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By Swasted, February 5, 2010 9:44 am

Record-size Jade Buddha Visiting Escondido – I saw Escondido and Buddha in the same headline and I assumed it was a hip reporter’s clever headline for a pot bust. – The world’s largest Buddha carved from gem-quality jade arrived Wednesday in Escondido to begin a two-week stay that includes a Sunday unveiling ceremony expected to attract up to 3,000 people. The Buddha, consecrated in December by the Dalai Lama, arrived at Escondido’s Phap Vuong Buddhist Monastery by truck about 6 p.m. Wednesday. At 4 tons and nearly 9 feet high, the sculpture is the largest Buddha ever carved from gem-quality dark-green nephrite jade, although a larger one is being carved in Vietnam from light-colored jadeite. The Buddha will be displayed at all hours until Feb. 16, when it will be shipped to another monastery in Orlando, Fla. The monastery is at 715 Vista Ave. in Escondido.

Padres Fan (Friar) Fest Set For Saturday, Feb. 13 – Admittance to Padres FanFest is free and the gates at will open at 9 a.m. PT for season-ticket holders. Activities will include autograph sessions, Padres Garage Sale, hitting and pitching clinics, clubhouse tours, opportunities to run the base and catch fly balls in the outfield, Q & A sessions and more. The general public can enter the stadium at 10 a.m. The event ends at 5 p.m. Parking is free in four locations: the three surface lots along Imperial Avenue (southeast side of PETCO Park) and the Padres Parkade Garage (10th Avenue at J Street).

PADRES: Jerry Coleman Will Have Reduced Role In 2010 – For 37 years, Jerry Coleman has been the voice of the Padres on radio, the link between the team on the field and the fans in their homes, cars, at the beach or a barbecue. It will remain that way in 2010, but in a very limited basis. John Lynch, president and CEO of the Broadcast Company of the Americas —- the parent company of XX Sports Radio 1090, the Padres’ flagship station – said Coleman will call only 20-30 home day games. Coleman will still be involved every day, however, doing pregame features. “What does that mean?” Coleman said. “I guess I’ll be doing the ‘Manager’s Report’ like I’ve always done. Honestly, I haven’t been told much. At my age, I’m still fortunate to be working. I’m happy to have a job with the Padres and with XX. Really, I’m delighted to be working.”

First Cup Practice at Daytona Marred by Multicar Crash – An on-track tangle between Mark Martin and Denny Hamlin triggered a seven-car accident Thursday that may set the tone for two weeks of ramped-up racing at Daytona International Speedway. Also involved were Greg Biffle, Jamie McMurray, Joey Logano, Kyle Busch and Clint Bowyer who was driving his teammate Kevin Harvick’s #29 car at the time. Harvick was out with flu-like symtoms. Later in the practice, Kurt Busch and Juan Pablo Montoya came together sending Busch into the wall and forcing him to a back-up car.

This Weekend’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Schedule – Last night was the draw for the Budweiser Shootout

Shootout Qualifying – Saturday, 02/06 – 1pm EST
Daytona 500 Practice – Saturday, 02/06 – 2pm EST
Daytona 500 Practice – Saturday, 02/06 – 4pm EST
Budweiser Shootout – Saturday, 02/06 – 8pm EST

Live ARCA Qualifying – Danica is currently sitting in 9th with about 20 cars left with a speed of 179.788. Last year’s winner James Buescher is the current pole-sitter at a speed of 181.543 and Ricky Carmichael has yet to qualify. The green flag for the Daytona 200 drops tomorrow at 4:30pm EST and will be televised live on SPEED.

National Signing Day – Nebraska – SDSU – Big 12 – Pac-10 – Big Ten – SEC

Supercross Rolls Into San Diego – AMA Supercross rolls into San Diego’s Qualcomm Stadium this weekend minus the sport’s two biggest stars as James Stewart and Chad Reed are both out with injuries.

