Sunday, May 17, 2009

Johnson wins Texas Open for second time in 7 months

Zach Johnson rolled in a 10-foot birdie putt on the first playoff hole Sunday to beat James Driscoll and win the Texas Open for the second time in seven months.

Johnson, coming off a course record-tying 60 in the third round, closed with an even-par 70 in the final round to tie Driscoll at 15-under-par 265.

Driscoll, seeking his first PGA Tour win, fired an eight-under 62 in the final round.

Both players hit the No. 18 fairway in the playoff. Johnson knocked his second shot to 10 feet, while Driscoll came up mush short, hitting his to 27 feet.

After Driscoll missed his birdie try, Johnson rolled his into the cup for his sixth PGA Tour victory and second this season.

Johnson, who won January's Sony Open in Hawaii, won last year's Texas Open in October when it was part of the Fall Series.

Paul Goydos held the lead through 70 holes, but finished the final round bogey-bogey to shoot a 69 and end one shot out of the playoff. Goydos shared third place with Bill Haas (65) at 14-under 266.

Three-time Texas Open winner Justin Leonard (69) led a four-way tie for fifth place at 13-under 267.

By Sports Network

Monday, May 4, 2009

King James Hooks Up Alex Ovechkin

Early last week when ESPN's E:60 aired a segment on the fast life of Washington Capitals winger Alex Ovechkin, it was hard not to be struck by a brief and absolutely incongruous appearance by LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers. As my friend Greg Wyshynski wrote at the time, it seemed to be something of a reach, even for the WWL, as if they needed to include a clip of James in order to interest any NBA fans who might be watching.

Ovechkin and James met up the last time the Cavaliers were in town to play the Wizards, and Ovechkin took the opportunity to present James with one of his jerseys. At the time, James was a bit chagrined that he didn't have one to give Ovechkin in return, but that oversight was corrected Friday when Caps owner Ted Leonsis strode into the team's practice facility in Northern Virginia with one of the NBA wunderind's jerseys in hand, complete with a personal autograph: "To Alexander the Great: Keep up the good work. King James.

Posted May 01, 2009 8:14PM By Eric McErlain

Sunday, May 3, 2009

The Definitive Rickey Henderson: The 25 Best Stories of "Rickey Being Rickey

With Rickey having just been named among the new candidates for the Hall of Fame, we have a treat for you, the greatest 25 stories of Rickey's career. Rickey was quite a character over the course of his long career.

Just so everyone knows, these quotes and stories about Rickey come from Fantistic from back in 2006. But in full disclosure, Fantistic didn't compile the quotes. Someone, somewhere out on the blogosphere did.

Lou Blasi of Fantistics wrote: "The following stories come from a blog post I ran across last month. I wish I knew who collected and posted his top 25 Rickey stories so I could give him credit. As it is all I can do is thank him for the memories."

So anyway, here you go. The definitive Rickey Henderson.

1) In June 1999, when Henderson was playing with the Mets, he saw reporters running around the clubhouse before a game. He asked a teammate what was going on and he was told that Tom Robson, the team’s hitting coach, had just been fired. Henderson said, “Who’s he?”

2) Rickey... on referring to himself in the third person:
“Listen, people are always saying, ‘Rickey says Rickey.’ But it’s been blown way out of proportion. People might catch me, when they know I’m ticked off, saying, ‘Rickey, what the heck are you doing, Rickey?’ They say, ‘Darn, Rickey, what are you saying Rickey for? Why don’t you just say, ‘I?’ But I never did. I always said, ‘Rickey,’ and it became something for people to joke about.”

3) In the early 1980s, the Oakland A’s accounting department was freaking out. The books were off $1 million. After an investigation, it was determined Rickey was the reason why. The GM asked him about a $1 million bonus he had received and Rickey said instead of cashing it, he framed it and hung it on a wall at his house.

4) In 1996, Henderson’s first season with San Diego, he boarded the team bus and was looking for a seat. Steve Finley said, “You have tenure, sit wherever you want.” Henderson looked at Finley and said, “Ten years? Ricky’s been playing at least 16, 17 years.”

5) This one might be my second favorite. This wasn’t too long ago, I think it was the year he ended up playing with the Red Sox. Anyway, he called San Diego GM Kevin Towers and left the following message: “This is Rickey calling on behalf of Rickey. Rickey wants to play baseball.”

6) This one happened in Seattle. Rickey struck out and as the next batter was walking past him, he heard Henderson say, “Don’t worry, Rickey, you’re still the best.”

7) Rickey once asked a teammate how long it would take him to drive to the Dominican Republic.

8) Moments after breaking Lou Brock’s stolen base record, Henderson told the crowd – with Brock mere feet next to him – “Lou Brock was a great base stealer, but today, I am the greatest of all-time.”

9) Henderson once fell asleep on an ice pack and got frostbite – which forced him to miss three games — in mid-August.

