It's Monday. And it's Labor Day, named in honor of the expectant mothers of our town(Labor Day? Get it? Oh, never mind). Here's what's happening....
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Today is September 5th, the 248th day of 2011. There are 117 days left in the year.
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Who's still out there? Top remaining free agents.
Friends, family and teammates celebrate Belak.
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Today is Be Late for Something Day.
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Riders shut down Bombers, win Labour Day Classic
The much-maligned Saskatchewan Roughriders, losers of four straight and 7 of 8, a start to the season that resulted in the firing of both the head coach and offensive coordinator, rose up and smacked Swaggerville square in the mouth Sunday, with an impressive 27-7 upset win in the 45th annual Labour Day Classic over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, in front of 30,048 at Mosaic Stadium in Regina, Saskatchewan.
After trading a pair of possessions to start the game, the Bombers had an opportunity to take an early lead, but a Justin Palardy 37 yard field goal attempt found an upright with 5:21 left in the first, leaving the game scoreless. After another change of possessions, Darian Durant found a wide-open Chris Getzlaf over the middle with a pass and Getzlaf did the rest, scoring from 38 yards out for the game's first points. Chris Milo converted with 55 seconds left, giving Saskatchewan a 7-0 lead.
5:05 into the second, Milo hit his second career CFL field goal, this one from 27 yards to give the Riders a 10-0 lead. Winnipeg worked their way into Saskatchewan territory on their next possession, but were forced to settle for a Mike Renaud 56 yard punt single and with 8:01 still to go in the opening half, the Rider lead was 9, at 10-1. Palardy would connect on a 22 yard field goal with 1:15 to play, cutting the score to a 10-4 Saskatchewan advantage at two quarter time.
The Riders started their first possession of the second half, after returning a Renaud punt to the 27. Helped along the way by an objectionable conduct penalty, Saskatchewan would quickly work their way into scoring territory. After a big catch by Dallas Baker at the Bomber 21, Weston Dressler would make a diving catch in the left side of the end zone for a major score. Milo's convert 4:25 into the third boosted the Rider lead to 17-4. Palardy responded with a 39 yard field goal 4:12 later, drawing Winnipeg to within 10, at 17-7. However, that's as close as the visitors would get, as Milo would hit a 12 yard field goal on the final play of the third for a 20-7 lead.
In the fourth, Saskatchewan would turn back everything the Blue Bombers would throw at them, wrapping up the win with a Durant to Getzlaf pass to the 5. There, Getzlaf would spin around a defender and run it in from there for the touchdown. Milo converted with just 2:40 to play, then Jerrell Freeman would intercept an Alex Brink pass with 21 seconds to play, clinching the Roughriders win, 27-7, breaking their four-game losing streak in the process.
For Saskatchewan, Darian Durant was 13-for-21 passing for 232 yards passing and 3 touchdowns. He was sacked once. Dallas Baker caught 4 passes for 82 yards, Weston Dressler caught 3 passes for 52 yards and 1 touchdown and Chris Getzlaf caught just 2 passes for 51 yards, but both went for touchdowns. Efrem Hill caught 4 balls for 47 yards. Wes Cates in his first action after missing four games, ran the ball 18 times for 45 yards. Durant had 6 carries for 39 yards and Brandon West 1 carry for 5 yards. Jerrell Freeman led the Rider defence with 7 tackles and an interception, Dario Romero had a fumble recovery and Chris Milo kicked 2 field goals, 3 converts, and punted 7 times for a 43.43 yard average. For Winnipeg, Buck Pierce was 20-for-28 passing for 209 yards, while being sacked once. In relief at the end, Alex Brink for 3-for-7 passing for 25 yards with 1 interception. Fred Reid rushed 14 times for 35 yards and Kito Poblah, in his first game off the 9 game injured list, caught 9 passes for 89 yards. Deon Beasley and Clinton Kent had 4 tackles each, Mike Renaud punted 7 times for a 48.57 yard average with a punt single and Justin Palardy kicked a pair of field goals.
