It's Wednesday

Hip, hip hooray! It's Wednesday today. Here's what's happening....

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Today is August 24th, the 236th day of 2011. There are 129 days left in the year.

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Summer with Stanley 2011 blog: Thomas awaits his day.

Long offseason beneficial for Hossa.

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Today's Birthdays: Actor Kenny Baker (R2-D2 in Star Wars) is 77 ... Wrestling promoter Vince McMahon is 66 ... Actress Anne Archer is 64 ... Politician Mike Huckabee is 56 ... Actor Steve Guttenberg is 53 ... Baseball's Cal Ripken, Jr. is 51 ... TV personality Craig Kilborn is 49 ... Actress Marlee Matlin is 46 ... Actor-comedian Dave Chappelle is 38 ... Actor Rupert Grint is 23.

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Ward Named National Team Development Program Director of Player Personnel

ANN ARBOR, Mich. - Peter Ward has been named director of player personnel at USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program in Ann Arbor, Mich., and will be responsible for the identification, evaluation and recruitment of NTDP prospects it was announced today.

“Peter has a proven track record in recruiting the top talent in the nation,” said Scott Monaghan, senior director of operations for the NTDP. "We know he will continue to work hard identifying future players for the NTDP."

Ward has been with the NTDP serving as assistant director of player personnel for the past three seasons. During that time, he was responsible for scouting the top 14- to 17-year-old players throughout the country.

"I am excited about the opportunity", said Ward. "We have a great staff in place and I feel honored to be in the position to continue recruiting the top players in the United States."

The Andover, Mass., native has also been involved in the sport through multiple coaching roles with various domestic junior hockey teams. In, 2007-08, Ward served as the associate head coach for the South Shore Kings of the Eastern Junior Hockey League. He also served as an assistant coach for the EJHL's New England Junior Huskies in 2006-07. Ward served as the head coach and general manager of the Walpole Express of the Atlantic Junior Hockey League in the 2005-06 campaign.

He was also an assistant coach with Thayer Academy (Mass.) in 2004-05.

Ward replaces Ryan Rezmierski, who left to become an amateur scout for the National Hockey League's Nashville Predators.

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Today is Vesuvias Day. (Linky Link)

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Chris Getzlaf named CFL Canadian Player of the Week.

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

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Today is Pluto Demoted Day. (Linky Link)

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CFL.ca Online Water Cooler: Week #8.

Irving: How Buck Pierce achieved rock star status.

Hamilton's offensive minds think alike.

2011 CFL Schedule is here.

Donate to the Tony Proudfoot Fund.

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

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The Air Guitar World Championships begin in Finland (Oulu). What started as a joke in 1996 has grown into seriously fun, semi-absurd performance art. The 'World Final' takes place Friday.

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Lets put on your shoes Jimmy, it's time to go to lunch.

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Today is National Waffle Day. (Linky Link)

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ST. PETERSBURG -- Tuesday night's Rays-Tigers contest brought plenty of excitement to Tropicana Field, and a lot of good baseball by the home team. Nevertheless, the always optimistic Joe Maddon uncharacteristically cut to the chase after the Rays took a 2-1 loss.

"Overall, this is the kind of game, when you're going to the playoffs, you win," the Rays' manager said. "And when you're not, you don't. We've got to start winning these games to go to the playoffs.

Read the rest here.

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The printing of the Gutenberg Bible was completed on this day in 1456.

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SAN FRANCISCO -- After a difficult 10-game road trip that saw six losses and five players sent to the disabled list, there was some hope that a return to the friendly confines of AT&T Park for a 12-game homestand would be just what the reeling Giants needed.

While a complete lack of hitting and some sloppy fielding plagued San Francisco for most of Tuesday night, that wish seemed to be coming true in the eighth. The Giants rallied from a three-run deficit to tie the game heading into the ninth, seemingly on their way to another one of their patented late-game comebacks. But the magic would not last, and the Giants fell, 7-5, to the Padres.

Read the rest here.

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Despite reports, Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith say they are not breaking up. (That would be one very complicated divorce. I mean, who would get custody of their kids' careers?)

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Today in Elvis History:

1956 - Elvis Presley recorded "We're Gonna Move" and "Love Me Tender" at 20th Century Fox in Hollywood, CA.

1968 - The soundtrack album to the Elvis Presley movie "Speedway" hit #82 in the U.S.

