It's Sunday. Here's what's happening....
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Today is August 8th, the 220th day of 2010. There are 145 days left in the year.
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Wings add Chelios -- To front office.
Patience key in Holland's quest to add Modano to Wings.
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Today is the start of Assistance Dog Week.
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Wisconsin Sports Network talks with Badger recruit Jefferson Dahl.
Another story on the USHL's participation in the Motor City Cup midget festival.
Indiana Ice auditioning "Chill Girls."
Fargo Force releases 2010-2011 schedule.
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Today is the start of National Resurrect Romance Week.
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U.S. Under-18 Select Team Blanks Slovakia, 3-0,
Prior to Start of Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament
Team USA to Open Tournament Play Against Czech Republic on Monday
PIESTANY, Slovakia - Cason Hohmann (Plymouth, Mich.) scored two goals and Lukas Sutter (Whitefish, Mont.) notched a goal and an assist, as the U.S. Under-18 Select Team defeated Slovakia, 3-0, here Saturday night in an exhibition game just prior to the start of the 2010 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament.
"I thought we played very well right off the opening faceoff," said Tim Army, head coach of the U.S. Under-18 Select Team. "We had good speed and moved the puck very well, creating a lot of chances. In the third period, we ran into some penalty trouble, so we have to focus on being disciplined for a full 60 minutes."
Sutter scored a power-play goal to give Team USA a 1-0 lead late in the first period. Brian Cooper (Anchorage, Alaska) fired a slap shot from the point and Sutter banged in the rebound at the 17:03 mark to put the U.S. on top.
Midway through the second period, Hohmann increased Team USA's lead to 2-0 with another power-play goal. Craig Duininck (Plymouth, Mich.) dished the puck to Alex Racino (Merrill, Wis.), who sent a pass across the slot to a racing Hohmann. After Hohmann's initial shot was blocked, the forward picked up the rebound for the score.
After putting up 17 shots on goal in the second period, the U.S. remained strong in the third frame. Hohmann notched his second goal of the game at the 10:46 mark to seal the U.S. victory, 3-0. He grabbed the puck in the U.S. zone and skated the length of the ice, fending off the Slovakian defenders and beating the goalie high on the shortside. Sutter and John Gaudreau (Carney's Point, N.J.) collected assists on the highlight-reel goal.
Team USA goaltenders Jay Williams (McLean, Va.) and Steven Michalek (Glastonbury, Conn.) combined for 16 saves in the shutout win, while Slovakian goaltenders Patrik Fisherman and Matthew Porubsky combined to stop 41 shots in the loss.
The U.S. Under-18 Select Team will next face the Czech Republic in its first preliminary-round game on Monday (Aug. 9) at 9:30 a.m. EDT in Breclav, Czech Republic.
NOTES: The U.S. outshot Slovakia by a 44-16 margin ... The 2010 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament features eight countries in two groups. Group A (Czech Republic, Finland, Russia, United States) will play its preliminary-round games in Breclav, Czech Republic, while Group B (Canada, Slovakia, Sweden, Switzerland) will play its preliminary-round 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 22 players on the 2010 U.S. Under-18 Select Team represent 13 states, with three players coming from Ohio. Six of the players were members of the 2009 U.S. Under-17 Select Team that competed at the 2009 Under-17 Five Nations Tournament in Fussen, Germany, including goaltender Jay Williams; forwards Cason Hohmann, Alex Racino and Lukas Sutter; and defensemen Brian Cooper and Connor Murphy (Dublin, Ohio). Five members of the U.S. Under-18 Select Team competed in the United States Hockey League in 2009-10, including forwards Seth Ambroz (New Prague, Minn./Omaha Lancers), Theo Di Pauli (Woodridge, Ill./Chicago Steel) and Hohmann (Cedar Rapids Roughriders), as well as defensemen Cooper (Fargo Force) and Murphy (U.S. National Under-17 Team). The USHL is the only Tier I junior hockey league in the United States ... The 2010 U.S. Under-18 Select Team is 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, are the assistant coaches ... Army, Varady and Cassidy are all Level 4 USA Hockey certified coaches ... The U.S. Under-18 Select Team was selected following the annual USA Hockey Boys' Select 17 Player Development Camp that took place July 7-13, at The Sports Centre at MCC in Rochester, N.Y. The 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 ... For Team USA's full roster, click here.
