The Sports Blog

Saying Goodbye To An Old Friend

2010-01-09T03:10:00.000-08:00

When I found out this week that NASCAR Scene had laid off its staff and announced it was ceasing publication for good,I was saddened by this news. Every week,I enjoyed the information and the pictures that graced Scene from cover to cover. I enjoyed reading updates along with interviews and profiles from the NASCAR world along with thought-provoking commentaries by staff writers. Sadly,that will no longer happen.

Scene subscribers will be transferred to the same company's NASCAR Illustrated,a monthly publication. I enjoy NASCAR Illustrated but it will not be the same without Scene. The present economic realities have adversely affected NASCAR and the publications that report about it. Scene had been a fixture in NASCAR for many years as a source trusted by NASCAR drivers, decision makers,and fans. It is indeed the loss of what to me served as a friend and companion in the years I was a subscriber. Hopefully, a new weekly publication reporting the latest happenings in NASCAR will emerge. Even if that does happen,it will have some very big shoes to fill,as Scene was without a doubt a reliable source and a well-written publication admired and respected by fans,drivers,and decision makers.

I will miss Scene. Farewell, my old friend. It was a great ride. Thank you for the wonderful memories you have left us.

Travesty at Talladega

2009-11-03T06:17:00.001-08:00

Sunday's race at Talladega Superspeedway was by far a disgrace. Traditionally one of the most popular and most exciting races on the NASCAR circuit, this race was probably the worst in the track's history. It all began when NASCAR's Mike Helton announced at the drivers' meeting before the race that bump-drafting would not be allowed. This rightly infuriated most of the drivers and many fans. Dale Earnhardt Sr must have been laughing from beyond the grave as this is how he won many races at Talladega and other tracks. It's called racing, Mr.Helton.

Now, NASCAR races must be as exciting as maypole dances and everybody must be nice and sweet so they don't upset the sponsors. Drivers are no longer allowed to be human. The Car of Tomorrow,or COT,has also made the racing quite boring, unless of course you're the driver of the #48 car. Most people like variety and are bored with the same driver winning nearly every race and consecutive championships. NASCAR just looks the other way despite the consistent cheating or at least "envelope pushing" by the crew chief of the #48 car. The Chase is another exercise in idiocy. The old points system was much more fair. 43 drivers competed for the championship instead of 12. Playoff systems make sense for stick and ball sports,but not for racing. The top 35 rule should be scrapped. All 43 drivers should qualify on speed in order to create a level playing field.

After a boring session of follow the leader and no real racing,it culminated with a string of accidents,the most shocking involving Ryan Newman,who fortunately walked away safely from his mangled car. I agree very strongly with Newman's post-accident comments when he rightly took NASCAR to task for their idiotic rules and making the racing boring for the fans.

Hopefully this will serve as a wake-up call for NASCAR to shape up or the downward spiral will continue as race attendance keeps declining along with TV ratings. Mr.Helton's actions along with a weak defense of the status quo by Ramsey Poston against a refreshingly honest assessment of the state of NASCAR by commentators Kyle Petty,Jimmy Spencer,and Larry McReynolds indicate that NASCAR has yet to come out of its state of denial.

UPDATE : It appears,according to Joe Gibbs Racing driver Denny Hamlin and published reports, that Hendrick Motorsports driver Jeff Gordon appeared to have a lot of influence in getting NASCAR to ban bump-drafting during the Talladega race. If this is true,it confirms suspicions that Hendrick Motorsports and apparently one of their drivers have a great deal of pull with NASCAR. Isn't it convenient that Jeff Gordon is listed as owner of the #48 car driven by teammate Jimmie Johnson,who is poised to win his fourth straight Cup championship? If these reports are true, NASCAR has no credibility left. It also shows that Hendrick Motorsports will stop at nothing, regardless of how unscrupulous, to win races and championships. This will only cause NASCAR to lose even more fans as I am sure the Talladega fiasco itself has already caused and deservedly so.

Good Night,Uncle Walter

2009-07-18T16:07:00.000-07:00

Walter Cronkite, legendary TV journalist,died Friday in New York City. He was 92. Mr.Cronkite was an American institution and the dean of American television journalism.

Walter Leland Cronkite,Jr was born in St.Joseph,Missouri. He lived in Kansas City,Missouri,in his early years and moved with his parents to Houston, Texas,when he was ten. Early in his career,he took a job with the Houston Post.
During World War II, he served as a war correspondent. In 1950,he took a job with CBS-TV and the rest is journalistic history. His mentor was the great Edward R. Murrow.

Mr.Cronkite was among the first to report that President John F. Kennedy had been shot and choked back tears when he reported the President's death to a national television audience. Though Cronkite was impartial during his newscasts, he was not shy about making some of his opinions known. During the Vietnam War, Cronkite came out in opposition to the war. The response of President Lyndon B. Johnson was reported to have been, "If I lose Cronkite,I've lost Middle America". Cronkite is well remembered for his coverage of the first time humans walked on the moon. In the 1970s, Cronkite brought the Watergate scandal to the forefront that ultimately resulted in the resignation of President Richard M. Nixon. Cronkite's last newscast came in 1981. In the years since, Cronkite served as the elder statesman of American journalism. He coined the word "anchor" for television newscasters.

I grew up watching Walter Cronkite and have always had a tremendous respect for Mr.Cronkite. I will always remember his signing off with the statement "And that's the way it is". Even if I did not agree with Mr.Cronkite on every issue, he was still a fine man of integrity. Mr.Cronkite was voted the Most Trusted Man In America. He set the standard and helped shape television journalism. Cronkite lost his wife of 65 years in 2005. He is survived by two daughters and a son. Good night,Uncle Walter. You will be missed.

More Thoughts About Kyle Busch

2009-07-10T13:11:00.000-07:00

Will Kyle Busch ever grow up? He never takes responsibility for anything. Now he blames Tony Stewart for Busch's last lap crash at Daytona International Raceway in last week's Coke Zero 400 Sprint Cup race. Busch was a victim of his own impatience and made a poorly calculated move. Busch only has himself to blame. Stewart thought he was in the clear but Busch abruptly cut in front of Stewart and ended up against the wall and in the infield. Stewart tried avoiding contact with Busch but Busch's sudden move seemingly caught Stewart off guard.

Busch showed at Thursday's press conference at Chicagoland Speedway that he was still upset with Stewart and blamed him for the wreck. Busch seems to have contradicted himself. Busch said earlier this week that he and Stewart were "on the same page", then Busch later blamed Stewart for the incident. Tony Stewart took the high road. He even called Kyle Busch after the race and asked him if he was OK . Busch's immature and ungrateful attitude showed at the press conference. Kyle Busch is an immensely talented driver but he needs an attitude adjustment. He must become man enough to admit when he makes a mistake and not always blame others for his own actions. Kyle Busch has not completely matured. He has shown this week that he still has a long way to go.

Congratulations, Joey Logano

2009-06-29T02:55:00.000-07:00

I must admit I was skeptical at the beginning of the 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup season, when the media kept talking about a new young sensation from Middletown,Connecticut,named Joey Logano. I thought it was mostly hype and some of Logano's early season finishes convinced me of that even more but recently, Logano has impressed me with his finishes. On Sunday at his home track at a race shortened by rain, Logano won his first NASCAR Sprint Cup race at New Hampshire International Raceway. Logano is the driver of the number 20 Home Depot Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing,previously driven by Tony Stewart,who came to Victory Lane to congratulate Logano, and Logano's crew chief Greg Zipadelli,who was Stewart's crew chief for ten NASCAR Cup seasons.

I am glad that Logano has proven me wrong. I expressed that hope before the season began. Congratulations,Joey Logano. May this be the first of many wins for Logano in the NASCAR Sprint Cup series. At 19, Logano is the youngest winner ever in the NASCAR Cup series.

