Here's your wakeup call -- a combination of newsworthy andor interesting tidbits -- for Friday, August 3:
BASEBALL
I know it's stupid, but it made me laugh. (NBCs Hardball Talk) So, how long before we start seeing MANTLEZ 2 shirts? And what do you think John Sterling's home-run call would be? ("Minnie mashed it!")
Welcome back, Jayson Werth. (CSN Washington)
A very interesting four-game series between the two best teams in the A.L. West ended in a split, thanks to Josh Hamilton. (AP)
If Bruce Bochy's serious, then Pablo Sandoval should have been in right field. (NBC's Off The Bench)
COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Tom Penders gives us a glimpse at the seamy underside of big-time college sports. (NBC's College Basketball Talk)
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
LSU is beginning the season at No. 1. (AP)
Boston Red Sox
Another starter -- albeit a kickerpunter -- has left Penn State. (AP)
GOLF
Stuart Cink = Tim Thomas. (NBC's Off The Bench)
OLYMPICS
Back in the days when you couldn't use professionals and we used to send our collegians to play the quasi-pro Communist-bloc teams, we all wondered what would happen if the U.S. could use its NBA stars in the Olympics. I think we felt it would be something like this. (NBC's Pro Basketball Talk)
And could you imagine what it would have been like if they hadn't eased up? (Pro Basketball Talk)
Isn't this what got the badminton players banned? (NBC)
David Beckham's skipping out on the L.A. Galaxy to attend the closing ceremonies. (NBC's Pro Soccer Talk) As would most of us, I'd wager.
An Australian newspaper prints what we all think. (NBC's Off The Bench)
PRO FOOTBALL
Apparently, Luck Fever has yet to sweep Indianapolis. (NBC's Pro Football Talk)
The Browns have a new owner: A guy from Tennessee who owns a piece of the Steelers and promises to keep the team in Cleveland. (AP)
First, Jeff Otah learned he wasn't going to be a New York Jet. Now he finds out he won't be a Carolina Panther, either. (AP)
At last, the Jets are practicing the one thing Tim Tebow does well. (AP)
Looks like Rex Ryan did, indeed, learn his lesson: This time, he's trying to get in front of a budding controversy. (AP)