The Road To The Triple Crown

Oddsmakers had made I Want Revenge the early morning line favorite, but now the horse has been scratched due to a hot spot on the horses ankle. There is nothing threatening about the injury, but they are taking all precassions for the horse’s safety. Dunkirk and Pioneer of the Nile will be the likely favorites in this race today, both posted at 4-1. Pioneer of the Nile has been running on the California surfaces, and this will be his first race away from those synthetic surfaces. Sentimental fan favorite General Quarters is in the 12 post and is currently at 20-1. I saw him run in the Blue Grass Stakes and he will be getting some of my money today. Fresian Fire will be coming from the 6th position and is at 5-1, along with Flying Private, who took the 20th post will have a lot of traffic to move through, and will need to break well. These two horses are making my father open his wallet before post time. With a field of 19 horses you will need a horse who is a strong closer down the stretch, and whose hoofs will be capable of cupping the dirt on this traditional track. Summer Bird a 50-1 longshot maybe worth taking a look at, he stalked the traffic in the Arkansas Derby and closed well. Advice, who is trained by Pletcher, along with West Side Bernie should not be discounted.

With I Want Revenge out of today’s race, this field is wide open. Derby fans will likely be getting an afternoon spring shower making the track sloppy. The Derby is the 11th race on the card today and post time will be at 6:24 ET on ESPN.

2009 Playoffs: The first-round schedule
By NBA.com
Posted Apr 16 2009 2:34AM

Here’s the schedule for the first round of the 2009 NBA Playoffs. All times are ET.
* if necessary

Eastern Conference
Cleveland vs. Detroit
Game 1 – Sat April 18 Detroit at Cleveland 3:00PM ABC
Game 2 – Tue April 21 Detroit at Cleveland 8:00PM TNT
Game 3 – Fri April 24 Cleveland at Detroit 7:00PM ESPN
Game 4 – Sun April 26 Cleveland at Detroit 3:30PM ABC
Game 5 * Wed April 29 Detroit at Cleveland TBD TBD
Game 6 * Fri May 1 Cleveland at Detroit TBD TBD
Game 7 * Sun May 3 Detroit at Cleveland TBD TBD

Boston vs. Chicago
Game 1 – Sat April 18 Chicago at Boston 12:30PM ESPN
Game 2 – Mon April 20 Chicago at Boston 7:00PM TNT
Game 3 – Thu April 23 Boston at Chicago 8:00PM TNT
Game 4 – Sun April 26 Boston at Chicago 1:00PM ABC
Game 5 * Tue April 28 Chicago at Boston TBD TBD
Game 6 * Thu April 30 Boston at Chicago TBD TBD
Game 7 * Sat May 2 Chicago at Boston TBD TNT

Orlando vs. Philadelphia
Game 1 – Sun April 19 Philadelphia at Orlando 5:30PM TNT
Game 2 – Wed April 22 Philadelphia at Orlando 7:00PM NBATV
Game 3 – Fri April 24 Orlando at Philadelphia 8:00PM ESPN2
Game 4 – Sun April 26 Orlando at Philadelphia 6:30PM TNT
Game 5 * Tue April 28 Philadelphia at Orlando TBD TBD

70th SENIOR PGA CHAMPIONSHIP
Official Field Announcement

TWO-TIME BRITISH OPEN CHAMPION GREG NORMAN AMONG 25 MAJOR CHAMPIONS

COMMITTED TO 70th SENIOR PGA CHAMPIONSHIP AT CANTERBURY GOLF CLUB

The full 2009 Senior PGA Championship field now available at www.SeniorPGA2009.com

PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. – April 14, 2009 – Two-time British Open Champion Greg Norman will headline a legendary 156-player field at the 70th Senior PGA Championship. Norman is among 25 former Major champions who will compete for the prestigious Alfred S. Bourne Trophy at Canterbury Golf Club in Beachwood, Ohio, May 19-25.

