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| Policeman with Toledo ties killed in Florida FORT MYERS, Fla. - A former Monclova Township man who became a police officer so he and his wife could save up and go to Thailand as missionaries was shot and killed after police were called to a disturbance outside a downtown nightclub early yesterday. Rookie Officer Andrew Widman, 30, was shot in the face at close range after he stepped in to break up a dispute between a man and his girlfriend at about 2 a.m., police Maj. Doug Baker said. The suspect, identified as 26-year-old Abel Arango of Naples, ran from the scene while firing at other officers, Major Baker said. Four officers returned fire, killing Arango. Witnesses told police that before Officer Widman arrived at the scene, Arango said "he was going to go out Miami-style, and he was going to take one of our officers with him," Major Baker said at a news conference. Arango was an ex-convict who was free on bond while awaiting trial on drug and probation violation charges. Fort Myers city Councilman Johnny Streets, a former police officer, told the News-Press of Fort Myers that the last time the department lost an officer to a shooting was in 1924. Mr. Widman and his wife, Susanna, had three children - a son, who turned 4 on April 30; a daughter, 2, and an infant. "While being a police officer wasn't his first career choice, he had all the compassion that would enable him to be a great police officer," said Mary Brack, executive director of Grace Church, 3700 Dorr St. in Toledo, where Officer Widman led the college ministry for about two years until 2005. "If you think of one of the characteristics of a police officer is as a peacemaker, Andy fit that bill," Mrs. Brack said. "I can't imagine what Susanna is going through with three young children." The couple lived in Monclova Township with his parents, Joseph and Martha Widman, until 2005, when they moved to Florida to be near his wife's parents, Grace Church Pastor Doug Rumschlag said. In Toledo, they were raising money from area churches for their ultimate goal - to become missionaries to Thailand. After they moved, they sought support from congregations in Florida. Officer Widman was self-employed at first, taking repair and construction-related jobs, as he had in the Toledo area. "The opportunity to join the police force came along, and that meant more steady income, and he took that opportunity," said Pastor Rumschlag, who knew Officer Widman for about 15 years. "Andy just had a real heart for God's word, and he wanted to be a missionary and especially felt called to Thailand," Mr. Rumschlag said. "He was heading that way." Officer Widman already had done missionary work in Asia. He was a graduate of Toledo Christian School. He received a bachelor's degree from Toccoa Falls College in Georgia, where he met his wife. He then went to Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in Boston, where he received a master's degree in theology, Mr. Rumschlag said. Back at Grace, he was hired as a college-age ministry leader. "He had a tremendous impact on the lives of young people," Mr. Rumschlag said. "And he especially was incredible at ministering to young married folk and helped them get through the kind of common struggles that young folk have. "He had tremendous potential. He was a great speaker. He had a real hold on the Bible and what the Bible had to say. He was a leader. I love this young man. He was an incredible guy," the pastor said. "He's going to be greatly missed. The world could use a whole lot of guys like Andy. He was a difference-maker." At the Widman home in Monclova Township, a woman who identified herself as an aunt said: "Our family is in deep shock at this time, we thank everyone for their support and ask that we have some private time to make the arrangements to be with his wife and children." He joined the police department in April, 2007, Major Baker said. "He was a good guy," Major Baker said. "He'll be missed by his peers." Mayor Jim Humphrey said it was "one of the saddest days in the life of this city." Councilman Streets said: "A piece of America died today. A piece was plucked out of the flag." According to the Florida Department of Corrections, Arango spent more than four years in prison on convictions for burglary, robbery, grand theft, and carrying a concealed weapon. He was released on March 1, 2004. In May, he was charged with violating probation on those convictions after he was arrested on drug charges. His attorney said he was free on $100,000 bond. |
| Outside look at Lucas County Improvement Corp. eyed by Wozniak Lucas County Commissioner Tina Skeldon Wozniak is calling for an independent review of the Lucas County Improvement Corp., and she wants former University of Toledo President Dan Johnson to lead the effort. Ms. Wozniak, who has voted in the past to continue funding for the beleaguered county economic development agency, outlined her proposal yesterday for a five-member, independent "action agency" in a letter to the LCIC. The letter was sent shortly after her fellow commissioner, Ben Konop, called in a press conference for the dismantling of the agency. "It seems like we're having news conferences and news conferences about the LCIC, and nothing seems to change," said Ms. Wozniak, president of the board of commissioners. "They haven't created any jobs - the news conferences - and I don't think they're helping the people who are out of work." She said she hoped an independent review could "take the political football out of the equation" and produce a clear-eyed view of how the agency is functioning and whether its model should be continued. "The bottom line is, we can't abandon the government role to economic development," Ms. Wozniak said. "I'm hopeful that this can occur quickly and can be efficient and effective." The LCIC is a "community improvement corporation" that has existed for decades, but in 2005, Commissioner Pete Gerken moved to empower it to conduct all economic development for the county. In theory, the agency would combine the efforts of the county, the city of Toledo, and surrounding communities to be a single voice for the region to attract and retain businesses. In practice, the agency has struggled with controversy over the last year, which even its supporters concede has hindered its ability to function. Its director, Shawn Ferguson, resigned his position in October, and the city of Toledo has pulled most of its funding for the operation. Mr. Konop has been adamant in his opposition to the agency, and has voted against its funding several times. Mr. Gerken, who is on the LCIC's executive committee, and Mr. Konop found themselves in a rare agreement - albeit for opposite reasons - regarding Ms. Wozniak's proposal, with both expressing skepticism. Mr. Gerken claimed the LCIC should focus only on moving forward, while Mr. Konop claimed no review was necessary to declare the agency a failure. "I think anyone who has sat on the LCIC for several years, like Commissioner Wozniak, and objectively looks at its performance and its use of over a million dollars of taxpayer money - I think one's mind should pretty well be made up by now. I think the idea of having another commissioner look into a committee and offer a report is probably redundant," Mr. Konop said. "I wouldn't define this as leadership." He said he will present a resolution Tuesday to dissolve the LCIC and shift economic development back to the county commissioners, with a drastic cut in budget. The resolution is similar to one Mr. Konop presented to the commissioners in January, which Ms. Wozniak and Mr. Gerken voted down. Mr. Gerken said he felt public pressure surrounding the agency in the past few months has been review enough, and he wanted to see the agency move forward. "I think there's really a consensus, with everyone except Mr. Konop, that this is a model that can work, that people can start buying into," Mr. Gerken said. "I'm about results, not study." It is not clear whether there will be a vote on Ms. Wozniak's proposal. She said she believed that Mr. Johnson could move forward and create a committee, with the four other members appointed by the board of commissioners. Mr. Johnson could not be reached for comment. Ms. Wozniak said she did not want to see taxpayer money spent on the review and expected it could be passed quickly. On Thursday, LCIC Board President Rob Robinson sent in a letter of resignation, claiming his involvement as CEO of an intellectual property development firm could pose a conflict of interest with his role at the LCIC. Mr. Konop sent the agency a letter asking for a report of results - including a list of the companies contacted for attraction to Lucas County - shortly before the resignation letter was sent. Mr. Robinson strongly denied Mr. Konop's suggestion that the letter forced his ouster. "That couldn't be farther from the truth, that couldn't be farther than accurate," Mr. Robinson said, claiming he didn't know anything about the letter until after he resigned. But he had harsh words for Mr. Konop, claiming he has made work at the LCIC more difficult for political reasons. "We tried to work with him," he said. "I think he's someone who believes in his heart the things he is doing. But you have to learn to play on a team. You can't just be a vigilante." At his press conference, Mr. Konop said he wouldn't reply to statements from Mr. Robinson. "I don't think it's productive to get into personal attacks," Mr. Konop said. Contact Alex M. Parker at: aparker@theblade.com or 419-724-6107. |
| Police investigating shooting death of man, 19 Police are continuing to investigate a murder of a 19-year-old man who was fatally shot late Friday at the St. Thomas Aquinas Church Festival in East Toledo. The man, Kenneth Kimble, was pronounced dead upon arrival at St. Charles Mercy Hospital, said Charlie Hunt, an investigator with the Lucas County Coroner's Office. Mr. Kimble was shot at Idaho and White streets after a fight with another person at the festival about 10:10 p.m., police said. Detective Bob Schroeder said there are varying accounts of what occurred prior to the shooting. Several witnesses have reported that there were about five to six black males on one side of the street and about a dozen Hispanic males on the other. "Some witnesses have said it was gang-related," the detective said, stressing he could not make that conclusion at this point. Detective Schroeder said the street was "wall to wall" with people when the shooting occurred, sending people running and screaming in panic. "It was mayhem," he said. Police also have sketchy descriptions of a suspect who was described as a small, Hispanic male, wearing a white T-shirt. A news release from the St. Thomas Aquinas Festival announced that beginning Saturday night, children under the age of 18 will not be allowed on the festival grounds after 8 p.m. unless they are accompanied by a parent or guardian. The release states that the tragedy that occurred near the festival Friday night "deeply concerns and saddens us." It goes on to state that providing a safe environment for all those in attendance has always been, and remains a primary objective for the festival. The festival continues Sunday. Article appeared in earlier editions of The Blade and toledoblade.com. Man, 19, killed at East Toledo church festival A 19-year-old man was shot to death at the St. Thomas Aquinas Church Festival in East Toledo last night. The man, Kenneth Kimble, was pronounced dead upon arrival at St. Charles Mercy Hospital, said Charlie Hunt, an investigator with the Lucas County Coroner's Office. The man was shot at Idaho and White streets after a fight with another person at the festival about 10:30 p.m., authorities said. It was the 11th homicide in the city of Toledo this year. This is the 40th year of the St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church festival, making it one of the longest-running church festivals in the Toledo area. |
| Authorities identify race-car driver who was killed Authorities Saturday morning identified the race-car drive killed Friday night at Toledo Speedway as 36-year-old Terry Gibson. He was killed when four cars collided and his car hit a wall at about 110 mph, officials said. It is believed to be the second fatality of a driver in the track's history, and the first since June, 2000. Friday night's crash occurred around 7:45 p.m. in Turn 1 at the half-mile track, according to Lucas County coroner's investigator Charlie Hunt. The driver was pronounced dead at the scene. It was the first race of the evening and fans said the crash occurred on the third lap of the race in the Super Modified division. Article appeared in earlier editions of The Blade and toledoblade.com. Toledo Speedway driver killed when race car slams into wall A race-car driver was killed last night at Toledo Speedway when four cars collided and the driver hit a wall at about 110 mph, officials said. The name of the driver was not released. It is believed to be the second fatality of a driver in the tracks history, and the first since June, 2000. Last nights crash occurred around 7:45 p.m. in Turn 1 at the half-mile track, according to Lucas County coroners investigator Charlie Hunt. The driver was pronounced dead at the scene. It was the first race of the evening and fans said the crash occurred on the third lap of the race in the Super Modified division. Super Modifieds are recognizable by their giant wings on top that provide downforce. They typically have 800-horsepower engines and weigh less than 2,000 pounds. Mr. Hunt said that after the four cars collided, the car in which the driver was killed spun out and its rear hit the wall. He said an autopsy was pending. One spectator, Jimmy Tucker, 18, of Mt. Clemens, Mich., who races as a hobby, said, It didnt look too bad, but its the ones that dont look bad that always are. Its kind of a reality check. Any driver knows what can happen out there. Scott Schultz, Toledo Speedways manager, said last night about 10 p.m. that he had no information on the accident and that racing had resumed. Were still running races here, he said. Toledo Speedway, on Benore Road in north Toledo, opened in 1960. In the 2000 fatal crash, Scott Baker, 43, of Holland, Mich., was killed when his car struck a bank of tires four laps from the finish line in a 150-lap race. A concession operator was killed at Toledo Speedway in August, 1978, when he tried to cross the track and was hit by several cars going more than 100 mph. Another man was electrocuted at the track in September, 1996, when he touched a live wire while attempting to hang a race sign on a utility pole. |
