Saying Goobbye...

George Lindsey portrayed the character "Goober Pyle" on the Andy Griffith show. His character was a big hearted auto mechanic that knew little about much, other than working on cars, and caring for people. He passed away today at the age of 83. A West African Congo word "Nguba" is where the slang term goober comes from. Mr. Lindsey made the word a Southern household name, and a Southerners favorite nickname, for a friend that has done something a little off beat. It is a name that is not easily forgotten and once used often. Goober as in goober peas, peanuts, and a term that I have been called a few times myself is a name that lives on. Goober Pyle (George Lindsey), God rest his soul, he will be missed.

Speaking of great names, the 138th running of the Kentucky Derby had some great names this year as well. This years line up featured the winner, "I'll Have Another," and he may do just that with a Preakness victory! Second place finisher, Bodemeister. Fifth place finisher Creative Cause, followed by Liason, and race favorite Union Rags. My favorite name goes to the eight spot, "Rousing Sermon." However Daddy Nose Best was a very close second on my favs list! Done Talking, Prospective, and Daddy Long Legs round out my Top Ten. I would love to see "I'll Have Another win the Triple Crown. That is the perfect name for the trifecta!

Nothing to do with names in this group, other than Mayweather remaining undefeated winning by unanimous decision over Miguel Cotto, in the squared circle. The name missing here? Manny "Pac-Man" Pacquiao. This should set up the fight that every boxing fan wants, but it's not happening! Mayweather said Cotto accepted the blood and urine tests, and they fought. Pacquiao has said previously, that the blood test is not necessary, and weakens a fighter before a fight. So the only thing note worthy name wise here, is the nasty ones that can't be mentioned in front of women and children. Therefore, I will move on the MMA. Diaz submitted Miller in the octagon, and Josh "Kos" Koscheck lost in a very close decision to Johny Hendricks.

Some familiar names in cycling finished strong today in Italy. It is the first big bicycle race of the year, being one of three Grand Tour events. The Giro (Italy's biggest race) started Saturday, and young American Taylor Phinney won the Time Trial Stage. The second stage was clean and smooth up until the last 500 meters of the second stage, and it was there that the races first nasty crash took place. What was even nastier, was watching Brit and Team Sky hopeful, Mark Cavendish leg his way to another stage victory. Like him or not that man has some killer finishing skills!

A NASCAR name that many are loving to hate "Keselowski," wins at Talledega, and a name unfamiliar to many in hockey (LA Kings), went on to sweep the St. Louis Blues today, and earned a spot in the NHL Western Finals. Nicely done Kings, nicely done!

Last but not least, and to conclude the Lakers should put away another seldom heard of name in the NBA (Denver Nuggets), or seldom in the sense that haven't been mentioned much as true contenders since the names Issel, Vandeweghe and English were mentioned in the same sentence. Go Lakers!

Goobnight everyone!

Bodies, & Body's

Let's start out with bodies...

It was a typical cool, fall, Smokey Mountain morning. On the agenda: drop off baby girl at school, get the upcoming future Federal Agent to the Body Farm Lab, and then get a ride in before time to pick the ladies up.

The fog rose over the mountains just like smoke (henceforth the name Smokey), and set the scene (see third and final picture above) and mood for our trip. Baby girl insisted on walking herself to class as a watchful, proud papa, and protective big brother eyed her trek down the walk, and into the school building. We then drove out of the school lot, and hit the highway after being satisfied with her safe arrival to class. We drove out to the top of the mountain and took a few snap shots of the islands in the clouds. The peaks peeking through the puffy sky pillows can pique your imagination.

We drove from 3,000 feet of elevation to approximately 1,000 feet of elevation, and were at that point, driving underneath the low clouds and in the fog. Our mountain is one of the most beautiful vistas in the world to me. When I am not too shy to be biased I say emphatically, that it "is the most" gorgeous view in the world! Top top o' tha mornin' to ya, from top o' tha world!

