Via the Radio/TV trade website MilkmanUnlimited.com

Canadians are widely known for a few basic traits: we’re polite, we love a hot Timmies at a perfectly chilly hockey game and, as much as those who live there might argue the point, Toronto is not the centre of the universe. In fact, Canadians outside of Hogtown are generally and openly united in their hatred of Toronto. But NO ONE hates Toronto like Ottawa hates Toronto.

LiVE 88.5, Ottawa’s Alternative Rock, is so confident that Ottawa is the better city they’ve put a million dollars on the line! That’s right, one million dollars!

With the NHL hockey season (a.k.a. Canada’s other season) just around the corner, there’s no better time for Ottawa to stand up and stick it to our Battle of Ontario rivals. LiVE 88.5 has launched a new website, SpankToronto.com, and is inviting their listeners, and all Toronto haters, to “pile on”.

Here’s how it works:
Visit SpankToronto.com and sign up.
It’s that easy and there is cold, hard cash on the line every time the Sens play the Leafs in the regular season.
• IF the Leafs win the game, LiVE 88.5 will award one lucky spanker with a cool $1,000.
• IF the unthinkable happens and the Leafs make the playoffs, one lucky spanker will win $10,000!
• IF hell freezes over and the Leafs win the Cup, one spanker will win $1,000,000 dollars. YES! ONE MILLION DOLLARS!

There are a million people in Ottawa, a million reasons to hate Toronto, and a million dollars on the line.

http://www.spanktoronto.com/

We had a very active first season. Jrekf7 took the BCS title by smoking Wisconsin with UNC and their 16 suspended players. David Oku rushed for over 2,000 yards and got jobbed in the Heisman by DeMarco Murray (1,300 yards). Wazzu and Syracuse rose from the dead, among other things.

And now we are on to Season Two, and you know you want in. Here are the details:

-7min quarters

-All-America difficulty. Works out pretty well since every team but Jrekf7's UNC squad lost at least once, and we all had some good/close games.

-Typically advance every three days or so.

-From what I can tell, nobody cheeses, so it's a legit game.

You would take over a team in the second season. If you're interested, just leave a note in the comments box with your PSN tag or message me on my PSN tag: thiel82.

The Rangers backed up a Brinks truck to sign their 1st round supplemental pick, Luke Jackson.

Via Baseball America

The Rangers and supplemental first-round choice Luke Jackson have agreed to a $1,557,000 bonus. That bonus ties for the fifth-highest so far in this year's draft, exceeded only by four players chosen in the first 13 picks and matching what Texas gave No. 15 overall selection Jake Skole. It also dwarfs MLB's recommendation of $764,100 for Jackson's No. 45 slot.

A product of Calvary Christian High in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Jackson is an athletic 6-foot-2, 170-pound righthander with a fastball that sits at 90-94 mph and reaches 96. He was part of Miami's recruiting class.

Now, for those who don't follow how the MLB Draft works, 4th rounders sometime sign for more than 1st rounders- it's all about who has the leverage. Obviously, Jackson had the leverage on the Rangers since he could just head off to da U. Tepesch's leverage is pretty low, so he'd sign if the deal is ok, but the Rangers, who just now came out of bankruptcy court, may have spent enough cash on this draft.

Just my opinion: Since Nick's leverage is low, the Rangers may have just taken him because he would have been an easy sign if Jackson didn't sign, kind of as a backup plan. The Rangers have already signed a few of their drafted RHPs, so that 50/50 chance that was there before the Rangers signed Jackson is maybe at 10% now. If the Rangers really wanted to sign Nick, they would have done it already since Nick really doesn't have much leverage.

Oh, and the Cardinals just signed Tyrell Jenkins, who was heading to Baylor as a 3-star  QB. For a great place to keep up with the signings (deadline is Monday), check out Baseball America's Draft Blog.

My first year buying the PS3 version will also be the first time I do an online dynasty. Chalk it up to being lazy or not trusting the interwebz...whatever.

