Monday Morning Meissnervations

It's Monday. Here's what's happening....

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Today is January 24th, the 24th day of 2011. There are 341 days left in the year.

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Flyers overpower Hawks in Cup rematch.

Kovalchuk leads Devils past Panthers.

Sabres finally solve Islanders.

Lightning beat Thrashers for 11th straight time.

Predators over Oilers in shootout.

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Today's Birthdays: Actor Ernest Borgnine (Airwolf, McHale's Navy, RED) is 94; singer Neil Diamond is 70; mode/actress/scandal figure Gennifer Flowers (had a sexual relationship with former president Bill Clinton) is 61; former Olympic gymnast Mary Lou Retton (Gold at 1984 Olympics) is 43; actor Matthew Lillard (Scream and Scooby Doo movies) is 41; actress Mischa Barton (The O.C.) is 25.

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The Tampa Bay Juniors hosted the Atlanta Knights this past weekend in both SEJHL and MJHL action, and although the Knights won all four games, the contests were, for three out of the four games, close and competitive.

In Saturday's SEJHL game, Atlanta rolled to an 8-2 win, building a 7-0 lead through 40 minutes. Michael Pignataro and Brendan McGowan scored third period goals for the Juniors, who got 54 saves from Dominic Calandra.

In the MJHL contest on Saturday, Tampa Bay fell behind 3-0 in the first, then twice sliced the deficit to two, before losing 5-2. Chase Anderson and Paul Lochner scored for the Juniors, Braxton Schulz made 39 saves.

On Sunday, the SEJHL Juniors would ride a Brendan McGowan goal to a 1-0 lead through two periods, before allowing four third period goals in a 4-1 loss. Jordan Krueger had 50 saves for Tampa Bay.

The MJHL game on Sunday went back-and-forth the entire afternoon, with Atlanta scoring late in the first and late in the third, winning 2-0. Evan Weiss was solid in the Tampa Bay net with 41 saves.

The Tampa Bay SEJHL Juniors are now 6-18-0-0 and the MJHL Juniors are 15-17-0-1. Next weekend, the MJHL and SEJHL Juniors are off for the league's all-star weekend, before getting back to action the following weekend, on the road against the Florida Eels.

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No Strings Attached topped the weekend box office. The Natalie Portman-Ashton Kutcher film made $20.3 million.

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Diebold, Storm shut out Fargo.

This Week in the USHL.

Black Hawks fall to Ice in overtime.

Stars explode for six third period goals, blast Muskies.

Bucs fall at Dubuque.

Phantoms fall in OT.

Jacks lose to Cedar Rapids.

Saints find swagger.

Haggerty picks up scoring pace for Team USA.

Gamblers heat up in 2nd period, down Steel.

Gamblers' big rally tops Cedar Rapids.

Fighting Saints storm back to edge Lincoln.

Big third period sends Bucs past Muskegon.

Two-goal burth helps Lancers end streak.

Littler earns 300th USHL coaching win.

Fight night interrupts Phantoms' OT win.

Phantoms come away with one point in OT loss.

Demers' big night leads Fargo past Tri-City.

Muskies fall again on road.

Lincoln Stars fall to Dubuque in shootout.

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Today is Compliment Day. (Hey, you look great!)

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An update on the Ottawa franchise.

Donate to the Tony Proudfoot Fund.

Visit the league's official website, cfl.ca.

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In Michigan, a man pulled over for suspected drunken driving offered this truthful response when the officer asked how much he had had to drink. "Too much. Just take me to jail." The officer took him to jail.

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Giddy-up horsey. The bad guys are gaining on us!

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Here's the NFL Wild Card Round schedule:

At Seattle Seahawks 41, New Orleans Saints 36

New York Jets 17 at Indianapolis Colts 16

Baltimore Ravens 30 at Kansas City Chiefs 7

Green Bay Packers 21 at Philadelphia Eagles 16

Here's the NFL Divisional Round Schedule:

At Pittsburgh Steelers 31, Baltimore Ravens 24

Green Bay Packers 48 at Atlanta Falcons 21

At Chicago Bears 35, Seattle Seahawks 24

New York Jets 28 at New England Patriots 21

Here's the NFL Championship Round Schedule:

Green Bay Packers 21 at Chicago Bears 14

At Pittsburgh Steelers 24, New York Jets 19

Super Bowl XLV:

Sunday, February 6th 6:30pm Pittsburgh Steelers vs Green Bay Packers at Cowboys Stadium

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... Opening Friday: The Rite and The Mechanic. (Put them together and you've got The Rite Mechanic.)

