Daddy's Sugar Ball
Site News
As a former line cook at a fine dining establishment, I'm a big fan of the reality cooking series on Bravo, Top Chef. It seems there's always a scene where at least one of the cheftestants seriously considers not serving part or all of the dish they just spent hours and sometimes days preparing because it doesn't meet their standards. How realistic is this? I'm not saying that it doesn't make sense for them to be as precise and perfect as they can be, but I've eaten lots of crappy meals so I doubt this is something that they carry with them in the real world.
All of that is a prelude to say we've never really held anything back from being posted here on DSB. Sure, I have ideas that never panned out and plans left on the drawing board, but we are fairly desperate for content here so rarely does anything not meet our low standards. Or perhaps more simply put, we've really never considered not sending the food out the kitchen doors. I think that has hurt our site the last couple of months and I wanted to apologize to our readers. To make matters worse, we are smack dab in the dog days of summer for sports which has severely limited the number of posts (albeit crappy ones) that we publish daily. Moving forward we promise to be better.
While it may seem that way, I swear we haven't been interminably hungover and unproductive the last few months. We are indeed working on a number of exciting new developments here at DSB Corporate Headquarters. First, we'll be adding a few more writers to increase the number of funny and insightful posts to fill the time while you're not surfing internet porn. We also recently took the time to update our logo up above and are looking into changing the layout of DSB. We'd like to hear from you to know what you like and what you don't about our little website...please drop us a line at EditorsDSB@gmail.com and let us know. And last but certainly not least, we've also been busy working on a very big idea that we're not quite ready to announce just yet. Just know that we're very excited for the news and we hope the end result will give you a better experience when you stop by Daddy's Sugar Ball.
We appreciate your loyal readership and patience while we spruce the place up a bit. As always thanks for coming and suckling Daddy's Sugar Ball...
Eastern League Playoffs - Game 1
Harrisburg Senators vs. Altoona Curve
6:30 PM Blair County Ballpark
Tom Milone (12-5, 2.85 ERA) vs. Rudy Owens (12-6, 2.42)
To quote Major League...
Well then I guess there's only one thing left to do
What's that?
Win the whole f*cking thing
Let's go Senators!!!!
Thanks for coming and suckling Daddy's Sugar Ball...
6:30 PM Blair County Ballpark
Tom Milone (12-5, 2.85 ERA) vs. Rudy Owens (12-6, 2.42)
To quote Major League...
Well then I guess there's only one thing left to do
What's that?
Win the whole f*cking thing
Let's go Senators!!!!
Thanks for coming and suckling Daddy's Sugar Ball...
Are You Ready for Some Futbol? The DSB 2010 NCAA Soccer Preview
The 2010 NCAA men’s soccer season kicked of this past weekend with considerably less fanfare than its gridiron brethren. Nonetheless, soccer teams across the nation returned to action hoping to reach the coveted College Cup. This week, the Soccer Nobody returns to preview the upcoming season of Division 1 men’s soccer:
Penn State Nittany Lions (12-8-2 in 2009, 16 lettermen returning, 9 starters returning)
The big story in the offseason for Penn State was the resignation of longtime coach Barry Gorman, who left the Nittany Lions to join F.C. Dallas of Major League Soccer. Former Creighton skipper Bob Warming takes command of a Penn State squad that returns a ton of talent, including nine starters and two of their top three scorers, Corey Hertzog (11 goals, 6 assists) and Matheus Braga (7 goals, 7 assists). The Nittany Lions will be hungry after crashing out in the second round of the 2009 NCAA tournament, and with Happy Valley set host to the Big Ten tournament, expect Penn State to be nationally ranked and challenge for the league title. The entire defense returns intact, and if Hertzog and Braga stay healthy, this could be a special season. The Nittany Lions have started 2010 strong by winning the 2010 Wolstein Classic at Ohio State, beating Buffalo (5-0) and the College of Charleston (1-0) in the process.
Bucknell Bison (17-6-0 in 2009, 20 lettermen returning, 8 starters returning)
2009 was a banner season for the Bucknell Bison as they captured the Patriot League championship, set a school record for wins and shutouts, earned an NCAA berth, and defeated Princeton to advance to the second round of the NCAA tournament. Despite graduating three All-League players, including leading scorer Conor O’Brien, Bucknell is the team to beat. The Bison return eight starters, including All-Conference selections Ross Liberati (MF/D), Andrew Powell (D), and Tommy Caso (GK). With Patriot League coach of the year Brendan Nash at the helm, this experienced group will look to duplicate their success from last season. They split their matches this weekend, losing to Villanova (2-1 in overtime) and beating LaSalle (3-1).
Lafayette Leopards (10-7-2 in 2009, 17 lettermen returning, 9 starters returning)
Lafayette finished in the middle of the logjam that was the Patriot League last season. The Leopards dropped a heart-breaking 1-0 overtime game to Bucknell in the conference playoffs, failing to advance to the NCAA tournament. Last season’s disappointment has fueled a sense of purpose for Lafayette, who have jumped out of the gate to three victories already in 2010 (2-1 at Rider, 3-1 vs. Stony Brook, and 1-0 vs. Temple). Coach Dennis Bohn returns his top four leading scorers, including B.J Glenn (6 goals, 1 assist) and Sean Peckham (5 goals, 2 assists). Lafayette must replace goalkeeper Philip Nelson, a task that falls to Andrew Pianko. The Leopards should again advance to conference tournament, but they might not be ready to supplant Bucknell and Lehigh atop the league standings.
