Thursday Morning Quick Hitters

Playoff atmosphere was in full force Wednesday Night at the Boston Garden, as the undefeated Atlanta Hawks squared off against the Champs. The game did not disappoint, the Hawks jumped out to a 16 point lead shooting over 60% until the Celtics scratched and clawed their way back. The Hawks Marvin Williams nailed a 3 with 7 seconds left to put the Hawks up by 1, but the Celtics got the ball in the hands of the captain, Paul Pierce, who drained a fall away jumper with a half a second left. The Celtics beat the Hawks 103 – 102.

The LA Lakers stayed perfect by holding off the New Orleans Hornets 93 – 86.

The San Antonio Spurs fall to 2 – 5, losing to the Milwaukee Bucks 82 – 78.

The Washington Wizards got their 1st win of the season, beating the Utah Jazz 95 -87.

The New York Knicks move to 5 – 3 and hit a franchise record 19 3 pointers in a 132 – 103 win over the Memphis Grizzlies.

Central Michigan squandered a 24 point lead over Northern Illinois, but pulled out a field goal victory in OT, 33 – 30.

Brian Burke, General Manager of the Aneheim Ducks, who help build a contender for the Portland Pirates and a Stanley Cup Champ, stepped down yesterday for “family” reasons. Speculation is Burke wants the Toronto Maple Leafs GM job.

Friday Morning Quick Hitters

Well, the Mighty Quinn started his 1st game for the Browns this season last night, but was overshadowed and overmatched by Jay Cutler as Cutler threw for 3 TD and 447 yards. The Denver Broncos comes back to beat the Cleveland Browns 34 – 30.

D’Angelo Hall clears waivers

The Utes allowed a quick 10 points and then shut TCU out the rest of the way, finally beating # 12 TCU 13 – 10.

The Boston Bruins continue their trek to respectability in Boston, as the Bruins beat the Toronto Maple Leafs 5 – 2. Blake Wheeler got his 1st career hat trick for the Bruins in the win. The Bruins are 1 point out of the NorthEast Division lead.

Saturday Morning Quick Hitters

The Boston Celtics had little trouble dispatching the Chicago Bulls Friday Night. The Celtics continued their stifling defense, holding the Bulls to just 31 1st half points. The Bulls Rookie Derrick Rose had 18 points as did Boston’s Kevin Garnett, who was playing in his 1000th NBA Game. The Celtics beat the Bulls 96 – 80

The Portland Trail Blazers, minus Greg Oden, pushed the San Antonio Spurs to 0 – 2 for the 1st time since the 1996-1997 season, beating the Spurs 100 – 99.

The Vancouver Canucks beat the Anaheim Mighty Ducks in the 13 round of a shootout, finally prevailing 7 – 6. No emails please…I know they aren’t the Mighty Ducks anymore, I just will always fondly remember Emilio Estevez as the head coach…

Seems New York Rangers #1 draft pick Alexei Cherepanov was illegally transferred to the Russian club on which he passed away.

The Boston Red Sox picked up the 2009 option for Tim Wakefield for a $4 Million price tag. Yesterday saw 44 players file for free agency, most noteably John Smoltz and Pedro Martinez.

The New York Mets exercised their 12 million dollar option on Carlos Delgado. Delgado at age 36, had a monster 2nd half of 2008 season hitting .303, with 21 HRs a .606 SLG and a .991 OPS.

Wednesday Morning Quick Hitters

2 struggling MAC teams battle…kinda…Temple wins 14 – 10.

Rodney Harrison’s career possibly over.

The Cleveland Browns suspended TE Kellen Winslow Jr for 1 game.

Reggie Bush has surgery.

London gets ready for Chargers – Saints.

The Boston Bruins came away unsatisfied again as they lose to the Buffalo Sabres in a shootout, 3 – 2.

Russian police are taking over the investigation of Alexei Cherepanov’s death.

Wondering why no Boston writer has done a story about the death of Harry Mangurian Jr., Boston Celtics owner at the start of the Larry Bird era. He was 82.

Kobe Bryant injures knee during the Lakers 102 – 98 pre-season win over the Bobcats.

Friday Morning Quick Hitters

The Philadelphia Phillies offense was dormant until the 6th inning when a Furcal error and the classic Derek Lowe meltdown rulted in HRs by Chase Utley (yes Phillies Fever Cowbell Remix was playing in Matty’s home when Utley hit his HR) and Pat Burrell to give the Philles all they need to overcome Manny and the Dodgers in Game 1. The Phillies win 3 – 2. Remember today’s game is at 4:30 p.m. on Fox.

All of New England GASPED when Mike Timlin was added to the playoff roster(They must have thought he was closing). Game 1 tonight at or around 8 PM from The Trop in Tampa.

