Sports Notes

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.

Election 2008

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.

Sports Weekend

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.