[CNOTES]

Daily Sports Roundup

Friday, October 23

Today in the Daily Sports Roundup: The Black Knights host the Scarlet Knights, the Canes take on the Avs, and the Pens get a visit from the slumping Panthers.

Colliding on the gridiron . . .

It's Rutgers vs. Army in college football action on Friday night, with the Scarlet Knights pegged as the 10-point road favorites (and the total at 39.5 points). Rutgers (4-2 SU, 1-3 ATS) is coming off a 24-17 loss to Pittsburgh in their last contest, with Tom Savage throwing for 248 yards and a fourth-quarter score. The Black Knights (3-4 SU, 2-5 ATS) were knocked off 27-13 by Temple last time out.

There are also a pair of Canadian Football League games on the schedule for Friday, with Hamilton at Toronto and Edmonton at Calgary. The Tiger-Cats (6-9 SU, 10-5 ATS) will be looking to snap a four-game losing streak on the road against their rival; the Argos (3-12 SU, 6-8-1 ATS) have lost five straight, and they're 3.5-point home 'dogs. Out west the Stampeders (8-6-1 SU, 4-11 ATS) have been set as 5.5-point home faves against the Eskimos (7-8 SU, 5-10 ATS).

Taking a trip around the rink . . .

As well, there are three games on the ice on Friday night, with Minnesota at St. Louis, Carolina at Colorado, and Florida at Pittsburgh. The Penguins got some bad news on Wednesday, as star defenseman Sergei Gonchar will miss at least a month with a broken wrist. The 8-1-0 Pens ride a six-game winning streak into their Friday matchup with the Panthers. Florida was blasted 5-2 by Buffalo in their last outing on Wednesday night; Rostislav Olesz had two points in that loss.

[CNOTES]

Bettor's best friend: Today's helpful tips


Friday, October 23


No point in New Jersey

The New Jersey Nets might have to play a pointless game against the Philadelphia 76ers Friday, literally.

Starting point guard Devin Harris is still out with a groin injury and backup Rafer Alston missed Thursday's practice after suffering an allergic reaction to shellfish.

Alston started in place of Harris during Wednesday night's 94-92 loss to the New York Knicks at the Prudential Center, eating up over 31 minutes of floor time while dishing out eight assists.

While is is possible Alston will suit up, it is doubtful that he will be able to log as many minutes as he did against the Knicks, leaving Courtney Lee, Terrence Williams and Trenton Hassell to pick up the slack.

Johnson will backstop Pens

Seldom-used backup goaltender Brent Johnson will be between the pipes for the Pittsburgh Penguins (8-1-0) as they host the Florida Panthers (2-5-0) at Mellon Arena Friday.

In his lone start on October 7, Johnson and the Pens were shutout 3-0 by the Phoenix Coyotes for their only loss of the season.

For his career, Johnson is 6-3-0 against Florida with a 2.42 goal against average and .921 save percentage.

Pittsburgh will save Marc-Andre Fleury (8-0-0, 1.96 GAA) for its tilt with division rival New Jersey Saturday night.

Lightning re-uniting old linemates

In an effort to spark captain Vincent Lecavalier, coach Rick Tocchet will be moving diminutive winger Martin St. Louis up to the first line to join the struggling superstar.

Lecavalier has yet to score in seven games this season while St. Louis has been flourishing on the second line with gritty Ryan Malone and 2008 first overall pick, Steven Stamkos.

St. Louis was paired with the four-time All-Star from 2006-2008, during which time Lecavalier had his most success tallying 92 goals and 200 points.

"I know Vinny's game, and he knows mine," St. Louis told reporters. "We understand each other, and we're good at communicating. Are we going to score on our first shift? I don't know, but we're going to try and go from there."

I Heart New York

The Scarlet Knights (4-2) have won eight straight games against teams from New York State. That doesn't bode well for the Army Black Knights (3-4) who hail from West Point, New York.

And the news just keeps getting worse for Army.

Not only has Rutgers outscored their cross-state opponents 268-62 during the streak, they are 4-0 against the Black Knights under coach Greg Schiano.

The last time Rutgers visited Michie Stadium they scored 34 unanswered points to trounce Army 41-6.

Oddsmakers have the Scarlet Knights favored by 10-points with the total set at 38.5.

Wounded birds

The Philadelphia Eagles probably didn't think it could get any worse than dropping a game to the hapless Raiders as two-touchdown faves last week.

However, news that leading tackler Omar Gaither will be lost for the season with a lisfranc sprain in his foot could send the already reeling team into a nose dive.

Gaither will join fellow linebacker Stewart Bradley who is also out for the season.

With the linebacking corps in disarray, Philly will turn to trade-deadline acquisition Will Witherspoon and ineffective re-tread Jeremiah Trotter to fill in the holes.

The Eagles are favored by a touchdown for Monday night's matchup at Washington. The total is set at 37.5.