I am impressed by Logano's classy and grateful attitude along with his humility. He never lashes out at his pit crew or other drivers. Some drivers could learn a few things from Logano.

Goodbye,Ed,Farrah,And Michael

2009-06-26T21:22:00.000-07:00

This week,we lost three well-known people whose lives were part of ours. Ed McMahon, Johnny Carson's longtime sidekick,died at age 86. Actress Farrah Fawcett,probably best known for her work on the TV series "Charlie's Angels", lost her courageous battle with cancer at age 62. Pop icon Michael Jackson died Thursday in a death that shocked the world. He was 50.

I grew up watching Ed McMahon on "The Tonight Show" when Johnny Carson was host. I loved the sound of Mr.McMahon's laugh and the chemistry he and Johnny Carson had made them bond well with each other and their audience. Mr. McMahon also hosted the syndicated program "Star Search", a sort of forerunner to "American Idol". Of course, Mr. McMahon will also be remembered for saying "Heeeere's Johnny!" at the beginning of every show Johnny Carson hosted. Rest In Peace, Ed. Thanks for the laughs and the memories.

Farrah Fawcett died on Thursday after a battle with cancer and after the courage and fighting spirit she showed during her final months. Probably best known for her work on the 1970s detective series "Charlie's Angels", Ms. Fawcett's poster hung in the rooms of many teenage boys. She also starred in many dramatic works that earned her praise for her strong performances. In the final months of her life, Ms. Fawcett showed courage,determination,and strength in the face of life-threatening illness. She shared her struggle in the program "Farrah's Story". Rest in peace,Farrah. Your story inspires us all.

I was deeply shocked when I learned of Michael Jackson's death on Thursday. I like his earlier music,as he did with his brothers as part of the Jackson Five, along with his popular songs of the late 1970s and early 1980s. In more recent years, Mr.Jackson dealt with controversy such as his trial on child molestation charges,of which he was cleared. He was planning a tour of Europe in July, including a string of concerts in London. Rest in peace,Michael. Thanks for the music and the memories.

Thoughts About Kyle Busch

2009-06-08T19:29:00.000-07:00

I am sure that most people who saw the aftermath of Saturday night's Nationwide series race at Nashville Speedway in Lebanon,Tennessee,must have been shocked,saddened,and angered by the appalling and outrageous conduct shown by Kyle Busch when he smashed a Gibson guitar that he was given after winning the race.

Artist Sam Bass,contrary to earlier reports that said he was "OK with it", was actually crushed and heartbroken by the irresponsible and stupid act committed by Kyle Busch. Sam Bass,unlike Kyle Busch,has too much class to make a scene,but Mr. Bass was obviously saddened by what had happened. Mr. Bass put much time and effort into his work,along with Gibson employees. Gibson executives and Speedway officials were also upset by Busch's punk behavior. Officials from race sponsor Federated Auto Parts walked out in disgust. Kyle Busch apparently lied when he said that Sam Bass,along with Gibson and Speedway officials, along with race sponsor Federated Auto Parts, were OK with Busch destroying an object,an object extremely valuable into which much time and effort were put. Mr.Bass and others have said they were not told this would happen. This is an insult to Sam Bass,Gibson Guitar Company, Federated Auto Parts,Nashville Speedway, NASCAR, NASCAR fans, and the city of Nashville.

What is so idiotic is that Kyle Busch's defenders say that rock stars destroy guitars all the time. To begin with,Kyle Busch is not a rock star. Secondly, the rock star thing is no excuse. The gleeful destruction of objects or property is never a good thing. Kyle Busch has no respect for people or property and has shown it time and again. Kyle Busch's parents obviously did not raise their son properly. They apparently never taught him to respect others,not destroy objects or property,and that the world does not revolve around him. Kyle Busch has acted like a jerk many times and thrown childish tantrums when things do not go his way.

Kyle Busch's values are apparently different from the values of practicing Christian Joe Gibbs,who should release Kyle Busch from Joe Gibbs Racing. I know it will not happen but as far as I am concerned,it would be the right thing to do.

Information from Scene Daily at www.scenedaily.com.
Opinions expressed are strictly my own.

David Poole 1959-2009

2009-04-29T15:56:00.000-07:00

I was saddened to learn of the sudden death on Tuesday of motorsports journalist David Poole, who suffered a fatal heart attack just hours after completing his morning radio show on Sirius.
Mr.Poole's last column happened to run on the day of his death. A longtime motorsports columnist at the Charlotte Observer, David Poole was the NASCAR fan's journalist. Mr.Poole was never a politically correct patsy. He was not shy about letting his opinions be known.

I will miss Mr.Poole's commentaries and his keen insight on news of interest in racing. He was very passionate about NASCAR and about the sport staying true to its roots. The racing world has lost a great journalist. NASCAR fans have lost an effective spokesperson. Rest in peace,David Poole. You will be greatly missed.

Speedweeks 2009

2009-02-09T19:48:00.000-08:00

The 31st running of the Budweiser Shootout took place Saturday night at Daytona International Speedway. Kevin Harvick, who was almost written off as a having been competitive,won the Shootout. Bobby Labonte had a competitive car until a wreck knocked Labonte's #96 Ask.com Ford out of contention when Labonte's teammate Paul Menard drove his #98 Ford into the #88 Chevy driven by Dale Earnhardt Jr,which got into Labonte's car. Greg Biffle had problems as well with his #16 Ford. Robby Gordon,Scott Speed,and Joey Logano were involved in a wreck that took out all three drivers for the evening. So far Logano is doing about as I expected if not worse,causing wrecks during Shootout practice and making other drivers nervous during the Shootout itself. If Logano drives like this the rest of the season,those media pundits who have overhyped him,will be eating their words by the end of the season.

As the race went on,the excitement intensified. Several drivers fiercely vied for the lead in the closing laps with Jamie McMurray leading the way but suddenly out of the blue, Kevin Harvick came charging through the field and by the final lap,took the lead from McMurray. It was a truly exciting race. Congratulations to Kevin Harvick for his bold move and winning the race.

On Sunday, Martin Truex Jr and Mark Martin were the top two qualifiers for next Sunday's Daytona 500. The rest of the field will be determined in the Twin 150s on Thursday. The 2009 NASCAR Season has begun. Let's go racing.

Rest In Peace,Kay Yow

2009-01-24T11:42:00.000-08:00

Kay Yow,longtime head women's basketball coach at North Carolina State University and a former U.S. Olympic team coach,passed away Saturday after a long bout with cancer. She was 66. Just this week,there was talk that Yow might return to her coaching job at N.C. State but sadly it will not happen. Yow had 737 wins in her coaching career,including conference titles. Yow coached teams that played in NCAA tournaments. She won a gold medal as an Olympic coach in 1988. Ms. Yow was a deeply dedicated Christian. Ms.Yow's faith sustained her through the hard times in her life. She is definitely in a much better place now. Ms.Yow's character, courage, and determination were an inspiration to many. She was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1987 but fought the good fight with class and dignity. Ms.Yow's friend and N.C. State men's basketball coach Jim Valvano died of cancer in 1993. The V Foundation For Cancer Research was started by Valvano and ESPN,where Valvano was an analyst. Ms.Yow served on the Foundation's board. ESPN remains committed to a research fund established in Ms.Yow's name. Rest in peace,Kay Yow. Well done,thou good and faithful servant.

