...For The Ride Home: The hockey season begins tonight, a new couple definitely worth rooting for and Roy Halladay is good

I've already babbled endlessly about NPR's "Fresh Air." Another program I am always sure to keep my iPod filled with is "Wait, Wait...Don't Tell Me." It's been that way for years and years and years, actually. And on Jimmy Fallon's show last night, both of these men appeared, and such an action thrilled me to death. I've seen Peter on Craig Ferguson's show a couple times before, but never Carl. And knowing the show will be in Philly in only a matter of weeks now - while knowing there is no possible way for me to attend - breaks my heart beyond belief. If you've never listened to the show, log into your iTunes, search NPR's page, do yourself a favor, and download the most recent episode. And if you don't enjoy listening to things that are podcasted, listen to your local NPR station anytime this weekend, really. It should be there. So hello, Thursday. You know what you mean? You mean that there is only one more day left in the week! Yay! What are you going to do with your weekend? I hope it's something fun. Weekends are always reserved for fun, right? Here's hoping you and your object of affection have a fun-like weekend, and here's hoping you enjoy a link or six below. Have a fantastic Thursday!

Roy Halladay pitched the second no-hitter in postseason history last night. The Phillies beat the Reds to go up 1-0. More impressive? Dude also drove in a run. (Philly Inquirer)

Seventeen cheap dates that women will like. Hey. They said it. (Esquire)

No. No. No. Half the reason why we do what we do is so we can get free food! (Star Tribune)

Newsweek was sold for one dollar. I told you we could have done this had we put our money together. (New York Times)

Lou Dobbs: Hypocrite. (The Nation)

The basketball season begins in less than a month and all the GMs believe the Lakers will win the title and Kevin Durant will win the league MVP. Here's hoping. (Yahoo)

…And hockey season begins tonight. Three of the eight people who read this blog are excited about that. And for you, we offer this. (Sporting News)

Rachael McAdams and Michael Sheen is definitely a couple I could get behind. (Showbiz Spy)

...For The Ride Home: The Pens go down (and go down hard), Jay-Z & Eminem and Matt Lauer is cheating?

Jenna Fischer is in a movie that looks mildly interesting, and she's been making the rounds. The movie's called "Solitary Man," and for more on it, well, check the "Double Feature" post, silly. Seems like it would be the type of movie I would like. Don't know much about Michael Douglas, though. We shall see. Either way, it's Thursday, which means "The Office" will be on your television tonight. Moving forward, it's Thursday and it's the middle of May (but it certainly doesn't feel like it). We have some surprises in store for you lovely, lovely readers, which we will get to in a couple of weeks. Different features. More offerings. Only because we love you. Unrelated: Pink just came on the radio. Recently saw her "Behind The Music" again. Really like it. Like all the "Behind The Music's" actually. They could put Yanni on one and somehow it'd be interesting. OK, that's all. Be good, and don't do anything your mother wouldn't allow...

Alluded to this last night, but the Montreal Canadiens eliminated the Pittsburgh Penguins from the NHL playoffs. The league will be lucky if they get eight people to watch their product from now until a champion is crowned. (Post-Gazette)

Instead of an “Idol” wrap-up, take a look at this awfully interesting piece on how the show’s producers will not name a replacement for Simon Cowell before the final show this season. Also, it takes a look at a mighty neat survey found on the “American Idol” Web site. (Washington Post)

The Little Orphan Annie comic strip will be discontinued June 13. (Chicago Tribune)

Jay-Z and Eminem are going to do two shows with each other. One in Detroit. One in New York. If a performance of “Renegade” doesn’t occur, refunds should be distributed. (Spin)

The Sarah Silverman Show will not return for another season. Feels odd. Seems like a lot of people liked that show. (Yahoo)

First Jim Nantz and now this: Matt Lauer is cheating?! Say it ain’t so, Matt. (The New York Daily News)

The Mayweather-Mosley fight earned $78 million dollars. Just imagine what Mayweather-Pacquiao would be able to pull in. (USA Today)

25 rules that will make you a better dressed man. (GQ)

...For The Ride Home: Guess who Betty White loves, playoff ratings are up and some jazz music to take you into a beautiful weekend

