Enjoying the Weekend...

Our 3 day weekend continues with some beautiful weather outside to let us all enjoy the last unofficial weekend of summer. Week 1 is officially in the books for high school football as one last game was finished up last night. College Football has flown out of the gates with games and drama. Finally, the pro sports world is loaded with all kinds of sports going on.

Prep Report
- Massac County closed out Week 1 in football with a 28-12 loss to Graves County, KY.
- The Murphysboro Red Devils will enact a tradition this week. If the Red Devils beat Carbondale to begin the year, then a Red Devil logo is painted at the 50 yard line of their home field.
- Cross Country will see a change in schools with the class system. With the Class A cutoff being 600 to 750, you will see very good competition in the postseason. Look for schools such as Benton, Harrisburg, Sparta, Freeburg, and Rochester to name a few who have had past success to be in the same class.
- East St. Louis will play a football game on ESPN at 2PM today.

College Sports
- Were they playing 7 on 7 last night in St. Louis? Missouri beat Illinois 52-42.
- Michigan lost their season and home opener for the second year in a row going down to Utah 25-23. The Rich Rod era is not off to a good start and hasn't been since he was hired.
- Nick Sabab + Alabama = monster program looming. The Tide rolled #9 Clemson 34-10.
- Virginia Tech, Pittsburgh, and Mississippi State were just a few teams that felt the early season upset bug yesterday.
- The Top 5 ranked teams in the country had no problems picking up wins yesterday.

Pro Sports
- NASCAR is racing tonight at Fontana raceway in California. Jimmie Johnson will start on the pole for the race.
- Kyle Busch won his 7th Nationwide race of the season.
- NFL teams have cut down their rosters to the mandatory 53 players. The season begins next Thursday night.
- The Saints are moving to Indianapolis to avoid Hurricane Gustav. They plan to be back in town on Friday.
- The Cubs had a 7 game winning streak snapped by the Phillies yesterday. The final game of the series is today with Zambrano vs. Moyer as the pitching matchup.
- The Cards scored 3 in the first vs. Houston last night, but Astros scored 6 in the bottom half on the way to an 8-5 win. The Cards are now tied for 2nd in the race for the Wild Card with the Phillies and behind Milwaukee.

Go ahead and enjoy the day and the rest of the weekend. I'm out.

DC

Week 1 done...Well Done...

Week one of the high school football season is in the books. Well, almost as Massac County will open their season up tonight vs. Graves County, KY. It was an interesting night with the results and now we look forward to week 2. The NFL is in cutdown weekend as teams must be at 53 players on their roster. The MLB heads into September with the stretch run for Playoff berths. Finally, Labor Day Weekend has beome the official start of the College Football season and there are plenty of games to talk about.

Prep Report
Here is a summation of the first night of games:
Upsets
- Murphysboro beats Carbondale 30-28 for the first time since 1999.
- Johnston City beats Carmi 12-0 for the first time in school history.
- Red Bud beats Pinckneyville 20-10 even though the Panthers outgain them for the 2nd year in a row.
Surprises
- Carterville beats SVWW 42-0 on their brand new field. I, like many, thought that this game would be much closer than this.
- Mt. Vernon loses to Belleville East 7-6 in OT. The game was scoreless after regulation which is something that doesn't happen very often.
- Mt. Carmel, after losing much to graduation, pummels a good Harrisburg team 42-13 on the road.
Next Week
- Johnston City at CZR is a key game in the BDC run for a conference title and playoff berth.
- Harrisburg looks to rebound at Du Quoin.
- Alton vs. Cahokia will be a matchup of high powered offenses in the Metro East.

College Sports
- The upsets are already rolling in as both Virginia Tech and Pittsburgh have been beaten today and they were ranked teams.
- Orange and Black will be the dominate colors tonight in St. Louis as Missouri and Illinois play at the Edwards Jones Dome. That game will be on ESPN.
- Several games (Alabama vs. Clemson, Missouri vs. Illinois, Tennessee vs. UCLA, and Kentucky vs. Louisville) are some of the very key and good games on tap this weekend.
- Ty Willingham, head coach at Washington, is on the hot seat. He has the toughest schedule in the nation and the Huskies open up tonight with a Pac-10 Conference game on the road at Oregon.

Pro Sports
- The NFL turns towards the regular season with cuts to the 53 man roster today. The season opens up on Thursday night.
- Several veterans will see cuts today in the NFL due to various reasons.
- Chad Johnson...I will just let you read what he has done. [http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3560377]
- Jimmie Johnson is on the pole for the NASCAR race at Fontana tomorrow night. Each lap is important now as we get closer to the Chase.
- Manu Ginobli of the Spurs will need surgery on an ankle he injured in the Olympics. He will be out 6 to 8 weeks.
- The New York Mets have loved that the Cubs have beaten the Phillies the past two days. The Mets are now up 2 games going into today.
- As the days go on, the hopes of the Yankees being the Playoffs are fading with each passing day.
- I think the AL Central will go down to the last week. Neither the Twins or White Sox can get a big lead on the other.

It is the first of a 3 day weekend so I am off to enjoy it. I'm out.

DC

Kickoff is here...

The opening of the football season is finally here. Games are kicking off around Southern Illinois and the state tonight. Here's hoping the weather holds off unlike the opening week last year.

Prep Report
- Let's get to some of the football games of interest tonight in the area:
Battle of Jackson County - Murphysboro at Carbondale
New Field & Facility - SVWW at Carterville to open up the Lions' new stadium
Battle of Marion County - Salem at Centralia
Playoff Contenders??? - West Frankfort at A-J and Mt. Carmel at Harrisburg
- Cassie Rushing of Marion shot a 33 yesterday at Greenview Country Club in Centralia, IL.
- Benton Boys Golf will be playing at Champaign Central Invitational today. There will be some pretty good teams in this tournament field.

Pro Sports
- Playoff atmosphere in Wrigley Field last night and pretty much all weekend with the Cubs and Phillies playing. The game last night was awesome with Aramis Ramirez hitting a grand slam in the 8th to win the game.
- Josh Beckett of the Red Sox is heading to see Dr. James Andrews about his elbow. When you see this doctor, things usually aren't good.
- The Dodgers are squandering chances to get back in the race in the NL West by losing to the Nationals on multiple nights.
- Finally, the last of the NFL Exhibition games are being played this weekend. The first game of the year will be next Thursday night.
- Peyton Manning is expected to start in the Colts season opener vs. the Bears to keep his consecutive starts streak alive.
- NASCAR will be in Fontana, CA on Sunday night for racing.

Busy, busy day in store today so its time to get on with the day. I'm out.

DC

The Eve of a New Beginning...

Football tabs are out or coming out, and the clock is counting down until the opening night tomorrow. As I have said before, sometimes we anticipate so much that the football season flies right by. Changing topics, if the Cardinals catch the Brewers then last night's game and antics will help favor St. Louis. It is such a good time of year and the plus is a 3 day weekend coming up.

Prep Report
- I mentioned yesterday that volleyball games would start next week. That was wrong as a game is scheduled for tonight as well as some tournaments this weekend.
- Belleville Althoff is expected to be very good again in volleyball. [http://www.bnd.com/220/story/451406.html]
- Here are the AP Football polls for the beginning of the season in Class 1A-8A. [http://www.bnd.com/220/story/451480.html]
- The IHSA has released the hosts for boys and girls cross country in the postseason. You can go to www.ihsa.org to find out those.

College Sports
- The college football season kicks off tonight. The marquee game is the traditional ESPN Thursday night game that happens each week. This year South Carolina takes on NC State.
- College footballl...where every game counts no matter what week it is. I want a playoff system, but still without one the games are still very interesting.
- If Coach K. helps with the Olympic team selection process, will this hurt hurt his recruiting?

Pro Sports
- The injury bug is hitting the NFL Colts hard. Manning is still not recovered from knee surgery and Jeff Saturday, starting center, is out with a torn ligament in his right knee.
- Rudi Johnson of the Bengals is expecting to be traded anytime.
- The NFL has reinstated Adam Jones and he will play for the Dallas Cowboys!!!
- To Carlos Villanueva of the Brewers...it is okay to be excited about getting out of an inning as a pitcher. However, being stupid and showing up the other team and dugout is not smart. The Cardinals used this as inspiration to beat the Brewers last night.
- A preview of a possible Playoff Series begins today and for 4 games when the Phillies go to Chicago to play the Cubs.
- The Padres are rolling after beating Arizona 3 straight games. The Dodgers couldn't gain any ground though on the D-Backs.