#21 Wake Forest outduels the Clemson Tigers 12 – 7.

The NHL Season opened up on North American soil last night, as the Detroit Red Wings hoisted the Stanley Cup banner. The Toronto Maple Leafs had ideas of crashing the party and did so as Nikolai Kulemin scored at the 7:25 mark of the 3rd period to give the Leafs a 2 goal lead and the game winner. Toronto won 3 – 2.

The Boston Bruins won their opener against the Colorado Avalance 5 – 4. Tim Thomas has 35 save, standing on his head at times making huge stop after huge stop, none bigger than a flurry with 10 seconds left in the game.

Joe Thornton and his San Jose Sharks got off to a strong start, beating up on the rival Anaheim Ducks 4 – 1.

The Vancouver Canucks used an emotional tribute of Luc Bourdon, who was killed in a motorcycle accident in New Brunswick in May, to extinguish the Calgary Flames 6 – 0.

Tuesday Morning Quick Hitters

The San Diego Chargers got their 1st win of the season against the NYJ 48 – 29.

Green Bay’s Al Harris may have a torn spleen.

The ever popular sports hernia get another player, this time Jeremy Shockey.

The Boston Red Sox had to put off their celebration for another night, losing to the Cleveland Indians 4 – 3. The Sox magic number is still 1 and with Tampa Bay’s 4 – 2 win over the Orioles they are 2 1/2 games back in the AL East. The Red Sox are 7 games up on Minnesota in the Wild Card.

The Philadelphia Phillies increased their lead over the New York Mets on Monday. The Phillies beat up on the Atlanta Braves 6 – 2. The New York Mets lost to the Chicago Cubs at Shea 9 – 5. The Chicago Cubs clintched the NL Central. Philadelphia leads the NY Mets by 2 1/2 games in the NL East and the Mets lead the Milwaukee Brewers in the Wild Card race by 1 game.

The Arizona Diamondbacks gain 1/2 game on the Dodgers in the NL West by beating the St Louis Cardinals 4 – 2. The D-Backs are now 2 games behind the Dodgers.

USC’s top DB Shareece Wright might be lost for “weeks”

Boston Bruins Patrice Bergeron is back on the ice for the 1st time since he took the cheap shot hit from the thug of the Phialdelphia Flyers. The Bruins beat the Canadiens 8 – 3.

Friday Morning Quick Hitters

The Minnesota Twins and Chicago White Sox race stayed even Thursday as both teams lost. The Twins lost to the KC Royals 3 -2 and the Pale Hose lost to the surging Toronto Blue Jays 6 – 4. The Twins remain 1 game behind the White Sox.

K-Rod ties Bobby Thigpen’s 57 Saves mark as the California Angels beat the Seattle Mariners 7 – 4.

Jamie Moyer and Ryan Howard powered the Philadelphia Phillies to a 6 – 3 win over the Milwaukee Brewers. Philly is 3 back of the Mets in the NL East race and 3 games back of the Brewers in the Wild Card race.

Kerry Wood gets his 30th save as the Cubs beat the Cardinals 3 – 2.

The Houston Texans move game in light of impending hurricane.

Problems in Raider-ville?

Chris Wells status up in the air for Ohio State.

Butch Davis’ Tar Heels slam Rutgers on their home field.

Eric Staal signs 7 yr deal with the Carolina Hurricanes.

Friday Morning Quick Hitters

The College Football season kicked off last night as #23 Wake Forest beat up on Baylor 41 -13. Riley Skinner threw 3 TD passes in the win.

The NY Yankees avoided a sweep at the hands of the Red Sox as Jason Giambi came off the bench to win the game 3 – 2. Josh Beckett scratched from another start and will seek opinion for elbow woes.

Christian Guzman hit for the cycle helping the Nationals to continue the LA Dodgers slide 11 -2.

The Tampa Bay Rays beat the Toronto Blue Jays 3 -2, extend their lead over the Red Sox in the AL East to 4 1/2 games.

The Chicago Cubs uses a 5 run 8th inning, powered by an Aramis Ramirez grand slam, to beat the Philadelphia Phillies 6 – 4.

The Minnesota Twins slipped to 1 1/2 games back of the Chicago White Sox in the AL Central with a 3 – 2 loss to the Oakland A’s.

Pacman Jones has been fully re-instated.

The Colts brick wall center, Jeff Saturday, will miss 6 weeks with knee injury.

Houston Texans WR Harry Williams, who has a cracked vertebrate and severe ligament damage in his neck, walked out of the hospital.

The Memphis Grizzlies sign Iranian center Haddadi.

The Milwaukee Bucks and the Golden State Warriors will meet in the pre-season in the China Games.

Oh My Goodness

Stu Barns retires and joins Stars coaching staff.