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5423. jexster - 3/28/2007 7:54:55 PM I have a 19 year old nephew with a form of autism. His younger brother, 12, is a Little League superstar pitcher. No 1 nephew played his first Game in the Fort Bend County Dream League Saturday. His younger brother was an "Angel in the Outfield" (little league "coaches" of Dream Leaguers)
They met Roger Clemens last weekend on Opening Day
From the H'Town Chronicle
Dreams come true for special athletes
By LEEN LARICCI
Steve Schoppa believes every child should have the chance to play baseball. He believes every child, no matter what his physical capabilities, has a dream to run to first base. He decided to make some dreams come true.
First Colony Little League opened up Field 1 last Saturday, and for Saturdays for the rest of the season, so the Challenger League boys and girls can fulfill their dreams.
Fifty-four Dream League athletes sported their uniforms at the opening ceremonies Saturday night. Jack Krueger, a sixth-grade Down syndrome
pupil from First Colony Middle School, was the catcher for the opening pitch of the 2007 season. The pitcher was Roger Clemens of the Houston
Astros.
Schoppa, as well as Donna and Al Danto, began organizing what they call the "Dream League" in November. They had no idea the community would
support the league with such open arms.
Schoppa said he and Al Danto discussed the idea at a Little League baseball game, wondering if they would get any support.
"We needed to raise at least $5,000 to pay the entry fee for the kids, hopefully uniforms and possibly a trophy at the end of the season,"
Schoppa said. "Word spread like wildfire."
Schoppa intended this first year to be small, just organizational. He was hoping to at least get 48 players for four teams. After he enrolled
54 immediately, he had to start turning them away.
To help the athletes play the game, to give them direction on which way to run, or how to throw the ball, each athlete has an "Angel in the
Outfield"
Schoppa said it was a hope to have at least one Angel, a high school student volunteering time, to help each player. But, each athlete ended
up having two Angels.
Parent Karen Brown, watching her 7-year-old autistic son, Ross, play in the opening game, said it was the most thrilling event for the both of them.
"I can't even express what this feeling is," Brown said. "The kids in this area have so many opportunities. The athletes involved in this
league are finally getting the same opportunity. They actually feel like they fit in."
Ross told his mom he likes the Angels. "They are very helpful," the Colony Bend pupil said after meeting his angels.
The Dream League is open to ages 5 through 17, involving all special-needs children.
"We do have a lot of autistic kids this year," Schoppa, 52, said. "We don't have any children in wheelchairs this year."
The Dream League teams — Astros, Cardinals, Yankees and Rangers — will play baseball every Saturday morning on Field 1. Every child will be
able to bat. Every player will be able to score. Players can hit the ball off a tee or have a coach pitch to them. An umpire is present to
make the game true and an announcer is calling all the plays.
Players, coaches, Angels and fans were able to see what Schoppa wanted the players to have.
"I just want to see the smiles on these players' faces when they are able to hit that ball and run to first base" he said. "These children are not disabled. We don't want them to be classified as disabled."
Brown said she believes it's a beautiful commitment to the children.
"They come here and they feel like they belong," she said. "It's all positive. It's all good."
Ross was nervous when he first took the field. He told his mom he thinks maybe he should watch his brother, Trey, 11, play one more game before he's ready to play.
Krueger could not stop smiling as Clemens was speaking to the Dream League in center field.
His baseball glove now says "Nice Catch" and is autographed by Clemens.
"Every child should be able to play baseball," Schoppa said."This league is making that dream come true for a lot of children."
5424. wonkers2 - 3/28/2007 11:32:10 PM Cap'n Dirty sez, "Anybody up fer a fast sail on San Francisco Bay?" Fast Sail 5425. jexster - 3/28/2007 11:34:38 PM Nah..not today..there's little wind..that' a summer sail 5426. arkymalarky - 3/29/2007 1:07:52 AM Very neat for your nephews, Jex! Congratulations! 5427. jexster - 3/30/2007 1:32:18 AM Opening Day - Fort Bend County Little League
 5428. jexster - 3/30/2007 1:34:17 AM 
5429. wonkers2 - 3/31/2007 11:11:49 PM Cricket Crazy 5430. wabbit - 4/2/2007 1:10:30 AM  Michael Phelps equaled the most hallowed mark in swimming, winning his seventh gold medal at the world championships Sunday night with his fifth world record. Phelps smashed his own standard in the 400-meter individual medley by 2.04 seconds, becoming the most successful swimmer ever at the worlds. The 21-year-old American joined countryman Mark Spitz as the only swimmers to win that many golds at a major international meet. Of course, Spitz' achievement came on the sport's grandest stage -- the Olympics. Phelps hopes to equal the feat or go one better at next year's Beijing Games.