Midday has arrived and much work to be done to prepare for tomorrow night. I'm out.

DC

Eve of New Beginnings...

We are on the eve of the college football season beginning. Games will be played starting tomorrow night and I can't wait. Final preparations are being made by high school football teams for season openers on Friday night, while the MLB is taking center stage during the middle of the week.

Prep Report
- Here is an update on the new renovations going on at O'Fallon High School. [http://www.bnd.com/homepage/story/448152.html]
- The anticipation is building for me as the football season approaches. I am awaiting the newspaper tabs that will be out over the next few days.
- Volleyball began practice on August 13th, but won't play a game until next week.

College Sports
- ESPN has their picks out on who will win the Heisman Trophy this year. [http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/heisman08/index]
- Who will be the biggest upset to start the year? Appy. State was the winner for the entire year after winning at Michigan to open the season.

Pro Sports
- Nick Hill is going to get another chance in the NFL. He will try with the Indianapolis Colts later this week. Good luck to you Nick!!!
- NASCAR has put Kyle Busch and Carl Edwards on probation for their crash derby they had after the Bristol race on Saturday night.
- Mark Kotsay is heading to the Red Sox from the Braves in a trade
- ESPN comes through again with the Red Sox being on tonight. I would like to know how many times they have been on ESPN this year.
- After losing 12-0 to the Brewers last night, the Cardinals will play the final game against them tonight. Being down 4.5 to the Brewers in the Wild Card, St. Louis needs to win tonight.
- The Cubs may have won their game in Pittsburgh 14-9 last night. However, if they continue to make mental and physical errors on the field like they did last night they could give away a chance at the Playoffs.
- The Mets and Phillies look to be staging a classic race as we go into September in the NL East.
- Cliff Lee won his 19th game of the year last night for the Indians. Is he the AL Cy Young Award winner?

Hey...it is mid-week. The work week is half over and a 3 day weekend is coming. I'm out.

DC

Toodling Along on a Tuesday...

Traversing along on this early Tuesday morning, the sports world is filled with activity at all levels. At the end, I leave you with a bizarre story of Little League and the barring of a player because he is too good.

Prep Report
- The IHSA has put out the requirements to host a post season bass fishing area. [http://www.ihsa.org/siteprop/bass-fishing.pdf]
- Early speculation is running around that some schools already are not going to be able to fill out Sophomore teams. When I have some facts, I will post more later.
- Local newspapers are going to be having their football tabs coming out over the next few days. These are tremendous reads for high school fans.

College Sports
- USC should have starting QB Mark Sanchez under center for their season opener.
- College is not a money making business...yeah right. [http://sports.espn.go.com/ncaa/news/story?id=3553033]
- Texas will have to start more freshmen at the DB position then they would like. Look for opposing teams to pick on that secondary early in the season.

Pro Sports
- Between Shawn Merriman of the Chargers and the retired Michael Strahan, the news on them never changes but definitely is starting to get stale.
- Tom Brady of the Patriots says he will be ready for the season opener.
- Joey Logano has been chosen to take over the #20 car for JGR in replacing for Tony Stewart.
- The Cardinals and Brewers began a brief but very important 2 game series in the STL tonight.
- With the NL East as tight as it is, New York and Philadelphia are in the wild card running neck and neck for 2nd with St. Louis.
- Barry Bonds is seeking dismissal of his case. [http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3553477]

This is under the "What in the world is going on here?" Category
- A 9 year old has been determined as being to good and can't play Little League Baseball. [http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/news/story?id=3553475]

I would like to hear your thoughts on that Little League story. Post them here. I'm out.

DC

Changing and Transitioning...

It is the beginning of a new week and we jump full force into the golf schedule. We also will have the first football game of the year on Friday. We transition from the Summer Olympics into the college football season as well as the US Open for tennis. It is a very interesting time of year.

Prep Report
- Several golf matches are going to happen today in the area as the season swings into high gear.
- If you can believe it, the only day that is forecasting for rain is on Friday night. That, of course, is the opening night for high school football.
- Oh yeah, it just popped into my head that there were several delays and cancellations on the opening night last year.

College Sports
- Miami U. is suspending 6 players for their season opener on Thursday night.
- Tickets are scarce for the Illinois/Missouri game in St. Louis on Saturday night.
- Michigan joins Purdue as teams in the Big 10 trying to run the spread offense in football.
- Buffalo U. suspended 3 players for 3 games for the upcoming basketball season for cheating.

Pro Sports
- The US Open tennis tournament begins today in New York City.
- Michael Strahan is thinking about coming out of retirement. Okay, who besides me is already tired of hearing him ponder in the public spotlight?
- The Arizona Cardinals have tabbed Kurt Warner as their starting QB for the season.
- Vijay Singh won the Barclays golf tournament yesterday on the PGA tour in a dramatic playoff.
- K-Rod got his 50th save yesterday and looks to be on track to blow away Bobby Thigpen's one season record.
- Say what you want about AJ Pierzynski, but he finds ways for his team to win and may be one of the smartest players in baseball.

Breakfast is over and with the new week beginning it means time to get this week off to a good start. I'm out.

DC

Change in the air...

Change is in the air. The fall prep season is going to hit full speed this week. We go from the Olympics closing down to the US Open for tennis. College football will kick into high gear this coming weekend. The NFL will close down preseason and the MLB will turn up the importance of games over the next few weeks. Did you think I was going to mention politics with change being mentioned?

Prep Report
- The Benton Boys golf team won the AJ McDonald's Golf Classic yesterday for the 3rd year in a row. This team is looking to do big things in the postseason.
- The spread offense is starting to hit those teams that traditionally run the football. Here is a story about one of them. [http://www.herald-review.com/articles/2008/08/23/sports/h_r_preps/football/doc42ef5e42c639a372486090.txt]

College Football
- Michigan football is changing from Nike to Adidas this season and folks, they look very different. I saw the new uniforms on the Big Ten TV Network yesterday.
- We will have the first games this Thursday night and a huge Labor Day Weekend of college football will happen all next weekend.
- I am waiting on College Football Game Day to be on ESPN each Saturday morning. There is no better way to kick off football Saturday than watching that show.

Pro Sports
- Jason Taylor (Washington), Shawn Merriman (San Diego), Osi Umenyiora (Giants), Antoine Cash (Tampa Bay), are just a few of the big names to be injured in games and practices this week in the NFL.
- The final exhibition games are coming this week and don't look for starters and key players to play very much in these games.
- Carl Edwards won the race at Bristol last night in NASCAR. It was not done without some extra-curriculars after the race between he and Kyle Busch. Could we finally have a rivalry in NASCAR?
- The Boston Red Sox are in the running for the Wild Card. It will be them and either the White Sox/Twins (loser of the AL Central) that will probably get in.
- Josh Beckett of the Red Sox is still having arm problems. This is not good for Boston.
- The Rays are passing all tests being thrown at them and still lead the AL East.
- Big series this week in the NL Central as the Brewers are at St. Louis for a brief 2 game set.

Summer Olympics
- How awesome is it that the tragedy the USA Men's Volleyball team had to go through at the start of the Olympics and then win the gold medal at the end?!?!?! [http://www.nbcolympics.com/volleyball/news/newsid=253178.html?_source=rss&cid=]
- USA Men's Basketball won the gold medal beating Spain. It was not easy as we only won 118-107.
- As I type this, the Summer Olympics have ended with the closing ceremony. You will see the replay tonight on NBC. It is now on the 4 year wait until 2012 when the games go to London, England.
- Like I said yesterday, what are we all going to do with not being able to turn the TV on at all times of the day and see the Olympics going on? I know...2 years until the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver and the return of Curling.

To continue with the theme, I need to change and do something else today. I'm out.

DC

Teeing off early and late...

It is late on Saturday night, but I have had a very busy day including playing in the Goreville High School Golf Scramble. It was played at the Gambit Golf Course in Vienna and this scramble is run very well by Todd Tripp and his staff. Without further wasting more time, let's get to it.

Prep Report
- Football teams as of now have wrapped up their practice games this weekend. Preparation begins for the opening game next Friday night.
- Here is one person interested in the upcoming volleyball season. There are some very good teams and individuals in Southern Illinois looking to have good season.
- Golf teams are enjoying the wet summer as many golf courses are in fantastic shape right now.