We arrived on the campus of Western Carolina University, and asked a campus policeman to help us find our contact. We gave him the doctors name, and told the officer that we had a meeting with the doctor for my son's schooling, that pertained to information concerning the "Body Farm." He said he would take us there, and we could follow behind his car. Sweet a police escort and we weren't even in trouble! The officer led us back to the entrance, and began to lead us as if he were going to take us off campus. I jumped out of the car (stopped and in park of course) at the now red traffic light, and ran up to his car. I explained that the good doctor was also a professor, and gave him the name of the hall in which the doctor had instructed us to go to. The officer then told us to follow him again, and he would take us there, but we were on our own with parking. Perfect weather and perfect timing (thank you Lord), we found a spot first thing.

We made it in and went down to the lab. Skeletal remains have never really bothered me. What hurts me is holding someone when they are dying, and you can feel the warmth leave their body. Especially if it's a loved one, someone in your family, or that has become like family. I have felt that more than once, and the first time was one time too many in my life time. I hope that I do not have to do it again ever, unless there is no way around it, and it is to comfort someone that has to have "ME" be the one to be there. It just hurts so bad to go through that with someone.

Body's...

This old body is ready for rest. The ride up the mountain was great today! I rode with my middle son, and we had a blast. The mountain is a steady climb, but we gain over 1,400 feet of elevation. It's not straight up and down, but will make you work nonetheless. So now that the darkness has fallen over this body of land, it is time to make a few calls, to let folks know we love them, and check up on world events, sports, weather, and tomorrows agenda.

The Governing Body in many sports organizations can't seem to work well with the bodies they are supposed to be governing! The majors have finally gone beyond the "Juiced" days of baseball, or so we hope. At least for now, all is good in baseball. The Yankees lost, the Brew Crew won, no one has been accused of throwing a spit ball, or taking any shots that are disallowed, so all is well. Brewers - Cards! STL shutout, and shutdown the Phils! "Mel Allen this is for you sir, "How about that!" Brewers - Cards in the NLDS, and the Motor City Kitty (Tigers) - Rangers in the ALCS... baseball is sweet this year, welcome back, and thanks for making it entertaining!

The NBA however, is making me think about boycotting for a couple of seasons! I didn't watch baseball or cycling for a good number of years because of strikes, and dopes, I mean doping. Now the NBA can't come to terms! The legalese of the matter is not worth going into great detail, and trying to talk to the bone headed egos (players and owners) that are arguing is senseless as well. Therefore, sensible reader, as much as it pains me, and for as much as I love Laker basketball, let me make my plea to you... boycott all things professional basketball until greedy players come to appreciate the real reason that they are not playing pick up games on the playground, it is because of "YOU!" In the same breath, I believe the owners of these franchised teams will have a greater appreciation for you as well.

Did I mention that the Yankees lost? Yeah, ok, good!

Onto NASCAR! Now here's a sport that everyone can learn from! Down to the wire baby! Can Jimmy surge in Kansas, and win another Cup Championship? Will Gordon conquer Kansas and get back into the thick of things, or drum roll please... Will Harvick do it again for DEI!? Stay tuned this NASCAR season finale is sure to be a barn burner!

College Football:

Which student body will cheer for a Heisman winner, and which student body will celebrate a National Champion? Well my Heels will not see it in football, but in soccer (the other futbol) our men, and women have a stellar shot! So in futbol Norte Americana, I say, "On Wisconsin baby!" I didn't think that the Badger faithful would have a shot at getting their first Championship this year, because the defense couldn't hang with speedy offenses. Note to self, when you have a one-two, and three punch on offense, with the third punch capable of producing a lethal fourth shot, your defense can rest a little easier. Your D can rest a little easier because the oppositions D can't! They cannot rest at all because they can't stop you late in the game due to the dominance of your offense. Out of the back field Wisconsin has a bruising back that can keep the "Ball" rolling, and they also have a Brown man name "White," that moves like lightening! Then when they get tired of scoring, they allow Russell "Oh Mr. Wilson" to run one in on you, or use his arm to throw one to Toon, or a host of other (now open) receivers because of what your running game has done. Oh did I mention the fact that this backfield is protected a front line of giants? 16'5" 1315lb average, and have a heart as big as all outdoors. When they lean on you, you feel it. So yes, defense can be generated by offense.