Former Major champions playing in the 2009 Senior PGA Championship include:

Bob Charles – 1963 British Open
Charles Coody – 1971 Masters
Ben Crenshaw – 1984, ‘95 Masters
Raymond Floyd – 1976 Masters, 1986 U.S. Open, 1969, ‘82 PGA Championship
Wayne Grady – 1990 PGA Championship
Hale Irwin – 1974, ‘79, ‘90 U.S. Open
Tom Kite – 1992 U.S. Open
Bernhard Langer – 1985, ‘93 Masters
Tom Lehman – 1996 British Open
Sandy Lyle – 1985 British Open, 1988 Masters
Larry Mize – 1987 Masters
Greg Norman – 1986, ‘93 British Open
Mark O’Meara – 1998 Masters, 1998 British Open
Jerry Pate – 1976 U.S. Open
Nick Price – 1992, ‘94 PGA Championship, 1994 British Open
Jeff Sluman – 1988 PGA Championship
Craig Stadler – 1982 Masters
Dave Stockton – 1970, ‘76 PGA Championship
Curtis Strange – 1988, ‘89 U.S. Open
Hal Sutton – 1983 PGA Championship
Bob Tway – 1986 PGA Championship
Lanny Wadkins – 1977 PGA Championship
Tom Watson – 1977, ‘81 Masters, 1982 U.S. Open, 1975, ‘77, ‘80, ‘82, ‘83 British Open
Ian Woosnam – 1991 Masters
Fuzzy Zoeller – 1979 Masters, 1984 U.S. Open

“The Senior PGA Championship typically features golf’s most legendary names, but this year’s field is especially distinguished,” said Brett Sterba, Championship Director of the 70th Senior PGA Championship. “In addition to welcoming 25 Major champions, our field includes 13 Ryder Cup Captains and 10 World Golf Hall of Famers.”

Defending champion Jay Haas (2006, 2008) heads a list of 11 past Senior PGA Champions looking to add another win to their already historic resumes. Past Champions include Allen Doyle (1999), Raymond Floyd (1995), Hale Irwin (1996, ‘97, ‘98, 2004), John Jacobs (2003), Larry Mowry (1989), Mike Reid (2005), Tom Wargo (1993), Dennis Watson (2007), Tom Watson (2001) and Fuzzy Zoeller (2002). Zoeller was the last to win the championship when it was contested in Ohio, at Firestone Country Club in Akron.

The 2009 Senior PGA Championship marks the first time many of these golfers will be playing Canterbury’s historic golf course, which will become only the second course in the U.S. to host all five rotating men’s championships. For seven contestants, the Championship is the first time back since the 1979 U.S. Amateur Championship. Most notably, Mark O’Meara and Ohio-native John Cook who faced off in the final match. O’Meara eventually edged out Cook to win.

In addition to Cook, four other Ohio golfers will be competing in this year’s Championship. Thomas Herzan of Findlay, Gary Robison and Jim Logue of Canton, and Cory George of Lancaster all qualified for the Championship by finishing in the top 35 at the 2008 Senior PGA Professional National Championship.

For a full listing of the 156-player field, please visit www.SeniorPGA2009.com.

About the Senior PGA Championship
The Senior PGA Championship is the most prestigious and historic event in senior golf. In 1937, at the suggestion of renowned amateur Bobby Jones, the inaugural Senior PGA Championship was conducted at Augusta National Golf Club three years after the first Masters Tournament. Today, the Championship brings together both the legends of the game and the newest members of the Champions Tour to audiences throughout the United States.

Many of the game’s greatest players have won the Senior PGA Championship’s Alfred S. Bourne Trophy. Some of names inscribed on the trophy include: Gene Sarazen, Sam Snead, Arnold Palmer, Gary Player, Lee Trevino, Jack Nicklaus, Raymond Floyd, Hale Irwin, Tom Watson and Jay Haas.

For more information about the 2009 Senior PGA Championship, visit www.SeniorPGA2009.com.

About The PGA of America
Since 1916, The PGA of America’s mission has been twofold: to establish and elevate the standards of the profession and to grow interest and participation in the game of golf.

By establishing and elevating the standards of the golf profession through world-class education, career services, marketing and research programs, the Association enables PGA Professionals to maximize their performance in their respective career paths and showcases them as experts in the game and in the multi-billion dollar golf industry.

By creating and delivering dramatic world-class championships and exciting and enjoyable golf promotions that are viewed as the best of their class in the golf industry, The PGA of America elevates the public’s interest in the game, the desire to play more golf, and ensures accessibility to the game for everyone, everywhere. The PGA of America brand represents the very best in golf.

# # #

LIANCE, OH)–Mount Union College’s baseball team belted out a season-high 22 hits as they rallied to score a 19-11 win over No. 19 in the nation Marietta College Thursday in Alliance. The win salvaged a split after Marietta scored a 6-4 win in the opener as both teams remained tied for first place in the Ohio Athletic Conference.

It did not look like a split was in the cards as Marietta (16-6, 6-2 OAC) pounded out seven runs in the second inning to take a 7-0 lead.

Senior third baseman Nate McFarland (Canton/GlenOak) started the Mount Uniono (16-6, 6-2 OAC) comeback with a two-run home run in the fourth inning.

