Stuffed animals, dolls, small toys, baby clothes to size 6, a few housewares, VHS recording tapes, knick-knacks, & books, all $ .50 to $3, old 3-wheel beach bicycle. 7 days a week ‘til sold! Hwy 80, west of Pooler in Eden, Call 748-0994, 10AM-10PM only, please.

Bowflex Ultimate 2 Home Gym, used very little, asking $1,000, obo. Call 964-6413 after 6 PM, Pooler.

25 HP Briggs & Stratton 42” riding mower, good shape. $500. Call 748-9226 or 604-1885.

THE SPIRIT WORKS!

Sports

• Effingham County High School is proud to acknowledge all military veterans at their last home game on Friday, November 10, 2006 against Brunswick High School. Kick-off is at 7:30. All veterans are invited to attend the game, and will be admitted to the game for free when showing their military ID card. Please call Major Burgstiner, AF JROTC, at 754-5514 if questions.

• On Saturday and Sunday, November 4 and 5 at 10:00 am, Team Savannah and the Anderson Cohen Weightlifting Center will host the American Masters Championship. The American Masters Championship is for athletes 35 years old and over. We invite you to attend as athletes from across the area compete. The American Masters Championship will be held at the Anderson-Cohen Weightlifting Center, 7232 Varnedoe Drive. For more information contact Michael Cohen at 351-3500.

• Explore the Salt Marsh By Land and Sea

Wilderness Southeast is pleased to present this program in conjunction with Fort McAlister State Park.

Sunday, November 12, 2006

2:00 - 5:00 pm

Walk and paddle with a naturalist guide to learn about and experience the dynamic and fascinating salt marsh ecosystem which has supported humans on this coast throughout history. Group size: 6 -14. $30 per person fee includes canoe rental and basic canoeing instruction. Meet in parking lot at Fort McAlister. $3 parking fee. 24 hour advance reservations requested. Call 912-897-5108.

• Wilderness Southeast Walk on the Wild Side... Snakes Alive

Saturday, November 18, 2006

10:00 am - Noon

Savannah-Ogeechee Canal & Nature Center

Join herpetologist Bobby Moulis for a close look at native turtles and snakes, and even alligators. Learn which of our creepy crawly critters to avoid and which ones are helpful to humans. How do they eat, sleep, meet a mate, and protect their babies? Reservations required. Adults $12, Children 6-16 $8 includes SOCM entrance fee. Call 912-897-5108.

• Wilderness Southeast Walk on the Wild Side... Wild Islands & Estuaries

Sunday, November 26, 2006

9:00 am - Noon

Join naturalist John “Crawfish” Crawford aboard Capt. Mike Neal’s “Island Explorer” on a discovery cruise through Georgia’s marvelous tidal creeks, and saltmarsh. You?ll look for dolphins, birds, oysters,and other inhabitants of the coastal estuary. You’ll venture ashore on Williamson Island, Georgia’s youngest barrier island. Reservations required! Cost $40 per person. Call 897-5108.

• 15th Annual Coastal Sport & Wellness Hilton Head Bridge Run

The 15th Annual Coastal Sport & Wellness Hilton Head Island Bridge Run will be held Saturday November 11th at 8:00am. The 10K Road Race, 5K Fun Run & Health Walk will start and finish at Crossing’s Park and take participants over the Broad Creek on the Cross Island Expressway.

The 10K Road Race will feature all standard race divisions including: Master & Grand Masters. The 5K run will feature limited divisions. All participants will receive a colorful Bridge Run T-shirt. An award ceremony featuring refreshments, music, and door prizes will be held following the race.

Since 1992, the Hilton Head Bridge Run has hosted over 7,250 runners and walkers and has raised more than $20,000 for the area charities. The Lowcountry tradition continues in 2006 when more than 500 men, women, and children will challenge themselves and the elements during the 15th Annual Hargray Hilton Head Island Bridge Run.

This year's race will benefit Region 9 Special Olympics, the Children's Relief Fund and HH Aquatics. Applications are now available at all sponsor locations. For additional information or to register on line visit us at www.bearfootsports.com or call Bear Foot Sports at 843/379-3440.

• Southbridge 5K Fun Run on November 4 to Support Independent Living

Southbridge, a premier golf and spa community in west Chatham County, will host a 5K Fun Run on Saturday, November 4 at 9:30 a.m. to support Living Independence for Everyone (LIFE), a Savannah- based, non-profit organization which provides services for people of all ages and all disabilities.