GAME SUMMARY
Scoring By Period
USA 1 - 1 - 1 - 3
SVK 0 - 0 - 0 - 0
First Period - Scoring: 1, USA, Sutter (Cooper), 17:03 (pp). Penalties: SVK, Vasko (tripping), 3:42; USA, Everson (slashing), 7:58; USA, Duininck (holding), 13:10; SVK, Bezuska (kneeing), 16:32.
Second Period - Scoring: 2, USA, Hohmann (Racino, Duininck), 13:31 (pp). Penalties: SVK, Ceresnak (hooking), 5:38; SVK, Ceresnak (interference), 12:30; USA, Trocheck (interference), 15:01.
Third Period - Scoring: 3, USA, Hohmann (Sutter, Gaudreau), 10:46. Penalties: USA, Bradley (delay of game), 1:44; USA, Hohmann (cross-checking), 8:26; USA, Racino (slashing), 12:01; USA, Sutter (roughing), 18:50.
Shots by Period 1 2 3 Total
USA 13 17 14 44
SVK 7 4 5 16
Goaltenders (SH/SV) 1 2 3 Total
USA, Williams, 30:00 7-7 2-2 x-x 9-9
USA, Michalek, 30:00 x-x 2-2 5-5 7-7
SVK, Fisherman, 40:00 13-12 17-16 x-x 30-28
SVK, Porubsky, 20:00 x-x x-x 14-13 14-13
Power Play: USA 2-4; SVK 0-7
Penalties: USA 7-14; SVK 4-8
2010 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament • Team USA Schedule
August 9-14 • Breclav, Czech Republic & Piestany, Slovakia
Date Opponent Time (Local/EDT)/Result
Location
Sat., Aug. 7* Slovakia W, 3-0 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
Team USA Closes Out 2010 USA Hockey National Junior Evaluation Camp with 8-3 Win over Finland
U.S. Finishes with 3-0-0-1 Overall Record in International Play
LAKE PLACID, N.Y. -- Team USA defeated Finland here this afternoon, 8-3, in its final game of the 2010 USA Hockey National Junior Evaluation Camp.
The contest featured 22 of the 42 U.S. players who participated in the camp and were auditioning for a spot on the U.S. National Junior Team that will take part in the 2011 International Ice Hockey Federation World Junior Championship, Dec. 26, 2010-Jan. 5, 2011, in Buffalo, N.Y.
"We maintained puck control today, and it showed," said Keith Allain, head coach of the 2011 U.S. National Junior Team. "We're going to have some very difficult decisions over the next few months, but I'm happy with what our guys were able to accomplish here this week."
After falling behind, 2-0, in the first period, Team USA got on the board when Chris Kreider (Boxford, Mass.) was credited for tipping a long shot by Adam Clendening (Niagara Falls, N.Y.) past Finnish goaltender Christopher Gibson.
Then, after surrendering another goal to Finland early in the second period, the U.S. responded with five consecutive second-period goals. Austin Watson (Ann Arbor, Mich.) buried his first goal of the camp on a one-timer from the slot. Two straight power-play goals by Kyle Palmieri (Montvale, N.J.) and Nick Bjugstad (Blaine, Minn.) gave Team USA its first lead of the game, 4-3.
Zach Budish (Edina, Minn.) extended the U.S. lead to two with a backhand shot that just trickled over the goal line. Watson's second goal of the period secured a 6-3 advantage for Team USA after two periods.
Palmieri and Jeremy Morin (Auburn, N.Y.) closed out the scoring for Team USA in the third period. U.S. goalie Jack Campbell (Port Huron, Mich.) made 14 saves in the win, while Gibson and Jonathan Iilahti combined for 21 saves in the loss.
Team USA finished with a 3-0-0-1 (W-OTW-OTL-L) record against Finland and Sweden at the camp. Results from all of the camp's games are below.
NOTES: Team USA went 2-for-6 on the power-play, while Finland was 1-for-2 with the man advantage ... Nick Bjugstad led all players at the 2010 USA Hockey National Junior Evaluation Camp with seven goals in seven games against teams from Finland, Sweden and the U.S. ... Kyle Palmieri paced all camp participants with 10 points (5-5) in six games ... For full camp coverage, including statistics from the international games, a blog, photos, videos, and rosters, click here ... 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 BuffaloWorldJuniors.com ...The 2011 U.S. National Junior Team will be selected in late December following a pre-tournament camp that will begin in mid-December ... 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, head men's ice hockey coach at The Ohio State University; Phil Housley, head boy's ice hockey coach at Stillwater (Minn.) high school; and Joe Exter, USA Hockey's national goaltending coach ... Mark Carlson, head coach and general manager of the United States Hockey League's Cedar Rapids RoughRiders, and Greg Brown, assistant men's ice hockey coach at Boston College, will also participate in Lake Placid as camp coaches ... Jim Johannson is serving as the general manager of the U.S. National Junior Team for the second consecutive year. Meanwhile, Tim Taylor, 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.
