The 43 Days of Daytona - 24th Place in 2005

Over the 43 days leading up to the Daytona 500, I'll be doing a short review/preview of the Top 43 Drivers of 2005.

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Bobby Labonte
#43 - General Mills-Cheerios / Betty Crocker

Bobby ran a full season in the #18-Joe Gibbs Racing-Interstate Batteries Chevy. He had 4 Top 5's, 7 Top 10's, and no poles. His average start was 22.1. His average finish was 22.7. He finished 24th and posted winnings of $4,627,400.

He lost the ride in the #18 because the bar is set so high. He had a decent season, not the greatest by any stretch. But the fact that he and Tony Stewart were in similar equipment and had such disparate results signed the end of his time with Joe Gibbs Racing, where he had the best run of his career.

He landed with the Pettys in the legendary #43 car. I have high hopes for this team this season.

Pairing Bobby Labonte with Todd Parrott is a good thing, a very good thing. Add Robbie Loomis to the Petty Racing Family as Executive Vice President of Racing Operations and this could be a very, very good thing.

The ingredients are there. Let's see if the cooking comes out well.

Will sponsorship be big enough to allow the team to field a car every week? Yes.

Do I think he could go win a championship? No. There is a lot of talent involved...but no.

Do I think he could win a race or two and have a good season? Yes. Absolutely.

Writing: The State of the Union

On the fan fic front:

I have written 10 issues of JLU-2001's Aquaman. I have stubbed plots and ideas that should carry me through #25 or #30 on the title. I'll be reassessing as I go along on whether I still have the fire to keep going. Curt likes it and he's in charge over there, so that's what counts.

I recently announced on the DC Heroes list that I would be continuing The Birds and The Bees and The Replacements.

I plan on completing the story arc on Birds and, then, closing it down. This is a step down from the reality hopping epic that this was originally supposed to be. Although every time I think about Malachai Dunkin, the South African Boer, extra-dimensional analog of mainstream, African American Mal Duncan, I do think of how the story could carry on. We'll see. By the time I really get around to having my fingers dancing across the keyboard, I may have changed my mind again.

On The Replacements, I have an idea to write it as a mirror to modern DCU continuity. It launched out of the Obsidian Age. Now, I want to have all the major DCU events since that occurrence touch on the stories I tell as I bring it forward alongside mainstream DCU continuity, written as if it were taking place congruently with the events depicted in the comics. It is an exciting time to be a DC Comics fan and some good things have happened over the last couple of months. I think this would be big fun to write...just hope it is as much fun to read.

I agreed to come onboard with Barry Reese and co-plot/co-write AntMan at Av2k. We seem to be getting off to a very slow start. If anybody has a lot of irons in the fire, it is Barry. I hope we can pull this together, cause Barry's AntMan is a good horror comic in the superhero vein and I would love to get my hands on the concept.

I have considered returning to the Twice Told Tales format that I used to retell the Destruction of Krypton. Originally, I planned to use that format to tell various origin tales and important tales from a new perspective, but lately, I have been thinking about doing another Superman/boy tale. Maybe have this one focus on the Kryptonite Kid coming to Earth...not much more to the idea than that currently. This is still just the germ of an idea.

I want to get the Smoking Lamps up and running again. I always seem to go in fits and starts on them.

Novel ideas:

It was pointed out that I seem to write political structures and strictures fairly well. I have a novel idea that would make use of that. We'll have to see where it goes from here.

1st Anniversary

Cigar Smoke's first anniversary has come and gone with little fan fare.

A year of posts.

A year of delving into the mind and psyche of a neo-redneck, modern Southern Democrat with conservative leanings.

A year of raving.

A year of things that make you go hmmm, or ick, or wow, or what in the hell were they thinking.

A year.

Life changed a lot in this year.

My money is on life changing even more next year.

Peace.

$36 Billion

Even with gas prices coming back down some over the last quarter of 2005, Exxon-Mobil went on to post the biggest profits ever by a U.S. Corporation.

[Warning: Heavy Sarcasm Ahead]

But there's no price gouging...

No...

Not at all...

Didn't think it for a minute.

Tell me the one again about oil and gas prices not impacting the overall economy. Eventually, the higher prices have to impact spending on all other aspects of American life.

Sigh!

I just realized that the Rubic's Cube that I have been messing with off and on for 2 weeks now has had the stickers rearranged.

I need a blue corner piece to finish the blue side. And the only blue piece on another side is the one in the middle of a side.

Wonder how many of the other stickers the kids have moved around.

Sigh!

Paul Dini Interview...And Now...The End is Near...So Now I Face...The Final Curtain

The Justice League Unlimited cartoon is apparently over.

There are still some episodes in the can that will air over the next couple of months. And some of them sound pretty damned cool.

But it's still a shame. This was a damn good cartoon.

Commentary about Comments

People don't generally comment on Blogs. Not unless you hit on a hot button issue. I've seen a hot button issue take over a blog or two.

The Countess's blog is threatened with being swept under by the tidal wave of divorced mother's rights vs. divorced father's rights. It is a great blog though. I visit regularly. She takes steps regularly to bring other things to the table in addition to the social debate shaping up on her blog among other places.

In comic book circles, that hot button issue is the current Infinite Crisis going on in DC Comics. It is featured on a bunch of blogs right now. Surprisingly, Marvel's House of M seems to be getting little play in the blogosphere...or at least in the parts of the blogosphere that I cruise around in.

While not a hot button issue, my current project, the 43 Days of Daytona, is taking up 43 posts between now and the middle of February. The Life's Tough series will run for while as well. And there are constant posts regarding the Longhorns, Packers, the Super Bowl, and NASCAR, in addition to the 43 Days Special Feature.

The only way you can tell if people are looking at your blog is through the usage of Counters.

A percentage of my hits seem to come from South America and Southeast Asia. I don't understand what the attraction and interest in my blog is from those regions of the world. It just doesn't seem to fit. Even though, I'm a Democrat...well, an Independent with Democratic leanings, my blog is largely Red Meat, Red Neck, Red State oriented with a little bit of social conscience thrown in.

HA! I should put that on a t-shirt. Wonder if I could sell any of them in the run up to the next election. Red Meat! Redneck! Red State! With the alternate being Blue Crab! Blueblood! Blue State!

I saw where one blogger managed to get more eyes on his blog just by including the words Jodie Sweeten or alternately Jodie Sweetin. You remember her she was the cute middle daughter on the TV sitcom Full House that launched the Olsen Twins into public consciousness.

The Leaning Tower of Favre...Sometimes 1 Way...Sometimes the Other

ESPN has an interview running this morning that makes it sound like Brett Favre is leaning heavily toward retirement.

If so, Godspeed and thanks.

If not, let's go win some football games next year.

Whichever, c'mon Packers. Let's get it on.

He has to make up his mind soon. The Packers management can't remain in limbo about what their future plans are. Although considering how they have managed the team over the last few years, I wonder if they can rebuild under the current regime without even bigger house cleaning going on rather than just a coaching staff shakeup like what happened after Mike Sherman was fired.

We're either building for the future or we're trying to win a championship next year. But we have to know which way Favre is going to jump.

Sigh...just listened to a rerun of the interview with ESPN. He said, "Its crunch time. Two minutes left. Do I want the ball? I don't know."

That was an honest answer. That's rare in sport and news. It makes it sound like he has lost the fire.

On ESPN, they have been talking about Favre's possibly positioning himself to play for another team for a season or two so he doesn't have to deal with the mess that the Packer front office has made of the team up there. And a suggestion came across that I hadn't considered before. I've heard the Dallas suggestion and the New Orleans. The new one that I hadn't heard before was Miami.

And, big Packer fan that I am, I realized that that one didn't bother me near as much as the idea of his playing in that hole in New Orleans or for the "It's all about Bill" Dallas Cowboys. Brett Favre wouldn't mix with Parcells at all...and besides I think Bledsoe has shown that he can still play and deserves the opportunity to do so in Dallas.

The 43 Days of Daytona - 25th Place in 2005

Over the 43 days leading up to the Daytona 500, I'll be doing a short review/preview of the Top 43 Drivers of 2005.

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Michael Waltrip
#55 - NAPA

He ran a full season in the #15-DEI-NAPA Chevy. He had 3 Top 5's, 7 Top 10's, and 1 pole. His average start was 26.6. His average finish was 23.4. He finished 25th and posted winnings of $4,251,099.

Those numbers look pretty good. But...but, they weren't good enough for The Powers That Be at Dale Earnhardt, Incorporated. DEI did not offer Michael a contract for next season. I don't understand that. Great spokesman. Good driver. Great with the sponsors. Time will tell if they made the right decision letting him go and filling his roster spot with Martin Truex Jr.