Saskatchewan ran 69 plays for 307 yards total offense, 89 rushing and 232 passing. They had 18 first downs, 6 rushing, 9 passing and 3 via penalty and held the ball for 29:25. They lost 1 fumble and turned the ball over on downs once and were penalized just 4 times for 58 yards. The Blue Bombers ran 72 plays for 287 yards total offense, 57 rushing and 234 passing. They picked up 15 first downs, 4 rushing, 10 passing and 1 via penalty, while holding the ball for 30:35. They lost 1 fumble, 1 interception and turned the ball over twice on downs. They were penalized 12 times for 153 yards.
The Roughriders, who have now won the past seven Labour Day Classics, improve to 2-7 on the year and trail third place BC for the third and final playoff spot in the West. Winnipeg sees their five game win streak snapped, falling to 7-2 still the best in the East, 4 points ahead of Montreal.
There's no rest for the weary and precious little time to celebrate, as these two teams meet in Winnipeg next Sunday in the annual Banjo Bowl game at Canad Inns Stadium in Winnipeg. Game time, with Rod Pedersen and Carm Carteri calling all the action on 620 CKRM and the Rider Radio Network, is 4:00pm EDT. The game can also be seen in Canada on TSN and in the U.S. on ESPN3.com.
Visit the team's official website at http://www.riderville.com/.
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Russia's Peter the Great imposed a tax on beards on this date in 1698. (I'm glad I shaved mine off now!)
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Stephen: Nothing beats Labour Day in Calgary.
Do in-season head coaching changes work?
Linebacker Floyd retires as a Ticat.
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 first session of the U.S. Continental Congress convenes in Philadelphia on this date in 1774. The delegates drafted a declaration of rights and grievances, organized the Continental Association, and elected Peyton Randolph as the first president of the Continental Congress.
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Schedule changes for 2012 football.
The 0-1 Oregon State Beavers travel to Wisconsin this Saturday for a meeting with the 1-0 Badgers, ranked #11 in the AP Top25 and #10 in the USA Today poll. Kickoff is set for 12:00pm EDT. Catch the game on 860AM KPAM and the Beaver Sports Network, with Mike Parker, Jim Wilson and Ron Callan calling the action.
Visit the official football website by clicking here.
Visit the school's official athletics website by clicking here.
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The American Red Cross provided relief for disaster for the first time on this date in 1881. The disaster was the Great Fire of 1881 in Michigan.
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Dis food is nummy Daddy.
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The first U.S. Labor Day parade was held in New York City on this date in 1882.
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ST. PETERSBURG, Fl. -- By the time the late innings of Sunday afternoon's game arrived, the only remaining question to be answered was: How much longer would Jeremy Hellickson be allowed to pitch?
Tampa Bay's hitters already had removed any possibility of an Orioles comeback, thanks to some productive early innings that allowed the Rays to build a 7-0 lead. In the end, Hellickson rode his sharp fastball and the offensive windfall to his 12th win of the season, as the Rays took an 8-1 win at Tropicana Field with 15,790 watching.
By winning for the second consecutive day, the Rays claimed the rubber game of the three-game series while moving to 76-63 on the season. Most importantly, the Rays gained a game on the Red Sox -- who lost -- leaving the Rays eight games behind the American League Wild Card leaders with 23 games left on the season.
Read the rest here.
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Jake Gumper bought the first gasoline pump to be manufactured in the U.S. on this date in 1885.
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SAN FRANCISCO, Ca. -- Before Sunday's series finale against the division-leading D-backs, Giants manager Bruce Bochy admitted his club couldn't afford to slide any further than six games back in the National League West.
A loss wouldn't mean the season was over, he said, but it would make their plight considerably more difficult. So, Bochy concluded, the Giants needed to give everything they had to win Sunday's game at AT&T Park.
Ryan Vogelsong certainly gave everything he had, and Cody Ross got things started off right with a leadoff homer for a lead that lasted most of the game. But it wasn't enough.
