It's Friday

It's Friday. Just one more day 'til the weekend, and Rider football. Here's what's happening....

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Today is July 29th, the 210th day of 2011. There are 155 days left in the year.

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Offseason assessment: Northwest Division.

Offseason assessment: Central Division.

Referendum approaches on potential new Isles arena.

Summer with Stanley: Peverley's Day.

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Todays Birthdays: Former U.S. Senator Elizabeth Dole (North Carolina) is 75; documentarian Ken Burns is 58; TV personality Tim Gunn (Project Runway) is 58; actor Wil Wheaton (Star Trek: The Next Generation, Stand by Me) is 39; actor Josh Radnor (Ted Mosby on How I Met Your Mother) is 37.

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FASTHockey to Stream All Games
from USA Hockey's August International Events Live

Coverage of Under-17 Five Nations Tournament in Ann Arbor, Mich.,
National Junior Evaluation Camp in Lake Placid, N.Y.

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - FASTHockey will stream live all games from both the Under-17 Five Nations Tournament and the USA Hockey National Junior Evaluation Camp this August, it was announced today. The games will also be available on demand at USAHockey.FASTHockey.com.

The 2011 Under-17 Five Nations Tournament will take place in Ann Arbor, Mich., Aug. 9-13, and will feature teams from the Czech Republic, Germany, Slovakia, Switzerland and the United States.

Meanwhile, the USA Hockey National Junior Evaluation Camp will take place Aug. 6-13 in Lake Placid, N.Y., and will feature players auditioning for a spot on the U.S. National Junior Team that will take part in the 2012 International Ice Hockey Federation World Junior Championship, Dec. 26, 2011-Jan. 5, 2012, in Calgary and Edmonton, Alta. FASTHockey's coverage will include intrasquad scrimmages and international games featuring teams from Finland, Sweden and the United States.

A full broadcast schedule of each tournament is listed below.

Games streamed on FASTHockey will be offered on a pay-per-view basis. FASTHockey uses a game-credit system, offering discounts to customers who watch multiple games. Users who want to watch one or more games must first sign up for a free account at USAHockey.FASTHockey.com. Users can then buy game credits - a single game ranges from $7.99 (when one game credit is purchased) to $4.99 (when 100 game credits are purchased). Game credits can be used to watch live games or on-demand archives and never expire. In addition, games will be available for purchase on DVD at USAHockey.FASTHockey.com.

NOTES: All 2011 Under-17 Five Nations Tournament games will be held at the Ann Arbor Ice Cube. Ticket information can be found here ... The U.S. Under-17 Select Team roster can be found here ... All games at the USA Hockey National Junior Evaluation Camp will take place at the Olympic Center in Lake Placid, N.Y. ... Players invited to the USA Hockey National Junior Evaluation Camp can be found here. The 2012 U.S. National Junior Team will be selected in late December following a pre-tournament camp to be held in Alberta, Canada.

2011 Under-17 Five Nations Tournament Schedule
August 9-13 • Ann Arbor, Mich.

Date Game
Time (EDT)

Tues., Aug. 9 Slovakia vs. Germany 3 p.m.
Czech Republic vs. USA 7 p.m.
Wed., Aug. 10 Switzerland vs. Czech Republic 3 p.m.
USA vs. Germany 7 p.m.
Thurs., Aug. 11 Germany vs. Czech Republic 3 p.m.
Switzerland vs. Slovakia 7 p.m.
Fri., Aug. 12 Germany vs. Switzerland 3 p.m.
Slovakia vs. USA 7 p.m.
Sat., Aug. 13 Czech Republic vs. Slovakia 3 p.m.
USA vs. Switzerland 7 p.m.
2011 USA Hockey National Junior Evaluation Camp Schedule
Aug. 6-13 • Lake Placid, N.Y. • Olympic Center • USA Rink

Date Game Time (EDT)
Sat., Aug. 6 USA Blue vs. USA White 4 p.m.
Sun., Aug. 7 USA Blue vs. USA White 4 p.m.
Mon., Aug. 8 USA Blue vs. Sweden 1 p.m.
USA White vs. Finland 4:30 p.m.
Tues., Aug. 9 Finland vs. Sweden 4 p.m.
Wed., Aug. 10 USA vs. Sweden 4 p.m.
Thurs., Aug. 11 USA vs. Finland 4 p.m.
Fri., Aug. 12 Finland vs. Sweden 4 p.m.
Sat., Aug. 13 USA vs. Sweden 1 p.m.
*all game times subject to change


