S. Men's National Team (1994, 1996), and was an assistant coach for Team USA at the 2004 World Cup of Hockey ... Jay Varady, associate head coach with the Western Hockey League's Everett Silvertips, and Chadd Cassidy, assistant coach at USA Hockey's National Team Development Program, will serve as the assistant coaches ... Army, Varady and Cassidy are all Level 4 USA Hockey certified coaches ... The annual USA Hockey Boys' Select 17 Player Development Camp provides top young players with concentrated on- and off-ice training and instruction, as well as the opportunity to compete at a national level against other players from their age group.

2010 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament • Team USA Schedule
August 9-14 • Breclav, Czech Republic & Piestany, Slovakia

Date Opponent Time (Local/EDT) Location
Sat., Aug. 7* Slovakia 5:30 p.m. (11:30 a.m.) Piestany, Slovakia
Mon., Aug. 9 Czech Republic 3:30 p.m. (9:30 a.m.) Breclav, Czech Republic
Tues., Aug. 10 Russia 3:30 p.m. (9:30 a.m.) Breclav, Czech Republic
Wed., Aug. 11 Finland 3:30 p.m. (9:30 a.m.) Breclav, Czech Republic
Fri., Aug. 13 TBD TBD TBD
Sat., Aug. 14 TBD TBD TBD
*Exhibition

2010 USA Hockey Sled Hockey Player Development Camp to Begin Friday

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - USA Hockey will host the 2010 Sled Hockey Player Development Camp at the Sports Centre at MCC in Rochester, N.Y., from July 16-21, 2010.

More than 45 male and female sled hockey players ages 14-24 will take part in the five-day camp, which will include daily practices and games. The purpose of the camp is to identify, train and educate the top sled hockey athletes in the United States. During the camp, players are evaluated by USA Hockey’s national evaluation staff, while competition gives the players the opportunity to measure themselves against others in the same age group, gain knowledge about their development and be exposed to top-level coaches.

The U.S. National Junior Sled Hockey Team, which will compete in various national and international events during the 2010-11 season, will be selected from players at this camp.

Meanwhile, the 2010-11 U.S. National Sled Hockey Team tryouts will take place immediately following the USA Hockey Sled Hockey Player Development Camp, July 22-24 in Rochester, N.Y. The tryouts are open to all disabled sled players 15 years of age or older. For more information, contact Dan Brennan at danb@usahockey.org.

NOTES: Jeff Sauer and Mike MacMillan will serve as the head coaches of USA Hockey's Sled Hockey Player Development Camp while Gregg Marianari and Brad Roethlisberger will serve as assistant coaches. J.J. O’Connor, chair of USA Hockey’s Disabled Section, will serve as the camp director ... Adding to the camp’s staff will be Mike Blabac (Buffalo, N.Y.), Brad Emmerson (Amherst, N.Y.), Alexi Salamone (Grand Island, N.Y.), Kip St. Germaine (Massachusetts), and Bubba Torres (Riverside, N.J.), all of whom are former U.S. Paralympic Sled Hockey Team members ... Athletes for the camp are chosen by the Player Development Committee from recommendations of sled hockey coaches nationwide.


U.S. National Junior Team to Face Rensselaer in IIHF World Junior Championship Tune-Up December 19th in Troy, N.Y.

COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. -- The U.S. National Junior Team will face the Rensselaer men's ice hockey team on Sunday, Dec. 19, at Houston Field House in Troy, N.Y., it was announced today by USA Hockey. Opening faceoff is slated for 4 p.m. EST.

The contest is part of Team USA's preparation for the 2011 International Ice Hockey Federation World Junior Championship, which will be staged Dec. 26 - Jan. 5 in Buffalo, N.Y. The U.S. are defending gold medalists at the tournament, having captured the top prize last year in Regina and Saskatoon, Sask.

"We're pleased to have the chance to play a quality college team like RPI," said Jim Johannson, general manager of the 2011 U.S. National Junior Team and assistant executive director of hockey operations for USA Hockey. "The game will be fun for the fans and players alike and will give us an opportunity to further evaluate who will be on our final roster."

