ATTACHED IS THE MOST UP TO DATE SOCCER SCHEDULE... CROSS YOUR FINGERS MAYBE WE CAN FINALLY GET THIS THING GOING ON MONDAY.

~LEWIS

OSCAR PISTORIES IS A SOUTH AFRICAN LOOKING TO COMPETE IN THE OLYMPIC GAMES.  READ THE STORY BELOW... THEN LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU THINK REGARDING THIS TOPIC.

Oscar Pistorius verdict is expected from CAS within two weeks

7 hours ago

LAUSANNE, Switzerland — Sport's highest court is aiming to rule within two weeks on amputee sprinter Oscar Pistorius' bid to race at the Beijing Olympics.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport spent Tuesday and Wednesday hearing an appeal by the 21-year-old South African, who runs on prosthetic blades. Pistorius is asking the court to overturn a ruling by athletics' world governing body, IAAF, banning him from competing against able-bodied runners.

"Both parties requested a speedy resolution. We will try to shorten the time as much as we can to two weeks," CAS secretary general Matthieu Reeb told The Associated Press. "With a panel of three arbitrators there is still some deliberation and some comments on the draft. The panel will do its best to issue a full award with the grounds as soon as possible."

CAS lawyers - Martin Hunter from England, Switzerland's Jean-Philippe Rochat and David Rivkin of the United States - listened for two days to a personal plea by Pistorius and conflicting evidence from engineering experts.

The IAAF ruled in January that the J-shaped "Cheetah" blades were energy efficient and gave Pistorius a technical edge. It based its decision on studies by German professor Gert-Peter Brueggemann.

Pistorius's legal team presented results from independent tests conducted by MIT professor Hugh M. Herr, which claimed to show he doesn't gain any advantage over able-bodied runners.

Even if the panel rules for the South African, he would still have to qualify to run for his country at the Aug. 8-24 Olympics.

Pistorius will be in demand from promoters across Europe if he is cleared to resume his career. Organizers of track and field meets in Italy and Britain have said they would likely offer invitations.

"We're watching the CAS tribunal closely and will formulate our views when a decision is announced," said Steve Chisholm, communications director of British promoter Fast Track. "Providing the IAAF, under whose rules we operate, are happy if he is cleared, we would feel comfortable for him to compete and invite him."

Pistorius finished second in the 400 metres at the able-bodied South African championships last year, and has set world records in the 100, 200 and 400 metres in Paralympic events.

He was born without fibulas - the long, thin outer bone between the knee and ankle - and was 11 months old when his legs were amputated below the knee.
COURTESY: THE CANADIEN PRESS

----SO HERE ARE MY THOUGHTS----

IS THIS NOT WHY WE HAVE THE PARALYMPICS?  I DON'T MEAN TO SOUND COLD HEARTED BUT I AM SORRY, IF THIS GUY COMPETES THE PLAYING FIELD IS NOT LEVEL EITHER WAY YOU LOOK AT IT.

WHETHER YOU THINK HE HAS AN ADVANTAGE OR NOT.... HE'S NOT THE SAME AS EVERYONE ELSE COMPETING.

OSCAR HAS COMPETED IN THE PARALYMPICS BEFORE.... WHAT'S WRONG WITH THAT? 

I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHY THIS IS A QUESTION OR WHY THEY ARE EVEN APPEALING IT.  I'M SORRY BUT FOR ME THE ANSWER IS NO.

~LEWIS

MORE SCHEDULE CHANGES..... GOOD LUCK TEAMS

Baseball:

Softball:

Track:

WELL THIS IS  A FIRST FOR ME.  I'M USED TO SHOOTING SOFTBALL AND BASEBALL GAMES WHEN IT'S COLD BUT CANCELLED SPRING SPORT SEASON OPENERS BECAUSE OF SNOW IS A LITTLE DIFFERENT.
THE LADY MALEMUTE SOCCER TEAM IS TAKING A DIFFERENT APPROACH THOUGH.... DROVE BY THE SCHOOL LAST NIGHT AND SAW DANNY GIBSON AND HIS LADIES TAKING CARE OF MOTHER NATURE THEMSELVES.
THEY DECIDED ENOUGH IS ENOUGH AND STARTED SHOVELING THE FIELD.  GOOD FOR YOU LADIES.... IT'S ABOUT TIME WE START SEEING PRACTICE OUTSIDE INSIDE OF IN THE GYM.  SO IF YOU SEE THEM OR WEST VALLEY OR THE NORTH POLE (OR ANY SCHOOL TEAMS FOR THAT MATTER) OUT SHOVELLING GET YOUR BOOTS ON AND HELP THEM OUT.... I'M READY FOR SPRING SPORTS NOW WE NEED THE FIELD AND EQUIPMENT TO BE.

