The World Basketball Championship will be held August 28th-September 12th in Turkey. Team USA plays Croatia in it's first game and you won't be able to tell the players without a scorecard. No Lebron...no Kobe...no Pierce, Garnett or Allen. That doesnt mean the team won't be good. Veterans Chauncy Billups and Lamar Odom are surrounded by a plethora of young stars. Kevin Durant should be the go-to guy but Derrick Rose, Eric Gordon, Andre Igadoula and Stephen Curry should score as well. They are joined by Rudy Gay, Danny Granger, Kevin Love, Russell Westbrook and Tyson Chandler. Rajon Rondo pulled out to take care of some family matters before the NBA season begins. You wonder though if the NBA teams of these players appreciate the fact that their stars will be playing a rigourous series of games and risking injury right before NBA traing camps will begin.

A big cermony was held yesterday in Milwaukee to unveil a statue to Bud Selig at Miller Park. Dozens of former Brewers and Braves were there. I havent always agreed with Selig's work as commissioner but there is no question that he deserves the recognition in Milwaukee. Without the efforts of Selig there is no way that major league baseball would have returned to Milwaukee as quickly as it did after the Braves left.

Music News

Eric Clapton has a new album coming out...his first solo record in 5 years. It's called "Clapton" and will feature guset spots from Steve Winwood, Sheryl Crow, Wynton Marsalis, Allen Toussaint & JJ Cale.

Bob Dylan is releasing another Bootleg LP. He will debut the 9th volume in his Bootleg series in October. the 48-track double album will feature the "Witmark Demos" which were recorded in the early 60's. The songs feature vocals, acoustic guitar, harmonica and piano. Early incarnations of "The Times They Are A Changin" and "Blowin In The Wind" are included.

Songs of The Day   (from My I-pod)

Girl-Beatles (1965) a classic harmony tune from the Rubber Soul LP

The Girls Can't Help It-Little Richard (1956) The title track from a soundtrack of a movie...this tune was written by Bobby Troup (he wrote Route 66 and also acted on the tv show Emergency) When Little Richard wailed you can understand why parents of the day thought it was the end of the world.