Here's your wakeup call -- a combination of newsworthy andor interesting tidbits -- for Friday, October 12:
AUTO RACING
Concussions aren't limited to the stick-and-ball sports. (AP)
BASEBALL
Whaddya know? The Yankees and Orioles are heading to Game 5. (AP)
If it wasn't for bad luck, this guy would have no luck at all. And somewhere, Kevin Youkilis is smiling. (AP)
Enough already, Joe. Enough. When you sit down to write out tonight's lineup, make it 'Chavez 5' in the batting order and 'Rodriguez' among the reserves. (NBC's Hardball Talk)
You think A-Rod's been bad? Check out Curtis Granderson. (Hardball Talk)
On a (far) more serious -- and sad -- note, Joe Girardi's been managing the Yankees with a heavy heart. (AP)
Boston Red Sox
Alex? Curtis? This is how you come up big in an elimination game. (Hardball Talk)
Forget the loss. Oakland is in love with its baseball team again. (CSN Bay Area)
Want proof? (CSN Bay Area)
Playoff baseball was Werth the wait, wasn't it, Washington? (AP)
If you call the Giants' triumph over the Reds a comeback of Biblical proportions, you just ain't whistlin' Dixie. (CSN Bay Area)
Oh, and Giants? Think about starting The Freak in the NLCS. (Hardball Talk)
COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Roy Williams plans to coach at North Carolina for another 6 to 10 years. (AP)
Notre Dame has grand plans for its last year in the Big East. (AP)
Syracuse probably does, too, but no one's saying it out loud. (AP)
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
Beano Cook dies at 81. (AP)
It's likely no one was watching, what with the Steelers-Titans on the NFL Network and the baseball playoff games, but that was quite a show by Arizona State last night. Especially in the second half. (AP)
Although his annual pension's still being fought over, Jerry Sandusky will get to keep the 900,000 in payments he's received since his 1999 retirement. (AP)
Defiant to the end, eh, Jerry? (AP)
HOCKEY
No progress in negotiations. No new talks scheduled. Situation normal in Bettman Land. (NBC's Pro Hockey Talk)
Also normal: NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly's predictable anti-player blather. (Pro Hockey Talk)
Memo to Gary and Bill (and Jeremy Jacobs, widely seen as one of the driving forces behind all this): If your labor strategy was designed to permanently alienate and drive away your fan base, it's working beautifully. (Pro Hockey Talk)
In further proof of the resiliency of the human spirit, Sidney Crosby thinks the season will be salvaged. (AP)
If you live in one of the half-dozen New England cities with an AHL team, it's game on starting tonight. (AP)
PRO BASKETBALL
LeBron James is good in China, too. (AP)
What's with those gasps of worry from L.A.? Well, it's never good when the center you're building your team around -- even though he says he's completely healthy today -- admits his left leg "just went dead basically" and that he "couldn't do a calf raise" as recently as six months ago. (NBC's Pro Basketball Talk)
Kobe to Dwight: Get mean. (Pro Basketball Talk)
Andre Iguodala sure sounds happy to be out of Philadelphia. (Pro Basketball Talk)
PRO FOOTBALL
Boy, the Titans needed this one. (AP)
The Steelers lost most than just a game. Four of their players went down, too. (NBC's Pro Football Talk)
Michael Vick owns a what? (CSN Philly)
The block that ended Brian Cushing's season will cost Matt Slauson 10,000. (AP)
More off-field troubles for Ndamukong Suh. (Pro Football Talk)
It's official: Matt Cassel's out Sunday. Happy, Chiefs fans? (AP)
It'll be the 49ers and Jaguars in London next year. (AP)
Wow. Maybe there's something to this 666 business. (NBC's Off The Bench)
TENNIS
That's 300 weeks at No. 1 for Roger Federer. (AP)