Armchair Weekend in Review (August 25-27, 2006)
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by user JB82
In Memoriam
This column is dedicated to the victims of Hurricane Katrina and, just very recently, Comair Flight 191.
MLB Weekend
When the very first edition of the AWIR went out, the New York Yankees headed into the final game of their road trip hoping to salvage a win and end their West Coast swing on an up note. Their opponents that weekend: the Los Angeles Angels.
And just like that weekend, the Yanks managed to pull one out of their hat, holding off a ninth-inning Angel rally, 11-8. Two weekends ago, the Halos came to the Bronx and split a four-game set. The Bombers finish a stretch of 21 games in 20 days with an 11-10 record. That win was all the difference
Other notable doings in the majors:
- With a rainout on Sunday, the New York Mets split a shortened series with the Philadelphia Phillies. However, there was good news to report on the Phils front. The Fowies picked up first baseman Jeff Conine from the Baltimore Orioles.
- UPDATE (10/20/2006): I was wrong; the Phils and Mets did finish the series the following night.
- The last time we saw Ted Lilly, the Toronto Blue Jays pitcher disappeared from the dugout and clubbed manager John Gibbons up the conk. This time, Lilly got the win and gave the ball to Gibbons without incidents.
- Houston Astros outfielder Willy Taveras extended his hitting streak to 31 games in a 13-1 blowout of the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park.
Saratoga's Biggest Day
AWIR World HQ – Saratoga Springs, New York – is known in sporting circles for the best horse racing anywhere on the North American continent. This past weekend saw the 137th Travers Stakes, and a big win by Preakness winner Bernardini over Kentucky Derby runner-up and Haskell Invitational winner Bluegrass Cat, as well as a field of seven other horses. Bernardini also won the Jim Dandy Stakes during this column's most recent vacation.
- MONDAY EXTRA: Bernardini suffered a leg injury afterwards and his racing career i , for all intents and purposes, over.
FAPL Weekend #2 from the Transatlantic Armchair
- Aston Villa seem to have a surprise season in the works with a 2-0 shutout of Newcastle United. Villa and Everton are both second in the League table behind Manchester United, who scored a 2-1 in over Watford thanks to Ryan Giggs.
- Villa's win was marred by a knee injury to the Magpies' Obafemi Martins; the injury was so bad, he had to be carried off the pitch on a stretcher.
- Chelsea also scored a 2-0 shutout (and their first win this season) against Blackburn Rovers
- The defending FA Cup champion Liverpool also got their first win, 2-1, over West Ham United
- In shades of a World Cup match between Serbia and Argentina, Bolton got a 2-0 win over Charlton Athletic despite finishing with nine men
- The Premiership goes on one last summer fling before coming back in two weeks – coincidentally, just in time for the beginning of the American football regular season.
Fast Track
- Whenever NASCAR comes to the Bristol Motor Speedway, one can expect a good deal of slam-bang racing action and an equal amount of hot tempers. Back in March, Jeff Gordon shoved Matt Kenseth after the Food City 500.
- This time, no tempers flared, and Kenseth won the Sharpie 500. He and Kurt Busch also punched their tickets for the 10-race "Chase" for the Nextel Cup.
- Brazilian Felipe Massa has been this year's Fernando Alonso – to a turn. During his first three years in Formula 1, the closest Massa got to a win was fourth. This season, that's all changed. Before the Turkish Grand Prix, Massa made the podium four times, but didn't get to the top until Sunday. It was Massa's first win in F1.
- The auto racing world, as well as America's sporting consciousness, is well aware of the Andretti name. First, it was Mario, who is the only driver ever to win the Indianapolis 500, Daytona 500, and F1 World Drivers' Championship during his career. Mario begat Michael, who tried many times but failed to equal his father's success at the Brickyard. Now there's a third generation who has made his mark on racing. Marco Andretti became the youngest driver ever to win an open-wheel race, taking the checkered flag at Infineon Raceway in Northern California at the tender age of 19 years and 172 days.
Odds and Sods
- Team USA rolls on virtually unchallenged. Further edification came with a 113-73 win against Australia in the round of 16.
- Ten years ago today – August 27, 1996 – a young golfer stepped on to the course at the Brown Deer Park Golf Course in Milwaukee. With the announcement Hello, world, the young man started off his PGA TOUR career. This was the same person who, two decades earlier, showed off his skills to Bob Hope, Jimmy Stewart, the recently deceased Mike Douglas, and many millions across the US on The Mike Douglas Show as a toddler. The rest has since been history.
With over 400 weeks at the top of the World Golf Rankings and 50-some-odd wins under his belt, Eldrick "Tiger" Woods added yet another trophy on Sunday, defeating Stewart Cink in a four-hole playoff to win the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational.
- Damon Allen edged closer to football history – American or Canadian. The Toronto Argonauts quarterback is within 164 yards of Warren Moon's all-time yards passing record, passing for 277 yards and three touchdowns while completing 21 of 31 attempts in a 18-15 win over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
That's all for now
Just because next week is Labo(u)r Day Weekend doesn't mean it'll be a vacation. Look for a new edition next Monday. Until then, let's all be good sports.
P.S. To our UK readers (except those in Scotland), enjoy your August bank holiday! Speaking of which, some food for thought from playwright Oscar Wilde:
- We have really everything in common with America nowadays, except, of course, language. (from The Canterville Ghost)
Date
Sun 08/27/06, 3:16 pm EST