Bill Davis Racing recognized a good opportunity when it presented itself and signed him. And surprise, surprise, surprise, the majority of Waltrip's sponsors went with him to BDR. The way the deals worked out, effectively, Waltrip is driving for Michael Waltrip Racing and they are in partnership with both BDR and Bawell, who co-owned the #77-Jasper/Penske South car last year.

An announcement has come down that Bill Davis Racing and Team Red Bull will run Toyota Camrys in the 2007 season. This further positions Waltrip to move his Busch team to Toyotas and expand his role. With this announcement, you have to wonder how much factory support BDR and MWR are going to enjoy this season in the Dodge Chargers they will be running.

Next year when the jump to Toyota Camrys happens, Michael Waltrip Racing is supposed to field multiple cars including the #55-NAPA Camry. MWR has hired Larry Carter and Ty Norris away from DEI.

SIDEBAR: DEI is looking less and less like the company that Dale Earnhardt founded. I hope they don't screw it up by trying to make it into Dale Earnhardt Jr. Inc.

All these things are good for Michael and good for racing. There need to be more quality teams and more diverse ownership in this era of 3, 4, and 6 car owners fielding cars out of a single stable.

Will sponsorship be big enough to allow the team to field a car every week? Yes. The NAPA sponsorship is another of those premier sponsorships, one of the most solid in NASCAR.

Do I think he could go win a championship? No.

Do I think he could win a race or two and have a good season? Yes. Waltrip is class. The money is there. If the engineering in BDR rises to the level that it did when Ward Burton was in the #22-Caterpillar car, they could absolutely win a race or two.

Picking the Super Bowl...

I'm picking Pittsburgh. They just seemed too tough the last couple of weeks. They beat Cincinnati. They rolled into Indianapolis and knocked off the Colts juggernaut. They rode the elevator up to Invesco at Mile High and did their thing. The Steelers don't just look tough. They are tough.

The Fatheads Fantasy Football League, of which I am a proud part, has taken a quick unscientific poll of the league owners on who is going to win the Super Bowl.

I was surprised by Seattle being picked as the favorite by a 6-2 margin.

I'm going to stick with my Pitt prediction, but it does make me wonder what they see in Seattle that would make them pick them. Don't get me wrong Shaun Alexander is the MAN, but I just wonder about the rest of the crew up there.

Ah well, that's why they play the games.

The 43 Days of Daytona - 26th Place in 2005

Over the 43 days leading up to the Daytona 500, I'll be doing a short review/preview of the Top 43 Drivers of 2005.

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Dave Blaney
#22 - Caterpillar

Blaney ran a full season in the #07-RCR-Jack Daniels Chevy. He had 2 Top 10's, no Top 5's, and no poles. His average start was 23.4. His average finish was 24.1. He finished 26th in points with winnings totaling $3,303,613.

He will run the full season with Bill Davis Racing in the #22-Caterpillar Dodge.

An announcement has come down that Bill Davis Racing and Team Red Bull will run Toyota Camrys in the 2007 season.

Blaney will have Michael Waltrip as a teammate in the #55-NAPA Dodge. I expect good things from this team this year.

Will sponsorship be big enough to allow the team to field a car every week? Yes. The Catepillar sponsorship is one of the most solid in NASCAR.

Do I think he could go win a championship? No.

Do I think he could win a race or two and have a good season? Yes. The team has won before. Blaney is a good driver in good equipment. Anything is possible.

The 43 Days of Daytona - 27th Place in 2005

Over the 43 days leading up to the Daytona 500, I'll be doing a short review/preview of the Top 43 Drivers of 2005.

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Kyle Petty
#45 - Wells Fargo

Kyle ran a full season in the Petty Enterprises #45-Georgia Pacific Dodge. He recorded 2 Top 10s, no Top 5s and no poles. His average start was 32.9. His average finish was 24.5. He finished 27th in points with winning totaling $3,431,012.

Every year, a rumor or two will surface about his possibly moving into a more front office type of position with Petty Enterprises, but don't look for that to happen for at least another season.

This season the Georgia Pacific and Brawny sponsorships that have graced the #45 for the last few seasons are going away. In their place will be an amalgam of Wells Fargo for 12 races and, possibly, the Schwans sponsorship that was with Ken Schrader over on the #49 for the last two seasons.

Kyle Petty has become one of my heroes alongside his dad, but for reasons totally unrelated to racing. In honor of the memory of his son, Adam, who passed away in a racing incident at New Hampshire International Speedway in Loudon, New Hampshire, he and his family started The Victory Junction Gang Camp.

The Victory Junction Gang Camp is about fueling ill children with memories that will sustain and inspire them! For the children, it's as simple as kicking back and relaxing, making friends with other children who have illnesses, not worrying about being different, experiencing the fun and activities of summer camp and making memories.

Adam was a 4th-generation racer and the boy had talent. He'll be missed.

Will sponsorship be big enough to allow the team to field a car every week? I don't think it's all in place yet, but I'm betting the car will have sponsorship necessary to run the year.

Do I think he could go win a championship? No.

Do I think he could win a race or two and have a good season? He could have a good season, but I doubt that he will win a race this year.

Hamas Wins Free Democratic Elections in Palestine

This is actually a good thing.

Think about it.

Now they have to do all the things that normal governments do. They have to make sure the buses and trains run on time. They have to get the garbage picked up and make sure the sewers drain. They have to handle normal everyday crime. They have to deal with business interests.

True "hating Israel" is on their agenda, but if the above aren't dealt with the people on the street won't be restful.

And...and...if they continue their terrorist ways as regards Israel...well, its much harder to hide and be a furtive, secretive terrorist organization if you are in control of the country. The Israelis are going to know where to hit and hit hard, when the time comes.

It's not like Hamas is in Iran where they are insular and could have years to consolidate power. They are in Palestine. Largely open. Porous borders. Natives scattered all over the Middle East. Their greatest enemy, Israel, just a stone's throw away. Palestine.

And the next time peace negotiations start up in the Middle East, one of the purveyors of anger will actually be at the table on the Palestinian side, because realistically, once the PLO and Fatah got into power and distanced itself from its past, it could negotiate all it wanted, but it wasn't able to speak for all Palestinians.

So congratulations Hamas. Welcome to the world stage. Now your organization will either grow into a genuine political force or you'll stagnate and disappear in the next elections because you won't be able to...make the buses and trains run on time, control crime and the sewers, and get the garbage picked up.

Welcome to what it really means to be in charge.

The Official Boxer of Cigar Smoke...

Marvelous Marvin Hagler

He was one of my heroes when I was a kid.

My granddad, Tommy Strickland, God rest his soul, got me into watching boxing. Tommy had boxed when he was in the Navy in World War 2.

Hagler beat the crap out of his opponents.

And, point of order, that decision that Sugar Ray Leonard won over Marvelous was bull crap. Hagler had beat him like a drum. That fight was Hagler's. They took it from him on points because Leonard was more popular.

Hagler is my favorite boxer ever.

In the pic, that is Alan Minter that he in punking out.

Hagler was a fighting machine. If you never got to see him fight, you really need to see it on video/DVD/whatever. He was great.

Don't get me wrong. I loved Ali too...but Greatness was before my time. I saw Hagler. He was a BAD MAN. God, he was good.

Beer Goggle Science...

We all knew beer goggles really existed.

Now there is scientific proof.

The group was asked to rate 118 photos from 1 to 7. Then, they had a couple rounds of drinks and re-rated the photos. The ratings went up in direct proportion to the amounts consumed.

Of course, a university in Scotland performed the study.

My real question is why don't I ever find the call-ups for studies that involve getting snockered.

Life's Tough...1

But at least you aren't doing this for a living. If you are doing this for a living, I'm sorry. I hope the money is good.

Inspired by Dirty Jobs on the Discover Channel and Popular Science's yearly The Worst Jobs in Science.

***

Anal Wart Researcher

The University of California-San Francisco has been running extensive clinical studies of this sexually transmitted disease that afflicts the anus.

Why is this important? The same human papillomavirus that causes cervical cancer is at the base of some of the varieties of anal warts and could cause anal cancer in both men and women.

This job made the #1 spot in Popular Science's November 2004 issue in the article The Worst Jobs in Science II.

When the interviewee was asked if there were any bright spots in a job that has her looking at 15 butts a day with a third of them being infected and some sporting warts a couple inches long that block the anal opening(After I read this I thought...bright spot. You're kidding. There's a bright spot.), the nurse practitioner said, "In 13 years, I've only been pooped on twice, and that's not bad."

Geez...I hope the money is good.

Hmm, I'm betting that her husband or boyfriend doesn't kiss her hand.