“This non-profit works with our friends, relatives, neighbors and co-workers in our community,” said Kara Kavanagh, a Southbridge resident who is organizing the event. “We want local residents to show their community support and sponsor, participate or donate to support this life-changing organization.”

Money raised from the event, which is open to the public, will help dozens of individuals receive adaptive equipment and assistive devices that will allow them to live independently. LIFE’s Home Modification Program helps provide individuals with wider doorways, roll in showers, lift chairs, ramps, grab bars and hand rails. These minor changes often determine whether a disabled individual can live independently or must go to a nursing or group home.

“This is a great event for a great cause,” said Sue Onofrio, director of marketing at Southbridge. “We hope to make this 5K Fun Run an annual tradition at Southbridge.”

The event kicks off at 9 a.m. with a Kiddie Run for children ages 10 and younger at the Grand Lake Lodge and Spa. The 5K Fun Run starts at 9:30 a.m. The cost is $5 for children and $15 for adults and includes a T-shirt.

Southbridge is looking for volunteers to help out before, during and after the event. Sponsorships are also available. To sponsor, volunteer, or donate prizes for 5K Fun Run, please call the Southbridge office at (912) 651-5400 or e-mail Kara Kavanagh at KaraKav@yahoo.com

• The Pooler Recreation Committee is looking for volunteers to join the committee. If you are interested please call Loreen at the Pooler Rec. Dept. at 748-5776.

Falcons Report

The Good The Bad & The Ugly

By Richard Palmer, RichardC on the Atlanta Falcons Message Board

The Butterfly Effect

The phrase refers to the idea that a butterfly's wings might create tiny changes in the atmosphere that ultimately cause a tornado to appear (or, for that matter, prevent a tornado from appearing). The flapping wing represents a small change in the initial condition of the system, which causes a chain of events leading to large-scale phenomena. Had the butterfly not flapped its wings, the trajectory of the system might have been vastly different. (referenced from wikipedia)

Four years ago Dan Reeves & Co. selected a Running Back named T.J. Duckett in the first round of the draft. The next team to pick was the Denver Broncos, they selected Ashley Lelie a wide receiver. Atlanta went to the playoffs that year and became the first team to beat Green Bay at home in a playoff game. Hall of Fame coach John Madden commented toward the end of the game that we may be witnessing the passing of the torch from the old playmaker to the young playmaker.

One year ago a wide receiver for the Green Bay Packers threatened to hold out for a new contract until Brett Favre suggested publicly that he get into training camp. Walker did so in good faith and was soon injured. Angered by how he was treated by the Packers organization, he demanded a trade.

March winds bring April showers and April Showers bring the NFL Draft. Seldom do draft day trades take place, so it was noteworthy during the 2006 draft when a three way trade between Denver, Atlanta and Green Bay brought Javon Walker to Denver in return for their 37th overall pick.

The Packers turned around and traded the No. 37 pick acquired from Denver, and a fifth- round choice (No. 139) to Atlanta for a second-round pick (No. 47), a third-round pick (No. 93) and a fifth-round pick (No. 148). If that wasn't completely clear, go back to the sentence starting with 'seldom do draft day trades take place' and read it five more times very slowly.

Atlanta, then used the second round pick to obtain Jimmy Williams who had fallen significantly in the draft and their second third round pick to obtain running back Jerious Norwood to be the eventual replacement for aging running back Warrick Dunn. This move left two players out in the cold.

In Denver, Lelie didn't like the idea of being replaced by the newly acquired Javon Walker.

In Atlanta, Norwood showed enough for the Falcons that T.J. Duckett became expendable.

August brought training camp and bad news when Brian Finneran suffered a season ending knee injury. In the third week of the preseason, Atlanta played the Green Bay Packers. Afterward Atlanta decided to make some personnel moves. They brought in former Green Bay Packer Grady Jackson and put together yet another three team trade involving Denver, Washington and Atlanta. This trade would send running back T.J. Duckett to Washington. Washington then sent a draft pick to Denver and Denver sent Ashley Lelie, who had been holding out of training camp and preseason, to Atlanta.

I doubt John Madden thought the torch passing would involve two injured wide receivers (Walker & Finneran), two disgruntled wide receivers (Walker & Lelie), two - three team trades and an unknown number of other variables and coincidences, but the result was the same.