Pro Sports
- NASCAR is currently racing at Bristol Motor Speedway. It just isn't the same racing now with the COT as it was with the previous style car.
- PGA fans get ready...some of the top golfers in the world are coming to St. Louis very shortly.
- Are the Red Sox going to make a run at the Rays? The way Boston is playing now, I would say no.
- Just when you think the Phillies are out of it, they come back against a pretty good Dodgers team.
- Shawnne Merriman of the Chragers may be done for the year with 2 torn ligaments in a knee. This will severly hurt San Diego in the chances of making the playoffs.
- In fact, as I watch the bottom line on ESPN, several names are popping up tonight with injuries.

Summer Olympics
- Are you staying up to watch USA Men's Basketball win a gold medal? It starts at 1:30AM.
- The USA got a little back in track by winning the 4x400 relays in both men and women.
- USA Women's Basketball won the gold medal for the 4th straight Olympics. Lisa Leslie was a part of all 4 teams over those 4 Olympics and never lost a game.
- It is hard to believe that we are at the final hours of the games. What are all of us going to do next week when we turn the TV on and it isn't on?
- South Korea upset Cuba in baseball.
- We thank baseball and softball for being sports in the Olympic games.

MLB, NASCAR, Olympics, and NFL are all on tonight so I need to view the TV. I'm out.

DC

Waiting on the Weekend...

Sporting events at all levels are taking a hit today with the wet weather. It almost seems like spring with the rain rather than late summer. I was hoping to head to a practice football game tonight but the weather might change the plans. However, if that is canceled, there is plenty of sports to watch on the big screen.

Prep Report
- Weather is going to play a factor in golf and football practice games tonight. Check with your schools before heading to games tonight.
- The IHSA has hired a new assistant executive director. [http://www.ihsa.org/announce/2008-09/2008-08-20.htm]
- The tentative football classifications have also been announced by the IHSA. [http://www.ihsa.org/activity/fb/2008-09w/enrolla.htm]

Pro Sports
- Game 3 of the NFL Exhibition season means veterans play longer and into the 2nd half.
- Tom Glavine of the Braves had surgery on his pitching elbow and shoulder yesterday. He thinks he will be ready by the spring to pitch again.
- On paper, the Cubs, Cardinals, and Brewers should be heavily favored in their series this weekend. Of course, that is only on paper and not guaranteed.
- NASCAR is at Bristol, TN for the race on the half-mile oval in the bowl this weekend.

Summer Olympics
- Team USA in men's basketball, women's basketball, and men's beach volleyball will be going for gold medals in the next couple of days.
- David Beckham will be present when the Olympics flag is handed over from Beijing to London.
- The IOC is possibly going to check into the age of the Chinese gymnast that won gold last week. It seems the gymnast is only about 14 years old allegedly.
- Team USA is going back to the drawing board after not doing very well in track and field.
- Team USA boxing won only one medal the entire Olympics, the lowest total ever.

The Olympics are a distraction to me typing. The decathlon is on and it is not helping stay focused. So with that, the stopping has come. I'm out.

DC

No Guarantees in Sports...

There are no guarantees in the the sports world and Team USA is finding that out the hard way in the Olympics. As it winds down, the Olympics are making the headlines with some popular events winding down. The NFL is starting to show training camp injuries as again I say there are to many exhibition games. The prep scene is starting to gain momentum towards the start of football season as well.

Prep Report
- Is this August with below 90 degree temperatures and rainy days?
- Detweiller Park, host of the State Cross Country meet, has been remeasured. [http://www.dyestatil.com/?pg=dyestatil-2008-Cross-Country-Detweiller-Report&PHPSESSID=288983c996f88490c92877e9c4411036]

Pro Sports
- Stephen Jackson of the Rams has ended his holdout and will report to practice today.
- It is time for the 3rd or 4th preseason game for teams and again several players are sitting out due to "just because" or being dinged up with injury. Again I say, cut preseason games down to two.
- The 49ers are struggling with who should be their starting QB after a disappointing year last year.
- The MLB has officially adopted instant replay and will use it on disputed home runs.
- Tom Glavine of the Braves got good news when an MRI revealed no ligament damage in his pitching elbow.
- Adam Wainwright is scheduled to start for the Cardinals on Friday.
- Ken Griffey Jr. tied Sammy Sosa on the HR list last night with his 609th career HR.
- Greg Maddux will make his first start of the year with the Dodgers on Friday in Philadelphia. This will be the 2nd time in a week he has pitched against the Phillies but with a different team.

Summer Olympics
- Guarantees in sports don't happen often and the USA Softball team found that out losing 3-1 to Japan in the Gold Medal Game and snapping a 21 Olympics winning streak.
- USA Men's 4x100 relay team is also out after dropping a baton in the semi-finals.
- To finish the shocker, the USA water polo team also lost in the gold medal game.
- On the good side, Kerri Walsh and Misty May-Treanor won gold in beach volleyball.
- Currently, we are beating Russia in women's basketball but it has been a major struggle.
- To close out, just how good is the Jamaican track team? They have dominated in the sprints all week in both men's and women's.
- On another note, the IOC is not happy with Usain Bolt...[http://sports.espn.go.com/oly/summer08/trackandfield/news/story?id=3545687]

Short and sweet today as I am typing and trying to watch Team USA in women's basketball try to beat Russia. What am I going to do next week when the Olympics aren't on?

DC

Can't get enough...

During this time of year, I can't get enough of the sports world right now. There are many different things going on right now it is hard to keep up with. Plus, with the Olympics winding down this weekend then the US Open Tennis tournament begins next week which is must see TV. This time of year is very exciting.

Prep Report
- With football comes the injury bug and Cahokia is going to have to deal with this issue. [http://www.bnd.com/220/story/440088.html]
- Effingham St. Anthony girls golf team is primed again to defend their Class A State Championship after winning the Class A Challenge at Hickory Ridge Golf Center yesterday.
- Weather will play a factor in the soap games on Friday and Saturday. Rain may cancel these games to prevent damage to football fields. Check your forecast before heading out.

Pro Sports
- Word is that Izzy has thrown his last pitch for the Cardinals.
- NASCAR has hammered the JGR Racing Team. [http://sports.espn.go.com/rpm/nascar/nationwide/news/story?id=3544268]
- Greg Maddux is with the Dodgers and will start against the Phillies on Friday night.
- Rich Harden again had double digit strikeouts again for the Cubs last night in a win vs. the Reds.
- MLB Umpires boycotted the conference call on Instant Replay. This is interesting.
- Why does it always seem that Geoff Blum of the Astros always hits big home runs? He hit a game winner against the Brewers last night.
- Can anyone tell me why the Bengals signed Chris Henry again?

Summer Olympics
- Afghanistan won its first ever Olympic medal today.
- USA and Argentina shrugged off slow starts and a close finish by Argentina to win their games advance to the Semi-Final round.
- Usain Bolt of Jamaica won the 200 to join Carl Lewis and Jesse Owens as the only people to win both the 100 and 200 in the same Olympics.
- USA Softball beat Japan 4-1 in 9 innings to advance to the gold medal game. This was a very close call.
- The USA will have a chance at gold in both men's and women's beach volleyball with teams in both games.

USA volleyball is currently in a tight game and I want to catch as much of it on lunch as I can. I'm out.

DC

"Matching" on...

We are "matching" on as golf matches are kicking up all over the state with the first ones being played yesterday. Several area tournaments are being played to display area teams and individuals. The Olympics turned ugly in a baseball game yesterday, but we are still seeing some marvelous events happen.
Prep Report
- South Seven golf is usually very competitive. Althoff is looking for big things this year. [http://www.bnd.com/220/story/438590.html]
- Effingham St. Anthony beat Benton by one stroke in the opening golf match for both teams of the year in Benton yesterday.
- The cooler than normal weather is nice right now, but if it warms up to normal temps, we could see several teams struggle with the heat on opening night.
- It seems the school year is going pretty well as no reports of schools having contract issues or strikes locally.