| 2 men shot during fight outside west Toledo club One man was shot in the chest and another in the hand during a fight late Friday outside of a club in West Toledo, police said. Marquis Mack, of Fernwood Avenue, was taken to St. Vincent Mercy Medical Center, where a nursing supervisor said she had no information on a patient by that name. Police said Mr. Mack, who was shot in the chest, is in critical condition. The other victim, Eric Boatman, of Norwood Avenue, took himself to St. Vincent, where a nursing supervisor said she had no information on a patient by that name. Police responded to Club Rock’s, 5020 Lewis Ave., about 2:10 a.m. on reports of a person shot. Upon arrival, officers encountered a large crowd of people fighting. Mr. Mack was found lying in the parking lot adjacent to the club, suffering from a gunshot wound. Officers later stopped a vehicle matching the suspects’ descriptions, but it is unknown at this time if they were involved in the shooting, police said. |
| Local rower gave his all for sport, city Pete Bentley, Jr., was a proud ambassador for Toledo through the sport of rowing, and he will be dearly missed by rowers and nonrowers alike. Pete was a man of substantial accomplishments in both business and engineering, but it was his accolades in rowing of which he was most proud. He knew many moments of victory in rowing as a young man at Yale University and throughout his long rowing career as an international competitor. He came from the generation of no excuses, no "if onlys." Luck and chance do not play a part in rowing. Preparation and perseverance win races. It was the inspiration of the rowing races, the regattas themselves, that drove Pete not only to compete year after year, but to continually improve his rowing stroke even at the age of 79. He regularly touted the health and wellness benefits of this lifetime sport. Although Phil LeBoutillier is credited with reviving rowing as a sport in Toledo, Pete will be remembered for carrying on the strong tradition of Toledo rowing into the next century with the same mentality of hard work, commitment, and energy that had sustained the Toledo Rowing Club thus far. As chairman of the building committee, Pete oversaw the construction of the Philip LeBoutillier, Jr., Memorial Boathouse. He and others (ably led by then-Toledo Rowing Foundation President Steve Monro) paved the way for a successful capital campaign to ensure a legacy for rowing in Toledo. He gave the Toledo Rowing Club and the Toledo Rowing Foundation a "Power 10" - his best 10 strokes. (Note: A "Power 10" is a rowing command that the coxswain calls for the crew to take a certain number of power strokes. A power stroke is a stroke that musters all the strength you can give.) Susan K. Zurawski Masters Rower Toledo Rowing Club Valley Brook Drive Judicial activism is in beholder's eye The Blade's June 29 editorial on the Supreme Court gun ruling mentioned how "if a liberal judge had performed a similar [action], the word 'activist' would be ringing throughout the land. So would 'legislating from the bench'." How true. I recall first hearing such accusations years ago, and thought that it sounded like a fair complaint. Judges shouldn't be activists or legislate from the bench. As the years went by, I noticed a pattern: Any judicial decision conservatives don't like is "activist" and "legislating from the bench;" any decision they like is "a brilliant decision based on law and/or the Constitution." The day after The Blade editorial, a Mona Charen column assessed this and another recent Supreme Court decision [striking down the death penalty for the rape of a child] as "shooting straight" on one decision and "missing the mark" on another. One needn't even read the column to be assured of which decision was labeled as which. Paul Chad Bowling Green Women should control own fertility Women should control their own fertility. If you are a legislator or judge of the male gender, that does not include you. SARAH MAXWELL Archbold |
| Kirk - Mayor's courts |
| End HIV immigration ban IT'S time for the United States to end its 21-year-long ban on people with HIV visiting or immigrating to the country. The ban is wrong and discriminatory. It was first implemented in 1987, when the public was understandably fearful about the newly identified virus, which can cause AIDS. But now, with considerably more known about the treatment and prevention of this still-incurable affliction, a bipartisan effort to repeal the ban has properly begun. Despite an attempt to block it, the Senate last week approved repeal of a law barring HIV-positive visitors and immigrants from entering the country. This provision should be retained in conference committee with the House to ensure it is part of the final legislation sent to the White House for President Bush's signature. Democrat John Kerry of Massachusetts and Republican Gordon Smith of Oregon co-sponsored the measure, which was tacked onto legislation tripling spending - up to $48 billion over the next five years - for a much-acclaimed program that fights AIDS and other diseases in Africa and other parts of the world. The Kerry-Smith amendment would make HIV equivalent to other communicable diseases for which terms for admission to the country are set by medical and public health experts at the Health and Human Services Department rather than consular officials. HIV is the only medical condition explicitly listed under immigration law. "There's no excuse for a law that stigmatizes a particular disease," said Mr. Kerry, adding that people with avian flu or the Ebola virus have an easier time than those with HIV in getting a visa. Repealing the blanket ban still would require those with the disease to demonstrate that they have the resources to live as permanent residents and would not become a "public charge." Some 160 health and AIDS advocacy groups sent a letter to Congress urging lawmakers to end the policy. It noted that the International Conference on AIDS has not been held on U.S. soil since 1993 because of the ban, and the law has blocked "health-care professionals, researchers, and other exceptionally talented people" from coming to America. Even China, Mr. Kerry said, decided recently to change its immigration policy and to "move beyond an antiquated, knee-jerk reaction" of shunning people with HIV. As he put it, the United States should end a ban "adopted during a time of widespread fear and ignorance" that has long since passed. |
| Justice assured THE cult of death known as the Manson family perpetrated one of the most heinous crimes in the history of California, if not the nation: the killings of actress Sharon Tate and six others in 1969. Besides the mastermind, Charles Manson, Susan Atkins was among the most culpable. It was Atkins who, deaf to pleas for mercy, stabbed to death Ms. Tate, who was 8 1/2 months pregnant, tasted her blood, and used it to write "Pig" on the door of the Tate home. After spending nearly her entire adult life in prison, Atkins is dying of brain cancer and sought a compassionate release from prison so she can spend her last months with family and friends. "Susan has served a life sentence," her sister-in-law argued. "This is about her death." That is wrong on all counts, and last week the California Board of Parole Hearings wisely agreed. The board's denial of release for Atkins was about justice and it upheld an important principle: If the death penalty can't be applied, society needs to be assured that murderers aren't ever going to get out to enjoy the taste of life and freedom denied their victims in the grave. |
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push Not to put you off your breakfast, but more Americans are reporting that they are obese, according to figures released by the Centers for Disease Control. Between 2005 and 2007, the number of U.S. adults who self-reported they were obese increased nearly 2 percent. Given that obesity is a major risk factor for chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes, stroke, and heart disease, this upward trend in a national epidemic is discouraging if not frightening. The CDC data comes from a state-based telephone survey of adults aged 18 years and older with more than 350,000 adults interviewed each year. From this sample, it is estimated that 25.6 percent of adults in this country are obese. Obesity is defined as a body mass index of 30 or above. If it's any consolation, this part of the country isn't No. 1 in obesity, despite cheese steaks, fries on sandwiches, and the like. It's the South that leads the fattest of the fat, with 27 percent of respondents classified as obese. But, in truth, the news is bad all round. All 50 states and the District of Columbia have failed to achieve the goal of the national program known as Healthy People 2010 to reduce obesity prevalence to 15 percent or less. Maybe you should push away from the table - now. |
| Black holds off Gold; Dottei figures in 3 TDs in Regional All-Star game For the second year in a row the Regional All-Star football game - established 18 years ago by the Perrysburg High athletic boosters - proved a hit on the road. A turnout of approximately 2,000 showed up at Whitmer High School last night and witnessed the Black team hold off the Gold in the final seconds for a 22-15 triumph. The Gold's late comeback attempt with less than a minute to play came up three yards short when a host of Black squad defenders tripped up Gold running back Casey Meridieth at the 3-yard line with four seconds remaining in the game. Time expired before the Gold team - without any timeouts remaining - could run another play. "We're just fortunate they didn't have anymore timeouts left," said Tom Ferguson, the retired Rossford coach, representing the Black squad coaching staff. "It was a great ballgame from a coach's standpoint or even a fan's point of view. Both teams played outstanding." Donnie Dottei, The Blade's player of the year last season, made good on his final opportunity playing on his home field. The Ashland University-bound quarterback figured in on all three of the Black team's offensive scores, throwing touchdown passes of 8 and 10 yards and rushing for a one-yarder. "It was just a lot of fun getting back out there with my Whitmer boys," said Dottei, who was one of four Panther graduates on the Black team. "We wanted to win it and we wouldn't have wanted it any other way." The game-deciding touchdown came in the third quarter when Dottei connected on a 10-yard touchdown pass to tight end Alex Renner, a Southview graduate who will also attend Ashland in the fall. "It was nice to have a chance to give an Ashland preview," said Renner, of his touchdown reception that resulted in the Black squad leading 22-8 heading into the fourth quarter. "Luckily Donnie saw me in the end zone." Trailing 14-8 at the half, the Gold team was held scoreless in the third quarter before Meridieth, quarterback Jordan Jackacki of Maumee, and wideout Jimmy Davidson of Findlay, sparked a scoring drive in the fourth quarter. Meridieth came through with a three-yard touchdown run with 7:16 left in the game and Mike Biniecki added the extra point to make it a 22-15 contest. But the Gold couldn't complete its last drive of the game, which was set up by a fumble recovery by defensive back Levi Smith, of Fostoria St. Wendelin. "I think the guys had a good time and that was the most important thing," said Edgerton coach Kevin Kline, who shared the head coaching duties for the Gold team with Libbey coach Eric Henderson. "It's amazing how close you become as a team in one week. It was a heartbreaker. We really wanted to win. We could have caved early, but we didn't and we fought back." The Black squad's defensive unit made it clear it was ready to play from the outset. It registered the first points of the game by recording a safety on the Gold's first play from scrimmage. Swanton's Greg Yunker, Woodmore's Aaron Wright and Evergreen's Josh Beaverson brought down Meridieth, of Northview, two yards deep in the end zone for a safety with 10 minutes, 40 seconds left in the first quarter. Napoleon's Ryan Fleck set up the opportunity when he punted 43 yards down to the Gold's 3-yard line. "You always want to win and you never want to lose," said Fleck, a two-time Division II state high jump champion headed to Auburn University. "I was just happy to do my part." The Black squad's offense came through with a couple more scores before the first half expired to give the Black team a 14-8 halftime edge. Dottei, led the Black squad on two scoring drives in the first half. He capped a five-play, 54-yard scoring drive for the Black team by connecting with Zeke Keesbury, of Fairview, on an eight-yard TD completion to make it 8-0 with 4:16 left in the first quarter. Montpelier's Eric Thompson was wide right on the extra-point attempt. The Gold squad bounced back in the second quarter and tied the score at 8-8 when Ryan Ball, of St. John's Jesuit, broke through the Black squad's defensive line untouched on his way to a 29-yard touchdown run with 9:52 remaining in the second quarter. Contact Donald Emmons at: demmons@theblade.com or 419-724-6302. |
