Thursday, January 24, 2008

Just one of the boys
I got to admit walking into Hendrick Motorsports and seeing Dale Earnhardt Jr. on the stage with Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon was a little strange.
When Earnhardt announced he was leaving DEI for Hendrick, I didn't know how he would fit in with his more polished teammates. But after seeing him in action, I don't think he is going to have any problem fitting in. He has done the right things so far all the way down from wearing and tucking in his button-down shirt.

Wednesday, January 23, 2008

Notes from Day 2 of media tour
Just a few observations from Day 2 of the Sprint Cup media tour:

- The more I talk to Juan Montoya and Dario Franchitti, the more you can't help not like them. Their accents are pretty cool, they always provide good insight and are good at what they do. It will be interesting to see if Montoya can duplicate last year's success and if Franchitti and the other new open wheel guys can make a splash this year.

Monday, January 21, 2008

Status quo for Day 1
Day 1 of the media tour is in the books and it was pretty uneventful. NASCAR CEO Brian France said there would be no major changes for the upcoming season, a move I agree with. There has been just too much for fans to keep up with over the last few years and I think France realizes that turns people away. Just look at the ratings.

Gearing up for racing
Sitting here in my hotel room ready for the annual NASCAR media tour in Charlotte, N.C., to begin. Hard to believe it's my sixth one of these. The idea for the media tour was started 26 years ago by Lowe's Motor Speedway president H.A. "Humpy" Wheeler in order to get more publicity for the sport. Now, more than 200 media members from across the country attend this. It's a good way to meet with all the drivers and teams to get a feel for the upcoming season, which begins in Daytona next month.

Saturday, November 10, 2007

Fitting farewell for McKinnon
As a reporter, my job is to stay objective. But it’s hard not to root for a guy like Ren McKinnon.
The Coastal Carolina senior quarterback had his season cut short after he fractured his hip in the opener against Delaware State. McKinnon, who already missed a season because of an injury, would have likely played a big role for the Chanticleers.

Wednesday, October 24, 2007

College pick ‘em
There was definitely a lot of head scratching among college football teams last weekend, especially for two teams in the Palmetto State.

Saturday, October 20, 2007

Coastal defense dominates first half
Playing one of the top offenses in Division I-AA, the Coastal Carolina defense has been up to the challenge at least in the first half against Presbyterian.
Coastal has picked off PC quarterback Tim Webb four times, two by Marrio Norman, to lead 24-7 at the half.

Wednesday, October 17, 2007

College football pick’em
Just when you thought the college football season couldn’t get any crazier, then last weekend happened.
No. 1 LSU loses to Kentucky in overtime and No. 2 Cal uses poor clock management in losing at home to Oregon State.
Being a diehard Ohio State fan, I wasn’t disappointed by those losses.

Saturday, October 13, 2007

COASTAL-CHOWAN SECOND HALF
The clock operator couldn't wind the clock fast enough tonight. But mercifully the Chanticleers-51-0 rout over Chowan is over. It was a good confidence booster for the Chants, who will need it as they enter their final five games.

COASTAL-CHOWAN FIRST HALF
The Coastal-Chowan game had blowout written all over and so far it hasn't disappointed. Coastal has dominated the undermanned and undersized Hawks in every area in leading 34-0 at the half.

Thursday, October 11, 2007

COLLEGE FOOTBALL PICK’EM
It’s hard to believe it’s Week 7 in the college football season but it is. It’s been one of the crazier ones in recent memory with Appalachian State getting things going against Michigan in the opening week.

Wednesday, October 03, 2007

Patience is key for Chanticleers, fans
At 1-3 and a game against Furman, is it too early for Coastal Carolina to panic? Yes.
No one expected the Chanticleers to resemble the team that went 9-3 last season and made a trip to the postseason. They lost 36 players and have faced a brutal schedule in which four of their first five opponents were ranked at one point in the I-AA poll.