A buddy of mine is going to run the league, but I'm not sure if he's ever done one either. I guess we're just looking for warm bodies and suggestions for the dynasty at this point. I think we're both all ears on suggestions for how to run it, such as:

-Eligible teams. I wouldn't mind nixing some squads, but we could play a wide open dynasty too. If you have Alabama or tOSU, you're eligible to get clowned if you lose though. I wouldn't mind delegating this to certain conferences either. Say, a Pac-10 only dynasty.

-7 minute quarters good? Five minutes just seems entirely too short.

-We all obviously use the same roster. I think the three current people in the OD all have the rosters from my EA Locker (PSN: thiel82). It's all named including transfers.

-All-American difficulty? I think this is pretty common.

I guess most importantly, we play during the late morning, during day, or late at night. We all have jobs that kind of have strange times. You won't need to pound out a season in two days or anything, and I guess you and your opponent just really need to be on at the same time to play your game, so maybe timing isn't everything here.

If you're interested, just drop a reply in the comments. Also, feel free to add me on PSN. I think currently I have four or five PSN friends, so I can make room.

Kind of figured we'd be in around 22-25.

Continue reading this post »

Heading to Atlanta next weekend to see my Bears in the Georgia Dome Sunday night. I'm there Saturday morning, and I'm looking for a spot to watch the Tigers game. Any suggestions? I'm staying at the Midtown Atlanta Hotel. Hoping there is a nice Tiger group somewhere down there.

Since this has to be 75 words, here's another meatloaf recipe.

Southern Meatloaf Recipe

I wanted to make a truly southern meatloaf like my grandmother made when I went to visit her.  She never wrote her recipe down.  It was always there in her head, but I never took the time to write it down.  I think this is the closest I've come to reproducing Grandma's best meatloaf.  I hope you enjoy it as much as we have.

Southern Meatloaf Ingredients

• 2 pounds ground beef
• 1/2 pound fresh ground pork
• 1 cup dry bread crumbs
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper
• 1 large egg
• 3 tablespoons butter

• 1/2 cup hot water

 

Southern Meatloaf Recipe Directions

Place a medium sized baking pan into a cool oven and heat oven to 350 degrees.

Place the hot water into a large mixing bowl and add the butter.  Stir until completely melted.  Add all remaining ingredients and mix well.

Shape mixture into a loaf and place in heated baking pan.  Cook your meatloaf for approximately 40 minutes or until an internal temperature of 170 degrees has been reached.

Don't overcook or the meatloaf will be dry.  You may serve this southern meatloaf either hot or cold.  My kids like to use ketchup when eating this, but I prefer sauteed onions on the top of mine.

This recipe also freezes well, so it can be a good idea to double the recipe and make 2 loaves of meatloaf at once.  It will take a bit longer to cook 2 meatloaves, but use an internal meat thermometer to test for doneness.  Cool 2nd meatloaf completely before covering in freezer wrap and storing in your freezer for another night.  Thaw in your refrigerator and reheat in 350 degree oven.  Cover the meatloaf with aluminum foil while reheating to make sure the meatloaf doesn't dry out.

Click HERE for the Versus feed.

You're welcome.

And since this must be at least 75 words, here's a recipe for an Italian Meatloaf.

This meatloaf recipe is also called Meatloaf Braccioli because of the way the loaf is rolled.  Braccioli means rolled meat in sauce.  This meatloaf recipe offers a new twist for braccioli since it is made of ground beef to form a meatloaf.  It is truly an enjoyable meal.

Italian Meatloaf Recipe Ingredients

• 1 pound ground beef (leaner is better)
• 1 4 ounce can mushrooms (reserve juice)
• 1/2 cup dry bread crumbs
• 1 large egg
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 4 center cut bacon strips
• 1 teaspoon dried parsley
• 1/2 teaspoon oregano
• 1/2 teaspoon basil
• 1/2 teaspoon thyme
• 2 tablespoons dry bread crumbs
• 1/2 onion, finely chopped
• 1 cup mozzarella cheese
• 1 8 ounce can tomato sauce

Italian Meatloaf Recipe Directions

 

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.  Add water to mushroom juice to make 1 cup.  Fry bacon until crispy, drain and crumble.  Set aside.