The 43 Days of Daytona - 28th Place in 2005

Over the 43 days leading up to the Daytona 500, I'll be doing a short review/preview of the Top 43 Drivers of 2005.

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Mike Bliss
# -

He ran in the Haas Automation #0 NetZero Chevy last year. He pulled 2 Top 10's. His winnings were $3,091,110.

Left the #0 NetZero Haas Automation Team...taking the NetZero sponsorship with him at the end of the season. Current plans are for them to work together on the #16 in the Craftsman Truck Series. No NEXTEL Cup plans have been revealed for Mike Bliss as of this time.

Will sponsorship be big enough to allow the team to field a car every week? Not applicable.

Do I think he could go win a championship? Not applicable.

Do I think he could win a race or two and have a good season? Not applicable.

The 43 Days of Daytona - 29th Place in 2005

Over the 43 days leading up to the Daytona 500, I'll be doing a short review/preview of the Top 43 Drivers of 2005.

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Jeff Green
#66 - Best Buy

Green raced a complete season in 2005 in the legendary Petty #43. Primary sponsorship for that year was General Mills Cereal with Cheerios taking the top spot in most races. He was let go at the end of the season.

He failed to score any Top 5's, Top 10's, or poles while appearing in 36 races. His winnings for the season totaled $4,040,430. His average starts was 26.8. His average finish was 24.7.

In the #43 next year will be Bobby Labonte, who will come up later in our countdown.

Jeff Green will be in the Haas Automation Racing #66 Best Buy Chevy. For the last few years, this car was branded as the #0-NetZero. The rebranding goes hand in hand with Best Buy stepping up as the primary sponsorship.

Will sponsorship be big enough to allow the team to field a car every week? Sponsorship should be solid on this car for the entire season.

Do I think he could go win a championship? No.

Do I think he could win a race or two and have a good season? Probably not. I could be wrong. If I am, they won't win more than one. But if I had to put money on it, I'd say no.

Ego-surfing Gone Wrong

I went spelunking through the referral links on my counter. Just looking to see where people were coming from who visit me here at "...Smoke".

And I'm tooling along.

I click a link...

And suddenly...

...there are topless British women on my browser...

Thank God the kids are gone to school.

Geez...

I can hear Sarah's voice. "Mark-e-e, why are those women-e-e not wearing their shirts-e-e?"

Thank God the kids were gone to school.

Now when I see something like that, it runs through my mind, "What do their fathers think?"

Don't get me wrong. I agree with comedian Ron White. Men want to see boobs...all men, whether they admit it or not.

But it is severely tempered when you think about some freak looking at your little girls someday.

The girls growing up and becoming teenagers in a couple of years is going to kill me.

Geez! There's a pleasant damn thought for a Monday morning.

The 43 Days of Daytona - 30th Place in 2005

Over the 43 days leading up to the Daytona 500, I'll be doing a short review/preview of the Top 43 Drivers of 2005.

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Sterling Marlin
#14 - Waste Management / Centrix Financial

Sterling ran, all but the last race, in the Chip Ganassi-Coors Light #40 Dodge. He had 1 Top 5 and 5 Top 10's. His average start was 26.5. His average finish was 24.6. He finished 30th in points with winnings totaling $4,080,120.

His season ended in lame duck fashion with the word being out that he was losing the ride well in advance of the axe actually falling. Considering that just two seasons ago, Sterling lead the points into September before an injury sidelined him, this doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me. But...that's racing.

The 40 team and Chip Ganassi Racing are going to be hard pressed this year with two rookies, David Stremme(#40) and Reed Sorensen(#41) running. The only experience on the team will come from Casey Mears(#42) who though he has ran well a few times hasn't exactly set the NEXTEL Cup world on fire over his too few seasons at this level. I can't believe that the plan was to lose Jamie McMurray(#26) to Roush and, then, fire Sterling. It just doesn't make sense to lose experience and quality at that kind of clip. We'll see how it turns out, but I don't believe it's going to be good.

Running with MB2 this season, Sterling has a chance to return to form. In the same equipment that powered a competitive Joe Nemechek(#01) last season, he should do fine. With Joe and Sterling working together, it could be good for both of them.

Will sponsorship be big enough to allow the team to field a car every week? Sponsorship is solid between Waste Management and Centrix.

Do I think he could go win a championship? No...I just don't believe that MB2/MBV has the drive, personnel, or equipment necessary to win it all.

Do I think he could win a race or two and have a good season? Absolutely.

Way to Go Jerome!

You know, if my Packers can't be there in the big game, I like the idea of Jerome Bettis in his final season getting into the Super Bowl.

Its funny. With as much as I hated the Steelers back in the 70's and 80's, I really like Bill Cowher(Wish he coached the Packers), Ben Roethlisberger(Wish he played for the Packers), Hines Ward(Man, he can catch. When does he become a free agent?), and Jerome Bettis(Again...wish he had been playing for the Packers for the last dozen years or so.).

Way to go Pittsburgh.

The 43 Days of Daytona - 31st Place in 2005

We're a day or two behind. I'm going to catch up...probably today. Figures, we get to one of my drivers and I fall off the face of the Earth for a day or two. Apologies.

---

Over the 43 days leading up to the Daytona 500, I'll be doing a short review/preview of the Top 43 Drivers of 2005.

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Ken Schrader
#21 - Little Debbie / Air Force / Motorcraft

Schrader ran a full season in the #49-BAM Racing-Schwans Dodge. He had 3 Top 10's, no Top 5's, and no poles. His average start was 30.1. His average finish was 25.3. He finished 31st in points with winnings totaling $3,057,530.

This season he has landed his first quality ride in awhile, Wood Brothers Racing-Little Debbie/Motorcraft/Air Force #21. The Wood Brothers have a long and storied history in NASCAR and their team is expanding and growing. The equipment will be better than his last two stops with MBV in the #36 M&M's Pontiac and the #49 Schwans Dodge last year.

David Hyder will be Kenny's crew chief in 2006. This is the same guy that turned the BAM team around last year with Kenny. Anytime that you have good chemistry and good equipment, you have got a good thing going. Add to this the fact that Michael "Fatback" McSwain is remaining with the Wood Brothers as Race Director over all Wood Brothers race teams and you have a solid experienced group dedicated to racing and racing well.

The Wood Brothers have won a lot...A LOT, 97 wins going back to 1959. Last year, Rudd put their car on the pole in one race. It is a quality ride.

Will sponsorship be big enough to allow the team to field a car every week? Sponsorship is solid on this car for the entire season.

Do I think he could go win a championship? As much as I wish I could say otherwise, no. Too many high quality teams that have been high quality for a bunch of years.

Do I think he could win a race or two and have a good season? Schrader has won before. The Wood Brothers have won. This is possible. Don't hold your breath...but it is possible.

The Just Us Cup 2006 is Coming...

With the Daytona 500 on the horizon, the Just Us Cup is coming back.

The Just Us Cup is Fantasy NASCAR Racing.

Pick a NASCAR NEXTEL Cup driver, drop me an email at puffdoggydaddy@yahoo.com, and check back once a week to see how you are doing in relation to the others.

It's all about bragging rights.

A list of all drivers running this year is available here.

The drivers slotted so far.

Kurt Busch - #2 - Miller Brewing -(Nancy)
Mark Martin - #6 - AAA/Penzoil -(Jerry)
Dale Earnhardt Jr. - #8 - Budweiser -(Stephanie)
Greg Biffle - #16 - National Guard/Post-It -(Jerry)
Ken Schrader - #21 - Little Debbie/Air Force/Motorcraft -(Mark)
Jeff Gordon - #24 - DuPont -(Craig)
Jamie McMurray - #26 - Crown Royal/Rubbermaid/Irwin -(Cadi)
Kevin Harvick - #29 - GM Goodwrench -(John)
Elliot Sadler - #38 - M&M's -(Chris)
Jimmie Johnson - #48 - Lowes -(Tucker)
Michael Waltrip - #55 - NAPA -(Cadi)
Dale Jarrett - #88 - UPS -(Darla)
Carl Edwards - #99 - Office Depot -(Mark)

27 Days.

Tick.

Tock.

Tick.

Weighty Issues

I weigh 252 pounds.

Dude, I'm fat.

That is as much as I have ever weighed.

Man, brutal honesty with yourself sucks.

I don't want to be a pudgy doughboy when I go to the beach at Port Aransas this year.

I have to lose 25 pounds..., at least, between now and the Fourth of July.

Putting 252 on a medium, 6-foot tall frame, just doesn't work out well. The last time I was this thick, I had issues with acid reflux, which I always have, but it lessens when I'm thinner, blood pressure, it is borderline again, it wasn't when I got down in the mid 230's for awhile there, and my knees hurt, basketball and football and volleyball in my youth weren't kind to my knees, less weight equals less pain.