A Big Week

2009-01-22T22:54:00.000-08:00

It has been a big week for sure. On Tuesday,the 44th and first African American president of the United States,Barack Obama,was sworn in. Congratulations to our new president. Regardless of party affiliation or ideology,I wish the new president well and hope that he does great things for our nation. In NASCAR, driver Elliott Sadler married his girlfriend Amanda Prince last Saturday. Congratulations to the newlyweds. In Charlotte,N.C.,it was the NASCAR Media Tour,in which media from around the nation and the world converged on the Charlotte area and were given tours of race shops along with Q&A sessions with drivers and team owners. As a Bobby Labonte fan,I am very excited about his new ride with Hall of Fame Racing,though technically he will be a Robert Yates Racing driver. Labonte will drive the #96 Ask.com Ford for Hall of Fame Racing,which receives engines from Roush Fenway Racing and Robert Yates Racing. Also,Tony Stewart is well underway with getting Stewart/Haas Racing ready for the 2009 season. Stewart annouced a new sponsor for SHR this week-Burger King,in addition to Stewart's main sponsor,Office Depot,and the U.S. Army,which will sponsor teammate Ryan Newman's car for a number of races this season.

In college basketball, the North Carolina Tarheels got their game back this week when they defeated Miami on Sunday 82-65 and delivered an impressive game on Wednesday when the Tarheels defeated Clemson 94-70. Tyler Hansbrough sustained injuries during the Clemson game when he was accidentally hit in the mouth during a scramble under the basket and had a tooth loosened. Hansbrough wore a mouthpiece the rest of the game. I pray that he has a speedy recovery. The Tarheels' next game will be at Florida State next Wednesday.

A Big Event

2009-01-17T17:10:00.001-08:00

Something big is taking place next week. No, I'm not talking about the Presidential Inauguration. I'm talking about the NASCAR Media Tour. Sports journalists and motorsports reporters from around the United States and other nations will converge on Charlotte,N.C.,and the surrounding area,as NASCAR teams will offer sneak previews of the upcoming season by having Q and A sessions with drivers,team owners,and others. It gets me excited because I know the Daytona 500 is just around the corner.

What makes it even more special for me this year is that my sentimental favorite,Bobby Labonte,has a ride that I know he will do well in,unlike the past three seasons in the subpar ride he had at Petty Enterprises. Labonte has joined Hall of Fame Racing,which will partner up with Robert Yates Racing and Roush Fenway Racing as those teams race Fords as HOF will also when Labonte races in the #96 Ford. I have a feeling that with the support Labonte receives from teammates (HOF has essentially merged with Yates),the engine-building program that Yates and Roush Fenway Racing are in involved in,among other factors,that Labonte will do well in the 2009 season. NASCAR media pundits agree that Labonte made the right move by joining HOF.

Another favorite of mine,Tony Stewart,has started his own team at Stewart/Haas Racing. Stewart's teammate is fellow Indiana native Ryan Newman. Stewart has already been testing along with Newman for the upcoming season. Even though SHR is a new team,it should do well in its first year. Stewart,a two-time NASCAR Cup champion,has the experience,know-how,and has already shown himself to be a hands-on team owner. Stewart has been praised by more seasoned team owners for his keen business sense. Look for SHR to be a factor this season. Do not be surprised if Stewart or Newman,or both drivers make the Chase.

Don't expect miracles from Joey Logano. Logano was given the #20 Home Depot Toyota at Joe Gibbs Racing after ten-year Cup veteran and two-time Cup champion Tony Stewart left to start his own team. Here's why I think Logano won't win a ton of races if any at all in his first full Sprint Cup season. While Logano was a phenomenal standout in ARCA and in the Nationwide series during the 2008 season,I think he needs more time in Nationwide before even being considered for the Cup series. A stint in the Camping World Truck series would not be a bad idea either. Also, a heaping helping of humble pie would be in order. The statements Logano made after finishing some races last season indicated a little smugness on his part. Logano is 18,and that in my opinion is too early to start a driver in the Cup series.
There are those who argue that Ricky Rudd started in the Cup series when he was 18 and he turned out being a great driver. That is true but Rudd's immense talent came into full manifestation when he was a little older and more experienced. It's a different,more corporate driven NASCAR today than it was in the 1970s and 1980s. Sponsors want drivers to win almost as soon as they strap themselves into their cars for the first time. Remember Casey Atwood? He was touted as the next Jeff Gordon and he might have been but he was moved to Cup too soon like Logano and as a result,Atwood never got to show his full potential. Atwood was hyped much the same way Logano has been. As a result, Atwood's performance disappointed many fans who expected too much. Now, Atwood has faded away. My concern is that Logano could be headed the same way. I sincerely hope not. I hope Logano proves me wrong and is a tremendous success in the Cup series but his finishes in some races last season seem to indicate otherwise.

Another overrated driver is A.J. Allmendinger. While he got lucky in the #10 Gillett Evernham Motorsports Dodge in the last five races of the 2008 season, he will probably go back to having mediocre finishes as a part-time driver in the #10 GEM Dodge like he had when he raced for Red Bull Racing, which released Allmendinger because of his lackluster finishes. Also,Allmendinger has a habit of causing wrecks on the track. He showed this trait during the last five races of the 2008 season when he was touted as the greatest driver since "Sliced Bread" Logano. I know this is a likely bone of contention with some who read this blog, but in my opinion Elliott Sadler was right in threatening legal action against Gillett Evernham Motorsports. Sadler signed a new contract in good faith with GEM. In December, GEM kicked Sadler out of his ride and was in the process of giving it to Allmendinger. GEM cried uncle and gave Sadler back his ride. I am glad they did. Sadler has three NASCAR Cup wins. I have a feeling there will be more. Some people might ask why Sadler would want to drive for somebody who wanted him fired? I have no idea. Things probably happen behind the scenes that we'll never know about. Perhaps it was a matter of principle with Sadler or maybe George Gillett did not have the money to buy out Sadler's contract as Gillett reportedly has financial troubles. Whatever the reason,I'm just glad Sadler has his ride back.

Another overrated driver without a doubt is Scott Speed. Speed has one win in the Formula One series and suddenly he's NASCAR material. Like Logano and Allmendinger, Scott Speed is overhyped and overrated. Speed's arrogance rubs many NASCAR fans the wrong way. Only time will tell if Speed is as good as his media boosters say he is. Speed's showings in the races he ran last season indicate that he likely won't measure up to expectations.

Finally,A New Team For Labonte

2009-01-14T15:37:00.000-08:00

After leaving Petty Enterprises in December, fans of driver Bobby Labonte had been wondering where the 2000 NASCAR Cup champion would drive next. The most prominent rumor was that Labonte would be driving the #41 at Earnhardt/Ganassi Racing,then as recently as Monday, rumors had Labonte driving the #8 EGR ride. Then late Tuesday in a sudden and surprising turn of events,came the annoucement that Labonte will drive the #96 Ford for Hall Of Fame Racing. HOF recently merged with Robert Yates Racing. HOF will have the benefit of the engine-building program shared by RYR and Roush Fenway Racing. Ask.com has reportedly been named the sponsor of the #96 car.

With the 51st running of the Daytona 500 on February 15th approaching, fans were becoming concerned about whether Labonte would have a Cup ride this season. Fortunately,the waiting is over. Bobby Labonte is not the first person in his family to drive the #96. Bobby's brother Terry Labonte,the 1984 and 1996 Cup champion, drove the car (though it was then a Chevrolet) for a few races in the 2006 or 2007 season if memory serves.

I am so happy not only as a Bobby Labonte fan but also for Bobby Labonte himself. I wish Bobby well in the #96. Bring on the 2009 season. Go Bobby!!!!

Sports Notes

2009-01-12T20:21:00.000-08:00

NFL

This was not a good weekend for me as far as sports goes. On Saturday night,my Carolina Panthers lost at home to the Arizona Cardinals 33-13. The Cardinals were simply better prepared and ready to play. Kurt Warner played a magnificent game. I hope the Cardinals make it to the Super Bowl. As for the Panthers,better luck next season. They have made it to the Super Bowl before and they will again.