Lehigh Mountain Hawks (9-5-4 in 2009, 19 lettermen returning, 8 starters returning)
Lehigh nearly put together a great season in 2009, going 4-0-2 in their final six matches before losing on penalty kicks to American in the Patriot League tournament. A three-game losing streak in early October doomed the Mountain Hawks, but coach Dean Koski will hope the eight returning starters learned to overcome their defensive lapses and poor finishing. Second-Team All-Patriot selection James Graf (4 goals, 1 assist) and leading goal-scorer Austin Decker (5 goals) return, but Lehigh lost a lot of production with the graduation of Adam Welch and Adam Gazda. The Mountain Hawks’ yielded only 18 goals in 18 games last season, and if they can remain stout defensively, Lehigh should return to the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2006. Like Bucknell, Lehigh split their first two games this season, beating Rutgers 3-0 while dropping a 1-0 decision to Fordham.
2009 was a rebuilding season for Penn as they lost 14 seniors from an Ivy League champion team. Has coach Rudy Fuller completed the turnaround? If this weekend is any indication, the answer is a resounding yes. The Quakers rolled to wins over local rivals St. Joe’s (2-0) and La Salle (5-0) on the strength of freshman Stephen Baker’s 3 goals. Led by All-Ivy defender Jake Levin and leading scorer Christian Barreiro (6 goals, 3 assists), Penn has a nice blend of youth and experience and should challenge for the league title.
The good news for the University of Pittsburgh? With two wins so far in 2010, the Panthers have already matched last season’s win total. After a terrible two-win season in 2009, things can only improve, so expect Pitt to easily record a better record than last season’s 2-13-2 mark (1-9-1 in the Big East). Coach Joe Luxbacher, only the second in Pitt’s history, turned over much of the roster but returns Ryan Brode (3 goals, 1 assist) and Terry Boland (1 goal, 2 assists). The Panthers struggled on both sides of the ball, so defensive organization and finding a consistent goal scorer will be key. Pitt defeated local rival Robert Morris (1-0) and St. Bonaventure (2-1 in double overtime) at home this weekend, a sign that better things are in store for the Panthers.
Despite sending several players to Major League Soccer, notably Jim Curtin (formerly of Chicago Fire and Chivas USA) and Mike Seamon (currently of Seattle Sounders), the Villanova Wildcats rarely contend for a spot in the Big East tournament let alone the NCAA tournament. Don’t expect much to change in 2010, as ‘Nova was picked to finish 4th in their division and probably will struggle with the loss of Seamon, their leading scorer and best player. Sophomore Kyle Soroka (5 goals, 2 assists) returns, as does goalkeeper Chris Bresnahan (1.28 goals against), but this team struggles to find the net. The Wildcats surprised Bucknell (2-1 in overtime) but fell at Drexel (2-0) to open the 2010 campaign.
Throw-Ins
• The off-season has already been eventful for the Harrisburg City Islanders. Sheanon Williams joined J.T. Noone by signing with the Philadelphia Union, becoming the third player to go directly from Harrisburg to MLS (Tiyi Shipalane signed with D.C. United following the 2009 season). Goalkeepers Danny Cepero and Tomer Chencinski have had loan stints with the Union, while Tyler Ruthven trained with the Tampa Bay Rowdies of the USSF-2
• Harrisburg’s Dustin Bixler, Jason Pelletier, and Anthony Calvano received All-League honors from the USL-2. Bixler was named to the First-Team, while Pelletier and Calvano each garnered Second-Team berths. Bixler was also a finalist for the Defender of the Year Award.
Thanks for coming and suckling Daddy's Sugar Ball...
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Confessions of a Soccer Nobody is our home here on Daddy's Sugar Ball for all things soccer and Harrisburg City Islanders. The Soccer Nobody is a former player and coach of the beautiful game. After a remarkably unspectacular high school career where he captained a tiny, private school and earned All-Conference honors in a tiny, private school league, the Soccer Nobody hung up his cleats. These days, he regularly attends soccer matches throughout the world and finds his way to the Skyline Sports Complex to cheer on the Harrisburg City Islanders.
Penn State Nittany Lions (12-8-2 in 2009, 16 lettermen returning, 9 starters returning)The big story in the offseason for Penn State was the resignation of longtime coach Barry Gorman, who left the Nittany Lions to join F.C. Dallas of Major League Soccer. Former Creighton skipper Bob Warming takes command of a Penn State squad that returns a ton of talent, including nine starters and two of their top three scorers, Corey Hertzog (11 goals, 6 assists) and Matheus Braga (7 goals, 7 assists). The Nittany Lions will be hungry after crashing out in the second round of the 2009 NCAA tournament, and with Happy Valley set host to the Big Ten tournament, expect Penn State to be nationally ranked and challenge for the league title. The entire defense returns intact, and if Hertzog and Braga stay healthy, this could be a special season. The Nittany Lions have started 2010 strong by winning the 2010 Wolstein Classic at Ohio State, beating Buffalo (5-0) and the College of Charleston (1-0) in the process.
• One to watch: Corey Hertzog (left) – The junior forward from Reading, PA, is an explosive scorer. A second-team All-Big Ten performer in ’09, he tallied four goals for Reading United of the PDL this summer. Hertzog has already scored three times this season, including a brace in the win over Buffalo.