Notable Quotable

"Nobody on that team wanted to play with him . . . Michael didn't want to play with him. Scottie wanted no part of him. Bird wasn't pushing for him. Karl Malone didn't want him. Who was saying, 'We need this guy?' Nobody."

-- Magic Johnson, from his book “When The Game Was Ours” referring to why Isiah Thomas was not on the 1992 Olympic Dream Team.

[CNOTES]

Six-pack for Friday

NFL trends with Week 7 upon us......

-- Jets covered two of their last 11 as a favorite.

-- Chiefs covered four of their last 16 at home.

-- Dolphins failed to cover last six games against the NFC.

-- Rams are 9-21 against spread in their last thirty home games.

-- Raiders are 5-16 vs spread in their last 21 home games.

-- Giants covered 16 of their last 22 following a loss.

[CNOTES]

Friday's List of 13: Things I'm looking for this weekend

13) It can't be much fun to be Mrs Dan Hawkins these days. Colorado has to win more games, or Hawkins will get fired; to jumpstart what has been a shaky offense, Hawkins benched his QB, who happens to be his and Mrs Hawkins' son. The new QB played very well, Buffs upset Kansas, so the husband/coach is happier but the son/QB isn't, which has to put Mrs Hawkins in tough spot. Being a coach's wife isn't fun.

12) Will Boston College compete in a road game? They're unbeaten at home, but have been putrid on the road, getting crushed twice.

11) Why kids don't like baseball; the 7th inning alone Thursday night in Anaheim took 44:00+ to play. The game is just too slow for a attention deficit generation. Baseball playoffs are getting killed in TV ratings.

10) Penn State lost nine of last ten to Michigan, five in a row at the Big House in Ann Arbor. They're a 5-point road favorite Saturday.

9) Idaho Vandals, the new America's team, are 7-0 vs spread this season, 6-1 SU, bowl eligible already after winning total of three games the last two seasons. They're getting 15 points in Reno Saturday. Wow.

8) Will the Washington Huskies play another nailbiter in a bitter rivalry game? Oregon comes in off a bye having won five games in a row, but Coach Sarkisian has U-Dub competing hard every week.

7) Giants' pass defense better improve this week, with Arizona coming to the Swamp.

6) 2-3 Chargers travel cross country off a Monday night loss; without a win, San Diego could be in last place Sunday night.

5) Can the Rams force Indianapolis to punt, just once?

4) Carolina is a 9-point favorite over someone east of Saskatchewan? Bad news if you like the Buffalo Bills.

3) How soon after the Monday night game does Washington fire poor Jim Zorn? You get the sense he'll be relieved when it finally happens.

2) I'm thinking Bears-Bengals will be an outstanding game.

1) Jets will be an interesting study this week, playing the Raiders after their abysmal loss to the Bills last week. Sanchez will under microscope this week for sure. No weather-related excuses in northern California.

[CNOTES]

MLB
This Day in Baseball

On October 23 in Baseball History...

* 1910 - Philadelphia's Jack Coombs won his third game of the World Series, beating the Chicago Cubs 7-2 as the Athletics took the championship in five games. Eddie Collins had three hits, including two doubles, for the A's.

* 1920 - The Chicago grand jury indictment adds the names of former featherweight boxing champ Abe Attell, Hal Chase, and Bill Burns as go-betweens in the 1919 World Series scandal. Ed Cicotte, Joe Jackson, Lefty Williams and Happy Felsch sign confessions, which they later recant.

* 1923 - Babe Ruth makes a postseason appearance in a New York Giants uniform as the Giants defeat the minor-league Baltimore Orioles 9-0. Ruth hits a home run over the right field roof at the Polo Grounds. The game is a benefit for destitute former Giants owner John Day.

* 1935 - Gabby Hartnett is selected by the BBWAA as the NL MVP, with Dizzy Dean the runner-up.

* 1945 - Branch Rickey announces the signing of Jackie Robinson by the Dodgers organization.

* 1974 - The Cubs trade sweet-swinging Billy Williams, a fixture at Wrigley Field for 16 years, to the A's for second baseman Manny Trillo and pitchers Darold Knowles and Bob Locker.

* 1979 - Billy Martin is involved in a barroom altercation with Joseph Cooper, a Minnesota marshmallow salesman. Cooper requires 15 stitches to close a gash in his lip.

* 1981 - The Los Angeles Dodgers beat New York 5-4 in the third game of the World Series, narrowing the Yankees' lead to 2-1.

* 1984 - Rick Sutcliffe, who was 16-1 for the Cubs after arriving from Cleveland two days before the June 15 trading deadline, is a unanimous choice as NL Cy Young Award winner.

* 1985 - John Tudor hurled a five-hit, 3-0 victory over the Kansas City Royals, giving the St. Louis Cardinals a 3-1 lead in the World Series.

