Monday Afternoon Meissnervations

It's Monday. Sleeping in is nice, but it's time to blog. Here's what's happening....

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Today is May 23rd, the 143rd day of 2011. There are 222 days left in the year.

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Canucks take 3-1 lead with Game 4 win.

All signs point to Roloson retaining No. 1 job..

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Todays Birthdays: Actress Joan Collins (Dynasty) is 78; boxer "Marvelous" Marvin Hagler is 57; author/journalist/broadcaster (authored Tuesdays with Morrie) Mitch Albom is 53; actor/comedian/game show host Drew Carey (The Price is Right) is 53; trivia genius-turned-author Ken Jennings (Jeopardy) is 37; singer Jewel is 37.

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Experience, youth bring depth for Argos.

2011 CFL Schedule is here.

Donate to the Tony Proudfoot Fund.

Visit the leagues' official website, http://www.cfl.ca/.

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Jimmy enjoys a cold one while watching Max & Ruby.

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Today is National Taffy Day.

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MIAMI -- By the ninth inning of Sunday's Rays-Marlins contest, the only remaining drama focused on whether James Shields would pitch a complete game.

Alas, Shields prevailed, allowing Tampa Bay to dodge a sweep at the hands of its Florida state rival with a 4-0 win in front of 15,432 at Sun Life Stadium.

The Rays snapped a three-game skid and moved to 2-3 on the current road trip, which will conclude with a three-game set in Detroit beginning Monday night.

Read the rest here.

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Russell Brand was deported from Japan over the weekend for past crimes. (Evidently, Japanese officials had seen the remake of Arthur.)

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SAN FRANCISCO --  With 10 1/2 innings in the books and the Giants' bench all but cleared, Darren Ford stood at second base and momentarily locked eyes with Emmanuel Burriss, walking up to the plate with a chance to drive in the winning run. The two had shared many similar moments in Fresno as Minor Leaguers, and Ford had no doubt history would repeat itself Sunday afternoon in AT&T Park.

Burriss, meanwhile, wasn't quite so sure.

"It was more so, 'If I get a hit, you better score.' It wasn't so much, 'I'm guaranteeing a hit,'" Burriss said. "With his speed, I knew if I put the bat on the ball and hopefully get a knock, he should be able to score."

The hero of Friday night's walk-off win over the cross-bay rival A's, Burriss delivered once again. As did Ford, nicknamed "The Bullet" for his speed on the basepaths. Burriss turned the first pitch into a line-drive single to right field and Ford beat a surprisingly close play at the plate to give the Giants (27-19) a 5-4 win over the A's (22-25).

The victory in front of a sold-out crowd of 42,288 was San Francisco's ninth straight at AT&T Park, its 13th in 18 home appearances, its 11th by one run and its seventh on a walk-off hit.

Read the rest here.

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Today in Elvis History:

1961 - Filming was completed for the Elvis Presley film "Blue Hawaii."

1962 - The Elvis Presley movie "Follow That Dream" opened.

1964 - The Elvis Presley single "Kiss Me Quick" was released in the U.S.

1970 - The Elvis Presley album "Let's Be Friends" hit #105 in the U.S.

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The Kentucky Tourism Development Finance Authority has granted approval to spend $40 million in tax rebates to build a biblical theme park called "The Ark Encounter." The project will actually cost $172 million and will include the ark, a replica of the Tower of Babel, lecture halls, shops, theaters and, of course, a petting zoo.

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Today in Beatles History:

1964 - Ella Fitzgerald's cover of the Beatles' "Can't Buy Me Love" hit #34 in the U.K. She was the first artist to chart in the U.K. with a Beatles cover.

1966 - The Beatles' "Paperback Writer" b/w "Rain" single was released.

1968 - Apple Tailoring opened in London.

1970 - The Beatles album "Let It Be" hit #1 in the U.K.

1970 - Paul McCartney's solo album debut "McCartney" hit #1 in the U.S.

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Ashley Hebert, who competed for Brad Womack's affection, gets a second chance at love beginning tonight when The Bachelorette returns on ABC.

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Today in Sports History:

1876 - Boston’s Joe Borden pitched the first no-hitter in the history of the National League.

1922 - Gene Tunney was defeated by Harry Greb. It was Tunney's only professional boxing defeat.

1926 - Hack Wilson became the first player to hit a home run off the Wrigley Field scoreboard.

1948 - Joe DiMaggio hit three consecutive home runs.

1962 - The National Basketball Association (NBA) agreed to transfer the Philadelphia Warriors to San Francisco, CA. The team became the San Francisco Warriors (and later the Golden State Warriors).

1962 - Joe Pepitone (New York Yankees) set a major league baseball record by hitting two home runs in one inning.

1963 - NBC purchased the 1963 AFL championship game TV rights for $926,000.

1978 - The American League approved the transfer of Jean Yawkey (Boston Red Sox) for $15 million.

1984 - The Detroit Tigers won their 16th straight road game. They tied the American League record.

1991 - The San Diego Sockers won their fourth consecutive Major Soccer League championship.

1991 - The New York Yankees played their fourth straight extra inning game.

1999 - In Kansas City, MO, Owen Hart (Blue Blazer) died when he fell 90 feet while being lowered into a WWF wrestling ring. He was 33 years old.

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The fourth Pirates of the Caribbean film sailed to an international box office record over the weekend. In North America Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides made $90.1 million. That figure, added to the international box office take, helped the movie make $346.4 million Friday-Sunday.

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NEWTON, IOWA -- Ricky Stenhouse Jr. won Sunday’s John Deere Dealers 250 at Iowa Speedway for his first career victory in the Nationwide Series.

Making his 51st start, Stenhouse outdueled Carl Edwards and Brad Keselowski -- the only Sprint Cup Series regulars in the race -- for the win.

Read the rest here.

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Coming Up: 

Tonight --

MLB -- Tampa Bay Rays at Detroit Tigers 7:05pm EDT

NHL Playoff Hockey -- Tampa Bay Lightning at Boston Bruins 8:00pm EDT

Tuesday --

MLB -- Tampa Bay Rays at Detroit Tigers 7:05pm EDT

MLB -- San Francisco Giants vs Florida Marlins 10:15pm EDT

Wednesday --

MLB -- Tampa Bay Rays at Detroit Tigers 1:05pm EDT

NHL Playoff Hockey -- Tampa Bay Lightning vs Boston Bruins 8:00pm EDT

MLB -- San Francisco Giants vs Florida Marlins 10:15pm EDT

Thursday --

MLB -- San Francisco Giants vs Florida Marlins 3:45pm EDT

Friday --

MLB -- Tampa Bay Rays vs Cleveland Indians 7:10pm EDT

NHL Playoff Hockey -- Tampa Bay Lightning at Boston Bruins 8:00pm EDT (If necessary)

MLB -- San Francisco Giants vs Milwaukee Brewers 8:10pm EDT

Saturday --

Nascar Nationwide Series -- Top Gear 300 at Charlotte Motor Speedway 2:30pm EDT

MLB -- San Francisco Giants vs Milwaukee Brewers 4:10pm EDT

MLB -- Tampa Bay Rays vs Cleveland Indians 4:10pm EDT

Sunday --

Indy Car Series -- Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway 11:00am EDT

MLB -- Tampa Bay Rays vs Cleveland Indians 1:40pm EDT

MLB -- San Francisco Giants vs Milwaukee Brewers 2:10pm EDT

Nascar Sprint Cup Series -- Coca Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway 6:00pm EDT

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That's all for today. Thanks for stopping by, be sure to tell your friends about this blog. See you tomorrow.