Here's your wakeup call -- a combination of newsworthy andor interesting tidbits -- for Wednesday, September 19:
BASEBALL
No one can accuse the Orioles of coasting back into a first-place tie with the Yankees. Not after 18 innings. Or 5 hours and 44 minutes. (AP)
If you're thinking Dusty Baker would love for the Reds to clinch the N.L. Central at Wrigley Field, considering that the Cubs fired him way back when, think again. (CSN Chicago)
However, since their magic number is down to four, it's possible. (AP)
It may be a badge of honor in some circles, but Ike Davis doesn't like the insinuation that he's a party animal. (NBC's Hardball Talk)
Yunel Escobar says he wasn't trying to offend anyone, and he wasn't aiming it at anybody in particular, and he didn't see it as anything bad "at the time". With all that out of the way, he apologized -- and accepted a three-game suspension -- for the homophobic slur he painted on his eye black last week. (AP)
COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Raise your hand if you never thought you'd see the names Dick Vitale and Amanda Bynes in the same sentence. (NBC's Off The Bench) Raise both hands if you never thought you'd see Dickie V. issuing a general warning about her.
Boston Red Sox
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
Brian Kelly is a Boston native and he loves the Red Sox, but he doesn't sound too enthused about the prospect of Notre Dame playing a game at Fenway Park. (CSN Chicago)
LSU will have to take on Auburn -- and the next few opponents on its schedule -- without starting running back Alfred Blue. (NBC's College Football Talk)
Can you imagine Bill Belichick beseeching local reporters to smile? (College Football Talk) Me, neither.
Injured Tulane safety Devon Walker has been moved to a rehabilitation center. (AP)
HOCKEY
Good news at last for the locked-out players: The NHLPA is restoring their insurance coverage after the league canceled it. (NBC's Pro Hockey Talk)
If you're looking for more good news, you're going to have to look pretty hard. (CSN Philly)
And if they don't start negotiating again soon . . . well, look out below. (Pro Hockey Talk)
Yet another casualty of the lockout: The Summit Series anniversary game. (Pro Hockey Talk)
PRO BASKETBALL
They're just gobbling up tickets to see Austin Rivers in New Orleans. Oh, and maybe Anthony Davis, too. (NBC's Pro Basketball Talk)
Linsanity begins in Houston. (AP)
President Obama (finally!) salutes the Minnesota Lynx. (AP)
PRO FOOTBALL
We'll withhold comment on the irony of Jon Gruden calling Michael Turner "road rage" during the Falcons' win over the Broncos Monday night, and Turner then being arrested for DUI a few hours after the game. (AP)
The NFL and its locked-out referees continue to talk at, and not to, each other. (NBC's Pro Football Talk) That's not how you get it done, boys.
26 million later, Vince Young is broke. (AP) And jobless.
L.A.'s hopes for an NFL franchise may have taken a hit. (Pro Football Talk)
Okay, okay; Jay Cutler admits he shouldn't have shoved J'Marcus Webb. He'll defend to the death, though, his right to yell at him. (AP)
And Jeff Ireland admits he shouldn't have sworn at that fan who told him to fire himself as Dolphins GM. (AP) But at least Ireland didn't shove anybody.