2012 Labatt Blue/USA Hockey Pond Hockey
National Championships Nearly Sold Out

Over 250 Teams Registered for Seventh Annual Event
to Take Place in Eagle River, Wis., Feb. 10-12

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - After less than two weeks since the opening of registration on July 18, the 2012 Labatt Blue/USA Hockey Pond Hockey National Championships are nearly sold out. Over 250 teams have signed up to take part in the seventh annual event, which will take place Feb. 10-12, 2012, on Dollar Lake in Eagle River, Wis.

Ten out of the 16 divisions are now closed, including Beginner, Novice, Intermediate 21 & Over, Intermediate 30 & Over, Bronze 21 & Over, Bronze 30 & Over, 40 & Over Tier II, 50 & Over, Women's Bronze and Women's Gold. Team registrations are still being accepted in the Silver 21 & Over, Silver 30 & Over, Gold, 40 & Over Tier I, 60 & Over, and Women's Silver divisions.

Since the first Labatt Blue/USA Hockey Pond Hockey National Championships in 2006 through last year's event in February 2011, the event grew from 42 to 250 teams featuring nearly 1,750 adult hockey players from across the country. In 2009, the tournament's widespread reach was recognized when it received SportTravel Magazine's 2009 SportsTravel Award for the best amateur single-sport event. Last year, NBC Sports was on hand to capture the action and aired its footage during NBC's Hockey Day in America on Feb. 20.

"The exposure from last years NBC Sports Pond Hockey Special greatly increased the level of excitement for the 2012 Labatt Blue/USA Hockey Pond Hockey National Championships," said Ashley Bevan, senior director of adult hockey for USA Hockey. "We look forward to celebrating the thrill of hockey in it's purest form in the frozen tundra of northern Wisconsin."

For more information on the event or to sign up, click here.

McDonough Named Regional Specialist of Membership Services

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - Ruth McDonough has been named regional specialist of membership services, it was announced today by USA Hockey. In that role, she will provide membership assistance and maintain databases for the Atlantic, Mid-American, Minnesota and Southeast districts.

McDonough has an extensive hockey background, having played NCAA Division I women's ice hockey for four years at Northeastern University before graduating in 1990. She went on to serve as a skating school director and coach for various hockey, lacrosse and figure skating programs and, in 1992, earned her master's degree in education at Long Island (N.Y.) University.

"We're thrilled to have Ruth on board," said Rae Briggle, assistant executive director of member services for USA Hockey. "Along with her hockey background, her years of experience volunteering for non-profit organizations have given her an appreciation for the importance of our own volunteers."

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Undoubtedly the world's most unique gadget is the iPad 2 Gold History Edition. Encrusted with 53 diamonds the iPad features a solid 24ct Apple logo. Its main front frame is made from the oldest rock the world has to offer in the form of Ammolite. To make the iPad even more individual, sections of a 65 million year old T-REX dinosaur's thigh bone was splintered and then shaved into the Ammolite, then finished off with a single-cut 8.5ct flawless diamond inlaid in its own platinum surround with 12 outer flawless diamonds. The price is just $8 million.

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Rider rosters set for Western Division showdown vs. Calgary.

The Saskatchewan Roughriders look to corral a second straight win Saturday, when they host the Calgary Stampeders at Mosaic Stadium. Rod Pedersen and Carm Carteri call all the action on 620 CKRM and the Rider Radio Network beginning at 9:30pm EDT.

The view from Regina: Hugh Charles may get another shot at tailback.

The view from Calgary: Doc talk hitting target with Stamps kicker.

Visit the team's official website at http://www.riderville.com/.

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Today is National Lasagna Day.

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One for Coach: Bombers take down Lions.

Campbell: Eskimos remain humble at 4-0.

Zwelling: Ticats' Williams a long way from home.

2011 CFL Schedule is here.

Donate to the Tony Proudfoot Fund.

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

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A small village in Kazakhstan got a surprise when an anaconda over nine-feet long fell off the back of a circus truck. (It reminds me of how, under similar conditions, I got my new large screen television.)

