DECEMBER 20 2007 UPDATE

ASA CHAMPIONSHIP CALENDAR

ASA does not yet have the data on all of the regional and territorial tournaments but the following items have been posted as of December 20.  SPY will update weekly.  SPY is also compiling a comprehensive calendar for travel ball and college.

2008 Gold Qualifiers

Note:  The 2008 Olympics in Beijing are August 8-24.

COMMITMENTS

The University of Evansville softball team has announced six players that will join local talents, Maggie Little (Rockport, Ind./South Spencer) and Katelyn Crabtree (Mt. Vernon, Ind./Mt. Vernon) for the 2009 season. Anne Vincelett (San Diego, Calif./Patrick Henry), Allison Aguilera (Crowne Point, Ind./Lake Central), Bethany "Dusty" Sanstrum (Gresham, Ore./Centennial), Amy Gaertner (Belleville, Ill./Althoff Catholic), Ashleigh Rahming (Reno, Nev./Reno) and Kylie Wagner (Orange County, Calif./El Modena) have signed national letters-of-intent to play softball at UE next season.

Junior ('09), Brittany Caruthers, C/OF, Midlothian High, Texas Glory Gold - verbally committed to Stephen F. Austin.   

THE STAR SPANGLED BANNER

Not sure of its provenance, but this very moving tribute is making the rounds.  Worth taking the time to listen.  Click on the title.

NPF NEWS

ROCKFORD - The Rockford Thunder has signed pitcher Cassidy Scoggins, team
General Manager Aaron M. Moore announced today.  Per team policy, terms of
the deal were not released. Scoggins, 22, is entering her second season with the Thunder. During her rookie season, Scoggins appeared in 11 games, 10 out of the bullpen, and
finished the season with a 4-0 record.  She was third on the team with a
.239 ERA and third on the team with a .211 batting average against.

POTPOURRI

Fatburger exec fattens pocketbook.  Fatburger is something of a cultural phenomenon, usually making news because people like Oprah, Magic Johnson, Montel Williams, Queen Latifah and others own multiple outlets under the Fatburger franchise.  This week it made negative news; seems the man hired to expand the chain boosted corporate income (separate from the franchises) to $11 million – but he kept $4 million for himself.

Congress awards your tax dollars to its members special interests.  The budget bill just  cobbled together contains 9,000 earmarks by the 435 members for “special” projects in their districts/states.  This one aspect, among others, never changes regardless of the party in power.  Despite all the blowhard rhetoric by Reid and Pelosi, the Murtha theme is still the top of the hit parade: earmarks now, earmarks tomorrow, earmarks forever.  Some of the money goes to companies/interests controlled by major donors.  Imagine!

With friends like these, Hilary.  The Senator is learning that inappropriate remarks by would-be supporters can diminish weeks of hard work.  She got rid of an adviser who tried to make campaign fodder out of Obama’s record – in kindergarten.  Another pal sullied the campaign by trying to establish Hilary’s bona fides with black people, muttering that Bill Clinton has dated more black women than Obama.  Aides jumped all over the CIA destruction of interrogations tapes, prompting the Justice Department to remind that it is still investigating the disappearance of hundreds of Clinton WH emails.  Have to careful when throwing boomerangs. Ouch!

Stop the presses!  Production has stopped on Mamma Spears book about motherhood following revelation that her 16-year old Jamie Lynn is enciente.  Some doubt that Brittney's mom is role model for how to raise children.

HAVEN’T DONE BLONDE JOKES IN A WHILE

Thanks to Joe Rittman

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