never going to give you up

Braves Update:
Seems the Braves aren't quite ready to give up on the season after their 11-6 win over the Florida Marlins on Monday night. John Smoltz allowed only one run in six innings while the Braves offered their bats giving him a 10-1 lead in the fifth inning. Jeff Francoeur secured his second straight 100 RBI season with his RBI single in the fourth. Francoeur wasn't the only one getting it done for the Bravos, Chipper drove in three and Andruw Jones added a three run homer in the fifth. That was a good thing because the bullpen gave up a combined five runs in the seventh and eighth innings. The Braves continue their series with the Marlins tonight at 7:05 PM/est on SS.

Games behind NY Mets in NL East: 6.5
Games above .500: 4
NL Wild Card Leader: San Diego Padres

Braves Notes: Andruw's woeful season may help the Braves next year. Rumors are swirling that Andruw may sign a one year contract with the Braves to help pad his stats for a larger multiyear contract in 2009. And Andruw has publicly announced his hope to stay in a Braves uniform. But for how much?...Especally since reports say that Liberty has told the Braves to cut their $89 million payroll for next season...Peter Moylan had quite the family reunion on Monday morning, his two month old baby daughter, Matisse and his wife Tracey. This was Peter's first view at the newborn...Chipper Jones and Edgar Renteria are battling for a prize of their own, the NL batting title. Currenlty Chipper has the edge with a league leading .339...Kelly Johnson says he's ok with the Braves switching his position in 2008. Although nothing official has been announced, Johnson knows that it is a possiblity with the way Yunel Escobar has played this season.

NASCAR Update:
2007 IRL Champion Dario Franchitti will be testing a stock car at Talladega to prepare for the October 5th ARCA race there. Franchitti will be driving for Chip Ganassi Racing fueling speculation that he'll make the jump in 2008.

A new Sprint spot featuring Jeff Gordon and his wife Ingrid will begin airing this month. It's the first time an ad will mention Gordon's new family.

In other sponsorship news, Levi Strauss has ended its parternship with Jimmie Johnson. Maybe he can team up with Seven Jeans for men next season...And Hershey will feature new candy bars with Dale Earnhardt just in time for your post Christmas rush. The bars will hit stores in January. Seriously, who did their marketing strategy. Think of all the stockings that could have been filled with Earnhardt Hersehy bars.

The ratings for the Sylvania 300 were up according to ABC. The broadcast drew a 3.3 share, up 7% from last year.

Popo in my crib News:
South Carolina safety Emanuel Cook had his court date set for January 24, 2008 after being arrested on August 24th and charged with unlawful possession of a pistol. If convicted he faces up to five years in jail and a $2,000 fine. Cook was suspended following his arrest but obiviously someone realized that he should have been suspended after football season and was reinstated. Watch out Emanuel, because the popo are on your tail!

Three Texas football players have been reinstated after missing three weeks due to various voliations. Linebacker Sergio Kiindle and defensive end Henry Melton were suspended following drunk driving arrests over the summer while wide receiver Billy pittman missed three games after "the school determinded he received improper benefits for the use of a friend's car." I don't want to know what those "benefits" were. Watch out Sergio and Henry, because the popo are on your tail!

UPDATE: Seems another member of the University of Texas football team has been arrested bringing the magic number up to six since June. This time running back James Henry has been charged with two felony counts of obstruction and tampering with evidence. Henry allegedly assaulted one person and disposed of a backpack that contained items stolen during a July home invasion. Two other Longhorns, Andre Jones and Robert Joseph, may have also been involved. James has been suspended indefinately from the team. Watch out Jamie, because the popo are on your tail!

News & Notes: In a weird first two weeks of the NFL season, the Washington Redskins are 2-0 after beating the Philadelphia Eagles 20-12 on Monday Night Football. The Eagles dropped to 0-2...Buffalo Bill Kevin Everett continues to improve. He is actually showing movement in both hands and better muscle strength in his legs...A new report says that former Chicago Bear and everyone's favorite ex-con Tank Johnson is expected to take a physical with the Dallas Cowboys...Frank Thomas rocketed three homeruns in the Toronto Blue Jays 6-1 win over the Boston Red Sox...The Cleveland Indians held off the Detroit Tigers 6-5 in 11 innings off of a Casey Blake walk-off homerun, dropping the Tigers 5 1/2 behind the Tribe in the AL Central...Kentucky was fined $25,000 by the SEC after fans rushed the field on Saturday following a 40-34 win over Louisville...In a bid to keep the Seattle Supersonics in Seattle and in the Puget Sound Region, the Muckleshoot Indian tribe has offered land to house a newly constructed arena. The new arena would hold 18,500 seats and a slot machines on the concourse. (Ok, crossing my fingers on the second part)..And finally, after spending over $750,000 to get Barry Bonds' 756th homerun ball, Mark Ecko has announced he is taking votes on what to do with the ball. He'll either give it to the Hall of Fame, brand an asterisk on it or blast in into space. What an ass. The first guy had to sell it for tax reasons, but you're just doing this to get your name in the papers. Give it to the Hall so people can view it for years to come. History will look at Barry Bonds differently. We might not, but others will.

Check this out: Check out this AP report about a Univeristy of Florida student who was tasered after trying to ask Senator John Kerry about the 2004 election. I would have to say that this time the popo might have gone a bit too far.

It's been fun blogging with you,
Kate