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You really like to take my picture, huh Daddy?

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Acting on a tip, law enforcement authorities raided a property near Cleveland, Ohio, and found -- in addition to the usual weed and some meth -- a nice little arsenal. Officers say they discovered a stash "including, but not limited to shotguns, semi-automatic shotguns, rifles, handguns and even a rocket launcher."

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OAKLAND --  Tampa Bay got up off the canvas and turned what could have been a first-inning knockout into a simple knockdown. In the process, the Rays erased a five-run deficit -- along with any illusions that the 2011 Rays had quit on the season -- to take a 10-8 win over the Athletics on Thursday afternoon at the O.co Coliseum in front of 16,466.


Read the rest here.

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Jeopardy host Alex Trebek is scheduled to undergo surgery today (Friday) and is expected to be in a cast for six weeks. A couple of days ago he tore his Achilles tendon while chasing after a burglary suspect.

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PHILADELPHIA -- Those who rely on win-loss records will point to the Major League standings and insist that the Philadelphia Phillies remain baseball's best team.

But when recent history, head-to-head matchups and sheer competitiveness are considered, it's easy to conclude that the Giants are currently superior to the perennially elite Phillies.

San Francisco received six shutout innings from Tim Lincecum, an inspiring defensive play from Carlos Beltran in his Giants debut and sufficient offense in Thursday night's 4-1 triumph. The reigning World Series champions not only captured the three-game series, two games to one, but also achieved some worthy milestones.

Read the rest here.

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In theatres this weekend: Cowboys & Aliens; Crazy, Stupid, Love; The Smurfs.

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Today in Elvis History:

1978 - The reissue of the Elvis Presley single "Don't Be Cruel" hit #24 in the U.K.

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Click here and watch celebrities discuss the internet in 1995.


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Today in Beatles History:

1965 - The Beatles film "Help!" premiered in London.

1998 - Miramax Films announced that they had purchased the rights to the Beatle's movie "A Hard Day's Night" with the intention of releasing a remastered version on the movie's 35th anniversary.

1998 - Paul McCartney's childhood home, 20 Forthlin Road, opened to the public.

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On this date in 1786, "The Pittsburgh Gazette" became the first newspaper west of the Alleghenies to be published. The paper's name was later changed to "The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette."

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Today in Sports History:

1754 - The first international boxing match was held. The 25-minute match was won when Jack Slack of Britain knocked out Jean Petit from France.

1874 - Major Walter Copton Winfield of England received U.S. patent for the lawn-tennis court.

1940 - John Sigmund of St. Louis, MO completed a 292-mile swim down the Mississippi River. The swim from St. Louis to Caruthersville, MO took him 89 hours and 48 minutes.

1983 - Steve Garvey (Los Angeles Dodgers) set the National League consecutive game record at 1,207.

2003 - Bill Mueller (Boston Red Sox) became the first player in major league baseball history to hit grand slams from both sides of the plate in a game. He had a total of three home runs in the game and collected 9 RBIs. It was only the 12th time that a player hit two grand slams in a single game.

2003 - Marcus Giles (Atlanta Braves) tied a major league record when he went 5-5, giving him hits in nine straight at-bats. The record was shared by 10 players at the time.

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Coming Up:

Tonight --

MLB -- San Francisco Giants at Cincinnati Reds 7:10pm EDT

MLB -- Tampa Bay Rays at Seattle Mariners 10:10pm EDT

Saturday --

MLB -- Tampa Bay Rays at Seattle Mariners 4:10pm EDT

MLB -- San Francisco Giants at Cincinnati Reds 7:10pm EDT

Nascar Nationwide Series -- 30th Annual Kroger 200 at Lucas Oil Raceway 7:30pm EDT

CFL Football -- Calgary Stampeders at Saskatchewan Roughriders 9:30pm EDT

Sunday --

Nascar Sprint Cup Series -- Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway 1:00pm EDT

MLB -- San Francisco Giants at Cincinnati Reds 1:10pm EDT

MLB -- Tampa Bay Rays at Seattle Mariners 4:10pm EDT

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That's all for now. Be sure to tell all your friends about us, okay? Enjoy your day, see you tomorrow.