Video from Toyota of Escondido’s Supercross Kick-off Party earlier this week…

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By Swasted, February 3, 2010 9:51 am

Escondido’s Ricky Seale Going To Stanford – According to the North County Times, Escondido High football coach Paul Gomes confirmed on Wednesday that star running back Ricky Seale, a Rivals.com 4-star RB CB recruit, will sign a letter of intend with Stanford. The son of former San Diego Chargers DB Sammy Seale holds the CIF San Diego Section career rushing mark with 6,635 yards. As a senior in 2009, Ricky rushed for 2,419 yards and averaged 8.2 yards per carry. Seale had also received offers from Arizona, Cal, San Diego St., Washington and Washington St. Seale measures out at 5′ 9″, 180 lbs and 4.4 in the 40.

Plan To Move Beach Break Hits Snag – “Sorry South Oceanside. We gave it our best but the banks don’t share our vision,” is the message Zell and Gary Dwelley posted on a sign at the site of what was to have been the new home of one of the city’s most popular restaurants. The Dwelleys said their plans to relocate the venerable Beach Break Cafe were crushed last week when they got word from Wells Fargo Bank that the loan they counted on wouldn’t come through on terms they could afford. Standing outside his restaurant, Gary Dwelley said he wanted to move the Beach Break from its 1902 S. Coast Highway location because the restaurant is always jammed with seating for about 55 people inside and 20 at outdoor sidewalk tables. The new Beach Break would have been big enough for 85 to 90 people inside and about 30 on an outside patio.

More Than $1-Million Worth Of Cocaine Seized – Two men were arrested in separate smuggling attempts over the weekend after Border Patrol agents at the Interstate 5 checkpoint near Camp Pendleton discovered more than $1 million worth of cocaine hidden in vehicles. The first seizure happened about 9:30 a.m. Saturday when agents stopped a Toyota Tercel driven by an 18-year-old U.S. citizen, Border Patrol officials said. A drug dog alerted agents to possible contraband and they discovered 15 bundles of cocaine hidden in a secret compartment in the gas tank. The 39 pounds of cocaine was valued at $392,000. Around 7:15 p.m., a drug dog picked up a scent on a Ford F-250 pickup driven by a 44-year-old Mexican man. Agents found 28 packages of cocaine, valued at $713,000, stuffed inside a spare tire.

Museums Offer Half-Price Admission In February – Visitors to 39 San Diego County museums and attractions can get half-price admission throughout February in conjunction with “Museum Month.” To get the discounted admission, participants must first pick up a “Museum Month Pass” at any Macy’s location in San Diego County. The pass is good for half-price admission for the holder and up to three guests.

Among the participating museums and attractions are the Birch Aquarium, Maritime Museum of San Diego, Mingei Museum, Museum of Contemporary Art, Reuben H. Fleet Science Center, San Diego Air & Space Museum, San Diego Museum of Man, USS Midway Museum and Quail Botanical Gardens. A full list is available at www.sandiegomuseumcouncil.org

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By Swasted, January 11, 2010 10:22 am

Pete Carroll Resigns - One of the most successful coaching runs in college football history has come to an end. Pete Carroll has left USC and is expected to become the head coach with the Seattle Seahawks. According to sources, Carroll handed in his resignation to USC Sunday evening. In nine years at USC, Carroll went 97-19, winning two national championships and seven Pac-10 titles. Carroll and USC have yet to comment. Carroll has twice been a head coach in the NFL before, spending one year with the New York Jets and three years with New England Patriots. USC athletics director Mike Garrett is expected to contact Oregon State head coach Mike Riley, Tennessee Titans head coach Jeff Fisher and Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Jack Del Rio as possible replacements. – USCFootball.com

Padres Request Noah Lowry’s Medical Records - I think Noah Lowry could be a good fit if he’s healthy. I’m also interested to see what sort of deal Mark Mulder is able to get. Either one would benefit from pitching half their games at PETCO. Mulder isn’t mentioned in this article but he’s returning from a pair of rotator-cuff surgeries and has only pitched 12 2/3 innings since 2006.