5431. wabbit - 4/2/2007 1:10:51 AM  Morgan Pressel became the youngest major champion in LPGA Tour history Sunday with a game well beyond her 18 years, closing with a 3-under 69 at the Kraft Nabisco Championship as everyone around her self-destructed. Pressel played her final 24 holes over Mission Hills without a bogey, finishing the round with a 10-foot birdie putt that looked as though it would be only good enough for second place. Then came a shocking collapse from Suzann Pettersen, the latest and most significant on a sun-baked afternoon in the desert. Pettersen, a fiery 25-year-old from Norway, had a four-shot lead with four holes to play when she started hitting tee shots into the ankle deep rough and missing putts on the crusty greens. She went bogey-double bogey-bogey to fall one shot behind, and needing a birdie on the par-5 18th, she hit wedge some 25 feet beyond the hole and missed the putt.
Adam Scott held off defending champion Stuart Appleby in the Houston Open on Sunday, saving par with a 50-foot putt on the 72nd hole after hitting his tee shot into the water. Scott shot a 6-under 66 to finish at 17 under, three strokes ahead of Appleby and third-round leader Bubba Watson. Playing together, Scott led Appleby by one stroke as they stood on the 18th tee, but Scott pulled his tee shot into the pond that lines the left side of the 488-yard hole, the course's most difficult. Appleby drove into the fairway bunker, then immediately gave Scott a reprieve by hitting his approach into the water near the green. Scott took his drop, hit his approach safely away from the water, then holed the par-saving putt. He pumped his fist, Tiger Woods-style, after the ball disappeared and the crowd roared. Appleby had a double bogey to finish with a 69. Watson birdied the last hole for a 72. Scott became the sixth Australian to win the event, joining Appleby, Bruce Devlin, Bruce Crampton, David Graham and Robert Allenby. Appleby and Crampton have won it twice and the eight victories by Australians are the most in any U.S. tour event. Only the British Open (9) has had more champions from Down Under.
5432. wabbit - 4/2/2007 1:11:09 AM  Novak Djokovic whacked the tournament's final shot for a winner, then collapsed on his back, sprawled at the baseline. Djokovic rose to embrace his opponent and climbed into the stands to hug his parents. He returned to the court and threw his shirt and racket to the cheering crowd. The kid plays with flair and celebrates the same way. Djokovic succeeded where Roger Federer failed, beating qualifier Guillermo Canas 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 Sunday to win the Sony Ericsson Open. Canas upset the top-ranked Federer twice last month, including in the fourth round Tuesday. But the 29-year-old Argentine's relentless baseline game failed to faze the 19-year-old Djokovic, who dominated with his versatile shotmaking and held every service game. Seeded 10th, Djokovic will improve to a career-high No. 7 in the rankings Monday. With his first ATP Masters Series title, the slender Serb became the youngest men's champion in the tournament's 23-year history. Djokovic won every set he played -- the first time the Key Biscayne men's champion has done that since Ivan Lendl in 1989.
5433. wabbit - 4/2/2007 1:11:31 AM 
The world’s richest race was supposed to be a showdown between brothers on their home racetrack Saturday. Sheik Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, the ruler of Dubai, had the undefeated Discreet Cat while Sheik Hamdan had America’s 2006 Horse of the Year, Invasor. The brothers showed up, but only one of their horses did. While Discreet Cat broke last and stayed there for most of the mile-and-a-quarter route, Invasor proved that he was the most dominant horse on the planet with a two-length victory in the $6 million Dubai World Cup that was as emphatic as it appeared effortless. Exactly 360 days ago on this racetrack, Invasor lost his only race in 11 starts to Discreet Cat in the U.A.E. Derby. Invasor, the son of Candy Stripes, responded by running off with five consecutive Grade I victories, including the Breeders’ Cup Classic.
