Thoughts from an Island Girl

Where to begin?  The impact of former Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino has pretty much reached Tsunami-like proportions.  So much so,  that Hogville is down.   It is apparent that the reaction has gone nuclear with Hog fans.   To add insult to injury,  many beligerent anti-Hog fans are antagonizing the fan-base in Fayetteville and around the state.  Such brazen individuals such as Auburn fans try to talk about Karma but are you kidding me?  Really?  Re-ally????  People from Kansas State, Missouri and of course, Auburn,  create accounts just to mess with the faithful.l

Hogville staff is playing the politically correct card and they like other bashers and cannot read the cautionary tale correctly.  And that is,  those glasse houses are fragile and the slightest quake on a fault line spells disaster.   So who are the victims here?  Well first naturally is the wife and kids.   That is profoundly private alhough Bobby brought that upon that on them and his self.

Then we get to the younger woman.  Here in lies one of the biggest rubs.   The Bible says if you sin with your eyes,  it is the same as cheating.  So Kate Upton does a shoot in a movie with revealing bathing suit.   Now that is no problem but what kind of message does this sends to kids?  And also,  to all the middle-aged men like Bobby Petrino,  who salivate, who are you?

Then come the fans who are not students and they suffer a deepening rift and fall into the chasm of marginalization and it is not like they don't have a problem with recruiting instate and out.   Now the likes of Bleacher Report may hay and programs who are actually cheating the game,  laugh and sign,  a sigh of relief.

 And then there are the students and alum.   They didn't sleep with the girl but the honest ones wish it were them.   But more than that,  they take the hardest hit on the field.  They and the players,  who are students too.    It is easy to be on Mt Olympus and deify yourself and make judgements when your own back yard is not mowed.   Pinpup girls are a deft revenge for honey do lists and the obligatory dinner out.   I get that.   Who hasn't seen that?

In the final anaylsis this is all on Bobby and then the sharks the infest the reefs of our every day lives.   Dufii like Skip Bayless and the Colin Cleansing can behave like John Henson.

Lastly after all this I just want to call out the judges and juries who move from Steroids to Sock puppets and Spongebob Square Pants.

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Thoughts from an Island Girl

​The future will look very different from today indeed.   In the future, say some 20-30 years from now,  are some of my predictions.    The NBA will canonize Jeremy Lin into the NBA's Hall-of-Fame.   He will be noted as the first player of the 2000s,  not to leave a harem of unwed mothers with his progeny.

​In the year 2035,  Colin Cowherd will replace Ismus as the ugliest talk show host to not wear cowboy boots and a ten-gallon hat.    By then,  female listeners will have forgotten about Rush's slut-gate as unemployment falls to 86%.

​In 2036,  will be the first year that NASCAR goes all-electric.  It will also be the last year of racing for Jeff Gordon.   He and Kyle Busch will both be quoted as saying their car,  is 'a piece of junk',   and Todd Bodine finally gets a full-time sponsor in the walker division of NASCAR.

​Lady Gaga,  Janet Jackson and Kirsty Alley will star in the new version of the Golden Girls with Betty White, now 114 years old as the grandmother.    Bea Arthur was not present for the opening,  but Justin Bieber was selected to replace Ashton Kutcher who quit before the first show to reconcile with on-again, off-again heart beat... Demi Moore.

​In the World of Golf,  Tiger Woods finally won his first match in over 25 years.   But his romantic life never really suffered as he approached nearly Gene Simmons like numbers in the swingers hall of fame.   Who said swinging was just in baseball and golf, any way?  Oh and Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley got Ace Freehley and Peter Criss to reunite for another world tour.  Viagra sales are way up,  as Woodstock 2050 nears.    On a more somber note,  the elderly Johnny Monkey was never quite the same after Davy Jones passed away but Johnny Monkey Jr had nothing but good things to say about Papa Chimp and that soon,   he and the elder simian will make an auto-biography sans Clint Eastwood.

​Well that is the news of the future,  and I hope you tune in next week,  when the story of the day is 'When will this climate change stop?"

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Thoughts from an Island Girl

​It is the same old story.   An owner or group of owners have a dream.   To build a racetrack.   After it's completion,  owners and sponsors try to lure in fans,  in hope of building something lasting.   No one even considers the track's probable demise one day.  For now,  the future is here.

