Back To The Track

Okay, so I’ve been MIA for a while… Sorry. I’ve been having a whole lot of grief on my own site that I was only able to post 6 times last week but I do believe that’s all behind us now. So let’s get back to racing.

On the docket, IRL.

No usually I don’t pay any attention to this crap because it’s basically NASCRAP without fenders but since they have merged with the Champ Car series, I’ll give em a little ink, but just a little until they get to a road course.

Here’s the top ten from Saturday’s opening weekend at Homestead Florida. 4 of the 8 Champ Teams finished with 3 out due mechanicals and 1 to an incident.

1	Scott Dixon Target Chip Ganassi Racing	9	D/H/F	1	213.341	200	3	67	Running	50
3	Dan Wheldon Target Chip Ganassi Racing	10	D/H/F	22	0.000	200	3	9	Running	35
5	Ed Carpenter Menards/ Vision Racing	20	D/H/F	24	0.000	199	0	0	Running	30
7	Ryan Hunter-Reay Rahal Letterman Racing Team Ethanol	17	D/H/F	9	210.744	199	0	0	Running	26
9	A.J. Foyt IV Vision Racing	2	D/H/F	25	0.000	198	0	0	Running	22

The best part about IRL Racing is still………

Danica Patrick

On the motorcycle front, MotoGP was going strong in Jerez Spain with Honda’s Dani Pedrosa taking an early lead and pulling away to stomp on Italy’s favorite son, Valentino Rossi. Nick Hayden was the first American to cross the line in 4th. My guy, Casey Stoner on the Ducati, went soil sampling twice and finished a disappointing 11th. Bummer.

The results:

1	Dani Pedrosa	Repsol Honda Team	Honda
2	Valentino Rossi	Fiat Yamaha Team	Yamaha
3	Jorge Lorenzo	Fiat Yamaha Team	Yamaha
4	Nicky Hayden	Repsol Honda Team	Honda
5	Loris Capirossi	Rizla Suzuki MotoGP	Suzuki
6	James Toseland	Yamaha Tech 3	Yamaha
7	John Hopkins	Kawasaki Racing Team	Kawasaki
8	Andrea Dovizioso	JiR Scot Team	Honda
9	Shinya Nakano	San Carlo Honda Gresini	Honda
10	Chris Vermeulen	Rizla Suzuki MotoGP	Suzuki
11	Casey Stoner	Ducati Marlboro Team	Ducati
12	Marco Melandri	Ducati Marlboro Team	Ducati
13	Anthony West	Kawasaki Racing Team	Kawasaki
14	Alex De Angelis	San Carlo Honda Gresini	Honda
15	Toni Elias	Alice Team	Ducati
16	Sylvain Guintoli	Alice Team	Ducati

I don’t normally watch the 250cc class because I just don’t have that kind of time (the wife won’t let me) but I managed to see the final laps of yesterday’s race in Jerez which saw the 2 riders fighting for the lead crash out on the last lap handing the lead and the win to the guy who was to finish third. It was quite the exciting finish.

Until next week…….

UPDATE: The results table for the IRL isn’t looking so hot….Danica finished 6th.

Good Times…

I am happy to report no one was injured, hospitalized, or arrested in the making of a kickass weekend party that started Friday night, and concluded last night around 5 or so…

Ah the stories that could be told, if we didn’t all agree to follow the “what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas” theme.. Good times, and a lifetime of memories!!!

Road Trip…

The corner is packing up and heading to Austin for the weekend.. It is very doubtful that any posts will be done until late Sunday night.. Possibly Monday morning pending upon how brutal 6th street is to us.. 😉

Calling In A Favor…

 

Hey, its the Rangers.. they need all the help they can get!

No Regrets?

In Pacman Jones latest efforts to play for the Cowboys.. he was in Dallas yesterday, not to meet with the Cowboys.. but to appear as a guest on Michael Irvin’s radio show. I have already let it be known that I do not support bringing Pacman Jones to Dallas to join my beloved Cowboys. Some of Pacman’s comments just pushed me over the top.

When asked about Pacmans repeated trips to the strip clubs, even after being suspended.. Pacman said that it was a stupid mistake, I have made alot of stupid mistakes over the last year or so, I pray to god I get a second chance, I have no regrets..

Ok.. lets break this down shall we..

1. You visiting strip clubs even after being suspended was stupid.. Gee ya think? You obviously can not just walk into a strip club, order a drink.. watch the girls shake some ass and leave. You and you pose have to make it known you are there.. and it never fails.. there is always trouble..

2. You pray to god that you will get a second chance? Last time I checked you had already been given a second chance by not only the Titans, but the league itself.. Nice way to play the god card thou.. Course Michael Vick played that card as well, and look what happened to him.

