Sunday, May 23, 2010

Castroneves Takes Indy Pole, Danica Booed...

((HT: WXIN-TV Indianapolis))

The format is a little different, but it seems the results are the same for Indy qualifying in Indy...

Castroneves and Team Penske are littered all over the leaderboard at the Pagoda.

Helio averaged just under 228 miles-per-hour on his four lap average, and as a part of the new format, the drivers who were 2 through 8 got a chance to shuffle the deck in their own practice period.

Here's your top seven...

1. Helio Castroneves 227.970
2. Will Power 227.682
3. Dario Franchitti 226.990
4. Ryan Briscoe 226.554
5. Alex Tagliani 226.390
6. Scott Dixon 226.233
7. Graham Rahal 225.519

Danica Patrick qualified 23rd at 224.217 and will start behind two other women -- Brazil's Ana Beatriz and Switzerland's Simona de Silvestro, who were 21st and 22nd.
She called out her team on the public address after her run and got booed by the crowd...

Here's when Fox59 caught up with her...
 

Saturday, May 22, 2010

UVA Women's Lacrosse Season Ends In Quarters

((HT: ESPN))

The day before graduation in Charlottesville, the Virginia Cavaliers lost to North Carolina 17-7 in the quarterfinals of the NCAA lacrosse tournament. UVa was playing its first road game since Love's death three weeks ago.

"I don't think that there's any way that you can really move on from" Love's death, senior midfielder Brittany Kalkstein said. "Obviously, it's going to be in our thoughts forever."

Virginia's players again wore T-shirts that said "One Team. One Heart. One Love." Their orange jerseys bore black patches on their chests with "LOVE" in white.

Some North Carolina students wore Carolina-blue T-shirts bearing Love's name and jersey number 1, and a moment of silence was held before the game.

Dari Nowkhah tosses to Bob Holtzman in North Carolina for the recap...

Spieth's 67 Good For Top 10 After 3 Rounds

((HT: MyFoxDFW.com))

John Maginnes of the PGA TOUR Network said of 16-year-old Jordan Spieth’s third round: "That’s a good solid round for a PGA TOUR pro. It’s nothing short of miraculous for a 16-year-old kid."

Speith and Corey Pavin will play together in the fifth-to-last pairing of the final round Sunday at the Byron Nelson in Dallas. Both players are at 6 under, six strokes behind leader Jason Day.

“I think I can make a run,” Spieth said. “I know starting the entire week, y’all gave me odds like 1,000 to 1 or a million to 1. No one expected me to make the cut, and I guess I have an outside chance. If I get the right conditions out there, the wind starts to pick up and I start just droppin’ bombs from all over the place, it could happen, but I’m stressing a lot on the start tomorrow, getting in the crowd early, because I need the crowd behind me to make a run like that.”

It'll be the second day in a row that Spieth is paired with a 50-year-old as Tom Pernice, Jr. was with him Saturday.

By the way, Pernice has daughters who are 15 and 16...

Here's Fox 4's Peter Daut at Las Colinas after Spieth made the cut Friday night...

Cuban And Kerr Fined For LeBron Comments

From the NBA their own selves, accentuated in bold-faced type...

Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban has been fined $100,000 for public comments made in violation of the NBA’s anti-tampering rules. Cuban’s comments were made during an online interview that ran on May 18.

That would be this one with Poppy Harlow and CNNMoney.com


Phoenix Suns President of Basketball Operations Steve Kerr has been fined $10,000, also for public comments made in violation of the anti-tampering rules. Kerr’s comments were made on a radio show on May 14...

That would be here... from the Dan Patrick Show...

The HQ thinks that Cuban kinda got his on reputation alone... his comments were prefaced with the "July 1st" remark. Kerr was joking, if you listen in context...

Obviously, Commissioner Stern doesn't like jokes or prefaced comments...

School Delays Graduation A Day, Some Townsfolk Pissed...

((HT: WTVC-TV Chattanooga))

Take you to Marion County, Tennessee for this one...

It all starts off with a senseless death. Two brothers, who played football for the local high school team- one current, die in a car accident when neither of them, regrettably, was wearing a seat belt.

The county school superintendent pushed back the school's graduation by one day to allow the family impacted to have their funeral- and one parent was rather vocal in her displeasure in the delay.

