Showing posts with label NCAA. Show all posts
Showing posts with label NCAA. Show all posts

Sunday, March 12, 2023

CBS NCAA March Madness Theme (2021) - present

Friday, December 19, 2014

Charli XCX Rocks Today;Porter Wagoner's Life;Penn State Volleyball

Charli XCX appeared on the Today Show's Concert Series Wedenesday morning.She and her all-girl band performed her hit "Break The Rules,"which was posted in this blog last week.Charli was up to the challenge of performing before 9 a.m.Her dance moves were frenetic as ever at that early hour.A small number of fans watched her indoor performance in the studio,while several hundred others watched on screens outdoors.*
I've never really had a five-year plan,Charli said.It's just sort of waiting to see what happens.
The new album "Sucker" is kind of more raw,more wild than anything I've ever had before.It's kind of a punk feel,more guitar-led.I was working at Westlake Studios in Los Angeles when I wrote "Break The Rules."I wrote it in the parking lot on my phone.I can't wait for everyone to hear my new album.*
Porter Wagoner was a native of West Plains,Missouri.He began his career while working as a meat cutter in his hometown.On the side,he started a band called The Blue Ridge Boys,which played on the local radio stations.RCA Victor eventually signed him to a contract.
His TV career started in 1955 on ABC-TV with the show "Ozark Jubilee."In 1957,he joined the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville.He toured the rural towns extensively,playing outdoors at their American Legion posts,typically performing on makeshift stages while the audience sat on wooden benches.Every one of his eighty-one records reached the charts.
Wagoner began his iconic "Porter Wagoner Show" in 1960,and it ran for an incredible 21 years,drawing up to three million viewers,including my own father and myself.Bear in mind that America had a much smaller population in those days.He hired Dolly Parton,a native of the Great Smoky Mountains in Tennessee,to be his duet partner in 1967.She had literally been born and raised in a log cabin.They recorded several hits together,including "Someone I Used To Know,"which is posted in this blog.Wagoner and Parton,both of whom were already married,stayed together until 1974,when Parton broke away to have a solo career.This caused a breach in their relationship,but they reconciled in the late 1980s,performing together several more times until Wagoner died of lung cancer in 2007 at the age of 80.
Wagoner was married twice and was the father of three.Parton has been married to the same man,Carl Dean,for nearly 50 years.She turns 69 in January and has sold more than 100 million recordings and downloads.*
The number five Penn State Lady Lions upset the top-seeded Stanford Cardinal in the semifinals of the NCAA Women's Volleyball Championship Thursday night.They will meet the unseeded Brigham Young University Cougars at Oklahoma City on Saturday night.The Lady Lions were led by their star Megan Courtney,who had 23 kills and 16 digs.They are seeking a record seventh championship.So far,they have won six out of nine championships.

Saturday, March 29, 2014

Demi Lovato;Selena Gomez;Michigan State

Today's videos feature two American women who happen to be close friends.Demi(Demetria) Lovato and Selena Gomez are both 21,and both are of Mexican descent.
Lovato is a native of Albuquerque,New Mexico,while Gomez hails from Grand Prairie,Texas.
The two Christians met as child stars on the "Barney&Friends" TV set,then graduated to the Disney Channel,starring together in the TV movie "Princess Protection Program."Lovato is currently appearing in the fifth season of "Glee,"and Gomez has been doing film work in "Behaving Badly,"scheduled for a September 2014 release.
They have a huge fan base,with many being fans of both artists.Both stars have been in rehab for one reason or another.
Of the two,Lovato is the power singer,said to have a full voice range of three octaves above middle C.It's a talent that commands so much respect,I wanted to share at least two of her videos."Give Your Heart A Break" is a live TV performance from 2012 of Lovato's colossal hit from her third album "Unbroken,"while "Let It Go" is the official single from the Disney blockbuster "Frozen."It was posted to YouTube four months ago and had 112,898,696 views as of Thursday afternoon.
Gomez's "Come&Get It" from her first solo LP "Stars Dance"(2013)is fascinating in that it draws on Indian influences.The video affords a spectacular natural setting for Gomez's sultry hit,which had 225,046,104 views.The album debuted at number one on the Billboard chart.*
In NCAA men's basketball,number one Virginia was sent home by number four Michigan State Firday night at Madison Square Garden.The Spartans slipped by the Cavaliers 61-59,led by Brandon Davison's 24 points.Joe Harris and Malcolm Brogden scored 17 points each for Virginia.The Cavs were slightly less accurate with their free throws.