| Ortiz belts another as Mud Hens lose PAWTUCKET, R.I. - David Ortiz did it again, much to the chagrin of the Toledo Mud Hens. Ortiz, who's on a rehab assignment with the Pawtucket Red Sox, ignited a seven-run fourth inning Thursday night with a solo home run and the PawSox routed the Mud Hens 15-6. Pawtucket led 3-1 in the fifth inning last night when Ortiz walked to the plate with two on and one out. Anastacio Martinez tried to slip a 1-1 fastball on the outside corner past Ortiz and Boston's all-star designated hitter crushed it into the left-field berm for a three-run homer that keyed a 6-1 victory. The game was called with one out in the bottom of the seventh inning after a 45-minute delay when a rain storm and lightning rendered the field unplayable. Ironically, Ortiz was working on taking pitches the other way during batting practice. "Normally when I'm hitting, my game plan is to use the whole field," Ortiz said. "You've got to work on that in batting practice, obviously, so you can have it when you're in the game. "Everybody knows that I'm the kind of guy that everybody tries to get me out away, so I've got to work on that." Even more noteworthy was the fact that Pawtucket had runners on second and third in the fifth but Toledo manager Larry Parrish opted to pitch to Ortiz instead of issue an intentional walk. "In a normal situation I probably would have walked [Ortiz] and tried to get a double play," Parrish said. "We wanted to try and make a pitch and see if we could get him out. But, obviously, he took advantage of it." Toledo's Martinez (2-2), who pitched for Pawtucket in all or part of three seasons from 2003-05, and Devern Hansack (5-9) gave every indication they would hook up in a pitcher's duel as they cruised through the first three innings. That changed in the fourth when Ortiz drew a leadoff walk and Chris Carter and Dusty Brown followed with singles to load the bases. Jeff Corsaletti, who was playing in only his second Triple-A game, lined a shot to center that Clete Thomas misplayed into a two-run double (Thomas broke in and then reversed direction). But Martinez avoided further damage thanks to a pair of dubious decisions by the PawSox. Brown ran through a stop sign at third base and was thrown out on a relay from Thomas to shortstop Michael Holliman to catcher Max St-Pierre. Then, Corsaletti tried to steal third and St-Pierre threw him out by a foot. Toledo got one run back in the fifth when Holliman snapped a 2-for-22 slump by belting his 13th home run. But that paled in comparison with what Pawtucket did in the fifth. Pawtucket sandwiched walks to Gil Velazquez and Jeff Bailey around a strikeout of Jonathan Van Every, and Joe Thurston ripped an RBI double down the right field line for a 3-1 lead. That brought up Ortiz who did what he does best, hit clutch home runs. Hansack, meanwhile, was virtually untouchable. Other than Holliman's homer, the only other Mud Hen to reach base was Thomas, who doubled in the second. Hansack thus allowed the one run on two hits and no walks, and fanned eight. "We've played pretty good here the first three innings both nights," Parrish said with a smile. "I told the umpire at third that we were going to play the first three innings and take a siesta and start over again. "Basically, we didn't do anything tonight." |
| Perrysburg native has active fantasy life Craig Davis rolls out of bed each morning, fires up his computer, and begins researching the latest happenings in professional football. He'll exchange e-mails and phone calls with other football enthusiasts throughout the day, and often won't call it quits until it's time for bed. Is Davis a slacker? No. Does he have a job? Yes, and this is it. Davis, a Perrysburg native, is the president of FantasyPlanet.com, a company devoted to something that was once a hobby and has since evolved into big business. Davis oversees the operations of FantasyFootball.com, FantasyRacing.com, and FantasyBaseball.com, which are derived from FantasyPlanet. Davis is also the publisher of the company's football magazine. "I never imagined in a million years that there would be a full-time job for a fantasy sports Web site," said Davis, 34. To say Davis plays games all day would be underestimating his influence in the sports world. Like a president in any competitive industry, Davis is constantly working the phones to promote his company and to obtain marketing dollars. He's also trying to create innovative ideas to offer his clients what his rivals cannot. Still sound like all fun and games? On an average day, Davis spends no less than 10 hours in his home office in Oklahoma City, while pulling double-duty as a husband and a father of four. "My wife used to joke about how I play for a living," Davis said. "But now she sees what I do, and I think she has a new respect for it." Davis never had visions of doing this, mainly because it wasn't an option until recently. He aspired to be a sports radio personality, and in truth, that is still his goal. As a student at Perrysburg (he graduated in 1991), Davis interned at 93Q before attending Oklahoma Christian University, where he played baseball and worked in student radio. After taking a job in Hobart, Okla., Davis was hired to do a sports talk show in Lawton, Okla., and lost his job when the station was sold on the last day of 1999. He was out of work for seven months when a friend from church offered Davis the president position of a newly formed fantasy football Web site. It was an interesting proposition, to say the least. "It's almost like God took me in a different direction," Davis said. "I enjoy what I do, I can't complain, but someday I'd like to be a play-by-play announcer for a pro sports team." Davis turns away about 100 applications a year from people wanting to write for the site. With a finger on the industry's pulse, Davis recruits some of the best minds to work for him, both from a writing standpoint and visual technology. Unique to FantasyPlanet are customized cheat sheets that factor a player's value based on the specifications of a certain league, as well as a chat in which clients can receive immediate advice from Davis and others. "Everybody is playing these days," said Ryan Brooks, the vice president of operations for FantasyPlanet. "The last research I saw said 11 percent are females. We get a lot of new fans because of the generic domain name." Pressed for some drafting advice, Davis said to not overvalue players. In other words, one can be set up for success by resisting the temptation of drafting a superstar in the first two rounds when someone of similar talent will be available later on. He said he usually wins at least one of his leagues each season. "But the odds are pretty good of me winning because last year I was in 14 leagues," he said. "That's too many. I think I'm going to scale back and do no more than eight this year." Work comes first. Contact Ryan Autullo at: rautullo@theblade.com. |
| Robinson dominates Hopple in Toledo women's match play Sally Robinson can still recall the uneasiness she felt while winning her first Toledo Women's District Golf Association Match Play championship in 1988. But details of her subsequent titles are beginning to run together. On the 20th anniversary of her initial TWDGA championship, Robinson claimed No. 8 yesterday morning in a 5-and-3 victory at Heather Downs Country Club. Robinson, 49, defeated Pat Hopple in a repeat final from the previous two years. "The first one is awfully special because I had never done it before, but it's very satisfying to still be playing at a high level," Robinson said. Robinson topped Hopple in 2006 before Hopple evened the score last year on her home course at Sylvania Country Club. The outcome of the rubber match was never in doubt after Robinson took a four-hole advantage after five. Match play ends when a lead is insurmountable. "I love the fact that I have been able to win a few tournaments in my career," Robinson said. "I keep trying to add to that." In the consolation finals of the 16-person bracket, Diane Rich outlasted Jeanne Moon 4-and-2. Mary Cowan and Donna Cantello won the "A" and "B" flights, respectively, on Thursday. Robinson had six birdies, including on hole 15 when Hopple conceded the point - and essentially the match - after she hit into the water on her third shot. Robinson was already on the green in two. "When you're putting well it overcomes any mistakes you make because you feel like you can make everything," said Robinson, a teacher at Byrnedale Middle School. "That's why I went a little long on a few of those on the backside." Hopple, meanwhile, struggled to beat Robinson to the green. Hopple said it took her best effort last year to defeat Robinson, and yesterday, she simply didn't have enough. "Sally is a strong player," Hopple said. "She's been doing this for a while. She's hard to beat. I got myself into a hole that I couldn't get out of." Robinson is a member at Chippewa Golf Course in Curtis, but she lives just five minutes from Heather Downs and plays here often, which probably gave her an edge yesterday. Whichever course Robinson happens to be using on a given day, she is almost certain to be found joking with her playing partners, breaking only when someone is preparing to strike a ball. Robinson's eccentric personality may not mesh with the serenity of a golf course, but she's certainly earned the right to behave in such a manner. "I don't know if I know any other way to play," she said. "A lot of people get really serious. I can be serious - maybe when I'm sleeping. You're out there for so long you can't really focus 100 percent for the whole four or five hours. I do have a tendency to talk and laugh too much." Contact Ryan Autullo at: rautullo@theblade.com. |
| Scott's HRs too much for Tigers BALTIMORE - After sputtering into the All-Star break in a 1-for-21 slump, Luke Scott assured Baltimore Orioles manager Dave Trembley there was no reason to worry. According to Trembley, Scott said, "I'll get hot the second half. It's always been that way with me in my career." Scott backed up those words last night, hitting two home runs to lead the Orioles past the Detroit Tigers 7-4. Obtained from the Houston Astros in December, Scott has endured an up-and-down season with the Orioles. He was batting .324 on April 26, .262 on May 10, .281 on June 17, and .254 at the break. "Everyone goes through it," Scott said of his hot-and-cold streaks. "I'm not immune to it. No one's immune to it. You've just got to take the highs with the lows. I believe that a big second half is coming." Scott hit a solo shot in the second inning off Armando Galarraga and a game-clinching, two-run drive off Bobby Seay in the eighth. It was his second multihomer game of the season and fourth of his career. Aubrey Huff and Melvin Mora also homered for the Orioles, who won for only the second time in 10 games. Ivan Rodriguez went 4-for-4 with a homer and two RBIs for the Tigers. Detroit went down in order only once but hit into three double plays and was 4-for-15 with runners in scoring position. "When you get 14 hits," Tigers manager Jim Leyland said, "you're supposed to get more than four runs." Detroit's lack of clutch hitting, along with Baltimore's four home runs, was too much for the Tigers to overcome. "Both played a big factor," left fielder Matt Joyce said. "Those home runs, they killed us. And you've got to score runs." Down 4-3, the Orioles rallied in the sixth against Galarraga (7-4). After Huff led off with a single, Mora hit a high drive down the line that bounced off the top of the left-field foul pole. "You don't see it hit the top very often," Joyce said. "I was shocked." It was Mora's 13th homer and second in two games. "I'm happy it hit the pole. If it wasn't for that, I think they were going to call foul ball," he said. Singles by Placido Polanco and Joyce leading off the seventh chased Baltimore starter Jeremy Guthrie (6-7). Chad Bradford then got Magglio Ordonez to hit into a double play before Miguel Cabrera grounded out. After Detroit stranded a runner at second in the eighth against Jim Johnson, George Sherrill got three outs for his 29th save. Guthrie won his third straight decision despite giving up four runs and a career-high 12 hits. Galarraga, who allowed eight hits and five runs in 62/3 innings, is winless in five starts since June 18. "Every bad pitch he threw, he paid for it," Leyland said. Even the good pitches proved costly for Galarraga. In the first inning, the right-hander got Adam Jones to hit a popup that shortstop Edgar Rentaria dropped. Nick Markakis followed with an RBI double. Rodriguez hit a two-run homer in the second, the first of his five this season with a runner on. Scott countered in the bottom half. Detroit loaded the bases with one out in the third before Ordonez hit into a double play. Huff connected in the Orioles' half, his fifth homer in 13 games. He has 19 for the season, four more than he hit all last year. The Tigers again filled the bases in the fourth, but this time they cashed in. Brandon Inge hit a run-scoring grounder before Curtis Granderson doubled in a run to make it 4-3. NOTES: Guthrie has allowed a team-high 16 home runs, one more than Daniel Cabrera. ... Ordonez went 2-for-5 to lift his career batting average at Camden Yards to .336. ... Jones has reached base safely in 18 consecutive games. ... Seay's streak of 10 straight scoreless outings ended. |