It divided the town to a degree over that one day...

John Madewell was at graduation...
((HT: Newschannel9.com))

Wittels Hit Streak At 47, And 48

Okay, he was tied for second...

FIU's Garrett Wittels now has the second-longest hitting streak in Division I history, getting a hit in his 47th and 48th straight games against FAU.

Wittels tied Wichita State's Phil Stephenson, who hit in 47 straight games back in 1981 Friday. Oklahoma State's Robin Ventura holds the NCAA record with a 58-game streak in 1987.

Wittels hit a single to left off FAU's Mike Gipson in the third inning after getting hit by a pitch in the first inning.

Here's interviews with Wittels and Head Coach Turtle Thomas explaining what the streak means to the program...
Thanks to FIU their own selves...


Just so you know, here's your list...

NCAA D1 Consecutive Games Hitting Streaks List

Robin Ventura, Oklahoma St. 1987 58
Garrett Wittels, FIU Feb. 17-Present 48
Phil Stephenson, Wichita St 1981 47
Roger Schmuck, Arizona St. 1971 45
Chuck Abbott, Austin Peay 1996 42
Michael Campo, Penn St. 2000 41
Todd Nace, Southern Miss 1989-90 41
Rusty Adkins, Clemson 1965-66 41
Shane Robinson, Florida St. 2004-05 40
Brandon Caraway, Houston 1998-99 40

((thanks, www.FIUSports))

UPDATE: Wittels hit an RBI double in the third inning Saturday against Florida Atlantic to extend his hitting streak to 48 games.

Wittels' hit helped FIU take a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the third in its regular-season finale at Florida Atlantic...

Friday, May 21, 2010

Hawks Take Commanding 3-0 Lead With OT Win

The Chicago Blackhawks are one win away from reaching the Stanley Cup finals for the first time since 1992...

Dustin Byfuglien scored his seventh goal of the playoffs 12:24 into OT beating the San Jose Sharks 3-2 to take a commanding 3-0 lead in the Western Conference finals.

The Blackhawks can finish the sweep and make the finals with a victory Sunday at the United Center...

Here's the game-winner, thanks to our friends at TSN...
((HT: TSN/NHL/frankfungg))

DEVELOPING STORY: NHL and Glendale Agree On Operating Costs

((HT: TSN/Dreger))

Looks like the the NHL and the city of Glendale have reached an agreement that will make sure that the city covers any losses up to US$25-million for the 2010-2011 season.

The NHL and Glendale are still trying to find a buyer for the Coyotes property...

Dreger's sources also say Glendale city officials also talked with representatives from Ice Edge Holdings on Friday. But Ice Edge still doesn't want to continue any kind of negotations without their long-sought-after "exclusivity."

Ice Edge CEO Daryl Jones seemed to concur with Dreger and his report from early Friday evening.

From his Twitter account:
Ice Edge likes Dreger's reporting. Game on


In all reality, the HQ knows that without an owner, nothing else will continue long-term in Glendale. We're still Winnipeg fans in all of this, but the league has their "insurance policy" for now...

Kings Assistant Coach Up On Sexual Assault Charges

((HT: KABC-TV Los Angeles))

Los Angeles Kings assistant coach Mark Hardy was arrested in Washington, D.C. early Friday, accused of sexually abusing a female relative- disclosed in some reports to be his daughter.

Hardy's sexual assault charge has been upgraded from a misdemeanor to a felony. He was taken into custody at around 2AM at the Mayflower Hotel. Police said the complaint came from a woman in her 20's who claimed to be a relative of Hardy's.

The woman said she and Hardy and several other people went to a bar just off of 19th Street to have some drinks. Around 1AM, they walked back to hotel, and the complainant said she went into the bathroom to change into a T-shirt and shorts to go to bed. At some point, she said Hardy got in bed with her, and she woke up with him beside her.

The police report states Hardy put his hand down her shorts.

The woman, in turn when filing the complaint, told police that she and Hardy were very intoxicated.

The Kings' response is quite understandable and legalistic at this point: "We are aware of the charge. Due to the legal nature of this matter, we will not have any additional comments at this time."

The HQ hopes that, however, no one uses the "Ohmigod, I'm so drunk" defense...