1974 - The album "Elvis Recorded Live On Stage In Memphis" hit #44 in the U.K.

1991 - The Elvis Presley three-CD boxed set "Collectors Gold" hit #57 in the U.K.

1999 - The Elvis Presley compilation album "The Collection" was released by RCA.

2004 - "Elvis Presley - The Signature Collection (It Happened at the World's Fair / Speedway / Spinout / Harum Scarum / Jailhouse Rock / Viva Las Vegas)" was released in a six DVD set.

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Denied a bikini wax because salon employees believed she was intoxicated, an Iowa woman became upset and struck a worker in the head with a towel. Police in Iowa City arrested the woman.

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Today in Beatles History:

1964 - The Beatles released "Matchbox/Slow Down."

1981 - Mark David Chapman was sentenced to 20 years to life in prison for the murder of John Lennon.

1998 - Ingrid Pederson came forward claiming to be the half-sister of John Lennon. The delay in information she said was to spare her adopted mother's feelings.

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With the success of the movie The Social Network it's no surprise that a movie about Napster is in the works. But this one's going to be a documentary.

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Today in Sports History:

1963 - John Pennel pole-vaulted 17 feet and 3/4 inches becoming the first to break the 17-foot barrier.

1975 - Davey Lopes of the Los Angeles Dodgers set a major league baseball record when he stole his 38th consecutive base.

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The Dark Knight Rises team has paid $20,000 to replace trees taken down in Pittsburgh for the filming of the third Batman film. Two dozen leafy trees were chopped down for filming in order to make the scenes look like they had been filmed in winter.

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Coming up:

Tonight:

MLB -- Tampa Bay Rays vs Detroit Tigers 7:10pm EDT

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

Thursday --

MLB -- Tampa Bay Rays vs Detroit Tigers 1:10pm EDT

MLB -- San Francisco Giants vs Houston Astros 10:15pm EDT

Friday --

MLB -- Tampa Bay Rays at Toronto Blue Jays 7:07pm EDT

Nascar Nationwide Series -- Food City 250 at Bristol Motor Speedway 7:30pm EDT

MLB -- San Francisco Giants vs Houston Astros 10:15pm EDT

Saturday --

MLB -- Tampa Bay Rays at Toronto Blue Jays 1:07pm EDT

Nascar Sprint Cup Series -- Irwin Tools Night Race at Bristol Motor Speedway 7:30pm EDT

MLB -- San Francisco Giants vs Houston Astros 9:05pm EDT

Sunday --

MLB -- Tampa Bay Rays at Toronto Blue Jays 1:07pm EDT

IZOD Indy Car Series -- Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma at Infineon Raceway 4:00pm EDT

MLB -- San Francisco Giants vs Houston Astros 4:05pm EDT

Monday --

MLB -- Tampa Bay Rays at Toronto Blue Jays 7:07pm EDT

Tuesday --

MLB -- Tampa Bay Rays at Texas Rangers 8:05pm EDT

MLB -- San Francisco Giants vs Chicago Cubs 10:15pm EDT

Wednesday --

MLB -- Tampa Bay Rays at Texas Rangers 8:05pm EDT

MLB -- San Francisco Giants vs Chicago Cubs 3:45pm EDT

Thursday --

MLB -- Tampa Bay Rays at Texas Rangers 8:05pm EDT

Friday --

MLB -- Tampa Bay Rays vs Baltimore Orioles 7:10pm EDT

MLB -- San Francisco Giants vs Arizona Diamondbacks 10:15pm EDT

Saturday --

MLB -- Tampa Bay Rays vs Baltimore Orioles 6:10pm EDT

Nascar Nationwide Series -- Great Clips 300 at Atlanta Motor Speedway 7:30pm EDT

MLB -- San Francisco Giants vs Arizona Diamondbacks 9:05pm EDT

Sunday --

MLB -- Tampa Bay Rays vs Baltimore Orioles 1:40pm EDT

IZOD Indy Car Series -- Baltimore Grand Prix at Streets of Baltimore TBD

CFL Football -- Saskatchewan Roughriders vs Winnipeg Blue Bombers 4:00pm EDT

MLB -- San Francisco Giants vs Arizona Diamondbacks 4:05pm EDT

Nascar Sprint Cup Series -- AdvoCare 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway 7:30pm EDT

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That's the wrap for another day. I'm so glad you visited and that you'll do so again tomorrow. Thanks again!