It's Saturday

It's Saturday. Here's what's happening....

************************************************

Today is May 17th, the 137th day of 2014. There are 228 days left in the year.

************************************************

Kings eliminate Ducks, face Blackhawks next.

Shero firing sets tone for busy summer in Pittsburgh.

Visit the official league website, http://www.nhl.com/.

************************************************

The New York Stock Exchange was founded at 70 Wall Street by 24 brokers on this date in 1792.

************************************************

Tampa, FL. -- The Fan's Choice Awards are down to their final vote. Who was the Lightning's Most Valuable Player in the 2013-14 season?

Read the rest here.

************************************************

The first telephone switchboard burglar alarm was installed by Edwin T. Holmes on this date in 1877.

************************************************

U.S. Men's National Team Beats Kazakhstan in Overtime, 4-3, at 2014 IIHF Men's World Championship Jones Named Best Player with Two Goals, Including Game Winner, and Assist MINSK, Belarus – Seth Jones (Plano, Texas/Nashville Predators) scored twice -- including the game-winning goal in overtime -- and Craig Smith (Madison, Wis./Univ. of Wisconsin/Nashville Predators) and Matt Donovan(Edmond, Okla./Univ. of Denver/N.Y. Islanders) each had a goal to help the U.S. Men’s National Team defeat Kazakhstan, 4-3, in preliminary-round play at the 2014 International Ice Hockey Federation Men’s World Championship here today. At 1:05 of overtime, Jones scored his second of the game when he picked up a loose puck in the slot and sent a perfectly placed shot into the top corner of the net to secure the win for the U.S. “We’re happy to come out with a win,” said Peter Laviolette, head coach of the 2014 U.S. Men’s National Team. “It was a very tough game for us. Kazakhstan played very well. I thought Tim Thomas was terrific early when then had a lot of chances. I was really proud of our guys for fighting back the entire game and getting stronger. We had to go to overtime, but it’s a win and we’ll take that.” The teams traded power-play goals late in the first period. Kazakhstan opened the scoring at 14:23 on a backdoor play before Smith knotted the game at 1-1 4:15 later. Off an offensive-zone draw, Jones moved a puck down the wall and it eventually landed on the stick of Brock Nelson (Warroad, Minn./Univ. of North Dakota/N.Y. Islanders). Nelson tapped the puck to Smith, who beat Kazakhstan goaltender Alexei Ivanov with his initial shot, but the puck sat in the crease before Smith batted it home. Kazakhstan regained the lead just 1:21 into the middle frame when it scored off a turnover to make it 2-1, but Jones scored on a power play at 3:44 to bring the U.S. back to even. Following several quality chances that didn’t find the back of the net, Jones corralled the puck at the right point and blasted a shot over Ivanov’s glove. Donovan gave the U.S. its first lead of the game, 3-2, when he wired a shot past Ivanov on a delayed penalty at 15:02. After Johnny Gaudreau (Carneys Point, N.J./Boston College/Calgary Flames) drew the call, he wheeled around two players and managed to scoop the puck back to Donovan in the left circle. Kazakhstan knotted the score at 3-3 with 6:50 remaining in the third frame to force overtime, setting the stage for Jones' game-winner. The U.S. Men's National Team (2-1-0-2) continues preliminary-round action at the IIHF Men's World Championship Sunday (May 18) against Finland. Puck-drop is scheduled for 9:45 a.m. ET and the game will be broadcast live on NBC Sports Network. NOTES: Tonight's box score, photos and more comments from Head Coach Peter Laviolette are availablehere ... Seth Jones was named Team USA's best player ... The U.S. improved to 1-2-0-0 (W-OTW-OTL-L) all-time against Kazakhstan in the IIHF Men's World Championship ... Team USA's captain is Justin Abdelkader. The alternate captains are Craig Smith, Colin McDonald and Tim Stapleton ... Peter Laviolette is serving as head coach of the 2014 U.S. Men's National Team for the third time (2004-bronze, 2005). The assistant coaches are Joe Sacco, Phil Housley and Don Granato ... For Team USA's roster, click here ... Twenty of the 25 members of Team USA played U.S. college hockey ... Seven of the 25 players are products of USA Hockey's National Team Development Program, including Jimmy Hayes, Seth Jones, Jake McCabe, Peter Mueller, Connor Murphy, Drew Shore and Jacob Trouba ... Thirteen NHL teams are represented on the roster: Buffalo Sabres, Calgary Flames, Dallas Stars, Detroit Red Wings, Edmonton Oilers, Florida Panthers, Nashville Predators, New York Islanders, Phoenix Coyotes, San Jose Sharks, Tampa Bay Lightning, Toronto Maple Leafs and Winnipeg Jets ... The staff and players of the 2014 U.S. Men's National Team are selected by the U.S. Men's National Team Advisory Group, led by Jim Johannson, assistant executive director of hockey operations for USA Hockey. Other members include Stan Bowman (Chicago Blackhawks), Brian Burke (Calgary Flames), Paul Holmgren (Philadelphia Flyers), Dean Lombardi (Los Angeles Kings), David Poile (Nashville Predators), Ray Shero, Dale Tallon (Florida Panthers), and Don Waddell (Pittsburgh Penguins). Tom Kurvers (Tampa Bay Lightning) is also part of the advisory group for this year's championship ... USA Hockey's international council, chaired by Gavin Regan, vice president of USA Hockey, has oversight responsibilities for all U.S. national teams … Sixteen teams are competing at the 2014 IIHF Men's World Championship, divided into two groups of eight. Teams will play a round-robin format among their group with the top four teams from each group advancing to quarterfinals … NBC Sports Network is televising and streaming all Team USA games in the 2014 IIHF Men's World Championship. Team USA 2014 IIHF Men's World Championship ScheduleMay 9-25 • Minsk, Belarus Date Opponent Venue Time (Local/EDT)/Result NBCSN Broadcast Fri., May 9 Belarus Minsk Arena W, 6-1 Sat., May 10 Switzerland Minsk Arena W, 3-2 Mon., May 12 Russia Minsk Arena L, 1-6 Thurs., May 15 Latvia Minsk Arena L, 5-6 Fri., May 16 Kazakhstan Minsk Arena W, 4-3 OT Sun., May 18 Finland Minsk Arena 4:45 p.m./9:45 a.m. Live Tues., May 20 Germany Minsk Arena 12:45 p.m./5:45 a.m. Live Thurs., May 22 Quarterfinals TBD TBD tape delay Sat., May 24 Semifinals Minsk Arena 2:45 p.m./7:45 a.m. 6:45 p.m./11:45 a.m.  tape delay tape delay Sun., May 25 Bronze-Medal Game Minsk Arena 4:30 p.m./9:30 a.m. tape delay Gold-Medal Game Minsk Arena 9:00 p.m./2:00 p.m. Live

