It's Sunday

It's Sunday. Here's what's happening....

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Today is April 8th, the 99th day of 2012. There are 267 days left in the year.

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2012 NHL Draft drawing to be conducted April 10.

NHLN, NHL.com unveil Playoff Schedule 1 PM ET Sun.

Visit the official league website, http://www.nhl.com/.

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Starting today: Bat Appreciation Week, National Library Week, National Networking Week, Orthodox Holy Week, Pan American Week and Consider Christianity Week.

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Winnipeg, MB. -- Steven Stamkos scored his 60th goal of the season and Teddy Purcell had a hat trick - including the overtime winner - and the Tampa Bay Lightning ended their season with a 4-3 victory over the Winnipeg Jets on Saturday.

Fans recognized Stamkos' feat and gave him a standing ovation after Martin St. Louis sent a pass to the front of the net and Stamkos fired it over Ondrej Pavelec's glove at 3:29 of the third period.

Only Alex Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals has reached the 60-goal mark since 1996.

Read the rest here.

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Today is Easter.

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NTDP Announces Seven Commitments for 2012-13 Season

Four Forwards and Three Defensemen Latest to be Named to U.S. National Under-17 Team

ANN ARBOR, Mich. - Forwards Ryan Hitchcock (Manhasset, N.Y.), Sonny Milano (Massapequa, N.Y.), Alex Tuch (Baldwinsville, N.Y.) and Chris Wilkie (Omaha, Neb.), along with defensemen Louis Belpedio (Skokie, Ill.), Nathan Billitier (Spencerport, N.Y.) and Joshua Wesley (Raleigh, N.C.) have committed to join USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program for the 2012-13 season, it was announced today. The players, all from the 1996 birth year, will compete as members of the U.S. National Under-17 Team.

“This is a dynamic group of players to add to an already exciting roster,” said Peter Ward, director of player personnel for the NTDP. “The scouting staff has been working tirelessly to assemble the best talent in the country and it shows with these commitments.”

Hitchcock competed for the New Jersey Rockets Junior B team of the Metropolitan Junior Hockey League. In 35 games he scored 33 goals and added 42 assists, which was fourth most in the league. Hitchcock also skated in eight playoff games for the Rockets, recording 16 points (5-11), including one game-winning tally. He was named most valuable player in the MJHL for his performance during the 2011-12 season.

During the 2011-12 season, Milano skated for the Cleveland Barons Midget Minor team of the Tier One Elite League. He tallied 44 goals and collected 43 assists in 40 games. His 87 points placed him first in the league.

Tuch played for the Syracuse Stars Junior B team of the Empire Junior Hockey League where he amassed 101 points (44-57) in 40 games, which ranked at the top of the league. He also notched one goal and recorded three assists in four playoff games for the Stars.

Wilkie comes from the Omaha Lancers Midget Minor team of the North American Prospects Hockey League, where he accumulated 48 points (22-26) in 18 games. He led the NAPHL in points and power-play goals (10). He also skated in four playoff games with the Lancers, netting three goals and adding 10 assists.

Belpedio skated for Culver (Ind.) Academy. He recorded nine goals and 11 assists in 34 games.

During the 2011-12 campaign, Billitier played for the Rochester (N.Y.) Stars Junior A team of the Eastern Junior Hockey League and collected two assists in 34 games.

Wesley comes from the Carolina Junior Hurricanes of the North American Prospects Hockey League, where he totaled 13 points (7-6) in 18 games, ranking eighth among defensemen. He also notched one goal and registered six assists in five playoff games.

NOTES: Billitier competed for Team USA in the 2012 Winter Youth Olympic Games from Jan. 13-22, 2012, in Innsbruck, Austria ... The 2012-13 U.S. National Under-17 Team will play in the United States Hockey League, the top junior league in the U.S. It will also compete in three international competitions, including the 2013 World Under-17 Challenge … The U.S. National Under-17 Team will be comprised of two goaltenders, 12 forwards and eight defensemen ... The roster currently stands at eight forwards and five defensemen, having previously announced commitments by forwards Jack Eichel (North Chelmsford, Mass.), Jared Fiegl (Parker, Colo.), Dylan Larkin (Waterford, Mich.) and Ryan MacInnis (St. Louis, Mo.), along with defensemen Ryan Bliss (Bedford, N.H.) and Jack Glover (Golden Valley, Minn.).

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The first balloon was flown in Ireland on this date in 1784.

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Draft Profile: Bryce McCall.

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

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The first American school for the deaf was opened in Hartford, CT on this date in 1817.

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Let's go Lightning Guys!

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The city of San Francisco was incorporated on this date in 1850.

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St. Petersburg, FL. -- The Rays remained unbeaten on the season with an 8-6 win over the Yankees on Saturday night at Tropicana Field.

Nick Swisher's three-run homer off Joel Peralta with two outs in the ninth inning and an ensuing walk drawn by Robinson Cano brought Alex Rodriguez to the plate as the tying run against Fernando Rodney, but Rodriguez grounded out to end the game.