The mid-220's, I'd still have some love handles working, but my done-lop-i-ness would be severely lessened.(re: done-lop-i-ness...done lopped over your belt syndrome.)

I have a goal. I have a dream. I have a mission. I don't want to frighten small children on the beach.

I'll keep my adoring public posted. HA!

Binging and Purging - 300 down to 27

For the longest time, I have been a member of something like 300 Yahoo Groups. All of them set on Daily Digest.

Someone on one of the lists pissed me off the other night. It wasn't anything bad...it just rubbed me the wrong way.

So I quit that group...and...then, I quit another...and, then, another.

Before, long I had cut the unwieldy and hard to keep track of 300 down to a much more manageable and sane 27. And some of those barely have any traffic...maybe 1 post every month or so.

Who knows, I might even have some thoughts that I drop on those keeper Groups once in awhile, now. Rather than just sitting there overwhelmed by the blizzard of information coming into my email.

Maybe I'll start turning those various and sundry plots into novels now. And pick up the pace on some of my other writings. Cause as we all know, the axiom use it or lose it is one of the best. The only way you get better at something is practice.

Who knows...could be a very interesting year.

Scumbag...

This guy is an ultimate scumbag.

He faked his own death, 25 years ago, to avoid paying child support.

Sorry bastard.

Click here for the complete story.

Provisional Just Us Cup Scoring System for 2006

Last Place would score 5 points.
Next to Last would score 10 points.
...Up to First Place which would score 5 points more than Second Place.
...Places only takes into account Just Us Cup participants. Other cars are not included in the calculation.

Failure to Qualify(DNQ) or Having to Use a Provisional to Qualify for the Field = -5
Failure to Finish(DNF) = -5
Wreck(regardless of fault) = -5

Winning the Pole = +5
Most Laps Lead = +5

Points will be zeroed out and Players/Drivers seeded in 5 point increments when the Chase for the Championship begins at Race #27. Scoring during the Chase for the Just Us Cup will be the same as during the Race for the Chase.

The 43 Days of Daytona - 32nd Place in 2005

Over the 43 days leading up to the Daytona 500, I'll be doing a short review/preview of the Top 43 Drivers of 2005.

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Scott Wimmer
#4 - AERO Exhaust

Scott ran a full season last year in the #22-Bill Davis Racing-Catepillar Dodge. All 36 starts coming in the same car. He zeroes in all the categories; Tops 10's, Top 5's, poles, and wins. His average start was 27.5. His average finish was 25.8. He finished 32rd in points. His winnings for 2005 were $3,682,980.

This season he will run in the Morgan McClure-AERO Exhaust Chevy #4. Whether this turns out to be a lateral move instead of a move up or down remains to be seen. If he had managed to hang with the #22 Catepillar team, he would have benefited from having Michael Waltrip come on as a teammate this year in BDR's #55, but...spilled milk.

Wimmer landed in this ride as a 3rd choice. His star is definitely not on the rise as it once was when he landed the #22 Catepillar ride that Ward Burton was fired from a couple of years back. Todd Bodine turned down the #4 after Mike Wallace decided to move on. Travis Kvapil took the #32 Tide ride instead of the #4. Wimmer has a lot to prove...it's past time he gets to it.

Will sponsorship be big enough to allow the team to field a car every week? AERO Exhaust has experience in the Grand Am and AutoZone Elite series, so sponsorship should be solid especially with associate sponsors like Lucas Oil on board.

Do I think he could go win a championship? No. Let me repeat from the Travis Kvapil profile, the era when a single car team could win a championship is over.

Do I think he could win a race or two and have a good season? No. I'm sorry to say it, but I do not believe that Scott Wimmer has the right stuff. If he gets out there and proves me wrong, I'll be more than happy to eat my words and say "good for him", but I doubt I'm going to be put in that position.

The 43 Days of Daytona - 33rd Place in 2005

Over the 43 days leading up to the Daytona 500, I'll be doing a short review/preview of the Top 43 Drivers of 2005.

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Travis Kvapil
#32 - Tide

Kvapil ran a full season last year in the #77-Penske Racing-Kodak Dodge. All 36 starts coming in the same car. He pulled 2 Tops 10's. No Top 5's. No poles. No wins. His average start was 25.9. His average finish was 26.2. He finished 33rd in points. Despite this, he still posted winnings of $3,293,450.

This season he will run in the Cal Wells-PPI Motorsports-Tide Chevy #32. How going from a team like Penske with all that factory support and teammates like Rusty Wallace and Ryan Newman,...though I'm betting Rusty was a better teammate than Ryan Newman was, will impact him remains to be seen.

Will sponsorship be big enough to allow the team to field a car every week? Yes. This has been one of the most successful one car operations recently, even with the blip of the last couple of seasons with Bobby Hamilton Jr. behind the wheel.

Do I think he could go win a championship? No. The era when a single car team could win a championship is over.

Do I think he could win a race or two and have a good season? Absolutely. He is just a few season removed from winning a Craftsman Truck Series Championship. If he manages to apply things he learned at Penske and bring that experience forward, he has potential. I think his winning a race this season is entirely possible. Ricky Craven won twice with this team. The equipment is there. Kvapil skill set is there. It just needs to reach critical mass.

Katrina Wasn't Enough...

Now a New Orleans alderman is wanting to relax the public urination laws.

Huh?

What?

Why in the hell would you want to do something like that?

Does that increase New Orleans attractiveness as a party town? I don't think so.

Geez!

Click here for the story.

30 Protest NASA's Nuking of Pluto...

Okay...not really. They are protesting the use of nuclear material on a probe going to Pluto.

Story here.

Sorry...wrong Pluto.

Need to Rest Those Star Players More...

Well...now that whole resting the stars for the last three weeks of this season looks like a damn shitty idea, doesn't it?

I've always hated the concept of resting your stars going into the playoffs.

The only time that you rest your players is when you are knocking the crap out of an opponent in the 4th quarter and you want to get some playing time for the Backup QB, just in case.

A Dream For All...

Nothing I can say would speak nearly as well as his own words.

Go. Listen.

Take 16 minutes to hear one of the greatest American speeches of the last 100 years.

The 43 Days of Daytona - 34th Place in 2005

Over the 43 days leading up to the Daytona 500, I'll be doing a short review/preview of the Top 43 Drivers of 2005.

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Scott Riggs
#10 - Valvoline / Stanley Tools / Autovalue Bumper-to-Bumper

Riggs ran the full season, all 36 races, with the same team. He is the first driver to appear in our countdown to Daytona who had a full season in the same equipment.

He ran for the MB2/MBV team with Joe Nemechek as a teammate.

He had 2 Top 5's, 4 Top 10's and a pole. He finished 34th in points. His average start was 18.9. His average finish was 27.3. He lead 18 of the 9,862 laps he ran. His winnings for the 2005 season were $3,969,610.

Riggs was lucky coming out of last season. The Valvoline sponsorship left MBV/MB2 for Everham and in one of those "you're a good spokesperson/representative for our product" moments he got taken along. This is a step up for Riggs. The class of the operation is much higher, no disrespect intended toward Joe Nemechek, but the Everham equipment is a lightyear ahead of anything that MBV/MB2 is fielding.

He had an offer on the table from MBV/MB2 and walked it to take his shot with Everham, who has placed one of their drivers, Jeremy Mayfield, in the Chase for the NEXTEL Cup the last two years. Add in the success that Kasey Kahne has enjoyed with Everham, and Riggs decision was a no-brainer.

Will sponsorship be big enough to allow the team to field a car every week? Yes. The Valvoline sponsorship is solid. Add to that Stanley Tools and AutoValue Bumper-to-Bumper Auto Parts and the financing on this team is solid. Add in the Dodge factory support that Everham enjoys and this team is solid.

Do I think he could go win a championship? No. Its his 2nd season running a full schedule in NEXTEL Cup. He is in Everham equipment...[makes wishy-washy motion with hands]..., I'm going to say No.

Do I think he could win a race or two and have a good season? Absolutely. He could win more than two races this season. It is going to be a good season for Scott Riggs.

Well...They Were Wearing The Same Color Uniform She Was...

Cheerleading, tumbling lessons and camps since age 3:

$30,000

Annual cost of attending USC:

$25,000

Annual cost for staying just the right shade of blonde:

$10,000

Cheering when the other team scores:

Priceless

Thanks Jeff.

Though, I'm willing to bet that annual cost of attending USC is more than $25K.