From MLB.com – The Padres are one of several teams who have shown an interest and requested medical records on left-handed starting pitcher Noah Lowry, who hasn’t pitched since the 2007 season because of injuries. Lowry’s agent, Damon Lapa, said Friday that Lowry will throw for teams in a private audition later this month in Arizona. Lapa said that he wouldn’t take any offers for his client before that session. “I think it’s safe to say Noah would be open to the possibility of pitching for the Padres,” Lapa said. “… San Diego would not be a difficult sell for us.” That’s because Lowry once lived in Mission Valley, just east of downtown San Diego, and still counts current Padres starting pitcher — and former Giants teammate Kevin Correia — as a very good friend.

Khalil Greene Signs 1-year Deal With Rangers - The Texas Rangers have agreed to terms with free-agent infielder Khalil Greene on a one-year contract worth $750,000, according to a source. The deal is pending a physical. Greene played in 77 games for the St. Louis Cardinals in 2009 and hit .200 with six homers and 24 RBIs in 193 at-bats. He had eight errors. His season was hampered by two stays on the disabled list for social anxiety disorder. His best season was in 2007 with the Padres, when he played in 153 games and hit .254 with 27 homers and 97 RBIs. In 2,567 career at-bats, Khalil has 90 HRs, 352 RBIs and .245/.302/.422. – ESPN.com

Scouting the NY Jets - In this era of pass-happy teams, the New York Jets are a throwback to the days when the formula for winning was running the ball and playing defense – two things these Jets do extremely well. They ranked No. 1 in the NFL in six major statistical categories – rushing yards; fewest total yards allowed, passing yards allowed, first downs allowed, third-down conversion percentage allowed and points allowed. – NCTimes.com

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By Steve, January 7, 2010 7:21 pm

‘Tis the season to gripe about college football. But this year, the grousing isn’t about the lack of a playoff system. After all, the national championship is between the (almost) undisputed No. 1 and No. 2 teams in the country. But it’s sponsored by Citigroup. Citigroup, “which needed about $50 billion of our money to stay in business and has repaid less than half of it,” an incensed Loren Steffy writes in the Houston Chronicle. It’s not just the questionable use of funds that bothers Steffy; it’s the fact that Citigroup, and the other banks that sponsor college bowl games (Capital One, GMAC), are associating their services with higher education, a community they have proven eager to fleece. Steffy rails against on-campus pitches for high-interest credit cards and high-fee bank accounts, not to mention the practice of selling “private student loans” to unsuspecting students. Private loans, much like subprime mortgages, appear to be a great deal, until the unfixed interest rates skyrocket. And who is one of the biggest underwriter of private student loans? Citigroup. “The winner of the BCS championship game won’t be determined until Thursday night,” Steffy writes, “But the loser’s already decided. It’s us.”

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By Swasted, December 8, 2009 12:35 pm

Tiger’s Mistress, Jaimee Grubbs’ Photo shoot with TransWorld SURF – I’m waiting for the rest of these to make their way online but for now here’s a peek at a hot and steamy photo shoot Jamie Grubbs did with TransWorld SURF. Subscribe and get your own towel… – TransWorldSURF.com

It’s official, Danica Patrick to Race Nationwide in 2010 – The inevitable became official yesterday when Danica Patrick announced she will be racing a limited Nationwide schedule in 2010 in the No. 7 car for JR Motorsports. Danica will make her stock car debut on February 6 at an ARCA event at Daytona, the day before the Super Bowl.

MLB’s Winter Meetings – Yesterday was a relatively quiet day in Indy as baseball executives kicked the annual winter meetings. Today, however, has started off with news of a 3-team trade involving the Yankees, Tigers and Diamondbacks, news coming in from Bob Scanlan’s Twitter, @heyscan and MLBTradeRumors.com. Nothing is official yet but here’s what it’s looking like:

Yankees – Get Curtis Granderson (DET). Give up Austin Jackson, Ian Kennedy and Phil Coke
Tigers – Get Max Scherzer (AZ) Daniel Schlereth (AZ), Phil Coke (NYY), Austin Jackson (NYY). Give up Edwin Jackson and Curtis Granderson
Diamondbacks – Get Edwin Jackson (DET), Ian Kennedy (NYY). Give up Max Scherzer, Daniel Schlereth

Mark Teahen Signs With White Sox, 3-year 14MM – Here are the season lines for Mark Teahen and Kevin Kouzmanoff, who is eligible for arbitration… – Teahen Signs With White Sox

Mark Teahen – 2009 – 524 ab’s, 12 HR, 50 RBI, .271/.325/.408
Kevin Kouzmanoff - 2009 – 529 ab’s, 18 HR, 88 RBI, .255/.302/.420

Brad Penny Signs 1-year, $7.5MM with Cardinals – Yahoo!