| Pawtucket crushes Hens with 5 homers PAWTUCKET, R.I. - Playing the team with the International League's best record, which also is the team that ranks second in home runs and first in ERA is one thing. But playing the Pawtucket Red Sox with a "ringer" in their lineup is another. That was the challenge confronting the Toledo Mud Hens last night at McCoy Stadium as they came out on the short end of a 15-6 score. Boston's all-star DH, David Ortiz, who's been on the disabled list since June 3 with a torn tendon sheath in his left wrist, commenced a rehab assignment by igniting a seven-run, fourth-inning explosion. Ortiz led off by roping a 1-2 fastball from Virgil Vasquez (6-9) into the visitors' bullpen in right field. Before the carnage ended, Pawtucket had strafed Vasquez for seven hits, including two-run homers by George Kottaras and Jeff Bailey. "It was like [Vasquez] got rattled," manager Larry Parrish said. "It was a tight ball game and it was like he didn't want to give up one to Ortiz. When he did, he couldn't get it back mentally." While Pawtucket raked Toledo pitching for 14 hits, and a total of five home runs, the Mud Hens were stifled by Edgar Martinez (4-1). Martinez allowed three runs on four hits and two walks and fanned five. Toledo's Brent Clevlen hit home runs in the seventh and eighth to sandwich the Hens' other seventh-inning runs. After Clete Thomas singled and Fernando Seguignol walked, Justin Masterson replaced Martinez. Toledo loaded the bases on Erik Almonte's single and Derek Wathan belted a grand slam. Freddy Guzman's double in the first and his single in the fourth were the only hits Martinez allowed through 61/3 innings as he faced only two batters over the minimum. And to add insult to injury, Martinez picked off Guzman. Jeremy Johnson, who relieved Vasquez in the fourth - and "retired" Ortiz on a rocket to first base - didn't fare any better as Pawtucket tagged him for seven runs (six earned) on five hits. Jonathan Van Every's three-run homer highlighted a four-run fifth and Chris Carter's two-run shot in the sixth, after Ortiz drew a leadoff walk, upped Pawtucket's lead to a 13-0. "They've got some guys in their lineup who can swing the bat," Parrish said. "Van Every's got 24 homers batting ninth. And the same thing with the guy leading off [Bailey]. You never see a leadoff guy and a No. 9 hitter both have 20 homers. "You're going to have to make good pitches. I thought Vasquez was up the whole game but he got away with some of them because of the shadows in the first three innings. After that, they started hitting that high pitch." The crowd got Ortiz charged up by chanting "Papi!" "That's my game," Ortiz said outside the PawSox clubhouse, meeting with reporters in the seventh inning. "It feels good to be able to swing like that after an injury when I couldn't hold onto my bat." Ortiz popped up to shortstop in his first time up before hitting the homer in the fourth. "That's exactly what happens at Fenway," Ortiz said. "When they start chanting your name, it pumps you up and puts you in the mood." The crowd of 11,460 - there are only 10,031 seats at McCoy Stadium - was the fifth-largest in the ballpark's history. "We could have sold 20,000 tickets to this one," said PawSox spokesman Bill Wanless, who noted that there was extra attention because the Red Sox had the night off and because Ortiz had never played in Pawtucket before, having come up through the minors in the Twins' system. The Associated Press contributed to this report. |
| IL all-stars blow lead in ninth LOUISVILLE A.J. Ellis hit a two-run double to cap a ninth-inning rally by the Pacific Coast League and it held off the International League 6-5 in the Triple-A All-Star game last night. For most of the night the PCL hitters hardly seemed inspired playing a few blocks away from the home of the Louisville Slugger. The PCL managed three hits and appeared off balance through eight innings. The IL wasnt much better as the teams combined for an All-Star record 23 strikeouts. Still, the IL seemed to have things in control after plating two runs in the bottom of the seventh behind Andrew McCutchens RBI infield single and a fielders choice RBI by the Mud Hens Mike Hessman. The IL sent the Hens Blaine Neal to close it out. Neal, one of six players in the game who will play for Team USA in the Summer Olympics next month, has converted 23 of 25 save opportunities this year. But he didnt come close against the PCLs top hitters. Nick Stavinoha led off with a hit, then scored three batters later on a single by Jamie DAntona. A single by Matt Brown tied the game, and Matt Saccomanno gave the PCL the lead on a single up the middle. By the time Ellis, a catcher for the Las Vegas 51s playing an hour from his hometown of Lexington, Ky., hit his double to center, it appeared to be more than enough for the PCL. Then the IL rallied for three in the bottom of the ninth, including a two-run homer by Chris Carter. But Luis Pena, who earned the win, got Jonathan Van Every to fly out to right to end it. Neal gave up six runs, five earned, four hits, a walk and a strikeout while recording just one out and taking the loss. The appearance marked the first time all year Neal gave up more than two hits in a game all season. McCutchen, named the IL player of the game, finished with two hits and Joe Thurston added three for the IL. Brown, the PCL player of the game, had two hits and an RBI. Hens outfielder Brent Clevlen was 1 for 4 while Hessman went 0 for 5 with an RBI. |
| 2 Mud Hens to represent U.S. in Olympics Two Toledo Mud Hens will represent the United States in the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Third baseman Mike Hessman and closer Blaine Neal, who are both in Louisville, Ky., for tonight's Triple-A All-Star game, were chosen for Team USA manager Davey Johnson's final roster. Hessman, 30, leads the International League with 30 homers. Neal, 30, leads the IL with 23 saves. Both will make their first appearances as Olympians. "It's an honor for both of them to be selected," said Dave Dombrowski, general manager for the Detroit Tigers. "It's a tremendous honor when anybody is selected to represent their country in the Olympics, which is why in my career we've never stood in a player's way in those situations. "The only way we would stand in a player's way is if for their health, going to the Olympics wasn't the right thing to do. Being the major league club, there are mixed feelings that sometimes go into these things because for our minor league affiliates, the Olympics don't carry the best timing. But we want to honor the individual's wishes, and it's ultimately their decision to make." Also on Johnson's 24-man roster is outfielder Matt LaPorta, the key component for the Cleveland Indians in the deal they made to send CC Sabathia to Milwaukee. Team USA has its first exhibition game Aug. 1 in North Carolina against Canada. Olympic play lasts from Aug. 13-23. |
| Tigers sending Thomas back to Hens The Tigers optioned outfielder Clete Thomas to Toledo to make room for Magglio Ordonez, who will come off the disabled list for Detroit's game in Baltimore tomorrow. Thomas, who is batting .284 with a homer, nine doubles, a triple and nine RBIs in 40 games with the Tigers is rejoining the Hens' regular roster for the second time this year. Toledo will resume its schedule after the All-Star break tomorrow in Pawtucket. Ordonez, the American League's reigning batting champ, has been sidelined since June 29 with a pulled oblique. By sending Thomas to the Hens, the Tigers can keep Matt Joyce in the big leagues. Joyce was called up from Toledo to fill in for Ordonez, and has hit four homers in his last five games. He was named the AL Player of the Week for play ending July 13. |
| Lambert, Cabrera earn honors from IL A Toledo Mud Hen and Buffalo Bison, both potential call-ups in the coming days and weeks, were recognized yesterday by the International League for their recent, on-field performances. Mud Hens pitcher Chris Lambert and Bisons infielder Asdrubal Cabrera were named the IL's pitcher and batter of the week, respectively, for the period from July 7-13. Lambert is hoping to claim the Detroit Tigers' vacant No .5 slot in their starting rotation and Cabrera is trying to rejoin the Cleveland Indians' infield. Lambert tossed a complete-game and logged all five innings of a rain-shortened affair in his two outings last week, picking up two wins. He allowed an unearned run on three hits in a nine-inning, 8-1 victory over Scranton/Wilkes-Barre July 7 and pitched five scoreless frames in a 1-0 triumph over Indianapolis on Saturday night. Lambert, 25, has to be a candidate to claim the Tigers' last spot in their rotation, which was vacated when they sent Eddie Bonine to Double-A Erie Wednesday night. Detroit will need a fifth starter July 21 in Kansas City. Cabrera batted .394 with three homers and six RBIs in eight games to earn recognition. Since joining the Bisons last month, he's batting .326 in 34 games. Cabrera, 22, was the Indians' second baseman down the stretch and in the playoffs last year, and opened the 2008 season in the same spot. But with his batting average stuck at .184 after play June 8, he was optioned to Buffalo to regain his stroke. Also, the Tigers announced catcher Dane Sardinha cleared waivers and was outrighted to Toledo. Sardinha batted .167 with a triple and two RBIs in five games for the Tigers before he was designated for assignment last week. He was filling in for Brandon Inge as backup to Pudge Rodriguez. Sardinha spent most of this season with the Hens, batting .206 with six homers and 16 RBIs in 48 games. |
| Mud Hens pitcher and Bisons infielder recognized by International League A Toledo Mud Hen and Buffalo Bison, both potential call-ups in the coming days and weeks, were recognized today by the International League for their recent, on-field performances. Mud Hens pitcher Chris Lambert and Bisons infielder Asdrubal Cabrera were named the ILs pitcher and batter of the week, respectively, for the period from July 7-13. Lambert is hoping to claim the Detroit Tigers vacant No .5 slot in their starting rotation and Cabrera is trying to rejoin the Cleveland Indians infield. Lambert tossed a complete-game and logged all five innings of a rain-shortened affair in his two outings last week, picking up two wins. He allowed an unearned run on three hits in a nine-inning, 8-1 victory over Scranton/Wilkes-Barre July 7 and pitched five scoreless frames in a 1-0 triumph over Indianapolis on Saturday night. Lambert, 25, has to be a candidate to claim the Tigers last spot in their rotation, which was vacated when they sent Eddie Bonine to Double-A Erie Wednesday night. Detroit will need a fifth starter July 21 in Kansas City. Cabrera batted .394 with three homers and six RBIs in eight games to earn recognition. Since joining the Bisons last month, hes batting .326 in 34 games. Cabrera, 22, was the Indians second baseman down the stretch and in the playoffs last year, and opened the 2008 season in the same spot. But with his battering average stuck at .184 after play June 8, he was optioned to Buffalo to regain his stroke. Also, the Tigers announced catcher Dane Sardinha cleared waivers and was outrighted to Toledo. Sardinha batted .167 with a triple and two RBIs in five games for the Tigers before he was designated for assignment last week. He was filling in for Brandon Inge as backup to Pudge Rodriguez. Sardinha spent most of this season with the Hens, batting .206 with six homers and 16 RBIs in 48 games. Contact Joe Vardon at: jvardon@theblade.com or 419-410-5055. |
| Hens' streak ends INDIANAPOLIS - The Indianapolis Indians edged Toledo 4-3 yesterday before a crowd of 11,100 to snap the Mud Hens' six-game win streak. The loss leaves Toledo one game behind Louisville in the International West Division heading into the Triple-A All-Star break. The Hens' next game is Thursday at Pawtucket. Mike Hessman, Toledo's all-star third baseman, warmed up for tonight's Triple-A home run derby with his 30th round-tripper of the year. Hessman, who went 2-for-4, leads the league in homers, extra-base hits (52) and runs scored (76). "Yeah, one game out - that's great," said acting Hens manager Leon Durham. "We took three out of four, so that was perfect." Durham was in charge while skipper Larry Parrish attended yesterday's Futures Game at Yankee Stadium. The Hens nicked Indians starter Jimmy Barthmaier for a pair of runs in the first inning. With two out, Timo Perez extended his hitting streak to 16 games with a double to right. Then Hessman homered to left. "It was a 1-0 breaking ball, down and away," said Hessman, "and I just hooked it enough." The 13-year pro said he's hoping for a strong second half to "see what happens at the end of the season." Toledo starter Zach Miner (0-1) struck out the first three Indians, but hit a bump in the second. Steve Pearce opened the inning with a single and stole second. One out later, Pearce raced home on Matt Kata's hit. Kata took third on a double by Ryan Mulhern, but Miner ended the threat by striking out the next two batters. In the third Freddy Guzman led off with a bunt single and stole second. One out later, Guzman took off for third and when Perez singled to left, the Hens took a 3-1 advantage. Indianapolis scored again in the bottom of the third. Nyjer Morgan beat out a hit, stole second and went to third on Brian Bixler's infield single. Neil Walker's sacrifice fly scored Morgan to make it 3-2. The Indians (45-53) tied the score in the fourth. With one out, Mulhern lashed a single. After Josh Wilson flew out, Mulhern rode home on a two-base hit by Carlos Maldonado that barely eluded center fielder Brent Clevlen. "I didn't get a real good read off the bat," said Clevlen, also an IL all-star. "It carried well, just out of my reach." Miner began to fade in the fifth, giving up a one-out base on balls to Walker followed by a single by Pearce. With runners at the corners, Ian Ostlund came in from the bullpen. The left-hander uncorked a wild pitch that brought in Walker, putting the Indians ahead 4-3. Barthmaier (3-1) lasted six innings, striking out six along with a walk and three hits. Marino Salas, Juan Perez, Franklyn German and Matt Miller - who recorded his eighth save of the year - combined to blank the Hens the rest of the way. Perez's streak is the longest of the year by a Mud Hen. The right fielder went 2-for-3 yesterday, lifting his average to .298. Since beginning the spree against Louisville on June 28, Perez has gone 25-for-63 (.397). |