Four years after Michael Vick led his team on an 8 game unbeaten streak, resulting in a historic playoff win over the Green Bay Packers in the tundra of Lambeau Field, the potential everyone saw in Micheal Vick is becoming realized. It is becoming realized due to the butterfly effect that brought a true number one wide receiver to Atlanta. Lelie is the torch that was passed and that torch has lit up our offense.

There is no such thing as an ugly win in the NFL, but as was witnessed by a late fourth quarter touchdown, good things can happen to bad people.

The Good:

Lelie - Is it a coincidence that he is on our team? Or divine intervention? For the Falcon Faithful, the answer is obvious.

Vick - Vick can run and as we have seen so many times, he can shred a defense with his legs all by himself. With the passing game, it required someone to catch what Vick threw. Vick helped Crump get to the Pro Bowl for the last three years, don't be surprised if he helps send a wide receiver to Hawaii this year.

Offensive Line - Too bad reporters don't ever ask offensive lineman questions. I would really like to know what they did to finally shore up the pass rush and give Vick a chance in the pocket.

Knapp - Knapp called an excellent game. His offensive scheme kept the Cincinnati defense off balance all day. Even placing their best DB on Crump proved to be in vain as 'The Crump' did what 'The Crump' does.

Defensive - The pass rush in the second half augmented by some blitzes was well executed and helped to change the game and frustrate the Cincinnati Offense.

Clock Management - I've been impressed with this since Mora arrived. One of the hardest things to do is to close out a game. The Falcons always seem to play the last 4 minutes to their advantage.

The Bad:

Crocker - Crocker had some bad moments in the passing game, but he also had some great plays throughout the game. The early hit on Chad Johnson helped to set the tone of the game. His safety blitz was well executed and resulted in a sack. He's not the first safety in the league to let a ball get over him, I like this guy and am confident he will learn from this game.

Patrick Kerney - Kerney may get beat 10 out of the first 15 plays, but as the game drags on and his opponent begins to fade, Kerney remains…. Well, he remains Kerney. Kerney is now an adjective.

Ker-Ney - adj. - To remain constant with respect to physically exhausting endeavors. His success was the result of his kerney attitude.

With the game on the line and with 3 Atlanta Defensive lineman facing 5 Cincinnati offensive lineman, Kerney persisted against the odds. The result of the play was a forced fumble by Kerney, which was a perfect illustration of Kerney's style.

Boone Stutz - Ok, I won't mention that this guy looks like he came straight from Mayberry, North Carolina. Darn, I just did. Regardless, Opie needs to get it right. His improper blocking on a punt allowed the Saints to ding us for a loss. His bad snap today on the extra point could have cost us a win. What was wrong with our previous Long Snapper? See, he was so good I didn't even know his name.

The Ugly:

Chad Johnson - Sorry that dude is just plain ugly. He commented on Cold Pizza that the reason he didn't get two TD's this week as predicted was because "the offense didn't play well enough for me to get two TD's." What about the fact that CHAD didn't play well enough to get two TD's. They tried to get the ball to him several times deep but he just couldn't get the job done. Hey Chad. SHUT YOUR PIE HOLE! Oh yeah, and shave that nasty head of yours.

Webster - I know we cannot take Detroit and Cleveland lightly, but I think this would be a good time to see what Jimmy Williams (our second round draft pick) can do in a real game. Webster is getting picked on and things will snowball against him from here on out.

Vritics - As Vick took the field and lined up for my favorite play of all time (the take a knee play) I looked into my TV and saw the faces of all of Vick's critics (Vritics) as they frantically searched his stats for something, anything, but there was nothing. Nothing except an ugly look on their face. Go ahead, take a look at your tv, I'm sure you'll see it also.

Comments & feedback are welcomed at richard@onlineinfo.net

High School Sports

By C. Edward Wilson

Commentary:

As the season winds down for high school sports teams, homecomings and awards are given out for seniors and distinguished athletes. Those honors are to be cherished for life as one ladder of the educational and athletic development ends.

All our area softball and volleyball teams were eliminated from the state playoffs last week. Many of those players who had aspirations of winning a state crown saw those dreams smashed by a better and stronger opponent.

I know tears were shed and hearts were broken, but what I hope each athlete got out of the season is a deep sense of belonging and a deeper sense of what teamwork is all about both on and off the court.

The team which has knocked on the door numerous times is Savannah Christian. Their volleyball team keeps going to the big party and has come home empty. All I can say to the Lady Red Raiders is to keep on trying.

