It's Saturday

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

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Today is March 15th, the 74th day of 2014. There are 291 days left in the year.

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Blackhawks' Hossa approaching return from injury.

Super 16: MacKinnon's rookie year one for the ages.

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

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On this date in 1493, Christopher Columbus returned to Spain after his first New World voyage.

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Tampa, FL. -- The Tampa Bay Lightning will welcome all fans to the Tampa Bay Times Forum on Sunday, March 16 with a completely free event, beginning at 11 a.m., as part of the Bolts' 10th Anniversary Stanley Cup celebration.

Read the rest here.

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Maine was admitted as the 23rd state of the Union on this date in 1820.

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Steve Cash Named Flag Bearer for Team USA at 2014 Paralympic Winter Games Closing Ceremony Goaltender, Three-Time Paralympian Seeking Second Straight Gold Medal When Team USA Faces Russia Saturday SOCHI, Russia –Goaltender Steve Cash (Overland, Mo.) of the U.S. Paralympic Sled Hockey Team will be the Team USA flag bearer at the 2014 Paralympic Winter Games Closing Ceremony on Sunday (March 16), the United States Olympic Committee announced today. Cash was chosen by a vote of fellow Team USA athletes. "Obviously first and foremost, it is a tremendous honor, but at the same time it's not as much about having an individual opportunity to bear the flag, but also being able to represent my country and all of the athletes who came out and are here representing their country as well," said Cash. "I am able to represent 80 athletes, especially my teammates who have been there for me through thick and thin ever since I started in the sport. It's really more about a collective group than just representing myself." Cash and the U.S. Paralympic Sled Hockey Team will play in Saturday's (March 15) gold-medal game, where they will face Russia at noon ET. Team USA is seeking to become the first country to earn back-to-back Paralympic gold medals in sled hockey. NBC is broadcasting the game live, while TeamUSA.org will have a live web stream. "Steve Cash has become an icon for the Paralympic Movement in the U.S.," said USOC CEOScott Blackmun. "He was the team MVP in Vancouver and is a trusted leader and friend to not only his teammates, but all U.S. Paralympic athletes. Congratulations to Steve for this tremendous honor, and we certainly wish him and the rest of the team the best of luck as they take on Russia for the gold medal tomorrow night – go Team USA." At the 2014 Paralympics, Cash has backstopped the U.S. to preliminary round wins over Italy (5-1) and South Korea (3-0), plus a semifinal victory against Canada (3-0). The only two goals he has permitted came in a 2-1 loss to Russia in the preliminary round. Overall, Cash has stopped 37-of-39 shots for a .949 save percentage and a 0.51 goals against average. A three-time Paralympian, Cash starred at the 2010 Games in Vancouver, where he did not allow a single goal in five games as Team USA won the gold medal. He was named Best Goaltender of the tournament. Cash received an ESPY Award from ESPN as the 2010 Best Male Athlete with a Disability. Cash owns a Paralympic record shutout streak of 313 minutes and 17 seconds. It spanned seven-plus games, beginning in 2006, lasting the entire 2010 Paralympic Winter Games and ending three-games into the 2014 Games. Cash, whose right leg was amputated due to osteosarcoma (bone cancer) at age 3, started his sled hockey career with the Disabled Athlete Sports Association St. Louis Blues in 2004 and made his first U.S. Sled Hockey National Team in 2005. Cash will lead the 80-member U.S. team into the Closing Ceremony on Sunday at Fisht Olympic Stadium. The ceremony will be broadcast on NBC Sports Network from 3:30-5:30 p.m. ET. Notes: Team USA's captain is Andy Yohe, while its alternate captains are Taylor Chace andJosh Sweeney ... The youngest player on the roster is Brody Roybal, who turned 15 years old in May and is making his debut on a U.S. National Team. Declan Farmer turned 16 years old in November ... The oldest player on the squad is Andy Yohe at 35 years old ... Four members of the team have served in the U.S. military. Jen Lee is active duty in the U.S. Army. Rico Romanis a U.S. Army veteran, while Paul Schaus and Josh Sweeney served in the U.S. Marine Corps ... Dan Brennan (Colorado Springs, Colo.), director of sled and inline national teams for USA Hockey, is serving as the general manager of the 2014 U.S. Paralympic Sled Hockey Team ...Jeff Sauer (Madison, Wis.) is the head coach of the 2014 U.S. Paralympic Sled Hockey Team, while Guy Gosselin (Grafton, Wis.), American Development Model regional manager for USA Hockey, is serving as assistant coach for the U.S. Paralympic Sled Hockey Team ... Additional staff members include team physician Mike Uihlein (Grafton, Wis.), athletic trainer Mike Cortese (Boynton Beach, Fla.) and equipment manager Joel Isaacson (Houghton, Mich.). 2014 Paralympic Winter Games Game Schedule for U.S. Paralympic Sled Hockey TeamMarch 8-15 - Shayba Arena - Sochi, Russia Date Opponent Time (ET)/Result Broadcast (Time) Live Stream Sat. March 8 Italy W, 5-1 Sun., March 9 South Korea W, 3-0 Tues., March 11 Russia L, 1-2 Thurs., March 13 Canada (Semifinals) W, 3-0 Sat., March 15 Russia (Gold-Medal Game) Noon NBC (noon ET) TeamUSA.org

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The Roman Catholic Archbishop of New York, John McCloskey, was named the first American cardinal on this date in 1875.

