Daily Dosage: Trojans Busted!

What kind of blogger would I be if I didn't make a Trojan joke after last night's upset.

A bad one, that's what kind.

Today's eye candy (by request) is Kelly Clarkson. I'm a fan.

You readers out there are lucky because you're going to get greeted with an extended session of "Dosage."

I hope you're prepared. I know Big Papi is.

Chi-Town Choke Fest Pt. I. A part of me is bothered that manager Lou Piniella continues to send out the Iowa Cubs to play Major League Baseball teams, but it almost worked two nights in a row.

Unfortunately for the Chicago/Iowa Cubs, the real Bobby Howry showed up, Koyie Hill did his best Michael Barrett impression by blowing the tag on Ryan Church and Micah Hoffpauir (despite two home runs) proved not to be Derrek Lee in the bottom of the ninth.

In the end, both Carlos Beltran helped my fantasy team by delivering a game winning single off Kevin Hart (not the comedian) to complete a 7-6 come-from-behind win for the New York Metrosexuals.

Jose Reyes, who scored the winning run, also swiped a bag that inning.

Thanks.

Chi-Town Choke Fest Pt. II. Karma strikes again for a certain Chicago White Sox fan who will go nameless.

A Chicago White Sox fan who texted me after the Iowa Cubs loss must not have been happy with the way his team bit the bullet against the Minnesota Twins, who now sit in first place in the AL Central with three games remaining.

Gavin Floyd (another one of my fantasy studs) was stellar Thursday, but Bobby Jenks (who pitched in the eighth, ninth and tenth innings) gave up the lead and then the game.

The Sox have three games against the Cleveland Indians, including the potential season-finale against Cy Young hopefuly (and another fantasy stud...no wonder I'm winning in championship week) Cliff Lee.

As for the Twinkies, they get three against the Kansas City Royals.

'25 Years Later' comes to a close. This has been a fun week of stories, covering the 25th anniversary of the 1983 National Champion SIU Salukis football team.

The players seem to be genuinely excited about returning to Carbondale.

Apparently, one of my stories has gone missing online. I'll find it, 'til then, check these stories out.

25 Years Later: 1983 team recalls championship season [Daily Egyptian]
25 Years Later: Dempsey, Johnson recall fond memories of SIU [Daily Egyptian]

What 2 Watch 4

• Red Sox vs. Yankees (Fri., Sat. & Sun.) It'll be the last time these two acquaintances meet, unless Bud Selig creates a stipulation that allows the Yanks to participate in postseason play.
• Alabama vs. Georgia (Sat.) If the Bulldogs win, they should regain the No.1 ranking in both polls. If Alabama wins, there will be a celebration at a mother f*cking funeral. If the game isn't played, it's because of a gas shortage. I blame all those rappers with their SUVs!
• Mets vs. Marlins (Fri. Sat. & Sun.) Nobody cares that Shea Stadium is closing its doors, too. Evidence? Where's the ESPN nut hugging of Shea? Don't worry, I'll wait.
  
• Ravens vs. Steelers (Mon.) Bart Scott is apparently going to kill Hines Ward. Even though Ward is one of my fantasy team's best receiving options, Scott is an SIU alum. I side with No. 52. He's a bad ass!

Quality Linkage:

• Absolutely classless stuff at this Seattle Seahawks message board. [Deadspin]
• Engineer: head-first slide is faster. [Eurkalert] Baseball afficianados like me: no it isnt'!
• "Latent racism in baseball" [The Big Lead]
• Welcome to the blogosphere, Lil' Wayne [ESPN] Reeemix baaaaby!!!!!
• Cedric Benson's boating charges are dropped. [Statesman] White women in Texas are happy. I'm not (because they're not with me).
• The best team in the NL is also the funniest. [Funny or Die]
• Big Papi's bed isn't popular. [Red Sox Monster] Jonathan Papelbon would like to disagree.

The Week In Review:

• Cedric Benson over Marion Barber and Brandon Jacobs. Sounds like a fireable offense to me. [Chicago Bears 2005: Worst. Draft. Ever]
  
• Adios, Shareef. Hello Western Conference summer recap. [Farewell to King Rahim and Grading the West]
• F*ck those mother f*cking New York Metro-f*cking-sexuals. [Bleep The Mets]

Thank you for supporting The Big Dead Sidebar. We promise to be better next week.

Maybe.

Daily Dosage: The Teaser

Have you ever seen the movie 'The Girl Next Door' starring today's eye candy, Elisha Cuthbert.

It's great, and if you're a twentysomething like me, you'd probably like it.

The problem is that she doesn't get naked - check that - that's not the problem because Cuthbert's beauty can stand on its own mertis. However, the movie continuously hints that she's going to get naked eventually.

What a tease.

Kinda like the 2008 Chicago White Sox. I'll get to them shortly.

On with the Dosage.

Whoever wins today leaves with the AL Central lead. No matter how you cut it, that's how it's gonna go down today at the Hump Dome.