I remember when Julius Erving, better known as Dr. J., was with the Philadelphia Sixers. His team fought every year to get to the finals and each year Larry Bird and the Celtics eliminated the team. They finally broke through in 1982 and won the NBA title.

Erving made it perfectly clear to everyone that criticized the team for not winning each year. He said, “You can’t get the crown if you aren’t invited to the party.

The Red Raiders have been invited to the party on many occasions and sooner or later, they are going to knock that door off its hinges.

By the way, that same thought goes out to all the other teams that fell short, also.

Football Schedule

Friday, Nov. 3, 2006

Effingham County at Lakeside, 7:30 p.m.

South Effingham at Hephzipah, 7:30 p.m.

Richmond Hill at Burke County, 7:30 p.m.

Claxton at Bryan County, 7:30 p.m.

Pierce County at Savannah Christian, 7:30 p.m

Saturday, Nov. 4, 2006

Jenkins at Groves, 7:30 p.m.

OUTDOOR TRUTHS

(Editor’s Note: Outdoor Truths is a weekly sportsman's article that appears in newspapers and regional magazines across 13 states in the South, and Midwest. It is a blend of observations and experiences that have come over time from being in God's great outdoors. We’re proud to offer this column for the outdoor sportsmen in our area.)

I’m leaving in few days for an extended hunt in Missouri. I think I’ll hit the beginning of the rut, just perfect. I can’t wait to get there, even though I’m far from ready to make the trip. These types of hunts are exciting but they are also very physically taxing.

When you’re there, you want to take advantage of every opportunity to be in the woods. That means sometimes, you only come out for a short lunch and head right back to the tree stand. Other times, lunch is taken with you and you’re in the stand from D to D. (daylight to dark)

During these trips, I usually fall asleep about 9:00 each night. I fight to stay up, but it’s always futile. I get up the next morning and do it all again. After a few days of this, it almost gets routine, even zombie-like.

The best trips involve only about three days of hunting. That’s all my body can stand, especially when you consider the drive both ways. These trips are always filled with great anticipation. The possibilities are so numerous when you think of hunting in a big-deer state like Missouri and when you’re arriving during the prime part of the season. I wish you all could go.

For me to go on these types of hunts, three things have to come together; invitation, opportunity, and means. That is I need to be invited to come, I need to have the days off in order to go, and the price has to be within my budget.

So when a friend or acquaintance invites me to their property, the invitation is there. When I have days I can take off, the opportunity is there. And when they invite me to stay with them at no cost, I’m on my way!

This is also how you and I get to heaven. God has given us all an invitation. He doesn’t care who you are or what you’ve done, you’re invited to heaven. He has also given you the opportunity to come. There’s no journey to make. You only have to accept the invitation where you’re at right now. And there is no cost to you. The price for the trip has already been paid by His Son.

So now, there’s really no excuse for not making the trip. It’s really that simple. If you’ve ever had the desire to go, there’s never been a better time than now.

Gary Miller

www.outdoortruths.org

Bean Spouts

A new AP-AOL poll released last week shows that nearly half of all baseball fans are rooting against Barry Bonds in his quest to break Hank Aaron's career home run record.

Forty-eight percent of fans want Bonds to fall short of the mark while 33 percent would like Bonds to break it and another 16 percent said they didn't care. (I’m no math whiz, but those numbers don’t add up to 100%, do they?)

Put me in that bracket, too. I don’t wish any harm on Bonds, but it would make me happy if he never played another game in his miserable, cheating life. Evidently, my opinion isn’t particularly unique.

Of course, Barry has his defenders. After the release of the poll, his agent whined "I think true baseball fans who know and understand everything Barry has done to get to this point should be pulling for him.”

Wrong- true baseball fans recognize Bonds as a cheat. We don’t feel sorry for him. The same applies to McGwire, Sosa, Palmiero, Canseco and others.

The same poll also showed that only 32% of the respondents considered themselves fans of the game.

It’s a sign of the times, I suppose. Baseball is too pastoral for our modern world. In these days of ADHD, a game that abides no clock is just too slow for most people’s tastes. That’s a shame.

One day, perhaps, the pendulum will swing back the other way and baseball will regain its popularity. We true fans will see you at the ballpark then…

More from that poll- the Yankees were the team that most fans rooted for, 14%, followed by the Atlanta Braves, 10% and Boston Red Sox, 9%.

