It's Saturday

It's Saturday. Here's what's happening....

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Today is August 16th, the 227th day of 2014. There are 138 days left in the year.

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Sabres expect rapid improvement after summer moves.

Penguins' Crosby pleased with how wrist has healed.

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

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A telegraphed message from Britain's Queen Victoria to U.S. President Buchanan was transmitted over the recently laid trans-Atlantic cable on this date in 1858.

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Tampa, FL. -- Despite a pretty successful year — 46 wins, 101 points, snapping a two-year playoff drought — the Tampa Bay Lightning didn’t rest on their laurels this offseason.

Read the rest here.

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U.S. President Lincoln prohibited the Union states from trading with the states of the Confederacy on this date in 1861.

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USA Holds Off Switzerland, 5-3, Remaining Undefeated in U-17 Five Nations USA Meets Unbeaten Czech Republic Tomorrow (Aug. 16) CRIMMITSCHAU, GERMANY — The U.S. Under-17 Select Team topped Switzerland, 5-3, in its second game of the 2014 Under-17 Five Nations Tournament. Team USA (2-0-0-0, W-OTW-OTL-L) will face the Czech Republic tomorrow (Aug. 16) at 9 a.m. ET. “Switzerland played well and really made us work for this one,” said Cary Eades, head coach of the U.S. Under-17 Select Team. “I like the way we responded to their goal in the second period. We didn’t get down or panic—we simply got back to work and scored on two pretty passing plays to build a 4-1 lead. The Swiss goalie (Matteo Ritz) was outstanding and kept us from building a safe lead.” For a complete recap, click here. U.S. Under-18 Select Team Falls to Canada, 11-5, in Hlinka Cup Semifinal USA will face Sweden in bid for third place tomorrow (Aug. 16) PIESTANY, SLOVAKIA — The U.S. Under-18 Select Team fell to Canada, 11-5, in the semifinal round of the competition at the 2014 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Cup. “Obviously, things didn't go our way today,” said Derek Plante, head coach of the U.S. Under-18 Select Team. “Now we have to get refocused and prepared to play in the third-place game tomorrow.” For a complete recap, click here.

************************************************ Carnegie Steel Corporation put into place the eight-hour workday for its employees on this date in 1923. ************************************************

Regina, SK. -- The Saskatchewan Roughriders (4-2) will look to extend their current three game winning streak as they welcome the Montreal Alouettes (1-5) in week eight Canadian Football League action.

Read the rest here.

Next up for the 4-2 Roughriders is a home game versus the 1-5 Montreal Alouettes tonight. Game time is 7:00pm EDT. Catch all the action with Rod Pedersen and Carm Carteri on 620CKRM, the Rider Radio Network and 620ckrm.com. The game can be seen in Canada on TSN and in the U.S. on ESPN3.com.

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On this date in 1937, Harvard University became the first school to have graduate courses in traffic engineering and administration.

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. Reilly rallies Esks over REDBLACKS in defensive gem. Preview: Calgary at Hamilton wk. 8. Please visit the league's official website, cfl.ca. ************************************************ On this date in 1954, Jack Paar replaced Walter Cronkite as host of "The Morning Show" on CBS-TV. ************************************************ Tampa, FL. -- The ankle injury rookie RB Charles Sims suffered on Tuesday will require surgery on Saturday, and the expected recovery time is 12-14 weeks...The Bucs do have an option to bring Sims back this season Read the rest here. ************************************************ Cyprus was granted independence by Britain on this date in 1960. ************************************************ Arlington, TX. -- It was a pipe dream on June 10, not yet visible around the curvature of the baseball earth from where the Rays were wallowing. By July 29, they could taste it, but it slipped away, staying just out of reach. But now, two months and five days after Tampa Bay dropped to a Major League-worst 24-42, the Rays are finally back to .500. Read the rest here. ************************************************ The free-fall world record was set by Joseph Kittinger on this date in 1960. He fell more than 16 miles (about 84,000 feet) before opening his parachute over New Mexico. ************************************************ San Francisco, CA. -- Bullpen struggles meant it was two steps forward, three steps back for the Giants in their 5-3 loss to the Phillies at AT&T Park on Friday night. Read the rest here. ************************************************ On this date in 1978, Xerox was fined for excluding Smith-Corona Mfg. from the copier market. The fine was $25.6 million. ************************************************ Jimmy bats again. ************************************************ You're reading the Johnny Blog. Almost as much fun as a Rider football game, isn't it? ************************************************

Today in Elvis History:

1958 - Gladys Presley's funeral was held in Memphis. 500 policemen were used to keep the giant crowd at bay. 