************************************************

Frederick Douglass was appointed recorder of deeds for Washington, DC on this date in 1881.

************************************************


Campbell: Esks look for offensive punch on Draft day.

Video: Ainsworth Ready to Trade Purple for Rider Green.

Please visit the league's official website, cfl.ca.

************************************************

On this date in 1932, the U.S. Congress changed the name "Porto Rico" to "Puerto Rico."

************************************************

Tampa, FL. — Mike Evans joins a reloaded aerial assault in Tampa Bay. Where does he fit in the Buccaneers' 2014 depth chart?

Read the rest here.

************************************************

The first fashion to be shown on television was broadcast in New York from the Ritz-Carleton Hotel on this date in 1939.

************************************************

Anaheim, CA. -- The Rays rebounded nicely from Thursday night's devastating loss to take a 3-0 decision over the Angels on Friday night at Angel Stadium.

Read the rest here.

************************************************

U.S. President Truman seized control of the nation's railroads on this date in 1946, delaying a threatened strike by engineers and trainmen.

************************************************

San Francisco, CA. -- Given the Giants' recent success, they might have expected another sequence of deeds Friday night that would sustain their seemingly inexorable momentum.

Read the rest here.

************************************************

On this date in 1954, the U.S. Supreme Court unanimously ruled for school integration in Brown vs. Board of Education of Topeka. The ruling declared that racially segregated schools were inherently unequal.

************************************************

Jimmy tries on a batting helmet.

************************************************

You're reading the Johnny Blog. Almost as much fun as having T-Ball to go to, isn't it?

************************************************

Today in Elvis History

1969 - The album "Elvis: NBC TV Special" hit #2 in the U.K. 

2005 - Lisa Marie Presley peformed "Idiot" on "Good Morning America."

************************************************

On this date in 1956, the first synthetic mica (synthamica) was offered for sale in Caldwell Township, NJ.

************************************************

Today in Beatles History:

1968 -  In France, the film "Wonderwall" premiered at the Cannes Film Festival.