The Yankees also led the pack as the team fans liked to root against (40%), with Boston way back in second place with 7%. I can’t believe the Mets weren’t among the most hated teams…

From the mailbag comes this from Craig:

“Where's the breakdown on the upcoming NBA season?…

I watched a die-hard Falcon fan friend of mine almost spontaneously combust, when he learned we wouldn't be watching the Falcons vs. the Steelers (last) Sunday. Oh no, we watched Jacksonville get their lunch handed to them by Texas, while the Falcons’ game blared from the radio. Nice choice WTOC. I hope they didn't have a choice and had to show that game.

They did however show Washington vs. Indianapolis at 4. The Redskins played a flawless first half- winning the 50% game, 14-13. The game was called after half apparently, because the Redskins didn't show up for the remainder of the game. Final score 36-22. The Manning guy's pretty good.”

WTOC probably didn’t have much choice in that one- because Jacksonville is the closest AFC team to Savannah. Had the Jags been the 4:00 game, you would’ve seen the Falcons and Jags (and you would have been the one spontaneously combusting because you wouldn’t have seen the Washington game).

Manning’s overrated. Well, the Colts are, anyway.

Oh, I’ll check with old Scratch and see if he’s on ice skates yet. If so, I’ll give you an NBA breakdown next week…

Da Braves.

As of Tuesday evening, just four Braves have filed for free agency. John Thomson, Danys Baez, Todd Pratt and Daryle Ward had all filed and the only other Braves player eligible to do so is Brian Jordan, who said there's a chance he'd like to try to play at least one more season.

Ward will likely be the only one of the four returning to Atlanta next year. Mostly as a pinch hitter, Ward batted .308 (8 for 26) with one home run and seven RBIs after being acquired from the Nationals on August 31.

Thomson may also return. “Big Red” indicated he would be willing to sign at a much lower cost to the team- and pitch from the bullpen. He missed most of the season's final three months with a bad right shoulder..

Former Braves’ pitcher Joe Niekro died last Friday at his home in Florida. He was 61. Neikro, brother of Hall of Famer Phil Niekro, holds the Houston Astros' record with 144 wins in 11 seasons with that team, and finished his career with a 221-204 record in 21 major league seasons with seven teams…

Terry Pendleton has withdrawn his name from consideration for the Nationals’ open managerial job. Pendleton, the 1991 NL MVP with the Braves, has been the team’s hitting coach since 2002. His return to the team helps stabilize a coaching staff that’s lost Fredi Gonzalez, Pat Corrales and Bobby Dews since the end of the season.

Pendleton says he believes it would be in his best interest to stay in Atlanta. It is believed he will be one of the top candidates for the Braves job when Bobby Cox decides to retire…

The team’s coaching line up for the 2007 season is: Pendleton, Roger McDowell (pitching coach), Glenn Hubbard (first base coach), Chino Cadahia (bench coach), Eddie Perez (bullpen coach) and Brian Snitker (third base coach)…

Mo’ Baseball.

So, I was wrong again- the Cardinals are the champs. Oh well…

How did I miss this- the Sand Gnats are now a Mets minor league team? Aye, carumba! That really makes me glad I live in Atlanta- I would hate to go to the ballpark and boo my local team.

Hey- nothing personal, Gnats. I just wish you’d found another team to sign with.

It is good to see that there will be renovations at Grayson Stadium and that- for now- the calls for a new stadium have been quashed…

Bruce Bochy has taken over the reins of the Giants. Bochy signed a three year contract last week worth around $6 million to replace Felipe Alou as San Francisco’s skipper.

"I look forward to this challenge," Bochy said. "I made a commitment to myself and to my wife that if we were to make a change, it would be with an organization that would be a cultural fit for me, where I would be comfortable and where there was potential to build real chemistry between myself and the front office.

"It would be a place where I would have a chance to make an impact and a contribution. That's why I'm sitting here today. That's the only reason I'd leave San Diego."

Bochy had one year left on his contract in San Diego but was told he would not receive an extension this offseason and was allowed to explore other options...

Falcons.

Michael Vick threw for 291 yards and three TDs and added another 55 yards on the ground as the Falcons topped Cincinnati 29-27 Sunday. That victory makes it two straight wins over tough AFC North opponents- and gives the Falcons a tie for first in the NFC South with a 5-2 record.

This weekend, the Falcons head to the Motor City to take on the Lions. Game time is 1:00…

Vick finished 20 of 28 with a passer rating of 140.6- the second highest of his career. The highest rating was 141.7 in a 41-0 win at Carolina in 2002...