ACC BASKETBALL

On Sunday night,in college hoops,the #3 ranked North Carolina Tarheels lost to the #4 ranked Wake Forest Demon Deacons on the Deacons' home court 92-89. This is the Tarheels' second consecutive loss,having lost to Boston College at home last week. Hopefully,the Tarheels will rebound with a win when UNC plays at Virginia on Thursday night.

2008: A Look Back

2008-12-27T21:53:00.000-08:00

Before I begin my look back at the year now ending,I want to wish everybody a happy,healthy,and prosperous New Year. God bless you.

Here are my picks for the biggest stories of 2008 in different categories:

Biggest news stories:

1.Barack Obama's historic election as the first African American President of the United States.
2. Republican Presidential nominee John McCain picks Alaska Governor Sarah Palin as his running mate. Governor Palin is only the second woman to be the Vice Presidential nominee of a major political party, after Democrat Geraldine Ferraro,who ran with Walter Mondale in 1984. Governor Palin has been mentioned as a possible Presidential candidate in 2012.
3. The financial disarray in the credit,financial, and housing markets.
4. Bailouts of Wall Street and the U.S. auto industry.
5.Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich faces possible impeachment and prosecution for allegedly trying to sell the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by President-elect Obama.
6.Pain at the gas pump though gas prices fell significantly by year's end .
7. The U.S. and the industrialized world enter recession.
8.Terrorist attacks in Mumbai,India.
9.Hurricane Ike affects Gulf coast.

Biggest sports stories:

1.Michael Phelps wins a record number of gold medals at the Beijing Olympics.
2.Jimmie Johnson wins his third consecutive Sprint Cup championship in NASCAR.
3.Tyler Hansbrough becomes the all-time leading men's basketball scorer at the University of North Carolina.
4.Tony Stewart leaves Joe Gibbs Racing to start his own team,Stewart/Haas Racing. Stewart names Ryan Newman as his Sprint Cup teammate.
5.Phillip Fulmer is fired as head football coach at the University of Tennessee after the Volunteers have a losing football season. Oakland Raiders head coach Lane Kiffin is hired to replace Fulmer.

People to whom we said goodbye :

Some prominent obituaries of 2008

Charlton Heston,Cyd Charisse,Eartha Kitt, Van Johnson,Beverly Garland,Harvey Korman,
Jesse Helms,Paul Weyrich,Tim Russert,Paul Newman,Richard Widmark,Michael Crichton,Estelle Getty,Dody Goodman,Isaac Hayes,Jerry Reed,Dick Martin,Roy Schieder,Bo Diddley,Suzanne Pleshette .

Sports Notes

2008-12-21T00:52:00.000-08:00

NASCAR

Congratulations to Jimmie Johnson on winning his third consecutive NASCAR Sprint Cup championship. I do not get ESPN Classic so I missed the banquet but I read about some of the highlights. Previous three-peat champion Cale Yarborough was at the banquet and stood with Johnson. Judging by what I've read,it seems the entertainment was better this year though emcee Kevin Costner's apparent lack of knowledge of NASCAR was evident when he called Dale Earnhardt Sr "The Terminator",when of course the driver of the black #3 car was known as "The Intimidator". I hope NASCAR hires a bonafide,genuine NASCAR fan to host next year's award show. NBC newsman Brian Williams would be an excellent choice in my opinion as he is a true NASCAR fan and has a lot of charisma and down to earth charm.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

Welcome Lane Kiffin as the new head football coach of the Tennessee Volunteers. Kiffin comes from the NFL,having coached the Oakland Raiders. If the name Kiffin rings a bell, it should. Lane Kiffin is the son of Monte Kiffin,who coached college football at North Carolina State and has been defensive coordinator with the NFL's Tampa Bay Buccaneers since 1996. Monte Kiffin will assist his son as defensive coordinator at Tennessee. Bring on the 2009 season. Go Vols!!!!

COLLEGE BASKETBALL

Congratulations to Tyler Hansbrough for becoming the all-time leading men's basketball scorer at the University of North Carolina. Previous record-holder Phil Ford was on hand and gave Hansbrough a congratulatory hug after Hansbrough topped Ford's record in a game December 18th in which the Tarheels defeated Evansville 91-73.

A Very Merry Christmas!!!!

2008-12-20T23:37:00.000-08:00

Sorry that I've been absent from my blog for awhile. I've had a lot on my mind. Also,the holidays are an extremely busy time and I've been enjoying the Christmas season. I love this time of year,the decorations,the lights,the music,being with family and friends. I hope that your Christmas season is as merry for you as it's been for me. Also, I am very happy this Christmas because I have bought a rare Christmas music album from my childhood that I thought was gone forever. In the late 1960s and early 1970s, W.T. Grant Department Stores,a forerunner to such chains as Target and Wal-Mart,sold a record album they issued annually titled, "A Very Merry Christmas". Volume 3 is the edition I remember so well as a child. It has so many beautiful songs. We had a copy when it was originally issued but I guess it either got lost,broken,or thrown away as we moved several times when I was growing up. I did a Google search and praise the Lord,it was for sale on e-bay. When I saw it listed,I knew I had to buy it so I did. One problem,it's a vinyl record and I have no record player but I plan on buying a record player that converts old vinyl recordings to mp3. It will probably be next Christmas season before I hear it but that's OK. I've waited more than 35 years to hear it again so waiting another year is bearable.

Remember the Reason for the Season as we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. God bless you. Have a very Merry Christmas and a joyous and prosperous New Year.

Thanksgiving

2008-11-25T21:17:00.000-08:00

Thursday,November 27th,is Thanksgiving,a time to pause,reflect,and give thanks to God for His many blessings,and be thankful that we still live in the greatest nation on Earth. Even with all the problems in our nation,economic and otherwise,we should count our blessings and be thankful to God for what we have and all He has blessed us with. Also,be thankful for good health,the love of family and friends,and the hope that tomorrow will be better. There is always light at the end of the tunnel and giving thanks to God that we will prevail in all difficulties is reason enough to declare a holiday. Though we should have a grateful,thankful heart every day,not just on this day. Whether you're at home,eating out,or visiting with family and friends,have a happy,safe,and blessed Thanksgiving. God bless you.

A Brief History of Thanksgiving

A little known fact is that the first Thanksgiving took place at Berkley Plantation in Virginia in 1619,two years before the Pilgrims had their first Thanksgiving at Plymouth,Massachusetts,but the Pilgrim story is better known because of the hardships they endured,almost from the time they set sail on the Mayflower from Plymouth,England, in September,1620. Many were Pilgrims seeking religious freedom though there were a few opportunists along for the ride. The Mayflower was actually supposed to dock at Jamestown, Virginia, which had been established as a colony in 1607 and was America's first permanent English settlement,but a storm blew the Mayflower and its passengers off course and they ended up in the area that became New England. Beaten and battered by the storms in the Atlantic Ocean,the Mayflower arrived at what today is known as Provincetown Harbor in November,1620. The Pilgrims decided that the land was not suitable for habitation,so they sailed up the coast and found an area where land had been cleared by an Indian tribe that a few years before had been wiped out by a plague. The Pilgrims decided it was fit for habitation and soon built a colony they named Plymouth,after the English city they set sail from. The first few months were extremely hard on the new settlers. About half of the Mayflower's passengers died from disease or malnutrition during a harsh winter at the Plymouth colony. But their strong faith in God brought the Pilgrims through. In March,1621,the Pilgrims contemplated returning to England on the Mayflower but some friendly Indians arrived from a nearby area and offered to help the Pilgrims. They taught the Pilgrims how to plant crops and helped in any way they could as the settlers adjusted to their surroundings. There were no more deaths as there had been the previous winter. In the autumn of 1621,the Pilgrims had a bountiful harvest and gave thanks to God for delivering them from all they had endured. The Indians joined the Pilgrims in a feast of Thanksgiving. The Pilgrims expressed their gratitude for all the friendship and help that the Indians gave the Pilgrims during their difficult first year in the Plymouth colony.