Pudge Rodriguez Signs 2-year, $6MM with Nats - Yahoo!

Corn Huskers to Play in Holiday Bowl – The Nebraska Corn Huskers will travel west later this month to meet up with Arizona in the Holiday Bowl – HolidayBowl.com

Chargers 3-point Underdogs vs Cowboys – Lines opened up at +2.5 for S.D. and have been shuffling back and forth between 2.5 and 3.5. I’ll take the 3.5 points all day.

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By Swasted, October 27, 2009 10:06 am

Steve Addington Out As #18 Crew Chief, Dave Rogers In - Read More

ESPN Suspends Bob Griese For JPM Comment – ESPN has announced it will suspend broadcaster Bob Griese for 1 game following his comment regarding Juan Pablo Montoya during last Saturday’s Minnesota/Ohio State game. During an in-game promotion for the Martinsville race, an on-screen graphic showed the Top 5 Chase drivers and fellow commentator Chris Spielman asked, “Where’s Juan Pablo Montoya?”, who is Colombian, to which Bob Griese replied he was “out having a taco.” – Read More

Video: Ryan Dungey Testing His New Ride – TransWorld Motocross caught up with Ryan Dungey at the track while he was testing at the Suzuki SX track aboard his RM-Z450. Dungey will be making the move up to the Supercross class to lead the Rockstar/Makita/Suzuki in the 2010 Supercross season as Chad Reed makes the move over to the Monster Kawasaki team. – Video

Fuson Served With Walking Papers – Grady Fuson was informed on Sunday that he’ll be dismissed from his duties as the Padres vice president of scouting and player development. Read More

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By Swasted, September 1, 2009 10:49 pm

Escondido Finally Getting An In-N-Out?
NCTimes.com is reporting that Escondido has almost finalized a deal to have an In-N-Out open in the city as early as Spring 2010. The popular burger chain would be adjacent to the 15 at Valley Parkway in the location that was formally Fogarty’s. Escondido lost out on a chance to have an In-N-Out on El Norte Pkwy over 18 years ago when there was a dispute over the height of the sign for the restaurant. More

It’s Official, Keselowski to Penske
Brad Keselowski’s long courtship with Penske Racing ended Tuesday when he finally took an offer to move to the Sprint Cup Series.

Keselowski, who had been hoping to move into a Cup ride with mighty Hendrick Motorsports, will instead drive the No. 12 Dodge next season. He’ll replace David Stremme, and run full schedules in both the Cup and Nationwide Series.

“This was the hardest decision I’ve ever had to make in my life,” Keselowski said. “But I woke up this morning feeling confident I had made the right one. It was clear to me this is the direction I want to head.” More

Childress Reiterates Harvick Is Staying Put
Team owner Richard Childress reiterated Monday that Kevin Harvick will be back in his car next season despite nonstop rumors to the contrary.

“We want to put the rumors behind us by stating together that Kevin will drive RCR’s No. 29 … for the 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season,” Childress said in a statement.

No word on what Delana’s sweet ass thinks about it all…More

Sean Gallagher Heads to Portland
Right-handed pitcher Sean Gallagher, the Player to be Named Later in the trade with Oakland for Scott Hairston, has finished rehabbing an injured knee and will be heading to Portland for a few relief appearances before the Triple-A season wraps up on September 7th. If all goes well we could see Gallagher in a Padres uniform shortly after that. Back in July before he was named as the PTBNL, Swasted.com had our money on him being the guy, now it time to see what he’s got.

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