Game Time with Dave

July 28, 2009

Hello everyone, it’s less than a month until the first NFL preseason game, yeah! Baseball is in its second half with tight pennant races, and I just got done watching 16 Little League games in 18 nights! So let’s go and get caught up.

LOCAL SPORT

In Little League action, the 2009 regular season ended with the Cardinals winning th league and earning the right to play in the 2009 Tournament of Champions. The Cardinals proceeded to win their first 2 games before losing the Championship game to the Brunswick Cubs 7-1. Congratulations to all the Cardinals players and coaches for a very good representation in the tournament. After the T.O.C. ended it was time for the District 2 season to start. The 9-10 year olds went first and Thurmont lost their fist 2 games to be eliminated, including a loss to eventual District champion East Frederick. In the 10-11 year old division Thurmont went 2-2 to finish third in the District. Thurmont lost their opening game and then rebounded to win their next 2 before falling to eventual runner-up Frederick National. Frederick National lost the title game to Brunswick, who now will represent District 2 at the state level. In 11-12 year old action, Thurmont won their opening game over East Frederick 11-1 and then beat 4-County Little League 19-0 to set up a showdown in the winner’s bracket between Thurmont and Brunswick. In that game Thurmont jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead on a Mark Speak homerun, but Brunswick battled back taking a 9-3 lead into the 5^th Inning. A very game Thurmont squad came back to score 5 runs in the 5^th to make it 9-8 but were unable to finish the comeback. This forced Thurmont to travel to Frederick American where they lost in the semi-final game 8-2 to dash their title hopes. Brunswick eventually beat Frederick American to advance to the state tournament. Last, but not least (my son is on the Jr. Team), Thurmont’s Jr. league All Stars defeated Westminster 11-1 and 25-8 to advance to the State Tournament at Valley Little League in Washington county starting Saturday July 25^th at 11:00 a.m. feel free to come see them play or follow their ride on our website www.eteamz.com/thurmont . Good luck to the Jr. team and congratulations to all of our All Stars!

In minor League Baseball the Keys are currently in second in the Carolina League Northern division, let’s hope they can make a run and capture the second half title.

NATIONAL SPORTS

Major League baseball has recently reached the All Star break and at baseballs midseason point the leaders in the A.L. are the Red Sox, Tigers, and Angels. In the N.L. the Phillies, Cardinals, and Dodgers lead their respective divisions.

In what has become the highlight of the All Star Game festivities the Brewers Prince Fielder won the Home Run Derby over the Rays Carlos Pena. It seems that more people watch the Home Run Derby than the game anymore. During the game the A.L. defeated the N.L. 4-3 with Baltimore Oriole All Star Adam Jones knocking in the game winning run with a sacrifice fly in the 8^th inning. Tampa Rays outfielder Carl Crawford was named the games MVP after a game saving catch to help secure the win. By winning the game the American League has secured home field advantage in the World Series this year which I think is about the dumbest way to award this advantage (I’m sure I’ll give my opinion on this around World Series time!).

In the NFL, teams are getting ready to start training camps and the preseason will kick off in less than a month. The NFL was saddened by the death of former Titan and Raven Quarterback Steve McNair who was shot and killed by one of his girlfriends, leaving behind a wife and 4 kids. Michael Vick is now free to play for any team. Let’s see if anyone takes a chance on him. (My money says Al Davis is just crazy enough to do it).

In Tennis, the 2009 Wimbledon Championships were recently held in England with Rodger Federer winning his 16^th Major Championship by defeating Andy Roddick in 5 sets. In the women’s action Serena Williams bested her sister Venus in straight sets to win the women’s title.

In PGA action, the U.S. Open was played at Bethpage Golf Club in New York with Lucas Glover winning his first Major ever.

Next up was the British Open where Tiger Woods failed to make the cut for only the second time ever. The event however was still filled with excitement. 59 year old Tom Watson entered the final day with a 1 stroke lead making him the oldest player ever to lead a Major. Watson continued to play well and had a chance to win with a par on the final hole, but missed it. He then had to play a 4 hole playoff with Stewart Cink who bested him to win his first Major Championship and end Watson’s dream weekend.

Inn NASCAR action, recent winners have been Kasey Kahne, Joey Logano, Tony Stewart and Mark Martin (what is this with old guys!).

Here are the top 12 as of now:

Tony Stewart
Jeff Gordon
Jimmie Johnson
Kurt Busch
Denny Hamlin
Carl Edwards
Ryan Newman
Kasey Kahne
Juan Pablo Montoya
Kyle Busch
Mark Martin
Matt Kenseth

SPORTS IDIOT

Last month it was hard to find one, this month I got one, but I’m not sure if it is Jeremy Mayfield or NASCAR. When I first started thinking about this, I thought it was a no brainer if a guy, who flunked a drug test, went to court, won an injunction on his suspension and then flunked another test. However now Mayfield and his attorney claim that he had a test done by an independent lab within an hour of NASCAR’S test and it came back clean. Mayfield now claims that NASCAR spiked his test which if true would be devastating to the sport, as well as all sports. I can hear it now, everyone who flunked a test now can say maybe theirs was fixed too. So for now these are my 2 candidates for this month, if Mayfield’s wrong he wins, if NASCAR did fix the test they win and they will be the biggest idiots of all time in my book.