GAME SUMMARY
Scoring By Period
FIN 2 - 1 - 0 - 3
USA 1 - 5 - 2 - 8
First Period - Scoring: 1, FIN, Junttila (Hakanpaa, Rissanen), 3:21 (pp); 2, FIN, Donskoi (Junttila), 11:19; 3, USA, Kreider (Clendening, Palmieri), 11:58. Penalties: USA, Budish (high-sticking), 1:43; FIN, Haula (holding), 13:37; USA, Coyle (interference), 13:54; FIN, Donskoi (high-sticking), 15:11.
Second Period - Scoring: 4, FIN, Pakarinen (Donskoi), 0:33; 5, USA, Watson (Brickley), 2:50; 6, USA, Palmieri (Bennett, Merrill), 7:02 (pp); 7, USA, Bjugstad (Bennett, Faulk), 10:06 (pp); 8, USA, Budish (Bourque), 12:07; 9, USA, Watson (Brickley), 16:23. Penalties: FIN, Hakanpaa (tripping), 5:09; FIN, Tallberg (delaying-the-game), 8:46; USA, Zucker (charging), 18:17; FIN, Nattinen (slashing), 19:13.
Third Period - Scoring: 10, USA, Palmieri (Etem, Coyle), 9:14; 11, USA, Morin (Coyle, Etem), 12:07. Penalties: FIN, Rissanen (tripping), 4:13.
Shots by Period 1 2 3 Total
FIN 8 6 3 17
USA 12 12 5 29
Goaltenders (SH/SV) 1 2 3 Total
FIN, Gibson 32:07 12-11 7-3 -- 19-14
FIN, Iilahti, 7:53 5-4 5-3 10-7
USA, Campbell 59:57 8-6 6-5 3-3 17-14
Power Play: FIN 1-2; USA 2-6
Penalties: FIN 6-12; USA 3-6
2010 USA Hockey National Junior Evaluation Camp Game Results
July 30 - Aug. 7 -- Lake Placid, N.Y.
Date Event Result
Fri., July 30 Blue vs. White Scrimmage WHT 4, BLU 1
Sat., July 31 Blue vs. White Scrimmage WHT 4, BLU 2
Sun., Aug. 1 Blue vs. White Scrimmage WHT 8, BLU 3
Mon., Aug. 2 Finland vs. Sweden SWE 5, FIN 3
Tues., Aug. 3 USA vs. Sweden USA 6, SWE 3
Wed., Aug. 4 USA vs. Finland USA 6, FIN 3
Thurs., Aug. 5 Finland vs. Sweden SWE 6, FIN 2
Fri., Aug. 6 USA vs. Sweden SWE 4, USA 1
Sat. Aug. 7 USA vs. Finland USA 8, FIN 3
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Today is the start of Feeding Pets of the Homeless Week. (Linky Linky)
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Following Friday night's exciting, but disapointing 30-26 loss at Montreal, the 4-2 Saskatchewan Roughriders will return home this coming Thursday, August 12th, to host the BC Lions. The Riders topped the Leos 37-18 in Vancouver on July 10th, behind Darian Durant's 252 yards and 1 touchdown passing, plus 1 rushing touchdown. Kickoff from Mosaic Stadium is set for 9:00pm EDT on 620CKRM and the Rider Radio Network. Listen links are to the right on this blog.
Check out Riderville.com for the latest on "Canada's (And Clearwater, Florida's) Team."
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Today is "The Date to Create." (Good excuse for another day of blogging, eh?)
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Buccaneers put together a good, uptempo Saturday practice.
Foundation makes major impact.
Buccaneers 2010 schedule.
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Today in Sports History:
1900 - In Boston, the first Davis Cup series began. The U.S. team defeated Great Britain three matches to zero.
1903 - Joe McGinnity (New York) pitched two complete games in one day. He won 6-1 and 4-3 over the Brooklyn Dodgers.
1915 - Gawy Gravath (Philadelphia) hit four doubles and brought in eight runs in a game against the Cincinnati Reds.