Friday, March 29, 2013

Knicks Cruise Past Bobcats;March Madness Upsets

The New York Knicks cruised past the Charlotte Bobcats Friday night at Madison Square Garden,111-102.The Knicks brought their record up to 45-26 on the season,having already clinched a spot in the NBA Playoffs,while the Bobcats fell to a dismal 17-55.
Leading the Knicks effort were J.R. Smith with his 37 points,2 rebounds,1 assist and 1 block;and Carmelo Anthony,who scored 32 points,along with 11 rebounds and 2 assists.The Bobcats were supported by Gerald Henderson,who notched 35 points,7 rebounds and 3 assists.
The crowd of 19,033 at the Garden also honored Knicks great Walt Frazier on his birthday before the game.MSG announcer Mike Breen and reporter Jill Martin presented Frazier,beaming in a desert camo suit,with his bobblehead doll likeness.
Upsets at the NCAA Basketball Tournament included the following:
4 Michigan 87,1 Kansas 85
3 Marquette 71,2 Miami 61
4 Syracuse 61,1 Indiana 50
15 Florida Gulf Coast University lost to 3 Florida 62-50 Friday night,ending their improbable advance up the bracket.
In PGA golf at the Shell Houston Open in Humble,Texas,second round standings were as follows:
Steve Wheatcroft(USA) -10
Jason Kokrak(USA) -9
DA Points(USA) -9
Brian Davis(England) -7
Stewart Cink(USA) -7
Bill Haas(USA) -7
Angel Cabrera(Argentina) -6
Cameron Tringale(USA) -6
Henrik Stenson(Sweden) -5
Brendon de Jonge(Zimbabwe) -5

Friday, March 22, 2013

NCAA March Madness Surprises;Fallen Oaks Golf

The experts are being proved wrong at the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament,which rivets sports fans' attention this time of year.Former NBA star and TBS commentator Charles Barkley says it is the most wide open NCAA Tournament he has ever seen.Friday's upsets:
12 Mississippi 57,5 Wisconsin 46
9 Temple 76,8 NC State 72;
13 La Salle 63,4 Kansas State 61
15 Florida Gulf Coast 78,2 Georgetown 68
10 Iowa State 76,7 Notre Dame 58
11 Minnesota 83,6 UCLA 63
At the Mississippi Gulf Resort Classic at the Fallen Oak Golf Course near Biloxi,windy conditions confronted the Champions Tour golfers,a brisk breeze whipping the flags.Topping the first round leader board and sharing first place at three under par were:
Hal Sutton(USA)
Steve Elkington(Australia)
Corey Pavin(USA)
Roger Chapman(Kenya)
A rare tornado hit Australia at Mulwala,New South Wales.The twister tossed large chunks of debris around.Only about 16 tornadoes a year occur in Australia,near the coastline.Southern Hemisphere tornadoes swirl in a clockwise direction,while Northern Hemisphere cyclones blow counterclockwise,The Weather Channel pointed out.