The Minnesota Twins defeated the Chicago White Sox, 3-2, Wednesday night, cutting the ChiSox's division lead to 1/2 game.

In a sign of bad things, Twins catcher Joe Mauer went 0-for-4 in the win ... with 2 RBIs.

That's painful but it could be worse.

Did I mention it could be worse because here come the Mets. Don't worry though, they won't harm you.

The New York Mets' 9-6 loss (in 10 innings) to the Chicago Cubs was heart-wrenching in every sense of the word, especially if you're a fan of the Metros.

The Mets left more men in scoring position than the teaser at the end of the bar.

Yeah, I went there.

And the Cubs dodged bullets time after time and eventually won the game behind a bloop RBI double by Derrek Lee and a blast two-run home run by Aramis Ramirez.

Part III of the 25 Years Later Series. Two things will always be remembered about the 1983 SIU football team that won the Division I-AA national championship. Terry Taylor's block to preserve the 17-14 win against Eastern Illinois University and the Salukis' 28-6 loss to Wichita State in the final regular season game of the year.

The loss knocked them out of conference title contention, but it didn't matter. After giving up 28 points to the Shockers, SIU only allowed a total of 21 points to its next three opponents.

Check it out at siuDE.com.

25 Years Later: 1983 team recalls championship season [Daily Egyptian]

Quality Linkage:

• The NCAA is asleep at the wheel. [Yahoo!] I remember when that used to be an infraction.
• Headline: Man sentenced for attempted pimping. [mlive] I hope "attempted pimping" isn't a crime, because my only excuse would be the "failed pimping" excuse.
• Somebody got into Bobby Petrino's Gmail account. [The Dead Guy's SEC Site] That reminds me, don't leave your Facebook account open on your computer.
• Dating tips from Texas Tech head football coach Mike Leach [The Wiz of Odds] Honestly, that's the best dating advice I've gotten in a while. I wonder what kind of advice Chris Lowery or Dale Lennon could give me. I'm pretty sure Phil Longo would encourage me to cook a hearty Italian meal (everyone knows I got the flame Chicken Parmasean).

Enough editorializing for one night. I'll be back later with posts (hopefully).

Daily Dosage: Home Sweet Home

Today's eye candy is Erika Christensen. Who is she? I don't know. I began writing today's dosage at 12:28 a.m. and was needing a girl.

My buddy Anthony told me to go with her and I took his advice. It turned out much better than Sunday night's advice of extra "Ninja Turtle Shots."

On the other hand, I wouldn't mind taking a shot (or ten) with her.

It seems like it has been forever since I've done a shameless self cross-promotion, so I'll get to that in the Dosage.

A 'Grand' Marquis helps Cubs clinch home field. Perennial whipping boy Jason Marquis did everything in his power - yes, power - to help the Cubs clinch home field advantage throughout the National League playoffs in the North Siders' 9-5 win against the New York Metrosexuals.

Marquis went 1-for-3 with five RBIs, four of which came with one swing of the bat, deep into the New York night. Derrek Lee also homered as the Cubs topped the Mets, who would be the Cubs first round opponent if the playoffs started tomorrow.

Don't worry, they don't.

Marquis pitched 6.2 innings, scattering eight hits and allowing four earned runs. His road record now stands at 7-3 this season. Keep that in mind, Cubs fans.

25 Years Later: Part One. This story is part one of today's shameless self cross-promotion and will by my baby throughout the week.

The 2008 season of SIU football marks the 25th anniversary of the Salukis' NCAA Division 1-AA National Championship season. The Dawgs went 13-1 to bring a title to Carbondale.

Today's feature is about the relationship between head coach Rey Dempsey and quarterback Rick Johnson.

Johnson described Dempsey as a disciplinarian and a master motivator that helped guide the Salukis to the title.

Dempsey described Johnson as the perfect quarterback for a team that took years to build to that point because of his smarts and skills.

25 Years Late: Dempsey, Johnson recall fond memories of SIU [Daily Egyptian]

No ordinary Joe: Versatile Allaria catching passes. This story is part two of today's shameless self cross-promotion.

After losing out on the QB derby, SIU sophomore Joe Allaria has been practicing as a wide receiver, and is expected to see more time in the slot as the season goes on.

I first reported the story Sept. 10, and even though Allaria had fielded punts during summer training camp, the wide receiver experiment has just begun.

It's not like SIU hasn't done this trick before. Justin Allen, one of SIU's top receivers last year, was a converted QB after Nick Hill took control of the everyday No. 1 responsibilities.

Versaitle Allaria adapts to receiver. [Daily Egyptian]

Quality Linkage:

• Can you believe Steve Phillips gets paid to predict the Seattle Mariners winning 90+ games. [Vegas Watch]
• A White Sox fan is happy the Cubs clinched. [1 Happy St]
• Media fight! [The Big Lead]
• Right kick, wrong time? [Deadspin]
• Why I like girls from the state of Ohio [With Leather]

For more news, see siuDE.com

Don't ask questions. Just do it. Now!