1920 - Howard Ehmke (Detroit Tigers) set an American League record when he defeated the New York Yankees 1-0 in 1 hour and 13 minutes.
1931 - Bob Burke (Washington Senators) pitched a 5-0 no-hitter against the Boston Red Sox.
1954 - The Brooklyn Dodgers scored 13 runs in the eighth inning to beat the Cincinnati Reds 20-7 at Ebbets Field.
1972 - The New York Yankees signed a 30-year lease with the City of New York which called for Yankee Stadium to be completely modernized in time for the 1976 season.
1973 - Boston Red Sox Orlando Cepeda hit four doubles against the Kansas City Royals.
1982 - Doug DeCinces hit three home runs against the California Angels. He had hit three home runs against Minnesota five days earlier.
1985 - Major League baseball players returned to work after a two-day walkout.
1992 - The "Dream Team" clinched the gold medal at the Barcelona Summer Olympics. The U.S. basketball team beat Croatia 117-85.
1996 - Eddie Murray (Baltimore Orioles) moved into 15th place on the career home run list when he hit his 494th.
1996 - Willie McGee (St. Louis Cardinals) hit his 2,000th major league hit.
1998 - Paul Molitor (Minnesota Twins) stole his 500th career base.
1999 - Wade Boggs got his 3,000th hit of his major league baseball career.
2002 - Major league baseball players and owners agreed to a $100,000 increase in baseball's minimum salary. The minimum was set at $300,000 starting in 2003.
2005 - It was announced that Wayne Gretzky would be the next head coach of the Phoenix Coyotes.
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The Toronto Blue Jays starred yesterday in a remake of the old '60s TV show Home Run Derby, placing eight long flies in amongst the paying spectators Saturday, in a convincing 17-11 win over the suddenly struggling Tampa Bay Rays, before 24,168 at the Rogers Centre.
It all started innocently enough, as Toronto's Yunel Escobar doubled home Travis Snider for a 1-0 lead. In the second, Edwin Encarnacion was aboard when J.P. Arencibia, making his major league debut, homered on the first pitch he saw as a big leaguer, putting the Blue Jays up 3-0. Tampa Bay came back with a two-run third. With one out, Jason Bartlett scored on a B.J. Upton double, who then, after stealing third, scored on a single by Dan Johnson to make it a 3-2 game.
Things started to get ugly in the bottom of the third. Adam Lind and Aaron Hill hit back-to-back homers to start the inning then Encarnacion homered with one out to put the Jays on top 6-2. In the bottom of the fourth, Jose Bautista led off with a homer for a 7-2 Toronto lead. With two outs, Hill homered for the second time, making it 8-2.
Tampa Bay got 3 runs back in their half of the fifth. Upton drew a no out, bases loaded walk to bring home John Jaso and end the day of Blue Jays' starter Brad Mills. Bartlett scored on Johnson's sacrifice fly and Reid Brignac scored on Evan Longoria's ground out to short, and all of a sudden, the Rays were within 3, at 8-5.
Dale Thayer came out of the bullpen to start the bottom of the fifth for Tampa Bay and was promptly used and abused. After an pop out, three straight singles and a strike out, Vernon Wells singled to plate Arencibia for a 9-5 lead. A Lind single brought home Travis Snider and Yunel Escobar for an 11-5 lead. Hill then doubled, chasing home Vernon Wells and Lind, and Toronto's lead was 13-5.
Thayer bravely (or perhaps it was under threat of demotion) for the bottom of sixth and allowed one more run on Arencibia's 2nd homer of the afternoon, and the Blue Jays were up by 9 at 14-5.
The Rays struck for 2 in the top of the seventh. With two outs, Sean Rodriguez, hitting for Upton, reached on an error. Johnson then belted his 1st homer since being recalled from Durham, bringing Tampa Bay back to within 7, at 14-7.
Recently acquired Chad Qualls came out of the Rays' bullpen for the bottom of the seventh and was rudely greeted by his hosts. With Bautista on third and Hill on first with two outs, up stepped Lyle Overbay, the only hitter in Toronto's lineup without a hit. Well, guess I spoke too soon. Overbay dropped a bomb into the right field seats, scoring Bautista and pinch-runner John McDonald, and the rout was complete, with the Blue Jays on top, 17-7.
