Posted 10:12 AM by logoshak
I admit it, I am a true blue Duke Blue Devil fan and supporter. Have been for over forty years. It pains me to say it, but the University and its administration and athletic department should be ashamed of itself for allowing the football program to continue to be a laughingstock. I don't believe for one minute that Duke can't find enough qualified student athletes to contend each year for a national championship in basketball, yet put on an embarrassing exhibition of football year after year. The Devils, after Saturday night's pounding by Florida State 56-7, have lost an ACC record 27 straight conference games. What needs to happen? First, as much as I personally like Carl Franks, he hasn't shown he can win, at Duke anyways. FIRE HIM NOW! Duke should form a committee of students, faculty and alumni to formulate a plan to bring the football program into the 21st century. Or back to the 1940's when Duke was a national powerhouse. Finally, promote this program. Get local businesses and high schools involved. Don't let the football program be an afterthought to Coach K's basketball program. It can be done, but it has to start now.

Barry allsportsguides.com

Posted 12:12 PM by logoshak
The greatest racers and cars are in the United States this weekend as the Formula One circuit makes it yearly stop at Indianapolis. Let's face it the F1 cars make the NASCAR lunkers look like a 73 Pinto. I think the Formula 1 circuit is the most exciting racing out there today. If you are into drivers bumping and banging into each other with little other skills, than F1 won't be for you. If skill and daring are your forte grab a chair and watch the action.
Speaking of NASCAR, they will put on their restricter plate crash and burn show at Talladega this weekend. When will NASCAR figure out there are better ways to may these cars safe at this monster track? How about a couple of chicanes. Sounds funny maybe, but it would be worth it to get away from the plates.
Dan Reeves will be going for his 200th coaching victory this Sunday against the Carolina Panthers in Charlotte. The Atlanta Falcons are on the verge of becoming a top tier NFL team, but have sorely missed the most exciting player in the game, Michael Vick. The Carolina Panthers may be the sleeper this year in the league. This should be the one game to watch this week. Have a great weekend.

Barry allsportsguides.com

Posted 12:34 PM by logoshak
The NFL actually had some exciting games this weekend. The New York Giants squandered a big first half lead and held on to beat the Washington Redskins 24-21 in overtime. Wonder how long the brass in Washington will put up with Spurrier's losing ways. Another surprise was the Cleveland Browns slipping past the 49ers. Or are the 49ers just a bad ball club? The Oakland-Denver game tonight should be interesting.
The baseball playoff races are winding down. Looks like the Minnesota Twins, that team that MLB wanted to fold a couple of years ago, will win a division title. The Atlanta Braves Greg Maddox became the only MLB pitcher in history to win at least 15 games in 16 straight seasons. The Braves will be under pressured to break their World Series jinx this year, heck they have to get to the Series first.
Ryan Newman won his seventh race of the year Sunday at Dover, Delaware, thanks to the new no racing to the caution rule. Dale Earnhardt hit the hard walls of Dover and had to be airlifted to a hospital after suffering a concussion. Come on, put up those soft walls.

Barry allsportsguides.com

Posted 5:29 PM by logoshak
Well, Isabel came and went. We're were lucky as we had worse thunderstorms this summer than this timid hurricane. We were certainly lucky here in Central North Carolina. There were a few sports postponements but today is a beautiful day and I sure things will be back to normal for this week's games.
Disappointing news out of NASCAR. Up and coming Busch driver Shane Hmiel was suspended by NASCAR for violating its substance abuse policy and behavior detrimental to racing. In a no class move, Hmiel's Busch team released the driver with no support. They don't grasp the everybody deserves a second chance concept. NASCAR has a history of ignorance and bias when it comes to substance problems among its drivers. Perhaps the greatest driver of our generation, Tim Richmond, was labeled a drug addict after contracting AIDS from a female admirer in 1988. Sure, AIDS was scary then if you didn't understand the disease and NASCAR labeled Tim a drop addict. NASCAR has never gotten past Tim's troubles and to this day, fails to give him the recognition he deserves. Here's hoping Shane's promising career hasn't been dealt a death blow by NASCAR. By the way, NASCAR banned the practice of racing back to the yellow flag. They might become a top tier sport after all.
The Atlanta Braves clinched their 12th straight division title last night. After whooping the Phillies 5-4, the Braves could pop the champagne. Now it remains to be seen if the Braves can take home that elusive World Championship. Have a great weekend!