| Hens win sixth straight INDIANAPOLIS - The Toledo Mud Hens edged the Indianapolis Indians 1-0 in a rain-shortened five-inning game last night. It was the sixth consecutive triumph for the Hens, who remain tied with Louisville for first place in the International League West Division. "Five innings, I mean, it's over," said Toledo hitting coach Leon Durham, who was filling in for manager Larry Parrish "We got the 'W.' We couldn't do anything about Mother Nature. It worked out on our behalf, so we were happy about it." Parrish flew from Indianapolis to New York yesterday for the Futures Game today at Yankee Stadium. "I'm not bragging or anything, but that's my fifth win," added Durham with a laugh. "Larry was suspended earlier for four days, so he's basically ready for me to continue to do this." Toledo starter Chris Lambert turned in another solid performance. Lambert (9-5), who tossed a complete-game win over Scranton/Wilkes-Barre his last time out, allowed three hits and a pair of walks and four strikeouts. Tom Gorzelanny, optioned to Indianapolis by the Pittsburgh Pirates on Tuesday, made his first start for the Indians. The left-hander struck out three batters in the first inning, but fell behind 1-0 when Michael Hollimon ripped a one-out double and scored on a base hit by Timo Perez. Lambert survived a bases-loaded jam in the bottom of the inning. Nyjer Morgan led off with a single and took second on Lambert's wild pickoff attempt. Morgan moved to third on a single by Brian Bixler, who stole second. Lambert got Neil Walker to pop up and struck out cleanup hitter Steve Pearce. Adam Boeve walked to load the bases, but Lambert retired Matt Kata on a foul out to catcher Max St-Pierre. Gorzelanny (0-1), celebrating his 26th birthday, was on a three-inning limit. Right-hander Evan Meek replaced him in the fourth. The rain started in the top of the fourth. It reached deluge proportions by the end of the fifth, when crew chief Adam Dowdy halted play. The game was called officially at 10:05 p.m. The series concludes today with right-hander Zach Miner (0-0) making his third appearance since Detroit optioned him to the Hens on July 2. Righty Jimmy Barthmaier (2-1) will start for Indianapolis. After today's game third baseman Mike Hessman, outfielder Brent Clevlen and reliever Blaine Neal will head to Louisville, where they'll play for the IL in the Triple-A All-Star game against the Pacific Coast League. |
| Ex-Yankee outfielder played with Hens NEW YORK - Bobby Murcer, a five-time all-star outfielder who spent nearly four decades with the New York Yankees as a player, executive, and announcer, died yesterday in an Oklahoma City hospital. He was 62. The Yankees said death was caused by complications from brain cancer. Murcer was diagnosed with a brain tumor on Christmas Eve, 2006, after suffering from headaches. The only person to play with Mickey Mantle and Don Mattingly, the popular Murcer hit .277 with 252 home runs and 1,043 RBIs in 17 seasons with the Yankees, San Francisco, and the Chicago Cubs. He made the all-star team in both leagues and won a Gold Glove. Murcer played for the Toledo Mud Hens during the 1966 season. "All of Major League Baseball is saddened today by the passing of Bobby Murcer, particularly on the eve of this historic All-Star Game at Yankee Stadium, a place he called home for so many years," commissioner Bud Selig said. "Bobby was a gentleman, a great ambassador for baseball, and a true leader both on and off the field. He was a man of great heart and compassion." Always a fan favorite in New York and known for his folksy manner as a broadcaster, Murcer won three Emmy Awards for live sports coverage. His most dramatic words came on one of the saddest days in Yankees history. Murcer delivered one of the eulogies in Ohio after captain Thurman Munson was killed in a plane crash in August, 1979. The team flew home after the funeral and, that night, Murcer hit a three-run homer and then a two-run single in the bottom of the ninth to beat Baltimore 5-4. A tearful Murcer fell into the arms of teammate Lou Piniella after the game and gave his bat to Munson's wife. "There is no way to explain what happened," Murcer said. "We used every ounce of strength to go out and play that game. We won it for Thurman." Touted by many in New York as the next Mantle, Murcer made his major league debut as a 19-year-old in 1965. After serving in the U.S. Army during the 1967-68 seasons, Murcer homered on opening day in front of President Nixon in 1969 at Washington to launch a career as a full-time player. Murcer moved from shortstop to third base to begin that year, but soon was playing in center field, Mantle's old spot. Murcer also took over Mantle's locker. Murcer spent most of his career in pinstripes. He was traded to San Francisco for Bobby Bonds after the 1974 season and was still with the Giants when the Yankees won the World Series in 1977 and 1978. After a stint with the Cubs, Murcer came back to the Yankees during the 1979 season. He had a pinch-hit grand slam in the 1981 opener and was a part-time player when he reached the World Series for the only time later that year, with New York losing to the Los Angeles Dodgers. During his career, Murcer had a three-homer game, hit for the cycle, and once homered in four straight at-bats. Murcer is survived by his wife, Kay, his children, Tori and Todd, and his grandchildren. |
| Contents of storage units are prize at Toledo-area quickie auctions Andy Gjurasin has spent a few days a month the last 10 years sorting through the miscellany of other peoples lives, looking for the interesting and the valuable and getting rid of the rest. And when you ask him what was the biggest surprise he ever got from buying contents of storage lockers belonging to people who didnt pay their rent, he doesnt hesitate. Oh, thats easy, said Mr. Gjurasin. A dead guy. Mr. Gjurasin is one of a growing number of people who try to make extra cash by bidding for the contents of unpaid storage units. Some make a living at it, traveling far and wide to attend quickie auctions, claim their prizes, and move on. For those like Mr. Gjurasin, its an interesting and sometimes lucrative hobby. To me, doing these auctions is better than going to the racetrack. You have about the same chance of hitting it big, the longtime electrician said. Yesterday, auctioneer Robert Tuttle of Ottawa Lake traveled from Lima to Toledo to Monroe and back to conduct a series of individual auctions for U-Haul Self Storage. Most lasted just a few minutes. The process isnt complicated: Bidders show up a few minutes before the auction, usually responding to legal notices in newspapers or on auction Web sites. After registering to bid, they get a sparsely detailed description of whats inside. Then Mr. Tuttle marches to the delinquent storage unit with a manager and bidders in tow. The lock is removed, the door opened, and bidders get a minute or so to peer inside from the doorway before Mr. Tuttle begins his time-honored spiel. Wholl start us out? Will you give me five? he asks as his eyes quickly dart across a small group of practiced poker faces, no one wanting to give away what they saw or what theyll pay. Quickly, someone breaks the ice with a bid, others counter, and back and forth it goes until nobody will bid higher. I started doing these again last fall, said Mr. Tuttle, an auctioneer for the last 30 years. The economy has really slowed down. Were not getting what we used to. We used to get $1,600 or so for a unit; now were lucky to get a couple hundred sometimes. Yesterday, two units at the U-Haul Self Storage facility on South Byrne Road went for just $40 and $50. Both were the size of a small closet, and were only a quarter filled. It was disappointing to Marolyn Robertson, who drove from Geneva, Ind., to attend. You never know what youre going to get or how much itll go for, said Ms. Robertson, who travels across Indiana, and to Michigan and Ohio for auctions. A former home health-care worker, Ms. Robertson wasnt disappointed that she was outbid yesterday. There were some big totes in there. Probably clothes, she said. Clothing seems to be the most plentiful, and least desirable thing to win at auction. Still, even with several boxes of clothes, she takes time to inspect each garment to make certain nothing was missed. I found a $50 bill in one box last week. And Ive found diamond rings and jewelry stuffed in boxes of clothes, too, so it always pays to look, she said. Ms. Robertson will bid higher if she spots appliances. Washers, dryers, and especially refrigerators are easier to sell at parking lot sales she holds in Geneva. I had three under-cabinet microwaves that went like that last month, she said, snapping her fingers. Sometimes the delinquent owner of the storage units contents will show up to bid or plead with the winner for a chance to recover prized possessions. Regular bidders all have heart-wrenching stories of people asking for things back, offering money, or begging for mercy. Last week, I got a unit full of toys. Brand-new stuff, still in the plastic wrappers, Ms. Robertson said. It was somebodys Christmas, and they locked everything up and then couldnt pay the bill. The guy was standing outside the fence, and he asked me if he could get the toys and some other stuff, she said. Sometimes she relents, but in that case, she chose not to, she said. It can be heartbreaking, Ms. Robertson said, knowing that youre making money off of someone elses misfortune. But we just had 600 people lose their jobs where I live, and if I can sell things to them cheaply, that helps them out. Delinquency is always an issue for self-storage operators, said Michael J. Scanlon, Jr., president and CEO of the Self-Storage Association, of Alexandria, Va., a trade group for storage facility owners and franchisees. Mr. Scanlon, a Sandusky native, said his group hasnt noticed an increase in delinquency auctions nationwide, the sales of which are regulated at state levels. Virtually every self-storage facility has had to have an auction at one time or another. What we find when we open up many of these units, the contents really dont have much value for the people in the outside world, Mr. Scanlon said. Its mostly things that have a personal, emotional value to the person thats storing them. Which brings us back to Mr. Gjurasins dead guy. He had won an auction about a year ago in North Toledo. After taking the contents home, he found an expensive-looking box among them. I opened the box up and it was one of those velvet-covered things that you think that a ring or somethings in, Mr. Gjurasin recalled. It was real heavy, and Im thinking, Wow, I hit the mother lode. I opened it up and there was a picture of a man inside, an older guy with a beard. I picked the thing up and I went to open it up and it hit me, and I went, Oh, no, Mr. Gjurasin said. He had no idea whose remains he had in his possession, but he held onto them anyway. A month later, he got a call from the storage facility. They called me up and said, Hey, the guy called and asked if he could have his dad back. Those are the heartbreakers of this thing, too, when you have people like that, Mr. Gjurasin said. Mr. Gjurasin took the urn back to the storage facility immediately. As of yesterday, the urn was still at the facilitys office, waiting to be picked up. Contact Larry P. Vellequette at:lvellequette@theblade.com or 419-724-6091. |
| Southeast Michigan consumers may see higher heat bills Customers of Michigan Gas Utilities Corp. have been warned by the utility to prepare for increased heating costs this winter unless natural gas prices decline soon. Higher costs could affect more than 50,000 customers in southeast Michigan, including 45,000 in Monroe County, utility officials said. Natural gas rates this summer are about 20 percent higher than a year ago, and the winter season could be worse, company spokesman P.J. Livernois said. "Summer natural gas market prices are higher now than ever before. If that trend continues, we'll see heating costs this winter hundreds of dollars higher than last year," he said. On the New York Mercantile Exchange, natural gas prices closed at $10.69 per 970 cubic feet, up about 60 percent from this same time last year. According to the utility, high prices are because of speculation in the marketplace, increased demand for natural gas, and forecasts for a busy hurricane season this year. "Natural gas is tracking the price of oil," Mr. Livernois said. A major factor in higher prices is that several gas utilities expended their gas reserves during the exceptionally cold Michigan winter last year, Mr. Livernois said. The utilities are now buying high-priced gas to restock their reserves and that price could be passed on to consumers, he added. Unlike Ohio, Michigan consumers can't buy gas from suppliers other than their incumbent gas utility. Although it is July, Michigan Gas Utilities is advising customers to apply for energy assistance now and begin a budget payment plan in anticipation of higher rates. Contact Ted Fackler at: tfackler@theblade.com or 419-724-6199. |
| Monroe Bank and Trust parents profit declines MONROE MBT Financial Corp., the parent firm of Monroe Bank & Trust, has reported second-quarter profits of $1.7 million, or 11 cents per share, a decrease of 51 percent from the $3.5 million, or 21 cents per share it posted for the same quarter a year ago. The bank holding company said its net interest income climbed to $11.1 million from $10.8 million a year ago, and its provision for loan losses increased significantly to $2.7 million from $750,000 for the same period. |