* 1986 - Bruce Hurst's complete-game victory gave the Boston Red Sox a 4-2 win and 3-2 lead in the World Series against the New York Mets. Hurst scattered 10 hits with one walk and six strikeouts.1991: Mark Lemke hits his second triple of the night in the ninth inning and then scores on a close play on Jerry Willard's sacrifice fly for Atlanta's 3-2 win over the Twins.

* 1993 - In one of the most dramatic endings in World Series history, Joe Carter hits a three-run, ninth inning home run off Mitch Williams for an 8-6 win and Toronto's second straight World Championship. Paul Molitor, who hits .500 in 24 at bats, is MVP while Philadelphia's Lenny Dykstra, who hit .348 with four home runs, did everything except pitch.

* 1996 - The Braves jump to a 6-0 lead, but the Yankees mount their biggest comeback in World Series history with a three-run home run by Jim Leyritz that ties the game in the eighth inning. After Bernie Williams is intentionally walked with runners on first and second in the 10th, Steve Avery walks Wade Boggs to bring in the deciding run.

* 1997 - The Marlins move within one win of their first World Series title as Moises Alou hits his second three-run home run of the Series against Cleveland's Orel Hershiser. Rookie Livan Hernandez pitches into the ninth inning of Game Five and Florida holds off the Indians 8-7.

[CNOTES]

Len’s Top Five

Friday, October 23

Len's Top 5

TGIF everyone, here's my Top 5 for October 23, 2009 from Len Berman Sports.

1. Quick Hits

* The Angels beat the Yankees 7-6 and force a 6th game tomorrow night at Yankee Stadium. The Yankees still lead 3 games to 2.

* Major League Baseball will reportedly only use the most experienced umps for the World Series. What took them so long? This is in response to all the blown calls.

* Raiders coach Tom Cable will not face charges for a training camp incident where he allegedly broke the jaw of one of his assistant coaches. By they way, when I saw the headline "No Charge for Cable," I knew the story wasn't about Cablevision.

2. A Second Guesser's Delight

Game 5 last night in Anaheim. More umpire blown calls. And managerial questions galore. But forget the umps and the managers. It all comes down to the players. The Angels wiggled out of a bases loaded jam in the 9th and the series lives. One thought. If the Yankees have to play a game 7, and should they win, they won't have CC Sabathia on regular rest for game 1 of the World Series. Just a thought. Now you can go back to bashing the managers.

3. Pie in the Sky

Long before A.J. Burnett started smashing pies in teammates faces, there was Soupy Sales. "Soup" made taking the pie in his own face an art-form. His kids TV show was just as much for adults, with his "wink-wink" comments. I used to run into Soupy around the city. I got a kick out of talking sports and stickball with one of the TV legends of my youth. He loved the Sports Fantasy feature I used to do on television. Soupy died yesterday at the age of 83. For those old enough to remember him and his goofy puppets White Fang and Black Tooth, memories of watching Soupy can only make you smile.

4. Friday Mailbag

As for Hiroshima and Nagasaki teaming up for an Olympic bid, the two Japanese cities on which the U.S. dropped A-bombs, E.G. wrote: "Not only would it be weird having "The Star-Spangled Banner" played over the loudspeakers in those cities each time an American won a gold medal, but maybe kind of inappropriate as we hit the part about "the bombs bursting in air..."

As for the Steve Phillips affair: E.M. writes: "I understand that the Mets are seriously thinking about rehiring Steve Phillips...they need SOMEONE in the organization who can score!"
And B.M. added: "Steve broke a cardinal rule-- it's gospel-- never fool around with someone who has less to lose than you."

When I wrote that Washington Nationals fan Stephen Krupin went to 19 Nats games, and they went 0-19, J.C. wrote: "I sure wouldn't want to sit next to him on an airplane."

As for the Bosnia-Herzegovina soccer team that's doing better now that the coach has his players kiss each other on the lips. D.P. pointed out that kissing leads to more scoring.
Editor's Note: Scoring seems to be a big theme with Top 5 subscribers.

And A.A. wrote: "We watch baseball in HD. We can now see everything, and I mean everything. My question is, is there a spitting school that baseball players attend to learn how to spit? We're able to identify different styles of spitting by different players: curve, sinker, slider, fast ball, high inside, outside, etc."
Editor's Note: Yup, and a scratching school too!

5. Quote of the Week

A New York anchorman inadvertently called former New York City Police Commissioner Bernard Kerik, "former top cock."
I can relate. When I worked with Chuck Scarborough and Sue Simmons I rarely tossed it back to them by name. I was always afraid of screwing it up and saying "now back to you, Suck and Chue."

Happy Birthday: The one and only, Brazilian soccer great Pele. 69.
Bonus Birthday: Talk about greatness. Johnny Carson would have been 84 today.

Today in Sports: The Brooklyn Dodgers sign Jackie Robinson to play for their farm team in Montreal. He's on his way to breaking the Major League color barrier. 1945.
Bonus Event: Close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades. The first national horseshoe tossing championships are held in Kellerton, Iowa. 1915.