Barry allsportsguides.com

Posted 3:54 PM by logoshak
Just sitting here waiting on a hurricane. No, not that football team from Miami. Talking about a nasty lady named Isabel, churning off the southeast coast. Waiting for my folks to hightail it up here from their Coastal Carolina home. Seems everyone is looking for the high ground as this storm is not anything to take lightly.
News yesterday that the WUSA is going belly up. I for one enjoyed watching the Carolina Courage do battle. Has to knock another nail into the coffin of women's pro sports. The WNBA is not in the best of condition. The owners and investors in the WUSA burned through $100 million in just three years. Women's soccer should be a viable business model. However not having a major TV deal and a sugar daddy sponsor hurts. We'll miss ya.
Bill Parcells won his first game as the Dallas Cowboys head coach last night. The Cowboys edged the New York Giants 35-32 in overtime. Does this make the 1-1 Cowboys Super Bowl material. Hardly. But look for Parcells to insult this team every week and they will be competitive.

Barry allsportsguides.com

Posted 11:11 AM by logoshak
Sadness seems to be hanging over the blog this morning. We have lost several in the entertainment and racing community this morning. Country music legend Johnny Cash has died from complications from diabetes. Growing up in the south, you had to have listened to Cash's songs and been moved by them. He will be missed. Actor John Ritter died suddenly yesterday after becoming ill on the set of his sitcom. Ritter was perhaps best know as Jack Tripper, the lucky guy who got to share an apartment with the lovely Joyce DeWitt and Suzanne Sommers. Ritter was 54. Perhaps most tragic was the news that Tara Howell Parker, wife of NASCAR driver Dale Jarrett's crew chief Shawn Parker, was killed when a drunk driver plowed into the rear of the limo she and her sisters were riding in. Tara Parker had beaten heart disease and had survived a heart transplant two years ago. Parker was 29. Our thoughts and prayers go out to familes of Cash, Ritter and Parker.

Barry allsportsguides.com

Posted 11:22 AM by logoshak
The opening weekend of the NFL season was anything but boring. The underdog Houston Texans waltzed into Miami and gave the Dolphins their first opening day loss in 11 years. The 21-20 thumping will not sit well with the Dolphins crowd. Speaking of thumpings, the Giants gave Kurt Warner a concussion and the Rams let him play on knowing he was injured. The Giants forced 6 fumbles out of Warner in their 23-13 win. The Carolina Panthers overcame a 17-0 second half deficit to clip the Jacksonville Jaguars 24-23. The Michael Vick-less Atlanta Falcons wore down the Bill Parcells led Dallas Cowboys 27-13. Can't wait for week two!
When Pete Sampras laid down the mantle of American men's tennis last week, Andy Roddick was there to pick it up. Roddick defeated Juan Carlos Ferrero 6-3, 7-6 (2), 6-3 at Flushing Meadows to take the Us Open Men's Tennis Champioship. Displaying a power serving dominace perhaps not seen since Roscoe Tanner, Roddick seemed to toy with his Spanish opponent. If Roddick can keep his head screwed on tight, he should have a long run at the top of the tennis world.
Speaking of heads screwed on tight, did you catch that schmuck Kevin Harvick at the Richmond Raceway this weekend. He had to show his arse during the Busch race Friday night in a confrontation with Matt Kenseth and then to had to cause a scene after the Cup race Saturday night. In a total lack of class he rammed Ricky Rudd's car after the race and danced about the cars. If his mouth could throw a punch, he would be dangerous. Hope NASCAR treats him in the same way as Jimmy Spenser. In a sidenote, the NASCAR softwalls appeared to work well during the weekend races. Let's hope NASCAR expands the installation of these walls quickly.

Barry allsportsguides.com

Posted 11:04 AM by logoshak
Well, what was more exciting last night, the NFL opener in Washington or the Democratic presidential debate in New Mexico? You might put in a good argument for the debates. The Redskins and Jets played a pretty ho-hum game that wasn't really exciting until the end. The NFL put on a garish rock show to celebrate the opening of the season. Don't really know whay Aerosmith has to do with football. Still, I'm glad to see both the college and pro football seasons off and running.
Us Open tennis officials have to be glad that the monsoon that hit Flushing Meadows this week has ended. Matches will be condensed so that the tournament will be able to conclude a schedule somehow resembling a Sunday climax.
NASCAR announced that it doesn't know which track will receive the new soft walls technology. Could it be the track owners don't know what off shore bank account to pull their money from? I would say every track could incorporate some degree of the SAFER walls technology. Also NASCAR is dragging its feet on the drivers demand that a permanent traveling safety crew and doctor be started. Oh, right now a nurse is at the track to act as liason to the on track safety program. Sad. Have a great weekend!

Barry allsportsguides.com