• Key dates: Penn State will host several national powers in 2010, including perennial contender Indiana (September 24) and preseason #1 Akron (October 13). Jeffrey Field will also be the site of the Penn State Classic (September 10-12) and Big Ten tournament (November 11-14).
Bucknell Bison (17-6-0 in 2009, 20 lettermen returning, 8 starters returning)
2009 was a banner season for the Bucknell Bison as they captured the Patriot League championship, set a school record for wins and shutouts, earned an NCAA berth, and defeated Princeton to advance to the second round of the NCAA tournament. Despite graduating three All-League players, including leading scorer Conor O’Brien, Bucknell is the team to beat. The Bison return eight starters, including All-Conference selections Ross Liberati (MF/D), Andrew Powell (D), and Tommy Caso (GK). With Patriot League coach of the year Brendan Nash at the helm, this experienced group will look to duplicate their success from last season. They split their matches this weekend, losing to Villanova (2-1 in overtime) and beating LaSalle (3-1).
• One to watch: While Bucknell’s stout defense earned many accolades last season, their offensive production will go a long way in determining how far the Bison go in 2010. With the graduation of O’Brien, sophomore striker Brendan Burgdorf (below) will be expected to play a larger role in the attack. Burgdorf scored nine goals as a freshman last season, and if he can fill the void left by O’Brien, Bucknell will have an excellent shot at retaining their Patriot League crown.
• Key dates: Bucknell will play nationally ranked Big Ten foes Penn State and Ohio State in the Penn State Classic this weekend. They play the Patriot League’s best three teams on the road, including American (September 25), Lafayette (October 30) and Lehigh (November 6).
Lafayette Leopards (10-7-2 in 2009, 17 lettermen returning, 9 starters returning)Lafayette finished in the middle of the logjam that was the Patriot League last season. The Leopards dropped a heart-breaking 1-0 overtime game to Bucknell in the conference playoffs, failing to advance to the NCAA tournament. Last season’s disappointment has fueled a sense of purpose for Lafayette, who have jumped out of the gate to three victories already in 2010 (2-1 at Rider, 3-1 vs. Stony Brook, and 1-0 vs. Temple). Coach Dennis Bohn returns his top four leading scorers, including B.J Glenn (6 goals, 1 assist) and Sean Peckham (5 goals, 2 assists). Lafayette must replace goalkeeper Philip Nelson, a task that falls to Andrew Pianko. The Leopards should again advance to conference tournament, but they might not be ready to supplant Bucknell and Lehigh atop the league standings.
• One to watch: This team is well-balanced and six different players have scored Lafayette’s six goals in 2010. Senior B.J. Glenn garnered All-League and NSCAA All-Mid-Atlantic honors last season, and looks to be the “go to” guy on offense.
• Key dates: Lafayette plays Villanova (September 10), Penn (Sept. 12), and rival Lehigh (October 2) on the road, but hosts preseason league favorite Bucknell (October 30) and Penn State (November 2) just days apart.
Lehigh Mountain Hawks (9-5-4 in 2009, 19 lettermen returning, 8 starters returning)
Lehigh nearly put together a great season in 2009, going 4-0-2 in their final six matches before losing on penalty kicks to American in the Patriot League tournament. A three-game losing streak in early October doomed the Mountain Hawks, but coach Dean Koski will hope the eight returning starters learned to overcome their defensive lapses and poor finishing. Second-Team All-Patriot selection James Graf (4 goals, 1 assist) and leading goal-scorer Austin Decker (5 goals) return, but Lehigh lost a lot of production with the graduation of Adam Welch and Adam Gazda. The Mountain Hawks’ yielded only 18 goals in 18 games last season, and if they can remain stout defensively, Lehigh should return to the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2006. Like Bucknell, Lehigh split their first two games this season, beating Rutgers 3-0 while dropping a 1-0 decision to Fordham.
• One to watch: Junior Joe Puleo scored two goals in the season-opening win against Rutgers. His ability to hold the ball will be crucial for Lehigh’s counter-attacks, and considering the team’s defensive strength, Puleo’s ability to link up with Decker will determine the Mountain Hawks’ success.Penn Quakers (6-8-3 in 2009, 17 lettermen returning)
• Key dates: Lehigh will host three teams that appeared in the NCAA tournament last season: Princeton (September 7), Maryland (October 12), and Bucknell (November 6). Of the three, Bucknell might be the most important because of its ramifications for the league title, yet the Mountain Hawks will cherish the opportunity to host Maryland, winner of two recent NCAA titles and a perennial power.
2009 was a rebuilding season for Penn as they lost 14 seniors from an Ivy League champion team. Has coach Rudy Fuller completed the turnaround? If this weekend is any indication, the answer is a resounding yes. The Quakers rolled to wins over local rivals St. Joe’s (2-0) and La Salle (5-0) on the strength of freshman Stephen Baker’s 3 goals. Led by All-Ivy defender Jake Levin and leading scorer Christian Barreiro (6 goals, 3 assists), Penn has a nice blend of youth and experience and should challenge for the league title.