Many years later,there were Thanksgiving declarations,such as those issued by President George Washington. However,Thanksgiving as we know it today did not become an official holiday until President Abraham Lincoln issued a proclamation in 1863 that the last Thursday of November would be a national day of Thanksgiving. This has since been an annual custom in the United States with the only change being in 1939 by President Franklin D. Roosevelt that the fourth Thursday of November would be a national day of Thanksgiving. This was mostly done to help retailers still struggling from the Great Depression with an early start to the Christmas shopping season.

As you enjoy your Thanksgiving dinner,pause,reflect,and give thanks to God. God bless you.

The 2008 NASCAR Season

2008-11-16T19:18:00.000-08:00

The 2008 NASCAR Sprint Cup series ended its season November 16th at Homestead International Raceway near Miami. As expected,Jimmie Johnson won his third consecutive NASCAR Cup championship,a feat not accomplished since the 1970s by Cale Yarborough. Points runner-up Carl Edwards won the race,his ninth win of the season. Congratulations to Johnson and Edwards. It was a race filled with firsts, lasts, and much transition. Rookie Scott Speed drove the #83 Red Bull Racing Toyota usually driven by Speed's future teammate Brian Vickers. Speed drove the #83 as the car was in the top 35 in points while Vickers qualified 20th in the #84 Toyota, the car Speed will drive at Red Bull next season.

It was Tony Stewart's last race for Joe Gibbs Racing,where the two-time NASCAR Cup champion drove the #20 Toyota in the 2008 season. From 2003 to 2007,Stewart drove a Chevrolet. In his first four years at JGR, Stewart drove a Pontiac. Stewart will have his own team next season,Stewart/Haas Racing,where he will also be a driver. Stewart's teammate will be fellow Indiana native Ryan Newman,who drove his last race in the #12 Dodge for Penske Racing. The #20 will be driven by 18-year-old newcomer Joey Logano next season while the #12 will be driven by Nationwide series veteran David Stremme,who hails from Newman's hometown of South Bend,Indiana, and grew up with Newman,with whom Stremme remains friends. Stewart will drive the #14 Chevrolet for Stewart/Haas Racing,while Newman will drive the #39 Chevrolet at SHR.

The 2008 season stirred a lot of controversy and debate,especially on the Car of Tomorrow,or COT,and why three drivers,Jimmie Johnson,Carl Edwards,and Kyle Busch,won so many races. Busch's nine wins came during the regular season but he seemed to fizzle as the Chase began. It is odd that four-time NASCAR Cup champion Jeff Gordon did not win a race in 2008 and neither did one of my favorites,the 2003 Cup champion Matt Kenseth. Despite there being no NASCAR races until February, I will have things to occupy me,such as Thanksgiving,Christmas,New Year's,and being with my family,along with UNC Tarheel basketball (the Tarheels won their season opener Saturday against Penn 86-71)and dreaming about the 2009 Daytona 500. I am counting down the days until Daytona already. 91 days until we hear "Gentlemen,start your engines".

Election 2008

2008-11-07T12:49:00.000-08:00

I did not post a blog last week as I have had many things on my mind on a personal level as well as nationally. Even though I voted for John McCain,congratulations are in order to President-elect Barack Obama,who I will admit,ran a good,almost flawless campaign. Both Obama in his acceptance speech and McCain in his concession speech,spoke eloquently by reminding us that we are all Americans before we are Democrats,Republicans,or independents. I wish Mr. Obama well in his new administration and that he serves to unite the nation to the challenges that face us. In my home state of North Carolina,Republican Elizabeth Dole lost her Senate re-election bid to Democrat Kay Hagan. Mrs.Dole delivered a most eloquent and powerful concession speech by reflecting on her forty-plus years as a public servant and reaffirmed how proud she was being a native North Carolinian. She also wished Kay Hagan well in the Senate seat she will inherit from Mrs.Dole in January. Mrs.Dole's speech made me feel extremely proud to be a North Carolinian. With the election behind us,now we can move forward united and strong.

SPORTS

In college football,the North Carolina Tarheels(6-2 for the season) will play Georgia Tech at Chapel Hill,N.C.,on Saturday. Good luck to the Tarheels after taking last week off.

NFL

The Carolina Panthers (8-4 for the season) play the Raiders at Oakland,Calif.,on Sunday. Good luck to the Panthers.

NASCAR

The next to last race of the NASCAR Sprint Cup season will be run on Sunday at Phoenix International Raceway. Jimmie Johnson is the points leader with Carl Edwards his closest challenger at 106 points behind. Barring engine failure,a poor finish,a win by Edwards,or all of the above,Johnson will likely be one race short at Phoenix of locking up the championship. The season ends next week at Homestead Raceway near Miami.

This is all I have to post this week. Take care and God bless.

Reflections

2008-10-24T20:00:00.001-07:00

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

The North Carolina Tarheels must get their act together after losing at Virginia in overtime last week 16-13. The Tarheels face Boston College at Kenan Stadium in Chapel Hill, N.C., on Saturday. The Tarheels have a 5-2 record for the season. Go Tarheels!!!!

NFL

The Carolina Panthers(7-4) play the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday while the undefeated Tennessee Titans face the Indianapolis Colts on Monday night. While I like the Titans,I also like Peyton Manning,a former Tennessee Volunteer,and the Colts coach Tony Dungy.

NASCAR

The Chase for the Sprint Cup races in Hampton, Ga., this week at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Jimmie Johnson widened his points lead after winning at Martinsville last week. My favorite Chase driver Matt Kenseth garnered an impressive eighth place finish at Martinsville,a track Kenseth says is his least favorite of the Sprint Cup tracks,even after an accidental on track rub with teammate David Ragan. I hope Matt does well at Atlanta also,along with my next favorite Chase driver Greg Biffle. Bobby Labonte has won races at Atlanta. Perhaps he will do it again this time. Friday's qualifying session at Atlanta was rained out so the drivers will start by points with points leader Jimmie Johnson starting first. Go Bobby,Matt,Greg,Jamie McMurray,Elliott Sadler,Denny Hamlin, and all my other favorite drivers!!!! Good luck to home track favorites Bill Elliott, David Ragan, and Reed Sorenson as well!!!!

Sports and Classic TV

2008-10-17T17:58:00.000-07:00

College Football

The Tennessee Volunteers will face Mississippi State in Knoxville,Tenn., on Saturday. OK,Vols,now it's time to kick some tail and start winning. After losing at Georgia last week,the Vols could do with some home cooking and defeating Mississippi State at home would help in a big way. Go Vols!!!!

Meanwhile,the North Carolina Tarheels go into Saturday with a 5-1 record this season. On Saturday,the Tarheels will face Virginia in Charlottesville,Va. Let's make it 6-1. Go Heels!!!!

NFL

The Carolina Panthers play the New Orleans Saints on Sunday,while the Tennessee Titans play the Kansas City Chiefs. Go Panthers and Titans!!!!

NASCAR

This week,the Chase for the Sprint Cup visits Martinsville Speedway in Virginia. Virginia native Denny Hamlin won here in the spring and hopes for a repeat. One of my other favorite drivers,Matt Kenseth,admits that Martinsville is his least favorite track but that notwithstanding,I hope he wins or at least has an excellent finish. I know this was where Kenseth was confronted by teammate Carl Edwards after last year's fall race at this track. Hopefully,there will not be a repeat of that incident. Perhaps Kevin Harvick put Carl Edwards in his place. Good luck to all the drivers this weekend!!!!

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY,I LOVE LUCY!!!!