Cycling:

What trade of governing body is being fair in China now days? I love the Chinese culture, but the way they do business is killing me. Now the UCI is in their pocket. Yes, it has been rumored that the cycling committee called UCI told all of the worlds top teams, that if they missed the starting line in Beijing, that they would be looked over when it came time for licensure in 2012. Hey no doping with roids, just noids! Go Trek go!

The Expected & Unexpected Sports For This Weekend...

The EXPECTED:

UFC:
The Big Brazilian Blockbuster UFC Rio, saw the home favorites taking care of business. Silva amazes me still. He is the most humble fighter that I have ever seen. He's calm, going into training, he is calm going into the fights, he is calm during the fight, and he is calm at post fight. Anderson "Spider" Silva treats every fight like it's no big deal. He trains hard, and care free, and he fights the same way! He set his opponent down twice in the second round with a jab, and finished him off with the ground and pound. In the locker room he hugged his boys and shook the oldest son's hand and loved on them like any good father would want to after a days work. Silva is the first fighter in UFC History to win in ten title bouts, and first to 10 consecutive title bout victories.

Cycling:

Levi stayed out front, and finished among the leaders in the peleton, and claimed the inaugural USA Pro Cycling Challenge. Levi won the individual honors as the Trek teams flip flopped in the overall team standings with Leopard Trek finishing in fourth, and Team Radio Shack finishing in fifth. Most of his fellow riders pictured with him won their respected jersey's and the race was a success. I believe this will be a great challenge that other riders will also embrace and participate in, in the years to come. Great job city of Denver, and USA Cycling.

Pictured are the winner of each competition... overall race winner Levi Leipheimer, mountains winner Rafael Montiel, points winner (and most awesome sprinter award!) Elia Viviani, best young rider Tejay Van Garderen and most aggressive rider Timmy Duggan.


The UNEXPECTED:

NASCAR:

I didn't expect one car to come out of his pit stall, and pass another car that was already up to speed and exiting the pits... Bad thing was it didn't happen once, but on a couple of occasions. I didn't expect the 18 car to remain drivable after squeezing between two other cars, and ticking off a few more drivers either. That, "Not So Happy w/ Busch" list probably grew by two more drivers Saturday night.

Track & Field World Championships:

Usain Bolt beat by the worlds fastest man! "HIMSELF!" Only allotted one false start, the reigning champion and world record holder in the 100 & 200 meter events jumped early, and about 10 meters out realized it, and in disgust, hastily pulled off his sprinters jersey, and walked off the track. He had cruised into the finals and then was eliminated by a false start!

That ladies and gentlemen was my weekend in sports Expected & Unexpected.

Again note that the reproduction for sales purposes of any images are forbidden. Photo's used strictly for viewing only and appear as a courtesy and not intended on my behalf for the use of any ad(s). Thank you.

What Do You Do With...

What do you do with a bad stomach, a sprained elbow, a broken Droid and rain. You sit inside and think about how behind you are getting in your yard work. Then you abandon your phone grab your laptop, watch the best (known) bicycle riders on the planet do battle in the Pyrenees! Andy looked to struggle a bit at the end, or was he just saving the kick for tomorrow? Frank looked strong at Plateau de Beille in the end, and grabbed a couple of seconds today, but not near enough to take a chunk out of the general classification time to gain the yellow jersey. Limoux to Montpellier tomorrow. I think with a rest day Monday you will see a different group of riders if the weather is fair! Contador will force things tomorrow, or my hiney isn't butter pecan brown! Voeckler will also come out of the yellow tomorrow. Stage Fifteen is the last of the Pyrenean stages, however word has it that everyone that has won the stage involving the climb up La Plateau de Beille (this years fourteenth stage) has gone on to win the Tour de France in the same year. I'm thinking that changes this year. This time next week will tell me if I am correct or not. I could be wrong, I mean I did have Chris Horner (of Team Radio Shack) and Fabian Cancellara (Team Leopard Trek) being up front. Now that The Shack has half of their team left, I only have a chance at Fabian being up front in one stage and that will be the one where he wins the Individual TT! But being banged up how probable is that even? Wait this is Fabian Cancellara right? The man who has shattered every Time Trial record out there, and won the last what 20 million Time Trials around the globe, including the UCI World Time Trials the last Olympic Time Trials. OK I take him winning by half a minute in the 42km TT. Anyone dare to challenge that?

