Morning Jolt: August 19, 2011
Friday, August 19
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Merriman stopped, nothing confiscated
Shawne Merriman took to social media to deny a report that he was in possession of steroids at the U.S./Canada border just before training camp. [Merriman] on Thursday acknowledged he was stopped at the border coming from Canada before training camp but said there was no problem with the crossing. "No problem," Merriman said. ... "They just wanted to go through all my stuff." Asked if anything was confiscated from his possession, Merriman said, "No, un-uh. I had stuff coming to camp. They went through all my suitcases and that was it." Rumors about Merriman being stopped at the border, and having some containers confiscated, have been circulating among some Buffalo governmental offices for weeks and hit the Internet on Wednesday. (The Buffalo News)Comment
Ed Norton wants Ripken as O's GM and manager
Add O's fan Edward Norton, who turned 42 on Thursday, to those who believe in Cal Ripken. What does he want for his birthday? For [Ripken] to come save his Orioles. "Thanks for all the nice messages. People have been asking what I want for my birthday. This:" Norton wrote on Twitter, linking to a site asking for donations for the Maasai Wilderness Conservation Trust. He added: "And for Cal Ripken to come back and be Manager and GM of the Orioles and revive our poor team." Norton is going to have to wait at least another year for his birthday wish to get fulfilled. Ripken said on Wednesday that he's a year or two away from seriously considering a return to the major leagues. (The Baltimore Sun)Comment
Kings aiming to raise $20M through surcharges
The city has a plan. Surcharges on everything from tickets to hot dogs could raise as much as $20 million a year toward construction of a new downtown Sacramento sports arena, Mayor Kevin Johnson's task force said today. Those user fees could wind up generating more than half the money needed to pay for the arena, according to a report released today by the Think Big Sacramento task force. The report, labeled "highly preliminary," outlines a broad range of fees that could be tacked on arena users. An "illustrative case study" shows that ticketbuyers could pay surcharges ranging from $4 to $12 apiece, for example. The task force is trying to patch together a series of funding sources with the understanding that taxpayers would never agree to a general tax increase to fund the railyard arena. (Sacramento Bee)Comment
Must-See Photo
Two volunteers dressed up as Universiade mascots ''UU'' act taekwondo during the first day of taekwondo at the 26th Summer Universiade in Shenzhen, a city of south China's Guangdong Province. (ZUMAPRESS.com)
Must-See Video
Shaquille O'Neal proposes to Betty White. Check out her response.
Game To Watch
Redskins at Colts, 7 p.m. ET
- Washington Redskins
- Indianapolis Colts
SI Vault: More Brooklyn Dodgers
This Day in Sports
- 1957 -- By a vote of 9-1, the New York Giants' Board of Directors agree to move the team -- led by star outfielder Willie Mays -- to San Francisco, joining the Brooklyn Dodgers, which agreed to relocate to Los Angeles.
- 1992 -- Mariner second baseman Bret Boone -- the grandson of Ray Boone (1948-60) and son of Bob Boone (1972-90) -- makes a start against the Orioles, becoming part of the first three-generation family to play in the major leagues.
- 1997 -- New York Yankee third baseman Wade Boggs pitches a scoreless inning against Anaheim.