Spell Check is a Bust...HA! Part 2

While spell checking today's edition of the 43 Days of Daytona featuring Mike Wallace, Spell Checker pointed out a problem.

Wimmer, as in Scott Wimmer, the guy who will be driving the #4-Lucas Oil car this year that Mike Wallace was in last year, wasn't in its lexicon.

The suggested replacement...

...wiener.

Cracks me up.

The 43 Days of Daytona - 35th Place in 2005

Over the 43 days leading up to the Daytona 500, I'll be doing a short review/preview of the Top 43 Drivers of 2005.

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Mike Wallace
#09 - Miccosukee Indian Gaming

Mike had 28 starts in which he pulled one Top 10. His average start was 33rd. His average finish was 28th. He finished the season in 35th points position. His winnings totaled $2,325,740.

25 of these starts came in the #4-Lucas Oil car fielded by Morgan McClure. Scott Wimmer will be in the #4 this year.

He will be in the #09 Micosukee Dodge for at least 7 races next year, including the Daytona 500. They are searching for additional sponsorships to allow them to run more races, though whether additional races would have Mike behind the wheel hasn't been announced.

With Finch's reputation as a perennial field filler growing last year when the #09 started some races just to run a lap or two and, then, park that car so they could collect the money, I wonder at the commitment of this team.

Wallace has run with this team before, running 10 races with them over the last two seasons, including a 9th at Daytona in 2003. Wallace has become something of a drafting specialist. Taladega and Daytona have become tracks where he is most at home. Shame he isn't running with DEI...would seem to be a match made in heaven

[sidebar]...if they weren't caught up in the trying to catch lightning in a bottle and clone Dale Earnhardt Jr...who did you think that Martin Truex Jr. looked like...and acted like.

Will sponsorship be big enough to allow the team to field a car every week? No. They may come up with associate sponsors who will let them run a few additional races. A good showing at Daytona would go a long way toward helping in this regard.

Do I think he could go win a championship? No.

Do I think he could win a race or two and have a good season? Restrictor plate racing. The big packs moving back to front all the time. The big wreck lurking out there waiting to happen. There's a chance he could pull a victory. Not a big chance...but a chance nonetheless.

Weird...

Saw this and had to grab a copy of it and drop a little commentary.

This is the most unique looking national/regional flag that I've seen in a lifetime of being fascinated by the colors and banners that we as people live under, work under, worship under, and serve under.

Yes, its a head with legs sticking out of it...Go Sicily, Go!

The 43 Days of Daytona - 36th Place in 2005

Over the 43 days leading up to the Daytona 500, I'll be doing a short review/preview of the Top 43 Drivers of 2005.

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Bobbie Hamilton Jr.
# -

Hamilton Jr. raced for the #32-Tide Cal Wells-owned team last year. He ran in 33 races last season with 0 Top 5's or Top 10's. Though surprisingly, at number 36 in the points, he isn't the highest finisher who failed to score any Top 5's or Top 10's, that guy doesn't come up in our countdown to Daytona until spot number 29.

He failed to meet his expectations and the team failed to meet theirs.

His average starting position was 25.5. His average finish was 32.3. Based on averages, he was finishing 7 spots further back than where he qualified. Something during the race was seriously wrong with this team. Whether it was a failure of the team and driver to mesh, a failure of the driver's ability, or of the team's skill isn't known. We do know that Bobby Hamilton Jr. and the #32 Tide team have parted company going into 2006.

Despite all that, his winning for the 2005 season were $2,898,090. But winning purse money doesn't equate with success in NASCAR. Poles, Top 5's, Top 10's, Wins...above all Wins, and putting yourself and your car in the Chase for the Championship. This team as formatted last year wasn't going to do that.

According to InsideRacing.com, Hamilton Jr. is going to be driving for one of his father's Craftsman Truck Series teams full time this season, though he expects to be driving in NEXTEL Cup, occasionally, for unnamed teams and sponsors at some point over the year. Uh huh! Yeah! We've heard that one before.

This would be more believable if Bobby Hamilton Racing, that's his father's company, hadn't come back a few days later and said that this story wasn't necessarily true, but that details would be forthcoming. A few days later, they announced that BH Jr. would be running for Green Light Racing in a one-race deal at Daytona...then, a few days later, that he would be running for Bobby Dotter Racing at Daytona and would, then, run a limited schedule for BHR through the remainder of the season.

Uhmmmm...okay.

Bobby Hamilton Jr. fans...he could show up anywhere. Considering that the story has changed four times over four days, I'd keep an eye out for the truth.

Will sponsorship be big enough to allow the team to field a car every week? Not applicable.

Do I think he could go win a championship? No.

Do I think he could win a race or two and have a good season? Maybe in trucks. Any ride that he bounces into for a one-race deal in NEXTEL Cup won't be competitive.

Why the Taliban Were...and Are the Bad Guys in Afghanistan

The Taliban is the Islamist nationalist movement that ruled Afghanistan from 1994 to 2001 and gained diplomatic recognition from Saudi Arabia, the U.A.E., and Pakistan. The United States bears some responsibility in the Taliban's rise. During the Soviet Union's invasion and occupation of the mid-1980's, the United States funded Islamic fundamentalist freedom fighters who following the Soviet withdrawal morphed into the Western world hating Taliban.

During its rule, the Taliban instituted amputation and stoning as legal forms of punishment, banned television, music, and sports, and gave safe haven to Osama bin Laden.

Following the the US invasion of Afghanistan in 2001, the Taliban has reconstituted itself in the high mountain border region between Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Osama Bin Laden is suspected of being hidden away in this region as well...provided that he isn't a moldering corpse buried in a collapsed cave in the Mountains of Tora Bora.

Bear Safety in Alaska

Alaskan Bear Safety Programs

I figure the safest thing for me and the bear is if I stay my ass in Texas...I'd hate to have to get stuck in his throat and cause him to choke as he's eating me.

Cannibal Galaxy

The Milky Way Galaxy is slowly absorbing the Sagittarius Dwarf.

Yes, Virginia, there are more stars in the sky than there used to be.

Neat stuff.

Click here.

The 43 Days of Daytona - 37th Place in 2005

Over the 43 days leading up to the Daytona 500, I'll be doing a short review/preview of the Top 43 Drivers of 2005.

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Robbie Gordon
#7 - Jim Beam / Menards / Energizer Battery(?) / CarLoans.com / Harrah's

Gordon had 29 starts last season. He ran all his races in his own car for Robby Gordon Racing.

He had 2 Top 10's and 1 Top 5's. His winnings totaling $2,271,310.

Jayski lists the Fruit of the Loom sponsorship as being done, with Energizer as a possible replacement. How the whole "Jim Beam asking for a rebate" last year incident works out may directly impact their continued sponsorshp of Robby's #7.

Robby will be running DEI engines for the early part of the season before switching to Menard engines as that program ramps up.

I don't know if it would help, but maybe Robby should focus more on his NEXTEL and Busch programs and less on the Dakar Rally and the Baja 1000. Now, it is cool that he does this kind of stuff...but...I don't see how the experience translates.

Will sponsorship be big enough to allow the team to field a car every week? Yes, but the underfunding issues will play big. Expect more DNF's(Did Not Finish) and DNQ's(Did Not Qualify) to appear on Robby's record this season.

Do I think he could go win a championship? No. Sorry, Robby.

Do I think he could win a race or two and have a good season? With DEI power and his skill on the road courses, I would give Robby a good chance of winning at Sonoma or Watkins Glen.

The Professional Athlete's Guide...

In light of what has happened to Steve Francis today and over the last year or so to Terrel Owens, Kurt Busch, Ron Artest, etc, I offer this guideline.

THE PROFESSIONAL ATHLETE'S GUIDE

1. Show up on time. Don't miss the plane, bus, bed check, practice, or the game.
2. If someone throws something at you, let security deal with it.
3. If the contract offered to you doesn't have enough zeros on it, don't sign it. Trying to renegotiate a contract one year into a three or four year deal is stupid.
4. If you are being sponsored by someone who is involved in a certain kind of business that has a downside to it...like...oh, I don't know...beer and drinking and driving...don't be out drinking and driving the night before a race or game.
5. Hitting the fans is never a good idea...even when they are assholes.
6. You are part of a TEAM...TEAM...remember that.
7. Your signature on the contract means that you need to go do your damned job.
8. Be nice. Sign an autograph for a kid.
9. Don't be an asshole.
10. In all instances, refer to #9.

When in doubt look to the examples set by Shaq, Yao Ming, Reggie White, Richard Petty, and Nolan Ryan.

Thank you. I hope this helps.

This Should Have Made the News...

Former NBA All-Star Karl Malone did a great thing in the days following Hurricane Katrina.