Fellow senior first baseman Cory Slaybaugh (Hartville/Lake) gave the Raiders the lead for good as he belted a three-run home run that was the highlight of a fifth inning that saw Mount Union score eight runs on eight hits and a Marietta error.

The hit parade continued in the six inning as Mount Union batted around again and took advantage of another error to score seven more runs and take a commanding 17-7 lead.

Marietta put two more runs on the board in the seventh and the Raiders got one back in the bottom of the frame as McFarland hit his second home run of the game and left the score 18-9.

The Pioneers again threw two more on the board in the eighth and an RBI single from sophomore Greg Ferrell (Uniontown/Green) finished the scoring at 19-11.

Junior Mark Sabatino (Mayfield Heights/Mayfield) struck out five over the first five innings to get the win and improve to 3-0, while Brian Gasser surrendered eight runs over 4.2 innings to take his first loss of the season.

Sophomore Matt Tracy (Pittsburgh, PA/Central Catholic) set the table for the Purple Raiders as he went 5-for-5 at the plate, while McFarland and senior Grant Sevek (Salem/Salem) each finished four hits and Slaybaugh and Ferrell each had three hits.

In the opener, Marietta jumped out early with four runs in the first inning and T.J. Knowlton kept the Mount Union off balance as he gave up only five hits over the first 6.1 innings and Justin Merryman nailed down his fourth save as the Pioneers scored a 6-4 win in the opener.

The Raiders highlights from the plate did not start until the sixth inning on a three-run home run by Slaybaugh. Sevek also had three hits and drove in a run in the seventh but the rally ended there.

Paul Mariotti (Copley/Copley) took the loss for the Raiders.

Mount Union stays home Saturday to host another first place team in No. 11 Heidelberg University in an OAC doubleheader at 1 pm at 23rd Street Field in Alliance.

Ohio Releases 2009 Football Schedule
Bobcats face defending champs on ESPN2

ATHENS, Ohio-A nationally-televised game against the Mid-American Conference’s defending champion highlights Ohio’s 2009 football schedule that was released Thursday afternoon by the MAC office.

Ohio will play its first two MAC games on the road and four of its last six at home for the first time since 1998.

The Bobcats will head to defending MAC Champion Buffalo on Tuesday, Nov. 10 at 7 p.m. for a game on ESPN2.

Ohio will kick off its season at home against Connecticut on Saturday, Sept. 5. The 2009 season will also be the first time the Bobcats have opened a season at home against a Football Bowl Subdivision (formerly known as I-A) opponent since 1997. That season, the Bobcats topped Kent State
31-7 to ignite what would eventually be an 8-3 season under third-year head coach Jim Grobe.

The Bobcats also have home dates with Cal Poly (Saturday, Sept. 19), Miami (Saturday, Oct. 17), Kent State (Saturday, Oct. 24), Northern Illinois (Saturday, Nov. 21) and Temple (Friday, Nov. 27). The Huskies will make their first trip to Athens since Nov. 14, 1998 when the Bobcats came out victorious 28-12. Ohio has won four of the past six meetings with NIU dating back to 1984.

Ohio’s other road contests will be at North Texas (Saturday, Sept. 12), at Tennessee (Saturday, Sept. 26), at Bowling Green (Saturday, Oct. 3), at Akron (Saturday, Oct. 10) and at Ball State (Saturday, Oct. 31). The trip to Muncie, Ind. will be Ohio’s first since Oct. 30, 1999 when the Bobcats pulled out a 37-25 win.

“As usual, this schedule presents a variety of formidable opponents for our program,” said Ohio head coach Frank Solich. “In terms of the conference schedule, we’ll be prepared to play whenever and wherever the schedule dictates. This is a credit to the MAC Office which goes out of its way to make the schedule fair and equitable for all 13 institutions, something that is not an easy task.”

Ohio’s bye weekend will be Saturday, Nov. 7.

The MAC Championship will be played Friday, Dec. 4 at Ford Field at 8 p.m.
and will be carried on ESPN2.

Kickoff times not listed here will be announced as soon as they become available. Per the recommendation of the MAC External Relations subcommittee and agreed upon by the full group, kick times will not be publicly released until June at the earliest.

The Bobcats secured school records in passing yards (2,795), passing yards per game (232.9) and passing touchdowns (21) during the 2008 season. Ohio begins its spring preparations Monday, March 30 with the annual Green & White Game taking place Saturday, April 25 at 2 p.m.