Pro Sports
- The Dodgers are going to use Greg Maddux for the last 6 weeks of the season to help with their injury riddled pitching staff. This will be his 2nd stint in LA.
- CC Sabathia has been a horse for the Brewers since his trade. However, the stats he is putting up to end the year will mean more money than the Brewers can resign him for.
- Chris Carpenter will throw on the side today for the Cardinals. If he is pain free, he will pitch once his DL stint is over. If not, then he may be shut down for the year.
- Tom Glavine will visit Dr. Andrews and that will decide whether he pitches in 2009 or retire.
- Kyle Orton is the Bears starting QB. Wow...do you feel like they have no idea where to go there?
- The Rays and Angels are battling in a series of two pretty good AL teams this week. The Rays won the first game.

Summer Olympics
- How is trampoline an Olympic event? How is softball not going to be an Olympic sport?
- Quietly but nicely, Team USA in women's basketball is rolling along quite nicely.
- It was an ugly game yesterday between the USA and China in baseball. The main reason for the game to get out of control was the umpires lack of controlling it early on. The interview with Jim Lefebvre, China's manager, was almost comical covering for his team.
- Shawn Johnson of Team USA Women's Gymnastics won her first gold medal yesterday in the balance beam event.
- USA Track is back in winning after not getting the job done in the 100M dash.

The morning is on and it is time to get on with the day. I'm out.

DC

A New Beginning and Week...

It is the beginning of a new work week. Teachers and students in the area are going back to school this week. Golf matches will get in full swing today and we continue to get closer to the practice games that will happen this weekend. The Summer Olympics are in full swing and winding down this weekend. Football and baseball continue to lead the way in the pro sports world.

Prep Report
- The first golf matches of the year will kick off today.
- Effingham St. Anthony will be at Benton in boys golf today in a battle of two tradition rich and teams with high state hopes for 2008.
- Football teams will be having their practice games going on this weekend.

Pro Sports
- Carl Edwards won both the Nationwide and Sprint races this weekend in Michigan. Rousch teams always seem to do well at Michigan.
- Again I ask, why can't there be just 2 exhibition games in the NFL? It would make play inthe first couple of weeks of the regular season so much better.
- We could be seeing the final games in the current Yankee Stadium because they are no where near in the running for a division or Wild Card.
- Tampa Bay is hanging on with all the injuries they have and a 4 game lead on Boston. Can they really hold on?
- Who scheduled a day off today and a day off Thursday for the Cardinals? 2 days off scheduled in one week for a MLB team is rare.
- How weird did Brett Favre look in a Jets uniform Saturday night?

Summer Olympics
- USA Men's Basketball looked very impressive in a win over Germany today. It seems though that the Australians are talking a little trash about beating Team USA. We shall see what happens.
- USA Softball has won 21 straight games in Olympic competition.
- Jamaica has taken the world's fastest titles in both men and women's 100m dash. The USA has some work to do to take back that title in 2012 in London.
- Rafael Nadal of Span won the men's singles tournament and that has made him the #1 player in the world.

I'm out.

DC

The greatness and golden 8...

What you witnessed last night may never happen again. Michael Phelps wins his 8th gold medal in the games breaking the mark of Mark Spitz from 1972. It took 36 years for someone to break that record and we may not see it in our lifetime. He has been the story all week in the Olympics and with him not racing, we need some other sports and people to step up. Speaking of stepping up, other sports are also garnering some spotlight on this Sunday.

Prep Report
- Here is an article about the school calendar affecting the traditional 2 a day football practices as we have seen in the past. [http://stcharlesjournal.stltoday.com/articles/2008/08/11/sports/sj2tn20080809-0810stc-grid0.ii1.txt]
- Here is some news on some of the schools in the central part of the state. [http://www.pjstar.com/preps/x1507910952/Woodruff-Metamora-sign-on-in-2010]
- There is no information listed yet for hosts of postseason events for boys and girls cross country.

Pro Sports
- When you leave half of an MLB roster on base during a game, (13) no one is going to win. That is what happened to the Cubs last night.
- J J Hardy was a Dodger-killer last night as he had a 2 run HR and a game winning RBI single in the 10th to help beat the Dodgers.
- How quiet have the Mets been in getting a 2 game lead in the NL East this week?
- The AL Central is in a dead heat heading towards games today. It is amazing how the Twins compete being a small market team. Playing good, sound, fundamental baseball will help out greatly in that aspect.
- The Braves have shut down Tom Glavine for the season and he may be done for his career. He joins John Smoltz as having injuries that shortened their season.
- Speaking of pitching, the Cardinals have a decision to make regarding who will be in their starting rotation and who will stay in the bullpen.
- Brett Favre threw his first unofficial TD pass for the Jets in an exhibition game vs. Washington.
- Do NFL coaches really think we should care about wins or losses in the preseason?
- NASCAR racing will be at Michigan International Raceway this afternoon.

Summer Olympics
- With Phelps done, will there be another story in the Olympics that will garner as much attention?
- If you are Phelps, do you return in 4 years for more?
- Walsh and May-Treanor of the USA beat Brazil and advanced to the Gold Medal game in women's beach volleyball. There is a major rivalry between the two countries in this sport.
- Dara Torres is 41 and has said nothing on not giving another run at appearing in the 2012 Summer Olympics. She has been a pleasure to watch since her debut in the Olympics in LA in 1984.
- We are heavy into track and field today with many events on the docket.
- Credit the nation of China and their people for selling out many venues for the events.
- Can anyone else believe that baseball and softball won't be an Olympic sport after these games?
- Gymnastics will go individual tonight and the USA women have many chances to bring home gold.

After having already got my 9 hole walk in today, it is time for me to get some major watching of the Olympics in for today. I'm out.

DC

Sprinting through the weekend...

We have the first full day of football players in pads so let the hitting begin. We are less than two weeks away from the start of the season. It is getting to be golf time as well as several high school players were on the golf course practicing today. Did we really just see someone go under the 9.7 second mark in the 100m dash? I won't go as quick as that, but let's get to the posting.

Prep Report
-The enrollment for Du Quoin High School is 445 students. 103 of those students will be wearing the interlocking DQ in football this fall. That is 23% of the student body.
- Greenville will be on the road for the first 6 weeks of the year. Week 3 and 4 will be on the road and the home games scheduled for weeks 7 and 9 will be announced at a later date as to where they will be at. This is due to construction on the football field and facility.
- Palestine High School only has 19 players in their entire football program.
- In 1A volleyball, Edwards County looks to be a real favorite to get to Normal and get a State Trophy once again.

Pro Sports
- Could the Yankees really miss the playoffs? They are 9.5 games out of first going into today.
- Darryl Ward was 4-40 this year pinch hitting for the Cubs before hitting a game winning 3 run HR in the 9th last night at Florida.
- The Dodgers and Brewers is a great baseball series to watch this weekend. These two teams are in the chase for the playoffs.
- Ben Gordon says he has played his last game for the Bulls. Okay...not a newsflash at this point.
- I have noticed at the last couple of NASCAR events some empty seats in the stands. Don't know if gas prices or economy or neither is responsible for that.

Summer Olympics
- Team USA in Men's Basketball had a very impressive win over Spain. We finish 4-0 in pool play and set up nicely in the tournament.
- 9.69 seconds...the time it took Usain Bolt of Jamaica to win the 100m dash today.
- Michael Phelps goes for his 8th gold medal of the games tonight.
- Beach Volleyball has been great on both the men's and women's sides to watch. The atmosphere at this event has been party-like.
- Is it just me, or isn't it ashame at this is the last time for the time being that Softball will be an Olympic sport?
- 9.6 in the 100m dash...That simply is a mind boggling time!!!

What to Watch
- Summer Olympics (You have to watch because it won't be back for 4 years.)
- Michael Phelps (One race left to go and that record 8th gold medal in one Olympics is on the line.)
- MLB (All of the local teams are in division races which makes for a juicy 6 more weeks.)
- NASCAR (ESPN has the coverage from Michigan International Raceway Sunday.)
- NFL (Exhibition games are on all weekend.)

As quick as the 100m dash record was broken...I'm out.

DC

It's the Weekend!!!

After 5PM, so the weekend is officially here. We roll into the second weekend of the Summer Olympics, the NFL continues to have more exhibition games going on as players try to make teams, and the MLB playoff hunt is officially on.