1960 - Principle photography (production) began on the Elvis Presley film "Flaming Star." 

1977 - At Graceland, Elvis was discovered dead by his girlfriend Ginger Alden. His death was contributed to congestive heart failure. 

1984 - RCA Victor Records released the Elvis Presley single "Baby, Let's Play House." 

1987 - Cinemax-TV premiered "Elvis '56." 

1994 - Light Year Entertainment released a three-video boxed set entitled "Elvis - The Concert Collection." 

1997 - Elvis Presley, via video, starred in "Elvis in Concert '97." Over thirty of his former bandmantes made appearances. 

2002 - In Memphis, TN, Lisa Marie Presley introduced a recording of a song she recorded for her father at "Elivs In Concert." The event was the last day of a 25th anniversary concert.

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On this date in 1983, Paul Simon and Carrie Fisher were married. They divorced in 1985.

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Today in Beatles History:

1962 - Pete Best was dismissed from the Beatles. Johnny Hutchinson (Big Three) filled in as drummer that evening at the Riverpark Ballroom, Chester, Cheshire. 

1986 - Paul McCartney's "Press" hit #25 in the U.K. 

2002 - It was announced that Paul McCartney had canceled his appearance for the Kennedy Center honors and that he would be named on the list of performers for 2003.

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On this date in 1984, the U.S. Jaycees voted to admit women to full membership in the organization.

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Today in Sports History:

1920 - The only fatality to occur in a major league baseball game happened. Ray Chapman (Cleveland Indians) was hit in the head with a fastball from Carl Mays of the New York Yankees. 

1948 - Babe Ruth died at the age of 53. 

1954 - Sports Illustrated was published for the first time. It was claimed that 250,000 subscriptions had been sold before the first issue came off of the presses. 

1981 - Cal Ripken Jr. got his first major league hit. 

1996 - In Monterrey, Mexico, the New York Mets played the San Diego Padres. The Padres won the game 15-10. It was the first-ever regular season major league game to be played outside the United States and Canada. 

2002 - The major league baseball players union announced that they would begin a strike on August 30th. 

2002 - Curt Shilling (Arizona Diamondbacks) won his 20th game of the year. 

2003 - The Canadian Football League announced that it had taken control of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats franchise until new ownership agreements were in place. 

2003 - Jimmy Smith (Jacksonville Jaguars) was suspended four games by the NFL for violating the league's substance abuse policy. 

2003 - Michael Vick (Atlanta Falcons) suffered a fractured right fibula in a 13-10 preseason loss to the Baltimore Ravens.

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The first episode of "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire" aired on ABC on this date in 1999.

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Coming Up:

Tonight --

Nascar Nationwide Series -- Nationwide Children's Hospital 200 at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course 2:45pm EDT

MLB -- San Francisco Giants vs Philadelphia Phillies 4:05pm EDT

MLB -- Tampa Bay Rays vs New York Yankees 4:10pm EDT

CFL Football -- Saskatchewan Roughriders vs Montreal Alouettes 7:00pm EDT

NFL Football -- Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs Miami Dolphins 7:30pm EDT

Sunday --

Nascar Sprint Cup Series -- Pure Michigan 400 at Michigan International Speedway 1:00pm EDT

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

Verizon Indy Car Series -- ABC Supply Wisconsin 250 at The Milwakee Mile 3:00pm EDT

MLB -- San Francisco Giants vs Philadelphia Phillies 4:05pm EDT

Monday --

Nothin' Doin'

Tuesday --

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

MLB -- San Francisco Giants at Chicago Cubs 8:05pm EDT

Wednesday --

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

MLB -- San Francisco Giants at Chicago Cubs 8:05pm EDT

Thursday --

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

MLB -- San Francisco Giants at Chicago Cubs 8:05pm EDT

Friday --

MLB -- San Francisco Giants at Washington Nationals 7:05pm EDT

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

Nascar Nationwide Series -- Food City 300 at Bristol Motor Speedway 7:30pm EDT

Saturday --

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

MLB -- San Francisco Giants at Washington Nationals 4:05pm EDT

NFL Football -- Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Buffalo Bills 4:30pm EDT

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

Sunday --

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

MLB -- San Francisco Giants at Washington Nationals 1:35pm EDT

Verizon Indy Car Series -- GoPro Grand Prix of Sonoma at Sonoma, California 4:00pm EDT

CFL Football -- Saskatchewan Roughriders at BC Lions 7:00pm EDT

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