Let me tell you about Stripe Matchers

Source: USA Today ()

  Cars  Auto
Financing  Event
Tickets  Jobs  Real
Estate  Shop  Online
Degrees  Credit
Card Offers  HOLIDAY
GIFT GUIDE 

Henrik Stenson didn’t have to put a ball in the rack and wait his turn to tee off at Torrey Pines, but he sure got a taste of municipal golf when he made an unannounced visit to the home of the 2008 U.S. Open.

Stenson knew he wouldn’t be able to play the Buick Invitational next month because he will be on the European tour in the Middle East. When he arrived in California for the Target World Challenge, he made a detour to San Diego and booked a twosome on the golf course. The starter put them with another couple who just started playing golf five months ago.

Turns out the woman’s name was Pamela Anderson - no, not that one - and Stenson’s remembers her boyfriend’s name only as Jesse.

“Let’s just say it was an interesting round,” Stenson said. “She told me, ‘The next time you’re south of L.A., give me a call.’ And I told her, ‘Which Pamela Anderson am I going to look up?”‘

It was an awakening of sorts for Stenson, who won last year in Dubai and the Accenture Match Play Championship. Outside of a round in Spain last year, he said it had been 10 years since he paid a greens fee. The good news is he received the San Diego County residents rate.

And he bought a bucket of balls for the range, the first time in a while he hit balls with a black stripe around them.

“They were limited-flight balls,” he said. “It was cool in the morning, and the ball was going nowhere. But it took a couple of swings to realize this is not down to me. Some of it was the balls.”

As for the course?

“It was one of the most gorgeous places I’ve ever been,” he said. “Stunning views. It was nice to see a Open course in advance.”

Odds are, it won’t be the same in June.

He’ll be hitting premium range …

Source: The Plain Dealer - cleveland.com ()

Old centers from Kiev never die. . .

They simply materialize overseas. Thus it was for former
Cavalier Vitaly Potapenko, who in March 1999 was deemed so
valuable by Rick Pitino that he expended a lottery pick to
acquire the burly Ukrainian. (That would have been used on
Shawn Marion.) Potapenko played only 13 minutes last season
for Sacramento (he was hurt) and was not picked up by
anyone for what would have been a 12th NBA season. So he
signed last week with MTT Estudiantes in Madrid, Spain,
which was in last place in the Spanish A division. Po
tapenko should feel right at home; he’s been in only 13
playoff games in his NBA career.

Road Magic

The Orlando Magic has played 19 road games this season, the
most in the Eastern Conference, and, by the end of December,
they will have played almost half of their roadies. They
won’t go west of the Mississippi River after Jan. 23.
The Magic is an impressive 13-4 on the road, which is the
main reason they are still among the top teams, record-wise,
in the East. And they’ve already played 10 road games
against the Western Conference, including all three teams in
Texas. In fact, they’ve already played seven of the top
eight teams in the West on the road; posting back-to-back
wins against the Lakers and Warriors, no easy feat. The
Celtics, by the way, have played only 10 road games, fewest
in the conference along with Charlotte.

That looked familiar

“Same spot. Same shot.” — Dwyane Wade, whose
20-footer bounced off the rim and through the basket at the
buzzer Saturday night, giving the Miami Heat a 104-102 win
over the Utah Jazz. Wade also hit a buzzer-beating winner
against the Jazz in Miami on Nov. 19, 2004.

NBA insider

The Lakers’ Kobe Bryant is the 31st NBA player with
20,000 points.

The Celtics begin a four-game trip the day after Christmas,
their so far this season.

Hedo Turkoglu’s 3-pointer in the first quarter against
Boston gave the Orlando …

Source: Indianapolis Star ()

It was a clean sweep for Indianapolis Public Schools boys basketball teams over Northwestern Athletic Conference teams from Gary in Saturday’s inaugural NWAC/IPSAC Challenge at Howe High School.

It took overtime in the evening capper for Class 3A No. 4 Howe to complete the trifecta, with the Hornets pulling out an 83-77 win over Gary West, which received honorable mention voting in the 4A poll.

IUPUI-bound senior guard Larry Stone led all scorers on the day with 31 points for Howe and was named the game’s Most Outstanding Player.

Tech senior forward Kiare Fowler scored 18 points to earn MVP honors in the day’s first game, the Titans’ 69-56 win over Gary Roosevelt.

