Here's your wakeup call -- a combination of newsworthy andor interesting tidbits -- for Tuesday, September 18:
BASEBALL
Now that they've escaped Oakland, the Orioles are resuming their winning ways. (AP)
The lead is back to three for the White Sox in the A.L. Central (CSN Chicago)
And it's up to eight for the Giants in the N.L. West (CSN Bay Area)
I guess no one told Yunel Escobar that cameras have telephoto lenses and can pick up the smallest things . . . like homophobic slurs written on eye black. (NBC's Hardball Talk)
Clayton Kershaw may miss more than just this week's start. (Hardball Talk)
COLLEGE BASKETBALL
He's under investigation by his athletic director, so "avoiding any stress for 30 days" is going to be a tall order for Billy Gillispie. (AP)
Boston Red Sox
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
The rumored Orange Bowl deal demonstrates that, come 2014, the sport's upper crust is going to consist of five conferences and Notre Dame. (NBC's College Football Talk) And, no, the Big East isn't one of those conferences.
Bo Pelini says he's "as healthy as can be". (AP)
The bomb threat at LSU forced the Tigers to cancel practice. (AP)
Three University of Wisconsin students have been charged in the Aug. 1 attack on Badgers running back Montee Ball. (AP)
HOCKEY
Those crickets you hear are from the labor negotiations. (AP)
Joe Thornton's going back to his special lockout place. (CSN Bay Area)
And some front-office staff may be going to a not-so-special lockout place: The unemployment line. (NBC's Pro Hockey Talk)
One man's floor is another man's ceiling: These could be boom times for the AHL. (AP)
PRO BASKETBALL
Ron Artest -- excuse me, Metta World Peace -- is playing the role of Rasheed Wallace 2010 and talking 73 wins. (NBC's Pro Basketball Talk)
Apparently, this woman in Orlando didn't read the back of her ticket. (Pro Basketball Ticket)
PRO FOOTBALL
That sure didn't look like Peyton Manning, did it? (AP)
Can we -- for the love of God -- stop with the talk that the replacement refs are, you know, doing all right? No? Well, then, allow me to show you the tape from the first quarter of last night's game. (NBC's Pro Football Talk)
Or from any number of games over the weekend. (AP)
That's a wrap for the Redskins' Brian Orakpo and Adam Carriker. At least for 2012. (CSN Washington)
Darrelle Revis' status for Sunday's game at Miami is still up in the air. (AP)
Bountygate update: Looks like Gregg Williams threw Jonathan Vilma under the bus. (Pro Football Talk)
The timing of said throwing, though, raises a few questions. (Pro Football Talk)
If it worked at Rutgers, why not Tampa Bay? (Pro Football Talk)