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Today in Elvis History:

1957 - Elvis Presley recorded "Teddy Bear" and "One Night."

2006 -- The Elvis Presley box set "Elvis #1 Singles" was released in the U.S. The set included all of Elvis' 21 #1 U.S. hits on 20 singles with original B sides. Each single included the original 45 rpm single artwork.

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Whoa. There a couple of reports on the Internet this morning that two more Matrix films are being considered. No scripts yet, no Keanu Reeves on a contract... just talk at this point. (You can have my seat in the theatre. I'll stay home and watch World's Wildest Police Videos reruns.)

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Today in Beatles History:

1962 - Brian Epstein signed with the Beatles as their manager and began to direct their image away from leather jackets. He led them toward a smarter stage presentation, with matching suits and bows to the audience.

1970 - It was announced that John Lennon and Yoko Ono had shaven their heads to commemorate the start of Year One for Peace.

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Oprah Winfrey says that today (Monday) she will reveal a long-held family secret. [This had better not be a cheesecake recipe.]

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Today in Sports History:

1930 - Primo Carnera made his American boxing debut by knocking out Big Boy Patterson in one minute, ten seconds of the opening round.

1947 - NFL owners voted to allow a sudden-death overtime in playoff games. The rule wasn't used until 1958.

1955 - The rules committee of major league baseball announced a plan to strictly enforce the rule that required a pitcher to release the ball within 20 seconds after taking his position on the mound.

1962 - Jackie Robinson became the first black player to be elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame. He was also the first black player in major league history.

1964 - CBS-TV acquired the rights to televise the National Football League’s 1964-1965 regular season. The move cost CBS $14.1 million a year. The NFL stayed on CBS for 30 years.

1981 - Mike Bossy (New York Islanders) tied Rocket Richard's record of 50 goals in 50 games of the season.

1982 - The San Francisco 49ers won their first Super Bowl. Joe Montana won the first of his three MVP awards.

1987 - Walter Payton and Joe Montana were guests on "Saturday Night Live."

1990 - Clarence "Big House" Gaines collected the 800th victory of his college coaching career when Winston-Salem State University beat Livinstone, 79-70.

1995 - The prosecution gave its opening statement at the O.J. Simpson murder trial.

2006 - Mario Lemieux retired from playing in the NHL for the last time. He had previously retired and came back from cancer, a heart problem, agonizing back pain, a rare bone infection, a self-imposed one-season layoff and, five years earlier, from the boredom of retirement.

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On this date in 1899, Humphrey O’Sullivan patented the rubber heel.

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Coming Up:

Tonight --

Nothin' Doin'

Tuesday --

NHL Hockey -- Tampa Bay Lightning vs Toronto Maple Leafs 7:30pm EST


Wednesday --

Nothin' Doin'

Thursday --

Nothin' Doin'

Friday --

Nothin' Doin'

Saturday --

Nothin' Doin'

Sunday --

Nothin' Doin'

Monday --

Nothin' Doin'

Tuesday --

NHL Hockey -- Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Philadelphia Flyers 7:30pm EST

Wednesday --

Nothin' Doin'

Thursday --

Nothin' Doin'

Friday --

NHL Hockey -- Tampa Bay Lightning vs Washington Capitals 7:30pm EST

Saturday --

SEJHL Hockey -- Tampa Bay Juniors at Florida Eels 3:30pm EST

MJHL Hockey -- Tampa Bay Juniors at Florida Eels 8:00pm EST

Sunday --

SEJHL Hockey -- Tampa Bay Juniors at Florida Eels 10:30am EST

MJHL Hockey -- Tampa Bay Juniors at Florida Eels 10:30am EST

NHL Hockey -- Tampa Bay Lightning vs St. Louis Blues 3:00pm EST

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That's all for today. See you again tomorrow.