DG Photo Quickie-Your Sports Update in a "Flash"

This week was a fun week in sports, and that fun is only just beginning.  Let's recap some of the big events in photos.  Starting with Tuesday's big news out of the NBA Draft Lottery:

With this pick, the Bulls have gained the potential to improve drastically next year.  They can now draft one of the two elite players in the June's draft: Derrick Rose, PG out of Memphis, or Michael Beasley, PF out of Kansas State.  Then, the pick would give them flexibility to trade a couple of guards/forwards they already have for other key pieces.  It is still early, but at this point I would choose Rose; the Chicago kid looks poised to follow in Chris Paul's and Deron Williams' footsteps as the next elite, NBA point-guard to lead his team to big things.

Next, we had Wednesday's UEFA Champions League Final, which pitted the two English clubs against each other for the title:

Late into the Moscow night, Manchester United and Chelsea FC battled for the crown in the pouring rain.  During regulation, Christiano Ronaldo headed in the goal for Man U, but after over 120 minutes, the teams were locked in a 1-1 tie.  For the fourth time in eight years, the UEFA final went to a shootout, as Manchester United took the crown after seven rounds.

Next up during the week, we started the Conference Finals in the NBA, as both the Lakers and the Celtics took leads over their opponents.  The Lakers, dominating the Spurs with good team play led by Kobe Bryant are 2-0 and will play Game 3 on Sunday.  While the Celtics, after losing their first game at home in Game 2, came right back to win on the road in Game 3 to go up 2-1 in their series.  They'll challenge the Pistons in Game 4 Monday night on ESPN.

In the other playoffs underway right now, the Pittsburgh Penguins and Detroit Red Wings started their final journey to hoisting the Stanley Cup on Saturday night.  The Pens came into Hockeytown and took a 4-0 loss to the Wings, as the 2008 Stanley Cup Finals started with authority.  The star power was also on hand for the ceremonial puck drop, as past Pen and Wing captains Super Mario Lemieux and Stevie Yzerman kicked off the festivities by dropping the pucks to current captains (and former teammates) Sidney Crosby and Niklas Lidstrom.

And finally, tomorrow it's time for ladies and gentlemen to "start their engines" as the 92nd running of the Indy 500 starts.  Danica Patrick, Tony Kanaan, Marco Andretti, and Helio Castroneves are all positioned to start towards the front, as a thrilling day of racing should be expected.

Home-Cooking Sends Cubs on the Road on Fire!

The Cubs are one HOT team.  They just completed a 10-game road stand with an 8-2 record; the last time the Cubs have won eight games on a homestand was way back in 1978.  This team, everyone included, is just too hot for any team to handle right now.  With everyone clicking on all cylinders, the Chicago Cubs are atop the MLB Pole-Position.  Did I mention they are hot?  Okay, enough of the much-deserved love-fest for now, let's get down to the real business.  The Cubs, at 27-17, now sit atop their perch of the NL Central Division by 2.0 games.  After a homestand that saw great pitching performances by starters (Dempster is 5-1) and bullpen alike (are you ready for some Marmolade?), Soriano hit .525 with 7 HR and 16 RBI, some helpful acquisitions and call-ups (Jim Edmonds, Micah Hoffpauir), and every player contribute, things are only looking up on the North Side.  Just to appreciate the dominance of the Cubs' performance thus far, consider that they are leading the entire Major Leagues with 255 runs scored (Boston is second with 239), a .373 team OBP leads the majors, and have a pitching staff that is currently ranked in the Top 3 in the NL in Wins, ERA, and Strikeouts.  As far as individual performances, the aforementioned Alfonso Soriano is on one of his patented hot-streaks, in which he has launched 7 HR in just 6 games while hitting .525 over the last 10 games (video here and here).  The rookies Geovany Soto and Kosuke Fukudome have been on-base machines, playing like they are the only two rookies in the league that deserve the ROY award (there homers can be viewed here and here).  Pitching wise, Carlos Marmol has been absolutely filthy, striking out 40 batters this year over just 28.0 innings.  Ryan Dempster, meanwhile, has 5 wins and is third in the NL with a 2.35 ERA, just ahead of the fourth place Carlos Zambrano's 2.45 ERA.  There have been a hand full of surprises, as well; such as DeRosa's versatile defense, Sean Gallagher's emergence over this homestand as a viable 5th starter, and the bargain-acquisition by Hendry of veteran Jim Edmonds to share playing time in center while Felix Pie develops in the minors.  Now, on to Houston where the Cubs can continue the fun and give themselves a little separation in the Central between themselves and the 2.5 game-back Houston Astros.