​It is a local event.  Whole families gear up for the night's action.  Parents purchase the tickets while the smell of local food sizzles on the grill.    Vendors are lined up near the ticket window on the inside,  and sell programs and novelties.  

Many families root for a particular guy or guys and in many cases,  some racers are friends of family.    The rivalries off the track match the competitiveness on it.  Drivers and their fans become hardcore adversaries.   Adding to the rich drama that unfolds in both places

The  track featured here was the former East Windsor Raceway.   Now just a memory for some,  many older fans wax sentimental.   A hole in their heart has been opened and until they die,  it is like the loss of a favorite pet.   In fact,  it is almost like the loss of a family member!

 Here are some videos.   Take a moment to digest this.  Like the hockey arena recently shown here on Yougab,  this track has a finite history and the legacy of entertainment.

​One will note the changes.   From old coops that barely resemble the stock cars that are racing today.   The younger fan marvels at the old school look,  while for some reason,  the older fan wants the younger one to appreciate what they had.   From the dust in the eye, to the greasy burgers and oil-soaked fries and bathrooms just horribly gross by today's standards.   But I imagine,  even those tawdry accommodations can be, 'Home Sweet Home'.

​Hard to imagine these cars racing or more actually,  the guys who did and the occassional women.  

For those who remember the past,  the future is hard to take.   Seeing what thrived at one time,  only to be replaced by a flea market,  parking lot or shopping mall,  it is even harder to take.

​I hope you all enjoyed this story and I will provide a link for further research on this track.

http://www.3widespicturevault.com/front%20page%20stuff/East_Windsor_Memories_HOMEPAGE.htm

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Thoughts from an Island Girl

Sometimes a single point matters. ? Even if it was in an otherwise forgettable season by the Gettysburg Bullets. ? ?For the first time in many seasons they had a losing record. ?But it won't be remembered that way. ?In fact, ?it will be a Cinderella season, ?one that launched a 1-pt game onto ESPN's top ten plays.

?So what's the big deal, right? ?The big deal is the young player had a stroke at age 18. ?while yet a freshman at the school. ?After a series of medically traumatic events, he slowly recovered. ? And recovered enough to make a moment-clinching scene. ? ?You see, ?the game already in hand, ?the coach asked him if he wanted to play after he called a timeout with less than one minute to go, ?with an 18-pt lead! ? The coach asked Cory if he wanted to play and of course, ?he said, "yes". ? ? Seeing they were putting him in, ?the opposing coach asked his players to gently foul Cory. ?Which they did! ? Sending him to the free throw line.

Corey almost hit the rim on his first shot. ?This was usually the way it went in practice too, ?so he felt pretty confident with his second attempt. ? ?And true to form, ?he made it! ? The place was going crazy, ?adults crying and fellow students sharing in the raucous moment. ? ?One point! ? But that point was the only point of his entire career! ? A point that really matters. ? Unlike Jeremy Lin, ?this is the end of the road, ?but like Lin, ?he came out of nowhere to the general public who probably never even heard of the Gettysburg Bullets in New Jersey.

Arkansas Razorback Joe Adams also had a stroke when he was 19. ? He missed a few games but came back to be one of the best players in the SEC and a candidate to be drafted high in the first round of the upcoming NFL draft. ? The courage of these players are the fact that competition and their love of their sports is a powerful motivating factor. ? Degrees of success cannot be measured by statistics but maybe how they came about. ? For a healthy person, ?it is he or she against their opponents but they are mostly seen. ?With Corey, ?it was against a much bigger foe, ?his very life.?

​The glory days do eventually pass everyone by. ?But in the hearts and minds of the Gettysburg players, fans and sportswriters, ?this day will live until they die.

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Thoughts from an Island Girl

​Wow!!  While not winning the Second race yesterday at Daytona,  Regan Smith took a strong second place finish and qualified in the 6th starting position for Sunday's Daytona 500!  A race won by Matt Kenseth in the last two laps.  The first race was won by a very hot Tony Stewart.  So yes,  I am very glad.

One of my other favorites is Trevor Bain.   I love the underdogs and there are so few of them these days.   At least the ones who have the potential to win.   And even some of those who have had it all,  find themselves on the outside looking in.  