2009 Football Schedule
Date Opponent Time
Saturday, Sept. 5 Connecticut TBA
Saturday, Sept. 12 at North Texas TBA
Saturday, Sept. 19 Cal Poly TBA
Saturday, Sept. 26 at Tennessee TBA
Saturday, Oct. 3 at Bowling Green TBA
Saturday, Oct. 10 at Akron TBA
Saturday, Oct. 17 Miami TBA
Saturday, Oct. 24 Kent State TBA
Saturday, Oct. 31 at Ball State TBA
Tuesday, Nov. 10 at Buffalo (ESPN2) 7 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 21 Northern Illinois TBA
Friday, Nov. 27 Temple TBA

—OhioBobcats.com—

American Specialty/AHL Man of the Year

The Lake Erie Monsters are proud to announce that left wing J.D. Corbin has been named the team’s winner of the American Specialty/AHL Man of the Year award for his outstanding contributions to the Cleveland community during the 2008-09 season.

Despite missing the majority of this season with a broken finger that required surgery, Corbin has been active in the greater Cleveland area, appearing in more than a dozen community-related events since the beginning of the year.

He has ventured throughout Northeast Ohio on the Monsters Respect Tour, speaking to students about the importance of respect while stressing the role that having a solid education has had in his life. Corbin has traveled to local hockey rinks to help coach youth hockey players during on-ice sessions, despite the fact his hand was covered with a cast. Although he has spent plenty of time in the hospital this year with his own ailments, his injury also did not deter him from visiting patients at St. John West Shore Hospital.

Corbin also was a participant in the first annual Tip-A-Monster event, which saw the Monsters trade in their jerseys for aprons, helping to raise more than $4,300 for “The Littlest Heroes,” a non-profit group in Northeast Ohio that serves children with cancer and their families. During the event, Corbin served food, poured drinks, cleaned up spills and signed autographs for the 200 guests. Corbin has also appeared at the team’s Tour with the Monsters events, which has the Monsters take part in public practices at local rinks, as well as skating with fans and signing autographs.

In recognition of his efforts, Corbin will be presented with an etched crystal trophy during an on-ice presentation prior to an upcoming Monsters home game.

Corbin is now one of 29 finalists for the AHL’s 2008-09 Yanick Dupre Memorial Award, honoring the overall American Specialty/AHL Man of the Year. The league award is named after the former Hershey Bears forward and AHL All-Star who died in 1997 following a 16-month battle with leukemia. The winner of the Yanick Dupre Memorial Award will be announced by the American Hockey League in the coming weeks.

Individual tickets for upcoming Lake Erie Monsters games, starting at just $10 per seat per game, as well as season ticket plans and group tickets, are on sale now by calling (216) 420-0000 or visiting LakeErieMonsters.com.

The Lake Erie Monsters are part of the Cleveland Cavaliers and Quicken Loans Arena organization and also owned by a group led by Cavaliers Majority Owner and Quicken Loans Founder and Chairman Dan Gilbert.

The Ohio Police and Fire Games will be held from June 14-19, 2009, in Canton, Ohio, marking the 32nd year this competition has been offered to Ohio’s first responders. Registration has begun; the forms are available online at the official website: www.TheOhioPoliceandFireGames.org.

The purpose of the games is to support the physical and mental fitness of Ohio’s active and retired law enforcement, firefighter, and military personnel by promoting the concept of physical fitness and sport within their respective communities through the development, organization and coordination of sporting events. The Ohio Police and Fire Games are open to all first responders, spouses and support staff that are eligible to compete, with the hope that their presence and participation will enable an athletic, professional and educational exchange.

Under new leadership this year, eligibility to participate in the more than 30 sporting events has been expanded to include even more first responders. New events also have been added. A listing of all events with their descriptions, entry fees and registration information, as well as a printable flyer and contact information can be found online.

The public is invited to attend events at no charge. A complimentary program book will be available at each event and at the Command Center, the Courtyard by Marriott in Canton.

The K9-approved hotel is the Comfort Inn in Canton. Two other hotels, The Residence Inn by Marriott and The Hampton Inn/LaQuinta Inn, are offering reduced rates to participants and their families.

This annual event is held in a different location throughout the state; next year, Toledo will be the host city.

For more information, contact the president of The Ohio Police and Fire Games, Joseph A. Mahan, by calling (937) 335-4336, or emailing to mahan@TheOhioPoliceandFireGames.org.