IN MY OPINION

IN MY Opinion, there is no way suspended steroider Manny Ramirez should have been allowed to play in the Minor Leagues to help him get ready to return from his drug suspension. Manny cheated, got caught and now Major League Baseball gives him some games in the minors to get him back in game shape. This is crazy, all this did was make a Minor League team some extra cash from a few sellouts and help the Dodgers get a cheater back in better shape. Where’s the punishment? In the real world if you get suspended from work you go back when the suspension is over. I guess I keep getting fooled by real life. In My Opinion anything you do to help a suspended steroider makes you an enabler. Major League Baseball is the biggest enabler out there. It started with ignoring Sosa and McGuire to get the fans back after a strike and it continues today. Major League Baseball has got to be smarter than this, don’t you think?

TRIVIA

Last moth’s answer, the 1979 Pirates who came back from 3-1 down to beat the Baltimore Orioles in the World Series.

This month’s question: Who is the oldest golfer to win a Major Championship?

Arnold Palmer
Lee Trevino
Ben Hogan
Julius Boros

Dave

Written by vickie · Filed Under Sports | Leave a Comment

Tasty Tips from Tina Terpko

July 19, 2009

Everyone knows to get a child to try new foods it’s important to make them appealing to all the senses. Kids don’t want to try brussel sprouts because they smell and look like something the cat coughed up. But add a little butter and garlic and they start to smell like something that they may give a try. Husbands are the same way. When Ron and I were first married my culinary skills were limited to say the least. At least 4 days a week we would have tuna surprise. What is tuna surprise you ask? Well, it is basic macaroni salad with a can of tuna mixed in. One night it may have chopped up green peppers another night it may have cherry tomatoes….SURPRISE!

You can see how presentation would play a big part in the dinner experience. I have 2 great recipes that are not only pleasing to the taste buds but look great on any table.

Southern Cornbread Salad - courtesy of Paula Deen

A friend of mine served this at an anniversary party and it was not only something that tasted wonderful it helped make the table look beautifully festive.

1 batch cornbread, cut into 1 inch cubes, recipe below
1 (14.5 oz) can red kidney beans, rinsed and drained
1 (15 oz) can niblet corn, drained
1 medium Vidalia onion, finely chopped
1 large green bell pepper, finely chopped
3 large tomatoes, chopped
2 cups grated sharp Cheddar
1 (8 oz) bottle ranch dressing

Directions:

In the bottom of a large glass bowl, place cornbread cubes. Layer beans, corn, onion bell pepper, tomatoes, and cheese on top of cornbread. Spread ranch dressing evenly over the cheese. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours.

Cornbread:

½ cup vegetable oil, plus ¼ cup for greasing pan

1 cup self-rising cornmeal

¾ cup self-rising flour

1 cup cream style corn

2 eggs

1 cup sour cream

1 cup grated sharp Cheddar, optional

½ tsp cayenne, optional

Preheat oven to 375

Generously season a cast iron skillet with up to ¼ cup vegetable oil. Preheat the pan either in the oven or on the stove over medium-high heat.

Mix all ingredients together in a large bowl, stirring with a wooden spoon or rubber spatula until combined. Pour batter into the preheated skillet. Place skillet in the oven and bake until golden brown, approximately 30 minutes.

Written by vickie · Filed Under Tasty Tips | Leave a Comment

The ABC’s of OA/DJD by Dr “JB” Bramson Catoctin Vet Clinic

July 19, 2009

I wanted to pick up on something that my editor, Vickie Grinder, wrote about last month. Like people, animals get osteoarthritis (OA), also called arthritis or degenerative joint disease (DJD). This article will focus on OA in dogs. OA occurs when the surface layer of cartilage which covers the ends of the bones and is part of a joint, breaks down and wears away. This can ultimately result in bone rubbing on bone which causes pain, swelling and loss of motion of joints. In addition, other changes include depression, aggressive behavior, reluctance to rise, difficulty in everyday activities, and exercise intolerance. The make-up of cartilage includes a matrix which gives cartilage its structure. Two important ingredients are collagen which is like strands of rope for strength and proteoglycans which consist of hyaluronic acid attached to glycosamino-glycans (GAG’s). One such GAG is chondroitin. Hyaluronic acid (HA) is a lubricant found in joint fluid. These big words will show up later in medical treatment.

Damaged cartilage doesn’t heal easily. Pain comes from stretching the joint capsule, irritation at nerve endings in bone underneath the cartilage, and muscle soreness. OA is a disease which cannot be cured, but instead managing the pain and disability will allow for improved quality of life and ability to function.