• One to watch: Levin anchors Penn’s defense, a hallmark of the club over the past few seasons. While Baker and Barreiro seem to be forming a nice partnership up top, Levin provides crucial leadership and organization in the back. He missed the La Salle match due to a knock, but a healthy Levin is a shoe-in for All-Conference honors.Pittsburgh Panthers (2-13-2 in 2009)
• Key dates: The Quakers host George Mason (September 10), Lafayette (Sept. 12), Villanova (Sept. 17), American (October 12), and Penn State (Oct. 27) in their challenging non-conference slate, but must travel to Princeton (November 6), last year’s Ivy League champion.
The good news for the University of Pittsburgh? With two wins so far in 2010, the Panthers have already matched last season’s win total. After a terrible two-win season in 2009, things can only improve, so expect Pitt to easily record a better record than last season’s 2-13-2 mark (1-9-1 in the Big East). Coach Joe Luxbacher, only the second in Pitt’s history, turned over much of the roster but returns Ryan Brode (3 goals, 1 assist) and Terry Boland (1 goal, 2 assists). The Panthers struggled on both sides of the ball, so defensive organization and finding a consistent goal scorer will be key. Pitt defeated local rival Robert Morris (1-0) and St. Bonaventure (2-1 in double overtime) at home this weekend, a sign that better things are in store for the Panthers.
• One to watch: Junior Hami Kara comes to Pittsburgh after earning NJCAA All-America honors at Manchester Community College and he has already established himself as the starting goalkeeper. The Panthers surrendered 34 goals in 17 games last season, so getting a quality shot-stopper like Kara will help stabilize things in the back.Villanova Wildcats (9-8-2 in 2009, 16 lettermen returning, 9 starters returning)
• Key dates: Pittsburgh plays a relatively soft non-conference slate, hosting the likes Army and Howard at Founders Field. A weekend tournament against James Madison and Cal State Fullerton will be challenging, but let’s be honest, nearly every game will be tough for a team that won only twice last season.
Despite sending several players to Major League Soccer, notably Jim Curtin (formerly of Chicago Fire and Chivas USA) and Mike Seamon (currently of Seattle Sounders), the Villanova Wildcats rarely contend for a spot in the Big East tournament let alone the NCAA tournament. Don’t expect much to change in 2010, as ‘Nova was picked to finish 4th in their division and probably will struggle with the loss of Seamon, their leading scorer and best player. Sophomore Kyle Soroka (5 goals, 2 assists) returns, as does goalkeeper Chris Bresnahan (1.28 goals against), but this team struggles to find the net. The Wildcats surprised Bucknell (2-1 in overtime) but fell at Drexel (2-0) to open the 2010 campaign.
• One to watch: Freshman playmaker Jason Schmid comes to the Main Line from the prestigious F.C. Delco youth system. With Seamon moving on to MLS, Villanova desperately needs Schmid to help orchestrate the attack. He scored the game-winning goal against Bucknell, a stunning start to his college career. With fellow freshman Dylan Renna also seeing immediate action and scoring for the ‘Cats, Villanova has some exciting young talent. But their maturity and assimilation to NCAA soccer will go a long way in determining Villanova’s success in 2010.Other NCAA teams of note
• Key dates: Villanova faces a tough schedule against Big East competition, but the venues they play in might garner more attention than their opponents. The Wildcats will host South Florida on October 9 at PPL Field, home of the Philadelphia Union, while the Big East semifinals and final will be held at Red Bull Arena in
Harrison, New Jersey (November 12-14).
• Drexel knocked off Canisius College (5-0) and Villanova (2-0) this weekend. Andrew Goldberg scored 3 goals in the victories. The Dragons were 5-12-1 in 2009.
• The St. Francis Red Flash (6-11-2 in 2009) kicked off 2010 with victories over Duquesne (2-0) and High Point (3-0) before dropping an overtime heartbreaker at James Madison (3-2 in overtime).
• St. Joe’s (0-17-0 in 2009, 22 lettermen returning, 10 starters returning) limped out of the gate in 2010, falling to Penn (2-0) and Towson (3-2). The Hawks scored only 6 goals last season and have already notched 2 in 2010, but will they ever win again?
• Temple tied Colgate (0-0) and lost to Lafayette (1-0) in Easton this weekend. The Owls have yet to score a goal and hosts red-hot Drexel next weekend. Led by former City Islander J.T. Noone, Temple was 9-7-2 last season.
Throw-Ins
• The off-season has already been eventful for the Harrisburg City Islanders. Sheanon Williams joined J.T. Noone by signing with the Philadelphia Union, becoming the third player to go directly from Harrisburg to MLS (Tiyi Shipalane signed with D.C. United following the 2009 season). Goalkeepers Danny Cepero and Tomer Chencinski have had loan stints with the Union, while Tyler Ruthven trained with the Tampa Bay Rowdies of the USSF-2
• Harrisburg’s Dustin Bixler, Jason Pelletier, and Anthony Calvano received All-League honors from the USL-2. Bixler was named to the First-Team, while Pelletier and Calvano each garnered Second-Team berths. Bixler was also a finalist for the Defender of the Year Award.
Thanks for coming and suckling Daddy's Sugar Ball...
************************************
Confessions of a Soccer Nobody is our home here on Daddy's Sugar Ball for all things soccer and Harrisburg City Islanders. The Soccer Nobody is a former player and coach of the beautiful game. After a remarkably unspectacular high school career where he captained a tiny, private school and earned All-Conference honors in a tiny, private school league, the Soccer Nobody hung up his cleats. These days, he regularly attends soccer matches throughout the world and finds his way to the Skyline Sports Complex to cheer on the Harrisburg City Islanders.