Story time: I ooked someone this morning. What's ooked? Crossed a dude up, went behind my back, and he falls over, square on the court. I then proceed to pick up my dribble and laugh at him, while staring at his fallen-down body. Passed the ball to a wide-open teammate, and bam: Easy layup. The guy was angry. Tellin' you, though. Had to let the youngins know what the old head can do. Don't sleep. Anyways, got back from the gym to find a dear friend of mine screaming through texts and voice mails that (yes, he's going go say it) this new Eminem freestyle is the best freestyle the Detroit rapper has ever done. Mixtapes, records, whatever. Yep. he said it. In honor of that, and in honor of saying goodbye to week five, we offer the above 2-and-a-half-minute jaunt (yes, the one featuring a line about Big Ben) for your listening pleasure. Had to call him back to say he may be right. As for now, though we have no idea where you are, but where we are, the weather is fantastic and you couldn't have a better looking day than this as we all leap head-first into May. But before you enjoy all of that, be sure to check out the links below and rock that new Em track. We absolutely cannot wait until we see you back here Monday morning, and as always, love you, miss you.

“I’m thrilled to meet him. I’m thrilled to see he’s going to be on the show because he’s the hottest thing since sliced bread, but I certainly enjoy him.” We’d ask you to guess, but we know you’d never get it. Betty White on Jay-Z. Where’s Blanche? (MTV)

Chief Digital Officer of Gannett says the pay wall/paid content strategy newspapers believe are going to save them won’t. In fact, he believes it so much, he’s quitting Gannett. Interesting. (Gannett Blog)

Let it begin in New York: Santonio Holmes gets kicked off flight for not turning off his iPod. Rex Ryan goes for seconds during breakfast. (TMZ)

Great headline: All They Want To Do Is Sue. The Eagles don’t want songs to be used for political gain. Or at least this politician’s gain. (Pollstar)

Spring game to see an official wearing a microphone. NBA TV ratings are up. And (because we know you’re out there) Versus NHL playoff ratings beat ESPN numbers for the first time ever. Caps fans still cry. (USA Today)

Halle Berry is single. Love her hair times infinity. (MSNBC)

In honor of other people involved with this blog: Never Shout Never. (Rolling Stone)

Because Jazz music does an awfully good job at soothing your soul. A day’s worth of material on Duke Ellington, complete with crazy good 1967 video. (NPR)

“All The President’s Men” is the greatest movie ever. They want to do it again. Only this time, around the catholic church scandal. Raise your eyebrows awkwardly right about…now. (Deadline)

Annoying sports fans and the people who love them... or not.

With the NFL Draft starting tonight, NBA and NHL Playoffs in full swing, golf picking back up and Major league baseball getting underway, this seemed like a pretty relevant topic: Is there anything worse than listening to stupid people trying to talk sports?

You can usually pick them out after just one comment – and as I see it, there are two main annoying types:

Type A is the “way too vague” sports observer. This is the person who will chirp in on a conversation between two average sports enthusiasts with an indistinguishable comment about how he/she “can’t believe that player couldn’t make that one play in the beginning of the game,” or “how the team could possibly not trade that guy after this sex scandal.” This is also the person who may say something like “this sport is just so violent anymore I won’t let my kids watch it.”

The best, though, is when the person expends an outdated expression, makes an incorrect assumption or uses the wrong terminology for the sport being discussed. Examples include but are not limited to:

- Calling the baseball umpire the “referee”
- Making a comment about how the Steelers Tight End has such a nice butt
- Calling a penalty in hockey a “foul”
- Using one of the many worn-out exclamations from SportsCenter (Boom-Shack-A-Lacka)
- Mispronouncing a player’s name over and over and over…
- Referring to the first quarter of a football game as the first “period”

Type B is the sports enthusiast who is waaaaaaaaaay too specific and into it. He is the guy or gal who wants you to be aware that he/she didn’t JUST watch the game – he/she read the box scores, analyzed the coverage, called in to the local sports radio shows, wrote a blog about it (hehe), voted in the ESPN SportsNation Poll and then vehemently argues minute details for the rest of the night on Internet message boards.

This is the person who wears a different jersey every day of the month and makes claims such as these:

- “If I was the coach/general manager/owner I would totally (insert way too specific sports jargon)”
- “I could totally be a sports broadcaster”
- “I played in high school, so I totally understand what this guy is saying”

How annoying, right?

And scene. Come back for The Ride in a little bit - we miss you when you’re not here.

- TS