Hardy made an initial court appearance Friday afternoon in DC Superior Court, and was released from jail.

Carlos Granda has the story from Los Angeles, and the details from Washington, DC...





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Here's an update from our friends at KCBS-TV, Kara Finnstrom is in the newsroom...

Romo One Step Closer To US Open

((HT: ESPNDallas.com- Watkins))

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo is one step closer to qualifying for golfing version of the U.S. Open on Thursday night.

He shot a 2-under 69 for 18 holes, and was tied with three others for the last three spots at The Honors Golf Club Dallas in Carrollton, Texas. The local regional took the top seven golfers and alternates.

Romo parred the three holes in the playoff to advance. The next step is a USGA Sectional qualifying round June 7th at the Carlton Woods course in The Woodlands, Texas.

The U.S. Open is June 14th-20th at Pebble Beach.

Here's the Romo postgame, thanks to espndallas.com

16-Year-Old Qualifies For Byron Nelson

((HT: MyFoxDFW.com))

Dallas 16-year-old amateur Jordan Spieth is the sixth-youngest player ever to make the cut in a PGA Tour event, finishing the second round at 3-under 137 at the Byron Nelson on Friday.

A high school junior at Jesuit College Prep School in Dallas, Spieth had a 1-under 69 on the par-70 course.

"I'm really kind of in shock right now," Spieth said. "I'm extremely pleased with how the week's gone so far. Hopefully, I can make a run at the top of the leaderboard the next two days, but we'll see."

Max Morgan is at Las Colinas with your highlights...

The Dude Perfect guys strike again....from an airplane...

Ok, we may be a little late picking up on this one since it has already shown up on the CBS Early Show, but it is still...if true, pretty damn impressive.

The guys from Texas A and M who do these crazy, sick trick basketball shots...tried to top themselves. They wanted to make one hanging out of an airplane.

If you look at the video...they did.

Thanks CBSNews and comcast.net for this.


Vickers Out For Season

Brian Vickers will miss the remainder of the NASCAR season because of blood clots in his lungs and left leg.

Vickers was hospitalized last week after having chest pains during a visit to Washington, D.C. Testing revealed clots and Vickers missed the race at Dover.

He is is being treated with blood thinners, and his physician couldn't clear him to race because of the dangers of getting injured in a crash.

He also tried to lighten the mood at the Friday afternoon press conference announcing Team Red Bull's plans for the rest of 2010...

"I can actually race on blood thinners, I just can't crash," he smiled. "So I said 'OK, what if I don't crash?' "

Red Bull Racing GM Jay Frye said the team was still deciding how the rest of the season is going to work, but indicated Casey Mears could stay in the seat- the only exception would be on the two road races left on the NASCAR schedule.

Vickers said he planned to be back in the car next season.

Here's highlights of Vickers win at
((HT: BumpsNotes/NASCAR/NASCAR Media/ESPN/ABC))

Chris Smith's Road Back To Golf

((HT: WFAA-TV Dallas))

If you do a Google search on "Chris Smith crash," you get 954,000 hits after about a third-of-a-second's search...

Last June, his wife was a passenger in an SUV in Indiana when she was killed in a crash involving a bus carrying a football team.

Here's your recap from WPTA-TV/WISE-TV in Fort Wayne...


It's been eight months since Smith has played, and his first tourney back is this week in Dallas at the Byron Nelson...

Habs Get To Leighton, Close Gap To 2-1

((HT: Versus/NHL))

PK Subban had a three-point night, Tom Pyatt had a goal and an assist, and Jaroslav Halak made 25 saves as the Canadiens cut their deficit to 2 games to 1 in the Eastern Conference Finals with a 5-1 win against the Philadelphia Flyers in Game 3 at Bell Centre in Quebec Province.

The Canadiens, who had been shut out in the first two games of this series and outscored by a 9-0 margin, can even things up with another victory in Game 4 on Saturday afternoon.

Here's your highlights... Joe Beninati on the call with Daryl Reaugh...

Thursday, May 20, 2010

Braves Saved...by Brooks Conrad....


Today's game was simple. The blowoff game of a 2-game set between the Braves and the Reds in Atlanta. The Braves won the 1st one on a Jason Heyward double Wednesday night. That put their record at 20-20.