Midstate's Weekend Recap
This is a recurring post here at DSB where we'll recap the local teams' weekends. Don't expect anything Pulitzer-worthy...just short and sweet rundowns to start your week off.
Harrisburg Senators
The Senators' dramatic come from behind 6-5 victory over the Binghamton Mets capped off a day where they had already qualified for the Eastern League playoffs when Bowie lost to Richmond. With their playoff lives in the balance, the Sens impressively took 4 out of 5 from the B-Mets over the holiday weekend. Harrisburg is in the playoffs for the first time since 2002 and face the Western Division 1 seed, the Altoona Curve, in a best 3 out of 5 series starting in Altoona on Wednesday night. The Senators return home for Game 3 and Game 4 (if necessary) on Friday and Saturday night at Metro Bank Park.
For more, check out Geoff Morrow's excellent article after yesterday's win.
Lancaster Barnstormers
Lancaster continues to scrap and compete as every game was decided by either 1 or 2 runs during their recent 7-game homestand. Saturday and Sunday were no different as the Barnstormers topped the Camden Riversharks 7-6 and 6-5 respectively. In their weekend series with Camden, Lancaster's offense was carried by Bryant Nelson as he had 11 hits in his last 15 at bats accounting for 11 runs batted in. Closer Tim Hamulack has also been dominant on the homestand as he retired all 18 batters he faced striking out 12 in the process. The Barnstormers are 4 games behind the Somerset Patriots with only 14 games remaining in the second half. Lancaster returns to action on Wednesday in Bridgeport with a doubleheader against the Bluefish.
York Revolution
On Monday night, Somerset's Jeff Nettles drove in 5 runs to lead the Patriots over the Revolution and drop them 9 games back in the cellar of the Freedom Division. The weekend series also saw the Revs' Jose Herrera and John Pachot's hitting streaks of 21 and 13 games end. York completes their current series in Somerset before an off-day on Thursday and weekend set against the Barnstormers at the Vault.
Thanks for coming and suckling Daddy's Sugar Ball...
Harrisburg Senators
The Senators' dramatic come from behind 6-5 victory over the Binghamton Mets capped off a day where they had already qualified for the Eastern League playoffs when Bowie lost to Richmond. With their playoff lives in the balance, the Sens impressively took 4 out of 5 from the B-Mets over the holiday weekend. Harrisburg is in the playoffs for the first time since 2002 and face the Western Division 1 seed, the Altoona Curve, in a best 3 out of 5 series starting in Altoona on Wednesday night. The Senators return home for Game 3 and Game 4 (if necessary) on Friday and Saturday night at Metro Bank Park. For more, check out Geoff Morrow's excellent article after yesterday's win.
Lancaster Barnstormers
Lancaster continues to scrap and compete as every game was decided by either 1 or 2 runs during their recent 7-game homestand. Saturday and Sunday were no different as the Barnstormers topped the Camden Riversharks 7-6 and 6-5 respectively. In their weekend series with Camden, Lancaster's offense was carried by Bryant Nelson as he had 11 hits in his last 15 at bats accounting for 11 runs batted in. Closer Tim Hamulack has also been dominant on the homestand as he retired all 18 batters he faced striking out 12 in the process. The Barnstormers are 4 games behind the Somerset Patriots with only 14 games remaining in the second half. Lancaster returns to action on Wednesday in Bridgeport with a doubleheader against the Bluefish.
York Revolution
On Monday night, Somerset's Jeff Nettles drove in 5 runs to lead the Patriots over the Revolution and drop them 9 games back in the cellar of the Freedom Division. The weekend series also saw the Revs' Jose Herrera and John Pachot's hitting streaks of 21 and 13 games end. York completes their current series in Somerset before an off-day on Thursday and weekend set against the Barnstormers at the Vault.
Thanks for coming and suckling Daddy's Sugar Ball...
Sunshine, Lollipops, and Rainbows: The DSB Link-O-Rama
LINKS
• Do you remember last week when I said I was going to hell? I sure hope they play this clip on continuous loop while I’m there. (Film Drunk)
• Butter Chicken’s wife dragged him to something in Toronto called the Ex…as he says, its Canada’s version of the State Fair. I say it’s hilarious. (Food Court Lunch)
• Speaking of exes...In the latest redundant news, another crazy ex-girlfriend strikes and this time only harms herself. (Barstool Sports)
• I guess this is supposed to be a sports blog, so here’s a 2010 College Football Preview from those MS Paint geniuses at Prevail and Ride. (Prevail and Ride)
• Not one of
• I hate Rob Dibble as much as anyone. Scratch that...I hate Rob Dibble as much as anyone who isn’t Rob Iracane. (Walkoff Walk)
Thanks for coming and suckling Daddy's Sugar Ball...
Mayflies & Big Flies: Talkin' Baseball with Randy, Danny, and El Duque
Seems Like Old Times
Two years ago, Randy Knorr (right) managed the Potomac Nationals to the Carolina League title with significant playoff contributions from Jhonatan Solano, Cole Kimball, Michael Burgess, and Jack Spradlin. Ten other current Senators (including Edgardo Baez, Devin Ivany, Marvin Lowrance, and Hassan Pena) were also members of the P-Nats at some point in that championship season. It stands to reason that this experience can only help the Sens as they stand 1/2 games ahead of Bowie for second place in the EL's Western Division.