3. You have no regrets? This was my personal favorite.. So you mean to tell me that you don’t feel bad about the shooting at a strip club that left a security guard in a wheelchair? You don’t feel bad for the shame you not only brought yourself, but brought to the entire Titans organization? You sir, and I use that term extremely loosely.. are a piece of work.. actually you are a piece of s**t, a complete waste of space, and even less of a human being.

Why Jerry Jones is even considering bringing Pacman Jones to the Cowboys is beyond me. Is Jerry so consumed by winning that he doesn’t care about the image of the team? Wait don’t answer that.. We already know the answer to that question. It gets harder and harder with each passing day, or troubled player signed to defend my team. Terrell Owens was brought in after destroying two other teams, and for the most part has been a model player.. and a positive influence in the locker room. Tank Johnson was brought mid last season, and has been the poster child for rehabilitated players. Now for both above mentioned players, their changed attitudes could be because they actually wanted to change to be a better person, or they realize this is their last stop, and the last attempt at a paycheck in the NFL.

If Pacman comes to Dallas.. that will truly be a dark day in franchise history. Even more so then the fumbled snap in Seattle, or the home lost in the playoffs last season after a 13-3 season. As I have said before Jerry Jones is testing the limits of Cowboy fans by the minute.. This could actually send some over the top..

*EDIT* There has been some confusion about the “no regret” comment because it is not in the article I linked.. I heard the interview on Sportscenter.. The no regret comment was something Jones told Irvin live on the air…

Finger Pointing Round 2

Vindicated: Big Names, Big Liars, and The Battle to Save Baseball, is the latest installment in Jose Canseco’s efforts to try and clean up steroid use in baseball. His first book was a real eye opener for the baseball world.. Canseco while the only real finger pointer with any kind of credibility called out players like Mark McGuire, Sammy Sosa, and Pudge Rodriguez. None of the players he mentioned came as any surprise to fans.. With the Mitchell Report now out, Roger Clemens, Andy Pettitte, and Barry Bonds at the forefront of most steroid conversations in the media and among fans.. I only have one question “Who Cares”?

Do we as fans really care who is in this latest book? Do we really care that Canseco introduced Alex Rodriguez to a known steroid dealer.. Better question is do we as fans really care that Alex Rodriguez had a thing for Caseco’s wife? Canseco has already admitted when the first book was released that he didn’t point fingers at certain people because they were friends of his. So basically this makes me wonder how much money have “friends” paid him to keep their names under the radar of Canseco’s finger pointing?

This is the time of year when fans should be celebrating opening day, pondering pitching rotations, and team lineups.. Not continuing to relive the cloud of steroid use in baseball.. We all know there is a problem.. Hopefully Bud Selig will take the necessary steps, and follow the advice given by not only Senator Mitchell, but congress to clean up Americas favorite past time..

Teams announced for the 2008 Tour de France

The Tour de France organizers have announced the teams which have been invited to participate in this years race.  The field will consist of 20 teams.  Each team will choose 9 riders to participate in the event, creating a total of 180 riders competing for the valued yellow jersey.  Even though the teams have been named, the riders have not.  Two riders that are noticeably missing, though, are Alberto Contador and Levi Leipheimer, 1st and 3rd place in the Tour de France last year.  Last year they rode for Team Discovery Channel, but their new team, Team Astana, was not included meaning the previous winner will not be allowed to defend his title.

I have watched the last several years cheering for The Discover Channel cycling team (formally the Postal Service cycling team) as the only US representative team in the race.  This year, despite the Discovery Channel team disbanding, the US will now be represented by 2 teams.

First, there is Team High Road.  They were formally the T-Mobile cycling team based out of Germany, but after T-Mobile withdrew as a sponsor, the team moved their headquarters to California and continued under the name High Road.  In my opinion, they are not as strong as they use to be, but they are not to be dismissed.  I am hoping to at least see George Hincapie and Michael Rogers riding from this team.  Both are extremely strong.  George has participated in a number of Tour de Frances already, and I am certain Michael Rogers would like to take another shot after having to drop out last year due to injury.  For Team High Road, I am also expecting to see Bradley Wiggins as well as Linus Gerdemann, who was the top rider for the T-Mobile team last year.

The other American team to participate is the Slipstream/Chipotle H30 cycling team.  I am extremely excited for them.  Until this year, they were just an American continental cycling team, meaning they would only participate in events held in the U.S.  They decided to move up this year to compete on the international level, attempting to fill the void left by Team Discovery Channel.   They have already been making their presence known in events already.  I am not certain they have the talent to win the race, but I would still consider them a threat.  The riders I really hope to see participate in the Tour de France from Slipstream would be David Zabriske, Christian Vande Velde, and David Millar.  Millar is the current British road cycling champion and Zabriske is the current US time trial champion.  I watched the 3 of them in the Tour of California a little while ago, and I think they work really well together.  Mix in Tyler Farrar with them along with Danny Pate to throw out on some flyers, and you have a good start.