There was no need for a photograph to identify the winner this time. Scat Daddy pulled away in the stretch for a one-and-a-quarter-length victory over Notional in the $1 million Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park on Saturday. With the victory he became one of the leading contenders for the Kentucky Derby in five weeks. In the Fountain of Youth Stakes four weeks ago, Scat Daddy beat Stormello by a nose in a photo finish. This time there was no doubt as Scat Daddy won for the fifth time in eight starts for the trainer Todd Pletcher, who won five races on the Gulfstream card. Stormello, who was sent cross-country by the trainer Bill Currin to avenge the tough defeat, finished fourth after setting the early pace. Scat Daddy will not race again until the Derby on May 5, and will try to duplicate Barbaro’s feat of sweeping the Florida Derby and the Kentucky Derby. Until Barbaro, the last horse to win the Kentucky Derby after a layoff of five weeks or more was Needles in 1956. Ridden for the first time by Edgar Prado, who had six winners on the day, Scat Daddy moved into the lead on the turn for home and was never seriously threatened. Notional, winner of the Risen Star in his last start, made a brief run but was no match for Scat Daddy, the 3-year-old colt owned by James Scatuorchio and Michael Tabor.
5434. wabbit - 4/3/2007 2:08:54 PM  The Florida Gators took a chomp out of NCAA history with the repeat they simply had to have. Now they want more. They want to be called one of the best teams of all time. The Gators made their case Monday night with an 84-75 victory over Ohio State to capture the second straight national championship that was their only reasonable goal this season. They became the first team to go back-to-back since Duke in 1992 and the first ever to repeat with the same starting five.
Al Horford had 18 points and 12 rebounds, Taurean Green had 16 points and Greg Oden's 25 points and 12 rebounds weren't enough for Ohio State (35-4) to stop the Gators (35-5) from completing the quest they set upon when all the starters delayed their NBA plans for a try at another title.
This win completes a 2007 championship-game sweep of the Buckeyes in the two biggest college sports -- men's hoops and football. Florida, a 41-14 winner in the football title game in January, remains the only program in history to hold both championships at the same time. While the debate about the best teams of all time can truly begin, there is no denying that Florida's overall athletic program is the best in the nation. I wonder how the chess team is doing.
NCAA Basketball - Mens
5435. wabbit - 4/3/2007 2:09:19 PM  Felix Hernandez might not be back to being a star after just one outing. He is back enough to reach the levels of Dwight Gooden, Randy Johnson and Pedro Martinez. Hernandez, the 20-year-old would-be phenom who has lost 20 pounds since a disappointing 2006 season, thoroughly dominated the defending AL West champion Oakland Athletics in a 4-0 victory Monday. The major leagues' youngest opening day pitcher in 22 years allowed three hits and struck out a career-high 12 in eight innings. Hernandez tamed the same team that won 17 of 19 games last season against Seattle, crushing the Mariners back to the bottom of the division for the third consecutive year.
More than 41,000 fans got on their feet and gave Gil Meche a standing ovation. Very few of them would probably ever admit to being among the many critics who accused Kansas City of paying too much for the 28-year-old right-hander. The big deal paid off, for one outing at least. In his first start since the Royals gave him a club-record five-year, $55 million contract, Meche went 7 1-3 solid innings and led his new team to a 7-1 victory over the Boston Red Sox and an ineffective Curt Schilling. Settling down after a shaky first inning, Meche gave up six hits and one run. He struck out six and walked only one in the longest outing by a Kansas City starter on opening day since 1988.
On an emotional opening day, the New York Yankees honored Cory Lidle, welcomed back Bobby Murcer and beat Tampa Bay for a satisfying start. Jason Giambi and Alex Rodriguez came through with big hits and the Yankees even got a few encouraging innings from Carl Pavano in a 9-5 victory Monday over the baby-faced Devil Rays. Giambi, who hit a go-ahead single in the seventh for his third RBI, was a big part of the poignant pregame ceremonies. After a touching video tribute to Lidle, Giambi escorted the pitcher's wife, Melanie, and 6-year-old son, Christopher, toward the mound before they threw out first pitches. Lidle and Giambi were old friends and high school teammates. The 34-year-old right-hander was killed in a plane crash Oct. 11 in New York after finishing last season with the Yankees. His locker at Yankee Stadium will remain unoccupied all season, and the team is wearing black armbands on their jerseys in memory of him.