Oops, not quite. After both teams went scoreless in the eighth, the only inning of the game where neither team scored, Tampa Bay made things a bit interesting in the ninth. With David Purcey out of the relative safety of the Toronto pen, Jaso led off witrh a walk and advanced to third on Bartlett's double. Brignac's sacrifice fly brought home Jaso, and it was 17-8. Bartlett also scored when Snider, threw thew ball away, and it was 17-9. Rodriguez singled to left, then took second on defensive indifference. Johnson walked and Casey Janssen came on to replace Purcey. He was welcomed to the festivities by a Gabe Kapler double which scored Rodriguez and moved Johnson to third, trimming the deficit to 17-10. Matt Joyce walked, then Willy Aybar brought home Johnson with a 3-to-1 ground out and the Rays trailed by 6, 17-11. But, Tampa Bay's dreams of a second six-run comeback in three days ended quickly, as Janssen got Ben Zobrist to whiff at a 1-2 4-seam fastball and the game was mercifully over, with the Jays winning 17-11.
For Toronto, Yunel Escobar was 3-for-6 with an RBI, Adam Lind was 2-for-5 with 2 runs scored, a home run and 3 RBIs. Aaron Hill went 3-for-5 with 2 runs scored, 2 homers and 4 RBIs, Lyle Ovarbay hit a 3-run homer and J.P. Arencibia, in his major league debut, went 4-for-5, scored 4 times, homered twice and drove in 3 runs. Brian Tallett, the second of five Blue Jays pitchers got the win, allowing 2 runs on 1 hit, with 1 strike out and 2 walks, in 2 innings, improving to 2-4. The Rays' hitting star was Dan Johnson, who was 2-for-2, drew 2 walks, scored twice and drove in 4. Sean Bartlett was 2-for-3 and scored 3 times. Starter James Shields was rocked for 8 runs, all earned, on 9 hits, 6 of them home runs, with 2 strike outs and 4 walks in 4 innings, falling to 10-10. Shield's is just the eighth pitcher in modern history to allow 6 homers in one game and the last non-knuckleballer since 1940 to reach that mark. Tampa Bay's bullpen, Dale Thayer, Chad Qualls and Randy Choate, combined to give up 9 earned runs on 11 hits, with 2 strike outs and 2 walks in 5 innings. Choate was the only one not to allow a run.
The Rays, who have lost four straight since winning 10-of-11 beginning back on July 24th, fall to 67-43, and are second in the A.L. East, 1 1/2 games behind the Yankees. Tampa Bay continues their six game game road trip this afternoon in Toronto, with game time set for 1:07pm EDT. After today's game, Tampa Bay will play a three-game set at Detroit starting tomorrow, before returning home for 3 games with Baltimore and 3 against Texas, starting next Friday. You can follow the Rays on 620AM WDAE and the Rays Radio Network. All games through Friday, September 3rd, can be seen on Sun Sports. The Saturday August 14th game against Baltimore will be on FOX.
Notes:Toronto's eight homers yesterday were the most by an opponent is Rays' history....Jeff Niemann will miss his scheduled start today because of shoulder soreness. His place of the mound will be taken by Andy Sonnanstine(2-0, 4.22) He'll be opposed by Brandon Morrow(8-6, 4.79)....Carl Crawford was not in the starting lineup Saturday for the second straight day. The time off had nothing to do with Crawford's June shoulder soreness, but rather to, as Manager Joe Maddon put it, "just (general) soreness. We're trying to revive his body a little bit."....Friday's 2-1 loss at Toronto was the 105th game in franchise history where the Rays allowed 0 earned runs, and just the second of those games that they've lost. The other came May 19th last season in a 4-1 loss to Oakland...Dale Thayer was optioned back to Durham after yesterday's game.
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Looking for something slightly off-beat to do tonight? Well, then, you're in luck. Tonight is Sneak Some Zucchini Onto Your Neighbor's Porch Night.
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The Yankees lead Tampa Bay by 1 1/2 games in the A.L. East(The Rays lead the Wild Card lead), Boston is 6 back, Toronto trails by 10 1/2 back and Baltimore(who lost for the first time in 5 games with Buck Showalter as manager) is 32 1/2 games behind.
In the A.L. Central, the White Sox lead Minnesota by 1 1/2 games, Detroit trails by 10, Kansas City is 16 games behind and Cleveland is 16 1/2 games out.
Out in the (not-so)wild A.L. West, Texas leads Oakland by 8 1/2 games, the Angels by 9, and Seattle is 23 1/2 games behind.