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Should the Lions consider giving Chad Johnson a look?

The Great Debate: Wildest CFL Finishes.

Please visit the league's official website, cfl.ca.

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Jesse W. Reno patented the Reno Inclined Elevator on this date in 1892. It was the first escalator.

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Tampa, FL. — The opening of the NFL’s free agent market prompted a series of questions before and after the Buccaneers made their aggressive dive into the talent pool.

Read the rest here.

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In Paris, on this date in 1900, Sarah Bernhardt starred in the premiere of Edmond Rostand's "L'Aiglon."

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What does this game do?

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You're reading the Johnny Blog. Almost as much as watching sled hockey, isn't it?

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Today in Elvis History

1958 - Elvis Presley performed two shows in Memphis, TN. They were his last stage performances until he was released from the U.S. Army.

1965 - Elvis Presley began filming "Harum Scarum."

1975 - Elvis Presley's album "Promised Land" hit #47 in the U.S.

2004 - In Australia, an interview with Lisa Marie Presley was broadcast in which she said that she had seen things she "couldn't do anything about" during her marriage to Michael Jackson. She clarified her remarks two days later and included that she had never seen Jackson engage in inappropriate behavior with kids.

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On this date in 1910, Otto Kahn offered $500,000 for a family portrait by Dutch artist Frans Hals. Kahn had outbid J.P. Morgan for the work.

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Today in Beatles History:

1963 -  The Beatles single "Please Please Me" was #1 for the fourth week in the U.K.

1964 - Taped footage from the Beatles performance at the Washington Coliseum was broadcast in U.S. movie theaters.

2002 - Yoko Ono unveiled a statue of John Lennon at the newly named Liverpool John Lennon Airport.

2004 - George Harrison became the third ex-beatle to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. After Harrison was inducted, Tom Petty, ELO's Jeff Lynne and Harrison's son performed the Traveling Wilburys' "Handle With Care" and the Beatles' "While My Guitar Gently Weeps."   

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Henry Ford restored the $5 a day wage on this date in 1934.

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Today in Sports History:

1869 - The Cincinnati Red Stockings played their first game. They were the first professional baseball team.

1912 - Pitcher Cy Young retired from baseball.

1962 - Wilt Chamberlain finished the NBA season with 4,029 points in 80 games.

1962 - Canadian figure skater Donald Jackson became the first man to land a triple lutz jump.

1969 - Bob Beamon set an indoor record for the long jump with 27 feet, 2 3/4 inches. On October 17th at the Olympic Games in Mexico he jumped 29 feet, 2 1/2 inches.

1991 - Sergei Bubka of the Soviet Union became the first pole vaulter to clear 20'. 

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In Chicago, IL on this date in 1937, the first blood bank to preserve blood for transfusion by refrigeration was established at the Cook County Hospital.

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Coming Up:

Tonight --

Nascar Nationwide Series -- Drive to stop Diabetes 300 presented by Lilly Diabetes at Bristol Motor Speedway 1:00pm EDT

NHL Hockey -- Tampa Bay Lightning vs New Jersey Devils 7:00pm EDT

Sunday --

Nascar Sprint Cup Series -- Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway 1:00pm EDT

Monday --

NHL Hockey -- Tampa Bay Lightning vs Vancouver Canucks 7:30pm EDT

Tuesday --

Nothin' Doin'

Wednesday --

NHL Hockey -- Tampa Bay Lightning at Toronto Maple Leafs 7:00pm EDT

Thursday --

NHL Hockey -- Tampa Bay Lightning at Ottawa Senators 7:30pm EDT

Friday --

NAHL Hockey -- Wenatchee Wild vs Port Huron Fighting Falcons 10:05pm EDT

Saturday --

NHL Hockey -- Tampa Bay Lightning at Pittsburgh Penguins 1:00pm EDT

Nascar Nationwide Series -- March Auto Club Race at Auto Club Speedway 5:00pm EDT

NAHL Hockey -- Wenatchee Wild vs Port Huron Fighting Falcons 10:05pm EDT

Sunday --

Nascar Sprint Cup Series -- Auto Club 400 at Auto Club Speedway 3:00pm EDT

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