Last night, it was announced that as many as 20 Major League Baseball players may be suspended from the league for their connection to a clinic in Miami that's involved in a performance-enhancement drug scandal. Among the players up for suspension are New York Yankee Alex Rodriguez and Milwaukee Brewer Ryan Braun. Others include Rangers outfielder Nelson Cruz, Yankees catcher Francisco Cervelli, Mariners catcher and first baseman Jesus Montero, Tigers shortstop Jhonny Peralta, and Padres outfielder Everth Cabrera.
Some players may even be suspended for as many as 100 games. These developments came as part of MLB's investigation into Biogenesis Lab founder Anthony Bosch, who (allegedly) provided the performance enhancing drugs to the players. Because Bosch will cooperate completely with the investigation, the lawsuit MLB had filed against him will likely be dropped. If things continue along this path, this performance-enhancing drug scandal would be the largest in American sports history.
What do you guys think? Personally, I think one commenter on ESPN said it best: "Stop this nonsense, I have a fantasy league to win."
Here in Connecticut, we can tell it's almost June because we're practically melting. After all, the general rule of thumb for New England weather is that if you're not shoveling your way out of several feet of snow, then you're probably baking in the sun.
That said, summer is totally the best time for events! Summer tours, sporting events, musical festivals, touring theater shows... it's a mecca, really. Here are a few things to look forward to in June.
Concerts
American Idol Live: Season 12 "American Idol" finalists hit the road June 29, with their first show in Saint Louis, MO.
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One Direction: 1D buzz in the U.S. calmed as the boys toured Europe and elsewhere. But they're back, kicking off their U.S. summer tour June 13 in Sunrise, FL.
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Bonnaroo: This year, Bonnaroo has more than 100 bands performing during the four-day event from June 13-16. The line-up includes Sir Paul McCartney, Mumford & Sons, and Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers! (For tips on surviving summer music fests, click here.)
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After a slow week last week, and all concerts to boot, this week has a lot more onsales. Even better, there's more variety, with some theater and sports onsales for a popular show and a popular soccer team, respectively. The theater onsales, scheduled for this Sunday and Monday, come in the form of two new productions for touring shows of the award-winning The Lion King musical. The show will come to Tempe, AZ, from October 22 to November 21, and Los Angeles, CA, from November 20 to January 12, 2014.
As most people know, The Lion King is based on the Disney movie of the same name, starring a lion cub named Simba who is tricked (and falsely guilted) by his uncle Scar into running away from his home and future as king of the Pride Lands. After many adventures, he comes back to claim his birthright. The original Broadway production of the musical opened in 1997 and remains running to this day. It is currently the fifth longest running Broadway show in history. It will move to the fourth early next year, taking over the spot currently held by the original production of Les Misérables.
Meanwhile, Michael Bublé has another 15 shows on sale this Friday, Justin Timberlake has six more shows on sale this Monday, an International Champions Cup game between Real Madrid and the LA Galaxy is on sale this Friday, and the Breeders' Cup is on sale this Monday.
This week there isn't anything big, but several artists have onsales for a few cities here and there that haven't yet gone onsale, or else they are putting up second shows of a certain city.
This Friday: Justin Timberlake will have several second shows onsales, include one at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, NV. Meanwhile, Jason Aldean has another show onsale in Virginia Beach, English-Irish boy band The Wanted have shows onsale in Atlantic City, NJ; Bethlehem, PA; and Las Vegas, NV; and MGMT has one for The Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas, NV.
Finally, on Friday and Saturday, Tim McGraw will have shows onsale in Kansas, Michigan, and Arizona.
After spending 2012 away from the stage, Michael Buble is back with a new tour in support of his latest album, To Be Loved, and initial onsales are this Friday and Monday. The ever-popular Buble will visit 40 cities on this tour, including stops in Indianapolis, IN; Brooklyn, NY; Charlotte, NC; and San Diego, CA. The tour's U.S. concerts are scheduled to begin on September 7 at Chicago's United Center. They will end on November 30 at the Oracle Arena in Oakland, CA.
Released on April 22, To Be Loved has proven to be yet another hit, debuting at the top of the Billboard 200. This is Buble's fourth straight album to do so. It also debuted at number one in Buble home country Canada, the fifth time it has done so there.
Other onsales this week include Justin Timberlake's 20/20 Tour, which has another seven concerts on sale this Friday. If your city isn't up this week and hasn't gone up yet, never fear as there are more onsales next Friday, May 24. Also, Christmas has come early for fans of the Radio City Rockettes. You didn't misread that — all 200+ Radio City Christmas Spectacular shows are onsale this coming Tuesday, May 21.
Finally, the Backstreet Boys are back. As we reported earlier this week, they're following up on their successful tour with New Kids on the Block in 2011 with their very own 25-date tour during the second half of the summer. The In a World Like This Tour will begin on August 2 at the Charter One Pavilion in Chicago and end on September 8 at the Sleep Train Amphitheatre in Wheatland, CA. Jesse McCartney and Jersey Shore's DJ Pauly D will join them. Initial onsales are on Friday and Saturday.