Other than that, teams from 8 other countries will be included. Gerolsteiner and Milram from Germany, Quickstep and Silence – Lotto from Belgium, CSC from Denmark, Caisse d’Epargne, Euskaltel – Euskadi, and Saunier Duval – Scott from Spain, Bouygues Telecom, Credit Agricole, Cofidis Le credit par telephone, Francaise Des Jeux, AG2R – La Mondiale, and Agritubel from France, Barloworld from Great Britain, Lampre and Liquigas from Italy, and Rabobank from the Netherlands.

My Saturday Night…

So Thursday while siting at work, I got an email from the owner of my company inviting me out to his house on Saturday night.. he was doing a firewalk. Now for those of you who may not know, I started doing firewalks last year in in New York.. Some would say I’m crazy for walking across 1600 degree coals.. I say “BRING IT ON”!! I gladly accepted the invitation.. and off I go. Now when I get there.. he has other activities for us to do other then the firewalk.. Now some of these I was unsure about. We start the night off by walking a path of broken glass.. *looks around nervously* I have no problem doing firewalks.. but the thought of walking across broken glass actually concerned me..

Now when I approach the path of broken glass.. the owner of my company tells me, “This is not like the firewalk, take your time” Gee ya think?? This was an exercises in patience, and complete focus.. You have to take your time, use your sense of touch, to feel out for sharp points, and you must be able to focus on the task at hand, and block out the fact that glass is cracking, and breaking under your feet.. *No piggies were harmed in this event*

Now that was fun 🙂

Next exercises in focus was wood breaking.. I did not snap pictures of this event.. I wasn’t really thinking about it.. Most people would say.. “Woohoo, you broke a board”.. Now if you break say a 2-3 inch piece of concrete. then I’ll be impressed.. Well it just so happens.. that was the next event 🙂

Now while listening to Charles *owner* telling us how to accomplish this.. all I could do is thing.. Umm yeah.. I can’t do that.. Then he said something that changed my thought process.. He said it doesn’t matter how strong you are.. This is completely a focus exercise… Some of you will be able to do this, some of you will not.. Then he proceeds to step up, focus.. and destroys the brick in front of him.. Then he asked who was next.. After a few people went up.. he called my name, and asked if I was ready to do this.. I looked at him, and said.. What the hell.. Ill try it.. You’ll understand if I don’t come in to work Monday, due to a broken hand right? He was mildly amused.. See results of this exercise below

This is truly a focus exercise.. Focus thru your goal.. *No hand was harmed in this exercise*

The next exercise was breaking an arrow with your throat.. I figure if I could bend a piece of re-barb with my throat a few months ago, breaking an arrow was no big deal.. Simply place the point of the arrow in the softest part of your throat, place the other end up against the wall, focus.. and walk towards the wall.. Arrow should snap like a twig.. *No throat was harmed in this exercise* Thou I will admit my throat is abit sore the day after..

Now on to the fun part.. The firewalk.. This is a spiritual thing to me.. I feel like it cleanses my soul of negative thoughts, and bad mojo so to speak.. After doing a firewalk, I always feel clear headed, and refreshed..

Every good firewalk begins with huge 12ft flame 🙂

The path being set up..

Once again some would say I’m crazy.. I say BRING IT ON!!!!! I have attended 3 firewalks in the last year, and have walked over 30 times.. It’s always a wonderful experience..

*No piggies were burnt in this exercise*

Pacman Survey Results..

Here are your results for the “Will Pacman play in Dallas” survey..

Once again were split between Yes, and God I hope not..

The rumor mill is turning about Pacman and the Cowboys having a contract in place, The Titans and Cowboys in negotiations for a trade.. ect, ect, ect..

Stay tuned for more info..

Now in honor of March Madness.. new poll question will be placed up concerning the tournament..

Need A Car Destroyed??

Seems that strength coach Tim Buss needed a new car.. Some of the Cubs players had no problem destroying his car in the parking lot.. Baseball bats to windows, dents, broken glass, the whole nine yards.. When Buss saw his car.. the first thing he thought about after the anger set in.. “How am I going to explain this to my wife”.. 🙂

The players were nice enough to have a brand new SUV waiting on the coach.. I saw this line on another site.. and had to steal it..

*Kerry Wood’s had nothing to do with the bashing of the coaches car.. as he has not shown up on the DL yet” 😉