Wednesday, May 23, 2007

NBA Draft and The Memphis Grizzlies



Who needs Greg Oden to sell tickets?!

Draft the Chinese dude – devise a cross-promotion with the zoo, and rename the team the Pandas.

Start the season ticket promotion and print up the bumper stickers now!! Come see the Memphis Pandas featuring Yi Yi and Pau Pau…

Monday, May 21, 2007

Enough With the Phoenix Whining Already!!

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Actions and reactions and consequences…this whole issue is as cut and dried as it gets. It’s regrettable that it involves 2 key players being lost in exchange for an aging role player, but that’s how it is.

The rule is fine as it is. Some have argued that players are taught to protect their teammates – but it comes down to what’s more important to you…winning or protecting your teammate. Kyle Turley when he was a Saint felt it was worth 15 yards and an ejection to rip off Damien Robinson’s helmet by the face mask in the Jets game all those years ago. It arguably cost the Saints a chance at a tie, but like the old saying goes – “them’s the breaks”.

If players are allowed, say, a 5 foot perimeter from the bench, what happens if an entire bench jumps up and charges the court – but stops within that 5 feet. Well, there’s another team that sees the first team coming off the bench. Next thing you know, nobody’s stopping at 5 feet and it’s mayhem.
This one is easy. I’m sorry it happened, but it’s not even like the Suns were even goaded into it. Nobody punched Steve Nash then turned to Stoudemire and flipped him the bird. Stoudamire stood up in the heat of the moment and started onto the court…I hate it for him…but them’s the breaks.
Two players came off the bench - NOBODY ELSE DID...nothing needs changed and Stoudemire cost Phoenix a chance at the Finals - not the NBA!!

Friday, May 11, 2007

Dale Jr Leaving Is Best Thing He Could Do



Unwilling to mire in the mediocrity of what the family business has become, Dale Jr has decided to leave Dale Earnhardt Inc and pursue other oppurtunities. Really, though, who could blame hime? Under Teresa's leadership, they've become the 4th best Chevrolet team behind Hendrick, Gibbs, and Childress. Instead of competing for Championships, they're competing for top-10 finishes. They've lost any semblance of the dominance they once had at Daytona and Talladega.


When the Hendrick and Gibbs began to compete with DEI at the plate tracks, I chalked it up to the other teams catching up. Looking back, I think there was a lot of DEI falling back. Teresa has become so concerned with marketing and sales and promotion that she's forgotten that it's a race team, first and foremost. I believe that is why Dale Jr wanted control of DEI - to be able to control the racing side of things to make the cars better. Dale Sr founded DEI for his kids, and it's truly a shame that at 32 and in the prime of his career, his son is forced to change teams because he no longer feels his father's company can compete for championships. Teresa should have simply handed over the racing control to Dale Jr. Unlike Teresa, he's at the track every week, he's in the cars and knows exactly what needs to be improved. Like Kyle Petty said several years ago - if he steps on the gas and the car won't go, he knows it engines. If the engines are putting out plenty of power, but he can't draft with the other teams, then he knows they need body help. Dale Jr is in the driver's seat and knows the same things.


And his hands were tied behind his back. Teresa apparently saw him as "Driver #8" and nothing much more in terms of importance within the structure of the company that shares his name.


Dale Jr will leave DEI at the end of the season. DEI will become a second-rate team barely making the top-20 each week and rarely competing for the Chase. Jr is most likely going to end up at RCR due to the fact that Hendrick's roster is full, and Gibbs would prefer not to have the Budweiser sponsorship that Jr will bring with him. Given the way that RCR has been running lately with all 3 of his cars, there's no reason to believe that he won't be able to switch over and take full advantage of what RCR can provide. RCR has been competative in the COT races and Dale Jr could certainly benefit from better cars.


I wish Dale Jr all the luck in the world. Given the circumstances under which he left, I can't say the same for DEI. It was founded by Dale Sr for his kids. And now the most prominent racer left in the family is forced to move to another team. Keep milking that #3 Teresa - it's all you have left.