The Reds have been on a different path. Leading the NL Central, winning 6 of their last 7 and playing some of the best baseball in the league including leading the league in fielding.

That changed today.

((Brooks Conrad celebrates//Courtesy: FOSG Curtis Compton and ajc.com))

The Reds dropped an 8 spot in the second inning against Atlanta's best pitcher, Tommy Hanson. After 8 innings, the score was Cincinnati 9, Atlanta 3. That didn't hold up.

The Reds could have gotten out of it. The Braves loaded the bases and scored 2. Martin Prado hit a rocket to Reds 3rd baseman Miguel Cairo, that should have been a double play. Only he couldn't get it out of his glove. A run scores and the bases are still loaded, 1-out.

That set-up the next two batters, bases loaded, nobody out and young Mr. Heyward at the plate. Heyward, who leads the NL in game-winning hits, would strike out.

So the Reds brought in their closer, Francisco Cordero to face Brooks Conrad. Conrad, a journeyman bench player, brought his .222 average to the plate. Cordero works the count to 2-2 and Conrad fouls a couple of pitches off.

On the 8th pitch of the at-bat, Cordero throws a 97-mile per hour fastball, low and away from Conrad. Conrad gets a good cut and launches the ball to left-center. Somehow, the ball carries...to the wall and off the glove of left-fielder Laynce Nix over the wall...Game Winner. Yeah, that's right. Conrad hits a Game-Winning Grand Slam.

Watch the HQ video from MLB.com RIGHT HERE and pay attention to Conrad as he rounds 1st base...he thought it was caught.

Or watch this video from dooksucks24 on You Tube:




Friend of the OSG Nubyjas Wilborn was in the Braves Locker room and spoke with Manager Bobby Cox. Check out his re-cap RIGHT HERE


BREAKING NEWS: Armstrong Crashes In Tour of California, Abandons Race

((HT: KSEE-TV Fresno))

Lance Armstrong is going to the hospital for X-rays after crashing during the Tour of California.

Armstrong's coach, Johan Bruyneel, tweeted Thursday that Armstrong was involved in a "huge" crash and "had to abandon and is going to the hospital for Xrays."

In full: Sorry to report there was a huge crash, with Chechu and Lance involved. Lance had to abandon and is going to the hospital for Xrays.

The cyclists were on a two-lane road outside the California town of Visalia a few miles into the race when a rider in the main group skidded on some gravel and fell, causing others, including Armstrong, to crash.

Here's coverage of the scene, thanks to our friends at KSEE...

Stephen Strasburg Update: Still Unhittable

((HT: WHAM-TV Rochester))

Stephen Strasburg did it again- giving up just three hits and striking out nine in 6-and-a-third innings for Triple-A Syracuse last night.

Strasburg walked two against the Rochester Red Wings- improving to 3-0 for the Chiefs. He has not allowed a run in 18 1-3 innings at Triple-A.

Strasburg received a standing ovation from the Frontier Field crowd of 12,590 as he struck out Red Wings third baseman Danny Valencia. The cheers turned to boos when Strasburg didn't tip his cap...

Strasburg threw 92 pitches, 60 for strikes, and he improved to 6-1 overall in the minors this year.

Here's team coverage from our friends at WHAM-13...

How Barca Stays Profitable In A Spanish Economy

((HT: Bloomberg TV))

In a crappy economy, FC Barcelona are like the Yankees when it comes to soccer these days. Their revenues are absolutely ridiculous...

Here's how they do it...

John Cookson is in Barcelona...

BREAKING NEWS: Armstrong Speaks On Landis Allegations

((HT: KGPE-TV/CBS47 Fresno))

Lance Armstrong has denied allegations made by Floyd Landis, who has admitted to consistent use of performance-enhancing drugs. He also accused Armstrong of doing the same thing while they competed together.

Armstrong said before today's fifth stage of the Tour of California that "it's our word against his word. I like our word."

Landis has sent a series of e-mails to any cycling official, sponsor, and/or cycling sponsor representative finally coming clean of what had been suspected all along...

Shocking no one...

The Wall Street Journal and espn.com reported the details of the e-mails Thursday.

Here's the media scrum in Visalia, California this afternoon ((eastern time)) where Armstrong went off on Landis...


The HQ likes how CBS 47 dumped out of their feed before Armstrong finished his last thought...