The Giants entered the eighth inning clinging to a one-run lead before the D-backs rattled off four runs, leaving AT&T Park with a 4-1 victory -- and perhaps the division crown -- as they pushed their NL West lead to a seemingly insurmountable seven games with 22 remaining. If the D-backs manage to go just 11-11 the rest of the way, the Giants would have to finish 18-4 to force a tie atop the division.
"We know we're running out of time. There's no question about that," Bochy said. "This was, I thought, critical that we take this series. We all know it. We didn't.
"We're still breathing. Are we hanging by a thread? I'd say so. So, we've got to come out fighting."
Read the rest here.
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Charles Creighton and James Hagris completed the drive from New York City to Los Angeles and back to New York City on this date in 1930, all in reverse gear. The trip took 42 days in their 1929 Ford Model A.
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Today in Elvis History:
1954 - Elvis Presley made his first and last appearance at the Grand Ole Opry.
1957 - Elvis Presley began recording seasonal tracks for a forthcoming Christmas album.
1957 - Elvis Presley recorded the song "Treat Me Nice." The song was released as a single in September 1957.
1993 - The Elvis Presley five-CD boxed set "The King Of Rock'n'Roll - The Complete 50's Masters" hit #159 in the U.S.
2001 - "Junichiro Koizumi Presents - My Favorite Elvis Songs" was released exclusively in Japan. The collection of Elvis Presley songs were picked by Japan's prime minister.
2006 - The Elvis Presley two CD and one DVD set "Essential" was released in Australia.
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The NBC Red network broadcast "Life Can Be Beautiful" for the first time on this date in 1938.
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Today in Beatles History:
1975 - Wings released "Letting Go."
1996 - Capitol Records released The Beatles Anthology video set. Over ten hours of material made up the set.
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The U.S. proclaimed its neutrality in World War II on this date in 1939.
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Today in Sports History:
1901 - The National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues was formed in Chicago, IL. It was the first organized baseball league.
1906 - Brandbury Robinson of St. Louis University was recognized as throwing the first forward pass in football history.
1914 - Babe Ruth hit his first home run as a professional player in the International League.
1918 - Babe Ruth (Boston Red Sox) threw a six-hitter in the opening game of the World Series.
1920 - Bill Tilden won the first of seven U.S. Open men's singles crowns.
1955 - Don Newcombe (Brooklyn Dodgers) hit his seventh home run of the season. The feat set a National League record for home runs by a pitcher.
1960 - Cassius Clay won the gold medal in light heavyweight boxing at the Olympic Games in Rome, Italy. Clay later changed his name to Muhammad Ali.
1971 - J.R. Richard, of the Houston Astros, tied Karl Spooner’s record when he struck out 15 batters in his major-league baseball debut.
1972 - Arab guerrillas, the Black September movement, attacked the Israeli delegation at the Munich Olympic games. 11 members of the Israeli Olympic team, five guerrillas and a police officer were killed in the siege.
1975 - In New York, Martina Navratilova appeared at the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service office and asked for political asylum.
1983 - "Sports Illustrated" became the first national weekly magazine to use four-color process illustrations on every page.
1987 - John McEnroe was fined $17,500 and suspended for two months for his behavior during a match with Slobodan Zivojinovic.
1989 - Chris Evert retired from professional tennis after a 19 year career.
1997 - The FOX group announced a deal to purchase the Los Angeles Dodgers.
1998 - Mark McGwire (St. Louis) hit his 60th home run of the season. The home run tied McGwire with Babe Ruth.
1998 - Sammy Sosa (Chicago Cubs) hit his 58th home run of the season.
1999 - The Cincinnati Reds set a major league team record for home runs in two consecutive games. The team hit 14 home runs over the two games at Veterans Stadium.
2001 - The New York Islanders signed Alexi Yashin to a 10-year $90 million contract. It was the biggest deal in NHL history.
