South Bend, Indiana; May 16, 2008

Uncle Ron’s Ramblings

Free Press Endorses Former Mayor of Carmel: It may be too late for a write-in vote, but the Free Press is endorsing former Mayor of Carmel, CA. Clint Eastwood for president. The former mayor doesn’t need to bother with press conferences or speeches because people know where he stands.

▪Q: “Mayor Eastwood, as president what would you tell your counterpart in the event of a missile crisis?”

▪A: “You’d look awfully funny with that missile shoved up your _ _ _.”

▪Q: “Mayor Eastwood, what do you have to say about your opponent?”

▪A: “Man’s got to know his limitations.”

▪Q: “Mayor Eastwood, as president how will you handle those members of Congress who don’t want to get behind your agenda?”

▪A: “There’s nothing like a good piece of hickory.”

(No prizes but extra credit if you can name which movies those quotes came from.)

Sports

South Florida Baseball 5, ND 4: Host South Florida got three runs in the bottom of the ninth, the final two coming on an error from junior Jeremy Barnes, to take the opener of their three-game Big East series.

The loss wasted an outstanding effort by starter David Phelps, who allowed just one earned in eight innings while striking out seven and walking one.

Evan Sharpley hit his 12 home run of the year in the fifth inning with a runner on board.

The Irish (33-17-1, 16-8) return to action tonight against the Bulls. Game time is 7:05 p.m.

Silver Hawks 5, Loons 3: Relievers Bryan Henry and Evan Scribner (third save) pitched three perfect innings to preserve the victory for visiting South Bend (16-21).

Henry took over for starter Jarrod Parker (W, 4-1) in the seventh inning. Scribner came on in the ninth to pick up the save.

The Hawks scored the winning runs in the sixth inning. First baseman Chance Wheeless led off with a home run—his second run of the game. Aaron Hanke followed with a single, stole second base, went to third on a wild pitch and scored on a single by Evan Frey.

The Hawks won the last three games of the series after losing the opener.

South Bend travels to Ft. Wayne for a four-game series, including a doubleheader tonight. The first game starts at 5 p.m. They return to the Cove Monday to face West Michigan.

Thursday NBA Playoff Scores: Spurs 99, Hornets 80 (Series tied 3-3).

Thursday NHL Playoff Scores: Flyers 4, Penguins 2 (Penguins lead 3-1).

Thursday MLB National League: Cubs 4, Padres 0; Dodgers 7, Brewers 2; Nationals 1, Mets 0; Pirates 11, Cardinals 5; Astros 8, Giants 7; Phillies 5, Braves 0; Marlins at Reds, PPD; Diamondbacks 8, Rockies 5.

Thursday MLB American League: White Sox 4, Angels 3; Indians 4, Athletics 2; Blue Jays 3, Twins 2 (11); Royals 8, Tigers 4; Rays 5, Yankees 2.

Thursday MLS Scores: Colorado 2, Real Salt Lake 0.

Thursday WNBA Exhibition Scores: No games scheduled.

Sorenstam Announces Retirement: Former number one lady golfer in the world Annika Sorenstam has announced that this will be her last season as a regular on the LPGA Tour.

Nation/World

Strong Aftershock Causes More Damages in China: A 5.9 aftershock in China’s Lixian County today triggered landslides that cut off roads and buried vehicles.

Rescue workers were already trying to deal with the damage from the 7.9-magnitude quake that hit China earlier this week.

Foreign rescue teams are arriving in China to assist the 130,000 troops deployed in the affected areas. The death toll is expected to rise to as many as 50,000 people.

California Supreme Court Legalizes Same-Sex Marriage: California’s Supreme Court has ruled that the state constitution gives gays the right to marry.

The Court made the ruling by a 4-3 count Thursday.

Weather

Today High 65 Low 49 Partly Cloudy

Sat High 63 Low 45 Partly Cloudy

Sun High 58 Low 41 Chance Rain

Mon High 61 Low 43 Chance Rain

Tue High 67 Low 47 Chance Rain

TV Schedule: 16—8-10 p.m., American Gladiators; 10 p.m., Dateline NBC; 22—8 p.m., Ghost Whisperer; 9 p.m., Moonlight; 10 p.m., Numbers; 25—8-10 p.m., Smackdown; 10-11 p.m., Seinfeld (two episodes); 28—8-10 p.m., Dodge Ball: A True Underdog Story; 10 p.m., Fox 28 News; 46—8 p.m., Lester Sumrall Teaching; 8:30 p.m.; LESEA In Action; 9 p.m., Harvest; 10 p.m., Berean Seventh Day Adventist; 10:30 p.m., Joyce Meyer Ministries; 57—8-10 p.m., America’s Funniest Home Videos; 10 p.m., 20/20; 69—8-10 p.m., The Kid; 10 p.m., Andy Griffith Show; 10:30 p.m., Twilight Zone.

Today’s Birthdays: William Seward (1801-72); Henry Fonda (1905-83); Liberace (1919-87); jazz singer Betty Carter (1930-88); Olga Korbut (53); Tori Spelling (35).

Deaths On This Date: choreographer June Taylor (2004); Mad cartoonist Dave Berg (2002); Jim Henson (1990); Sammy Davis, Jr. (1990); Sheik Hassan Khaled of Lebanon (1989); Margaret Hamilton (wicked witch of the west, 1985); Andy Kaufman (1984); Irwin Shaw (“Rich Man, Poor Man”, 1984); Eliot Ness (1957); Max Brand (1944).