Armchair Weekend in Review (August 10-12, 2007)
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by JB82
MLB Highlights
- In his second start since returning from the minor leagues, Phil Hughes pitched six solid innings as the New York Yankees started a sweep of the Cleveland Indians on Friday night, 6-1. Meanwhile, Alex Rodriguez pushed his career home run total to 502 during the weekend. That same night, the Tribe had all their players honor Larry Doby, the first African-American to play in the American League, by wearing number 14.
- Barry Bonds also upped his career mark to 758, clubbing it laster that same night against the Pittsburgh Pirates while rookie Rajai Davis came a tater short of the cycle. However, the Pittsburgh Pirates spoiled the fun with a big eighth inning, 8-7.
- Speaking of Bonds, the pitcher who gave up his record-breaking home run during the week made his first start since the historic moment. Washington Nationals pitcher Mike Bacsik gout outpitched by his Arizona Diamondbacks counterpart Micah Owings, but his team hung on for a 7-6 win on Sunday.
- A microcosm of the New York Mets' bullpen troubles came on Friday night, when Billy Wagner came in to close out the game, only to get busted up and lose the game, 4-3, to the Florida Marlins. Despite this, the Mets maintain a manageable lead in the NL East. To quote EMC from ten years ago, "How bizarre..."
- MLB gave kudos to Mets pitcher Tom Glavine and Houston Astros outfielder Craig Biggio for their milestones (300 wins and 3,000 hits, respectively). In fact, Glavine's old mates, the Atlanta Braves, went so far as to run an ad in the sports section of Sunday's New York Daily News congratulating Glavine on the accomplishment. How nice of them...
Tiger dominates PGA from pillar to post
The last time Tiger Woods won a major PGA tournament, he cried in rememberance of this father. Since then, Tiger has become a father himself. Woods won the 2007 PGA Championship by two strokes over Woody Austin, with wife and infant daughter in attendance. In his 13th major win, Woods may have been like the weather at Southern Hills Country Club in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where temperatures soared to near 100oF.
- However, this reporter thinks Sergio Garcia went crazy with the heat on Saturday. Garcia signed what was an incorrect scorecard, with partner Boo Weekley (boo to him) keeping track. Weekley marked a four on a scorecard, when the truth was that Garcia had scored a five. El Niño
Take off, eh? (To the Great White North, that is)
- The Edmonton Eskimos had to hold off a late rally, but they managed to hold off the Hamilton Tiger Cats, 19-17. Ricky Ray wnet 25-35 and threw for 229 yards, two touchdowns and an interception.
- Saskatchewan Roughriders quarterback Kerry Joseph may have had a weak performance, but then again, he didn't need a great one thanks to the Riders' 24-13 win over the Toronto Argonauts.
- The Winnipeg Blue Bombers got a come-from-behind win thanks to a 12-0 fourth quarter for a 22-21 win over the British Columbia Lions. Rob Pikula was the difference maker with three field goals in the game, including the winner.
Football season already?!
Well, one month before the NFL gets its regular season underway, the 2007-08 English football (soccer) season began. Some highlights from the first weekend:
- Steven Gerrard got a late goal to send Liverpool to a 2-1 win over Aston Villa. Gerrard netted the winner during the 87th minute.
- Speaking of Birmingham, when's the next Second City Derby? Birmingham City lost their first top flight match since 2003 3-2 to Chelsea
- Sven-Goran Ericsson won his FAPL coahcing debut with Manchester City 2-0 against West Ham at Upton Park.
- Wayne Rooney will be out for two months with a foot injury in Manchester United's scoreless draw against Reading. By all accounts, it must be the shoes...
- Sunderland A.F.C. marked their return to the Premiership with a 1-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur, while Derby County played their first FAPL match in five years, drawing 2-2 to Portsmouth.
Fast Track
- Tony Stewart took advantage of a Jeff Gordon spinout to clinch his third win of the year at Watkins Glen, NY. Despite the ninth place finish, Gordon maintains a sizeable lead in the NASCAR Nextel Cup standings.
- Other winners on the weekend were Tony Kanaan (IRL IndyCar Series at Sparta, KY) and Sébastien Bourdais (CCWS at Elkhart Lake, WI) **Speaking of whom, it was announced that Bourdais would leave the series for Formula One after this season.
That's all for this week
Until next time, let's all be good sports...
