san Page 474 - Sports News, Headlines & Highlights

Greetings from Angryville
Los Angeles Times columnist T.J. Simers touched a nerve with Philadelphia's finest cranks when he penned his pre-NLCS column about the long-established crappiness about my fair city of Brotherly Shove. To wit: "It's an angry place, all right, everything old here in Philadelphia, crumbling and in rui...

The Magic Of Prom Night, And Of Being 1-0 In The NLCS
Above we see Anna Li and Cody Yoka on the day of their Senior Prom back in May, and what a magical evening it must have been. It's every young lady's dream to attend prom in a gown dedicated to their favorite baseball team, especially if one attends an all-girls Catholic school, as does Miss Li. (No...

NLCS Game 1: Dodgers vs. Phillies
Wow, it's already the League Championship Series. If this were the NBA, tonight would be Game 2 of the first round. Instead it's Cole Hamels throwing when Derek Lowe isn't, and it's probably true the other way around. So sit back, relax, then stop. Jumpertime. * * *Top 9th 2 ...

John Lackey Will Reverse Earth's Orbit And Keep Replaying This Game Until Angels Win
So for those scoring at home, Boston's 3-2, walkoff victory on Monday was the third time that the Red Sox have eliminated the Angels from the division series (2004 and 2007 were the others), a fact that did not sit well with LA starter John Lackey. In fact, Lackey insisted after the game that Boston...

Red Sox Squeeze Into ALCS
Not even Rally Monkey's shocking murder earlier in the game could keep the Angels from setting themselves up to win Game 4 of the ALDS, with Reggie Willits occupying third base with one out in the top of the ninth. But then, a botched squeeze bunt, resulting Red Sox catcher Jason Varitek's ass tag o...

ALDS Game 4: Angels Vs. Red Sox
If the Angels lose, they go home. If the Angels win, they ... go home. If they tie, you will never sleep tonight. Those are your options. The pitchers pitching are Jon Lester and John Lackey. The announcers announcing are Chip Caray and Buck Martinez. The jumpers jumping are everybody except you ......

NLCS Preview: Phillies Vs. Dodgers
I pay so much closer attention to the National League than the American League, and I got both of the NLDS dramatically wrong. To be fair, I was trying to jinx the Cubs and spite the Phillies. Yes, I have that kind of power. So do you, actually. Being a fan rules. Series Schedule Game 1: Thursday, ...

Cubs Fans Accept Latest Loss With Usual Grace And Aplomb
Well, blessing the dugout didn't seem to help, so the Cubs turned to a sleep doctor for Game 2. This is true. The doctor suggested that the Cubs spend the night in Chicago on Thursday instead of taking a late flight to Los Angeles for Game 3, so that the team could get its proper rest. Problem was, ...

NLDS Game 2: Dodgers-Cubs
If you're looking for a game that will be interesting for more than two innings, perhaps you've come to the right place. Carlos "Capital Zed" Zambrano and Chad "Nickname Withheld" Billingsley will pitch. Guys like Ryan Theriot and Casey Blake will be hitting and fielding. Nasally-sounding Hall of Fa...

Angels Still Haunted By Ghosts Of 1986
While the details of Donnie Moore's fateful pitch and tragic suicide have been somewhat overblown over the years, the fact remains that the Angels still seem to have no idea how to beat the Red Sox in the playoffs since that fateful day in 1986. After having won eight of the nine regular-season game...

Cubs Renounce Satan, Still Lose Game One
The Cubs have yet to get a handle on this curse business, no matter how hard they try. While a priest was furiously blessing their dugout (this is true) before their Game 1 NLDS showdown with the Dodgers on Wednesday, outside of Wrigley Field another drama was unfolding. A man by the name of Jim Sch...

NLDS Preview: Cubs Vs. Dodgers
From the very first day of Spring Training, the general consensus has been that This Is The Cubs' Year. (This has caused me considerable frightened quivering, pretty much from the get-go.) It's not just the 100 years thing either. It's difficult to argue that the Cubs haven't been the best team in ...

ALDS Preview: Angels Vs. Red Sox
The most refreshing aspect of the Red Sox-Angels series is that it's happening in the ALDS rather than the ALCS. This means, no matter what, that either the Devil Rays, the White Sox or the Twins will be playing for the World Series. In a crazy year, this is far more fitting than yet another Boston...

Strange Brew: Ryan Braun, Of All People, Keeps Milwaukee In The Chase
• Brewers 5, Pirates 1 (10 innings). Brew Crew Ball called it: This morning is the appropriate time for the untucking of shirts. Come on, untuck 'em! Wait ... is that, Brewers underwear? Oh Jesus. Well, tuck it back in, I guess. Ryan Braun was hitting .198 in September, with one home run and five RB...

Little Stein Just Wants People To Acknowledge The Unfairness Of It All
It just really isn't fair, and Hank Steinbrenner wants everyone to know it. Just take a look at the standings, everyone. The Yankees will finish with more wins than the Dodgers this season, yet the Dodgers are going to the playoffs, and the Yankees aren't! Oh, the horrid inequity of it all. In an ar...

The Smart Money Was On The Chargers Last Night
Brett Favre on Monday night, against the Chargers? Once upon a time, that was the lock of all locks; Favre always comes up big on Monday, and had beaten San Diego five straight times since 1993. But Brett is wearing a different shade of green now, I'm afraid. As we can see in the photo here, he's pl...

Possibly The Most Disturbing Baseball Hazing Photo You'll Ever See
This baseball hazing thing officially went too far on Wednesday, when San Diego Padres rookies were forced to dress as Hooters waitresses; with one there on the right completing the ensemble with fake breasts. God, I hope those are fake. Won't somebody think of the children??! So can anyone provide ...

All Of The Lateral Flys In The World Could Not Make Ed Hochuli Feel Better Right Now
After Sunday's spastic whistle-blowing by big-armed referee Ed Hochuli cost the San Diego Chargers a victory in their shootout against Denver, the NFL has acted swiftly and strongly, downgrading the 19-year veteran for his error, which could impact his playoff game status and possibly his career. Th...

When The Whistle Blows
Pity the poor secretary who trudges in to work this morning at the law offices of Jones, Skelton & Hochuli, P.L.C. in Phoenix. Being crushed by an avalanche of fax paper when you open the door is no way to die. Chargers fans spent Sunday evening posting Ed Houchli's work email and phone number all a...

OMG LT Is Down (Maybe)! Begin Looting Now!
Your Sunday morning NFL headlines to adjust your line... up of food for: • LaDainian Tomlinson's owie toe may keep him off the field (or, you know, not) for the Chargers' attempt to topple Denver down to sea level. Regardless, we require six in-depth profiles of his backups by Monday morning. After ...