Prep Report
- Today is the last day for teams to practice without pads. Tomorrow will be the first day teams will go with full football gear and the hitting and tackling will begin.
- As I mentioned a few weeks back, East St. Louis is preparing for a nationally televised game on ESPN2 later this month. [http://www.bnd.com/220/story/432638.html]
- Du Quoin has over 100 players out for football once again. This high number definitely contributes to their success.
- Speaking of the Indians, Nick Hill will be a part of the coaching staff as long as he is not picked up by an NFL team.
- I am interested to see how Southern Illinois volleyball teams do in the 2nd season of 4 class volleyball. Hopefully we can get a couple of teams up and bring a trophy back to Southern Illinois.

Congrats...
- Congratulations to Zach Barlow of Percy who the Illinois State Amateur with rounds of 71 and 71 over the final 36 holes at Cantigny Golf Course in Wheaton, IL.

Pro Sports
- Cubs at Marlins, Cards at Reds, and Brewers at Dodgers in the NL Central this weekend. Not sure who has the advantage but on paper the Cubs and Brewers have the toughest series.
- Troy Percival, Rays closer, is on the DL along with Carl Crawford and Evan Longoria. Even with the Rays in first place, the injuries are mounting up.
- The Yankees have been replacing some of their scouts due to a kickback scandal. [http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3537389]
- NASCAR is at Michigan this weekend which provides great racing action and numerous passing lanes on Sunday.

Summer Olympics
- Team USA in women's Volleyball picked up a big 5 set win over China.
- Say what you want about basketball players being in shape, but the people who play water polo have to be some of the best fitnessed people in the world.
- Team USA in baseball lost a tough 11 inning game to Cuba. It was a tremendous game but not an end at this time to our gold medal hopes.
- Track and Field begins today and I can't wait to see the events.
- I am still in awe of the Bird's Nest Stadium that is the centerpiece of the Olympics. It is an amazing structural piece of architecture.
- I am waiting for Team USA to play Spain in Men's Basketball so we can really see if we have improved that much on the basketball floor since the previous Olympics.

The weekend is here and that means time for a little R & R. I'm out.

DC

Early evening once again...

I am hoping to discontinue the early evening blogging. This time of the year is pretty hectic as a new school year begins. Hopefully, I can blog a little earlier in the day from now on. High school practice is in full swing for all fall sports. Junior High fall sports are also playing the first games of the fall season this week. The Summer Olympics continue to be the dominating headline of the sports world, but still there are other sports making a run for headlines.

Prep Report
- Do you need a rule book or rule books for different sports? The IHSA has them. This site will also let you see the other merchandise the IHSA sells. [http://www.ihsastore.com/]
- Belleville Althoff begins the year with a new football coach for the first time in 37 years. [http://www.bnd.com/220/story/432585.html]

Pro Sports
- Can you believe the Brewers lost? San Diego beat them 3-2 today. That is the first game they have lost since the mini-fight in the dugout a little over a week ago.
- MLB will have instant replay on questionable home runs by the end of the season. Will this lead to other types of plays being reviewed?
- The Chicago White Sox tied an MLB record with 4 straight home runs in their game today.
- The Cardinals have claimed Jarrod Washburn off of waivers.
- John Lynch has signed a 1 year deal with the Patriots. He was with Denver the last few years and helped Tampa Bay win a Super Bowl.

Summer Olympics
- Michael Phelps will go for another gold medal later this evening.
- Finally, we are just one day away from track and field starting.
- USA Men's Basketball played well vs. Greece in a win today. That was a revenge game from a loss 2 years ago to Greece in the World Competition.
- Roger Federer was defeated in the men's tennis by James Blake of the USA. Does this, among other things, signal a crack in the armor of his tennis dominance?
- The Williams' sisters are both out after being beaten in the tennis singles.
- Who do you believe? China saying one of their gymnasts is of the legal age or a Chinese newspaper who says she is 13.
- As I have mentioned, I can't get enough of volleyball or beach volleyball and now add ping pong to that list.
- Kerri Wash and Misty MayTreanor have won 104 straight (10 straight in the Summer Olympics) beach volleyball matches in a row.

With it being in the evening, my attention is once again divided between the computer screen and the TV set. I'm out.

DC

Running late...

With a new sports season and school year starting, time has been of the essence as well as very fleeting today. To those who are wondering where the blog has been today, I guess it is better late than never but time kind of got away from me. Blogging this late in the day makes for more time to see what has happened since yesterday.

Prep Report
- We have officially begun the first day of fall sports practice. Isn't it nice to know prep sports are returning.
- Chester and SVWW began their football practices at 12:01AM this morning in a midnight madness football gathering.
- Football teams will practice with helmets for three days, and then on Saturday they will be able to wear the full set of pads to actually begin hitting.
- Golf matches will kick off on Monday. There will be no bigger match than Effingham St. Anthony at Benton on this day. These two teams are going to be very strong contenders for State Championships in October.

Pro Sports
- The Cubs won the first of a twi-night DH vs. Atlanta today 10-2, and are leading 5-0 in the 8th as I type. The key for this road trip the Cubs are on is to figure out how to win in Florida. They have lost 9 straight in the state of Florida and lost 12 of their last 14 vs. the Marlins.
- The Cards are currently beating Florida in the 8th 4-2. They need to win to stay close to the Cubs and Brewers.
- Speaking of Milwaukee, they can't lose right now after sweeping Washington at home and then starting a road trip in San Diego with a win. Of course, these two teams aren't the strongest in the MLB either.
- Again I ask...are the Red Sox on ESPN more than any other team in the MLB??? They are on again tonight.
- Carl Crawford of the Rays will be out for the rest of the season after surgery on his wrist.
- Brett Favre has "arm fatigue" after just 5 days of practice. Hey Brett, most of America had fatigue watching and hearing about your soap opera after 5 days.
- With the Olympics going on, it makes NFL Training Camp and Exhibition games go flying by until the regular season.

Summer Olympics
- Michael Phelps won gold medal #4 and #5 last night. He has 3 more races to get the 8 gold medals and break Mark Spitz's record of 7 golds in one Olympics.
- All this talk about the Redeem Team (USA Men's Basketball) is taking away from the USA Women's Basketball team beating everyone pretty handily.
- USA Softball is dominating teams so far in softball.

With that, I have come to the end. It is starting to get late in the evening and it has been a long but very good day of getting things done. I'm out.

DC

Sports Eve...

There are Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve. We are on the eve of the 2008-2009 high school sports season beginning. The first practices will be tomorrow and some at 12:01AM. Yes, after a long wait, the season is almost upon us. It seems the weather is going to be very pleasant considering the weather we have had in past years to practice and/or play football, golf, and cross country in. The Summer Olympics roll on with many interesting stories and games to kind of take precedent over the pro sports world.

Prep Report
- Chester and SVWW will begin their football seasons at 12:01AM. This is the first time for Chester while it will be the second year in a row for SVWW to do it.
- On paper, the Black Diamond Conference in football looks to be pretty balanced at the top.
- I am very interested to see in the second year of four classes if Southern Illinois can get a team or two north to Bloomington and get a trophy.

Pro Sports
- Aaron Rodgers, QB of the Packers, passed his first test in a preseason game last night. He looked pretty good, but again, it is only August.
- Is it just me, or since Roger Goddell has stepped in, has the police blotter of the NFL during preseason sharply decreased?
- Donovan McNabb says now that it would have been great if Terrell Owens would have stayed. Uh...too little too late there #5.
- Adam Dunn became the first MLB HR leader during a season to be traded since 1900. He is now a D-Back and will be a major power source for them especially in their ballpark.
- The Tigers are struggling and Gary Sheffield wants to play everyday. Yes, the dog days of August are starting to take root on many teams now.
- The Rays have lost Carl Crawford and Evan Longoria to the DL as they lead the AL East by 4 games.

Summer Olympics
- The USA Men's Basketball team beat Angola 97-76.
Concerns:
1. We gave up 76 to Angola and we are supposed to be a defensive minded team.
2. We can't make a mid-range or three point shot very well.
3. Kobe is in a shooting slump and looks like the Kobe we saw in the NBA Finals.
4. Does anyone else think this start mirrors 2004?
- Michael Phelps has 3 gold medals in his pocket with the chance to earn 5 more. This guy is a phenom and should be ranked up there with Tiger Woods and Roger Federer and past others who have dominated their sport.
- As I mentioned yesterday, equestrian has to be one of the most dangerous events in the world. There is always the danger of serious injury with horse and/or rider on each jump.
- Volleyball has been getting a lot of watching from me. Played at this level, the game is very exciting to watch.
- I am still waiting on track and field to begin. Watching world class athletes compete on the track is pure athleticism at its finest.
- The Williams' Sisters are cruising on the tennis side of things.

