Here's your wakeup call -- a combination of newsworthy andor interesting tidbits -- for Thursday, November 8:
BASEBALL
Don't look for a TheoYouk reunion. (CSN Chicago)
It was, indeed, medical concerns that prompted the Cubs to back out of their trade for subsequent free agent Dan Haren. (CSN Chicago)
Not many high school coaches get hired as major league managers, but Walt Weiss broke the mold. (AP)
The Phillies, like the Red Sox, are looking for outfielders, and GM Ruben Amaro Jr. is "intrigued" by what he's seeing in the trade market. (CSN Philly)
One outfielder who's not going anywhere: Hunter Pence. (CSN Bay Area)
The guys who cover the team aren't buying the reports that the Orioles are in the mix for Josh Hamilton. (CSN Baltimore)
As for Hamilton's old team, the Rangers say they can't tell whether he'll return to them or not. (AP)
Padres catcher Yasmani Grandal will sit out the first 50 games of next season after testing positive for excessive testosterone. (AP)
MLB is looking to expand its use of video reviews, which ought to make Joe Girardi happy. (AP)
It's also looking into a cap liner for pitchers, to protect them against line drives to the head. (AP)
And to a change in the rule allowing teams to expand their rosters to 40 after Sept. 1. (AP)
Mark McGwire says the opportunity "to live at home and work at home" is what led him to leave the Cardinals and become the Dodgers' hitting coach. (AP)
Everything's a TV extravaganza these days. (NBC's Hardball Talk)
COLLEGE BASKETBALL
The NCAA is accepting Texas Tech's self-imposed penalties in the Billy Gillispie fiasco. (AP)
Just like old times for Oklahoma: The Sooners played an exhibition game in McCasland Field House, their home from 1928 to 1975. (AP)
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
R.I.P., Darrell Royal. (AP)
The job at Kentucky hadn't even been open for a day when Bobby Petrino started sniffing around. (NBC's College Football Talk)
Since the USC defense couldn't stop Oregon, the team manager tried to take it upon himself . . . but he got caught. (AP)
HOCKEY
Bobby Ryan is the latest to warn that the NHL can't afford to lose the season. (NBC's Pro Hockey Talk)
If you get traded to the Canucks, don't ask to wear No. 10. (Pro Hockey Talk)
PRO BASKETBALL
LeBron James is happy that his two swing states -- Ohio and Florida -- pushed President Obama over the top in Tuesday's election, though how much his support helped Obama in Ohio is, ah, questionable. (NBC's Pro Basketball Talk)
The Lakers are now 1-4 after last night's loss at Utah . . . (AP)
. . . and it's time to start getting concerned . . . if you're a Laker fan, that is. Me, I'm loving every minute of it. (NBC's Pro Basketball Talk)
Even so, Mike Brown's job is safe. (Pro Basketball Talk)
Indiana may be without Danny Granger for the next three months. (AP)
Somehow, I just can't envision Larry Bird in a Google Hangout were it available back in the day. (CSN Houston)
PRO FOOTBALL
Rex Ryan is delighted to beat Bill Belichick at something. (AP)
Like the Giants, the Dolphins are donating 500,000 to New York's Hurricane Sandy relief efforts. (AP)
Jimmy Johnson's pushing back, and strongly, at what he's calling a bit -- okay, a load -- of revisionist history from Jerry Jones. (NBC's Pro Football Talk)
For whatever struggles RGIII and the Redskins are going through, they've had a good influence on Pete Carroll and the Seahawks. (Pro Football Talk)
That'll teach the Chargers' equipment guy not to jump when a referee snaps his fingers. (AP)
Brady Quinn admits he was so anxious to prove himself after three years on the bench that he tried to play through a concussion . . . to his (and the Chiefs') detriment. (AP)
You can understand fans claiming everything bad in Raider Nation is PalmersFault . . . but an ex-player? And an ordained minister, to boot? (CSN Bay Area)
SOCCER
The MLS passed on a chance to hold its own Snow Bowl last night. (NBC's Pro Soccer Talk)