Take Kurt Busch.  His virtual demotion has fostered a good sense of what team play is all about.  After acting his way out of the #22 Penske sled,  he has grown a deeper appreciation of what he had.   He is also learning what it means to have to work harder and be more conservative in his approach on and off the track.   He,  like his brother has more than enough talent to dominant but a lack of appreciation has caused them a lot of negative feedback and in the case of Kurt,  the loss of big money sponsorship.

But the NASCAR silly season is even more evident in Camping World Truck Series.  Great drivers like Todd Bodine are again struggling for sponsorships and one has to wonder what was going on at the end of last year.    Bodine and his teammate were acting out,  as were other drivers and I think that truck owners were are now are,  even more hesitant to sponsor and own drivers that like to mix paint.   Just my take on all that.     I think Bodine might find some help and have stated that he will be racing in the first race.   Let's hope he and some others get that financial boost they need to competitive and even show up for the races.

​As I mentioned in my last article on NASCAR,  there is other racing going on now.   This includes the Sprint 360s at East Bay Raceway Park in Tampa, Florida.   The event know as King of the 360s kicked off last night with Shane Stewart picking up the victory.   42 cars lined up for the feature event, with five heats an A and B-Main and of course the final race of the evening,  take by the Canadian born Shane Stewart.

​East Bay will have it's second night of racing for the King of the 360s this evening,  with the final night and championship race on Saturday evening at the 1/3 mile clay track.  Down the road at Volusia Speedway in Barberville, Florida was the running of the season opener in the World of Outlaw Sprint Cars.  The racing was held on February 18th and 19th with double features on the 19th.    On opening night Danny Lasoski picked up the A-Main feature event,  while on the 19th, the first feature was taken by Donny Schatz.    For the big A-Main feature championship,  Wisconsin's own Craig Dollansky took the checkered.

​The 410 sprint series doesn't race again until the first week of March,  when they travel to 'The Dirt Track in Las Vegas" for one night of racing.  Following that on the 10th of March they travel to Perris Speedway in California.

​But the World of Outlaws have their Late Model Series.  On the opening night of late model action,the race was won by Billy Moyer of Arkansas age 54. Good for him.  One Wednesday  the track succumbed to the rain and so that action was postponed until Friday afternoon.

​One Thursday evening, 39-yr old Dennis Erb Jr. took the A-Main checkered, winning $10,000 dollars for his efforts.

​The final night of racing will be this afternoon,  so if you get this early enough you can always get out there.   Otherwise, for you at home,  simply register at Dirtvision.com and listen to the race free of charge and meet some other racing fans who share your robust love of racing, in one of the premier racing divisions in America.

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Thoughts from an Island Girl

​Today I would like to discuss another Underdog, in the world of sports.   This time it is NASCAR's Regan Smith.   While certainly not a giant in racing,  he has done enough to inspire sponsorship and perhaps get more of those precious dollars, so many are struggling to obtain.

​Born September 23, 1983, this young veteran has won one Cup race, discounting the one he was stripped of.    But he is no real stranger to the sport of racing.  He began racing at age 4 in  Quarter Midget like cars.   At 12 he joined and won the World Karting Association and in 1996, at the ege of 13 won the Grand National Championship in the WKA.  The following season he won the WKA's Master Cup in 1997.   

​Following his stint in Karts,  he graduated to USAR in 2001 and the highlight was his winning three consecutive Sunoco Pole Awards,  a record to this day.  In 2003 and 2004 competed in the Truck series and during 2004,  recorded his first top ten finish (9th).

​The 2005-2006 seasons were his introduction to the Busch Series ( Now Nationwide) where he finished 20th in driver points.  

​He has been racing in the cup series since like 2007 while 2008 was his first full season racing in NASCAR's premier division.   While top 10 finishes have been relatively rare,  he has showed himself as reliable,  making a vast majority of starts over the past two or so years.

​His lone win came last year,  in a race that some experts called a fluke.  Ironically I picked him as my favorite driver just one week before his win.   And though he places towards the middle of the pack,  I have grown quite fond of him and his familiar #78.   I don't believe he has reached the upper-limits of his talent but of course a lot of this will have to do with funding and technical support.

