Due to the Mark Teixeira news today, there will be a live episode of the Vortex tonight. Internet only, Youcastr only, no commercials, no breaks. You can listen below, the festivities start at 9 PM est.
The call-in number is 603-397-3559
http://www.youcastr.com/casts/listen/1298
Welcome one and all to the listeners and visitors to the New Big Jab Website. This is an exciting time, as The Central Maine Sports Blog expands its horizons yet again with our pals at WJAB 96.3 FM / 1440 AM! The CMSB will be blogging right along with our buds, Shoe, Joe and of course Chris Sedenka. Things are happening here (sorry Bob Marley) so make sure you keep coming back and see whats going on. The blog is just the beginning of a beautiful relationship between the Big Jab and The CMSB, so stay tuned!!!
We thought, that since some of you JAB faithful haven’t been here before, we’d give you a little Central Maine Sports Blog history!
Matty is the founder, father, editor in chief and grand poobah of The Central Maine Sports Blog (editor’s note very similar to Jabba the Hutt). He went live sometime in August of 2005 with, how appropriate, a Matt Cassel article. What followed over the next 3 years was the Matty we all know and love, sarcastic, pithy, funny and best of all…shedding his New York Yankee skin! It was made official April 1st 2008!
Shortly thereafter, Matty made either the best decision of his life, or one that he will live to regret til the day they lay him to rest, he accepted this fellow fat guy into the CMSB fold! Matty and I decided it was time to try this internet radio show thingy out and boy what a ride it has been.
As fate would have it, we ended up following the Boston Celtics to Bannner 17 and The Sports Vortex was launched. Here are some of our highlights so far…
– Boston Celtics Jerry Sichting and Jo Jo White
– Maine Guides Series with Houston Astros 3rd Base Coach Dave Clark, Dave Gallagher of davegallagherbaseball.com, former Guides Manager Doc Edwards (DO NOT MISS THIS ONE!) and Portland Maine native and current ESPN baseball writer Jerry Crasnick.
– Various teams bloggers and college coaches
– And, quite frankly, the biggest and best endeavor by the CMSB and Vortex, the Montreal Expos Appreciation Series. We had a great time interviewing fantastic guests, talking Matty’s favorite defunct team, Montreal Expos Baseball! We had Maine Sports Hall of Fame member Jim Beattie, ESPN writer Buster Olney, MLB record holder, Dr. Mike Marshall, current Toronto Blue Jay Brad Wilkerson, California Angels former GM and current Sr Advisor Bill Stoneman (2 days before the start of the Red Sox – Angels ALDS no less), MLB Hall of Fame member Gary Carter, and the greatest of all time, Bill “The Spaceman” Lee
We sort of re-launched the blog in mid November to focus more on our home. With the help of Chris Sedenka, we were able to cover Maine v UNH in Orono and the High School Football Championships all in 1 day. We were able to keep ahead of all the major Maine media outlets on that day. Since that day, we have covered Maine Basketball, Hockey and Football and in the days to come will start focusing on high school basketball as well. We have created relationships with the Portland Sea Dogs, Portland Pirates and the Lewiston MAINEiacs, so expect game stories and features involving all of those teams. Don’t worry, we won’t forget the pro teams..we have a whole bunch to say about those teams.
Again, thanks to everyone at The Big Jab for making this all possible. Without them, the blog and the podcast would never have reached the heights they have. Remember, Frankie Fix is the reason most of us do this, and with the partnership with WJAB, that love can be honored every single day! Good things will be happening here..please continue to visit.
Last but not least, one of our favorite pieces of the Big Jab will not be returning…The Big Jab Forums. What is done is done, and we move on. We have created a forum, open to EVERYONE! Visit often, chat with other Big Jab Listeners and have a grand old time…
Welcome back BigJab.com…we missed ya!!
Join Us for The Sports Vortex tonight Live 9 – 11PM. You can call us at 603-397-3559…give us a call!
Join us TONIGHT LIVE at Chicago Dogs for Monday Night Football! Joey P will have Philly Cheese Steak specials, hot dog deals, beer specials and you never know what else. If you come down to Chicago Dogs with a picture of Jessica Simpson, you will get a free hot dog. If you are a man, and come DRESSED as Jessica, you will get a free combo meal…if you choose the latter, please avoid the Vortex! Join us on Talkshoe ONLY Tonight so…maybe the salty language returns.
Chicago Dogs 285 Route 1 Scarborough
Josh Beckett and Mike Lowell came back from the DL with a bang and propelled the Sox to an 8 – 1 win over the Texas Rangers. Lowell hit a HR in his 1st at bat back and Beckett pitched 5 innings, giving up no runs, 4 hits, walked none and struck out 7 for the win.
The Tampa Bay Rays couldn’t surpass possible Cy Young winner Roy Halliday, dropping the game in Toronto 6 – 4. The loss with the Red Sox win shrinks Tampa Bay’s lead to 2 1/2 games.
No movement in the AL Central last night as both Chicago and Minnesota won their games. The Minnesota Twins beat the Detroit Tigers behind a huge pitching performance from Francisco Liriano, 10 – 2. The Chicago White Sox beat up on the AL West leading California Angels 10 – 2. In other White Sox news, it appears Carlos Quintin will be lost for the rest of the regular season.
Brett Myers said “Boom…..Outta Here” to the Mets last night as he pitched 8 shutout innings to help Philadelphia gain a game on the Mets with a 3 – 0 win at Shea. The Phillies are back to 2 games behind the Mets in the NL East.
Apparently ther Chicago Cubs got lost on their bus trip to the ballpark and it didn’t get much better on the field as they lose to the Cincinnati Reds 10 – 2.
Eric Gagne tried to give the game away from the Brewers, but they survive in 11, beating the San Diego Padres 3 – 2. The win combined with the Cubbies loss puts Milwaukee 4 games back of the Cubs and 4 game lead in the Wild Card over the Phillies.
The Los Angeles Dodgers moved to within 1/2 game of the Arizona Diamondbacks, beating them 7 – 0 Friday. Derek Lowe gave up 2 hits over 8 innings and Andre Either went 5 – 5 on the way to the win.
Sports Vortex Guest Paul Kuharsky has a nice piece on the Jags Richard Collier, who remains in critical condition after being shot.
Jason Peters ends his holdout on the Buffalo Bills.
Former Boston College player Mathias Kiwanuka thinks Redskins DE Chris Samuels play at the end of the game was dirty.
Looks like newly re-instated Packman Jones will start for the Cowboys.
Patrick Ewing and Hakeem Olajuwon enter the Basketball Hall Of Fame. Oh yeah, Pat Riley too.
The Cleveland Cavaliers signed Lorenzen Wright.
ESPN reports Zach Randolph may be headed to the Grizzlies.
Live edition of the Vortex at 4pm, check it out at the link above (the yellow box) or here.
Please join us for the Sports Vortex LIVE! TONIGHT, 10PM to MIDNIGHT, for another WJZF simulcast and over the internet. Tune in by clicking the link above, or going to http://www.wjzf.org. WJZF is a not for profit entity so if you wish to contribute, please do so through the WJZF link. Thanks again!
The Maine Sports Blog 