Monday Morning Meissnervations

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

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Today is July 4th, the 185th day of 2011. There are 180 days left in the year.

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Sharks trade Heatley to Wild for Havlat.

Leafs acquire Lombardi and Franson in swap.

2011 Free Agent signings.

Trades completed since 2011 Entry Draft.

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Today is Independance Day. The 235th anniversary of the United States declaring it's independance from the Kingdom of Great Britain. (Linky Link)

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2011 U.S. Under-17 Select Team Revealed
U.S. Team to Compete at the
2011 Under-17 Five Nations Tournament in Ann Arbor, Mich.

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - Twenty-two players who participated at USA Hockey's Boys' Select 16 Player Development Camp have been selected for the 2011 U.S. Under-17 Select Team that will compete at the 2011 Under-17 Five Nations Tournament Aug. 9-13, in Ann Arbor, Mich.

The Boys' Select 16 Player Development Camp took place from June 24-30 at The Sports Centre at MCC in Rochester, N.Y.

The U.S. roster features 13 forwards, including Gabe Guertler (Plantation, Fla.), who led the Boys' Select 16 Player Development Camp with nine goals and 16 points in six games. The seven-man defensive corps for Team USA includes Anthony DeAngelo (Turnersville, N.J.), whose six assists in six games paced all defensemen at the Player Development Camp.

Sharing the goaltending duties at the 2011 Under-17 Five Nations Tournament will be Thatcher Demko (San Diego, Calif.) and Devin Williams (Saginaw, Mich.).

For a complete roster click here.

NOTES: The 2011 Under-17 Five Nations Tournament will include teams from the Czech Republic, Germany, Slovakia, Switzerland and the United States ... Bob Corkum will serve as head coach, while Pat Mikesch will serve as assistant coach for the 2011 U.S. Under-17 Select Team ... The 22 players on the U.S. roster represent 11 different states. Minnesota leads the way with five players represented, while California has four ... All 2011 Under-17 Five Nations Tournament games will be held at the Ann Arbor Ice Cube. Ticket information will be announced shortly ... The annual USA Hockey Select 16 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. For a full stat breakdown from the event, click here.

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

Date Opponent
Time (EDT)

Tues., Aug. 9 Czech Republic 6 p.m.
Wed., Aug. 10 Germany 6 p.m.
Fri., Aug. 12 Slovakia 6 p.m.
Sat., Aug. 13 Switzerland 6 p.m.

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Earth at Aphelion is today. (Linky Link)

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Edmonton shocks Riders in season opener

REGINA, Saskatchewan -- The Edmonton Eskimos came into Mosaic Stadium in Regina under the radar last night, jumping out to a 14-7 lead after one, then rode a strong second half to a 42-28 win over the Saskatchewan Roughriders, in the 2011 CFL opener for both teams.

After an 18 minute weather delay to start the evening, Edmonton scored first, as Ricky Ray hit Jason Barnes from 35 yards out for a major score on the Eskies' second possession of the night. Damon Duval converted and Edmonton was up 7-0 with 10:12 left in the opening quarter. The Riders would tie it up soon after, going 81 yards in just 4 plays. Darian Durant found Efrem Hill with a 14 yard touchdown pass. Eddie Johnson kicked the convert, making it a 7-7 game with 7:45 to go in the first. Ray would find Barnes again on the next possession, this time from 14 yards away. The Duval convert with 2:17 left in the first gave the Eskimos a 14-7 lead.

Duval would kick a 48 yard field goal 14 seconds into the second quarter for Edmonton, which then turned a recovered fumble into a Duval 22 yard field goal with 10:16 left in the half to grab a 20-7 lead. Johnson, who struggled in the pre-season, would come on to kick a 43 yard field goal with 7:35 left in the half, slicing the Saskatchewan deficit to 20-10. The Eskies would take the ball on the ensuing possession and march 72 yards in 9 plays, capped by a 5 yard Daniel Porter touchdown run. Duval's convert with 4:07 to go gave Edmonton a 27-10 lead. The Riders would roar back with two quick scores. Johnson kicked a 22 yard field goal with 1:38 left, then with 26 seconds left, Wes Cates would rumble in from 24 yards. The Johnson convert cut the Eskimo lead to 27-20 at two-quarter time.

Edmonton would add 8 points in a defensive-minded third. Duval nailed a 77 yard punt single with 5:20 remaining, then Adarius Bowman caught a 4 yard Ray pass for a major score. The Duval convert with 98 seconds left, gave the Eskimos a 35-20 lead after three.

Edmonton would put the game away not quite five minutes into the fourth. 2:31 into the final quarter, Ray found Bowman with a 31 yard strike at the Saskatchewan one. Lance Frazier, covering on the play, would force a fumble just shy of the goal line, with the ball rolling into the end zone then over the sideline. After initially ruling a touchdown, the officials reversed the call upon review. With Bowman the last player to touch the ball in the field of play, the Eskimos were given the ball at the 1 yard line. Backup quarterback Kerry Joseph would punch it in on 3rd and goal from the one and with the Duval convert, Edmonton's lead was 22, at 42-20 with 4:21 off the clock. The Riders tried to pin the Eskimos deep halfway through the quarter, but Johnson's punt rolled through the endzone for a 63 yard punt single, making it 42-21. On their next possession, Durant would hit Jason Clermont with a 22 yard touchdown pass. Johnson converted with 2:12 left, but they could get no closer, with Edmonton heading home with a surprising 42-28 win.