Vick has seven TD passes in the last two games after throwing only three in the first five games this season, and only fifteen total last year…

John Abraham will miss at least two more games with a torn abdominal muscle. Chauncey Davis will play in running situations while Paul Carrington and Michael Boley will play on passing downs…

Morten Andersen has scored in 337 consecutive games, dating back to December 4, 1983- an NFL record...

With a team total of 143 yards Sunday, the Falcons have gained over 100 yards on the ground in 31 of the past 33 regular season games dating back to 2004...

Jags.

Fred Taylor ran for 103 yards and the Jacksonville defense shut down a strong Eagles’ offense for a 13-6 win in Philadelphia Sunday. The Jaguars held Philadelphia to 229 total yards on the day. The Eagles came into the game averaging a league best 417 yards.

The win improves Jacksonville’s record to 4-3 on the year- second place in the AFC South. This weekend, Jacksonville returns home to host the Titans. Game time is 1:00...

Dawgs.

Okay, I seriously don’t think the game was as close as the 21-14 score would lead you to believe. I mean, it was 21-0 when I got home from setting up my karaoke gig! Georgia pretended to make a game of it, but still fell to the Gators 21-14 Saturday in Jacksonville.

The Florida defense forced two fumbles and had two interceptions as they won their 15th game in their last 17 meetings with Georgia. Matthew Stafford was just 13 of 33 for 151 yards in his fourth start.

This week, UGA will try to regroup against Kentucky in Lexington. Game time is 1:00...

Senior DE Quentin Moses has been named a semifinalist for the Lott Trophy- given annually to a player who exhibits the same characteristics that Ronnie Lott embodied during his career: Integrity, Maturity, Performance, Academics, Community and Tenacity.

Moses has 25 tackles, nine tackles for a loss, three sacks and has 21 quarterback pressures on the year. He has also been named a mid season All American by MSNBC.com.

David Pollack won the award two years ago. Three finalists will be announced November 27 and the winner will be announced at a banquet at The Pacific Club in Newport Beach on December 10...

Tech.

The Yellow Jackets’ defense forced four Miami turnovers as Tech rebounded from a dismal showing at Clemson for a 30-23 win over Miami Saturday. Tech had a struggle in this one, too- rallying from a 23-13 deficit in the fourth quarter for the win.

Reggie Ball was just 11 of 27 for 188 yards, but managed to keep the ball out of Miami’s hands for the whole game- at least through the air- and was 8 for 11 in the second half during the rally. Ball’s fumble on Tech’s first play from scrimmage led to a 7-0 Hurricanes lead.

Tashard Choice rushed for 107 yards and a TD- becoming the first back all season to put up 100 yards on the Miami defense.

This week, the Yellow Jackets head to Raleigh to take on NC State. Game time is 7:00...

Calvin Johnson is one of 15 semifinalists for the 70th Maxwell Award for the Collegiate Player of the Year. Johnson leads the ACC in receptions (35) and receiving yards (559) and has eight TD catches. The announcement of the winners will be made during the Home Depot College Football Awards Show on ESPN on Thursday December 7...

Eagles grounded again.

Travis Clark and Jayson Foster connected on a record 85 yard touchdown in the fourth quarter, but it wasn’t enough as Georgia Southern fell to The Citadel 24-21. The loss was the Eagles second straight and dropped them to 3-5 on the year.

This weekend, the Eagles return home to host Wofford in a game that‘s scheduled to be televised live on CSS. Game time is noon.

From the ice.

The Thrashers went 1-1-2 last week, but retained their hold on first place in the NHL Southeast- seven points ahead of second place Washington. This weekend, Atlanta plays at Washington and the Islanders and returns home to host the Bruins and Senators next week…

Racin.’

Tony Stewart took home the checkered flag in Sunday’s Bass Pro Shops 500 in Atlanta last weekend. The win was Stewart’s second in the seven races run so far in NASCAR’s “Chase” that Stewart isn’t in the running for.

Jimmie Johnson finished second and moved into second place in points, 26 behind Matt Kenseth, who finished fourth in Sunday’s race. Dale Earnhardt, Jr. finished third and Greg Biffle fifth.

This week’s race is the Dickies 500 at the Texas Motor Speedway…

So, that’s about all for this week, boys and girls. I'll be back next time with more news, notes, and rumors from the sports world. As always, send your questions, praises, or gripes to RobBeanSports@yahoo.com, or via snail mail to:

Bean Spouts

c/o Spirit Newspapers

P.O. Box 33

Pooler, GA 31322.

God, bless America.