Northwest improved to 6-0 with its 63-58 win over Gary Wirt in the second contest. Senior Alex Young led all scorers with 24 points to earn the outstanding player award for the Space Pioneers.

Just a day removed from hitting 11-of-21 foul shots in its 68-64 loss to Lawrence North, Howe (5-2) responded by attacking the basket against the Cougars. It paid off with 47 free throw attempts. The Hornets connected on 32.

“(Howe coach Aaron Sembly) said we beat ourselves at the free throw line (Friday),” said Stone, who was 14-of-19 from the stripe Saturday.

“Just to know you can get the close ones at home or on the road, it’s real big after a loss.”

Senior Greg Foster scored 18 of his 20 points in the second half and overtime for Howe and 6-8 sophomore Jordan Manuel added 11. Gerald Campbell scored 25 to lead Gary West (2-2) and DeShawn Clay added 21. The teams combined for 86 free throw attempts.

Tech (4-2) relied on its size and athleticism to put away Roosevelt. Anthony Young scored 15 for Tech and Chris Henderson chipped in 13 points. Amos Littles and Cedric Ridle led Roosevelt (2-4) with 15 points each.

“We just tried to spread the floor and utilize our quickness,” said Tech coach John Hamilton. “We felt Gary Roosevelt couldn’t shoot it …

Source: The Age ()

The unstoppable Shawn Redhage poured on 37 points as the Perth Wildcats beat the South Dragons 108-80 in the NBL game in Perth.
Redhage, whose wife is two days overdue to give birth to their first child, focused to help the Wildcats hand the Dragons their fifth consecutive loss.
Fouls by their big men hurt the Dragons, putting all the pressure on captain Shane Heal and athletic duo Joe Ingles and Cortez Groves to score.
Dragons import Bakari Hendrix racked up three fouls in his first 2.53mins in the opening term, while Matt Burston had his fourth foul midway through the second term and fouled out with seven minutes left in the game.
Lacking an inside presence the Dragons launched myriad of bombs from downtown as they tried to arrest their four-game losing streak.
The Wildcats were unable to hit a shot from three-point range and struggled from the charity stripe (four of 13), while the Dragons found enough range to take a five-point lead into the first break.
The Dragons opened up a nine-point lead early into the second period but Redhage answered the call and poured on 15 points in the second term as Peter Crawford got a hot hand from three-point territory and brought their side back into the contest.
Perth guard Gerald Brown landed a basket with one second left in the first half to level the scores at 53-53.
Heal’s long-range bombs silenced the Perth crowd every time as he landed five of six attempts by half-time.
Redhage started proceedings in the third term as Brown also showed plenty of creativity. The Dragons struggled to get any shots close to the basket and if it wasn’t for Heal sinking three-point shots they would have been right out of the contest.
After getting back to within four points the Dragons couldn’t sustain the attack from Redhage and company as they trailed by 14 points at the final change.
Scoring the first seven points of the final quarter the Wildcats showed sympathy to the Dragons as they won their ninth game of the season.
Dragons coach Shane …

Source: CTV.ca ()

Updated Fri. Dec. 21 2007 10:30 AM ET

Richard Crouse, Canada AM movie critic — SWEENEY TODD: 4 STARS

A hullabaloo arose in 1924 when sex symbol Rudolph Valentino, nicknamed The Shiek, was seen sporting a Van Dyke beard, cultivated for his upcoming role in “The Hooded Falcon.” The Barbers of America, fearing a loss of business if the famous actor made beards chic, threatened to boycott his films unless he shaved his beard.

Now comes “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street”, surely to be a target of another nation-wide barber boycott for it’s depiction of hairstylists as bloodthirsty fiends.

Sweeney Todd, the latest collaboration between director Tim Burton and actor Johnny Depp is the darkest musical you’ll likely ever see, a vivid restaging of the 1979 Stephen Sondheim stage musical that doesn’t spare the gore. Based on the classic penny dreadful story about a barber who slits the throats of his clients and his accomplice who then grinds up the bodies and turns them into meat pies, the tale doesn’t seem to lend itself to a musical treatment. The hills are alive with the sound of… gushing blood?

In fact, the musical has always divided audiences. On the opening night of its original Broadway run half the audience reportedly left in disgust at intermission but the show was a hit nonetheless and ran for a healthy 557 performances. The movie is likely to be as divisive. It’s bloody–geysers of arterial plasma spurt from slashed throats before the sliced bodies are unceremoniously dumped down a chute to land on crushed skulls with a sickening thud–but in the best Grand Guignol tradition it’s bleakly beautiful.

