What Is A Sport, Anyway?

January 27, 2012 By Leave a Comment
A sport? (Photo from Wikipedia)

Yesterday Reddit user SpottedJack asked, “What is your definition of a ‘sport’?” sparking lively discussion about which physical and/or competitive activities qualify as sports.

Several months ago I asked, “What Is ‘Midwest,’ Anyway?” In the interest of continuing that analysis of the name of this website, and in the interest of bringing new life to a conversation that (with 4 “up” votes and 3 “down” votes) is now buried on the fourth page of the /r/sports subreddit, I ask you, “What is a sport, anyway?”

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Filed Under: Away From the Action Tagged With: Auto Racing, cheerleading, foosball, reddit, sports, table tennis, title ix

In this case, what happens in Vegas will NOT be staying in Vegas – so help Jon Washburn out!

December 2, 2011 By Leave a Comment
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Vegas baby. Vegas.

A few months back, I was given the awesome opportunity to meet Matthew Hanson – national hero.

During that day, I also got to meet Matt Kenseth, Rodney Atkins, and watch the race at Richmond from unbelievable views.  Crown Royal took me behind the pits, underneath the track, into the grandstand, and into their personal suite throughout the night.

Well, this weekend, my adventure continues.

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Filed Under: Auto Racing Tagged With: Auto Racing, matt kenseth, matthew hanson, NASCAR

Under Different Circumstances, Dan Wheldon Would Have Been a Household Name

October 19, 2011 By 4 Comments
Wheldon at the National Guard Youth Foundation 2010 ChalleNGe Champions Gala (Wikipedia)

Dan Wheldon, who suffered fatal injuries in a 15-car crash at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Sunday, twice won the Indianapolis 500. But neither time was his victory the story of the race.

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Filed Under: Auto Racing, Away From the Action Tagged With: Auto Racing, dan wheldon, Danica Patrick, indy 500

When Are Coed Sports OK?

March 11, 2011 By 1 Comment
coed-field-hockey

Last month freshman wrestler Cassy Herkelman made national news when she won her opening match at Iowa’s state championship by forfeit. Her male opponent refused to wrestle her.

This week, Chantal Sutherland became the first female jockey to win the prestigious Santa Anita Handicap, riding Game On Dude, and Danica Patrick finished fourth in the Nationwide Series race in Las Vegas, the best ever finish for a woman in a national NASCAR race.

As a general rule, sports are an institution where the sexes don’t mix, but recent events have shown us that situations are now arising where men and women, girls and boys are competing with and against each other – and in many cases the girls are holding their own.

The question is, when are coed sports OK?

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Filed Under: Auto Racing, Olympic Sports, Other Sports Tagged With: Auto Racing, coed sports, Danica Patrick, korfball, sara fisher

Ten Years Later, Dale Earnhardt Still Irreplaceable

February 16, 2011 By 4 Comments

February 18, 2001 was supposed to usher in the dawn of a new era in NASCAR, beginning with the Daytona 500.

The year before, the sanctioning body signed a lucrative contract with new television partners FOX and NBC/TNT, and for the first time most events on the Cup schedule would be available on over-the-air television. This was a sign that NASCAR was truly moving from the backwater to the mainstream.

No one thought the date would instead mark the end of an era, with repercussions still felt in the sport now ten years later.

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Filed Under: Auto Racing Tagged With: Auto Racing, dale earnhardt, Daytona 500, NASCAR

The Greatest American Race

May 27, 2010 By Leave a Comment

The Indy 500 is the single greatest race in the world of racing, so much so that Memorial Day weekend and the Indy 500 have become synonymous.

Say what you want to about the Daytona 500, but the Indy 500 is as good as it gets.

Don’t get me wrong, the Daytona 500 is an epic race, but it just can’t compare to the legendary race at the Brickyard.

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Filed Under: Auto Racing Tagged With: Auto Racing, Daytona 500, indy 500

2009 Indianapolis 500 Betting Odds and Predictions: Helio Will be The Man

May 22, 2009 By Leave a Comment

2009 indianapolis 500 odds and predictionAfter you make your UFC 98 odds picks for Saturday night, you can get in on the Indy 500 betting action Sunday afternoon for the “Greatest Spectacle In Racing,” which will begin at 1:00 PM ET. Scott Dixon is the defending race winner and favorite in your online sports book, but another former winner will take the checkered flag.