In the N.L. East, Atlanta leads Philadelphia by 2 games, The Mets trail by 8 games, Florida is 9 behind with Washington(Stephen Strasburg is expected to pitch this coming Tuesday) trailing by 14 1/2.
In the N.L. Central, Cincinnati leads St. Louis by 1 1/2 games, Milwaukee is 11 behind, Houston is 15 games behind, the Cubs are 15 1/2 back and Pittsburgh is 23 1/2 games off the pace.
San Diego leads the N.L. West by 1 game over San Francisco(The Giants lead the N.L. Wild Card chase). Colorado is 6 1/2 behind, the Dodgers trail by 7 and Arizona is 21 games back.
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Smoke enjoys his 5th birthday by working on his tan.
Jimmy plays while Snoopy and Smoke lounge around on the couch.
Messy toddler? What messy toddler?
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ATLANTA -- The Braves' Tim Hudson shut down San Francisco on 3 hits through 8 innings and scored 3 times in the fourth inning, as Atlanta blanked the Giants 3-0, in front of 47,305 fans at Turner Field in Atlanta.
Husdon was brilliant all night long, retiring the first twelve hitters he faced, seeing leadoff singles in the fifth and sixth get erased on double plays, allowed just one extra base hit and only one runner to get as far as third.
The Braves got the offense they needed in the fourth. Jason Heyward led off with a double, then moved to third on a single by Chipper Jones. Jones advance to second on a soft ground out to first by Brian McCann, with Heyward holding at third. With two outs and a 3-2 count, Troy Glaus sent a ball up the middle for a single, scoring both Heyward and Jones. Rick Ankiel then doubled to right, bringing home Glaus with the final run of the inning. And, behind Hudson, that was more than enough, as Atlanta cruised to the 3-0 victory.
Hudson in his 8 innings of work, allowed 0 runs on 3 hits, struck out 6 and walked 1, improving to 13-5 on the year. Billy Wagner came on in the ninth and struck out the side for his 27th save of the season. For San Francisco, Matt Cain went 5 innings, allowing 3 runs on 6 hits, with 4 strike outs and 2 walks, dropping to 9-9 with the loss. The Giants' bullpen was solid, allowing 0 runs on 0 hits, with 2 strike outs and 1 walk over the final 3 innings.
The Giants are 63-48, and remain 1 game behind first-place San Diego in the N.L. West(The Padres lost at Arizona 6-5 Saturday). San Francisco, which currently leads the N.L. Wild Card race by 1 1/2 games over both Philadelphia and St. Louis, concludes their six game road trip this atfernoon at Atlanta, with first pitch scheduled for 1:35pm EDT. The Giants return home tomorrow for four games with the Cubs and three big games with division-leading San Diego starting next Friday. Next Saturday's game with the Padres airs on FOX, with the Sunday game against San Diego showing on ESPN.
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Today in Elvis History:
1959 - Elvis Presley's single "A Big Hunk O' Love" hit #4 in the U.K.
1960 - Elvis Presley began recording several songs intended for the film "Flaming Star."
1964 - The soundtrack to the Elvis Presley movie "Kissin' Cousins" hit #5 in the U.K.
1977 - Elvis Presley rented out Libertyland for his daughter Lisa Marie and her friends.
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From http://www.arenafootball.com
Tulsa, Oklahoma - The Tampa Bay Storm defeated the Tulsa Talons, 68-38, Saturday night at the BOK Center to earn the right to host the Orlando Predators in the American Conference Championship game next Saturday at the St. Pete Times Forum. The Tampa Bay defense took over the game harassing Tulsa quarterback Justin Allgood all game recording three interceptions and forcing him to complete less then 50 percent of his passes as 5,964 Tulsa fans went home disappointed.
Brett Dietz finished the game 22-of-29 for 263 yards and seven touchdowns. Tyrone Timmons was on the receiving end of three touchdowns and Sedrick Robinson led Storm with seven catches for 87 yards and two touchdowns after filling in for an injured Hank Edwards. Edwards' injury occurred at the end of the second quarter and he did not return to the game,
Although they did not record a sack, the Storm defensive line put heavy pressure on the Talons the entire night forcing Allgood into bad throws all evening. Allgood finished the game 20-of-43 for 242 yards and six touchdowns despite throwing three picks. Rookie defensive back Erick McIntosh was on the receiving end of two of the interceptions including one he intercepted near midfield and returned to the Talons three-yards line. Daryon Brutley added a third interception at the begining of the fourth quarter as Tampa held a 28 point lead heading into the final stanza.
