It's Friday

It's Friday. Here's what's happening....

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Today is November 30th, the 335th day of 2012. There are 31 days left in the year.

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CBA mediation with League, Union unsuccessful.

Kings PA announcer David Courtney dies, 56.

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

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Today's Birthdays: Director Ridley Scott (Alien, Blade Runner, Gladiator) is 75; Billy Idol is 57; Ben Stiller is 47; American Idol runner-up Clay Aiken is 34.

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U.S. National Sled Team Heads to Calgary This Weekend for World Sledge Hockey Challenge Team USA begins 2012-13 season against Norway, Japan and Canada COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- The U.S. National Sled Hockey Team kicks off its 2012-13 campaign at the 2012 World Sledge Hockey Challenge in Calgary, Alta., Dec. 2-8. In addition to Team USA, the tournament includes Canada, Japan and Norway. Team USA has won the last three major international events, including the 2009 International Paralympic Committee World Sledge Hockey Championship in Ostrava, Czech Republic; the 2010 Paralympic Games in Vancouver, B.C.; and the 2012 IPC World Sledge Hockey Championship in Hamar, Norway. Goaltender Steve Cash (Overland, Mo.), defenseman Taylor Chace (Hampton Falls, N.H.) and forward Alexi Salamone (Buffalo, N.Y.) – who were each named to the all-tournament team at the 2012 IPC Sledge Hockey World Championship – highlight the U.S. squad. For the complete tournament roster, click here. The U.S. has participated in each of the five previous World Sledge Hockey Challenge tournaments, with one title to its credit, that in 2009. FASTHockey will provide live streaming coverage for all tournament games. Those interested in watching should sign up for a free account in advance at USAHockey.FASTHockey.com. 2012 World Sledge Hockey Challenge Dec. 2-8 - Calgary, Alta. - Markin MacPhail Centre Date Opponent Time (Local/EST) Sun., Dec. 2 Norway 12:00 p.m./2:00 p.m. Mon., Dec. 3 Japan 7:00 p.m./9:00 p.m. Wed., Dec. 5 Canada 7:00 p.m./9:00 p.m. Thurs., Dec. 6 Semifinals 12:00 p.m./2:00 p.m. 7:00 p.m./9:00 p.m. Sat., Dec. 8 Third-Place Game 12:00 p.m./2:00 p.m. Championship Game 5:00 p.m./7:00 p.m. NOTES: Jeff Sauer (Madison, Wis.), former men's ice hockey head coach at the University of Wisconsin, is the head coach of the U.S. National Sled Hockey Team, while Guy Gosselin (Grafton, Wis.) is the assistant coach ... Follow@USAHockey and @USAHockeyScores on Twitter for live scoring updates during the tournament and join the conversation by using #WSHC. For additional coverage, visit usahockey.com and USA Hockey's Facebook ... Media wishing to cover the camp should contact Brian Smith (briansm@usahockey.org) of the USA Hockey communications staff ... Taylor Lipsett (Plano, Texas) will miss the tournament due to injury. Billy Hanning (Festus, Mo.) has been called up from the U.S. National Developmental Sled Hockey Team ... Dan Brennan is the general manager for the U.S. National Sled Hockey Team ... The U.S. Paralympic Sled Hockey Team for the 2014 Paralympic Winter Games in Sochi, Russia, will be chosen next summer.

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Funeral services for my wife, Kimberly C. Meissner, are scheduled for Saturday, December 1st, 10:00am at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, 3200 McMullen Booth Road (Right across from Mease Countryside Hospital) in Clearwater, Florida 33761. If you can make it, that would be great. If not, prayers during that time would be greatly appreciated. Out of respect to her memory, the Johnny Blog will be taking tomorrow off. God bless us all.

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Corvallis, OR. -- The wacky regular season for the No. 15 Beavers is about the end, one week late, as the Nicholls State Colonels traverse from Louisiana to Corvallis for the final game of the 2012 Pac-12 Conference regular season. The 8-3 Beavers look to make it a true turnaround from last season’s 3-9 mark and solidify one of their best bowl appearances in the history of the program.

Read the rest here.

Visit the Oregon State Athletics department official web site.

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Today is the 30th anniversary of the release of Michael Jackson's Thriller album.

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Ultimate Replay: 100th Grey Cup.

101st Grey Cup Festival launched in Saskatchewan.

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

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President Obama and Mitt Romney had lunch at the White House yesterday (Thursday). [They worked on a plan to solve the Lindsay Lohan crisis.]

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Tampa, FL. —Virtually every key figure from the 2002 Super Bowl team is returning on Dec. 8-9 for a 10-year reunion of their championship season.

Read the rest here.

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Denny's opened a restaurant on Thursday in Las Vegas with a wedding chapel where couples can tie the knot after a meal. This Denny's also has a full bar.

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Captain America Jimmy kicks the soccer ball.

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You're reading the Johnny Blog. Beats watching Oregon Duck football, doesn't it?

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Today in Elvis History

1963 - The Elvis Presley film "Kid Galahad" premiered in the U.K.

1993 - The Elvis Presley album "From Nashville To Memphis - The Essential '60s Masters I" was certified gold by the RIAA.

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Buying online is easy. Click, pay, and it's delivered to your front porch. And then it's stolen by thieves. Wait, what? Yep, police are seeing a huge spike in front porch package thefts this year. Although electronics are the most attractive items, thieves are grabbing everything from clothing to children's bicycles. Advice: If you're not going to be home, have a neighbor watch out for your package.

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Today in Beatles History:

1960 - The Beatles performed at the Kaiserkeller in Hamburg for the last time.

1972 - Wings released their single "Hi, Hi, Hi." The BBC banned the record because it declared that the lyrics were "unsuitable" for broadcast.

1976 - George Harrison appeared on BBC-2-TV's "The Old Grey Whistley Contest." 

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Betty White is auctioning off a date with her to benefit the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Los Angeles. In an auction starting December 3, fans will be able to bid on a dinner date with Betty at one of Betty's favorite restaurants.

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Today in Sports History:

1971 - ABC-TV aired "Brian's Song." The movie was about Chicago Bears' Brian Picolo and his friendship with Gale Sayers.

1991 - In the first Women's World Cup in soccer, the U.S. team defeated Norway 2-1.

1992 - The video "NFL Country," by various artists, was certified Gold by the RIAA.

1993 - The NFL awarded the league's 30th franchise to the Jacksonville Jaguars.

1996 - Michael Jordan (Chicago Bulls) scored his 25,000th NBA career point. He was only the 10th player to reach the mark.

2005 - The Boston Bruins traded captain Joe Thornton to the San Jose Sharks for Marco Sturm, Wayne Primeau and Brad Stuart.

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NUMBER FOR THE DAY - 25,000: Children injured each year by shopping carts.

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Coming Up:

Tonight --

Nothin' Doin'

Saturday --

College Football -- Oregon State Beavers vs Nicholls State Colonels 2:30pm EST

EJHL South Hockey -- Tampa Bay Juniors at University of Tampa 3:30pm EST

Sunday --

NFL Football -- Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Denver Broncos 4:05pm EST

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That's all for today. Thanks for stopping by, see you tomorrow!