On October 15,1951,television's best-remembered and most-loved sitcom and one of its most-loved shows,debuted on CBS. "I Love Lucy" was about Ricky Ricardo,a Latin American entertainer,played by Desi Arnaz,and his wife,Lucy,a showbiz wannabe, played by Lucille Ball. Their neighbors,landlords,and close friends were ex-Vaudevillians Fred and Ethel Mertz,played respectively by William Frawley and Vivian Vance. Everybody seems to have a favorite "Lucy" episode. Mine probably is when the Ricardos and Mertzes arrived in Hollywood for Ricky's movie debut. Ricky had to go to the studio while Lucy and the Mertzes dined at the Brown Derby Restaurant,then a well-known Hollywood landmark. There,they encountered actor William Holden,who found privacy hard to come by while a star-struck Lucy stared at him. Holden decided to turn the tables and give Lucy a taste of her own medicine. An embarrassed Lucy and the Mertzes left. As they were leaving,a waiter carrying a pie accidentally tripped over Lucy and hit Mr.Holden in the face with the pie. Later,at the studio,Ricky ran into William Holden. Ricky needed a lift to the hotel and Holden offered Ricky a ride. After returning to the hotel,Ricky informed Lucy that William Holden was sitting in their living room,much to Lucy's horror. After disguising herself so Holden would not recognize her from the Brown Derby, Lucy entered the room wearing glasses,her hair in curlers, and plaster on her nose. When accepting Holden's offer to light her cigarette, he accidentally caught Lucy's nose on fire. I never knew until recently that this was not in the script and that it happened purely by accident but Lucille Ball handled it like a pro and knew how to improvise by putting her nose out in a cup of coffee. Because the scene got so many laughs,it was left in the episode,which was a smart choice. The episode when Lucy and Ethel tried stealing John Wayne's footprints from Grauman's (now Mann's) Chinese Theatre was hilarious as well. Another favorite episode of mine,also from the Hollywood trip, is when Lucy gave the Mertzes the Ricardos' train tickets. When Lucy tries secretly recovering the train tickets from Fred's wallet while Fred is sleeping, Ethel walks in and suspects something between Fred and Lucy,until the Mertzes learn the truth. Though the overwhelming fan favorite seems to be when Lucy got drunk while sampling medicine (Vitavetavegamin). Another classic episode is the birth of son Ricky Ricardo Jr,which coinicided with the birth of Lucy and Desi's second child,Desi Arnaz Jr. This episode drew as much,if not more attention than the inauguration of President Dwight D. Eisenhower the next day.

Lucy and Desi decided to end weekly production of "I Love Lucy" in 1957,despite the fact that the show never fell below second place in the ratings. In the fall of 1957,Lucy and Desi,along with co-stars William Frawley and Vivian Vance,decided to return in a series of occasional hour-long shows,titled "The Lucy/Desi Comedy Hour". These continued until 1960,when Lucy and Desi divorced after nearly 20 years of marriage. After their divorce,Lucy bought Desi's share of Desilu Studios,founded by the couple when they began production on "I Love Lucy". This made Lucille Ball the first woman to own a major Hollywood studio. Desilu went on to produce other TV classics such as "The Untouchables", "The Andy Griffith Show","The Dick Van Dyke Show","Mission: Impossible",and "Star Trek". Ms. Ball sold Desilu to Paramount in 1967. By that time,she had married comedian Gary Morton,while Mr.Arnaz had married Edie Hirsch. Lucy herself had more long-running hits with "The Lucy Show" from 1962 to 1968,in which Ms.Ball co-starred with Vivian Vance,until Ms.Vance left in 1965, and "Here's Lucy", with Ms.Ball's real-life children Lucie Arnaz and Desi Arnaz Jr,from 1968 to 1974. She made a short-lived comeback in 1986 in "Life With Lucy". Desi Arnaz Sr died in 1986 at age 69. Lucille Ball passed away in 1989. She was 77. They are gone,but their wonderful shows live on and keep delighting us every day. No doubt,their shows will entertain future generations. Thanks for the laughs and a lot of wonderful memories,Lucy,Desi,Bill,Vivian,and the rest.

Will the real Carl Edwards,please stand up?

2008-10-10T03:12:00.000-07:00

On Thursday in the garage at Lowe's Motor Speedway,Sprint Cup drivers Kevin Harvick and Carl Edwards got into a scuffle. Edwards was apparently seeking retribution for a comment Harvick made after a massive wreck caused by a move Edwards made during last week's race at Talladega. Harvick said that Edwards drove "like a pansy". After the race, Edwards apparently gave Harvick a note laced with sarcasm and demanded an apology from Harvick. Harvick has stood by his statement and probably more so after Thursday's tussle in the garage.

I have some questions. Why didn't Edwards go to Harvick immediately after the Talladega race and have a face-to-face meeting about Harvick's comment? Why a note? Why did Edwards wait four days to finally confront Harvick about it? Edwards sounds somewhat cowardly in my opinion.

Carl Edwards must develop a thicker skin. When you're in the public eye,you will have your critics,as well as your admirers. I'm not a fan of Edwards or Harvick but Harvick has a right to his opinion. Most NASCAR drivers simply shrug off criticism and move on. Carl Edwards should do likewise.

After last year's post-race altercation with teammate Matt Kenseth at Martinsville as well as other things Edwards has been involved in,I think the nice guy routine is a facade. A darker side of the smiling "aw,shucks" personality is starting to emerge. It seems Edwards carefully plans and scripts things,especially during interviews. Most of what Edwards says and does probably is from the heart,but then who knows? Edwards must better control his emotions if he wants to remain in NASCAR. Other drivers,such as Tony Stewart,have learned that lesson. That's another thing. At least with drivers such as Stewart,Harvick, Kyle Busch,and newcomer Scott Speed, what you see is what you get. They do not hide behind a facade and try being all things to all people. I prefer knowing from the beginning what somebody's true personality is. Edwards would do well by showing the same honesty with his fans. While the aforementioned drivers have had reputations for being brash,Edwards does not necessarily have to be that way himself. All Edwards must do is be himself.

NASCAR 2008: Favoritism,not fairness

2008-10-09T00:16:00.000-07:00

NASCAR really outdid themselves this time. I have often taken stock car racing's sanctioning body to task for their blatant favoritism, but this time they have gone too far.

During last Sunday's Talladega race,it was quite the crashfest as the races there often are. There were at least a couple of big crashes,one of them caused by Carl Edwards,who wrecked two of his Roush Fenway Racing teammates, Greg Biffle and Matt Kenseth. Biffle sounded somewhat conciliatory in his post-crash interview but Kenseth was visibly angry by the look on his face but as always, managed to keep his composure. I have a feeling that bad feelings linger between Kenseth and Edwards after last year's post-race incident at Martinsville when Edwards physically confronted his teammate as Kenseth was starting a post-race interview. Edwards apologized and took responsibility for the accident at Talladega. I just hope that in the future,Edwards thinks before making another costly move.

REGAN SMITH-THE REAL RACE WINNER

Regan Smith was the clear winner of the Talladega race. Smith was attempting to pass Tony Stewart on the final lap for the win. Smith was across the finish line first but then Stewart proceeded to block Smith and almost wrecked him. Even more outrageously,NASCAR declared Stewart the winner. That made a mockery of the whole race. NASCAR has proven again that they have their chosen favorites. Then another unkind cut by NASCAR. They gave Smith an 18th place finish when he should have at the very least been given second place. NASCAR sounded off a bunch of hogwash that Smith had violated the rules by racing below the yellow line. NASCAR must suffer from amnesia,or more likely,hypocrisy. Johnny Benson won a Truck series race in 2007 from below the yellow line. NASCAR themselves have stated that if a driver is below the yellow line on the final lap and can see the checkered flag,that driver is allowed to compete for the win,so according to that interpretation,Smith clearly won the race. NASCAR conveniently manipulates and ignores their own rules to benefit their chosen favorites,of which Tony Stewart is definitely one.