In ending today, I want to leave you with a question to think about...
If we have SportsCenter on ESPN live all day long now, what is the purpose of ESPN News?

I'm out.

DC

Winding down towards the new...

The final weekend of summer for many students in grades K-12 is now over. As we move on this week, schools in the area will be opening up for the 2008-2009 school year. This also means that we are just 2 days away from the start of practice for the new fall sports season. As we await the start of that, there is still plenty to talk about in the world of the pros and Summer Olympics.

Prep Report
- Football time is almost here when you start seeing polls in newspapers and on websites.
- Where will you be on Week 1 of the high school football season? Go ahead and post the game or games you will be attending.

Pro Sports
- The Cubs beat the Cardinals 2 out of 3 this weekend to send STL back 7 games in the standings and 3 games back in the Wild Card Race.
- Ryan Dempster had another strong performance in starting and winning the game, while the bullpen came in a did a relatively good job in getting the win.
- The Cardinals will evaluate Chris Carpenter after he left the game with a triceps issue. This is the 2nd starter (Mark Mulder the other) that has returned from injury with issues for STL.
- It looks like the Yanks are teetering on the balance of falling out of the playoff hunt. They were swept by the Angels over the weekend and still have 7 games left on a road trip.
- The Tampa Bay Rays won their team record 71st game of the year yesterday.
- Kyle Busch won again on the NASCAR circuit yesterday at Watkins Glen.
- The NFL Exhibition season will give us the first outing of new Green Bay starter Aaron Rodgers. The reaction of the hometown Packers fans will be interesting.
- Jay Cutler, starting QB for the Denver Broncos, has to be wondering what is going on with a RB on suspension and his top WR getting hurt.
- Padraig Harrington has won his 2nd major in a row after winning the PGA yesterday. He played great down the stretch while Sergio Garcia flat lost it hitting a shot in the water and missing a couple of pretty easy putts. It is time to put Harrington in the forefront of elite golfers in the world.

Summer Olympics
- Michael Phelps is still on track for 8 gold medals. He was a part of the 4x100 freestyle relay that won in dramatic fashion over France. If you get a chance, watch the replay of this race which obliterated the world record and had a very close finish.
- By the way, memo to the French 4x100 freestyle relay team, if you talk the talk you better be able to back it up. Unfortunately, they were defeated and they were in total shock.
- USA Women's Basketball is currently playing this morning against China.
- The USA Women's Gymnastic team is struggling with the injury bug right now and it will be a very tough road to get a team gold medal.
- I can't get enough of volleyball and beach volleyball. The athleticism and skill to play is phenomenal and has to be fun to play.

Again, as probably most of the next week plus, the Olympics is garnering my attention with an event on TV as I type. So as I start this day, I am going to direct myself to watching it. I'm out.

DC

Struggling to redeem...

Currently as I type, the attention is divided between the computer screen and the TV screen. It seems that Team USA (Redeem Team) is in a struggle with China in men's basketball. It will be interesting to see how the team reacts to playing in such a road environment. Can someone tell them that hitting a mid-range jump shot is necessary? The Summer Olympics continue with some outstanding events going on. Moving on from there, the MLB continues to drive on towards the playoff drive.

Prep Report
- Here is an interesting article on the evolution of prep football. [http://www.herald-review.com/articles/2008/08/08/preps/football/1034679.txt]
- What a great idea for schools to have parents of athletes come in to review rules, regulations, and school policy regarding participating in sports. These meetings have increased over the years.

Summer Olympics
- I took in several hours of the Olympics. I have found that equestrian has to be one of the most dangerous events for anyone to be in. Fencing was rather unique. The speed and skill to try to touch your opponent with a sword is almost faster than the eye can detect. Finally, watching a skillful match of badmitton is awesome. I am hoping that there will be more coverage of this sport.
- Michael Phelps is plain freakish. The man just blew away people in the 400IM yesterday. Anyone and everyone needs to check this guy out and how fast he glides through the pool.

Pro Sports
- The PGA has battled the weather in Detroit the past two days and lost with delays. Here is hoping that the weather will let up so they can get the last major of the year in.
- Phil Mickelson drove a par 4 yesterday and his drive ended up 10 feet from the cup. The weather delay was sounded and he had to wait until this morning to putt for eagle.
- NASCAR is racing on the second and final road course race of the day.
- Barry Bonds came out of seclusion yesterday by attending a Giants Outfielders Ceremony before the Dodgers and Giants played. He says he isn't retired. However, IMO, when no one wants you to play for their team that is basically retirement.
- Do the Rays really have 70 wins already??? They are serious contenders for the AL East.
- Troy Glaus broke an 0-30 slump vs. the Cubs with 2 HRs yesterday.
- With the Yankees not gaining ground and in the midst of a 10 game road trip, it would seem that there aren't many games left in Yankee Stadium.
- Isn't it nice to not hear Brett Favre mentioned 24/7 in the sports world?

Okay, I can't concentrate very well with basketball going on and typing this blog. It is time for me to watch. I'm out.

DC

Adding to the Sports Recipe...

Is this August? Low humidity and sunny skies make for beautiful weather for this weekend. Let's hope the weather holds for the upcoming beginning of football practice and early games. The Olympics have started with the best ever opening ceremony and will go on for a couple of weeks. The Cubs and Cardinals provided an awesome game yesterday and expect two more this weekend. The MLB in general is great right now with some pretty good division races going on. You add a touch of the NFL, NASCAR, and PGA golf to make for a great recipe of sports.

Prep Report
- You can tell it is getting close to football season with talk of the upcoming season becoming more frequent.
- Tis the season for the local school golf scrambles. Over the next few weeks, there will be several held on the weekends.

Pro Sports
- Jim Edmonds showed he still can play very well with a diving catch and 2 HRs for the Cubs in their win vs. the Cardinals. The Cubs thank you STL for letting him go.
- Speaking of Edmonds, he has now homered against all 30 MLB teams in his career.
- Adam Wainright was roughed up in his first outing off of the DL in Memphis last night. This is not good news if you are hoping he can cure the bullpen woes for the Cardinals.
- Manny Ramirez was held hitless in a game as a Dodger for the firs time last night.
- Former Jets QB Chad Pennington has been signed by the Miami Dolphins.
- Speaking of the Jets, Brett Favre will practice with them for the first time today. Word is, there will be coverage of it.
- The NFL Network is going to give us looks at all the exhibition games this year. This will allow you to watch your favorite team play.

What to Watch
- Summer Olympics (The games will be on the NBC and affiliate channels.)
- NASCAR (Road racing at Watkins Glen will take place tomorrow on ESPN.)
- PGA Championship (CBS has the coverage today and tomorrow if the weather will let them.)
- Cubs vs. Cardinals (Today it is on FOX, and tomorrow night on ESPN.)
- NFL (Exhibition games are on local channels as well as the NFL Network this weekend.)

The weather is to nice to sit to long inside and type. I'm out.

DC

Kicking off the sports weekend...

As we move on into August, we have some very big series in the MLB this weekend. The Olympics have officially kicked off, but seeing them and breathing okay in Beijing may be a whole another story. With August comes the IHSA putting out new information in preparing for the upcoming sports season. Yes, time is flying by to begin the new season as well as this posting.

Prep Report
- The IHSA has updated on their website regarding the hosts of the State Tournament for Girls Golf.
- The IHSA has also updated their site and Bass Fishing has its own section. The State Tournament site hasn't been announced but will be May 1-2. Those interested there is a casting contest listed which must be the equivalent of the 3 point and slam dunk contests.

Pro Sports
- It is the Cubs vs. the Cardinals. There is quite a bit riding on the line for both teams this weekend. The winners this weekend for sure are the Brewers who are hosting the Nationals.
- The Red Sox are trying to acquire Brian Giles from the Padres but Giles is probably going to block the deal. Hey Brian...you get a chance to maybe play in the playoffs for a good team. Why are you not going?
- Former Jets QB Chad Pennington is unemployed, but 6 NFL teams are looking to get him. He will be signed by someone but probably not at the money he was making in the Big Apple.
- NFL Exhibition games are just about as boring to watch as anything. I am in favor of cutting the preseason schedule to two games. Why do you need 4 to 5 games with all of the mini-camps that happen during the offseason?