Friday, November 16, 2012

Grizzlies Replace Knicks;Air Force Earns Bowl

A spate of late games delayed publication tonight.At FedEx Forum in Memphis,the Memphis Grizzlies knocked the New York Knicks out of top position in the NBA and seized it for themselves with their 105-95 victory.Down by 21 points in the fourth period,the Knicks reduced that gulf to eight points,but couldn't close the deal.Shooting was lackluster by the Knicks,who had come into the game with a 6-0 record.
Leading the Knicks was Raymond Felton with his 18 points and 3 rebounds;Zack Randolph notched 20 points and 15 rebounds for the Grizzlies.At 7-1,the Grizzlies have a 4-0 record at home.The Knicks continue to top their Atlantic Division,with the Brooklyn Nets being second at 4-2.
In college football,Air Force dominated Hawaii 21-7 at the US Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs,earning bowl eligibility for a school record 6th straight season.The Falcons scored all their points on the ground;indeed,they didn't throw one pass the entire game.Cody Goetz ran for one touchdown,while Wes Cobb added two more.
Goetz says he is mocked for his diminutive stature by opponents,but they shut up when he runs the football into the end zone.He is able to hurtle over them.
Air Force held Hawaii to zero first down conversions in the second half.They are expected to play in the Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl on December 29 in Fort Worth,Texas.

Friday, March 23, 2012

NCAA:Ohio Almost Prevails;So Too the Market

The Ohio Bobcats almost dealt the North Carolina Tarheels' hopes a fatal blow Friday night at the NCAA Midwest Region semifinals in St.Louis.Walter Offut could have scored a 3-point shot to win the game for Ohio,but,in the end,he missed and the Bobcats had to settle for a 2-point that sent the game into overtime.
This put a great burden on the Bobcats and they were unable to deliver,already tired by the effort needed to match the #1 Tar Heels.North Carolina won 73-65,led by Tyler Zeller and his hefty 20-point,22-rebound performance.
Disappointing home sales figures,as well as concern over slower Chinese and European growth,held the stock market back this week.The S&P 500 Index slid 0.50% on the week,although still up a strong 11.09% on the year.Next week will see few reports.Durable goods orders and personal income and spending numbers will be evaluated.On Friday evening,the S&P futures climbed a modest 5.20,and bond index futures also made an ascent.
Update:North Carolina will play Kansas on Sunday at 5:05 pm Eastern on CBS.

Friday, March 16, 2012

Lehigh Upends Apple Cart;Market Smiles

The Lehigh University Mountain Hawks dismissed the expert opinion Friday evening when they handled the Duke Blue Devils 75-70 at the NCAA college basketball tournament at Greensboro,North Carolina.Lehigh,the number 15 seed,upended number 2-ranked Duke's apple cart with strong defensive play and a superior proficiency in 3-point shots of 33.3% versus 23.1%.The two teams had identical regular season records of 27-7.
Also sustained by the performance of number 5 NCAA scorer C.J. McCollum's 30 points,the Mountain Hawks gave the entire Lehigh Valley of Pennsylvania one of the happiest memories of their lives.They also greatly pleased University of North Carolina fans who loudly cheered them on,detesting rival Duke University's team.
Lehigh coach Brett Reed said they ignored the prognosticators and just believed in themselves.Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski felt that his team wasn't a juggernaut.In fact,they hadn't been doing well offensively the last few weeks of the season.
It wasn't just our doing,he added-they played that well.
The stock market also excelled this week,with the S&P 500 Index posting a weekly gain of 2.43% on a decline in new filings for jobless benefits,as well as solid manufacturing reports.On the year,the S&P is up 11.65%.
Next week,the market will evaluate housing numbers,plus earnings reports from General Mills,Oracle and FedEx.The S&P futures tacked on 2.50 Friday evening,while bond index futures slipped in price.
General Mills(GIS),Oracle(ORCL),FedEx(FDX)