There are two main underlying causes of OA: 1) congenital (from birth) or developmental (while bones are growing) causes and 2) acquired causes. Developmental problems include dysplasia (abnormal growth) of elbow and hips, or osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) which can occur in elbow, shoulder, knee (stifle), or ankle (hock). Factors involved include poor genetics (breeding), nutrition as a contributor (i.e. overfeeding or over-supplementing large breed dogs), and environmental factors. Acquired causes include fractures, ligament damage (i.e. cranial cruciate ligament called anterior cruciate ligament in people), infection, immune-mediated diseases such as lupus or rheumatoid arthritis, and cancer.

   There are 5 pillars of treatment:
   1) Weight control
   2) Nutritional supplements
   3) Appropriate exercise
   4) Physical rehabilitation
   5) Medications

1) First, and foremost, excess body weight is the #1 preventative factor for OA pain, discomfort and loss of motion.
2) Nutrition- There are therapeutic diets with high levels of fatty acids (FA). For example, such companies as IAM’s, Eukanuba, Hill’s and Purina have special diets that require a veterinarian’s recommendation.
2) There is a large array of nutraceutical (nutritional pharmaceutical) supplements too. The list includes: 1) omega 3 fatty acids (FA)- rich in fish oils in OA diets or supplements. 2) Glucosamine- look for a highly purified version, not all supplements are created equal. 3) Chondroitin- controls water content in cartilage, watch out for claims as there is often less than claimed, and few companies ever meet their label claims, also contamination can be a problem. 4) MSM, 5) Vitamin C and 6) green-lipped mussel.
These products probably have more anti-inflammatory properties than actual cartilage healing properties. However, more scientific evidence and testing is needed, not just individual testimony as to effectiveness. Right now there is no required testing or regulation of nutritional supplements. Even the “guaranteed analysis” can’t be trusted. One place to find independent voluntary testing is Consumer Labs: Consumerlab.com. Also use this site for guidance choosing supplements courtesy of the FDA: www.cfsan.gov/~dms/ds-savvy.html.

3) Exercise- Swimming is one of the best physical activities because it is low impact and allows full range of motion for joints.

4) Canine physical rehabilitation will not be discussed here.

5) Medications- Non-steroidal anti- inflammatories (NSAID’s). Aspirin was first used in dogs, now there are safer, better alternatives. Any dog can have an adverse reaction to any medicine and yet tolerate another. It takes trial and error to sort this out. Some examples are Rimadyl, Deramaxx, Previcox and Metacam. There is a need to monitor pets for symptoms of GI upset with poor appetite, vomiting and diarrhea. Also liver and kidneys can be affected. Some NSAID’s used by people are dangerous to dogs such as Ibuprofen (Motrin). No NSAID should be used in combination with another NSAID or steroid. The lowest effective dose and lowest frequency should be used. Steroids should only be used for immune-mediated arthritis. Tramadol is an anti- inflammatory that is related to opiates. It can even be used with NSAIDS. Poly sulfated GAG’s (PSGAG) - Adequan is one example of an injectable medication that works in theory like chondroitin, but it is a larger molecule more like what is found in joints. Hyaluronic acid (HA) is like oil that lubricates an engine. It is also used in people and is injected directly into joints.

Surgical options.
Be aware that surgical options for dogs are available just like there are for people. Orthopedic surgeons can perform arthroscopy to visualize joints and clean them out. Even joint replacements can be done.

Alternative and Complementary therapies.
There are a lot of treatments out there but limited scientific evidence to prove that they work.
1) Acupuncture- look for a licensed veterinarian, certified in acupuncture. 2) Chiropractic- “Because of the lack of any proven usefulness, the absence of adequate regulation and certification and the risks of serious injury; we strongly discourage the use of chiropractic techniques in the treatment of joint disease and osteoarthritis in dogs.” p.221 The Pet Lover’s Guide to Canine Arthritis and Joint Problems. This quotes the four board certified veterinary orthopedic surgeons who wrote this book.

Other alternative therapies:1) Homeopathy- very small doses of theoretically toxic substances to boost the immune system.2) Holistic- alternative therapy and dietary focus. 3) Herbal therapy- herbal remedies. Once again these modalities lack scientific evidence in treating canine joint disease to back them up. Also there is the possible risk of toxicity or allergic reaction.
Massage therapy- a treatment that should be used by a licensed veterinary physical rehabilitation therapist.Very often multiple types of treatments are needed (multi-modal approach). It is important to work with your veterinarian to formulate an individualized plan which can include referral to specialists such as orthopedists, rehabilitation specialists, etc. The goal should be improved quality of life for your pet and improved mobility.

The Pet Lover’s Guide to Canine Arthritis and Joint Problems by Kurt Schulz, DVM et al served as the source of information for this article. It is one in a series of guides found below.
The Pet Lover’s Guide to First Aid and Energy.
The Pet Lover’s Guide to Cat and Dog Skin Diseases.
The Pet Lover’s Guide to Natural Healing for Cats and Dogs.
The Pet Lover’s Guide to Feline Behavior.
The Pet Lover’s Guide to Canine Behavior.
The Pet Lover’s Guide to Nutrition for Cats and Dogs.
The Pet Lover’s Guide to Weight Management and Exercising with Your Dog.

Written by vickie · Filed Under Monthly Columns | Leave a Comment