Here's your wakeup call -- a combination of newsworthy andor interesting tidbits -- for Thursday, August 9:
BASEBALL
Old friend Marco Scutaro had a Giant night in St. Louis. (CSN Bay Area)
COLLEGE BASKETBALL
BU's Jake O'Brien is headed to Temple. (CSN Philly)
Tubby Smith's off the hook. (AP)
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
UConn loses a quarterback. (AP)
HOCKEY
For as far apart as their positions are, the NHL players and owners have pretty much kept the labor rhetoric at acceptable levels. Then Scott Hartnell came along. (CSN Philly)
After two injury-aborted seasons, Taylor Hall -- whom the Bruins wanted over Tyler Seguin two years ago -- says he's finally healthy and rarin' to go. (NBC's Pro Hockey Talk) Yet another example of being careful what you wish for.
New England Patriots
Ah, the dangers of being a 'human hockey puck'. (AP)
OLYMPICS
Yup, that was Frank Viola's daughter diving in the 10-meter platform preliminaries Wednesday night. (nbcolympics.com)
Quote of the Olympics: "I wanted to give them a good reason to flop." (AP) Yeah, I'd say the shot to the groin that France's Nicolas Batum gave Spain's Juan Carlos Navarro was a good reason.
PRO BASKETBALL
The next time someone goes off on selfish, clueless modern athletes, show them this story about Roy Hibbert. (NBC's Pro Basketball Talk)
Congratulations, Dirk and Jessica. (Pro Basketball Talk)
PRO FOOTBALL
Andy Reid's return had a deep impact on the Eagles. (CSN Philly)
The Peyton Manning Era begins tonight in Denver. (AP)
Bad news for the Browns and their No. 3 overall draft pick, Trent Richardson. (AP)
Looks like Chad Ochojohnson (to coin a Tom E. Curran phrase) is going to emulate his Patriots persona, at least off the field, in Miami. (NBC's Pro Football Talk) The Dolphins better hope he's not his New England clone on the field, as well.
While waiting to hear from the commissioner on whether he'll be suspended for his eighth run-in with the law since 2009, Kenny Britt decided to give the Titans a piece of his mind on Twitter. (AP)
There's only one way to keep Steve Smith off the field: Hide his pads. (AP)
Once a Raider, always a Raider. (Pro Football Talk)