10) A reporter asked Henderson if Ken Caminiti’s estimate that 50 percent of Major League players were taking steroids was accurate. His response was, “Well, Rickey’s not one of them, so that’s 49 percent right there.”

11) Henderson broke Ty Cobb’s career record for runs scored with a home run. After taking his usual 45 seconds or so around the bases, Rickey slid into home plate.

12) On being Nolan Ryan’s 5,000th career strikeout: “It gave me no chance. He (Ryan) just blew it by me. But it’s an honor. I’ll have another paragraph in all the baseball books. I’m already in the books three or four times.”

13) San Diego GM Kevin Towers was trying to contact Rickey at a nearby hotel. He knew Henderson always used fake names to avoid the press, fans, etc. He was trying to think like Rickey and after several attempts; he was able to get Henderson on the phone.

Rickey had checked in under Richard Pryor.

14) I didn’t believe this one at first. However, I emailed a few contacts within the Sox organization and they claim it actually happened. This is priceless, it really is.

The morning after the Sox finished off their 2004 World Series sweep against St. Louis, Henderson called someone in the organization looking for tickets to Game 6 at Fenway Park.

15) The Mets were staying in a hotel less than a mile from Cinergy Field in Cincinnati. While some players walked, most took the team bus. A few minutes after they arrived — again it was less than a mile – the last players off the bus noticed a stretched limo that had just pulled up.

Of course, Rickey emerged from the back seat.

16) A reporter once asked Rickey if he talked to himself, “Do I talk to myself? No, I just remind myself of what I’m trying to do. You know, I never answer myself so how can I be talking to myself?”

17) OK, I know everyone has been waiting for it. Alas, according to both parties involved, it’s not true. I wish it were. Heck, both Rickey Henderson and John Olerud have said they wish it were true. But it just didn’t happen.

The story went that a few weeks into Henderson’s stint with the Mariners, he walked up to Olerud at the batting cage and asked him why he wore a batting helmet in the field. Olerud explained that he had an aneurysm at nine years old and he wore the helmet for protection. Legend goes that Henderson said, “Yeah, I used to play with a guy that had the same thing.” Legend also goes that Olerud said, “That was me, Rickey.”

Henderson played with Olerud on the Blue Jays and the Mets.

18) Rickey was asked if he had the Garth Brooks album with Friends in Low Places and Henderson said, “Rickey doesn’t have albums. Rickey has CDs.”

19) During a contract holdout with Oakland in the early 1990s, Henderson said, “If they want to pay me like Mike Gallego, I’ll play like Gallego.”

20) In the late 1980s, the Yankees sent Henderson a six-figure bonus check. After a few months passed, an internal audit revealed the check had not been cashed. Current Yankees GM Brian Cashman – then a low-level nobody with the organization – called Rickey and asked if there was a problem with the check. Henderson said, “I’m just waiting for the money market rates to go up.”

21) This is my all-time favorite. Rickey was pulled over by a San Diego police officer for speeding. As the officer was approaching Rickey’s car, the window went down a few inches and a folded $100 bill emerged. The officer let Rickey and his money head home without a ticket.

22) When he was on the Yankees in the mid-1980s, Henderson told teammates that his condo had such a great view that he could see, “The Entire State Building.”

23) During one of his stays with Oakland, Henderson’s locker was next to Billy Beane’s. After making the team out of spring training, Beane was sent to the minors after a few months. Upon his return, about six weeks later, Henderson looked at Beane and said, “Hey, man, where have you been? Haven’t seen you in awhile.”

24) To this day and dating back 25 years, before every game he plays, Henderson stands completely naked in front of a full length locker room mirror and says, “Ricky’s the best,” for several minutes.

25) In the last week of his lone season with the Red Sox, Chairman Tom Werner asked Henderson what he would like for his ‘going-away’ gift. Henderson said he wasn’t going anywhere, but he would like owner John Henry’s Mercedes. Werner said it would be tough to get the same make and model in less than a week and Henderson said, “No, I want his car.” Turns out the Sox got Henderson a Red Thunderbird and when he saw it on the field before the last game of the season, Rickey said, “Whose ugly car is on the field?”

Monday, April 27, 2009

Swine Flu

Swine Flu has been the topic of conversation today on everyone’s lips. Swine flu is a respiratory disease in pigs which is caused by type A influenza viruses. Before 2009 there has rarely been a case reported in humans. Swine flu is known to be contagious and spread by person to person contact. Some symptoms may include fever, couching, sore throat, headaches, chills, diarrhea, fatigue and vomiting. There have been some reported deaths from swine flu in Mexico.

The CDC (Center for Disease Control) reported 8 Swine Flu cases in the United States on 4/25/09. Since then the toll has reached a total count of 40 cases in the US alone. These cases have been reported in California, Kansas, New York, Ohio and Texas. This outbreak seems to have started and spread to other countries including Spain, Mexico and Canada. This is a report from the CDC on recent devolpments in the swine flu epidemic.