Another thing to consider,Home Depot and Coca Cola,two of Stewart's sponsors,give NASCAR lots of money. NASCAR will do anything to keep their big-money sponsors happy,even manipulate or throw races. Also,PR probably played a big part in NASCAR's decision to give Stewart the win. Look at the headline,"Stewart Finally Wins At Talladega". It makes good press. Also,in Stewart's last season with Joe Gibbs Racing before venturing out on his own,even more icing on the cake. I am in mourning for a once-great sport that has been taken over by greed and favoritism since Brian France took over as Chairman and CEO. If "Big Bill" France and Bill France Jr were still alive,they would probably box Brian's ears. Apparently,only drivers named Tony Stewart,Jeff Gordon,Dale Earnhardt Jr,and Jimmie Johnson are allowed to win races in today's NASCAR. I am not the only person who feels this way. Judging by the letters in this week's NASCAR Scene and most message board posts I've read,many rightly disgruntled and disillusioned fans are ready to throw in the towel. I think this is the last straw for many NASCAR fans,including myself. I'm not sure if I want to give NASCAR another chance. Like the saying goes,fool me once shame on you,fool me twice shame on me. I will not be fooled again by those who run today's NASCAR.

UPDATE: It appears Dale Earnhardt Jr agrees with me. Earnhardt Jr said that Regan Smith won the race at Talladega. Smith drives for Dale Earnhardt Incorporated,founded by Earnhardt Jr's father. This is a bold move for Junior,considering he is buddies with Tony Stewart,who was declared the race winner by NASCAR. Way to go,Junior,for recognizing the real race winner and doing the right thing.

Another weekend

2008-10-03T22:50:00.000-07:00

Just some things I want to make note of.
Another classic TV anniversary: On October 4, 1957, "Leave it to Beaver" debuted on CBS. This was a classic family sitcom about the trials and adventures faced by Theodore "Beaver" Cleaver (played by Jerry Mathers) and his older brother Wally (played by Tony Dow). Their understanding,but stern parents were mother June (Barbara Billingsley)and father Ward (Hugh Beaumont). I first watched this show in reruns as a kid in the '70s and enjoyed the '80s revival("Still The Beaver"/"The New Leave it to Beaver")as well. I still watch the reruns when I can. The writing,the acting,and the child actors just being kids on and off the set added to its appeal. Many of the adventures Wally and the Beaver had,my younger brother and I could relate to. Of course,for every hero,there is a villain,and in the case of "Leave it to Beaver",it was Eddie Haskell,who was Wally's pal and Beaver's nemesis,and whose phony charm June and Ward could see right through. This charming and warm series is still so wonderful to watch,as the acting,writing,and stories of childhood,even more than half a century after the show's debut, remain timeless. Viewers learned and still learn valuable lessons about life without too many lectures. A little bit of history tied in with "Leave it to Beaver": The show debuted on the day Russia launched Sputnik,the first artificial satellite. The last network broadcast of "Leave it to Beaver"(0n ABC,where the series moved in 1958)was just over two months before JFK's assassination. Also,the source of the title was believed to have been based on an early '50s sitcom "Leave it to Larry",starring Eddie Albert(later of "Green Acres" fame).

OK,Vols,Kick Some Tail This Week

This week my beloved Tennessee Volunteers play at home in a non-conference game against Northern Illinois. After losing three of the season's first four football games,the Vols need a win and need it now. A 1-3 record in football? This is not the Vol team I know. I hope Coach Fulmer and the team get their act together the rest of the season. Go Vols!!!!

The UNC Tarheels seem to be having a good football season so far. Go out there and win on Saturday!!!!

In the NFL,I hope the Panthers and the Titans win their games on Sunday. Go Panthers!!!! Go Titans!!!!

NASCAR

Talladega is the place this week as the Chase for the Sprint Cup heads to NASCAR's biggest track. Jimmie Johnson is the points leader right now,though I hope he's overtaken by Carl Edwards. My advice to Bobby Labonte, Matt Kenseth,Greg Biffle,Jeff Burton,Elliott Sadler,Jamie McMurray, Casey Mears, Clint Bowyer,Denny Hamlin,and all my other favorite drivers,stay as far away from the big wrecks as you can. Godspeed,gentlemen!!!!

Farewell,Mr.Newman

2008-09-29T17:06:00.000-07:00

Last Friday,we lost a great actor,a humanitarian,a gentleman,and a wonderful human being with the passing of Paul Newman. Mr.Newman was an Oscar-winning actor who delivered many brilliant performances. His best remembered roles include playing a convict in "Cool Hand Luke",his role in "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid",in which he co-starred with his pal Robert Redford,and co-starred with Redford in "The Sting". Mr.Newman also delivered what was regarded by many as a powerful performance in "The Verdict".

Another thing and perhaps more importantly,what Mr.Newman will be well remembered for is his charitable contributions. 100 percent of the proceeds from his Newman's Own food products went to charity,most notably the Hole In The Wall Gang camps,one of which is the Petty family's NASCAR themed Victory Junction Gang Camp in North Carolina, which was a dream of Adam Petty,a young NASCAR driver who perished in an on-track accident in 2000. Adam was a son of Kyle Petty,grandson of Richard Petty,and great-grandson of Lee Petty,all NASCAR drivers. VJGC opened in 2004 and now a second camp is planned in Kansas.

Mr.Newman was a lifelong racing fan and owned a racing team. He enjoyed associating with drivers and other team owners. He was also a devoted family man,married to actress Joanne Woodward for 50 years. Rest in peace,Paul Newman,and God bless you.

Sports Weekend

2008-09-26T15:52:00.000-07:00

College Football

I hope the North Carolina Tarheels(2-1)get their act together as well after losing at home to Virginia Tech last week. This week,the Heels play Miami,a football powerhouse on Miami's home turf so UNC has their work cut out for them. Realistically, I pick Miami to win.

NFL

The Carolina Panthers play Atlanta. Good luck to the Panthers as they face the Falcons.

NASCAR

This week,Kansas Motor Speedway will have the Nationwide and Sprint Cup series races. Greg Biffle won the first two races in the Chase for the Sprint Cup and is the defending winner in the Kansas race,a win challenged by runner-up and Kansas native Clint Bowyer last year. Kansas is not a nail-biting track like Dover,Bristol,or Martinsville. It's more like Auto Club(California) or Chicagoland Speedway in that once the lead is taken by a driver,it's hard for other drivers to make a challenge or pass for the win. Matt Kenseth is my favorite Chase driver but if it's not Kenseth then I hope it's 3 in a row for Biffle. My pick to win: Biffle,with Bowyer a strong second choice. I think Tony Stewart is a strong possibility as well ,coming close three weeks ago at Richmond. Have a great weekend,everybody.

57 States?

2008-09-23T21:04:00.000-07:00

I received a most interesting e-mail today. I normally don't write politically-themed blogs but I felt the need to make an exception in this case. Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama has said that he plans on campaigning in all 57 states. When did the nation gain another seven states? It was pointed out by Rush Limbaugh that since former Vice President Dan Quayle misspelled "potato",we still hear jokes about it. Mr. Quayle's intellect was openly questioned,yet when Senator Obama makes a big gaffe,he's just "tired" from the long campaign. It raises even more legitimate questions about Obama's competence to be President. This tops the gaffe made by actress and pro-abortion activist Raquel Welch on "Larry King Live" years ago when she insisted there were 52 states,one of them Chicago. Here is an interesting fact that might give us some idea what runs through Barack Obama's mind. It turns out there are 57 Islamic states in the world. Could it be that Obama was thinking about the Islamic states instead of the United States? It should be noted that this comes on the heels of a speech during Obama's much ballyhooed tour of Europe and the Middle East,when he openly criticized the United States in a speech in Berlin. Something else to think about,ladies and gentlemen.