The majority of guys on this roster have been under Knorr for over a full season now and they embody his calm style and follow his lead when the going gets tough. You can see it in the way that they never quit during games regardless of the deficit. You can see it when they rebound a day after losing a tough game as if yesterday never happened. Over the last two months, this team had many opportunties to pack it in after heartbreaking losses and insurmountable odds. They could have thrown up their hands and lamented their predicament when key members were promoted during the stretch drive. Instead, they united (mohawks and all) and competed at the highest level to give themselves the best chance to win each and every night.
Who knows if we'll get another opportunity to see them here on City Island? With six regular season games left to play, the last playoff spot is still very much up for grabs. But, regardless, it's been a joy to watch these guys come together into a true baseball team...the likes of which we haven't seen much of around here for quite awhile.
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I hope Kimball, Burgess, and Steve Lombardozzi aren't sick of the Senators' skipper just yet. Beginning in mid-October, all three will be participating in the Arizona Fall League as members of the Scottsdale Scorpions under the managerial eye of Knorr. Joining that trio in the AFL from the Nationals' organization will be Derek Norris, Sammy Solis, and former Senator Adam Carr.
Welcome to the Show
Yesterday, former Senator Danny Espinosa was added to the MLB roster as part of Washington's September call-ups after his time here in Harrisburg and Syracuse where he cumulatively batted .268/.337/.464 with 22 homers, 69 RBI, and 25 stolen bases. Since Ian Desmond has already established as the Nationals' shortstop, the organization has moved Espinosa to second base in hopes of forming a young and talented middle infield with potentially the biggest range in the major leagues.
Espinosa made his MLB debut when he entered last night's game in the bottom of the fifth inning replacing Adam Dunn in the Nats' order. In his first MLB at-bat, Espinosa drove in Desmond when he doubled over the second baseman's head off of Marlins' pitcher Burke Badenhop. Nats Insider Mark Zuckerman spoke with Espinosa about the whole experience:
El Rajado is More Like It
At the end of the seminal baseball movie Bull Durham, Annie Savoy says "you have to respect the ballplayer who's just trying to finish out the season". I guess that quote best explains why I lost all respect for Orlando Hernandez last Sunday when he walked away from the Senators with only 9 regular season games remaining. El Duque left the team when he learned from Nationals' GM Mike Rizzo that he was not getting a September call-up to join his half-brother, Livan. I find it highly doubtful that another team is going to sign him and immediately assign him to the MLB club anymore this season, so why leave now?
Over the previous three weeks with the Senators, Hernandez had become a mentor and role model for a lot of the young pitchers (especially the Latin ballplayers) on this team. If the Senators were floundering 6 games out of the playoffs or mathematically eliminated, I would understand his disappointment and ultimately the decision he made. But for him to turn his back on them and the rest of the squad as they battle for the last playoff spot with little over a week left shows me the true colors of the former big-game pitcher.
** Photos courtesy of Chris Knight / The Patriot-News
Mayflies & Big Flies is our home here on Daddy's Sugar Ball for all things Harrisburg Senators. If you want to see anything in this weekly post, please drop us a line at EditorsDSB@gmail.com. To catch up on any post you may have missed, click here.
Thanks for coming and suckling Daddy's Sugar Ball...
Two years ago, Randy Knorr (right) managed the Potomac Nationals to the Carolina League title with significant playoff contributions from Jhonatan Solano, Cole Kimball, Michael Burgess, and Jack Spradlin. Ten other current Senators (including Edgardo Baez, Devin Ivany, Marvin Lowrance, and Hassan Pena) were also members of the P-Nats at some point in that championship season. It stands to reason that this experience can only help the Sens as they stand 1/2 games ahead of Bowie for second place in the EL's Western Division.
The majority of guys on this roster have been under Knorr for over a full season now and they embody his calm style and follow his lead when the going gets tough. You can see it in the way that they never quit during games regardless of the deficit. You can see it when they rebound a day after losing a tough game as if yesterday never happened. Over the last two months, this team had many opportunties to pack it in after heartbreaking losses and insurmountable odds. They could have thrown up their hands and lamented their predicament when key members were promoted during the stretch drive. Instead, they united (mohawks and all) and competed at the highest level to give themselves the best chance to win each and every night. Who knows if we'll get another opportunity to see them here on City Island? With six regular season games left to play, the last playoff spot is still very much up for grabs. But, regardless, it's been a joy to watch these guys come together into a true baseball team...the likes of which we haven't seen much of around here for quite awhile.
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I hope Kimball, Burgess, and Steve Lombardozzi aren't sick of the Senators' skipper just yet. Beginning in mid-October, all three will be participating in the Arizona Fall League as members of the Scottsdale Scorpions under the managerial eye of Knorr. Joining that trio in the AFL from the Nationals' organization will be Derek Norris, Sammy Solis, and former Senator Adam Carr.
Welcome to the ShowYesterday, former Senator Danny Espinosa was added to the MLB roster as part of Washington's September call-ups after his time here in Harrisburg and Syracuse where he cumulatively batted .268/.337/.464 with 22 homers, 69 RBI, and 25 stolen bases. Since Ian Desmond has already established as the Nationals' shortstop, the organization has moved Espinosa to second base in hopes of forming a young and talented middle infield with potentially the biggest range in the major leagues.