Unlike Jeremy Lin of the New York Knicks,  he hasn't busted out yet,  but there is no reason with the right logistics,  that he can't make his mark as a top competitor in the Cup Series.

​In other racing news,  Steve Francis won $10,000 in capturing Saturday's final of the Lucas Late Model program,  at East Bay in Tampa, Florida.    It was the culmination of six nights of racing in this premier class of dirt late model racing.   

​But this was not the first racing at East Bay for the 2012 season.   Each year at around the first of February,  East Bay has had it's winter fling on the clay.  Racing occurs for 4-6 weeks each year and this year the National culminate with three nights of racing,  called "The King of the 360 Sprints".     Many of Sprint Car racing 410 drivers appear at the track for this event.  A few years ago,  around 80 cars were present.   These cars come from about 4 countries and 38 states.   It,  like the Lucas Late Models are must see events and like Bowman Gray in North Carolina,  has a rich history with drivers like Steve Kinser,  Stevie Smith and many others.

​It is also a stepping stone to the bigs.    Past stars include Kenny Adams,  Gene Lasker and Sport Allen.

​The Nationals started back on February 2nd with the NE Late Models and Street Stock World Championship which culminated on February 4th.  February 8-11th were the UMP Modifieds and USA mod-lites.

East Bay is rated as one of the best clay racing surfaces in dirt racing.   The facilities are nice too.  Ownership and Management  are professional and former drivers at the track.   This is a very nice facility and if you get the chance to visit Tampa during February,  you will find you had a pretty good time.

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Thoughts from an Island Girl  

​When the NBA decided to strike on the heels of the NFL walkout or whatever it was called,  this really got to me wondering,  if I would watch another game.    That is,  until Jeremy Lin came onto the scene.  What he did was a testimonial to his hard work and determination,  not some preference given because he is of Asian-descent.   And even if this plays into,  which it does,  it does not dismiss what he has done.   Amare Stoudemire and Carmelo are the headliners but they are more me-first kinds of players.   Now with the acquisiton of J.R. Smith,  I wonder if Lin's time will be reduced?  Additionally, those who are gate-keepers of anti-Asian rhetoric,  love to point out his turnovers.   But that is noted and accepted as reality,  so why complain too much.

​Instead what we are seeing is the outright racial bigotry and stereotypes.   Perhaps realizing his mistakes,   Jason Whitlock has apologized.  Further still,  a few established players have said that Lin is the real deal.  A real player who belongs.   That is a star.

But what is painful is the characterization of Asian genitalia as small or what the word 'spinner' even means as it regards small Asian Lady.   The term 'chink' is used rather prolifically as I showed in the UCLA parodies of the white girl in the Youtube Video.

​I actually feel sorry for her to some extent.  The fact that she shares a certain amount of misinformation with her elders and peer groups.   Asians try to assimilate.  We try to speak the language and we work hard to be considerate.   But naturally as we have a role model of sorts,  it is sickening to hear the verbiage from certain people.   

​I've heard things like,  well what Asian has ever really invented things?  When I say talk about Michio Kaku,  they say, "he is the exception".  Oh really!   It is pretty safe to say we do very well in school,  so that we esteem ourselves well in most people's eyes.  Asian people love sports too and in the Philippines,  we love the game too of basketball.

If Jeremy is around a long or for just awhile,  most players are here for just awhile and even those who make a long career are here and gone before you know it.

Oh ching chong...   Ling Long ...lol

As I write this..   Lin has 10 points,  3 assists early in the FIRST QUARTER.   LOL

​As to the name,  Linsanity.  That is a two-edged sword.  Not only from the detractors but how the pressure on him to perform begins to wear on him.   But he is in New York and public pressure by the media and fans is a common thing,  so perhaps this helps him in the maturation process.  His English is very good but he did grow up here.

​On the last play of the first half he was motioning for activity  but the players were flat-footed waiting for the action to come to them.   He subsequently turned the ball over on the drive but finished with 12 pts, 6 assists and two steals and only one turnover..  Not bad,  I say.

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Thoughts from  an Island Girl

Well signing day came and went and the same faces were welcoming the top recruits to the top programs.  This year's greatest turnaround was at a school where there were recruiting was on the downslope,  free-falling as no time in the recent past.