LEBRON JAMES NAMED NBA’S EASTERN CONFERENCE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
WINS AWARD FOR NBA ALL-TIME BEST SEVENTH TIME THIS SEASON

CLEVELAND – Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James was named today as the NBA’s Eastern Conference Player of the Week for games played Monday, March 16th through Sunday, March 22nd. James wins the award for the second consecutive week and becomes the only player in the history of the award to win it seven times in a season (The Player of the Week award has been awarded since the 1979-80 season and awarded by conference since the 2001-02 season).

In four games during the week, James averaged a double-double with 30.3 points, 10.3 rebounds, 7.8 assists, 2.3 steals and 1.0 block per game. James has now won the award 20 times in his career, including a career-best seven times this season, three times in 2007-08, twice in 2006-07, five times in 2005-06 and on three occasions during the 2004-05 campaign.

James finished with 43 points, 12 rebounds, eight assists, four steals, and one block to record his 22nd double-double of the season versus the Orlando Magic on March 17th. The only other player to record at least those numbers in a game was Larry Bird in 1992 for the Celtics when he had 49 points, 14 rebounds, 12 assists and four steals. His 43 points and 12 rebounds marked the ninth 40-point, 10-rebound game of his career (Cavs are 7-2) and his second this season.

At Quicken Loans Arena, on March 21st, he tallied 22 points, seven rebounds, five assists, one block and three steals in a win over the Hawks. In a 97-92 overtime win over the Portland Trail Blazers, he recorded 26 points, 11 rebounds, 10 assists, two blocks and one steal for his league-high seventh triple-double on the season. In the only road game for the Cavs this week, he scored 30 points and grabbed 11 rebounds for his 24th double-double this season while dishing out eight assists in a 96-88 victory over New Jersey on March 22nd.

With four wins this week and a current nine-game winning streak, James and the Cavaliers tied the most wins in franchise history with 57 (1988-89 and 1991-92) and hold the NBA’s best overall (57-13) and home record (32-1).

The New Orleans Hornets’ Chris Paul was named the Western Conference Player of the Week. Other nominees for the Eastern Conference Player of the Week were Boston’s Rajon Rondo, Charlotte’s Gerald Wallace and Miami’s Dwyane Wade.

-cavs.com-

Cory Slaybaugh is hitting .455 with a team-best 20 hits, 16 RBI and four home runs.
(AUSTINTOWN, OH)–Mount Union College senior first baseman Cory Slaybaugh (Hartville/Lake) was named Ohio Athletic Conference Hitter of the Week.

In three games last week, Slaybaugh drove in eight runs, had a pair of home runs as he went 8-for-13 (.615) at the plate.

Down 10-3 in the opening game of an OAC series at Wimington College, Slaybaugh hit a grand slam home run that capped a seven-run sixth inning to tie the game. Slaybaugh finished the game with three hits and drove in a total of five runs as the Raiders would later win the game 11-10 in extra innings.

Slaybaugh also had a home run as he went 4-for-5 and drove in three runs in a 13-12 loss earlier in the week at Walsh.

Mount Union has won eight of its last nine games and Slaybaugh and the rest of the Raiders host Hiram College Tuesday at 3:30 p.m. in the home opener at 23rd Street Field.

Browns SIGN DAVID PATTEN

The Cleveland Browns announced that they signed free agent wide receiver David Patten today. A veteran of 12 NFL seasons, this is Patten’s second stint with the Browns, having played with the club in 2000, when he started 11 of the 14 games in which he appeared and caught 38 passes for 546 yards and a touchdown.

Patten, 34, spent the last two seasons with the Saints, and in 2007 he totaled 54 receptions for 792 yards and three touchdowns. He first entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent with the Giants in 1997, one year after playing with the Albany Firebirds of the Arena League (1996). He has played with the Giants (1997-99), Browns (2000), New England (2001-04), Washington (2005-06) and New Orleans (2007-08) in his NFL career. During that time he has played in 147 regular season games, including 73 starts, and has recorded 324 receptions for 4,715 yards and four touchdowns. He recorded career-high figures in receptions (61) and receiving yards (824) as a member of the Patriots in 2002, when he also scored five touchdowns. In 2004, he caught 44 passes for 800 yards and a career-high seven touchdowns with New England. In his four seasons with the Patriots, Patten was part of three Super Bowl title teams. In addition, Patten has rushed for a touchdown, scored a touchdown on a kickoff return and thrown for a score in his NFL career.

The 5-10, 190-pound Patten was a four-year letterman at Western Carolina (1992-95), where he was an All-Southern Conference selection as a senior when he caught 59 passes for 881 yards. Born August 19, 1974, he attended Lower Richland High School in Hopkins, S.C.