Armchair Weekend in Review (August 17-19, 2007)

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by JB82

MLB Highlights

The Arizona Diamondbacks had a memorable weekend visit to Atlanta, and it was a memorable series all around for both teams, though the Atlanta Braves would like to forget the first two games.
- On Friday, defending Cy Young award winner Brandon Webb extended his scoreless streak to 42 innings, giving up only two hits, a walk, and six strikeouts in a 4-0 shutout win over the Atlanta Braves.
- The following night, Micah Owings did most of his damage at the plate, going 4-5, hitting two home runs and driving in six runs in a 12-6 blowout. On the mound, Owings went seven innings, giving up three earned runs on as many hits and striking out seven.
- Sunday afternoon put history on the Braves' side, as John Smoltz became the team's all-time stirkeout leader, passing Phil Niekro for the top spot in a 6-2 win. Smoltz mowed down 12 batters in the process, and Mark Teixera clubbed two taters to add to the fun (and run support).

August 17, 1987 lives forever in the mind of Thomas Michael Glavine. It was on that date that he made his MLB debut with the Braves and lost his debut 11-2 to the Houston Astros. But, there were greater things to come. Twenty years, 300 wins, two Cy Young awards and a World Series ring later, Glavine got his 301st career W in a 6-2 win over the Washington Nationals on Friday night.

Two Chicago studs will stay in the Windy City for the foreseeable future. The White Sox gave outfielder Jermaine Dye a two year extension worth $22 million, while their North Side counterparts, the Cubs will have pitcher Carlos Zambrano on their payroll for the next five years to the tune of $91 million.

Over the border

Overtime in the CFL takes on an air of US college football, with teams getting three chances each to score in the extra session. This rule came into practice after the game between the British Columbia Lions and the Calgary Stampeders ended in a 45-45 tie on Friday.

Some unusual doings in Regina on Saturday: The home Saskatchewan Roughriders had recovered a fumble early in the fourth quarter, when all of a sudden, a lightning bolt caused a power outage that delayed their game against the Edmonton Eskimos for almost an hour. Once the lights came back on, the Roughriders, who were down 32-27, had to be wearing signs saying "DANGER: HIGH VOLTAGE" in sparking a 12-point comeback that saw them score a 39-27 win. The Riders own the best record in the league, at 6-2.

Across the pond (and back)

Tottenham Hotspur invited new playmates Derby County to White Hart Lane and were not the pleasant of hosts, shutting out the Rams 4-0 thanks to two goals by Steed Malbranque.
Sven-Göran Ericsson continues to work his magic at Manchester City. Further edification came with a 1-0 win over crosstown rivals Manchester United at home.
Fulham striker and American national Brian McBride gets the AWIR's get well wishes as he suffered what is being called a "dislocated kneecap" in a 2-1 loss to Middlesborough. For fans of Clint Dempsey, this will probably mean he'll get more playing time in the foreseeable future.
This reporter thinks David Beckham would be too big for even New York. The Los Angeles Galaxy's prized player made his Big Apple debut at Giants Stadium on Saturday, as Becks set up two goals in a 5-4 loss to Red Bull New York.

Two (sorta) new features to the AWIR

Dude of the Weekend

Minnesota Twins pitcher Johan Santana, who set a franchise record for most strikeouts in a game on Sunday, fanning 17 Texas Rangers in eight innings of work. Santana scattered only two hits in a 1-0 win.

Dope of the Weekend

FAPL referee Rob Styles, who committed a flub in Sunday's match between Liverpool and Chelsea. During that match, Styles thought that Reds defender Steve Finnan had run into a Chelsea's Florent Malouda. Styles awarded a penalty to Chelsea, and Frank Lampard neted the equalizer penalty kick that drew the match 1-1. Because of this error, Styles will not be on any FAPL pitch next weekend.

Kudos

...to Lorena Ochoa, who won the Canadian Women's Open in Edmonton for her fifth win on the LPGA Tour, just two weeks after winning the first women's major tourney at St. Andrews.

...to Casey Stoner, who notched his seventh win of the 2007 MotoGP season in the Czech Republic. The Aussie pads his lead to 60 points in the standings.