| Tin Lizzie fans gear up for big birthday; Ford Model T hits century mark It was simple, cheap, and even got decent gas mileage. And next week, it's having a big birthday bash 180 miles away. The Ford Model T, the once-ubiquitous automobile that brought motoring to the masses in the early decades of the 20th century, will mark its 100th birthday in Richmond, Ind., with a weeklong "T Party" that starts Monday. Among thousands of guests expected to gather to celebrate the Tin Lizzie will be scores of local enthusiasts like Walt and Polly Worthington, of Bryan, Ohio. "This 100th anniversary thing just kind of struck me. It looked like a fun week," said Mr. Worthington, who will haul a 1926 Coupe to the T Party. "I've got four of them, but that's the one I'm taking." At 80 years old, Mr. Worthington was born 13 months after Model T production ceased in 1927 after a 19-year run in which more than 15 million were produced. Infinitely adaptable, tink-erers transformed Model Ts into everything from tractors to snowmobiles. Its simple 20-horsepower engine allows some versions to get up to 20 miles per gallon. Model Ts came in a variety of configurations, from coupes and roadsters to pickups and buses, and a variety of colors - almost all of them black. "It's a disease," said Jack Putnam while trying to explain Model T owners' enthusiasm for their beloved vehicles. Mr. Putnam of Bluffton is an officer of the Model T Ford Club of Northwest Ohio, one of several Tin Lizzie clubs in the area. He'll be taking his 1927 pickup truck - one of eight Model Ts he owns - to Richmond. "People collect them because of the simplicity, and because you can get parts," Mr. Putnam said. "There's nothing on them that you don't have to have to make them run. You have an ignition and a carburetion system, and that's it." The Model T's genius was its simple design, which is exactly what Henry Ford intended when he sought to bring autos to the masses. The vehicles have a pedal for acceleration, another for reverse, and no brakes except one in the transmission. Though speedometers were optional, the Tin Lizzie could average about 30 to 35 miles an hour on the open road, Mr. Putnam said. "People are always asking me if they can be 'souped up.' I always tell them the same thing: Going from zero to 60 is no problem, but going from 60 to zero is a whole different story," because Model Ts had no brakes, he added. The vehicles, which sold in their day for as little as $260 and as much as $950, were very affordable, although the first Model T dealer to sell cars on a deferred payment plan was in Toledo, according to the Ohio Historical Society. Toledo has another quirky tie to the Model T. When the vehicle ceased production in 1927, a Toledo man reportedly bought six of the vehicles, and "wore out" the last one in 1967, according to Popular Mechanics. While Ford is the primary sponsor of the T Party, it is being hosted by the Model T Ford Club of America, which is headquartered in Richmond. Marisa Bradley, a spokesman for Ford, said party planners expect to draw between 20,000 and 25,000 people to Richmond, and that Model Ts from around the nation, and reportedly one from Australia, will be there. "The whole town has turned almost upside down to support this event. It's turning out to be a great venue," Ms. Bradley said. Ford will set up a museum at the site with a few iconic Model Ts from its collection, including a pristine model that was one of the first to come off the company assembly line. It also will bring its first Model T school bus and historical images from the Ford family, Ms. Bradley said. She estimated that of the 15 million vehicles made, nearly 300,000 remain and 10,000 are on the road in one form or another. One of those, a 1923 Tourer owned by Mike and Betty Wilson of Curtice, will travel to Richmond. Mrs. Wilson said that although they've owned the car only a year, she and her husband have come to love it. "It's a lot of fun. People come up and talk to you, and they drive by and wave and honk," Mrs. Wilson said. "You meet a lot of people. Plus, it gets 20 miles per gallon, so that's another reason to drive it." Contact Larry P. Vellequette at: lvellequette@theblade.com or 419-724-6091. |
| Toledo cart food vendors squeezed A simple business is in difficult times. Just ask Nikki Burado. Each day, over 200 customers saunter up to her lunch cart in downtown Toledo, ordering a $2.50 jumbo Polish sausage or 50-cent bags of chips. Sales can total nearly $800 a week, but Mrs. Burado said most of it is gobbled up by ever-increasing food and supply costs. "They raise the hotdog [cost]. They raise the bun [cost]. But as everything rises, our prices stay the same," said Mrs. Burado, 31. She estimated her food costs have climbed 10 percent since last year. According to the U.S. Department of Labor's Consumer Price Index, inflation for all food has risen 5.1 percent since May, 2007. Cereal and bakery product prices are up 10.5 percent, and juice and drink prices climbed 7.7 percent. Fortunately for Mrs. Burado, pork prices are down 0.6 percent in the same time period. But she said she now spends $200 to $400 weekly on food and supplies. Last July, her profits were $400 to $600 weekly. This summer, she said, she's lucky to break $300. Karen Renerd, owner of Nick's World Famous Hotdogs cart, which operates at Levis Square downtown, agreed that rising food prices are taking a serious bite out of profits. "Food has gone up, propane has gone up, and ice is outrageous" at $4.25 a bag, she said. Supplies now cost her $400 weekly, and she has raised her prices, she added. Plus, she spends over $550 annually for a vending license to sell at the location. "You have to love [catering], have a passion for it, because it's a lot of work," Mrs. Renerd said. Adding to cart vendors' problems: Potential customers are trying to save money as gas prices have pushed past $4 a gallon. According to a survey of 755 workers conducted in May for Marlin Co., a workplace communication firm in Wallington Conn., nearly half of respondents had reduced their lunch food purchases. Plus, online retailer eBag.com reported that sales of lunch bags and coolers jumped 39 percent this June over the same period last year. Outside the Toledo Municipal Court, new cart vendor Michael Dixon, 31, was unconcerned about inflation and more workers packing lunches. His hotdog and burger stand earns just over $70 daily, but Mr. Dixon said he is happy to have any business at all given his location. "If a person is going [to court] to pay $1,000 in fines, they probably don't want to buy a cheeseburger on the way out," he said with a laugh. Contact Ted Fackler at: tfackler@theblade.com or 419-724-6199. |
| Producer smooths 'Grey's' snit BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. - ABC put on a panel with executive producers from their hit series, and despite some uncomfortable questions to Grey's Anatomy executive producer Shonda Rhimes about Katherine Heigl's perceived diss of the show's writers, it was a pretty good-natured exchange among a group of smart, funny panelists. (For those who don't remember, Heigl refused to allow her name to be put in contention for an Emmy nomination, saying, "I did not feel that I was given the material this season to warrant an Emmy nomination and in an effort to maintain the integrity of the academy organization, I withdrew my name from contention. In addition, I did not want to potentially take away an opportunity from an actress who was given such materials.") When Rhimes was asked about "the situation," Lost executive producer Damon Lindelof joked, "I didn't see that one coming." (The Lost producers famously never release details about their show's next season.) ABC Entertainment president Stephen McPherson said Heigl will get a large storyline this season, which the tabloids are saying will be for her Izzie to develop a brain tumor. Rhimes wouldn't say what the plot will be, but Ugly Betty executive producer Silvio Horta had his own suggestion: "I would put her in a coma." When pressed later, Rhimes said she has a "really wonderful working relationship with Katherine and I love and respect her as an actress and Izzie is one of my favorite characters." She acknowledged that Heigl is famously outspoken and noted that the first half of last season Heigl had a more comedic story and that in the second half of the season Heigl asked Rhimes to write her light so she could make a movie, "so I didn't feel insulted." Rhimes was tight-lipped about most other plots, but she said the potential romance between Callie (Sara Ramirez) and Erica (Brooke Smith) will be explored. "We sat down with GLADD and talked to them about women who figure out they're lesbians later in life and what that means," Rhimes said. Desperate Housewives creator Marc Cherry said when controversies arise, including the first-season Vanity Fair photo shoot debacle, his first reaction is to hide from the press "because I don't know how I feel about this yet. (In that 2006 incident, the stars got into a catfight over wardrobes, preferential treatment, and who was standing next to whom.) "The best way to deal with actors is to pretend they're real people and talk to them," Cherry said, getting laughs. "With the disastrous photo shoot, one of you guys saw it from one perspective and what really happened was so much more real and understandable. And I ultimately [dealt with it] by hugging a sobbing actress in her trailer for about 20 minutes and saying, 'This too shall pass.' It's not really life, it's showbiz. 'Pretty soon they'll forget you and really attack Lost." On to this, the fifth season. Here's what we know: wIt will be set five years into the future from last season just as the end of the season finale suggested. •Gabrielle (Eva Longoria) will remain frumpy for at least half the season, which suits Longoria just fine. "I love it because I come into hair and makeup and it's 10 minutes instead of two hours," Longoria said. She's sporting a shorter hairstyle she got for the role. •Susan (Teri Hatcher) is with a new man (Gale Harold) but she's less desperate for love. "Susan was a person who was always like, 'Please love me.' Now for many reasons that will be revealed, she is probably a person who's more closed off to love and not so searching and needy," Hatcher said. Series creator Cherry said Hatcher had the idea for Susan's first scene after the opening credits in the season premiere, which will air Sept. 28. The new season will also reveal what became of Mike Delfino (James Denton). •Carlos (Ricardo Antonio Chavira) is still blind "for a while," Cherry said, suggesting perhaps that his sight will be restored. •Gay neighbors Bob (Tuc Watkins) and Lee (Kevin Rahm) still live on Wisteria Lane and they now have a 4-year-old daughter. Cherry said adding them to the show was "just my commentary on how a gay couple moves in and nothing much happens." •Bree (Marcia Cross) will get out of the house more but she'll still be surrounded by muffins as a Martha Stewart-like entrepreneur. Her son, Andrew (Shawn Pyfrom), works as her assistant and he may get a relationship in the second half of the season. Cherry said making Andrew a gay character was an opportunity to steal a scene from his own life in the first season. "The only ugly moment with my mother is when I came out and she was concerned that she wouldn't see me in heaven," Cherry said. He said he made Andrew act out against Bree when she said that as a way to exorcise his own anger and hurt feelings. •Cherry wants to end the show after seven seasons, but ABC Entertainment president Stephen McPherson shouted, "It's not gonna happen" from the back of the ballroom. "Of course, this could be some sort of clever ruse on my part to get a tremendous amount of money in season eight," Cherry countered. The Block News Alliance consists of The Blade and the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Rob Owen, the TV editor for the Post-Gazette, is attending the Television Critics Association summer press tour in Los Angeles. Contact him at: rowen@post-gazette.com |
| Country connections: Local women recall childhood friendships with the stars Sharon Chinni sits at her dining room table inside her Maumee home, tugging at her glasses, eyes closed, trying to pull memories from a long-ago time. She cradles a worn picture of a man with two girls sitting on his lap. The man is Johnny Cash. Sharon is sitting on his left, her sister, Linda Lutes, is on his right. "Remember that? He went to lift me up, then I went up with him and almost knocked him out," Linda says with a laugh. Sharon's longtime sweetheart and husband, George, pops into the room. "She's got so many good stories," he says. Hundreds of pictures are spread out before the sisters. In some of them, Sharon, now 61, and Linda, two years younger, are little - 3 or 4 years old. In others, they are teenagers. In all of them, they are posing with some of the greatest country music stars ever. There's Little Jimmy Dickens, Porter Wagoner, Wynn Stewart, Ernest Tubb, Faron Young, Loretta Lynn, Jean Shepherd. "Our parents would take us to Buck Lake Ranch in Angola, Ind. They'd open on Mother's Day and close on Labor Day," Linda says. "We'd get in for a dollar a car load. We met a lot of stars when they were 21 or 22 years old. A lot of them wanted to adopt me, but my mom wouldn't let them," Sharon says, chuckling. It was never a problem getting to know them. Often times, the stars were just hanging around their bus with nothing to do. Sharon and Linda's mother would pack a picnic lunch and invite them over. They'd ride the roller coaster with some of them. Sharon would go fishing with Johnny Horton, who won a Grammy for his 1959 hit "The Battle of New Orleans." "We were always right there when their bus came in. We were the first ones they saw," Sharon says. "They had no security. It was a different time." Grand Ole Opry great Wagoner, who charted 81 hits over a four-decade span, became one of her pals. "I'm a gabber and was just a nosy little girl. I think that's why they all liked me," she says. "I was Porter's shadow. I liked his sparkly clothes. My mom would invite him over to our picnic. She'd always make pie for him." The friendships they built as kids lasted through the years. "On my 16th birthday, Porter gave me $50 to buy an outfit. Back then, that was a lot of money," Sharon says. "I think I bought four outfits with that." When Sharon was 21 and visiting Nashville, Wagoner called up his pal, Mel Tillis, and had him pick her up in a limo and bring her to the Grand Ole Opry. "I knew Porter from when I was 5 or 6 until I was in my 30s. The last time I saw him was probably 15 years ago. It was right after he'd had a mild stroke. I was all excited to see him, but he didn't remember me. He lost part of his memory, and that broke my heart." As the sisters talk and look at the pictures, one memory leads to another, and the stories begin to flow. "I'd always tease Jimmy Dickens about being so little," Sharon says of the 4 foot, 11 inch Opry star. "I'd tell him, 'I'm a little girl, and you're not much bigger than me.' I'd ask him what size boot he wore, and he said 4." Years later the girls were talking to Dickens and told him how their cousin was such a fan. "We piled into the car and went over to her house," Sharon says. "JoAnn answered the door with curlers in her hair. We just hung out for about a half hour, then took him back to his hotel." Sharon's closest "pal" was Young, a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame best known for his No. 1 hit "It's Four in the Morning." "He was crazy, young. He was very care free and happy all the time," she says. "I met him when I was 6 or 7 and knew him for 40 or 50 years. I'd call him up or he'd call my mother and tell her where he was going to be." She pauses and stares blankly, grasping for a memory. "He committed suicide. I still haven't forgiven him for that," she says. The stories roll on and on. Stories about Johnny Paycheck, George Jones, Kitty Wells, Bill Anderson. Finally, Sharon stops and closes her vault of memories. She shrugs her shoulders and smiles. "To me, that was the best thing that ever happened to me. I have the honor of having all these pictures. I got to know them. It's hard to explain, you know? They were our friends." Contact Brian Dugger at: bdugger@theblade.com. |
