An AWIR even a mother would love

by user JB82

First off, hope everyone had fun wining and dining their moms on Mother's Day here in the States (as well as in much of the Western world). On to what you may have missed while taking her out to eat or what have you not...

MLB Mother's Day Weekend Highlights

On Sunday, MLB celebrated the person who washed our Little League uniforms, drove us to our games, fed us, clothed us, put a roof over our heads (and later cleared out their basements for some of us after our college days had ended ;-) ) by allowing players to use pink bats to raise awareness of breast cancer, which were auctioned off later for charity. The highlights from MDW 2007 in the big leagues:
- Jake Peavy made a bit of history last night, as the San Diego Padres pitcher became the third of his ilk since 1900 to strike out at least ten batters in his first three starts, doing so in a 7-0 win over the St. Louis Cardinals.
- Earlier, in Texas, John Lackey had a homecoming to remember, pitching eight innings' worth of zeros before serving up Sammy Sosa's 596th career homer. However, the proud product of Abilene, Texas managed to hang on for the W in a 6-3 victory over the Texas Rangers. Two days later, the Rangers' Nelson Cruz hit the second consecutive Mother's Day walk-off homer as the Rangers took the third game of a four-game series, 7-6.
- Yet another ninth-inning rally took place at Fenway Park in Boston. Things looked bleak for the Boston Red Sox as they were down 5-0 against the Baltimore Orioles. But, the Olde Towne Team got six runs to end the game with a 6-5 win.
- The mother of a San Francisco Giants rookie had a Mother's Day she won't soon forget. Fred Lewis celebrated by hitting for the cycle in a 13-1 rout of the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on Sunday. Nothing to report on "Balco" Bonds, BTW...
- As if the Philadelphia Phillies didn't need any more bad news. Word came on Saturday that Phils slugger Ryan Howard was placed on the disabled list with a strained Quadricep muscle.
- That same day, Washington Nationals slugger Ryan Zimmerman pulled an April Alex Rodriguez by hitting a game-winning grand slam in a 7-3 win over the Florida Marlins. The rye-bread-and-mustard shot was Zimmerman's second tater of the season, BTW.

NBA Playoffs from the Armchair

Back on Thursday, Phoenix Suns guard Amare Stoudemire named names in saying that the San Antonio Spurs were a bunch of dirty players, calling out Manu Ginobili, Tim Duncan, and Bruce Bowen in the process. The Suns tried to beat the Spurs at their own game, but it wound up costing them Game 3 of their Western Conference semifinal, 108-101 as Duncan scored 33 points along with racking up 19 rebounds and three huge blocks. Hey Amare, who's the dirty club now?

Meanwhile, in Oakland, California, the Utah Jazz hit a lull after Derek Fisher's Game 2 performance, losing to the Golden State Warriors, 125-105. Baron Davis continued his surprise run with 32 points and a dime short of a dollar (i.e., 9 assists).

The New Jersey Nets showed signs of life at a crucial point in their series with the Cleveland Cavaliers. All this thanks to 23 points, 13 rebounds and 14 assists in a 96-85 win. ALso in the 23-point club were Vince Carter and Richard Jefferson, while Mikki Moore scored 11 in breakout role. Despite this, the Cavs still have a 2 games to 1 advantage in the series.

The Chicago Bulls found themselves in an even more harrowing position entering Game 4 of their series. With the spectre of elimination staring them in the face, the Bulls rustled up some good-sized grit in beating the Detroit Pistons, 102-87. However, Da Bulls are not out of the woods yeat, as the Pistons still enjoy a 3-1 series lead.

NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Armchair

Western Conference Finals: Anaheim Ducks vs. Detroit Red Wings

Friday night saw the beginning of the the Western Conference Finals, and the Wings took full advantage of the home cooking with a Tomas Holmstrom goal five minutes from the end of regulation, clinching Game 1 by 2-1 score.

Eastern Conference Finals: Ottawa Senators vs. Buffalo Sabres

Last year, the Sabres made it a no-contest series and advanced to this stage of the playoffs, where they were dispatched by the eventual champion Carolina Hurricanes. In 2007, the Sabres may be headed down that same road. With just under six seconds left in regulation, Daniel Briere lit the lamp with the equalizer, only to be beaten by the Sens' Joe Corvo in double overtime, 4-3. After a listless performance in Game 1, Buffalo made it exciting on Saturday night in Game 2, but are in 2-0 hole to the only Canadian team left in the competition.

Premiership 2007 swan song

First Watford, then Charlton, and now Sheffield United F.C. will return to the Football League Championship next season, thanks to a 2-1 to Wigan on Sunday.
- Birmingham City and Sunderland will return to the top flight, and will be joined by a third club on May 28 after the FLC promotion playoff.

Despite their 1-0 loss to West Ham, Manchester United closed out a successfull Premiership campaign with the league title and a chance at the FA Cup next weekend against Chelsea.

Fast Track + Odds and Sods = Crazy Delicious

Is it just me, or does Hendrick Motorsports have this whole "Car of Tomorrow" thing in the bag? Jeff Gordon provides further proof of that statement with a win at Darlington, South Carolina in the Dodge Avenger 400 and a firm grip on the points standings in the NEXTEL Cup Series. This race was postponed due to rain (again) and became the first Mother's Day NASCAR race in over 20 years.

Meanwhile in Indianapolis, Helio Castroneves locked up the pole for the 91st Indianapolis 500. Only the first 22 positions are locked up on the first weekend, and the rest of the 33-car field will be determined next weekend.

Over in Catalonia, Spain, Felipe Massa hit the hat trick in the 2007 Spanish Grand Prix, his third win in a row and his third outright this season. Lewis Hamilton continued his impressive rookie campaign with a third-place finish

As Tiger Woods floundered, Phil Mickelson looked to take advantage of the former's struggles at Sawgrass in The Players Championship at Sawgrass Country Club in Florida. "Lefty" did just that, shooting a 69 in the final round to clinch his first win in the tournament. Tiger managed to save face with a 67 on Sunday, but finished at even par for the four days.
- The real loser in this tourney was Shaun O'Hair, who was doing just fine in second place and decided to get aggressive on the infamous 17th hole at Sawgrass – the green is on an island and golfers have to hit the ball over a pond to successfully get a good putt lie. O'Hair rolled the dice, but came up snakeyes as ball after ball hit the drink. He eventually got a 7 on the hole and dropped to eleventh place. The 17th blowup à la Jean van der Velde also cost O'Hair $750,000 (US) and a handful of PGA TOUR exemptions.

Monday Leftovers (or Cold Pizza, if you will)

Hours before the Golden State Warriors' Game 4 matchup (more on that later), there was a second walk-off tater on Sunday. Oakland Athletics oufielder Jack Cust "Cust" out the Cleveland Indians with a two-run blast in the bottom of the ninth to win the game 9-7. A journeyman designated hitter who came to O-Town after Mike Piazza went down due to injury, Cust's game-winner was his sixth in almost as many days.
Back to the Warriors; the question after Game 4 was "Wha' happened?" Don Nelson's team had given the Utah Jazz a run for their money in Game 3 and were doing the same on Sunday night (local time). However, the Warriors found trouble at the free-throw line and all but ran out of steam as they fell to the Jazz, 115-101. The series shifts back to the Wasatch Mountains, with the Jazz up 3 games to 1 in the series.