Johannson anticipates inviting approximately 28 players to a training camp that will likely begin on Dec. 16 in Rochester, N.Y. In addition to the RPI game, he said the U.S. National Junior Team will also face the Czech Republic and Norway prior to the commencement of the World Junior Championship.

"We'll be announcing dates and locations for our games against the Czech Republic and Norway shortly, as well as our final camp schedule," added Johannson.

Johannson noted the final 22-player U.S. roster for the World Junior Championship is likely to be unveiled on Dec. 23.

NOTES: For ticket information for Team USA's tilt against RPI, visit www.RPIAthletics.com or call (518) 276-6262 ... The 2011 IIHF World Junior Championships will take place Dec. 26 - Jan. 5 at the HSBC Arena in Buffalo, N.Y., and Niagara University's Dwyer Arena in Lewiston, N.Y. Additional information including a full preliminary-round tournament schedule and ticket details can be found at www.BuffaloWorldJuniors.com ... Keith Allain, head men's ice hockey coach at Yale University, will serve as head coach of the 2011 U.S. National Junior Team. Allain will be assisted by Mark Osiecki (Burnsville, Minn.), head men's ice hockey coach at The Ohio State University; Phil Housley (South St. Paul, Minn.), head boy's ice hockey coach at Stillwater (Minn.) high school; and Joe Exter (Saline, Mich.), goaltender coach at USA Hockey's National Team Development Program ... Jim Johannson is serving as the general manager of Team USA for the second consecutive year. Meanwhile, Tim Taylor (Guilford, Conn.), former U.S. Olympic Men's Ice Hockey Team head coach and longtime Yale University men's ice hockey team head coach, is also serving his second straight year as Team USA's director of player personnel ... From July 30 - Aug. 7, 44 of the top U.S. under-20 players will take part in USA Hockey's National Junior Evaluation Camp in Lake Placid, N.Y. For the full roster and camp coverage, click here.

U.S. Olympic Men's Ice Hockey Team, Steve Cash
Receive 2010 ESPY Awards

Olympic Team Wins Best Game, Cash Named Best Male Athlete with a Disability

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - The 2010 U.S. Olympic Men's Ice Hockey Team and U.S. Paralympic Sled Hockey Team goalie Steve Cash (Overland, Mo.) were honored last night at the 2010 ESPY Awards at the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles. Team USA received its award for playing in the year's Best Game, while Cash was named the Best Male Athlete with a Disability.

In Team USA's 2010 Olympic Winter Games gold-medal showdown with Canada in Vancouver, B.C., Zach Parise (Minneapolis, Minn.) scored with just 24 seconds remaining in regulation to tie the score, 2-2, and send the game into overtime. Despite Team USA's eventual loss, the largest television audience for a hockey game in 30 years witnessed the U.S. culminate one of its most successful Olympic runs ever and capture its second silver medal in three Olympic Winter Games.

Meanwhile, Cash backstopped the U.S. Paralympic Sled Hockey Team to its second-ever Paralympic gold medal at the 2010 Paralympic Winter Games in Vancouver, B.C. He achieved what no other sled hockey goaltender has ever done by not allowing a single goal throughout the tournament. He turned aside all 33 shots faced in the five games of the Paralympics.

Among the attendees for the U.S. Olympic Men's Ice Hockey Team were head coach Ron Wilson, Patrick Kane (Buffalo, N.Y.), Ryan Miller (East Lansing, Mich.) and Parise.

"I'm extremely happy that the fans thought we had the greatest game of the year," said Wilson. "That's pretty cool."

NOTES: USA Hockey's 2010 College Player of the Year Blake Geoffrion (Brentwood, Tenn.) and 2010 Bob Johnson Award winner Ryan Miller were also nominated for ESPY Awards as the Best Male College Athlete and Best NHL Player ... Begun by ESPN in 1993, the annual ESPY Awards allow sports fans worldwide to join in an online vote for their favorites in multiple categories. A full list of 2010 ESPY Award winners can be found here.

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Today is the start of Rabbit Week.

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Coming up:

Tonight --

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 all for today. See you tomorrow!