The Talons were led by receiver Carlese Franklin who finished the game with eight receptions for 121 yards and one score. Donovan Morgan added four touchdowns on six receptions. The vaunted Talons defensive line were held in check until recording a sack on backup quarterback Drew Weatherford late in the fourth quarter.
The number three (#3) seed Tampa Bay Storm will host the number four (#4) seed Orlando Predators in the American Conference Championship Game Saturday, August 14 at the St. Pete Times Forum with kickoff at 7:30. Fans can purchase playoff tickets by visiting the Times Forum Box Office, www.ticketmaster.com or by calling 813.301.6600.
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Today in Beatles History
1997 - Paul McCartney's album "Flaming Pie" was certified gold by the RIAA.
2000 - "The Beatles DVD Collector's Set" was released.
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More from last night's AFL playoff game in Tulsa....
(Disclaimer: This contains factual information about the singing of the National Anthem last night in Tulsa, plus actions by a pair of Orlando players in last weekend's final regular season game at Tampa Bay. The rest is my own opinion. Now, with that said....)
Where does it say that sports franchises must turn the National Anthem into an American Idol tryout?
Two men sang the anthem. It was passable, with less stylizing than other efforts and sounded pretty well on key. BUT....
One of the singers was not only wearing a hat(Custom/decorum dictates hats arte not to be worn during a playing of our National Anthem), but was also reading the lyrics on his iPOD! Wow. That's the best I can say.
And, as a veteran of internet sports broadcasts where the audio with the picture is fed straight from the game site, instead of the radio station carrying the game, will someone PLEASE tell the Tampa Bay broadcast crew to mute their mics during commercial breaks? I don't think people need to hear the announcers commenting about the other team's cheerleaders being a bit on the hefty side, conmstantly grumbling about how cold the BOK Center was, OR....
Openly, during a commercial break, resoundingly pounding on the league should they choose to allow Orlando's Bobby Sippio to play in next Saturday's playoff game at Tampa Bay.
Sippio, along with teammate Julius Wilson, entered the stands during last week's regular season finale at the St. Pete Times Forum and, became "involved" with some apparently unruly fans. Wilson received a six-game suspension, that was to take effect immediately, a monetary fine, and is required to apply to the league, should he wish to be reinstated to playing status. Sippio, for his actions, received a fine and a one-game suspension, to be served at the end of his appeal process. Well, lo and behold, Sippio not only played in this past Friday's Orland at Jacksonville playoff game, he scored the winning touchdown with 8.7 seconds remaining, in Orlando's 73-69 win. So, the question on that now is: Will the appeal process drag on long enough to let Sippio play at Tampa Bay next Saturday then again the following week in the Arena Bowl title game, if Orlando beats the Storm? Or will the appeal be upheld and be forced to sit next Saturday?
Regardless of what the league rules, my point is this: Announcers are certainly allowed to have their opinions. But, offering up negative opinions about another team, their players or support staff, or the league in general, is just way out of line. More than one sports league in this hemisphere would warn, then fine, then suspend the people making those comments, in ascending order for repeated offenses. No idea what the AFL will do, if anything. Whatever does or doesn't happen, this much is clear: Announcers broadcast events via streaming companies like NiFTY TV, B2, or others, who send "clean" audio(no commercials) out with the video feed, need a mute switch for commercials breaks, so they can talk about (and say) anything they wish.
I think Saturday's "events" at the BOK Center in Tulsa should be taken as quite embarrassing by both teams, and the AFL as well. Want to be considered "professional" in other facets of your product besides the fact that the players are paid? Then, act accordingly.
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The first potatoes were planted in Hawaii on this date in 1820.
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Dave Mishkin's August mailbag.
2010 Preseason schedule.
2010-2011 Regular Season schedule.
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Oh, while we're at it: Does any area's sportscasters whine more than Tampa Bay's? TV, Radio, Baseball, Football(inside and outside), Hockey, matters not. It some times is down right embarrassing to the profession. (Kevin Kennedy, are you listening?) Call the play, make your objection, let it go and move on. And when you (Kennedy in particular) starts whining about a play from the day before, then it gets childish.
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On this date in 1920, the Detroit Tigers beat the New York Yankees. So what, you say? Well, it was the shortest game, in time, in American League history: 73 minutes.
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Today is Odie Day.
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From http://www.nascar.com
Marcos Ambrose didn't drive like a man in limbo.