"There was a lot of red tape, and I ain't got time for that. I found out that if you're going to do something good, just go ahead and do it. FEMA didn't approve, but we did it for the people."

The quote is from the Quick Quote section of the New American magazine from October 31, 2005.

Malone brought his Arkansas-based logging company crew and heavy equipment down to Pascagoula, Mississippi. They spent 2 weeks doing no-charge work, hauling away debris on private property.

Credit where credit is due. Karl Malone did a great thing. And he deserves someone mentioning it.

I Would Like to Declare...

...my eligibility for the NFL draft next season.

I am going to forego my remaining eligibility and turn pro.

I'm sure everyone in the NFL is interested in drafting a 39-year old, 245-pound, 6-foot balding white guy who is out of shape...

The draft does go into the 257th round, doesn't it?

Looking forward to getting out there and helping my team...whoever they are.

With the 8,224th pick in the 2006 NFL Draft, the [INSERT SUPER BOWL CHAMPION'S NAME HERE] take Mark Anderson.

HA!

Oh...and some guys named Bush and Young declared for the NFL Draft as well.

Chuck Norris Facts...or Fiction...

A friend sent me the link to this site about Chuck Norris.

BLANK STARE! BLANK STARE!

I clicked on it. What did I know? I was still drinking my first cup of coffee this morning. I was vulnerable.

And what to my wondering eyes should appear...

...and now a random fact about Chuck Norris:

Chuck Norris once ate three 72 oz. steaks in one hour. He spent the first 45 minutes having sex with his waitress.

Made me laugh. I almost spit coffee on my computer screen.

I'm thinking this one is fiction.

Click here to find your own Chuck Norris fact...or fiction.

Sad! Sad! Sad!

Back in the early to mid-80's, the Canadian rock band Loverboy was golden. They got tons of radio play and were in heavy rotation on MTV.

Last weekend, while browsing through a discount classifieds sales paper, I discovered the following...

MEMORABILIA GOLD LP RECORD...awarded to Loverboy, Columbia Records #JC36762, 1980 CBS Records presented to Andy Lockridge, commemorating the sale of more than 1,000,000 copies of the Loverboy album.

Followed by a phone number and the price...

$100 firm.

Sad! Sad! Sad!

The 43 Days of Daytona - 38th Place in 2005

Over the 43 days leading up to the Daytona 500, I'll be doing a short review/preview of the Top 43 Drivers of 2005.

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Jason Leffler
# -

Leffler had 19 starts last season. He ran the majority of the season in the Joe Gibbs Fed Ex #11, that will have a different pilot next season.

He had no Top 10's, Top 5's, poles, etc. Despite this he had winnings totaling $1,663,870.

Jayski doesn't list Leffler as the driver on any of the rides going into next season. He, also, isn't listed as one of the "drivers looking for a new ride".

He looks to be floating around in the Busch Series this year. He is listed as running for Braun Racing...at least, part of the season.

Last year, he didn't make a good case for his belonging in the NEXTEL Cup as a driver.

Will sponsorship be big enough to allow the team to field a car every week? This isn't applicable.

Do I think he could go win a championship? Not without a car and a sponsor.

Do I think he could win a race or two and have a good season? No. See above answers.

Marathoner Stops for Wine and Still Wins

Spiridon Louis' birthday is today.

In the 1896 Olympic Games, the first of the revival, this Greek runner stopped in the middle of the race at a small inn in the town of Pikermi and drank a glass of wine. After his glass of vino, he went on to pass those runners who were ahead of him and win a gold medal.

Wine...it does a body good.

The 43 Days of Daytona - 39th Place in 2005

Over the 43 days leading up to the Daytona 500, I'll be doing a short review/preview of the Top 43 Drivers of 2005.

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Kevin Lepage
#61 - Peak Fitness Racing

Lepage ran in 21 races last season for different teams. He ran the #66 for Peak a couple of times over the year. The #66 has changed its number to the #61 and Kevin is scheduled to be in the car for the complete season...pending sponsorship.

He finished 39th in points He pulled 1-Top Ten. His average start was 30th. His average finish was 30th. His winnings for 2005 in the NEXTEL Cup came to $1,774,790.

Two big questions about Lepage and this team.

Will he be in the car for the balance of the year? I'd say, depending on the answer to question 2, he's got a 75% chance.

Will sponsorship be big enough to allow the team to field a car every week? Last season, they ran a group of sponsorships out there. Vassarette, Peak Fitness Clubs, Cabellas, Vote Kilgore for Governor, Arbor Mortgage, JaniKing and EAS, all shared time on the #66. The Peak Fitness sponsorship isn't big enough for a whole season...same with the EAS sponsorship. I'm giving them a 40% chance of their being sponsorship money in place to allow them to run the entire season. If sponsorship keeps them out of too many races, look for Lepage to be out shopping for another ride.

Do I think he could go win a championship? No. The equipment isn't going to be at that level.

Do I think he could win a race or two and have a good season? No. See above answer.

Embarassing the Kids...My New Hero

Ray Romano while accepting his People's Choice Award for Favorite Male TV Star delivered a great line when his sons wouldn't join him onstage.

In one of the award program's funnier moments, Romano tried to coax his 13 year-old sons to join him onstage as they had in years past. But they refused, and Romano teased them in front of the packed house at Los Angeles' Shrine auditorium.

"Now all of a sudden, it's not cool to be with dad ... We got girlfriends. We got body hair," he said. The boys lowered their heads and hid their faces from the TV cameras.

Greatness!

Useless Trivia

The new question is available now.

Click here.

The 43 Days of Daytona -- 40th Place in 2005

Over the 43 days leading up to the Daytona 500, I'll be doing a short review/preview of the Top 43 Drivers of 2005.

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Terry Labonte
#44 - Kellogg's
#96 - Texas Instruments DLP® HDTV

"Texas" Terry Labonte ran a couple of different cars for different owners last year. He drove the #44 for Hendrix Motor Sports in the majority of the races he appeared in in 2005.

He's going to split time in the #96 seat with Tony Raines. The #96 is owned by Hall of Fame Racing, the Troy Aikman/Roger Staubach racing venture. Terry will drive the car in 7 races with Raines driving the balance of the season.

In addition, Terry will appear in the #44 for Hendrix for a couple of races as well.

He appeared in 14 races in 2005. He finished 40th in points He pulled 1-Top Ten. His average start was 29th. His average finish was 29th. His winnings for 2005 in the NEXTEL Cup came to $1,202,520.

Terry continues to enjoy a long slow retirement...spending part of his time in Joe Gibbs power and part of his time in Hendrix power, that makes him a threat to win a race this season.

Do I think he could go win a championship? No. He's not going to run enough races to be a threat for a championship.

Do I think he could win a race or two and have a good season? Yes.

The 43 Days of Daytona - 41st Place in 2005

Over the 43 days leading up to the Daytona 500, I'll be doing a short review/preview of the Top 43 Drivers of 2005.

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Denny Hamlin
#11 - Federal Express

Denny appeared in 7 races in 2005. He finished 41st in points while running for Joe Gibbs Racing, the home team of last year's champion, Tony Stewart, so we know he was in good equipment. He pulled a pole and 3-Top Tens out of those 7 races. His average start was 19th. His average finish was 17th. His winnings for 2005 in the NEXTEL Cup came to $610,030.00.

Denny has a bright future in this sport.

It hasn't been reported, yet, whether he is also going to run a full season in the Joe Gibbs Rockwell Automation #20 Busch car or not. More seat time is a good thing. Look at Carl Edwards last year and Kevin Harvick in his rookie season.

With being onboard, full time, with Joe Gibbs in the #11 this season, look for big things from this driver this year.

Do I think he could go win a championship? Probably not. He'd be a helluva long shot bet. It's possible...that is with Joe Gibbs equipment under the hood and the tremendous potential he showed in the 7 races he ran in '05.

Do I think he could win a race or two and have a good season? Hell yes.

The 43 Days of Daytona - 42nd Place in 2005

Over the 43 days leading up to the Daytona 500, I'll be doing a short review/preview of the Top 43 Drivers of 2005.

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Boris Said
#36 - Centrix

Boris appeared in 9 races in 2005. He finished 42nd in points racing with the MBV/MB2 Racing Team. He pulled 1 Top 5 in one of those starts. His average start was 26.0. His average finish was 25.0.

Boris has been a quality road racer regardless of the type of car he has been in. He reminds me of Schrader. He's racing all the time. He raced a bobsled at Lake Placid a couple of months back as part of the Chevrolet/Bodine Bobsled program.

His winnings for the 2005 season was $1,006,678.00.

This season with MB-Sutton Racing taking a shot with him and putting him in the car for 9 races was a good thing. If sponsorship comes through, I would like to see what Boris could do with a full season of stock car racing. He could be interesting.