NASCAR in New Hampshire tomorrow at Loudon, and the Hendrick's guys were said to look strong. JG in seventh and everyone else lined up in the twenties, I hope they are strong, considering how far back the rest of the team is starting! Fortunately, there is a lot of racing to do in a Cup race so no biggie starting back as far as twenty-eighth.

I guess tomorrow will be much of the same, I will be sitting and healing. I may run and not put as much strain on the elbow, then again, I may sit and transfer the strain from the elbow to the eyes. (Smile) As for now, it's steak time again, I have fought not eating it for two long!

Blowout's & Comebacks

OK first things first, college hoops (Carolina basketball). I have to start by saying the Heels advanced. However, and I hate to point it out, it was a sloppy victory. They have proven that they can persevere and chip away at a huge lead. They have made some great comebacks this year. However, when you give a great team a huge lead, they can usually close even against another great team. Both Carolina and Washington played sloppy and turned the ball over way too much today. The long lead passes are wonderful, when you have an open man, but the great ones no when "not" to force a pass. Magic Johnson threaded the needle in college and as a pro, but understood what ball management was about. That's why he was a National Champion, an Olympic Champion, NBA World Champion and most of all a smart and legendary winner. The Heels must play with more discipline, fewer mistakes, and still have fun! Henson has to ditch the Garnett block the dead ball mentality! He must play bigger and stronger in the paint and he must play smart! Thomas' foot was on the line, so even with a goal tend it would have only been a two point field goal instead of a three pointer. One more time with my redundant word of the day; "However," Henson should have been nowhere near that last shot. He also took a major risk going after the previous shot. He didn't even have a player close enough to him to have to box out. The worse thing that could happen did. His hand-eye/foot coordination let him down in such a way that gave the opposition one last breath, and in doing so, almost took the last from his team. They are young and they are tough and get high on emotion, but that needs to harnessed. Self discipline will make or break you.

Duke gave up a huge lead. Very uncharacteristic of a Coach K team. Congrats on win 900 Coach Ksnarls! Again that's all the good I have in me, and I don't know how long, if ever again I can say anything good about the bad guys.

Wisconsin and the Bucky-Bo express! Coach Ryan is going to find an athletic big man one day and when he does, Coach Matta, Coach Izzo lookout! He's already boasting one of the highest home game winning percentages in the land, so lookout if Bucky gets not only smart coachable kids, but athletic ones as well! Can you imagine a UW team with a dominant big man, a shooter, defensive stoppers, and a couple of leapers!? Yeah 100-0 at home again over the next 5 years, and probably close to the same record on the road! Seriously, trade one of his bigs for UNC's Zeller/Henson (a mature Henson), or OSU's Sully. Bo's guys would be where Thad's guys are... in the #1 overall!

Speaking of #1 overall, I was so disinterested in the thrashing that OSU put on George Mason that I did some research for NASCAR. Yes OSU is very deserving of the #1 overall and I have them taking it all. But I pray that my Heels prevail and shake up the college hoops world! Oh back to NASCAR, word on the street is that according to the experts the new Buick Regal is to heavy and a tad off pace with its competition, however, I say put her on the track, she's one fine ride! I think the Regal belongs! Hope Buick's back!

