A couple of quick news and view from the wide, wonderful world of sports:

* Congrats to Red Sox rookie Clay Buchholz, who tossed a no-hitter against the Baltimore Orioles tonight. Is this the kind of performance that will jack the Beantown nine into the playoffs and beyond? One can only hope. But we’ll take what we can get and bask in the moment. Thanks, Clay! You made being a Red Sox fan worthwhile after having to endure a lot of crappy game, monotonous bullshit for the past six months!

(Have I mentioned the fact that, today’s final aside, the Yankees suck? I hate that damned team. Oh sure, Mariano “Fruit Bat” Rivera and Derek Jeter are OK, it’s the rest of those bastards I can’t stand.)

* How many people could ever imagine a small college like Appalachian State beating powerhouse Michigan – in Michigan, no less. Michigan obviously thought the Mountaineers would be a walk-over, but that’s what makes college sports so enjoyable to watch. Congrats to Appalachian State – your players have something they can remember and reminisce about over beers for the rest of your lives. Everyone should be so lucky…

* And how about that U.S. Open match, where frisky upstart Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland beat the number 2-seed Maria Sharapova (an all-around fox, BTW) 6-4, 1-6, 6-2.

Man, I love this time of year. Is it any wonder why most people think September and October are the absolute best months for sports fans? You not only get Major League Baseball driving towards its finish, but you also get the U.S. Open tennis and the start of the college and professional football seasons to boot!