Espinosa made his MLB debut when he entered last night's game in the bottom of the fifth inning replacing Adam Dunn in the Nats' order. In his first MLB at-bat, Espinosa drove in Desmond when he doubled over the second baseman's head off of Marlins' pitcher Burke Badenhop. Nats Insider Mark Zuckerman spoke with Espinosa about the whole experience:
"It was great. I had such a fun time. It was a little fast for me and I was nervous. I just had to slow myself down a little bit. But I had a great time. It was just a great experience to be here."Congrats to Danny on a well deserved call-up and to a long, successful career in Washington.
El Rajado is More Like It
At the end of the seminal baseball movie Bull Durham, Annie Savoy says "you have to respect the ballplayer who's just trying to finish out the season". I guess that quote best explains why I lost all respect for Orlando Hernandez last Sunday when he walked away from the Senators with only 9 regular season games remaining. El Duque left the team when he learned from Nationals' GM Mike Rizzo that he was not getting a September call-up to join his half-brother, Livan. I find it highly doubtful that another team is going to sign him and immediately assign him to the MLB club anymore this season, so why leave now?Over the previous three weeks with the Senators, Hernandez had become a mentor and role model for a lot of the young pitchers (especially the Latin ballplayers) on this team. If the Senators were floundering 6 games out of the playoffs or mathematically eliminated, I would understand his disappointment and ultimately the decision he made. But for him to turn his back on them and the rest of the squad as they battle for the last playoff spot with little over a week left shows me the true colors of the former big-game pitcher.
** Photos courtesy of Chris Knight / The Patriot-News
Mayflies & Big Flies is our home here on Daddy's Sugar Ball for all things Harrisburg Senators. If you want to see anything in this weekly post, please drop us a line at EditorsDSB@gmail.com. To catch up on any post you may have missed, click here.
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An Open Letter to Ken Jeong
Mr. Jeong (or more accurately Dr. Jeong),Thanks for coming and suckling Daddy's Sugar Ball...
I would like to introduce a word to you that you may be unfamiliar with...that word is NO. Are you aware of its existence? I doubt you know the word or at the very least what it means based on your choices of recent movie projects.
Your story and rise to notoriety is a refreshing one by Hollywood standards. You attained your medical degree and completed your residency all while performing in theater productions and developing your stand-up comedy routine. You moved to LA at the urging of then NBC president Brandon Tartikoff and Improv founder Budd Friedman to pursue a career in the entertainment industry. In the early days you continued juggling both professions as you appeared on MadTV and many sitcoms like The Office, Curb Your Enthusiasm, and Two and a Half Men.
But the role that made people notice and remember you was your feature film debut as the substitute gynecologist in Judd Apatow's Knocked Up. From there, I have to assume the scripts came rolling in for you to pick and choose from. Roles in high profile comedies Step Brothers, Pineapple Express, and Role Models quickly followed. You showed up for a couple of episodes of Party Down and were cast as the Spanish teacher, Señor Chang, in NBC's Community. Hell, you even rocked it out with your cock out for all the world to see in the smash hit The Hangover while playing fey crime boss, Leslie Chow.
In each of these roles you were quirky enough and used sparingly enough to gain face recognition and a small cult following. Maybe you were lucky. Maybe you just hit on a string of half-decent movies that suitably showcased your talent. But take a gander at the recent stinkbombs you've been in: the Razzie-nominated All About Steve, the Vince Vaughn snoozefest Couples Retreat, the animals revolt against Brendan Fraser (and who can blame them?) Furry Vengeance, the absolutely no one saw How to Make Love to a Woman, and the latest Friedberg/Seltzer spoof Vampires Suck. That is quite the craptastic resume you've put together in the last year and a half.
So what do we have to look forward to from you? According to IMDb, your immediate career path consists of more talking animals and needless sequels. First up, you are appearing in The Zookeeper beside Kevin James in his definitive highbrow follow-up to Paul Blart: Mall Cop where the animals at a zoo decide to break their code of silence to help James woo a woman. Apparently his double-chin and not so subtle humor weren't doing the trick. You follow that up with Transformers 3 and The Hangover 2. Was you schedule too busy to accept a role in Marmaduke or another American Pie sequel?
Maybe the money they're throwing at you is too good to pass up. Maybe these scripts are actually funny and don't translate to the big screen. Or maybe, just maybe, you are accepting every offer they bring to you. Do all of us and yourself a favor...learn to say no. Trust me. You're inching dangerously close to Rob Schneider territory. And no one wants that...not even Rob Schneider.
Max Power
Sports News...the DSB Way
We Are...Drunk and Passed Out
Clint Gyory, Penn State student and the man inside the Nittany Lion suit, was charged last week with public drunkenness and criminal mischief in connection with an incident from earlier in the month. Gyory was intoxicated with a BAC of .187 and passed out in the bed of a pickup truck when police cited him. Penn State cheerleading coach Curtis White has taken action due to the allegations and suspended Gyory for one month. DSB spoke with a number of alumni and season ticket holders for comment on the situation and they all shared the same sentiment, "Why suspend him for a month? Isn't making him feign interest in games against Youngstown State, Kent State, and Temple punishment enough?"