HERE'S MY GRIPE THOUGH FOR THE WEEK THOUGH.  A HUGE WEEK FOR FUTURE NFL-ERS.  DRAFT DAY IS JUST 3 DAYS AWAY BUT MIAMI HAS ALREADY TAKEN THEIR FIRST PICK.  WHAT EVER HAPPENED TO THE ANTICIPATION AND EXCITEMENT OF IT.  THE DOLPHINS TAKE JAKE LONG IN A MULTI YEAR CONTRACT AND NOW SAINT LOUIS IS ON THE CLOCK.  THEY COULD REALLY TAKE ANYONE AND THE ANTICIPATION MAY LIE THERE BUT STILL IT'S IRRITATING AS A FAN I SUPPOSE.
I WILL GIVE THEM THIS THOUGH THEY'VE SHORTENED THE TIME IN BETWEEN PICKS AND THAT'S DEFINITELY AN ADDED BONUS. 

WELL NOT TOO MUCH TIME TO CHAT AS OF LATE AS I CONTINUE TO GEAR UP FOR THIS WEEKEND AND SPRING SPORTS IN GENERAL... KEEP CHECKING THE BLOGS OUT THOUGH.

~LEWIS

WELL HOPE YOU GOT TO SEE THE ICE DOGS IN ACTION OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF WEEKS BECAUSE AS OF TODAY YOU WILL NOT SEE THEM AGAIN IN ACTION AT THE BIG DIPPER UNTIL NEXT SEASON.
CALLED PROF THIS AFTERNOON AFTER I HEARD THE RUMOR ONLY TO LEARN IT WAS TRUE.
G.M. AND HEAD COACH ROB PROFFITT SAID HE AND THE OTHER COACHES WITH TOPEKA HAD WORKED OUT A DEAL SO THAT THEY WOULD PLAY GAMES ONE AND TWO IN TOPEKA, THREE-FOUR&FIVE IN FAIRBANKS.  AND WHILE GAME FIVE WOULD BE PLAYED AT THE BIG DIPPER TOPEKA WOULD HAVE HOME ICE.  BOTH TEAMS AGREED AN THINGS LOOKED GOOD.
UNTIL THE COACHES TOOK IT TO THE LEAGUE AND OTHER TOPEKA TEAM OFFICIALS.  TRUTHFULLY THEY SAID THANKS BUT NO THANKS AND WHILE THEY THOUGHT OF OTHER IDEAS THEY ALL SEEMED TO BE TOO COMPLICATED.
LETS GET TO THE OBVIOUS.... IT FLAT OUT SUCKS WE AS FANS WILL NOT BE ABLE TO WATCH OUR ICE DOGS IN ACTION FOR ANY PART OF THE REMAINING SEASON.
BASICALLY BETWEEN YOU AND ME IT LOOKS LIKE PROF GOT SCREWED ROYALLY AND WE AS FANS ARE PAYING THE PRICE.
THERE IS A PLACE YOU CAN WATCH THE GAMES THOUGH.  MOOSE LODGE WILL HAVE THE GAMES AT THEIR PLACE AND IT WON'T COST YOU A PENNY TO WATCH.... I AM GOING TO TRY AND HEAD OUT THERE NEXT WEDNESDAY.

GOOD LUCK DOGS!!!!