Do I think he could go win a championship? No.

Do I think he could go win a race or two and have a good season in equipment that is on a par with Joe Nemechek's? Yes.

Add Sterling Marlin to the team and you've got a damn good stable of racers. Yes, in this age of the Youth Movement in NASCAR this team does seem long in the tooth. But I'm betting they are going to jump up and bite a few guys this year.

Spell Check is a Bust...HA!

While spell checking the first of the 43 Days of Daytona featuring Johnny Sauter, Spell Checker pointed out a problem.

Childress's, as in Richard Childress, wasn't in its lexicon.

The suggested replacement...

...clitoris.

Cracks me up.

The 43 Days of Daytona - 43rd Place in 2005

Over the 43 days leading up to the Daytona 500, I'll be doing a short review/preview of the Top 43 Drivers of 2005.

----------------

Johnny Sauter
#09 - Mickosukee Gaming

He had 10 starts in 2005. His average start was 31.0. His average finish was 29.0.

Best finish in 2005 was 9th at the Subway Fresh 500 at Phoenix International Raceway on 4/23/2005.

His winnings for 2005 were $749,453.00.

His averages seem to hold over his 3 years Cup career. Over those 3 seasons, he's ran 31 Cup races for various teams. His best shot came when he was in Richard Childress's AOL #30 car, just long enough to have a cup of coffee.

Sauter has broken his ties with the Busch Series #1 Yellow Transportation car and Phoenix Racing, but it looks like Yellow might have gone with him.

Jayski is reporting that Johnny is expected to be driving for Gene Haas next year. Car will be numbered either 00 or 44. Sponsors listed at this time are Yellow Transportation, Haas Automation, NetZero, and Best Buy.

Look for he and this car to not run a complete Busch season together in 2006 and for him to be ride shopping early in the year. The car may run a complete season, but I doubt he'll be behind the wheel the whole way.

Will he make it back into Cup? Maybe not this year.

David and Goliath...NBA style

You need to catch this on ESPN replays today of last night's games.

Toronto Raptors vs. Houston Rockets in Toronto.

6' 2", 190 lbs. Toronto-Point Guard-Mike James drove the lane on 6' 9", 253 lbs. Houston-Forward-Juwan Howard.

James got the bucket and the foul...and then he had to talk some trash.

Howard caught the ball as it dropped through the basket.

And based on the way things played out, I can almost guarantee that James said something to the effect of "get that weak shit outta my face" or "get up out of my face" or something like that. Because, Juwan palmed the ball followed him to the top of the key...and jammed the basketball in his face.

James dropped his basket. He was pissed off. He had to be restrained by teammates...probably a good thing. Juwan would have whipped his ass. You did notice the 190 lbs. vs. 253 lbs note earlier.

The refs called a Technical Foul on both players. And I'm guessing they called a second Technical on Juwan in the aftermath, because he was ejected from the game.

Toronto did get the last laugh as they went on to win the game, 112 - 92.

In 14 minutes of play, Howard had 1 bucket on 4 attempts, 5 boards, 2 assists, and 2 points.

In 34 minutes of play, James had 10 buckets on 17 attempts, 7 of 7 free throws, 8 boards, 8 assists, 1 steal, and 30 points.

The box score definitely favored Mike James.

James was so desperate to fight, being held back by three teammates, that the refs should have tossed him as well. Juwan made a mistake by not positioning himself close enough so that James could take a good swing at him. That 30 points would have been a lot harder to get if James had been sent to the locker room as well.

Sometimes you have to take one on the chin for the team.

Hell, if I'd have been playing, I'd have made him take a swing at me...knowing that I was about to get tossed anyway.

And after watching the replay, all Howard would have had to have done was to be close enough and James would have done the rest. He wouldn't have had to raise his hands after the basketball jabbing incident.

Without that 30 points that James dropped in, the game would definitely have swung more in Houston's favor.

Christmas Trees for Fish and Fishermen

The US Corps of Engineers are following an old Christmas tradition.

They are tying multiple Christmas trees together and dropping them into man-made lakes to create birthing, predation, and fishing areas.

The smaller fish huddle up to the trees to hide from larger fish. Larger fish come around to hunt the smaller fish. Fisherman come around to seek the larger fish.

The circle of life.

Badonkadonk - The Search for New Words Has Gone Horribly Wrong...

From the Meriam-Webster Online project:

badonkadonk
1. (noun) : A well shaped female buttocks.
Check out the babonkadonk on that chic.

2. (noun) : Big ass
Her badonkadonk is phat

Okay...Okay...a woman's ass is poetry.

There is no damned way it should be referred to as a badonkadonk. Not even.

That sounds like something a horse and a donkey did in a pasture that shouldn't be spoken of in polite company.

In Pursuit of the Crystal Football...The Rose Bowl in Review

This was one of those rare things, a game that lived up to its hype and may have exceeded it.

The early late hit on Leinart wasn't much of a hit. The guy touched him and he stumbled. The thing was USC's Offensive Line was holding on the same play blatantly. Otherwise, Leinart would have been laying on his butt in the backfield. This was a recurring theme. There were a ton of USC holding calls that weren't made.

Early on, I was wondering if the Texas O Line had forgotten how to block. Every time, I looked up it seemed that USC was in the Texas backfield.

Into the second quarter, it, finally, was starting to look like the refs were going to miss calls both ways. Yes, Vince Young was down, but they didn't catch it in time. As Junior Miller and George Dunham said on The Ticket this morning, "The Longhorns were going to score anyway on that drive." Yes, it was a blown call, but I agree, USC's Defense wasn't going to stop them on that drive.

And the refs returned the favor on the blown Interception call a few minutes before the Texas Interception of a Leinart pass in the end zone. The Texas Cornerback had that ball when he hit the ground.

After the endzone Interception, Leinart looked rattled bad. Then, he got his clock cleaned pretty well on a scramble where he got 4 or 5 yards where he got sandwiched between two Texas players.

For 3 Quarters, the announcers are so pro-USC that it sickens me. Very unprofessional. Starting now, I'll never listen to Dan Fouts and Keith Jackson again. Oh, they came around when it became apparent that Vince Young and Texas were going to push as hard as USC were.

3rd Quarter, the USC Offensive Line was holding on every down. They haven't called it yet.

Sheesh! They need to stop showing Leinart's Dad. He's mugging for the camera now. Geez, ABC get the camera off of him and show us players on the sidelines, cheerleaders, and wild face painted fans in the stands.

The most NFL looking players in the game were Lendale White-Running Back-USC and Vince Young-Quarterback-Texas.

They need to not use Big 10 officials in Championship games anymore. They just aren't sharp enough.

It would be nice if the Longhorn Defense would...maybe...oh...I don't know...stop them sometime in the 2nd half. The USC Offense beat them like a drum on every drive leading up to that 4th down where Texas, finally, laid the stop on them.

Whoever was keeping the clock is an idiot. Pass caught, receiver ran out of bounds...and the clock kept running. BLANK STARE. BLANK STARE. BLANK STARE. They let the clock keep running at a point where it should have stopped in the early First Half too. Did they have an easily distracted 5 year old running the clock?

The Texas Tight End David Thomas looked good, definitely NFL caliber.

Woo Hoo! The Horns Defense stopped 'em on 4th and 2.

1:55 left in the 4th...damn.

Dammit! 3rd and 12...the worm is turning too quickly.

Face mask-USC. 1st down.

Amazing how this USC Defense has blown up. They are playing better down the stretch, but the Horns look like they are peaking at the right time in the game as well.

This is the best college game that I have seen in awhile, despite the poor officiating.

57 seconds, 38-33, USC held the lead. Texas has the ball.

Every time, they show the sidelines the kids were sweating bullets.

Vince Young is THE MAN!

2 point conversion...I just pulled a muscle doing the "Hook 'em Horns" hand gesture.

19 seconds...Reggie Bush back to receive...sweating bullets.

Win Number 800 for the Longhorn Football Program...appropriate that it heralds their becoming National Champions.

There's nothing quite like seeing a big, tough, heavy lineman crying in happiness.

I'm glad it was a tight and hard fought game. That'll make it harder for the East Coast-biased sports writers to give half the title to Penn State.

You know...Guys named Vince usually do well in Green Bay...HA!

Fouts and Jackson spent the whole game kissing USC's ass and, then, they were eating humble pie and a side of crow. Acting like they thought Texas could do it all along. Same with Corso and the rest of the College Gameday guys.

Wow! Let me reiterate...Vince Young is THE MAN!

Vince Young completed 30 of 40 passes for 267 yards. He rushed 20 times for 200 yards. He scored 3 Touchdowns.