Combine beef, 1/2 cup breadcrumbs, egg, mushroom juice, garlic powder and salt in a large bowl.  Mix well.  On wax paper, form meat mixture into a 8x12 inch rectangle.

Sprinkle meat with parsley, oregano, basil, thyme and 2 tablespoons of breadcrumbs.  Spread bacon, onion, mushrooms and cheese evenly over meat.

Roll meat into an 8 inch wide loaf.  Place meatloaf into an 8 inch glass bread pan or glass baking dish.

Bake for 60 minutes.  Pour tomato sauce over meatloaf, and cook for an additional 15 minutes.

Let meatloaf sit for 5 minutes before slicing and serving.

Cardinals and Memphis Redbirds announced a two game set the first weekend of April (Friday April 3 and Saturday the 4th)

I just moved to Knoxville, so this is my fill of 'in stadium' Cardinals baseball until Mothers Day weekend in Cincy or July 4th in Cincy. Other than that, I'm hoping to get to a few Braves games, and probably some Tennessee Smokies (Cubs AA...ugh).

Who's thinking of hitting AZP in Memphis for this? I've yet to make it to Memphis, so I'm a little jacked for this one. I'm in for Saturday's tilt, and then destroying some BBQ. Mmmmmmm.

Courtesy of allaccess.com, our radio geek guide:

Goold Joins St. Louis' Sports/Talk 101.1

ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH sportswriter DERRICK GOOLD joins new BONNEVILLE Sports WMVN (SPORTS/TALK 101.1)/ST. LOUIS as a weekly host and contributor to the station’s baseball programming. 

GOOLD, who has been a regular contributor to crosstown CBS RADIO Talk KMOX-A since 2006, will co-host a weekly baseball show with BRIAN FELDMAN, "THE HOT CORNER," to air SUNDAYS 8-10a CT starting in FEBRUARY. He will also be contributing regular call-ins to the station’s baseball pre-game programming and on the station’s daily shows on a frequent basis.

"The ambition of SPORTS/TALK 101.1 and the tone it will be setting in a market hungry for sports news and conversation is exciting. I’m eager and honored to join the lineup," said GOOLD. "Talking baseball is the favorite pastime of this town’s devoted fan base. The region’s unquenchable interest in the CARDINALS, not only demands a high level of courage, but also inspires it."

PD JASON BARRETT said, "In assembling our broadcast lineup, we’ve been looking for informed hosts who have great access to inside information and are willing to share their insight and opinions. In DERRICK’s case, he has demonstrated throughout his career that he has the ability to shine in all three areas. He is incredibly bright, well connected and has great credibility with the CARDINALS and the rest of MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL. I look forward to teaming him up with BRIAN FELDMAN to present some of the best baseball programming on ST. LOUIS radio."

I just got an iPod Touch, and I'm starting to get into listening to podcasts. Can you help me out and list some good podcasts focusing on the Cardinals? There are a ton on Sox, Yanks, Cubs, but I haven't found a good one focusing on the Cards.

Please, help me out!

This is the first time I've ever had the real chance to hit up Jupiter. Anyone that has gone there before: is it worth the trip? I have a place to stay for free, so that's not a problem. I'm not worried about it being "family friendly", just down for some baseball.

It's gotta be better than shovelling ice that I've been doing the past three days.

I feel like a dick even doing this, but I'm going to have to root for Nebraska. I won't root hard for the Fuskers, but we need them to beat the fake blue chickens.

I was in the stands for my first Husker game last year, and it was this one. I saw KU come back to make it a game, but as exciting of a game as it was, I couldn't have cared less.

What's your rooting interests in this game?