Three cheers for Monica (and India)

Update (10:26 p.m.): Thunderstorms have delayed tonight's softball action from Oklahoma City. UT and Arizona's game will get underway at approximately midnight (Eastern), televised nationally on ESPN 2.

Be near your TV tonight at 9:30 p.m. Don't argue, just do it.


If you want to see pitching as an art form, skip the Red Sox/Yankees game tonight. The art will be in Oklahoma City.


Tennessee's softball team advanced in the national championship tournament yesterday after beating Texas A&M 2-0. Senior pitcher Monica Abbott threw a no-hitter, a true thing of beauty after a rough first inning. She fanned 16 Aggies to set the NCAA single season record (665).


Monica is my hero.


But wait. It's gets better. The winning run was scored by an injured senior with a torn ACL. Didn't matter, though. India Chiles did her job anyway.


Tonight's game will air nationally on ESPN 2 at 9:30 (EDT). Read News Sentinel sportswriter Mike Griffith's account of last night's win here.


Health update: I've passed part of one of the remaining kidney stones. Now have just one (I think) to go. Wish me luck that I can do this on my own and won't need further surgery. It hurts, but I'm makin' it.


Thanks to all of you for the calls, e-mails and well wishes. Here's hoping this is the light at the end of the tunnel.

This 'n' that

UPDATE (9:53 p.m.): Tigers lose, but the Mets do too. Atlanta picks up one game in the NL East.

Not too much to say tonight.

Not feeling well at all. Looks like more surgery. Will keep you posted.

Detroit is leading Tampa Bay 3-1 in the top of the third. Tigers already have something like 5 hits, but Nate Robertson is on the mound tonight. Looks like he pulled something in his back a few minutes ago after throwing a pitch. Don't hold your breath, especially with this bullpen.

By the way, found another cool Tigers blog that includes a podcast. It can be found here.

Atlanta won in big fashion over the Milwaukee Brewers today 9-3. I was asleep all afternoon and missed the game. Here's hoping the Mets lose tonight.

Tom Stanton has written an intriguing new book called Ty and the Babe. The book examines the rivalry of two of baseball's biggest figures, Cobb and Ruth.

But this is no ordinary biography. It also focuses on a rarely-discussed golf challenge that the two men participated in throughout the country in 1941, the so-called "Has Beens Golf Championship."

Stanton has become of one literary baseball's shining stars since his excellent debut book, "The Final Season," about attending all 81 home games during the final year of venerable Tiger Stadium in Detroit eight years ago.

I'll post a review of the book at some point in the coming weeks, both on the blog and in the Shopper.

Tennessee softball opens up NCAA women's softball tournament championship play tomorrow night at 7 p.m. against Texas A&M. The game will be carried live on ESPN.

Monica Abbott has been named USA Softball Player of the Year.

Wish me well that I can pass the remaining kidney stones without needing surgery.

Good night, and good luck.