Friday, December 16, 2011

Market Restrained By Europe;Sam Houston State Advances

A positive Philly Fed manufacturing report wasn't enough to bolster the market this week.The S&P fell 2.80 on the week as the Fitch ratings agency reaffirmed its doubts about both European and U.S. banks and put several small countries on credit watch negative.Trading is still distressingly thin as a mood of caution sweeps the market towards the end of the year-if not the end of the world.
Nonetheless,a highly entertaining college football game took minds off this Friday night in Huntsville,Texas,where the Sam Houston State Bearkats edged the Montana Grizzlies 31-28 in a semifinal of the NCAA Division I Championship.The Grizzlies had come back from a 21-0 deficit,but the Bearkats' outstanding running back Tim Flanders ensured their victory with his 287 yards of rushing.The final will be held at Pizza Hut Park in Frisco,Texas on January 7,when the Bearkats will play either Georgia Southern or North Dakota State.
American teen Lexi Thompson,who is all of sweet 16,holds a one stroke lead at the Omega Dubai Ladies Masters,the final event of the year on the Ladies European Tour.She is angling for her first career win on the Tour,having earned her first career win on the LPGA Tour three months ago.Sweden's veteran golfer Sophie Gustafson,38,a 14-time
European Tour tournament winner,is second on the leader board.
The S&P futures declined slightly Friday evening,losing a further 0.80,while bond index futures were on the upswing.
Update:The poised and well-spoken Lexi Thompson went on to win the Omega Dubai Ladies Masters with a final round five under par 67.She became the youngest player ever to win a Ladies European Tour tournament,matching the same distinction she had achieved in the LPGA earlier in the year.South Africa's Lee Anne Pace came in second at Dubai,while Sophie Gustafson finished third in this final event of the season.

Friday, December 9, 2011

Euro-zone Leaders Agree;Montana Grizzlies Win

Leaders of 17 European nations which use the Euro as their currency have agreed to a series of measures designed to prevent the current debt crisis from occurring again;the U.K. rejected the pact,and several other European countries are studying it further.This contented the stock market for now,sending the major averages up on the week.The Dow gained 1.37%,while the S&P rose 0.88 and the NASDAQ added 0.76.The S&P remains slightly down on the year at -0.19.
In college football,the Montana Grizzlies drew on boisterous hometown support at Washington Grizzly Stadium in Missoula to take a quarterfinal game in the NCAA Division I Championship series,crushing the Northern Iowa Panthers 48-10.Student fans cheered on concrete during the game,having destroyed the seats in their enthusiasm.The Grizzlies will play the winner of the Montana State and Sam Houston State quarterfinal match-up for the title.Fireworks were launched in celebration and a gigantic M was lit up on the mountain behind the stadium at elevation 700 feet.It was 23 degrees F at game time,but the Grizzlies went bare-armed anyway.
In golf,Spaniard Alvaro Quiros leads the Dubai World Championship through two rounds at the Earth Course of the Jumeirah Golf Estates in the United Arab Emirates with a twelve under par 64.Luke Donald of England,the current world number one,is in contention to capture the overall European Tour title at the tournament.
Next week,Wall Street will continue to monitor European developments,as well as an OPEC oil cartel meeting in Vienna on Wednesday.FedEx and General Mills will report their earnings.The S&P futures were up a strong 22.80 on Friday evening,while bond index futures declined.
FedEx(FDX),General Mills(GIS)

Friday, December 31, 2010

New Years Eve Edition

A good-natured crowd waits for the Waterford crystal ball to descend at 11:59 PM in Times Square as Mayor Michael Bloomberg pushes the button.
Confetti already falls-a test?.
Mayor Bloomberg was bitterly criticized for the lengthy snow-removal process,but all is clear tonight in Times Square.John Lennon's "Imagine" is sung to a crowd getting excired in their Nivea top hats.
A policeman takes pictures for people in the happy crowd-a lot of joy for 2011.Toshiba red.A neighbor sets off firecrackers.Happy New Year
The S&P futures are down 1.50,and Treasury bond and note futures rise in price,showing a slight lack of confidence in Monday morning.The holidays are ending,after all.Back to work at Toshiba!
At play in the last hours of 2010,Number 2 Ohio State dominated Indiana 85-67 in Big Ten basketball.