| There's an art to negotiating Ann Arbor's annual art fairs ANN ARBOR, Mich. - For most of the year, Ohioans think of Ann Arbor as "that town up north," but for four days every summer the city becomes the center of the art fair universe. Four separate fairs stretching across the college town and around the University of Michigan are expected to attract an estimated 500,000 people to view and buy art from artists who have gathered from all over the country. The free event continues from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. today and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. tomorrow. Along with all that visual art is free music on four stages at various locations and times around the city and, of course, food that goes from standard carnival fare to some of the best around. So, if you've never gone but plan to this year, here are a few suggestions to make that quick trip north easier: •Light, airy clothing, a sun-shading hat, and sunscreen are crucial. Most important is to forget fashion and wear comfortable walking shoes. This is a walking event on one of the hottest weeks of the year. Comfort and common sense are paramount to enjoying yourself at the fair and not paying for it later. •The best way to get to the fair from northwest Ohio is to take U.S. 23 north until you get to I-94. Take I-94 west (away from Detroit) until you arrive at the State Street exit. Take the exit and turn north (to your right) on State. Almost immediately you'll see an entrance on your left to Briarwood Mall (Hilton Boulevard). Drive in to the mall and take another left to the south of Sears and you'll find the best way to get to the fair: the bus. •Parking free at the mall and taking the air-conditioned shuttle to the fair is the easiest and cheapest way to get to the action. It only costs $2 for a round-trip ticket (kids 5 and younger are free, school-age children are half price), runs every 10 to 15 minutes, and somebody else gets to deal with the crazy Ann Arbor traffic. The bus will deliver you to the edge of the fair on South University Street. From there you can walk east and enjoy the South University Street Art Fair or turn west and start at the State Street Art Fair. •Don't be in a hurry. Stroll, look around, and if you see something you like, strike up a conversation with the artist. You'll be surprised how much artists love to talk about their work. •Finally, with all the heat and walking, make sure you drink enough water, stop to rest, and stay cool. Cold bottled water can be found on every corner and most places only charge $1. If you are near Liberty Street, the Michigan Theater's doors are open. You can spend as much time as you need inside to cool down in air-conditioned comfort, free of charge. Contact Wes Booher at: wbooher@theblade.com or 419-724-6173. |
| 'Mad Men,' 'Damages' make cable TV history Mad Men, AMC's sleek drama set in the advertising world circa 1960, and FX's legal thriller Damages made Emmy nominations history yesterday as the first basic cable programs to gain best-series nods. The HBO historical drama John Adams was the overall frontrunner with 23 bids, including a lead-actor nomination for Paul Giamatti's turn as one of America's founding fathers. 30 Rock, last year's best comedy Emmy winner, was the top nominee among sitcoms with 17 bids. Mad Men was the leading drama series contender with 16 nominations, including one for star Jon Hamm. The Wire, the just-ended, critically acclaimed HBO drama about police and drug dealers in Baltimore, lost its last shot at a best-drama nod after years of Emmy snubs. It received one nomination yesterday, for writing. But other cable series made a serious dent in several top categories as broadcast networks watched their share of Emmy nominations glory erode. In the lead drama actor category, four of the five nominees were stars of cable shows, including Jon Hamm of Mad Men. In the corresponding actress category, three of the slots went to cable series stars, including Glenn Close of Damages. HBO failed to field a best-drama series contender for the first time in nearly a decade, after The Sopranos claimed the honor last year. But the premium cable channel had a leading 85 bids overall, followed by ABC with 76. Network audience favorites that failed to make a serious showing included Grey's Anatomy and Desperate Housewives, both left out of the best-series categories, although Grey's stars Sandra Oh and Chandra Wilson received nominations. Lost, rebounding with a well-received season, joined Mad Men and Damages in the best-drama series category with six nominees, including Boston Legal, Dexter and House. Other best comedy series nominees besides 30 Rock were Curb Your Enthusiasm, Entourage, The Office, and Two And a Half Men. Oh and Wilson are competing in the best supporting drama actress category that last year was won by castmate Katherine Heigl - who took herself out of the running this time, blaming her decision on lackluster scripts. Lost, rebounding with a well-received season, joined Mad Men and Damages in the best-drama series category with six nominees, including Boston Legal, Dexter, and House. Other best comedy series nominees besides 30 Rock were Curb Your Enthusiasm, Entourage, The Office, and Two And a Half Men. Joining Hamm with lead drama acting nods were last year's winner James Spader, Boston Legal, Bryan Cranston of Breaking Bad, Michael C. Hall, Dexter, Hugh Laurie, House, and Gabriel Byrne, In Treatment. Close's competition for lead drama actress honors includes 2007 winner Sally Field for Brothers & Sisters, Kyra Sedgwick, The Closer, Mariska Hargitay, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, and Holly Hunter, Saving Grace. Actresses nominated for best comedy series were Tina Fey of 30 Rock, the series she created; last year's honoree America Ferrera of Ugly Betty, Christina Applegate, Samantha Who?, and Mary-Louise Parker, Weeds. Nods for comedy series actors went to Tony Shalhoub for Monk, Steve Carrell, The Office, Lee Pace, Pushing Daisies, Alec Baldwin, 30 Rock, and Charlie Sheen, Two And A Half Men. The best miniseries category that's dominated by Adams also includes The Andromeda Strain, Cranford, and Tin Men. Ryan Seacrest, host of top-rated series American Idol, made the cut in the new category of best host for a reality or reality-competition show. Other nominees were Tom Bergeron of Dancing with the Stars, Howie Mandel of Deal or No Deal, Heidi Klum of Project Runway, and Jeff Probst of Surivor. Nominees in the top categories for the 60th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards were announced at the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences by Kristin Chenoweth, Neil Patrick Harris, and TV academy Chairman John Shaffner. Shaffner surprised Harris and Chenoweth at the end of the telecast by announcing each actor's supporting-actor nomination. Chenoweth, of Pushing Daisies, stood open-jawed, while Harris, from How I Met Your Mother, pumped his fist and said, "Nice!" The trio then blew out candles on a birthday cake to celebrate the Emmys' 60th anniversary. The Emmy Awards ceremony will be held Sept. 21 and broadcast on ABC. Other Emmy honors, including those for technical achievement and guest actors and actresses in series, will be given at the creative arts ceremony on Sept. 13. |
| Stories, more slated at Toledo coffee shop Downtown Latte will feature the flavor of Africa tomorrow for a combination book signing and story-telling session. Antoine Kabwasa, a story-teller formerly from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and his wife, Angele Kadima-Nzuji Kabwasa, an author, will be at the coffee shop at 44 South St. Clair St. from 1 to 2 p.m. Kadima-Nzuji Kabwasa will sign copies of her book, Song of the Mermaid, the first in a series of three books of moral tales from the Congo. The book, illustrated by Toledo artist Jane L. Petitjean, will be available for $20 a copy. Proceeds from the book will go to Mamas House, a home in Kinshasa, Congo, for girls who have been orphaned by the recent war. The second book will be illustrated by Toledoan Eleanor A. Hutton. Also at the event will be Amadje Djogo of the Ivory Coast, who will provide tastes of coffee from growers in the region. |
| Rewarding loyalty: 'Eli Stone' gets a plum time slot for its sophomore season BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. - In its first season, ABC's Eli Stone didn't draw huge ratings, but the series - about a corporate lawyer with an aneurysm who has visions of his colleagues singing and dancing - did find a loyal audience. ABC offered the show a vote-of-confidence-renewal in May, even giving it a plum time slot after Dancing With the Stars when its second season debuts Oct. 14. Eli Stone producers know they have an opportunity to capitalize on their show's lead-in. "We're scary-shameless as far as overlap with Dancing With the Stars," said executive producer Marc Guggenheim, who didn't rule out the possibility of guest spots on Eli Stone by Dancing cast members. Eli Stone will also try to retain Dancing viewers by putting its song-and-dance scenes near the start of its episodes. The show's first season ended with Eli (Jonny Lee Miller) having the aneurysm removed and waking from a coma. Will his visions cease or will they continue, establishing him as a modern-day prophet? Executive producer Greg Berlanti said the series will answer those questions in its season premiere. "We definitely start out the year with another bang of the same kind of size we ended last year with," Berlanti said. "In the story room we often talk about Eli as sort of having this super power, and at the end of year one, he said he didn't want it, he wanted a normal life. He rechooses for significant reasons to reinvest in his role and status, and this year it becomes about the trials and errors he commits." Katie Holmes, who worked with Berlanti when he wrote for Dawson's Creek, will guest star, sing, and dance in the second episode of the season. And George Michael, who appeared in many of Eli's visions, may return if he can fit filming into his touring schedule. Berlanti said the second season will take on bigger, broader themes as a way to bring new viewers to the series. But the show will continue to deal with notions of faith and spirituality while side-stepping religion. "We want to be completely inclusive," Guggenheim said. "I always semi-joke, this is the religious show for atheists because it should appeal to people of every religious stripe. "Even if you're an atheist you have an element of spirituality in you. Everyone does. Our mission statement for the show is to make it as big a tent as humanly possible." Kimmel crashes TCA At the start of a session with ABC Entertainment president Stephen McPherson, the first question came from a reporter none of us recognized as a media colleague. He started asking questions about rumors that ABC might make a bid for Jay Leno after Leno is transitioned out of NBC's The Tonight Show next year. (Conan O'Brien has been announced as Leno's successor on the show) "If that were to happen, would Ted Koppel get fired or how would that work?" the "reporter" asked, oblivious to the fact that Koppel has been off Nightline for several years. "If you were to talk to Jay Leno now, wouldn't that be contract tampering, wouldn't it be illegal?" "How do you keep your hair so nice?" Of course, it wasn't a reporter asking these questions, it was Jimmy Kimmel, host of ABC's Jimmy Kimmel Live, who stands to lose if ABC hires Leno. The fact that ABC got Kimmel to make fun of the situation makes it clear that ABC believes in Kimmel and will find a way to keep him happy even if the network pursues Leno. "I can't say enough about Jimmy," McPherson said. "His show has just exploded this year. As for Leno, I can't believe they're gonna let this guy go at the top of his game. If that happens, I guess we'll look at it at that time, and Jimmy will be involved in those discussions, and that will be that." "Are you at all afraid that if you do replace Jimmy Kimmel he might do something crazy to you or your car?" Kimmel asked before quickly departing, no doubt to avoid reporters' questions about his recent breakup with Sarah Silverman. Simplifying 'Terminator' When Fox's Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles returns for its second season Sept. 8, the series will feature less serialization and more self-contained episodes. "Sometimes we got overly complicated," said executive producer Josh Friedman of the first season. "We're trying - a slightly less ambitious storytelling method that's more clear." Beyond that, producers were unwilling to say much about the new season. They wouldn't address what the future will hold for the robot Cameron (Summer Glau), who was in a truck that exploded in the season finale. She's a Terminator - of course she'll be back. I tried to throw them an easy question that avoided specifics: What's the theme for season two? "Evolution," was the best Friedman could offer somewhat haltingly. Makes you wonder if they have much of a plan in mind. This much we do know: Scruffy John (Thomas Dekker) gets a haircut and looks sleeker and stronger. Dekker said he worked out with a trainer in advance of season two production. "I felt I didn't need to be physically able last season because I wasn't doing much. This season, I felt like there was going to be more. John Connor wasn't ready to be a leader in season one, Dekker said. "There was an essence of youth and innocence and I think a lot of that dies at the beginning of this season. I'm trying to do it subtly. It can't be night and day that he turns into a savior [overnight]. I definitely wanted to give the audience more of what they wanted to see last year, but there had to be a transition, has to be an arc." This year John gets a new friend at school, Riley (Leven Rambin), who was named after Fox Entertainment president Kevin Reilly, just with a different spelling. "When I pitched this season, I thought we'd add a girl maybe in episode seven, and Kevin said, maybe it should be in [episode] one or two, so we compromised on two," Friedman said. And what will this mean for the potential of a relationship between John and Cameron? "Every interesting relationship I've been in was a triangle," said executive producer Tim Wirth. The Block News Alliance consists of The Blade and the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Rob Owen, the TV editor for the Post-Gazette, is attending the Television Critics Association summer press tour in Los Angeles. Contact him at: rowen@post-gazette.com |