Dixon has Indy 500 odds of +350, and the defending series champion will roll off fifth, in the middle of the second row. Dixon hasn’t finished lower than sixth in his last three 500s. He also won the last IndyCar race at Kansas after two disappointing results at St. Petersburg and Long Beach, and another win would give him a lot of momentum heading into the summer months.

Ryan Briscoe isn’t the most well-known IndyCar driver, and he’s probably most recognized for tangling with Danica Patrick on pit road in last year’s 500, taking them both out of the race. Briscoe has Indy 500 odds of +600 after winning at St. Petersburg and coming in fourth at Kansas, and he ran fifth at the Brickyard in 2007. He starts in the middle on the front row.

Points leader Tony Kanaan, who starts on the outside of the middle row, and 2007 500 winner Dario Franchitti are rated at +700. Kanaan has a series title from 2004 and he’d love to add an Indy win to his resume with four top-10s in seven trips to the Brickyard. Franchitti returns after sponsorship problems ended his NASCAR stint, and he’ll be looking for a good run after an 18th-place result at Kansas. Franchitti also won Long Beach, and starts on the outside of the front row.

Of course, you have to mention Danica Patrick Indy 500 odds, which are set at +1000. She’s followhelio castroneves - 2009 indianapolis 500 odds and predictions - indy 500ed up a 19th-place run at St. Petersburg with two straight top-fives, and she’s good at Indy as well, racking up a pair of top-fives and an eighth-place result in three visits to the Brickyard. IndyCar’s most popular driver rolls off 10th, on the outside of the fourth row.

However, this year’s winner is accustomed to the tradition of drinking milk in Victory Lane at Indy, as Helio Castroneves is the last driver to win back-to-back 500s in 2001 and 2002. Castroneves thought he’d be watching this race from a jail cell, but he beat his tax-evasion case, and came back with a seventh-place and runner-up finish since then. No one is happier to be back in the driver’s seat than Castroneves, who is starting from the pole and rated at +400, and he gives you a solid chance to win. Take Helio Castroneves’ Indy 500 odds on Sunday.

Filed Under: Auto Racing, Featured Column, Sports Betting Tagged With: 2009 Indy 500, Auto Racing, Danica Patrick, Helio Castroneves, Sports Betting

Video: Carl Edwards Crashes at Talladega, Then Does Ricky Bobby Impression

April 27, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Video: Carl Edwards crash at Talladega, runs to finish lineI didn’t watch the race, but a guy at work just came in and told me to YouTube it. Pretty incredible crash involving Carl Edwards at Talladega this weekend.

And even more incredible is that he was completely fine afterwards – fine enough for life to imitate art, as Edwards gets out and runs to cross the finish line like he’s Ricky Bobby. Check it out:

Video of Carl Edwards crash at Talladega:


——————–

Video of Ricky Bobby (or is it Carl Edwards?) from Talladega Nights

Update: Here are a link to story about the crash, where 8 fans were injured:

Filed Under: Auto Racing, Featured Column Tagged With: Auto Racing, Carl Edwards, Talladega

IndyCar Series: RoadRunner Turbo Indy 300 Preview

April 25, 2009 By Leave a Comment

The IndyCar Series rolls into Kansas this weekend and kicks off the first oval race of the season. Given the differences in the kinds of racing we will see you can take the past two race results and throw them away. The standings so far will not mean much as we transition to the sort of racing that the IndyCar Series is known for. On Sunday, we will see these beautiful cars within just feet of each other driving at speeds in excess of 200 mph.

There are a number of items to discuss regarding this race, so lets take a few minutes to discuss some of the items that make this such a pivotal race in the schedule:

1) This is the race before the Indy 500. That means we are seeing a few drivers this weekend that are in it mainly to gain some seat time before transitioning the World’s Greatest Race Course, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Two drivers come to mind there, Milka Duno and Sarah Fisher. They will both be in the race this weekend and will transition some of their experience from this weekend to the month of May.

2) This weekend is the first oval of the season. The past two races have been on temporary street circuits. They are bumpy, curvy and not ideal for side by side racing. Now, we move over to the super smooth, super fast and super tight racing of a high speed oval. For a driver’s psychological preparation as well as the physical preparation, they must address this race much differently than the races so far in 2009. Rest assured, they are professionals and will have no problem adapting to those changes, but from a fan’s perspective it can be easy to look pass some of the subtle nuances of what impacts the drivers of the IndyCar Series.