The World Health Organization has declared this outbreak at a level four on a six-point scale for the pandemic alert level. It has been reported as many as 149 deaths in Mexico due to this outbreak of swine flu. Currently no deaths have been reported in the United States. The Obama Administration has been reported as saying they are responding aggressively towards the outbreak in case it spreads into a full pandemic. Also travel warnings have been issued for trips to and from areas affected by the outbreak.

People have been asking what can be done for the prevention of swine flu. One important tip suggested is to wash your hands regularly with an antimicrobial soap, such as All Stop Medicated Body Wash. It is also important to cover your nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing. Try to avoid touching your eyes, ears and nose because these places on the body spread germs quickly. Hand cleansers have also been suggested for use to stop the germs from spreading with person to person contact. All Stop Healing Gel can be used on the hands to prevent viruses from spreading from contact with infected individuals. Cleaning your environment is also a useful tip to prevent swine flu. Germs from viruses can live off of the body on inanimate objects such as doorknobs, desks, subway railings or tabletops for two hours or even longer if not properly disinfected. PuraCleenRx Disinfectant Spray and Xtreme Cleen are both safe an nontoxic anti-bacterial and anti-viral disinfectants that can be used on any surfaces. If you do come in contact with the swine influenza please act immediately for your safety and that of others. For more information on the swine flu outbreak feel free to visit www.prevent-swine-flu.com.

This entry was posted on Monday, April 27th, 2009 at 11:14 pm and is filed under News.

Sunday, April 26, 2009

Dallas Cowboys 2009 Draft Picks

The Dallas Cowboys took Western Illinois
linebacker Jason Williams and Ball State offensive tackle Robert
Brewster in the third round of the NFL draft today after not making
a selection on the first day.

The Cowboys made up for a boring Saturday by making 12 picks in
rounds three through seven.

Dallas took Texas A&M's Stephen McGee in the fourth round, the
first quarterback the team has drafted since taking Quincy Carter
in 2001.

The Cowboys also nabbed a pair of defensive ends in the fourth,
Oregon State's Victor Butler and Texas Tech's Brandon Williams.

The Cowboys did not have a first-round pick, having dealt that
with third- and sixth-rounders to Detroit last season for receiver
Roy Williams.

Dallas traded the 51st pick Saturday to the Buffalo Bills in
exchange for third- and fourth-round picks - the 75th and 110th
selections.

Here are the Dallas Cowboys picks in the 2009 NFL Draft.

Rd 3 - #5(69) Jason Williams (OLB) W Illinois
Rd 3 - #11(75) Robert Brewster (OT) Ball St
Rd 4 - #1(101) Stephen McGee (QB) Texas A&M
Rd 4 - #10(110) Victor Butler (OLB) Oregon St
Rd 4 - #20(120) Brandon Williams (DE) Texas Tech
Rd 5 - #7(143) DeAngelo Smith (CB) Cincy
Rd 5 - #30(166) Michael Hamlin (S) Clemson
Rd 5 - #36(172) David Buehler (K) USC
Rd 6 - #24(197) Stephen Hodge (OLB) TCU
Rd 6 - #35(208) John Phillips (TE) Virginia
Rd 7 - #18(227) Mike Mickens (CB) Cincy
Rd 7 - #20(229) Manuel Johnson (WR) Oklahoma

Thursday, April 23, 2009

Jay Leno Hospitalized Tonight

Jay Leno checked himself into a hospital today complaining of not feeling well. Leno, who is 59 years old, cancelled the taping of his show scheduled for today and tomorrow. They will be showing his rerun show from March 26 tonight instead. He either drove himself to the hospital or he was driven by an employee of the show. He feels ok and says he will be back on Monday.

He was actually doing some of his monologue with hospital employees. Leno's last tv show on NBC will be Friday May 29. He will then be hosting another variety show at 10pm on weeknights.

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Disco Night On American Idol

Ready to break out those polyester pants and silk shirts? Seven American Idol contestants will be asked to get their Disco Duck on Tuesday when the American idol is reunited with the show’s older shows (Disco,’70s Dance Theme and Bee Gees weeks during the third, fourth and sixth seasons, respectively) of the genre Tuesday.

Monday, April 20, 2009

Josh Smith and the Hawks defeat Dwayne Wade and the Heat 90-64

The NBA Playoffs are here. What a way to begin. The Atlanta hawks and Josh Smith easily defeated the Miami heat and Dwayne Wade tonight by a score of 90-64. Dwayne Wade was held to only 19 points as the Atlanta Hawks had no problem controlling the game and the score. I can't wait for game 2. The 19 points for Dwayne Wade are 11 points under his normal average points per game.

Josh Smith was all over the floor making 2 point shots and creating many dunks with ease.

Aware of the upsets all around, the Atlanta Hawks really buckled down. They’d worked too hard for home-court advantage to let it slip away on the first night of playoffs.