| Ottawa Hills native enters California Boxing Hall Ottawa Hills native Steve Harpst was recently inducted into the California Boxing Hall of Fame for his contributions as an artist, trainer, and boxing promoter. His bronze statues have been chosen as awards by several athletic organizations, including the World Boxing Council, the World Boxing Hall of Fame, and the Urban Youth Baseball Academy. Harpst, who lives in Burbank, Calif., just north of Los Angeles, is founder and coach of the Burbank Boxing Club and six times has been voted that citys best fitness instructor. |
| Amy Poehler says she's bound for 'Office' spinoff NEW YORK Amy Poehler confirmed to The Associated Press that she'll be joining the planned "Office" spinoff, paving the way for her eventual exit from "Saturday Night Live" and promoting the comedian to primetime. Speaking by phone Thursday shortly after her Emmy nomination for outstanding actress in a comedy series on "SNL," Poehler said she will join NBC's spinoff of "The Office." She's expected to star. "I can kind of confirm that I will be working in some capacity on that show," said Poehler. "I don't really have any other details yet." The 36-year-old Poehler has been a cast member on "Saturday Night Live" since 2001 and in recent seasons has served as a co-anchor on "Weekend Update." Poehler, whose husband Will Arnett also received an Emmy nomination Thursday (for his guest performance on "30 Rock"), is pregnant and due this October. She plans to be part of the expanded fall schedule for "Saturday Night Live" during the election, but that what happens in the spring isn't clear. "It's been quite a week," said Poehler of the negotiations. "I'm very excited about all the good stuff that's coming down the pike." A spokesman for NBC said the network had no comment. |
| Blame Dems on gas prices IN THE six years between President Bush's inauguration in 2001 and the Democrats' assumption of control of Congress in 2007, the price of gasoline rose an average of 14 cents a year. Since the Democrats took over Congress, the price of gas has doubled, the inflation monster has reawakened and the recession wolf is sniffing at our door. I know. Post hoc, ergo propter hoc (after, therefore because of) was the first logical fallacy they taught back when logic was taught in school. It may merely be coincidence that things went to hell in a hand basket since the Democrats took over. Or maybe not. Here's another coincidence. On July 15, President Bush announced he was lifting the executive branch moratorium on offshore drilling. In the 24 hours that followed, crude oil futures plunged $9.26 (6.3 percent), the biggest oil price decline in 17 years. "Traders took a look at a feisty and aggressive George Bush and started selling the market well before a new drop of oil has been lifted," said financial analyst Lawrence Kudlow. "If Congress moves to seal the deal, oil prices will probably keep on falling. That's the way traders work. They discount the future. Psychology and expectations can turn on a dime." Oil prices fell again the next day when the Bureau of Land Management overrode the objections of environmentalists and opened 4.9 million acres of land in Alaska to oil exploration. Oil prices are high chiefly because Democrats in Congress won't let us develop oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (10.4 billion barrels, equivalent to 37 percent of our proven reserves), on the Outer Continental Shelf (86 billion barrels, nearly four times our proven reserves), or the oil shale in the Green River Formation in Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming (800 billion barrels, more than the proven reserves of the rest of the world). Democrats also oppose the most promising intermediate-term alternatives to oil: coal-to-liquid plants that convert coal to gasoline and diesel fuel (one using mostly U.S. technology will open in China this fall) and nuclear power plants. Democrats say developing the oil resources we have in this country is not a solution because it would take five to 10 years for the additional oil to come on line. This isn't true. "A new report from Wall Street research house Sanford C. Bernstein says that California actually could start producing new oil within one year if [the congressional ban on offshore drilling] were lifted," Mr. Kudlow said. "The California oil is under shallow water and already has been explored. Drilling platforms have been in place since before the moratorium. They're talking about 10 billion barrels worth off the coast of California." But even if it were true, Democrats are being hypocritical. The primary reason they oppose developing our oil and natural gas resources and pursuing clean coal technologies (we're the Saudi Arabia of coal) is their concern for global warming. "Coal makes us sick, oil makes us sick, it's global warming, it's ruining our country, it's ruining our world, we've got to stop using fossil fuel," Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D., Nev.) said last month. Global warming exists only in computer models. In the real world, global temperatures peaked in 1998, have been declining for the last four years and are projected to remain flat or decline further for the next decade. Even in the computer models, global warming doesn't pose a serious problem for at least half a century. But the "cap and trade" emission-control systems Democrats are proposing to combat it would have immediate negative effects on the economy. A Heritage Foundation study estimated that Senate Bill 2191 would reduce the gross domestic product by at least $155 billion a year. All this to produce what the computer models say would be only a negligible reduction in carbon emissions - none at all if China and India don't go along, as they've said they won't. So Democrats demand we cripple our economy now to deal with a threat that may not exist and which computer models indicate wouldn't manifest itself for 50 years or more, but they refuse to take action on the real economic crisis we face today - a crisis they are largely responsible for creating - because it could take five to 10 years to turn things around. This may make sense in Hyde Park or Berkeley, but not in those portions of America where people use their heads for something other than to hold up their hair. |
| Conditions A-OK for big ones; salmon, steelies in Lake Ontario can wear out best of arms POINT BREEZE, N.Y. - Fishing for king salmon and steelhead trout here on western Lake Ontario, where both species grow big, is something like seeking the "perfect storm." No, not lightning-laden thunderstorm cells like the ones that, thank goodness, passed north and south of the trolling sport fleet here on Wednesday. Rather, it's about the coming together of the right water temperatures at the right depths, currents, winds, and schools of baitfish, all of which put big kings and steelies within striking distance of brightly colored spoons with bizarre nicknames like Rodney, Screwface, 42-Second, Purple Frog, and Raspberry Dolphin. The garish patterns of purple, chrome, pink, chartreuse and more - one of them even is called Monkey Puke - must look like a hot date to these sleek, silvery baitfish-eating machines. For when your trolling pattern or spoons slides into the perfect salmonid storm, you are in for a fishing treat. "My knees are still shaking," said Steve Hathaway of rural Port Clinton, who was on his first Lake Ontario salmon trip and who had just spent more than 20 intense minutes dueling with a drag-screaming 20-pound-plus king. It was part excitement, part fatigue. His left hand was a little cramped, too, from hanging onto the rod and a strong fish for so long. A retired Ohio watercraft supervisor, he was a member of a fishing crew of four aboard Ed LaBounty's Pirate Queen and had been on deck for the next fish when a long rod jestingly called a widow-maker started bouncing, a signal for fish-on. This rig is set up with a reel filled with 400 feet of lead-core sinking line, 100 feet of monofilament leader, and hundreds of feet of backing. In a typical trolling set-up, the spoon is 500 feet or more behind the boat and when a fish takes the bait, it may rip off hundreds of feet more line. Bill Nowak, who runs the Walleye Queen currently in port here, said one fish last week took the line-counter on a widow-maker to 972 feet before they turned it around. It wasn't long, however, after Hathaway's duel that he was ready for his next turn in the rotation - on the widow-maker or any of the other rigs trailing off the Pirate Queen's stern. "On dark days a dark pattern is better and on a sunny day the brighter colors seem to work better," explained LaBounty on spoon selections. His lure collection aboard would run well into four figures to replace. A resident of Graytown, he is a veteran of 26 years as a fishing guide in western Lake Erie's walleye haunts, doubling the years by also fishing Lake Ontario's famed salmon grounds. LaBounty is quick to admit that these fish are unpredictable. In other words, if a spoon type or pattern that makes no sense suddenly starts to work, he'll rig up with an array of patterns in similar colors and types. It pays to be flexible. Besides the widow-maker, LaBounty and most skippers drop "cannon-balls" on wire line off stern-mounted downriggers, running shorter but tough rods and reels full of 20-pound-test monofilament with spoons trailing at various depths. They also will rig some long, specially designed rods that handle reels with wire line, used in tandem with Dipsy Divers and a terminal rig called a "Spin Doctor," a fish-shaped, vaned piece of plastic containing an "e-chip" that emits slight, attracting electric current, plus a flasher fly. The idea is to set out a smorgasbord and hope that something will come to dinner. Not all of the tricks work all the time, but with veteran skippers in charge, something usually works at least some of the time. The fishing here this week was good, tending to be more steelhead than kings. Average catches were running eight to 10 fish per boat, with a "major" king of 20 pounds or more being a fair expectation. Kings as large as 29-3 have come into port in the last week. LaBounty's first day here was Tuesday, this after winding up summer walleye work out of Meinke's West Marina in Jerusalem Township east of Toledo on Sunday afternoon. Ask him sometime about getting his beamy, 31-foot, twin-engine boat onto a semi-trailer rig, safely to New York, and changed over to salmon gear by Tuesday morning. So you want to be a charter captain, eh? "I know more about these boats than I ever wanted to," he said, facing a laundry list of tweaks and fixes right on day one. "I like them, they're good boats, but " They're boats - what more needs be said. LaBounty even brought along his two Labrador retrievers, Jig and Lady, a brother-sister act. "They're family," he said. The canines accompany him on his trips and are well-behaved and a welcome break between fish. Fortunately, LaBounty's long experience with boats and fish put his first run well into the plus column for fish, with steelies to 10 pounds and kings to 12 pounds the first day. He came back with the 20-pound king among three and an 11-pound steelie among seven the next day. His anglers were happy. The salmon and steelhead runs should concentrate as the fish stage off the Oak Orchard River here for fall spawning runs into early and mid-September. The thought of a brawny 20-pounder on a widow-maker or an acrobatic steelie silver-streak cartwheeling 40 feet behind the transom makes you want to go back. • Walleye action on western Lake Erie has been decent this week, especially in the more westerly reaches of the basin. Boats are working off in 12 to 22 feet of water in Crane Creek and between West Sister Island and the end of the Toledo Ship Channel and taking limits, using mayfly rigs or worm-harnesses and bottom bouncers when drifting, or trolling with small |