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.
Monday, January 12, 2009
Saturday, December 27, 2008
2008: A Look Back
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 .
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 .
Sunday, December 21, 2008
Sports Notes
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.
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.
Saturday, December 20, 2008
A Very Merry Christmas!!!!
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.
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.
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Thanksgiving
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.
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.
Sunday, November 16, 2008
The 2008 NASCAR Season
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".
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".
Friday, November 7, 2008
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
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.
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