DG Quickie: Sergio Wins! Cubs Sweep!

In a great Sunday of sports, two events stood out.  At the iconic TPC Sawgrass, for one, Sergio Garcia captured this years Player's Championship, as he also got his first win in three years.  He played extremely well the entire tournament, placing 1st in Driving Accuracy and GIR.  It was a much deserved, and emotional win for the Spaniard, whose opening comment to NBC's Bob Costas was, "First I'd like to thank Tiger for not being here."...comical Sergio as always.  Congrats to him.  You can check out Sergio's scorecard here, and the tournament leaderboard here.

Also, over at 1060 W. Addison, the Cubs completed a three-game sweep of the Arizona D'Backs, exacting some revenge from last years early, playoff exit.  In the three games, the pitching was solid, paired with clutch, late-inning rallies of runs.  Derrek Lee had a nice weekend with 2 HR, while Alfonso Soriano started to pick it up going 5-9 with 2 RBI, 2 R, and an IBB in a PH-appearance on Sunday.  Kosuke Fukudome also clubbed his 2nd HR of the season with a 2-run shot on Saturday.  The Cubs, at 23-16, are now tied atop the NL Central Division with the Cardinals, and are about to go into a 4-game series vs. the Padres at Wrigley this week, followed by another home series vs. the Pirates going into next Sunday.  They are set to face Greg Maddux on Thursday's contest.

Oh, yeah...Happy Mother's Day!

DG Wild Card: Colbert Universe!

Watch as Stephen Colbert talks live to an astronaut on the International Space Station.

DG Thriller: Stars harpoon Sharks in 4 OT Classic

In a marathon game that started at 8:04 pm CDT in Dallas Sunday night, and ended over 5 hours later at 1:21 am CDT early Monday morning, the Dallas Stars knocked the San Jose Sharks out of the 2008 Stanley Cup Playoffs, and themselves advanced to the Western Finals v. Detroit.  After regulation ended in a 1-1 score, the teams proceeded to play into four more 20 minute periods of play to decide the winner.  In the overtime periods, both goaltenders turned in stellar performances.  The games first star, Marty Turco, turned away 61 of 62 shots.  Everyone grinded it out, as the OT periods kept passing by with the score still locked in at 1-1.  There was some exceptional performances by Dallas' Brad Richards and San Jose's Jeremy Roneick in particular, as both kept setting their teams up for chances to score.  In the 4th OT, the dagger finally came when Dallas captain Brenden Morrow tipped in a blast by Stephan Robidas to get past the also stellar Evgeni Nabokov.  Both teams battled to the end, in a game that is surely to go down in hockey history as one of the classics of all-time.  Now, the final four of the Stanley Cup Playoffs are set.  The Eastern Conference Finals will feature two teams from Pennsylvania: the Flyers v. the Penguins, while the Western Conference Finals will feature perennial powerhouse Detroit Red Wings v. the Dallas Stars.  It should be a good one.  As a final note from this early morning's broadcast, it was revealed that in between overtime periods, the players are given pizza, gatorade, and IV fluids to replenish their bodies and keep them going through the night.

DG @ the Movies: IRON MAN

In possibly the best superhero movie yet, Marvel gets it right with Iron Man.  An action packed, quick-witted movie, it also has a stellar performance by Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark.  The quick lowdown:  Tony Stark is a mega-rich playboy who heads up Stark Industries; a weapons manufacturerer.  When he's not overseeing a new project, or working in his workshop, he's out partying or at his cliff-top, Malibu home.  While on a business trip in Afghanistan to demonstrate his newest weapon- The Jericho- he's captured by terroists who demand he build them this new weapon.  Instead, Stark and another captive build the Iron Man suit that helps him escape.  After seeing how his weapons are actually in the hands of the enemy, he returns home to perfect the Iron Man suit and fight this evil in the world.  He can now fly faster than an F-22 Raptor, easily take-out tanks and armed militants, and be in constant, technological comfort with his state-of-the-art suit.  Along the way on this story of betrayal, love, humor, coolness, and kick-ass superheroing, Tony Stark puts a new face on the superhero.  Also starring alongside Stark are his best friend, and chief military liason to Stark Industries James Rhodes (Terrence Howard), and his assistant and (kind of flirting romantic interest) Pepper Potts (Gwenyth Paltrow).  This movie is a great movie for anyone, and it also has some great twists that you will never see coming.  You will definitely want to be Tony Stark with his awesome house, Audi R8, Rolls-Royce Phantom, private jet, lavish life, and...oh yeah...Iron Man!!  Final tip: You will want to stay after the credits!!!!!!