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Trevor "Big Bang" Bayne

Trevor said with his faith statement, (not really, the imperfect Christian did) about the evolution of his Daytona victory... "God clapped His hands, and "bang!" Trevor after a prayer was headed to Victory Lane. ;)

The imperfect Christian is not a Ford fan, and it's not that he dislikes the Wood Brothers (who have been racing since Moses introduced them to chariot racing), but the imperfect one is a Trevor Bayne fan now. The imperfect Christian, and family made it through Knoxville just before the city was covered in red and white confetti! We listened to the race via the radio on our way home from a nice road trip, and were blown away by Trevor's faith statement. Here's the link to the article in Autoweek:

http://www.autoweek.com/article/20110221/NASCAR/110229992

A co-worker turned the imperfect Christian on to this article, and used the last statement that Trevor gave to the columnist:

"One more thing: My faith is a huge part of my life. The biggest thing I've ever done and ever could do was find Christ. That's the reason I'm here; that's my whole platform. He's put me here for this reason. If it wasn't for that, there's no way I'd be here. These are great things, but they go away with time. My relationship with Christ is something that can never go away."

God bless the Trevor Bayne's of the sports world. Prayerfully more men will make this stand, and say, "I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ!" For that reason I pulled for Jeff Gordon after his first victory, and it would be nice to hear him glorify God again like he used to.

Racing For What?

NASCAR kicks off 2010 with a bang! Potholes and Pieholes; could we keep them both sealed just long enough to enjoy a race? Distractions and attractions, man what a weekend in Florida!

Hats off to Jamie McMurray on his first Daytona win. I can't speak of the sponsor in the lesser NASCAR race because, well just because, but I am wondering what would have taken place if Danica would have placed high, or better yet, what would have taken place if she had won? I can tell you now that it would have been tough to have taken the spot light away from her even on Sunday! Wait isn't that Sarah Palin? Spotlight adjustment please...

Sarah Palin was at Daytona for an entirely different race, perusing through the crowd on the infield taking pictures, shaking hands, and hugging everyone old enough to vote, and some of those that were not old enough to vote, but only if they were connected with someone old enough to vote. What could possibly be a worse for the winner of the race than to have the spotlight on someone else before the race had even begun? For Jamie McMurray the answer would be - looking up at the end of the race, and seeing Dale Jr. in your rearview mirror, and going through the anxiety of wondering whether or not he was going to put you into the wall! On the other hand at least it wasn't Keselowski, or Stewart. With one of them in the rearview it could have easily turned into a trip to the tracks medical facility.

Then there's Ashley Force Hood! Yes the ladies have the racing spotlight on the track and off, and I am not mad at'em! Ashley, and her father John Force are the first daughter and father team to reach an NHRA Final. The 14 time Champion as a driver and 16 time Champion as an owner couldn't have been more proud and honored to lose to his little girl in that Final. I know I would have been too happy! Now if we can just get her out of that Mustang and away from the darkside, and doing the right thing and using the "Force" for good and not evil...

Well looks like papa got this one! He won for the first time since the 2008 Topeka race, and capped of the first race victory over Ron Capps. 60 years young and busted him out of the gate. Oh big ups to my old North Hollywood neighbor Larry Dixon for winning the Top Fuel event.



OK here's the backatcha for the ladies. Johnny "On The Spot" Spillane takes home a Silver Medal for the US in the Nordic Combined for the first ever medal since the 1924 Inagural Winter Games took place. Good looking out Johnny.




We still haven't forgotten about the possibility of Lindsey Vonn not being able to compete, however, Johnny's Silver helps ease the pain of the possibility in not having Lindsey available to medal for the US.

Oh yeah, with all of the hype, and everything I almost forgot to mention that it is also NBA All-Star Weekend too! There are lady officials in the NBA now, but I do not know whether there is a lady calling the All-Star game. If there was, I would be happy for her too. I am just sad for the non-Philly fans that they are having to deal with Allen Iverson for one more All-Star appearence...

Well to the ladies in sports, and everywhere else, here's to you:

Happy Valentines Day!