The victory ensured Tampa Bay of a series win as it heads into Sunday afternoon's series finale with New York.

Read the rest here.

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On this date in 1934 in the comic strip "Blondie," Dagwood and Blondie Bumstead welcomed a baby boy, Alexander. The child would be nicknamed, Baby Dumpling.

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Phoenix, AZ.-- The Giants tried in vain Saturday to outslug the Arizona Diamondbacks, absorbing their second consecutive 5-4 loss to the defending National League West champions.

Read the rest here.

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The first episode of the "Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok" radio show aired on this date in 1951.

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Today in Elvis History

1966 - The Elvis Presley movie "Frankie And Johnny" opened at the Victoria Theatre in London.

1978 - Elvis Presley's album "He Walks Beside Me" hit #37 in the U.K.

1980 - Elvis Presley's grandmother, Minnie Presley, died.

2003 - Lisa Marie Presley's debut album "To Whom It May Concern" was released.

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Ray Kroc started the McDonald's restaurant chain on this date in 1955.

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Today in Beatles History:

1963 - Julian Lennon was born to Cynthia and John Lennon. He was the first child to be born to a Beatle.

1972 - Wings released "Give Ireland Back To The Irish". The song was banned by the BBC and IBA.

2003 - Yoko Ono's single "Walking On Thin Ice (Tenaglia Dub)" was released.

2003 - The album "Lost Songs of Lennon & McCartney" was released.

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The worlds’ first, all-color TV station was dedicated on this date in 1956. It was WNBQ-TV in Chicago and is now WMAQ-TV.

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Today in Sports History:

1911 - The first squash tournament was played at the Harvard Club in New York City.

1966 - At the Astrodome in Houston, TX, The Astros and the Dodgers played the first Major League Baseball game to be played on synthetic grass.

1974 - Hank Aaron hit his 715th home run to break Babe Ruth's home run record.

1975 - Frank Robinson of the Cleveland Indians became first black manager of a major league baseball team.

1987 - Los Angeles Dodgers executive Al Campanis resigned over remarks he had made. While on ABC's "Nightline" Campanis said that blacks "may not have some of the necessities" to hold managerial jobs in major-league baseball.

1991 - Oakland A's stadium became the first outdoor arena to ban smoking.

1992 - Tennis player Arthur Ashe announced that he had AIDS.

2008 - The Mets lost their last home opener at Shea Stadium to Philadelphia Phillies.

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On this date in 1997, Christopher Reeve received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

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Coming up:

Tonight --

MLB -- Tampa Bay Rays vs New York Yankees 1:40pm EDT

MLB -- San Francisco Giants at Arizona Diamondbacks 4:10pm EDT

Monday --

MLB -- San Francisco Giants at Colorado Rockies 4:10pm EDT

Tuesday --

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

Wednesday --

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

MLB -- San Francisco Giants at Colorado Rockies 8:40pm EDT

Thursday --

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

MLB -- San Francisco Giants at Colorado Rockies 3:10pm EDT

Friday --

MLB -- Tampa Bay Rays at Boston Red Sox 2:05pm EDT

MLB -- San Francisco Giants vs Pittsburgh Pirates 4:35pm EDT

Nascar Nationwide Series -- O'Reilly Auto Parts 300 at Texas Motor Speedway 8:30pm EDT

Saturday --

MLB -- Tampa Bay Rays at Boston Red Sox 4:05pm EDT

Nascar Sprint Cup Series -- Samsung Mobile 500 at Texas Motor Speedway 7:00pm EDT

MLB -- San Francisco Giants vs Pittsburgh Pirates 9:05pm EDT

Sunday --

MLB -- Tampa Bay Rays at Boston Red Sox 1:35pm EDT

MLB -- San Francisco Giants vs Pittsburgh Pirates 4:05pm EDT

Monday --

MLB -- Tampa Bay Rays at Boston Red Sox 11:05am EDT

MLB -- San Francisco Giants vs Philadelphia Phillies 10:10pm EDT

Tuesday --

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

MLB -- San Francisco Giants vs Philadelphia Phillies 10:10pm EDT

Wednesday --

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

MLB -- San Francisco Giants vs Philadelphia Phillies 10:10pm EDT

Thursday --

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

Friday --

MLB -- Tampa Bay Rays vs Minnesota Twins 7:07pm EDT

MLB -- San Francisco Giants at New York Mets 7:10pm EDT

Saturday --

MLB -- San Francisco Giants at New York Mets 1:10pm EDT

MLB -- Tampa Bay Rays vs Minnesota Twins 7:07pm EDT

Sunday --

Nascar Sprint Cup Series -- STP 400 at Kansas Speedway 12:30pm EDT

MLB -- San Francisco Giants at New York Mets 1:10pm EDT

MLB -- Tampa Bay Rays vs Minnesota Twins 1:40pm EDT

Indy Car Series -- Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach at Long Beach, CA. 3:30pm EDT

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That's it for today. Thanks for stopping by, I hope that you'll do so tomorrow too. Thanks again!