Sideline duty for Tomlinson
When San Diego begins its exhibition schedule tonight against visiting Seattle, the Chargers won’t have their best player in the game for a single down.
LaDainian Tomlinson, the NFL’s most valuable player a season ago, will be a spectator when the favored Chargers play the Seahawks for the second year in a row at Qualcomm Stadium.
Watching from the sidelines during the exhibition season is nothing new for Tomlinson. He did not play in any of San Diego’s exhibition games in 2006. When the regular season arrived, all the former Texas Christian standout did was score 31 touchdowns and an NFL-record 186 points during the Chargers’ 14-2 regular season.
San Diego was 2-0 at home during the preseason last year, including a 31-21 victory over Seattle, a former rival from the AFC West until the Seahawks switched conferences and moved to the NFC West in 2002. In 46 games as division opponents, Seattle held a 24-22 edge, outscoring the Chargers, 953-944.
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Baseball
In recent seasons, Oakland has played its best baseball after the All-Star break and the same has held true in 2007.
Unfortunately, for the A’s, their surge is coming too late as they are buried in third place in the American League West, a division that is going to belong either to the Angels or Mariners.
One pitcher who hasn’t been a part of Oakland’s hot streak is Dallas Braden, who will pitch the series finale in Detroit.
Braden, who has lost six of seven decisions, is winless since he was victorious in his first career start on April 24.
Still, Braden did pitch well recently against the struggling Tigers in Oakland. He held them to two runs and four hits in 5 1/3 innings in a 3-2 victory for the A’s on Aug. 1.
The losing pitcher that day was Nate Robertson, who is the scheduled starter today for Detroit.
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Motor Racing
Tony Stewart is listed as the 4-1 favorite to win the Centurion Boats at the Glen at Watkins Glen International in New York.
Jeff Gordon, who has the pole position and is the runaway Nextel Cup points leader, is 5-1, according to Vegasinsider.com.
Others listed by Vegasinsider include Juan Pablo Montoya (6-1) and Robby Gordon (10-1).
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