He Could Always Roll Crepes at The Magic Pan
On Tuesday, Aroldis Chapman made his major league debut for the Cincinnati Reds with an electric 1-2-3 inning where his fastball reached 102 MPH. The 22-year old Cuban defector helped the Reds top the Brewers, 8-4, and extend their NL Central Division lead out to 7 games ahead of the St. Louis Cardinals. In an attempt to temper the expectations of Reds' fans, GM Walt Jocketty has released the following statement, "We'd like to announce that we have preemptively scheduled Aroldis Chapman for Tommy John surgery with Dr. James Andrews next June 12th. We decided to plan ahead when we knew how much we were going to rely on him during our postseason run in 2010 and to begin the 2011 campaign. Dusty Baker is our manager for chrissakes...it was bound to happen sooner or later."
In a Sticky Wicket
The cricket world was shocked this week when allegations were made of match-fixing and rigged betting by the Pakistani team. Scotland Yard is investigating the claims that Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir were paid to deliberately bowl no-balls during Thursday's opening day of the fourth Test that England went on to win by an innings and 225 runs. At his most recentmoney grab whoring autograph signing session, Pete Rose was seen cursing the news report when it was learned that he had laid down money on Pakistan getting 220 runs.
Hakeem Nicks and Mario Manningham Breathe a Sigh of Relief
Cheddar Bob Plaxico Burress received bad news when the New York Department of Correctional Services denied his recent request for work release. The decision could keep him behind bars until next spring when he becomes eligible for a full release if he is granted time off for good behavior. DSB contacted the Oneida County Correctional administrator, Chief William Chapple, for comment about Plaxico's time in his facility. Chapple stated, "Mr. Burress has been an outstanding inmate during his time here. The only complaints we have received have come during his time working in food preparation and service to the other inmates. He has particular trouble keeping a firm grasp on the serving spoons and drops at least one a day. Mr. Burress also appears disinterested and lacksadasical when his area is not the main course of the meal." So, nothing's really changed much for Plax.
Thanks for coming and suckling Daddy's Sugar Ball...
Clint Gyory, Penn State student and the man inside the Nittany Lion suit, was charged last week with public drunkenness and criminal mischief in connection with an incident from earlier in the month. Gyory was intoxicated with a BAC of .187 and passed out in the bed of a pickup truck when police cited him. Penn State cheerleading coach Curtis White has taken action due to the allegations and suspended Gyory for one month. DSB spoke with a number of alumni and season ticket holders for comment on the situation and they all shared the same sentiment, "Why suspend him for a month? Isn't making him feign interest in games against Youngstown State, Kent State, and Temple punishment enough?"
He Could Always Roll Crepes at The Magic Pan
On Tuesday, Aroldis Chapman made his major league debut for the Cincinnati Reds with an electric 1-2-3 inning where his fastball reached 102 MPH. The 22-year old Cuban defector helped the Reds top the Brewers, 8-4, and extend their NL Central Division lead out to 7 games ahead of the St. Louis Cardinals. In an attempt to temper the expectations of Reds' fans, GM Walt Jocketty has released the following statement, "We'd like to announce that we have preemptively scheduled Aroldis Chapman for Tommy John surgery with Dr. James Andrews next June 12th. We decided to plan ahead when we knew how much we were going to rely on him during our postseason run in 2010 and to begin the 2011 campaign. Dusty Baker is our manager for chrissakes...it was bound to happen sooner or later."
In a Sticky Wicket
The cricket world was shocked this week when allegations were made of match-fixing and rigged betting by the Pakistani team. Scotland Yard is investigating the claims that Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir were paid to deliberately bowl no-balls during Thursday's opening day of the fourth Test that England went on to win by an innings and 225 runs. At his most recent
Hakeem Nicks and Mario Manningham Breathe a Sigh of Relief
Thanks for coming and suckling Daddy's Sugar Ball...
Manny's Diary for Monday, August 30
As expected, Manny Ramirez was claimed off of waivers by the Chicago White Sox in an attempt by them to bolster a run in the last 31 games to make the playoffs. Currently, the White Sox sit 4 games back of the Central Division-leading Minnesota Twins. Yesterday, Chicago began a key 10-game trip to Cleveland, Boston, and Detroit although Manny wasn't expected to join the team until today.
With so few games left in the season, DSB wondered what precluded Manny from joining the team yesterday. Our crack West Coast research staff of chain-smoking capuchin monkeys dug up the mercurial slugger's diary entry for Monday while his new team fought for their playoff life.
Thanks for coming and suckling Daddy's Sugar Ball...
Today in Central PA Sports History - 1972
August 30, 1972
On this date thirty-eight years ago, Penn National Race Course brought thoroughbred racing to Central Pennsylvania when it opened to a crowd of 10,686 spectators. Originally owned and built by a group of civic leaders, the one-mile oval track was built on approximately 225 acres of land.
A three-year old black colt that went off at $9.80 to win named Le Grand Jour and ridden by Doug Thomas won the six-furlong run in the first race of the day.
Thanks for coming and suckling Daddy's Sugar Ball...
On this date thirty-eight years ago, Penn National Race Course brought thoroughbred racing to Central Pennsylvania when it opened to a crowd of 10,686 spectators. Originally owned and built by a group of civic leaders, the one-mile oval track was built on approximately 225 acres of land.A three-year old black colt that went off at $9.80 to win named Le Grand Jour and ridden by Doug Thomas won the six-furlong run in the first race of the day.
Thanks for coming and suckling Daddy's Sugar Ball...