3) We have a shot at a three-peat. Dan Wheldon won this race both in 2007 and 2008 with Target Chip Ganassi Racing. Now, with his move to Panther it should make it more interesting. It will be tough to pull it off given the first oval race with a new team. Panther has been very successful in the past on ovals and given another year I think Dan could win at Kansas. My gut tells me not this year. But, just in case you wanted another reason to watch…there you go.

Recap and Prediction:

This is a great racetrack. 1.5 miles in length and a 200 lap race. The first oval of the season and a couple of drivers who are far less than full time that are entered into the mix. I expect it be a very close race and that it will come down to Helio Castroneves, Tony Kanaan and Dario Franchitti. Who will take the checkered? Watch and find out.

The INDYCAR SERIES ROADRUNNER TURBO 300 AT KANSAS SPEEDWAY IS APRIL 26th at 4pm Eastern and is only on VERSUS! Tune in…

We will have a race recap on Monday to discuss the results.

Also be sure to check back throughout the Month of May with updates live from INDY!!!

if you twitter: follow me

Filed Under: Auto Racing, Featured Column Tagged With: Auto Racing, indianapolis motor speedway, indy 500, IndyCar, kansas speedway, road runner turbo 300

IndyCar Series: Will Power to fill in for Helio Castroneves on Penske Team

January 13, 2009 By Leave a Comment
willpower

IndyCar | Will Power to Fill In for Helio CastronevesFor the first time since Team Penske came to the IndyCar Series they will have a different driver behind the wheel of the #3 machine. With the Federal Tax Evasion court case plaguing Helio Castroneves’ personal life, it has now spilled over into his professional one. Castroneves had requested that the case me delayed, but his request was denied by the judge.

Team Penske will announce today at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway that it has signed Australian driver Will Power to fill in for the troubled brazillian star. Whether Power will actually drive a car for Penske in an IndyCar Series race is left up to the Federal Court system. If Helio isn’t able to answer the bell due to his court case, then the reigns of the #3 will be handed over to the Aussie.

Will Power has a successful record on road courses, and was a rising star in the now defunct Champ Car World Series. He was with PKV racing last year and found himself with no seat heaWill Power to Replace Helio Castronevesding into 2009. This is a bit of gamble for Will Power, considering he may not even get to race in a Team Penske car, but I think it sets clear the state of the economy. Why would he take a gamble on being used as a test driver, while Helio fights his battles? Because there is nothing else out there.

It does make the mind wonder what the end game will be. Will Penske bring over enough sponsorship to adopt a third car in the 2009 season? Is Will Power going to be used for a few weeks in testing the 2009 car, then thrown off the team when HCN comes back?

Or is this maybe the clearest sign yet, that Helio Castroneves is in a world of trouble, and there is very little chance of him escaping the wrath of our Government.

Stay tuned, its gonna be an incredible year in the IndyCar Series… Bring on the warm weather…and lets go racing!

Filed Under: Auto Racing Tagged With: Auto Racing, Helio Castroneves, indy 500, IndyCar, Tax Evasion, Team Penske, will power

Formula 1 : Lewis Hamilton is World Champion | Felipe Massa wins Brazilian Grand Prix

November 3, 2008 By Leave a Comment
lewis-hamilton-flag

Lewis Hamilton WinsLewis Hamilton’s head must have been spinning in regards to all the scenarios where he would end up as World Champion of the FIA’s prestigious racing series, Formula 1. I expect he found one he knew he could control, or at least attempt to and had it written inside his visor, on his steering wheel, and on his racing gloves. It said simply: FINISH 5th.

Felipe Massa needed a host of things to happen to win the championship. If his plan was to win the race, all that had to happen was for Hamilton to finish anywhere from Sixth place on back. Half of his plan worked, as Felipe Massa won his home grand prix in Brazil. The other half just didn’t pan out.

Lewis Hamilton ran an incredibly disciplined race strategy, and ran just fast enough to finish 5th in the race; therefore sealing the deal and being able to be the youngest driver to win a Formula 1 world championship. Amazingly, it wasn’t as easy as it sounds.

