Mike's Sports Report!
Well something happend today, it wont be made offical until tomorrow but, its something that lets just say I dont like, but will have to live with. What happend today would be like the Washington Redskins Head Coach Joe Gibbs walking away from coaching the Skins, to take a job as Head Coach of the Dallas Cowboys, or Jesus making a deal with the devil. Those are the two things that I think of as just as bad if either of those ever happend. The 3rd of those that you thought would never happen in our life time happend today. That of course being Dale Earnhardt Jr. driver of the # 8 Budweiser Chevy for Dale Earnhardt Incorporated (DEI) changing teams and driving for Rick Hendrick. Rumors had Dale Jr. going to Richard Childress Racing (RCR) or the place alot had thought he would be rumored to be going to that being Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR). I would have been happy with either of those since growing up I was a big fan of Dale Earnhardt in the Black Goodwrench #3 that he drove for Richard Childress, and I have been a fan my whole life of Coach Joe Gibbs, because think he's Head Coach of the Washington Redskins. In my oppinion best team in all of sports! (Well financially at least, but this is our year to bounce back to win Super Bowl XLII) But back to Dale Jr. Today it was announced that he would leave DEI to drive for Hendrick, and become a teammate of Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson. Casey Mears as well, but becoming teammates with Gordon and Johnson is just unnatural. Those happen to be my 2 least favorite drivers in Nextel Cup, and for Dale Jr to become there teammates, I find no excuse. So that def sucks that Dale Jr will be driving for Hendrick. The brightside Hendrick has won 10 of the last 14 races so at least Jr's win total will increase. He hasn't won since Richmond in May of '06. The rumor has Dale Jr driving either the #5 or the #25 Chevy. If he drives the #5 he will be replacing Kyle Busch whose contract is up at the end of the season, and is rumored to be replacing Earnhardt in the #8 Chevy for DEI. The other scenerio has Casey Mears moving over from the #25 of Hendrick to the #5, with Earnhardt moving into the #25 Chevy. That case seems to be the more likely scenrio because it would reuinite Budweiser with Hendrick and the #25. For those of you who do not remember Bud was with Hendrick before Dale Earnhardt signed them to be Dale Earnhardt Jr's sponsor when he moved up to the Winston Cup Series (now Nextel Cup) back in 2000. Also being rumored is that Dale Earnhardt Jr. may be driving for Hendrick before the season is out? So we will wait and see and stay tuned for updates. Speed Channel has announced a press conference for tomorrow at 11am on Speed. (Directv 607) and will break from regular broadcast coverage to cover the Press Conference at JR Motorsports.
Other NASCAR News. 2006 Indianapolis 500 Winner Sam Hornish Jr. will be driving this weekend at Michigan International Raceway (MIR) in the ARCA race. You heard it here first, but in the IRL he drives for Roger Penske, and Penske is rumored to be having a 3rd team next year. (Something that Penske denied this week.) However Hornish has a desire to drive in Nextel Cup, and drives in the Busch Series when his IRL schedule allows. So if Penske adds a 3rd team. Mobil 1 is rumored to be the Sponsor of the Dodge, and I would look for Sam Hornish Jr. to be the next open wheel racer to make the switch to NASCAR.
Terry Labonte will pilot the #55 Napa Auto Parts Toyota Camry for Michael Waltrip Racing (MWR) in the two upcoming road course races in Sonoma and Watkins Glenn. The car is currently driven by Michael Waltrip but he will step out of the Camry for those two races due to the fact that he is currently well outside the top 35 in owner points, and that he isn't the greatest road course specialist. By having Terry Labonte race the two road course races, you get a proven veteran who is capable of winning, as well as being a former NASCAR Champion he will have a Champion's Provisional to fall back on if need be, which would guarentee the #55 Napa Toyota will be in the show, after only making two of the first fourteen races. So I applaud Micahel Waltrip for getting out of his car for those two races for the betterment of the team.
Chad McCumbee made his Nextel Cup debut at Pocono on Sunday in the Rain Shortened Pocono 500 out at Pocono Speedway and finished a solid 25th in the #45 Goody's Headache Powder Dodge of Petty Enterprises. McCumbee replaced Kyle Petty who is in a sort of "summer break" from racing as he has entered the Broadcast Booth for TNT for afew selected races before he finishes off the year in the #45 Wells Fargo/Maraton Oil Dodge. Petty seemed to be having a fun time in the broadcast booth and, seemed to get better thru out the race with his insight. Petty also mentioned retirement multiple times during the broadcast, so I wouldn't be surprised to hear an announcement with MCumbee taking over full time come next season. 3 weeks ago Petty finished 3rd in the Coca Cola 600, but the former 8 time race winner I still think will be retiring shortly. Chad Mcumbee drives in the Craftsman Truck Series Full Time, and on Saturday drove in the ARCA race at Pocono for Petty Enterprises as a sort of practice for this past Sunday's race and he won it. But for most of you who don't remember, back in Dec '05 in the made for tv movie on ESPN Chad McCumbee had the role of Dale Earnhardt Jr. in the movie motion picture 3.