In the lead role is Johnny Depp in his sixth partnering with Burton. The deranged barber is another in a long line of risky roles from the actor who once said he would do anything for Burton, adding “If he wants me to sex with an aardvark in one of his next movies, then I will do that.”

Luckily …

Source: TVNZ ()

 
By John Whiting at the

  North Shore Events Centre

The Breakers have given their fans an early Christmas present
with a hard-fought 105-103 victory over the Wollongong Hawks on the
North Shore on Thursday night.

But it was a game that could have so easily been lost as the
hosts blew a 20-point fourth quarter lead to let the Hawks tie the
contest with four minutes remaining.

Phill Jones once again stepped up in the final minute, hitting
five of six free throw attempts to secure the narrow win.

But the pivotal moment may have been in the third quarter when
Jones drilled five three pointers in the space of just minutes to
give the Breakers a valuable buffer.

Kirk Penney topped the scoring sheet with 27 points, including
four three-pointers, and eight rebounds.

Ending up with six triples, Jones was great backup with a
double-double of 25 points and 11 rebounds.

But Wollongong’s Kavossy Franklin was the pick of the night with
a game-high 30 points and five assists.

After blowing out the visitors in the opening half the Breakers
came out flat in patches of the second, opening the door for their
opponents.

In his third start American Orien Greene was solid after getting
in early foul trouble while fellow import Derrick Alston did an
adequate job in the paint.

Coach Andrej Lemanis opted to begin with American Greene
shuffled into the shooting guard spot, and it worked as the
Breakers went on a 10-2 run in the first three minutes of the
game.

Fresh from finishing runner-up at the All-Star three-point
shootout, Kirk Penney had the hot hand early from long range.

Greene had fouled out of both previous NBL games this season and
he didn’t start well on Thursday, forced to the bench after racking
up three fouls in the first five minutes.

Alston recorded first points on his new home court late in
the first quarter after out-muscling his marker …

Source: AntiguaSun ()

Leaders Champion Footwear Hoppers and cup-holders Stanford Group of Companies Bassa recorded impressive win at the Antigua Recreation Grounds on Saturday evening to stay as the front-runners in the Digicel/Red Stripe Premier Division league.

Hoppers scored second half goals to hammer Potters Tigers 5-0 in the opening of a double-header. Striker Kelly Fredericks scored twice, while Tamarley “Ziggy” Thomas, Tavin Crump and Rolston “Lexie” Phoenix each converted once for Hoppers.

The win lifted Hoppers to 26 points from 11 matches, while Potters remain at the bottom of the standings with six points after the same number of appearances.

Bassa prevailed 4-1 over Cool & Smooth All Saints United to stay within one point of Hoppers.

Ranjae Christian shot Bassa ahead in the 17th minute before Jamie Thomas doubled the lead with a 29th minute strike.

Thomas scored his second in the match when he hammered home a brilliant right-footed shot in the 31st minute to give Bassa a 3-0 lead.

Dean Thompson Pulled a goal back for All Saints in the 39th minute, before striker Randolph “Ettie” Burton knocked in Bassa’s fourth and final goal to record their eight win in 11 matches to take their season points tally to 25.

All Saints, who had won their previous two matches, remain third from bottom of the standings on eight points from the same number of outings.

Timeless Treasures Freeman’s Village prevailed 2-0 over Liberta on Friday. The win lifted Freeman’s Village to 11 points from outings, while Liberta remain second from bottom of the 10-team standings on six points after the same number of matches.

Source: The Huntsville Times - al.com ()

Road watch

Huntsville

A widening project continues on Taylor Road between Sutton
and Terry Drake roads. It is expected to be completed this
month.

Boardman Street between Eighth and Ninth avenues is closed
to through traffic.

Plummer Road between Research Park Boulevard and Alabama 53
is closed until January for a widening project.

Crews are working on the access ramps of Research Park
Boulevard and Old Madison Pike. The speed limit on Research
Park Boulevard is 45 mph in the area. Expect one-lane
traffic in the southbound lanes near Old Madison Pike.

There is construction work on Woodson Street between
Clinton and Holmes avenues. Access to the road is available.

Madison

Crews are paving Wall Triana Highway between Mill Road and
Gooch Lane. This week, crews will begin upgrading the
shoulders of the roadway, then will pave and stripe the
road. During this work, portions of the roadway will be
limited to one-lane traffic. Please use caution and
alternate routes if possible. The work should be completed
in early January.

