MIAMI – The latest edition of the Concacaf Club Rankings (CCR) features a new number one team as U.S. club Columbus Crew debuts in the top spot. Fellow Champions Cup finalists Pachuca rose to second overall while Club America and Monterrey, who previously commanded the top two spots, round out the top four. The Confederation launched a revamped rankings system earlier this year. Clubs gain points for results in official domestic league matches, regional cup matches, and Concacaf Champions Cup play. Further details explaining the rankings and how clubs earn points can be found here ..read more

To help with your enjoyment of the 150th running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs, I have delved into the stables hidden as a hay bale to get the best information for my dear readers. Had to avoid a near catastrophe and road apples with some horses! But here are my observations and choices from my sleuthing.    Updated Post Positions for the 150th Kentucky Derby presented by @WoodfordReserve. #9 Encino has scratched and #21 Epic Ride will run. #KyDerby pic.twitter.com/e22qC8vZYg — Kentucky Derby (@KentuckyDerby) April 30, 2024 How should I choose my horses for the Kentucky ..read more

The 150th running of the Kentucky Derby is today! We look back at what was happening 150 years ago in 1875! Some of my readers may remember back to their childhood!   The opera, CARMEN, shocked Paris! (And the composer, Bizet, died three months later at 36 years of age!) Ah, L’amour! In the FA Cup Final, the Royal Engineers defeated Old Etonians, 2-0, in a match that had to be repeated due to the first match ending in a draw! The REs avenged their loss to a lowly college team the year prior! (Oxford!) Getty Images The US Congress authorized the 20 cent coin. It lasted 3 years…longer th ..read more

BELLEVILLE, ON – The Cleveland Monsters beat the Belleville Senators 4-3 on Friday night at CAA Arena. With the win, the Monsters evened the North Division Semifinals best-of-five series 1-1. The Senators struck first in the opening frame with a goal from Wyatt Bongiovanni at 2:05, but Tyler Angle responded with a tally at 7:52 off assists from Jake Gaudet and Stefan Matteau to tie the game. Belleville’s Cole Reinhardt notched a marker at 15:20, but Gaudet recorded an unassisted goal at 16:39 sending the teams to the first intermission tied 2-2. Josh Dun ..read more

My college roommate shared a story with me awhile back about Zac Kristofak, a high school teammate of his son. I remember at the time thinking, “Wow, how do you overcome something as traumatic as this?” Well, Zac put aside the pain and sadness from his high school career and recently enjoyed his first experience pitching for the Angels last Sunday!   Zac’s line was 2 innings pitched, two unearned runs allowed, three hits, two KO’s and two walks in an 11-5 loss to the Twins. Zac’s Story   Three days before Christmas in Atlanta in 2012, Zac came home from HS baseball practice to a larg ..read more

Cleveland OH. – Well, that was fun. Without Jarrett Allen (bruised ribs), who has been their best player throughout the playoffs, the Cavs gutted out a win over the Orlando Magic, 104-103. A block from Evan Mobley with 3.2 seconds left sealed the deal and the Cavs now have an opportunity to close the Magic out on the road.  Tip Off! This game started with an energy from the crowd and Darius Garland scored 17 of his 23 points in the first quarter. “Shoot the damn ball” is what Donovan Mitchell said after the game when asked what he was telling Garland. Even Garland said he was in “Shoot f ..read more

COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio High School Athletic Association has announced the preliminary divisional breakdowns and regional tournament representation for the upcoming fall sports. The OHSAA Board of Directors approved the new divisions and tournament representation last week during its April board meeting, which included the previously announced football divisions and regions. The divisional assignments and regional tournament representation should be considered preliminary, as OHSAA member schools may opt to move up to Division I if Referendum Issue 1B passes this spring. Results of the ..read more

Munch Musings from E. 53rd Street and Hamm Avenue… Tonight the corner of Ontario and Huron will be rockin’ as the Cleveland Cavaliers host the Orlando Magic 8p tip off at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. What’s at stake? Not just winning game 5 in this best of 7 series, keeping home court but in turn in all probability taking Round 1 in this Eastern Conference match up but PRIDE! Yes indeed, pride for the players, Head Coach, coaching staff and organization plus for the FANS and the CITY! Let’s get this straight…if the team was as hurt, disgusted and upset as most of us were they will handle their ..read more

Here we go. Many you know the Dickens novel “A Tale of Two Cities” well this is a tale of two teams. Let’s talk good first since it is a glorious Sunday morning. No, I am not putting my head in the sand as Earle Bruce taught me years ago you do that, and you get your butt kicked. We’ll start with smiles! Let’s talk about a team worthy of their record and the SECOND-best record in baseball. A team that does not quit and plays for each other. A team that plays a brand of baseball instilled in them by a former Hall of Fame to be skipper. Yes the Cleveland Guardians! The Guards beat the ..read more

The Cleveland Browns are getting smarter in their old age. The Browns burst onto the draft board in this year’s NFL Draft by selecting defensive lineman Michael Hall at pick No. 54. They started turning that corner a year ago when they drove down Interstate 71 and came back with two Ohio State Buckeyes, Dawand Jones and Luke Wypler in the 2023 NFL Draft. That was the first time the Browns had taken more than one Buckeye in a previous draft in over 58 years. To top it off they signed undrafted Buckeye Ronnie Hickman too. Hickman ended up having a great rookie campaign in Cleveland. Hall a Brown ..read more