Ricky Ray led the Eskimos, going 21-for-27 passing for 294 yards and 3 touchdowns, while being sacked once. Jason Barnes caught 5 passes for 104 yards and 2 touchdowns, while Adarius Bowman grabbed 5 passes for 103 yards and 1 touchdown. Daniel Porter and Kerry Joseph scored rushing touchdowns and Damon Duval kicked 2 field goals, 5 converts and a punt single. For Saskatchewan, Darian Durant was 27-for-37 passing for 339 yards, 2 touchdowns and 3 interceptions, while being sacked twice. Efrem Hill and Jason Clermont caught touchdown passes and Weston Dressler caught 7 balls for 109 yards. Wes Cates carried the ball 10 times for 56 yards and 1 touchdown and Eddie Johnson had 2 field goals, 2 converts and a punt single.

It doesn't get any easier for the Riders next week, as the two-time defending Grey Cup champion Montreal Alouettes come to town on Saturday, July 9th. Montreal comes in 1-0, after Thursday's 30-26 win over BC. Game time on 620 CKRM, the Rider Radio Network, TSN and the NFL Network, is set for 4:00pm EDT Edmonton, 1-0 and first in the West, are home against Hamilton, which lost 24-16 at home to Winnipeg on Friday.

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

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Today is Independence from Meat Day.

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Zwelling: Top CFL prospects battle their nerves.

2011 CFL Schedule is here.

Donate to the Tony Proudfoot Fund.

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

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So, this is how it works. Thanks Auntie Dee Dee!

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This is Indivisible Day.

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ST PETERSBURG --  After using the Majors' second highest run support to help him become the American League Pitcher of the Month in May, Jeremy Hellickson hasn't received much help since.

The right-hander spent most of June stuck in a funk that translated into a career-high four-game skid in which the offense put up a total of just one run in that span.

But Tampa Bay erupted for seven doubles Sunday, helping snap Hellickson's losing streak in a 8-3 win in front of 26,819 fans at Tropicana Field before embarking on a seven-game road trip. The eight runs were the most for the Rays at home this season.

Read the rest here.

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Freedom Week starts today.

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DETROIT --  As Aaron Rowand's eighth-inning line drive darted straight and true toward the left-center-field gap, he sensed he had delivered an extra-base hit.

"I put my head down and started running," he said.

But Rowand's diligence proved to be wasted energy, which was the case all too often for the Giants in their 6-3 Interleague loss Sunday to the Detroit Tigers.

Read the rest here.

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Today in Elvis History:

1954 - This day is cited as the day that Elvis Presley began working with lead guitarist Scotty Moore and bassist Bill Black. However, the three had been practicing together for several months.

1956 - In Memphis, Elvis Presley performed at a charity concert for the Memphis Press-Scimitar's Milk Fund.

1964 - The soundtrack "Viva Las Vegas" hit #92 in the U.S.

1968 - Elvis Presley donated a Rolls Royce to an auction for SHARE.

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This is International Group B Strep Awareness Month. (Linky Link)

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Today in Beatles History:

1964 - "Billboard" reported that the Beatles' upcoming summer North American tour would be a sell out.

1966 - In the Philippines, President Ferdinand Marcos removed the Beatles' police protection. His wife had claimed that the band had snubbed her by not attending one of her parties. The band was later attacked by an angry mob. The Beatles played two shows for 80,000 people at the Rizal Memorial football stadium.

1984 - Ringo Starr performed with the Beach Boys at their free July 4th concert in Miami, FL.

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July is International Women with Alopecia Month.

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Today in Sports History:

1910 - Race riots broke out all over the United States after African-American Jack Johnson knocked out Jim Jeffries in a heavyweight boxing match.

1919 - Jack Dempsey won the world heavyweight champion when he defeated Jess Willard.

1934 - Boxer Joe Louis won his first professional fight.

1939 - Lou Gehrig retired from major league baseball.

1980 - Nolan Ryan (Houston Astros) got his 3,000th career strikeout.

1980 - Martina Navratilova won her sixth straight Wimbledon singles championship and her eighth overall.

2003 - Kobe Bryant (Los Angeles Lakers) was arrested on suspicion of sexual assault after turning himself in to police. He was released after posting a $25,000 bond.
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July is International Zine Month. (Linky Link)

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Coming Up: 

Tonight --

MLB -- Tampa Bay Rays at Minnesota Twins 2:10pm EDT

MLB -- San Francisco Giants vs San Diego Padres 5:05pm EDT

Tuesday --

MLB -- Tampa Bay Rays at Minnesota Twins 8:10pm EDT

MLB -- San Francisco Giants vs San Diego Padres 10:15pm EDT


Wednesday --

MLB -- Tampa Bay Rays at Minnesota Twins 1:10pm EDT

MLB -- San Francisco Giants vs San Diego Padres 10:15pm EDT

Thursday --

MLB -- Tampa Bay Rays at New York Yankees 7:05pm EDT

MLB -- San Francisco Giants vs San Diego Padres 10:15pm EDT

Friday --
 
MLB -- Tampa Bay Rays at New York Yankees 7:05pm EDT
 
Nascar Nationwide Series -- Feed The Children 300 at Kentucky Speedway 7:30pm EDT
 
MLB -- San Francisco Giants vs New York Mets 10:15pm EDT

Saturday --

MLB -- Tampa Bay Rays at New York Yankees 1:05pm EDT

CFL Football -- Saskatchewan Roughriders vs Montreal Alouettes 4:00pm EDT

Nascar Sprint Cup Series -- Quaker State 400 at Kentucky Speedway 7:30pm EDT

MLB -- San Francisco Giants vs New York Mets 9:05pm EDT

Sunday --

MLB -- Tampa Bay Rays at New York Yankees 1:05pm EDT

Izod Indy Car Series -- Honda Indy Toronto at Streets of Toronto 2:00pm EDT

MLB -- San Francisco Giants vs New York Mets 8:05pm 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.