Good effort by both teams, but only one can be Champion. This game was incredible.

Congrats to USC, Pete Carrol, Matt Leinart, and Reggie Bush for making it to the game.

Congrats to the Texas Longhorns, Mack Brown, Vince Young, and David Thomas for winning it all.

This game was incredible.

Guess who won?

I've got a long post with my thoughts on the game...look for it tomorrow.

Who Would Have Imagined...

...that three bim-blondes sitting at a table would be this creepy?

Maybe it goes back to the twin ghosts standing at the end of the hallway in The Shining...I've been afraid of twin little girls ever since.

HA!

The pic bothered me. The three of them shouldn't look that much alike...who's ever heard of identical triplets?

Or maybe they are The Stepford Blondes and they are all android killing machines...

Ah well.

The pic was shown on a celebrity website...but I don't recognize them.

Hugh Hefner probably had them cloned or something.

Tonight's the Night...Let's Get It On!

The Rose Bowl
National Championship Game - NCAA Football

The Orange Bowl - 2006

#3 - Penn St. - 26
#22 - Florida St. - 23

I can't believe I fell asleep before this was over.

3 Overtimes!

Damn!

79-year old Joe Paterno vs. 76-year old Bobby Bowden delivered. The old guys can still coach. Before the game, the sports pundits tried to make it all about the age and experience of the coaches...I think maybe they should have made it about the talent of the teams. Depending on graduation, I could see these two meeting again sometime soon for a National Championship.

Click here.

Alan Moore is Awesome...

He doesn't get the credit he deserves for re-imagining Rob Liefeld's Supreme and related titles that he brought to the world in the Image launch of the early 90's.

I wish Alan had been able to continue onward with the ideas he had. Love those Supreme stories.

Free Printable 2006 Hooters Calendar

Click here.

You'll need a good printer, but you can print it out for free.

For Those of You Interested In Comparative religion...and Free Stuff

The Islamic Society of Greater Houston is giving away free Korans.

Click here.

I received the link through the Freebie Fantasy Yahoo Group. They send tons of links about free stuff, sweepstakes, coupons, etc. Its a lot to wade through, but there are some cool things. Again, I'm warning you...it's a lot, A LOT, of email, even in Digest mode.

I received the Koran, some posters from Nato, an ambassadorial membership in the Maker's Mark Whiskey club, a couple of 2006 calendars, etc.

The Maker's Mark club included some glasses and stirrers. I'm hoping that being a member gives me a dib on buying the special Ambassador's Barrel that they are currently working on. I saw a video regarding it. It looked good...like its aging just beautifully.

Anyway, I need to find a copy of the Torah, the Apocrypha, the Book of Mormon and the Baghavad Gita to join my Koran and my three Bibles on my bookshelves. I'm sure there are some others that I'm not remembering.

I used to have a copy of the Gita...not sure what happened to it.

Hmmm, wonder if its properly the Koran or al-Qur'an or the Quran...I've seen it all three ways. In the link, it is spelled Koran. But on the cover of the book it is Al-Qur'an.

Ah well, I guess that's semantics.

Teen Titans Cancelled on Cartoon Network...

Cartoon Network has cancelled the excellent Teen Titans cartoon.

It may already be too late, but print this out, sign it, and send it in.

Who knows...maybe we can at least get one more season...hopefully.

Cotton Bowl 2006

Well...the game is done...

It was a helluva game...but Texas Tech lost to Alabama 13-10.

And they were in the game up until the end...not so bad...just too bad they lost.

The BCS...

2005-06 Bowl Schedule - January 2, 2006 through January 4, 2006

Bowl Championship Series - 4 games

Tostitos Fiesta Bowl - Tempe, AZ
Notre Dame vs. Ohio State
Jan. 2 - 4:30 p.m.
ABC

Nokia Sugar Bowl - Atlanta, GA
Georgia vs. West Virginia
Jan. 2 - 8:30 p.m.
ABC

FedEx Orange Bowl - Miami, FL
Florida State vs. Penn State
Jan. 3 - 8 p.m.
ABC

And finally, this year's National Championship Game...

Citi Rose Bowl - Pasadena, CA
USC vs. Texas
Jan. 4 - 8 p.m.
ABC

NFL Draft Order - 2006...per the Associated Press

1. Houston Texans (2-14)
2. New Orleans Saints (3-13)
3. Tennessee Titans (4-12)
4. New York Jets (4-12)
5. Green Bay Packers (4-12)
6. & 7. San Francisco 49ers (4-12) and Oakland Raiders (4-12) - Order to be determined.

Do the Houston Texans draft Reggie Bush #1 overall? How many chances do you have to grab a game changer? Or do they let David Carr go in a trade and grab Matt Leinert...there a couple of possibilities.

The damned Tennessee Titans are going to get Vince Young...or if he slips past them, the Jets will grab him. I'm betting that back-to-back years with the same injury to the same shoulder have done Chad Pennington in New York.

Hmmm, I wonder who is going to be there at #5...I wonder if the draft class is going to be that deep.

Mike Tice and a Viking Funeral to Close Out NFL 2005

Though they are the enemy of all things Green and Yellow and, disclaimer time, not just because I happen to love a Viking fan, I think Mike Tice got hosed. They fired him one hour after his Vikings put it on the Chicago Bears yesterday.

He pulled it together after Cullpepper's injury. He went on a helluva win streak coming down the stretch and he missed the playoffs by a game or two.

I propose that if he had had Brad Johnson at QB for the whole season the Vikings would have made the playoffs. I further propose that if they had traded Daunte Cullpepper instead of Randy Moss, then, they would have not only been in the playoffs but probably had home field advantage. And sent the hated Bears scurrying back to their dens. BAH!

Making Onterio Smith's drug problem, Tice's fault is a crock. The idiot got caught carrying a urine replacement device designed to help beat drug tests...through airport security, for Gawd's sake. This thing has to look like a dildo to fool the observers for the drug tests. Can you imagine the airport screener's face when he/she realized what they were looking at in this NFL Running Back's luggage...even worse if he was carrying it on his person...even worse.

The Love Boat scandal...was Tice there? Was he charged with any of the debauchery?

And yes, his Vikings have been streaky, but what team isn't. They'll get on a good run and win some games and, then, BAM! They lose a game that the fans and media think they shouldn't have...it happens.

That's why they play the games and why they keep score.

Not everybody wins every weekend.

Welcome to real life!

He was told an hour after the game. No time to savor a victory. His wife was hounded by reporters in the parking lot as she was leaving the Metrodome about the rumors.

And what did he say his immediate plans were beyond fielding job offers...he said, ""Go home and let my wife cry on my shoulder, I guess."

I hope you get another job soon, coach.

Keep your pencil sharp.

Mike Tice could coach my Green Bay Packers and I'd be glad to have him.

The Houston Bowl Played on My Birthday...

...resulted in hometown boys TCU winning 27-24 over Iowa State. The parts of the game that I got to check out were excellent on every front.

For a full recap look here.

Cotton Bowl today...[For Craig and Cadi and the Family Cline] - Go Tech! Get 'em up!
Texas Tech vs. Alabama

And Wednesday night...the National Championship...my Texas Longhorns vs. the hated and feared...USC Trojans.

Its a good week to be a college football fan.

The Grapes of Wrath -- Part 2

I'm still struggling with the book.

It is pretty easy to not pick it up and read it.

I haven't given up on it, but it is a chore to read.

I have a ton of unread magazines that I want to look at. Comics in my "re-read" stack that I want to read. The last week of NFL regular season football on television to distract me. New DVD's that I got for Christmas to watch. The umpteenth rerun of "Independence Day" or "Lethal Weapon" or "Die Hard" or "Men in Black" or "She-Devil" to watch on cable.

And GameCube...lest we forget GameCube.

If I were dedicated, I would sit down and slap that book out in a couple of days...just don't know if I'm going to find that dedication or not.

Guess we'll see.

The Circle of Life...

Another one of the big circles of life closed for me today and not because I turned 39 yesterday.

Back when I was a wee lad, I had a horrible propensity to answer any question with the word "because."

Conversations would go like...

"Why did you do this?"

"Because."

"Because why?"

And then, the answer was either "because" again or "I don't know."

Today, I asked Sarah why she wasn't going over to play at her friends...

And how do you think she responded...

"Because."

And I said..."Because why?"

And she said..."Because."

And I had this image of my Mamaw, Granny, and Grandad up in Heaven laughing at me.

HA!

The circle...
The circle of life.

And the Award for Most Disturbing Christmas/Holiday Card Goes To...

The guys over at The Beat...

Notice no knives or utensils are in evidence on the table...HA!