Other sports news the Cleveland Cavileers are down 2 games to 0 to the San Antonio Spurts in the NBA Finals. The Cavs were overmatched in the first two games out in San Antionio, and both games were pretty much boring blowouts. The series shifts to Cleveland tonight where the Cav's I think have their best shot at a victory in a series that the Spurs will either win in 4 or 5 games.
Ben Olsen of the DC United was named Major League Soccer (MLS) Player of the Week after he recorded his first career hat trick in Sunday's 4-2 victory over the New York Red Bulls. The win pushes the United to 4-3-2.
The Washington Nationals take on the Baltimore Orioles in the 2nd Round this season of the Battle of the Beltways. The Oriles won 2 of 3 from the Nationals last month when the series was in Washington at RFK Stadium. The 3 game series moves to Baltimore tonight for 3 nights up at Camdan Yards. Currently the game is in the 3rd inning tied 3-3. Ryan Church and Ryan Zimmerman with the Nationals Homeruns and Melvin Mora had a homerun for the Orioles.
Thats my sports update. Sucks about Jr going to Hendrick, but at least now he might get that Championship.
-mike
Other NASCAR News. 2006 Indianapolis 500 Winner Sam Hornish Jr. will be driving this weekend at Michigan International Raceway (MIR) in the ARCA race. You heard it here first, but in the IRL he drives for Roger Penske, and Penske is rumored to be having a 3rd team next year. (Something that Penske denied this week.) However Hornish has a desire to drive in Nextel Cup, and drives in the Busch Series when his IRL schedule allows. So if Penske adds a 3rd team. Mobil 1 is rumored to be the Sponsor of the Dodge, and I would look for Sam Hornish Jr. to be the next open wheel racer to make the switch to NASCAR.
Terry Labonte will pilot the #55 Napa Auto Parts Toyota Camry for Michael Waltrip Racing (MWR) in the two upcoming road course races in Sonoma and Watkins Glenn. The car is currently driven by Michael Waltrip but he will step out of the Camry for those two races due to the fact that he is currently well outside the top 35 in owner points, and that he isn't the greatest road course specialist. By having Terry Labonte race the two road course races, you get a proven veteran who is capable of winning, as well as being a former NASCAR Champion he will have a Champion's Provisional to fall back on if need be, which would guarentee the #55 Napa Toyota will be in the show, after only making two of the first fourteen races. So I applaud Micahel Waltrip for getting out of his car for those two races for the betterment of the team.
Chad McCumbee made his Nextel Cup debut at Pocono on Sunday in the Rain Shortened Pocono 500 out at Pocono Speedway and finished a solid 25th in the #45 Goody's Headache Powder Dodge of Petty Enterprises. McCumbee replaced Kyle Petty who is in a sort of "summer break" from racing as he has entered the Broadcast Booth for TNT for afew selected races before he finishes off the year in the #45 Wells Fargo/Maraton Oil Dodge. Petty seemed to be having a fun time in the broadcast booth and, seemed to get better thru out the race with his insight. Petty also mentioned retirement multiple times during the broadcast, so I wouldn't be surprised to hear an announcement with MCumbee taking over full time come next season. 3 weeks ago Petty finished 3rd in the Coca Cola 600, but the former 8 time race winner I still think will be retiring shortly. Chad Mcumbee drives in the Craftsman Truck Series Full Time, and on Saturday drove in the ARCA race at Pocono for Petty Enterprises as a sort of practice for this past Sunday's race and he won it. But for most of you who don't remember, back in Dec '05 in the made for tv movie on ESPN Chad McCumbee had the role of Dale Earnhardt Jr. in the movie motion picture 3.
Other sports news the Cleveland Cavileers are down 2 games to 0 to the San Antonio Spurts in the NBA Finals. The Cavs were overmatched in the first two games out in San Antionio, and both games were pretty much boring blowouts. The series shifts to Cleveland tonight where the Cav's I think have their best shot at a victory in a series that the Spurs will either win in 4 or 5 games.
Ben Olsen of the DC United was named Major League Soccer (MLS) Player of the Week after he recorded his first career hat trick in Sunday's 4-2 victory over the New York Red Bulls. The win pushes the United to 4-3-2.
The Washington Nationals take on the Baltimore Orioles in the 2nd Round this season of the Battle of the Beltways. The Oriles won 2 of 3 from the Nationals last month when the series was in Washington at RFK Stadium. The 3 game series moves to Baltimore tonight for 3 nights up at Camdan Yards. Currently the game is in the 3rd inning tied 3-3. Ryan Church and Ryan Zimmerman with the Nationals Homeruns and Melvin Mora had a homerun for the Orioles.
Thats my sports update. Sucks about Jr going to Hendrick, but at least now he might get that Championship.
-mike