1971 - The Paul and Linda McCartney album "Ram" was released.

1980 - Paul and Linda McCartney appeared as guest stars on "Saturday Night Live." They did not perform but the "Coming Up" video was shown.

1988 - A New York appellate court reinstated punitive damages and claims of fraud and theft against Capitol Records. The nine-year-old $80 million suit had been brought by George Harrison, Ringo Starr, Yoko Ono and Apple Records.

1988 - In a Manhattan District Court a $40 million lawsuit claiming that Capitol Records deliberately stalled the release of Beatles CDs was dismissed.

1997 - The album "Flaming Pie" hit #2 in the U.K. Paul McCartney appeared live on a US VH1 town meeting to promote the album.  

  
************************************************

The U.S. Senate Watergate Committee began its hearings on this date in 1973.

************************************************

Today in Sports History:

1927 - The Chicago Cubs beat the Boston Braves, 4-3, in 22 innings. 

1953 - The New York Yankees and the Cleveland Indians set a record when they used 41 players in a game. 

1968 - Frank Howard hit his 8th home run in 5 games. 

1969 - Baltimore, Cleveland and Pittsburgh agreed to move from the NFL's NFC to the AFC. 

1970 - Hank Aaron became the 9th player to get 3,000 hits. 

1973 - Bobby Valentine broke his leg trying to prevent a Dick Green home run from going over the wall. 

1973 - Joe Ferguson hit the 6,000th home run for the Los Angeles Dodgers. 

1987 - Eric ‘Sleepy’ Floyd of the Golden State Warriors set a playoff record for points in a single quarter with 29. 

1992 - Gary Carter (Montreal Expos) became the third player to play catcher in 2,000 games. 

1998 - New York Yankees pitcher David Wells became the 13th player in modern major league baseball history to throw a perfect game.

************************************************

On this date in 1975, NBC TV bought the rights to show "Gone With the Wind." The one time rights cost NBC $5,000,000.

************************************************ 

CONCORD, N.C. -- With eight career victories and one runner-up finish in the Sprint Cup Series championship race, it was tough for Clint Bowyer to stomach the idea that he had to qualify to be considered an all-star at NASCAR's top level.

Read the rest here.

************************************************

Bobby Ewing died on the season finale of "Dallas" on CBS-TV on this date in 1985. He returned the following season.

************************************************ 

Coming Up:

Tonight --

Nascar Sprint Cup Series -- Nascar Sprint All-Star Race at Charlotte Motor Speedway 9:00pm EDT

MLB -- Tampa Bay Rays at Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim 9:05pm EDT

MLB -- San Francisco Giants vs Florida Marlins 9:05pm EDT

Sunday --

Nascar Nationwide Series -- Get To Know Newton 250 Presented By Sherwin William at Iowa Speedways 2:00pm EDT

MLB -- Tampa Bay Rays at Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim 3:35pm EDT

MLB -- San Francisco Giants vs Florida Marlins 4:05pm EDT

Monday --

Nothin' Doin'

Tuesday --

MLB -- Tampa Bay Rays vs Oakland Athletics 7:10pm EDT

MLB -- San Francisco Giants at Colorado Rockies 8:40pm EDT

Wednesday --

MLB -- Tampa Bay Rays vs Oakland Athletics 7:10pm EDT

MLB -- San Francisco Giants at Colorado Rockies 8:40pm EDT

Thursday --

MLB -- San Francisco Giants at Colorado Rockies 3:10pm EDT

MLB -- Tampa Bay Rays vs Oakland Athletics 4:10pm EDT

Friday --

MLB -- Tampa Bay Rays vs Boston Red Sox 7:10pm EDT

MLB -- San Francisco Giants vs Minnesota Twins 10:15pm

Saturday --

Nascar Nationwide Series -- History 300 at Charlotte Motor Speedway 2:45pm EDT

MLB -- Tampa Bay Rays vs Boston Red Sox 4:10pm EDT

MLB -- San Francisco Giants vs Minnesota Twins 10:05pm

Sunday --

Verizon Indy Car Series -- Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway 12:00pm EDT

MLB -- Tampa Bay Rays vs Boston Red Sox 1:40pm EDT

MLB -- San Francisco Giants vs Minnesota Twins 4:05pm

Nascar Sprint Cup Series -- Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway 6:00pm EDT

************************************************

That's all for today. Thanks for stopping by, see you tomorrow!