College Chatter
- Thought for the day...Does anyone else feel like the police blotter for college sports is just as bad as pro sports these days?
- The Big 10 says that a ref was not compromising the outcome of games in their football games. [http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=3525319]

Chicago Baseball Town
- The last 3 teams to win the World Series are playing in Chicago this weekend. Boston (2004,2007) is at the White Sox (2005) while the Cardinals (2006) are at the Cubs.

8-8-88
The date of the first night game at Wrigley Field. Though the game lasted only 3 innings and cancelled by rain, it was a spectacle and a different look under the lights. On the next night, the Cubs played the Mets in the first full game played under the lights.

Enough is enough as first pitch is about to happen at Wrigley Field. I'm out.

DC

Ending and Rolling...

Finally...finally...we have an end to the Favre-Opera. A trade has been made and hopefully it can fall from the headlines. We are on the eve of the Olympics beginning while the final major for the PGA starts today just outside of Detroit, Michigan. Also, the NFL preseason will start to roll as well this weekend with most every team getting a game in. You throw in the MLB and things are rolling in most of the sports world.

Prep Report
- There just isn't much happening right now during the days leading up to the start of the fall sports practice.
- Just guessing here, but with the high humidity, heat, and plenty of rain local high school football fields with grass should be in really good shape for the season.

Pro Sports
- Brett Favre has been traded to the New York Jets. The language of the deal is too much to type but involves draft picks, what round they come from, and if the Jets trade him somewhere else. Thank you...it is over and now other sports can be front and center.
- With the trade, former starter for the Jets Chad Pennington will be released to make room under the salary cap for Favre.
- The first show of Hards Knocks: Training Camp with the Dallas Cowboys on HBO aired last night. Any NFL fan would be very interested in the show. Being a Dallas fan like myself, this show was very interesting to see a behind the scenes look of my team.
- The PGA Championship will be contested at Oakland Hills just outside of Detroit, Michigan starting today through Sunday.
- Ryan Ludwick has homered in 5 straight games for the Cardinals. This ties a team record.
- Hank Steinbrenner wanted Joba Chamberlain to start. Now Joba finds himself on the DL with shoulder tendonitis.
- I am a little surprised that more post-trade deadline waiver deals haven't been made in the MLB. I still think there will be some made though.
- The White Sox have won 5 of 6 from the Tigers knocking Detroit almost out of the running for the AL Central. Do you think that Detroit is kicking themselves for the slow start at the beginning of the season?

Olympics
- Has anyone seen the pictures from the Olympics in Beijing, China? The smog is so thick you can't see 300 yards in front of you. It is awful to breathe according to reporters who are there.
- The opening ceremony takes place tomorrow on NBC.

Happy with the fact that other sports will take over the airwaves instead of the Favre-Opera, I am going to begin the new day is in front of me. I'm out.

DC

Marking it down...

The pace will begin to quicken in the prep sports world as one week from today we begin the fall sports season. It is amazing how quickly the summer has come and gone with school opening just around the corner, and mark it down, the high school football season will go quick once it gets here. We will have more prep sports each day when we get to next week. However, keeping us going is the Favre-Opera and the MLB.

Prep Report
- One week from today will be the first official practice for all fall prep sports
- The Girls State Golf Tournaments will be in Carbondale, IL once again this year. Class A will be at Hickory Ridge Golf Center while Class AA will be at Stone Creek Golf Club and Resort.

Pro Sports
- The Favre-opera continues to turn. After meeting with the Packers, they have said they don't want him in Green Bay. So, after turning down a healthy and HOF QB, the Packers are moving on with Aaron Rodgers as their QB and have told Favre they will trade him but not in the division. Tampa Bay and the Jets are the two most likely destinations.
- As I have said in the past, the way the Packers and Favre have handled this, they are getting everything they deserve which includes Rodgers getting booed in Green Bay at training camp.
- The St. Louis Cardinals have announced their 2009 All-Star Game logo. Here comes the merchandise to wear and buy!!!
- The Cubs and Cards played the proverbial "Taketh...giveth away...taketh back" games yesterday. The Cubs lead Houston 6-1 at one point, trailed 7-6, and then won 11-7. The Cards lead the Dodgers 4-0 in the 9th before LA tied it up. Ryan Ludwick hit a 2 run HR in the 11th to win the game 6-4.
- Dan Haren gets a new deal from the D-Backs, while the contract negotiations of Brandon Webb has been tabled. Could Webb be on the move when his contract is done?
- Prince Fielder has apologized to all for this shoving of Manny Parra in the dugout the other night. The Brewers won their first game after the incident last night.
- On the eve of the PGA Championship, we have heard from Tiger Woods in a phone interview. Why is he already talking about "knowing when it will be time to stop playing? However, the real story will be the tournament once play begins tomorrow.
- Seriously...do you really think that LeBron would play basketball in Europe??? I don't believe for a second the report that ESPN.com has on this possibility.

If you are looking for some sports humor, check out ESPN.com and the "Mike and Mike Pentathlon" they have going on. It is hiliarious and a very spirited competition between the hosts of Mike and Mike in the Morning radio show. I'm out.

DC

Turning up the heat...

The weather is going to get hot enough today that we are under a heat advisory in Southern Illinois. So take it easy if you are going to be outside today. The heat is also turning up in Green Bay as well as the MLB with several interesting developments on and off the field. It is just another day in the month of August.

Prep Report
- Being on the golf course several days during the week, I have noticed that high school golf team members are making more appearances, practicing, and playing more in recent days due to the first practice coming next week.
- www.highschoolsports.net is a website with high school teams and their schedules. There are several local teams and teams from around the state who are on this site.

Pro Sports
- Team USA Men's Basketball struggled with an Australian team not a full strength today. The talk of unity on the team is great, but that will not make a jump shot nor handle Spain or Argentina.
- The Favre-opera continues to twist and turn today. We should know something by 2PM when the Packers are scheduled to practice. Will Favre be there?
- Joba Chamberlain of the Yankees said he had stiffness in his pitching shoulder last night vs. the Rangers. David Ortiz of the Red Sox heard a pop in the wrist he had surgery on recently. With these two injuries, are we truly going to see the Rays in the playoffs? The last time someone other than the Yanks and Red Sox won the AL East was Baltimore in 1997.
- Are the Brewers a magnet for problems? Last night, Prince Fielder and starting pitcher Manny Parra fought in the dugout. Will this mark the start of winning for the Brewers or losing?
- The Cardinals have given up on the Matt Clement pitching experiement giving him his release on Sunday, while Chris Duncan is out for the year with back problems.
- The Cubs and Astros played 8 innings last night due to severe storms in the Chicago area. Lightning struck very closely to Wrigley Field after the first delay sending several Astros to the dugout and focing umpires to delay and then call the game.

With the heat and humidity rising as I type, it is time to leave the comforts of the keyboard. I'm out.

DC

Come one, come all...

I purposely waited until this afternoon to blog until I could watch what was going on in Green Bay for a brief time. It seems things are changing by the minute. You add to that the Royals/White Sox games are now must see after yesterday as well as MLB with good pennant races, it is easy to see why this time of year is turning out to be very interesting.

Prep Report
- It is that time of year where there isn't much going on except high school football coaches watching tape from last year as they prepare for the first practice.

College Chatter
- Georgia was ranked #1 to begin the college football season. They also could be #1 on the police blotter after they suspended their fifth player for the season opener due to run-ins with the law.
- Tennessee Women's Head Basketball Coach Pat Summit is donating $600,000 to the University of Tennessee.

Pro Sports
- Carl Edwards won the race at Pocono yesterday in NASCAR. The boys will head to Watkins Glen for the second and final road course race of the year next Sunday.
- NASCAR used grooved tires and windshield wipers for the first time during the Nationwide race on Saturday in Montreal. The rain won out as it was too heavy and shortened the race.
- Royals vs. White Sox...a brawl during their game yesterday and a press conference with Ozzie Guillen laying down his law means that their games the rest of the year will be interesting to watch.
- Oh yeah...Guillen's latest blow up comes the same day the White Sox dropped out of first.
- 5 of 6 division races in the MLB are up for grabs as we head down the stretch.
- Manny being Manny got 4 hits in a game vs. Arizona yesterday and will be playing in STL starting tomorrow night for 3 games.
- The last major of the PGA calendar begins later this week.