~LEWIS

   THE SUMMER GAMES ARE JUST ABOUT 4 MONTHS AWAY AND JUST LIKE THE 1980 OLYMPICS, COUNTRIES, INCLUDING THE U.S. ARE CONSIDERING  BOYCOTTING THE GAMES.
   REASONS.... WELL PEOPLE AREN'T HAPPY THAT CHINA IS A COMMUNIST COUNTRY.  REALLY THAT'S JUST WHAT IT BOILS DOWN TO.  SORRY FOLKS, I CAN'T SEE CHINA GOING, 'WELL WE'LL BRING THE WORLD TOGETHER FOR A FEW WEEKS AND WE'LL TURN THEM ALL INTO COMMUNISTS AND RULE THE WORLD.'  LIKE THEY'RE PINKY AND THE BRAIN OR SOMETHING.
   IT'S BECOME SUCH A BIG DEAL IN BOYCOTTING THE OLYMPICS, AND I SAY IF YOU'RE GOING TO DO IT, DO IT.  BUT YOU SHOULD HAVE DONE IT THE VERY FIRST DAY YOU FOUND OUT BEIJING WAS THE HOST CITY.  THIS IS NOT NEW NEWS PEOPLE.  
   AND FURTHERMORE BOYCOTTING THE GAMES WILL NOT CHANGE THE COURSE OF EVENTS BETWEEN CHINA AND TIBET.  THE NEWEST TURN OF EVENTS INVOLVING THIS COUNTRY IS THE TIBETAN INDEPENDANCE.  CHINA DOESN'T WANT IT TO HAPPEN BUT TIBET DOES.  AND REOCCURING VIOLENCE IN THE LAND OF THE DALAI LAMA HAS THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT (SUPPOSEDLY) COMMITTING GENOCIDE.
    ALL YOU ARE GOING TO DO IS IRRITATE YOUR OWN COUNTRY AND THE ATHLETES THAT WOULD AHVE BEEN INVOLVED IN THE GAMES.  I LOVE WHAT KIMBERLY ELWORTHY SAID IN AN ARTICLE SHE WROTE FOR CORDWEEKLY.COM, "An Olympic boycott has not actually happened since the Cold War, making Beijing the site of modern-day activism. The new ideology between the developed and developing suggests a “we are better than you” syndrome apparent in so many world issues."
   RECENTLY MY MOTHER RETURNED FROM A TRIP TO BEIJING AND TRAVELLED ALL OVER CHINA.  UPON HER RETURN SHE SAID IT WAS SO EYE OPENING AND DEFINITELY MADE YOU APPRECIATE HOME.  AT THE SAME TIME SHE STATED IT WAS AMAZING AND THE RICH HISTORY, ALONG WITH THE CULTURE WAS SO DIFFERENT FROM OURS THAT IT WAS ALMOST REFRESHING.
   WOW A THIRD WORLD COUNTRY ALMOST REFRESHING.  I WOULD LIKE TO THINK MY MOTHER IS NOT AN IDIOT... AND SHE'S NOT.  I UNDERSTAND WHAT IS GOING ON IN TIBET BUT BOYCOTTING THE GAMES WILL NOT STOP GENOCIDE.  IT WILL NOT STOP THE HUMAN TORTURE GOING ON THERE, AND IT WILL NOT STOP THE GAMES FROM GOING ON.
   ANOTHER QUOTE FROM MS. ELWORTHY'S ARTICLE, "The Beijing Olympics offer insight into Chinese culture even through its mascots. “Bei Jing Huan Ying Ni” – an accumulation of these names – means “Welcome to Beijing.”

They are not only representations of important natural characteristics of China; the fish, the panda, the Tibetan antelope and the swallow are also symbols of good wishes. Aspects of these Olympics are rooted deeply in Chinese history, showing the effort, care and excitement the Chinese people have about the world coming to Beijing.

It is absurd to expect the Chinese government to change their governing based on the attendance of certain world leaders; however, it is not so absurd to bring news coverage to Beijing so that people can learn more about China, whether it is in its greatness or its faults."

IM NOT CONDONING WHAT CHINA IS DOING TO IT'S PEOPLE AND TO THE PEOPLE OF TIBET IM JUST SAYING IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE OLYMPICS AND BOYCOTTING ISN'T GOING TO STOP IT FROM HAPPENING.

~LEWIS

You know for a slow time of the year I sure am busy in the sports world.

What I like to call 'Official' Opening day is finally here.  Only 162 games left until MLB playoffs begin.  Good luck fellas and Play Ball!!!!!