WOW!!!!

2008-09-22T22:14:00.000-07:00

What a race. I was so certain that Matt Kenseth at long last would finally win a race this year but in the last few laps in Sunday's race at Dover,Delaware, Kenseth was overtaken by his teammate Greg Biffle for the win. Matt is my second favorite driver,after my sentimental favorite Bobby Labonte. Much as I wanted Matt to win,I am happy for Greg,as he is my next favorite driver after Matt. The post-race comments made by both drivers indicate how much Greg and Matt respect and admire each other and that they are teammates in every sense and truly believe in teamwork. Carl Edwards deserves kudos as well as he helped keep his Roush Fenway Racing teammates in the lead and could have easily won himself. Carl now has the points lead. Unlike many recent races,the Dover race kept me glued to the TV,and cheering for my driver to win. Congratulations to Greg Biffle and the number 16 team for a whale of a race and a well-deserved win,making it Biffle's second consecutive win in the Chase for the Sprint Cup.

NASCAR and Classic TV

2008-09-19T16:30:00.000-07:00

NASCAR,The Chase,Part 2

This week,the 12 competitors in the 2008 Chase for the Sprint Cup and 31 other drivers will race at Dover International Raceway in Delaware. While Greg Biffle is no doubt riding high from his win at New Hampshire,I'm sure he knows that one race win does not a championship make. As Jeff Burton noted,do not count Kyle Busch out. While Busch had a bad race at New Hampshire,he could make a strong comeback at Dover. Busch is still a force to be reckoned with. I notice now that Bill Kimm has decided to count Matt Kenseth out. Just a minute,Mr.Kimm. All Kenseth needs is a win or two and some top 5 or 10 finishes and he's a contender for the championship. It's too early to count anybody out. Good luck to Matt Kenseth,along with my sentimental favorite Bobby Labonte and others too numerous to mention in this blog.

HAPPY BELATED ANNIVERSARIES

"The Waltons" debuted on CBS on September 14,1972. "The Waltons" was a show filled with love,warmth,compassion for others,and the importance of faith,family,and community and a family enduring the trials of the Great Depression and World War II. It is a shame that these values have long since disappeared from prime time TV. In its beginning,nobody gave "The Waltons" a chance against two extremely popular shows, Flip Wilson on NBC,and "The Mod Squad" on ABC,yet the "little show that could" forced their competition off the air and secured a top 20 by the end of its first season. "The Waltons" scored as high as second in the Nielsen ratings and spawned a new genre,the family drama,with other shows such as "Little House on the Prairie",which debuted on NBC in 1974 and embraced values similar to "The Waltons",though in an earlier time,in the 1870s and 1880s,and based on author Laura Ingalls Wilder's childhood,as "The Waltons" was based on the youth of its creator Earl Hamner Jr. Even after series star Richard Thomas ("John-Boy") left "The Waltons" in 1977, the show continued until CBS cancelled it in 1981. The later years also saw a prolonged absence by Ellen Corby("Grandma") after she suffered a stroke and returned to the series a year and a half later, and the death of Will Geer("Grandpa") in 1978 after filming had concluded on the sixth season. There were reunion movies filmed in the 1980s and 1990s. The show remains popular in reruns and is shown on the Hallmark channel.

On September 17,1964,"Bewitched" debuted on ABC. This was a magical sitcom about a witch,Samantha,played by Elizabeth Montgomery,who fell in love with mortal Darrin Stephens,an ad exec(played by Dick York and later Dick Sargent),and married him. Samantha had a bevy of relatives who popped in,including her mother Endora(played by the brilliant actress Agnes Moorehead),who strongly disapproved of her daughter's mortal marriage,her father Maurice(played by the magnificent Shakespearean actor Maurice Evans),who was not overly thrilled about having a mortal son-in-law either. Though there were relatives more supportive of Samantha and who liked Darrin,including Aunt Clara(played by comic actress Marion Lorne,who passed away after the fourth season),Uncle Arthur,Endora's practical-joking brother,played by actor/comedian Paul Lynde,and Samantha's look-alike cousin Serena,also played by Elizabeth Montgomery. Over the show's eight seasons,there were many changes,such as the birth of two children,witch daughter Tabitha,and son Adam,who showed some magical abilities in one episode in the final season. In 1969,Dick York left the series after collapsing on the set due to a dependence on pain-killers,on which he started after injuring his back on the set of a movie,resulting in back pain he suffered the rest of his life,until his death in 1992. Dick Sargent replaced York as Darrin. In 1991,Sargent publicly admitted he was gay and in 1994,died from complications resulting from AIDS. Elizabeth Montgomery,the show's star and daughter of screen legend Robert Montgomery,died in 1995 and is still loved by millions of fans worldwide. Ms.Montgomery had her star unveiled on the Hollywood Walk of Fame earlier this year. At the time "Bewitched" was filmed,Ms.Montgomery was, in real-life, married to its executive producer William Asher,whose previous experience includes working as a director/producer on "I Love Lucy". "Bewitched" is shown on WGN weekdays at 9:00 AM Eastern time. I wish though that WGN would show all eight seasons and not start with season three,the first season filmed in color. I am glad though that it's still being shown someplace. I plan on buying the DVDs,along with DVDs of "The Waltons","Little House on the Prairie",and my sci-fi favorites.

Breakaway, NASCAR,and more

2008-09-12T00:50:00.000-07:00

REMEMBERING MOONBASE ALPHA

If you are a fan of the 1970s science fiction series "Space:1999" as I am, then you know that on the show,a catastrophic nuclear explosion ripped the Moon from Earth orbit on September 13, 1999, on the show's first episode,appropriately titled "Breakaway". I saw it as an 11-year-old when the British series made its American television debut in 1975, starring then husband and wife actors Martin Landau and Barbara Bain (both of "Mission:Impossible" fame). This was not long after the Apollo Moon missions of 1969 and the early 1970s so the idea of having a fully operational Moonbase by 1999 was not inconceivable by some in the early 1970s. On every episode, the lunar castaways found the Moon orbiting new planets and encountering new civilizations. While some argued in the 1970s that "Space: 1999" was a ripoff of "Star Trek",I beg to differ. If anything,"Space:1999" is a tribute to "Star Trek" and its legacy of encouraging space exploration. Martin Landau,who played Moonbase Commander John Koenig on "Space: 1999", was Gene Roddenberry's first choice to play Mr.Spock on "Star Trek". The part went to Leonard Nimoy as Landau was starring on "Mission:Impossible" with then wife Barbara Bain.

Nine years have passed since the real 1999 and still no Moonbase,though a documentary I recently saw on You Tube says that NASA should have a Moonbase up and running by 2024. I pray it happens,without the nuclear waste and the nuclear explosion of course.

LET THE CHASE BEGIN

NASCAR's much ballyhooed Chase for the Sprint Cup begins this week at New Hampshire International Raceway as the top 12 drivers will compete for the Sprint Cup championship. Kyle Busch leads in the points. Carl Edwards poses a strong challenge to Busch. The drivers are divided by 10 points each,starting with Busch at the top. While I have never been much of a fan of the Chase since its inception, I have begrudgingly learned to live with it and one of my favorite drivers,Matt Kenseth,happens to be in the Chase so I hope he ends up winning it all. Whoever your favorite driver is and whether or not he's in the Chase,I hope you enjoy the race.

PERSPECTIVE

Remember in your thoughts and prayers the 3,000 men and women who lost their lives in the terrorist attacks on our nation on September 11,2001. Let us not rest until those responsible for this evil,cowardly act are brought to justice. God bless America!!!!

Also,my thoughts and prayers are with those on the Gulf coast as Hurricane Ike comes ashore. My sister lives in Houston so it's even more personal for me. Talk to you soon. God bless.