MLB scores
5436. arkymalarky - 4/3/2007 3:48:07 PM AR fired Stan Heath and hired Dana Altman, from Creighton. The big Razorback news is Frank Broyles finally leaving after the fall football season. It will be interesting to see what happens to Houston Nutt. 5437. arkymalarky - 4/4/2007 2:19:28 AM Well that didn't last long. 5438. wabbit - 4/4/2007 3:19:16 PM 26 hour turnaround, sheesh. Who do you think AR will try next? 5439. wabbit - 4/4/2007 3:20:07 PM  Eddie Robinson, who sent more than 200 players to the NFL and won 408 games during a 57-year career, has died. He was 88. He had been suffering from Alzheimer's, which was diagnosed shortly after he was forced to retire following the 1997 season, in which he won only three games. His health had been declining for years and he had been in and out of a nursing home during the last year. Super Bowl MVP quarterback Doug Williams, one of Robinson's former players, said the former Grambling State University coach died about 11:30 p.m. Tuesday. Robinson had been admitted to Lincoln General Hospital on Tuesday afternoon.
Robinson's was a career that spanned 11 presidents, several wars and the civil-rights movement. His older records were what people remembered: in 57 years, Robinson set the standard for victories, going 408-165-15. John Gagliardi of St. John's, Minn., passed Robinson in 2003 and has 443 wins. Robinson said he tried to coach each player as if he wanted him to marry his daughter. You gotta like that.
5440. wabbit - 4/4/2007 3:20:36 PM  Before the Tennessee Lady Vols took the court for Tuesday's NCAA title game against Rutgers, they heard a poem from assistant coach and frustrated English major Dean Lockwood about the importance of embracing the warrior mentality. When Lockwood had finished his recital, he picked up a baseball bat and smashed to pieces a videotape of Rutgers' semifinal game, in which the Scarlet Knights embarrassed SEC runner-up LSU 59-35.
In the days leading up to Tuesday night, the Lady Vols had been insisting that there was more to their team than the Candace Parker show. Their 59-46 victory over Rutgers proved that point. To win coach Pat Summitt's seventh national title in 20 years, the Lady Vols needed contributions from all precincts: A barrage of four three-pointers from diminutive junior point guard Shannon Bobbitt. Sixteen rebounds, including 10 off the offensive glass, from junor forward Nicky Anosike. Ten points, five rebounds and a critical steal from reserve Alberta Auguste.
NCAA Women's Basketball
5441. arkymalarky - 4/4/2007 7:08:28 PM I don't know, Wabbit. Our local bunch were always fair-weather round-ball hawg fans, and that was in our younger days when it was easy to gather up a round table of booze, cigarettes and poker, with the tv placed and rabbit ears adjusted so everyone could see it. Those really were the good old days. When the game wasn't televised in prime-time, channel 7 would show it at 10:30, and woe to the soul who divulged the score, or even any major plays, at any time during that day. This was a state-wide rule.
Nolan Richardson changed the dynamic somewhat, but I think the bottom line (football is having problems as well), is that Frank Broyles lost his mojo some years ago and no one has dared tell him. Now he's finally going, but he's waiting until the end of football season. Like everything else, Northwest AR runs the show and treats the rest of the state like red-headed step-children, and they can't maintain broad support doing that. That may not be it, but I get the feeling the head-coach is more micro-managed than most candidates would accept. If they could draw a big name that might not be the case, but they can't draw one now. Not without a lot more money, anyway. And when they do have a successful coach the lame Little Rock media (Democrat-Gazette, mostly) can be a regular, royal pain if the coach doesn't either suck up to or successfully ignore them.
Also, an interesting side-note is that Springdale, the richest public school in the state (or one of), had several football players and one of their coaches move up to the UofA team. That coach and those players left in disgust after this past season, and I don't know the details on that either, but I will be very interested to see how the football team does in the fall. I wouldn't be surprised to see Houston Nutt get kicked out the door ahead of Broyles' retirement, but again, I'm just a peanut-gallery spectator with little knowledge or understanding of the situation. I just know the program's decline has taken away some free fun for the po' folks.
Any Razorback fans (or anyone else) who can fill in or correct any of this post, please do. 5442. arkymalarky - 4/4/2007 7:09:39 PM Cool women's basketball story.
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