Though his future is uncertain, with his announced departure from JTG/Daugherty Racing for parts -- or team -- unknown, Ambrose drove immaculately Saturday afternoon in picking up his third consecutive Nationwide Series victory at Watkins Glen International, winning the Zippo 200 from the pole.
During a 16-lap run to the finish, Ambrose pulled away to win by 2.834 seconds over Joey Logano, who, for once, was happy to settle for second place.
"It was a wonderful day for us," said Ambrose, who has not announced plans for next year, though the rumor mill says he's likely to land in a Sprint Cup ride at Richard Petty Motorsports. "We've had our troubles at JTG this year, and we're parting ways at the end of the season, and this is a really fitting way to finish this thing off."
There's also unfinished business. Ambrose will start 11th in Sunday's Cup race at the Glen, hoping to become the first driver to sweep both races at the 2.45-mile road course.
"We've got another job to do [Sunday], so I won't have too many beers tonight," he said.
Ambrose passed eventual fifth-place finisher Kyle Busch for the lead on Lap 41, hanging Busch behind lapped traffic as the cars roared uphill through the esses. By the time Ambrose reached the Bus Stop chicane, he had pulled ahead of Busch and remained out front through a pair of caution periods in the final 30 laps.
Kevin Harvick finished third, followed by series points leader Brad Keselowski and Busch. Ron Fellows, Nelson Piquet Jr., Jacques Villeneuve, Steve Wallace and Michael McDowell completed the top 10.
Logano surprised himself with his strong performance on the road circuit.
"I was pretty pumped out about how the car ran today," Logano said. "Road courses and me never got along before. It's cool to see yourself improve every time you get to a place like this."
Part of that improvement was attributable to following Ambrose for much of the race. Before a 10-car wreck in Turn 2 caused a stoppage of more than 25 minutes, Logano kept pace with the race winner.
"Marcos is pretty good through the Bus Stop -- just watching the line, the curbs he hits, the way he hits 'em, the speed he carries -- I definitely learned a lot," Logano said. "I feel like I picked up the most through there and was able to be pretty good by the end of the race."
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Just like the Twins Day, you get three days to celebrate Eleanor Roosevelt Day, which starts today. (Here's the official Presidential proclamation.)
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Coming up:
Tonight --
Nascar Sprint Cup Series: Heluva Good! Sour Cream Dips at the glen at Watkins Glen International, Watkins Glen International, New York 1:00pm EDT
Baseball: Tampa Bay Rays at Toronto Blue Jays 1:07pm EDT
Baseball: San Francisco Giants at Atlanta Braves 1:35pm EDT
IZOD Indy Car Series: Honda Indy 200 presented by Westfield Insurance at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, Lexington, Ohio 2:30pm EDT
Monday --
Baseball: Tampa Bay Rays at Detroit Tigers 7:05pm EDT
Baseball: Chicago Cubs at San Francisco Giants 10:15pm
Tuesday --
Baseball: Tampa Bay Rays at Detroit Tigers 7:05pm EDT
Baseball: Chicago Cubs at San Francisco Giants 10:15pm
Wednesday --
Baseball: Tampa Bay Rays at Detroit Tigers 1:05pm EDT
Baseball: Chicago Cubs at San Francisco Giants 10:15pm
Thursday --
Baseball: Chicago Cubs at San Francisco Giants 3:45pm
CFL Football: BC Lions at Saskatchewan Roughriders 9:00pm EDT
Friday --
Baseball: Baltimore Orioles at Tampa Bay Rays 7:10pm EDT
Baseball: San Diego Padres at San Francisco Giants 10:15pm EDT
Saturday --
Nascar Nationwide Series: Carfax 250 at Michigan International Speedway, Brooklyn, Michigan 1:00pm EDT
Baseball: Baltimore Orioles at Tampa Bay Rays 4:10pm EDT
NFL Football: Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Miami Dolphins 7:00pm EDT
Arena Football: Orlando Predators at Tampa Bay Storm American Conference Finals 7:30pm EDT
Baseball: San Diego Padres at San Francisco Giants 10:15pm EDT
Sunday --
Nascar Nationwide Series: Carfax 400 at Michigan International Speedway, Brooklyn, Michigan 1:00pm EDT
Baseball: Baltimore Orioles at Tampa Bay Rays 1:40pm EDT
Baseball: San Diego Padres at San Francisco Giants 4:10pm EDT
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That's it for today. See you tomorrow!
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