A blog about Sports & Recreation and Kern County.
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It's official Tour of California to make stop in Bakersfield Add another name to the list of Condors fans No sponsor, no ride for Mears in 2010 Effing Favre to Simply Favrelous NASCAR rumors: Boys of Bakersfield could be cancelled? Colts prefer Playboy model's husband rather than former BC standout Casual fans could be priced out for Jam Manny's blunder great news for Yankees Blitz, Jam, Blaze ... minor league sports flop in Bakersfield Is your bracket busted? January 07 February 07 March 07 April 07 May 07 June 07 July 07 August 07 September 07 October 07 November 07 December 07 January 08 February 08 March 08 April 08 May 08 June 08 July 08 August 08 September 08 October 08 November 08 December 08 January 09 February 09 March 09 April 09 May 09 June 09 July 09 August 09 September 09 October 09 November 09 
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Didn't need a 10 a.m. press conference to announce the cities and dates for the 2010 Amgen Tour of California. Just had to open my e-mail this morning. Here's a few excerpts from the press release sent over by Nicole Okoneski with Golin Harris, one of the marketing firms with the Tour. Beginning with a road stage, a first for the race, the 2010 Amgen Tour of California will visit 16 host cities for official stage starts and finishes, while other cities along the route also will have the opportunity to witness the excitement of elite professional cycling. Stages for the 2010 Amgen Tour of California include:
For further information on the 2010 Amgen Tour of California, visit amgentourofcalifornia.com. I'm still going to the press conference. Will know more in a few minutes. Who woulda thunk a kid from central Indiana, where basketball gets first billing for 364 days of the year -- the Indianapolis 500 has its one day -- would become a hockey fan. From working as public relations gopher with the Peoria Rivermen for a season, to covering numerous Charlotte Checker games to marrying a girl from Roseau, Minn.; hockey has grown on me. It's gotten to the point where my oldest son thinks we're going to a hockey game anytime we drive downtown. But these past 2 weeks of talking with Condors beat guy Mike Griffith and listening to Condors media guru Kevin Bartl describe the talent on this year's team has me primed for the season to start tonight. I'm excited about the Condors season, and I think the community should too. For the first time since joining the ECHL, the Condors will have a roster full of NHL-caliber players. Sure they've had guys like Yutaka Fukufuji and Connor James earn a spot in the NHL. And Alexandre Bolduc has had a swig of Molson in the NHL but those were just one standout on rosters of "just keeping the dream alive" Double-A talent. This year's roster is like a freshman sorority girl at an off-campus party -- LOADED. Winger Shawn Weller, defensemen John de Gray and Eric Regan, along with goaltender Justin Pogge are proven commodities at the AHL level. Stu Bickell, MacGregor Sharp and newest Condor Dan Sexton excelled at the collegiate level. And we can't forget Pogge has seven games in net with the Toronto Maple Leafs. And then you have the Ducks' 2007 first-round pick Logan Macmillan, third-rounder Maxine Macenauer and goalie Timo Pielmeier joining the Ducks' organization after successful stints in juniors. In a year, you might see a two or three former Condors playing with the big boys in Anaheim. Better hop on the bandwagon while there's still room. I just grabbed four spots for myself and my family.
Bakersfield's No. 2 Sprint Cup driver appears on his way out of Richard Childress Racing. Casey Mears, a Stockdale High graduate and nephew of IndyCar legend Rick Mears, signed a one-year contract with RCR, with a an option for a second in 2008, but without a sponsor RCR will likely have to trim a car from its four-car stable, according to ESPN's David Newton. His one-year stint with Bakersfield's Kevin Harvick, dubbed this season by The Californian as The Boys of Bakersfield could be canceled after just one season. Funding has been suppressed by General Motors' misfortunes, and with the loss of longtime sponsor Jack Daniel's, Mears is likely the odd-man out, despite being 19th in the points standings and having nine Top-15 finishes, including a sixth-place finish at Michigan in August. Actually I think the most telling quote in this story is Childress' second one. Considering Childress won't rule out replacing Mears because a sponsor doesn't believe Mears' is an ideal candidate. "It all depends on sponsorship," Childress said. "Casey has done a good job. It's just unfortunate circumstances around Jack Daniel's to have to leave the sport."
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