There is one-lane traffic between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. through
Jan. 31 on Mill Road between Hughes Road and Sullivan Street
while crews install a water main.

Governors Drive

The widening project on the eastbound lanes between Monroe
and Gallatin streets should be completed in January.

Gallatin Street is closed between Governors Drive and
Longwood Avenue for about 10 months. A detour will direct
motorists to Harvard Road, which will contain a traffic
signal. southbound through-lane along Gallatin at
Governors Drive is also closed to traffic. Use Harvard and
Longwood as a detour.

Source: Appleton Post Crescent ()

17°F

Overcast
Forecast »

Posted December 15, 2007

Dec. 14: CWC-Large girls

Weyauwega-Fremont 58, Bonduel 39 Plenty of free throws: The Indians shot 23-of-32 from the free throw line in improving to 4-0 in the Central Wisconsin-Large and 4-2 overall. Indians sophomore Christie Struck was six-for-six from the charity stripe in the first quarter and was 14-of-16 for the game. She finished with a game-high 21 points. Rochelle Smith added 16 points for Weyauwega-Fremont.

He said it: “It was a pretty competitive game. I think (Bonduel) was a little outmatched. We rebounded well.” — Tim Cullen, Indians coach.

WEYAUWEGA-FREMONT 19 13 16 10 – 58

BONDUEL 10 5 10 14 – 39

WEYAUWEGA-FREMONT (4-2, 4-0)

Paider 2, Wieters 1, Cullen 5, Bodoh 4, Schroeder 5, Kolz 2, Rodencal 2, Struck 21, Smith 16. Totals 17 23-32 58. Total fouls: 16. Three-pointer: Struck.

BONDUEL

Woldt 2, Kohn 16, Kaufman 8, Staszak 2, Wesenberg 6, Berger 2, Engel 1, Simon 2. Totals 14 8-14 39. Total fouls: 22. Fouled out: Wesenberg, Kaufman. Three-pointers: Kohn 3.

Plainfield Tri-County 32, Shiocton 24 Pressure: The Chiefs had a tough time with the pesky Penguins’ 1-2-2 and 2-3 defense by committing 33 turnovers.

She said it: “It wasn’t even stealing the ball, we just killed ourselves” — Michelle Sixel, Shiocton coach.

TRI-COUNTY 5 4 10 13 – 32

SHIOCTON 2 6 6 10 – 24

TRI-COUNTY (2-3, 1-2)

Phillips 8, Althoff 10, Meyer 2, Cummings 10, Siedschlag 2. Totals 7 18-36 32. Total fouls: 16.

SHIOCTON (0-6, 0-4)

Wilcox 7, Miller 6, Guyette 2, Fletcher 2, 2, Riehl 5. Totals 7 9-16 24. Total fouls: 23. Fouled out: Miller. Three-pointer: Wilcox.

By Post-Crescent staff

Source: BBC News ()

By James Shaw

BBC Scotland News website

Andy Strangeway has just finished a tour of the Scottish islands and is about to bring out the first volume of his adventures.

One of his favourite islands is Naiomh in the Inner Hebrides.

Andy Strangeway’s favourite island is Naiomh, south of Mull

In pictures: Island of Naiomh

Earlier this year he completed a marathon tour of all 162 Scottish islands over 40 hectares, a mission which took him four years to complete.

It required an unbending determination to overcome all the obstacles in his path, such as the notoriously changeable Scottish weather, and the suspicions of some islanders about a self-employed painter and decorator from Yorkshire.

Naiomh, just south of the Isle of Mull, is one of the most inaccessible of all the islands he visited.

Bad weather and the lack of a beach mean trying to land is often all but impossible.

It’s only a mile and half long but extraordinarily beautiful, from the ruined religious settlement on one side to the jagged rocks and Atlantic breakers on the other.

Christian era

Celtic monks from Ireland are said to have arrived on Naiomh 21 years before St Columba reached Iona just to the north in 563AD, the date usually considered to mark the start of the Christian era in Scotland.

A simple headstone overlooking the rocky ruins on Naiomh is believed to be the grave of St Columba’s mother, St Eithne.

This site is thought to be the final resting place of St Eithne

And down by the eastern shoreline are the beehive cells which sheltered these early Christians from the worst of Atlantic storms.

An automated lighthouse on the southern tip is the only substantial piece of modernity …