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Filed Under: Auto Racing Tagged With: Auto Racing, brazilian grand prix, Formula 1, formula one, Lewis Hamilton, World Champion

NASCAR: On Jimmie Johnson and Dynasties

October 20, 2008 By 1 Comment
Jimmie-Johnson

jimmie johnson lowesWhat in the world is that smell? Is that musty beer burning in the infield fire pit? Could it be the mixture of Sunoco gasoline and rubber that comes from any NASCAR race? It could be…and probably is all of the above. But the most pungent odor I can smell is that of a dynasty. Not that long ago, I cried out about the injustices of racing dynasties, but have given that some thought. After reflecting on that issue for some time now, I am kind of, almost, pretty sure convinced that I like dynasties. Here’s why:

A dynasty takes a normal man, say the driver of the number 48 Lowe’s machine, and at first turns him into a Champion. Then the next year, the pressure is really on. Can this guy do it all over again? Is there anything left in the tank, or will the pinnacle of his chosen sport be enough of a reward to make him rethink doing it all over again? Yet, the #48 with Jimmie Johnson behind the wheel did in fact have enough left. In 2007, he won the Cup just like he did the year before.

And now, for the third year in a row, Jimmie Johnson stands on the verge of cementing his greatness at the top of his sport. Cale Yarborough won the Cup in 1976, 77, and 78. To date, Cale is the only driver to ever have three consecutive Cup championships. That small part of NASCAR history may get a bit more crowded this year.

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Filed Under: Auto Racing Tagged With: Auto Racing, Chase, Dynasty, Jimmie Johnson, Martinsville, NASCAR

Formula 1 Chinese Grand Prix : Lewis Hamilton Wins GP but not Championship

October 19, 2008 By Leave a Comment
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lewis hamiltonIn Shanghai, the circus known as Formula 1 once again proved that nothing is impossible. With a growing lead in the drivers Championship, Lewis Hamilton headed into the race that had previously derailed his quest to be World Champion.

Lewis Hamilton won the pole giving himself the best shot at the championship he could have asked for. More importantly, he won last nights Chinese Grand Prix. Yet he isn’t champion. Here’s why.

As I mentioned in my pre-race report last night, Felipe Massa was trailing him by 5 points in the championship. The running order showed Lewis in 1st, Kimi Raikkonen in 2nd, and Felipe in 3rd. If the race had ended this way, Lewis would be World Champion. Yet the two Ferrari driver’s were given “team orders” to switch places and Raikkonen let Massa slip past. With Massa in 2nd place, and not having the horses to catch the McLaren driven by Hamilton, he had assured himself of keeping the hopes of a world championship alive.

Lewis Hamilton needs just a 5th place finish in Brazil to win the Championship. This has to give him a bit of confidence going into the final GP of the season. Massa, even with a win, would be unable to surpass the point lead Lewis currently holds over the Ferrari driver.

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Filed Under: Auto Racing Tagged With: Auto Racing, Chinese Grand Prix, FIA, Formula 1, Kimi Raikkonen, Lewis Hamilton, World Championship

Formula 1: Chinese Grand Prix Pre-Race Report | Lewis Hamilton

October 18, 2008 By 1 Comment
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lewis hamilton Lewis Hamilton has got to be thinking. “Here we go again.”

In the closing rounds of the 2007 Formula 1 World Championship, rookie McLaren driver Lewis Hamilton was on the verge of clinching the championship. It was this race, the Chinese Grand Prix, that ended his hopes of being a World champion. Instead through mistakes in the race the title slipped out of reach and it landed with Kimi Raikkonen.

365 days later we are once again faced with an historic Grand Prix.

Maybe.

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Filed Under: Auto Racing Tagged With: Auto Racing, Chinese Grand Prix, Formula 1, Lewis Hamilton, World Champion

NASCAR Qualifying update: Martinsville | Points Leader Jimmie Johnson

October 17, 2008 By Leave a Comment

RAIN

PLUS

EQUALS

Therefore….

For the second time in as many weeks, the NASCAR Sprint Cup cars will line up from points this weekend at Martinsville. The oval track, which is just over a half mile in length, has one of the tightest pit lanes on the circuit. Jimmie Johnson, current leader in the NASCAR standings, will get the first pit stall for the TUMS QuikPak 500.

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Filed Under: Auto Racing Tagged With: Auto Racing, Jeff Burton, Jimmie Johnson, Martinsville, NASCAR
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