Thursday's Daily Dose
Germany scores late (AP) - Philipp Lahm ended Turkey's storybook run in the European Championship on Wednesday with a late goal in a 3-2 semifinal victory that kept Germany on target for a record fourth title. In a wild finish that many people around the world did not see because the international TV feed went out, Lahm finished off the surprising Turks off a give-and-go with Thomas Hitzlsperger in the 90th minute. Lahm cut in from the left, set up a passing one-two, collected the ball and shot it past Rustu Recber to unleash the joy of some 20,000 German fans at St. Jakob Park.
Telling number 6,200 Blue gills Sycamore native Leonard Kouba caught on his most recent excursion to Wisconsin.
They said it “It's the first thing that comes with the game. It's always with you. It's your buddy.”
- Former NIU outfielder Jeff Thomas on his baseball first glove
Raptors acquire O'Neal (AP) The Toronto Raptors have agreed in principle to acquire forward Jermaine O'Neal from the Indiana Pacers for point guard T.J. Ford, center Rasho Nesterovic, the 17th pick in the draft and a player to be named, Yahoo reported Wednesday. While Yahoo reported the deal, citing an unidentified NBA executive, Raptors general manager Bryan Colangelo told The Canadian Press that he was in the midst of “four or five” conversations with teams involving Ford and a combination of Toronto's No. 17 pick and/or other Raptors players. A deal can't be finalized until July 1, when Ford's base-year compensation tag comes off the books, and Yahoo said O'Neal and Ford must still pass physicals.
Ruffin pleades guilty A former standout basketball player for Bradley University has pleaded guilty to hitting his ex-girlfriend. Daniel Ruffin pleaded guilty Tuesday to misdemeanor battery and was sentenced to nine months of court supervision. He also has to pay $883 in fines and court costs. Ruffin was arrested at his apartment in February after a 20-year-old woman accused him of cutting her lip as he tried to get her to leave.