2002 - In New York, the NFL held a concert to celebrate its season opener. Eve, Alicia Keys, Bon Jovi, Enrique Iglesias and 'N Sync's Joey Fatone performed. The event preceded the rare Thursday-night opener between the New York Giants and the San Francisco 49ers.
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The first color videotaped program was aired on this date in 1958. It was "The Betty Freezor Show" on WBTV-TV in Charlotte, NC.
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HAMPTON, Ga -- The fans were ready. The teams were ready. NASCAR was ready. But the weather wouldn't cooperate Sunday, forcing the postponement of the AdvoCare 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
Due to public safety concerns -- Monday's forecast calls for possible tornadoes and strong winds in addition to heavy rain -- NASCAR president Mike Helton said the race has been rescheduled for 11 a.m. ET Tuesday, and will be broadcast live on ESPN. The garage will open two hours earlier for crews.
Read the rest here.
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On this date in 1958, Boris Pasternak's "Doctor Zhivago" was published for the first time in the U.S.
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BALTIMORE. Md. -- Will Power started from the pole in the inaugural Baltimore Grand Prix, led the most laps and cruised to his IZOD IndyCar Series season record-tying sixth victory.
"That was the toughest race I've done all year," Power said. "I'm just exhausted, but that was a championship run."
It was what transpired behind the Verizon Team Penske driver, who's chopped 50 points off series championship front-runner Dario Franchitti's lead over the past five races and now trails by a meager five points heading to the Twin Ring Motegi road course on Sept. 17, had the tens of thousands of fans screaming and shaking their heads.
Oriol Servia, who started 16th in the No. 2 Telemundo Newman/Haas Racing car, was the runner-up (his best on a road/street course in the IZOD IndyCar Series). Tony Kanaan, who had quite an adventure even before taking the green flag for the 75-lap race, finished third in the No. 82 GEICO KV Racing Technology-Lotus hybrid car.
Read the rest here.
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The U.S. launched Voyager on this date in 1977.
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Coming up:
Tonight:
MLB -- Tampa Bay Rays vs Texas Rangers 1:10pm EDT
MLB -- San Francisco Giants at San Diego Padres 4:05pm EDT
Tuesday --
Nascar Sprint Cup Series -- AdvoCare 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway 11:00am EDT
MLB -- Tampa Bay Rays vs Texas Rangers 7:10pm EDT
MLB -- San Francisco Giants at San Diego Padres 10:05pm EDT
Wednesday --
MLB -- Tampa Bay Rays vs Texas Rangers 1:10pm EDT
MLB -- San Francisco Giants at San Diego Padres 6:35pm EDT
Thursday --
Nothin' Doin'
Friday --
MLB -- Tampa Bay Rays vs Boston Red Sox 7:10pm EDT
Nascar Nationwide Series -- Virginia 529 College Savings 250 at Richmond International Raceway 7:30pm
MLB -- San Francisco Giants vs Los Angeles Dodgers 10:15pm EDT
Saturday --
Empire South Hockey -- Tampa Bay Juniors vs Florida Eels 5:15pm EDT
MLB -- Tampa Bay Rays vs Boston Red Sox 7:10pm EDT
Nascar Sprint Cup Series -- Wonderful Pistachios 400 at Richmond International Raceway 7:30pm
EJHL South Hockey -- Tampa Bay Juniors vs Florida Eels 8:00pm EDT
MLB -- San Francisco Giants vs Los Angeles Dodgers 9:05pm EDT
Sunday --
NFL Football -- Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs Detroit Lions 1:00pm EDT
MLB -- Tampa Bay Rays vs Boston Red Sox 1:40pm EDT
MLB -- San Francisco Giants vs Los Angeles Dodgers 4:05pm EDT
Empire South Hockey -- Tampa Bay Juniors vs Florida Junior Blades 4:40pm EDT
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That's all for another day. Thanks for stopping by, I hope that you'll do so again tomorrow. Thanks again!