Come one...come all...
The circus has come to Green Bay. There are so many people up there changing their minds and sticking their fingers in the air to check the wind and see which way it is blowing. It almost looks like a political convention. Brett Favre has been reinstated by the NFL, passed a physical, and will sit down with the head coach and QB Aaron Rodgers tonight. The team has changed their mind saying that Rodgers won't be the #1 QB, but there will be a competition for the position. (If you saw highlights of their scrimmage last night, you will know the best QB for Green Bay is Favre.) Also, there is talk that Green Bay may still trade him to Minnesota. Ari Fleischer, former White House PR man, was hired to join the mix. Like I said, there have been many acts and more yet to come in this show.

Even though I type this, the Favre-opera will continue to turn out more changes then a model during a fashion show. Thank goodness there will be MLB and other things to watch instead of this. I'm out.

DC

Beginnings and Endings...

Sunday marks the end of a weekend but the beginning of a very interesting week. The Olympics will kick off this week in China while the X Games will end today in Los Angeles. The NFL will kick into gear with exhibition games during the week, while the MLB continues to have big games each night down the stretch of the season.

Prep Report
- There seems to be some substance as to Greenville High School not being able to play their football games at home this year due to a new field being put in. The word is they will either play all road games or play their home games at Greenville College.

Pro Sports
- I am impressed with the Carolina Panthers of the NFL. They have suspended WR Steve Smith for 2 regular season games for punching a teammate and breaking his nose in a fight. It is not 2 exhibition games but the first two games of the year. That say much for that organization.
- Does the NFL Commissioner really have to inject himself into the Favre situation? Would he do the same for a lesser known and not HOF player?
- The NFL HOF inducted 6 players yesterday. Art Monk and Darrell Green from the Redskins stuck out in my mind after years of my Cowboys having to deal with them. It is interesting that the NFL inducted 6 this year and the MLB just one player. Hey MLB...one name to induct...Ron Santo.
- Manny says he is happy to be in LA. Uh...what were your years in Boston like then?
- I am shocked (NOT) that Griffey Jr. has leg issues already with the White Sox.
- So you think with the trade deadline being over there won't be anymore trades? ESPN doesn't think so and lists some players who could still be on the move. [ http://insider.espn.go.com/mlb/insider/columns/story?columnist=law_keith&id=3516012&action=login&appRedirect=http%3a%2f%2finsider.espn.go.com%2fmlb%2finsider%2fcolumns%2fstory%3fcolumnist%3dlaw_keith%26id%3d3516012]
- Okay...now into August and Tampa Bay has a 3 game lead over Boston...I am really believing they have a chance to win the AL East.
- How does Minnesota trim payroll, trade Johan Santana, and still play well?
- The Cardinals and Phillies are the ESPN Sunday Night Game of the Week starting at 7PM.
- Don't look now, but the NL Wild Card race is really tightening up.
- NASCAR racing will be at Pocono on the big triangle today with Jimmie Johnson on the pole.
- This is also the final day of the X Games.

Finally, I took in a WWE House Show (no TV Coverage) last night at Roberts Stadium in Evansville, IN. Sitting front row, it was amazing to see these athletes put on a show in front of 4,000 just like they would in front of 20,000. WWE does a great job of involving the kids at the shows in various activities as well as the performers making sure they slap high fives or shake hands with the youngsters. It was a very enjoyable evening, but now I must get some TV time to catch up on the sports world. I'm out.

DC

Down time...what down time?

The first full weekend of August is supposed to be a rather dull time in the sports world. However, there are plenty of things going on and especially things to watch on the TV. Without further delay, let's get right to it.

Prep Report
- Vienna High School is one year away from varsity football starting in 2009. Can you have any better veteran coaches than Mike Rude and Al Way helping to build the foundation of a new program?
- Chester has hired a head boys basketball coach. They hired Mark Riley to become the 29th head coach in the history of the school.

College Chatter
- Former SV and Vienna head boys basketball coach Rick Metcalf has been hired as the assistant basketball coach for the Rend Lake Women's Basketball team.

Pro Sports
- NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell is now involved in the Favre saga as he has not reinstated Favre yet. Who else we will interject themselves into this situation?
- Manny made an impact at the Dodger Stadium ticket office last night with 11,000 walk up ticket sales for the game.
- Stories are starting to come out from the veterans in the Red Sox clubhouse about their dislike for Manny and his antics.
- So much for momentum...after sweeping the Brewers on the road the Cubs lost to the lowly Pirates yesterday.
- The Cardinals keep showing their resiliance by beating a good Phillies team last night.
- Fresh off a win at the Brickyard 400, Jimmie Johnson has won the pole for the NASCAR race at Pocono tomorrow.
- Michelle Wie has missed another cut in a PGA Tournament for the 8th time. Isn't it about time someone with a right mind gets with her to get her career on track? IMO...I am tired of reading and watching the circus that she has become.
- If you want some excitement and death defying stunts, watch the X Games on ESPN. These performers are something else.

What's On This Weekend
- The NFL Hall of Fame will induct 6 players later this afternoon in Canton, OH. Coverage will be on the NFL Network.
- The first NFL Exhibition game is tomorrow night.
- NASCAR will race on the big triangle at Pocono on Sunday at 1PM on ESPN.
- The Cardinals will play the Phillies on Sunday Night Baseball on ESPN at 7PM.
- The US Senior Open will be covered by NBC today and tomorrow afternoon.
- The USA Men's Basketball Team will play another tune up game on Sunday at 6PM vs. Russia on ESPN 2.
- Extreme sports lovers will find the X Games 14 are on the ESPN Networks all weekend.

After typing this posting of the blog it does show on paper there is plenty going on and plenty more to watch. I just remembered that the Olympics will begin this week as well to add to the sports fervor as we go on in August. I'm out.

DC

Trading months...

We have moved into a new month of August today. I am blogging later in the afternoon due to me participating in the Du Quoin High School District 300 Educational Foundation Golf Scramble at Red Hawk Country Club in Pinckneyville, IL. For those wondering, the team I played on finished in first place. It was a very enjoyable experience as was the first annual scramble last year. It was a wonderful day for some MLB teams yesterday making trades and improving their team. Other teams traded and sent up the white flag while others stood pat and made no moves. The NFL continues to keep plugging away with headlines as well.

Prep Report
- The next twelve days are going to be very slow in the high school world because many sports and teams will do nothing until the first day of fall practice on August 13th.
- As we go into August, Chester and Pope County are still looking for head basketball coaches for their boys teams.

College Chatter
- Georgia has been ranked the #1 college football team in the country to begin the year.
- Many college football teams will have players report to campus to begin practicing for the upcoming year this weekend.

Pro Sports
- Manny Ramirez is heading to the Dodgers. That will solidify a team in need of a big stick in the lineup. He may be problems for the D-Backs pitchers such as Webb, Johnson, and Haren in battling for the NL West. Ramirez will make his debut at home vs. Arizona and Randy Johnson tonight.
- The Yankees were the other winners getting Pudge Rodriguez to catch for them everyday.
- As for trades, the Dodgers, Yankees, Cubs, Brewers, and White Sox made the biggest moves to improve their team.
- The Cardinals interestingly enough stood pat and this seems to continue a new trend for them not making moves to improve their team. Their were rumors of deals, but they were only rumors.
- The Cubs swept the Brewers in 4 straight games in Milwaukee. Yesterday, the Brewers showed some frustration by throwing at Edmonds and also Fielder getting ejected after an AB. This was similar to the reaction with the Cardinals when the Brewers wanted to throw pitches at Cardinals hitters instead of winning a division.
- What are the Pirates doing? They have some good young players and they trade Nady, Bay, and others. Losing will be in their future for the next few years.
- Changing gears, Packers head coach Mike McCarthy now says the $20 million dollar deal for Favre to stay retired has been on the table since the spring. Can someone on either side just tell the whole story so we don't have to hear a new/old detail each day?
- Yaaaoooo...Ron Artest and new teammate Yao are sparing in the media. That is a nice way for the Rockets to begin their upcoming season.
- One week into the NFL training camps, we have cuts, injuries, trades, and fights as Steve Smith of the Panthers punched a teammate and then got sent home.

The weekend is almost upon us and that is reason enough for me to wrap it up. I'm out.

DC