SportsCenter Rundown : NIRVANA (September 23)

HERE WE ARE NOW. ENTERTAIN US. The Padres went to sleep with a half-game lead in the NL West after they put the Dodgers to bed 3-1 after the Cubs (!) put the Giants to bed 2-0. So after waking up with San Diego leading the division for almost four solid months, we now wake up to our fourth lead-change in the division in a week. But let's not sleep on the Giants. Not because the Padres magic number is 11, since they have 11 games remaining (hardly magical). Not because the Giants lead the league in pitching with a 3.41 ERA, since the Padres are second with a 3.42 ERA. How about because they still have Pablo Sandoval, because he's still nicknamed the Kung-Fu Panda. And we all know to never say no to Panda cheese. (I feel stupid. And contagious.) SportsCenter Highlight of the Night | Highlight 1a | Hunt for October PERFECT TEN The Braves rode into a crucial road series in Philadelphia and got proverbially smacked in the face by a broken skateboard. Literally, they were held to just one hit and so got swept out of town in the three-game set and suddenly sit six games back in the East. Meanwhile, the Phillies have suddenly won 10 straight overall, and 10 straight started by Roy Oswalt. The last time Philly won 10 straight started by a single pitcher was in 1993, when they actually won 11 straight starts by Tommy Greene, the pitcher who should not be confused with Tom Green, the Canadian actor, rapper, writer, comedian, talk-show host, and media personality. Recap | Highlights | Baseball Tonight THE SOCIAL NETWORK Dave Wannstedt is looking forward to his Pitt Panthers hosing Randy Shannon's No. 19 Miami Hurricanes tonight (7:30 ET on ESPN). 52 minutes ago [+ Randy Shannon likes this.] Dave Wannstedt hired Randy Shannon to be his linebackers coach with the Miami Dolphins. 10 years ago [+ Randy Shannon likes this.] Dave Wannstedt helped draft Randy Shannon to play linebacker for the Dallas Cowboys. 22 years ago [+ Randy Shannon likes this.] Dave Wannstedt helped recruit Randy Shannon to play linebacker for the Miami Hurricanes. 24 years ago [+ Randy Shannon likes this.] Game Preview | Facebook game fail. TOMORROW NEVER KNOWS (But 11 years of yesterdays sure do.) After the Eagles went from naming Kevin Kolb their starting quarterback to naming Michael Vick their starting quarterback to fielding trade offers for Kevin Kolb all in a two-day span, the formerly traded Eagles starting quarterback wants you to know that things like that happen in Philadelphia. "That's Philadelphia," Donovan McNabb said yesterday. "Things like that happen. I've been a part of that for 11 years and, obviously, as you see, it just doesn't stop." Now turn off your mind, relax, and float downstream. Read More | These things also happen in Philadelphia.   14 The Rays ended the Yankees' 3-game home winning streak on a stormy night in the Bronx. It meant that A.J. Burnett lost his 14th game of the season, which matches the most losses for any Yankees pitcher over the last 18 seasons (see also: Jim Abbott and his 11-14 record in 1993, Melido Perez and his 6-14 record in 1993, David Cone and his 4-14 record in 2000, and Andy Pettitte and his 14-14 record in 2008). It also meant that the Rays sit just 1.5 games back in the East. And it also meant that the Rays lead the Yankees 9-8 head-to-head, which is crucial if the teams are tied after 162 games, especially since it's David Price facing CC Sabathia tonight at the Stadium. Review | Preview 3 Jose Lopez hit 3 home runs for the Mariners last night. Jose Lopez only hit 7 home runs in 565 at-bats this season for the Mariners before last night. Since 1900, only one other player has had a three-homer game after entering the game with at least 500 at-bats and fewer than 10 homers on the season. And he did it 12 years ago to the day, because Mike Lansing had a three-homer game for the Rockies on September 22, 1998, after having nine homers in 569 at-bats before that game. Jose Lopez | Mike Lansing (numerous) Today's hint on how not to get out of jury duty: If you are an NFL season-ticket holder, that is no excuse. Legal precedent has been set in the proceedings of a murder trial in Memphis, where a man explained to the judge that he was worried about his Titans season tickets. The judge explained that he had numerous friends who could take the tickets off of the man's hands. He also explained that "if you're on this jury, I'll make sure they have the game on." Read   "There's no question about the talent they have. But, talent doesn't always win. The team that shows the best teamwork will win it." In a radio interview, Lakers coach Phil Jackson mentioned that talent can't guarantee a title. [Editor's Note: What he didn't mention was that it takes the kind of coach who can get that talent to play together that guarantees a title. The kind of coach who did it with Jordan and Pippen and Grant. And Jordan and Pippen and Rodman. And Shaq and Kobe. And Kobe and Pau. The Zen Master has already said that this will be his last year with the Lakers. Is there any way he's not coaching the Heat a year from now? Seriously, why is nobody talking about this? Deep breath.] Read More "Archie Manning had it right. They call [Chargers general manager A.J. Smith] the Lord of No Rings for a reason." 4:00 ET came and went yesterday, but Vincent Jackson didn't. And his agent wants you to know exactly why he didn't. Read   Who is the best quarterback in the NFC East? Eli Manning Donovan McNabb Tony Romo Michael Vick Kevin Kolb     9AM ET Josh Elliott, Hannah Storm 12PM ET John Buccigross, Chris McKendry 3PM ET Robert Flores, Cindy Brunson on ESPNEWS 6PM ET Jay Harris, Brian Kenny 8PM ET Kevin Connors, Kevin Negandhi on ESPNEWS 11PM ET John Anderson, Scott Van Pelt 1AM ET Neil Everett, Stan Verrett from Los Angeles