South Bend, Indiana; September 5, 2008

Uncle Ron's Ramblings

"Love" Takes a Holiday: Bad news for Jennifer Love Hewitt fans (I know, there's a political convention going on. I'll get to it). He show "Ghost Whisperer" is being preempted by a special called "Stand Up To Cancer." It will be shown on NBC, CBS, and ABC at 8 p.m. tonight.

If they'd had a cure for cancer in 1969 my father might have lived to see Jennifer Love Hewitt or at least the first granddaughter who was on the way at the time. He'd have enjoyed both of them, although perhaps the latter a little bit more.

McCain Pledges Chance: Like his Democratic counterpart Barack Obama, Republican presidential nominee John McCain also pledged change in his acceptance speech last night.

The oldest nominee of a major party at 72, McCain touted his experience and preached a message of bipartisanship. I remember last week when Obama did that the spirit of bipartisanship lasted until the first political ad. I'm sure it was the same way for the GOP (I didn't stay up to watch; I did read the excerpt of the speech). Elections are not about bipartisanship.

They criticized McCain running mate Sarah Palin for support or lack of same in regard to Alaska Senator Ted Steven's infamous "Bridge To Nowhere." Palin was (still is) the Alaska governor at the time the project was being funded and built. She was accused of being "not entirely honest."

Unfortunately, entirely honest political candidates are seldom elected except possibly at the local level.

McCain could not have been blamed for ignoring the first couple, but he thanked President George and First Lady Laura Bush. He did misspeak and call Mrs. Bush the president's "bride of 63 years." If that were true the couple would have had to wed in nursery school.

McCain also paid tribute to his former rivals, calling them "leaders of great ability."

Free Press Sports

Silver Hawks Playoff Game Postponed: Silver Hawk-Whitecaps playoff game was postponed due to bad weather last night.

The next two games will be tomorrow and Sunday at West Michigan. Both games are scheduled for 7:05 p.m.

MLB NL: Cubs idle (Cub lead 5 games due to Brewer loss); Padres 5, Brewers 2; Reds 8, Pirates 6; Braves 2, Nationals 0.

MLB AL: White Sox idle (ChiSox lead Twins by 1.5 games due to Twin loss); Blue Jays 9, Twins 0; Rays 7, Yankees 5; Angels 7, Tigers 1; Royals 9-5, Athletics 4-6 (First game 10 innings).

MLS Scores: Colorado Rapids 1, FC Dallas 0.

WNBA Scores: Storm 70, Sky 62.

NFL Scores: Giants 16, Redskins 7.

NCAA Football Scores: Vanderbilt 24, South Carolina 17; Nicholls St.-New Mexico PPD.

NFL Notes: Retirement Announced—Daunte Culpepper retires; Jaguars—Jag backup OT Richard Collier gradually improving after shooting; Bengals—Chad Johnson changes name to Chad Ocho Cinco; Giants—Giants WR Plaxico Burress signs 2-year extension; Cowboys—Terence Newman injury could make Pacman starter; Bills—Bills to honor Kevin Everett at opener; former tight end recovering from paralysis.

Other Sports Notes: Cubs—Zambrano has shoulder tendenitis; LHP Sean Marshall to start in Z's place; Rich Harden out 15 days with right shoulder strain; LPGA—LPGA law requiring English fluency by 2009 may be illegal; OSU—Buckeye star TB Chris "Beanie" Wells out for Ohio U. game Saturday with foot injury; Penn St.—Paterno suspends three players for Saturday for misbehavior.

U.S. Open Tennis: Andy Roddick, the last American male in the U.S. Open, was eliminated 6-2, 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (5) by Novak Djokovic in the quarterfinals. Four-time Open champ Roger Federer advances to the semifinals in three sets.

The women's semifinals will feature Serena Williams vs. Dinara Sarina and Jelena Jankovic vs. Elena Dementieva. The men's semis will feature Federer vs. Djokovic and Rafael Nadal vs. Britain's Andy Murray.

Weather

Today High 70 Low 52 Mostly Cloudy

Sat High 72 Low 52 Partly Cloudy

Sun High 76 Low 56 Partly Cloudy

Mon High 74 Low 54 Chance Storms

Tue High 72 Low 52 Partly Cloudy

TV Schedule: 16—8 p.m., Stand Up To Cancer; 9 p.m., 2008 NFL Kickoff Show; 10 p.m., Dateline NBC; 22—8 p.m., Stand Up To Cancer; 9 p.m., CBS Fall Preview; 9:30 p.m., New Adventures Of Old Christine; 10 p.m., Swingtown; 25—8-10 p.m., Smackdown; 10 p.m., Seinfeld (two episodes; first episode features the Soup Nazi); 28—8-10 p.m., Are You Smarter Than a 5^th Grader (two-hour episode); 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 Church; 10:30 p.m., Joyce Meyer; 57—8 p.m., Stand Up To Cancer; 9 p.m., America's Funniest Home Videos; 10 p.m., 20/20; 69—8 p.m., The Academy; 9 p.m., Paradise Hotel 2; 10 p.m., Adventures Of Superman (1950;s version, two episodes).