ON TO MY HOCKEY ISSUES...
So did anyone go to the Ice Dogs game this weekend.... I know you did because I saw a ton of you there.  Here's what was.... what's the word .... um CRAZY.  Auctioning off the players jerseys, (that's not the crazy part) the money goes back into the ice dog organization which is great.  Here's the crazy part.  Bids started at $300...not so bad.  I was flaborgasted when Lennartsons went for over $700 (not that he's not worth it... I was just surprised people would drop that amount of money on something like that.)  So they go threw most of the players and last but not least is Codey Reichard.  What a show he put on.  Takes off the jersey-glove-pads everything from the waist up... provided a little show for the ladies in the form of push-ups and doing the splits....FIFTEEN HUNDRED AND FIFTY DOLLARS LATER ... his jersey is SOLD!
So what kind of jobs do you guys have that you can drop almost 1600 on a goalies sweater?  CRAZY.... but definitley to a great cause.  Dogs raised almost 10 grand in the jersey auction.  I talked with Codey after the game and asked him about it.... stay tuned this week I'll have it in my sports show.

THIS NEXT HOCKEY BLURB IS FOR MY FRIEND TOWELY
I love hockey, especially in person.  It's fast, it's action packed, and loads of fun.  I also like to enjoy a few refreshments while at sporting events.  One of my favorites .... the pretzel.  Almost every ice dog game (like clockwork) I buy my 3 dollar pretzel with cheese.  The cheese is pretty good .... usually the spicy kind...but why oh why is there no salt on my pretzel.  Salt doesn't have to be on every pretzel I just want the option.  If I had salt I would have no cheese ... add a little mustard and I am in heaven with a giant Coke.  And then you could have cheese be an option as well.  What's happened to this world when you can't even find salt on your pretzel.  Come on Big Dipper Concessions... can't a girl just enjoy her pretzel with salt and mustard.  Mr Towely can vouch for me when I say it's a small thing but something that's eating at my core ... (not really!)

So here's my question for the week.... your favorite sports arena food/beverage...what is it?

~Lewis

NO SOONER DO A POST SOMETHING ABOUT ROGER CLEMENS DO I COME TO WORK AND SEE THERE'S EVEN MORE ON THE WIRES ABOUT THIS GUY.

NOW CONGRESS IS DEBATING ON WHETHER OR NOT THIS GUY LIED ON THE STAND OR TOLD THE TRUTH. ..... REALLY....REALLY?!?!?!?  WATCH THAT AGAIN LOOK AT HIS EYES AND TELL ME HE'S TELLING THE TRUTH.  HA.  VIRGINIA CONGRESSMAN TOM DAVIS CONTINUES TO SPEND OUR HARD EARNED TAX DOLLARS DECIDING AND PUTTING TOGETHER REPORTS SHOWING HE LIED IN SOME AREAS BUT TOLD THE TRUTH IN OTHERS ... WELL GEEZ IMAGINE THAT!

SORRY BLOGGERS I JUST GET SO SICK OF HEARING ABOUT IT AND I REALIZE I AM CONTRIBUTING TO THE FACT BY PUTTING IT ON HERE BUT I THINK IT JUST HAS TO BE SAID THE GUY IS A FRAUD AND LETS BE DONE WITH IT!!!!!!

I WANT TO THANK LORENZO FOR POSTING HIS THOUGHTS YESTERDAY ....WOOHOO OUR FIRST COMMENT!!!!!!  IF YOU DIDN'T SEE IT CHECK IT OUT HE THINKS THE NATS ARE TAKING THE DIVISION IN THE NL EAST ... EARLIER TODAY THE METS TOLD EVERYONE THEY WOULD TAKE IT... WAY TO JINX YOURSELF FELLAS .. BUT AS A PHILLY FAN THAT'S A-OK WITH ME!!!!!!

OK ENOUGH FOR A FEW DAYS.... ENJOY SPORTS FANS!!!!!

OH AND DONT FORGET TO CHECK OUT MY 3 PART SERIES ON LANCE MACKEY AS HE GETS READY FOR THE SWEEPSTAKES ON WEDNESDAY...GO LANCE GO!