​BUT!!   Urban Meyer's health improved!   He got the Ohio State job and has been flipping recruits like a grill person flipping burgers at a fast food restaurant.  Lord only knows what he offered.    

​Rumors have  been flying that hostesses have done more than fluffed their pillows,  if you know what I mean?   That said,  I really don't begrudge Missouri fans for keeping Dorial Green-Beckham in state.   Afterall,  he was a last weekend kind of thing and the most recent visit can create that lasting impression.  

​What I find most interesting is the complaints coming by the Michigan State and Wisconsin head coaches.    Bleacher Report implied that the Big Ten has a gentlemen's agreement,  not to poach verbal-signees.   The response by Urban Meyer is basically like,  boo-hoo!  Prove it!    Myer has effectively brought the SEC kind of recruiting to another conference.

Now,  the same type of complaint is coming from the Pac-10 about Kiffin and USC.  The same USC that has had violations and probation already.   Maybe that is why the current Boise State coach is satisfied with the conference he is in.   With his recruiting classes,  he is doing quite well, considering the talent level there is no where close to that the SEC.   He will keep winning.

​I guess, ultimately, he either selects the right job at maybe Georgia or Auburn for better money,  with a proven product product or just stays put.  At Arkansas,  they picked up a 3-4-star recruit that Alabama didn't sign.    He was committed since last September and even had the hat ready to go,  but the problem was a better player signed with Sabin and the DE didn't even get a call telling him there was a change of plan.  Good for the Hogs maybe but not so much for Dairus Philbin.

 When Beckham did sign with Missouri,  Petrino was unhappy but he is still recruiting well,  when you consider his success the last two years. (21-5).    He did well at Louisville too.  And by the way, the Falcons and their players can go jump off a cliff,   because those guys got rich with football and so should Petrino.   And who is being true anymore?

​And with that in mind,  the Razorbacks picked up some more receivers who will be game-changers.   He won't recruit players who don't like to work.   Now he has a few players that will go to the NFL and star,  like WR Joe Adams and Jarius Wright,  who had 282 yards receiving in one game.   And they will be ten deep at WR and about 5 deep at RB.   Their tight end will be a high round draft pick and he will be replaced effectively.

​This thing with poaching can cripple a soft-state.  But a great coach can bring the best out in your players and make those marginal stars,  great.  Greg Childs comes to mind.   

​The gist of all this though,  is the dirty tactics  being used to take players away from other teams and realistically Wisconsin had done well considering their recruiting class rankings have been traditionally low.  Good for them.   It will take CFB to take this seriously and even the playing field a bit.   One thing is for sure,  a lot of those top players never get the chance to show off their skills,   become some teams are stockpiling players to the detriment of small schools.

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Thoughts from an Island Girl

​This is my swan song as it relates to blogging here,  as least in the capacity of a weekly Sunday blog.    It has been a lot of fun at times but also it has been a bit much on certain days.   With issues of depression,   school work and dating,  I think I will take a leave of absence from writing,  on a regular basis.  I will opine from time to time,  so I am not leaving the site.   At least the Razorbacks took care of Kansas State.   Wildcat fans would come to Razorbacks and talk crap but are hesitant to their lumps.      

This is a big moment for the Razorbacks.   It is possible and somewhat likely,  that Missouri phenom,   Dorial Green-Beckham.   By now,  Coach Bobby Petrino has proven he is a quality coach with less-heralded players.   And though he lost Michael Dyer,  it seems that Dyer has made that seem like a good thing.    Knile Davis and Dennis Johnson could be leaving the team this year.    So it seems that the Hogs are recruiting replacements for these guys.   Arkansas'  defense stole the show for me.   After firing their defensive coordinator,  the replacement seemed to get the message to the defense on staying put and utilizing their athletic ability.    If they played like they did last night,  they would have beaten LSU and Alabama.

​Anyway,   as I get the inspiration,  I will be back.   It has been fun but even tonight I am very tired.   Have a nice weekend and remember,  NASCAR will be back soon.

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Thoughts from an Island Girl

​I saw the movie War Horse the other evening.  It was very good.   It also struck me that our favorite players come and go, much like youth.  

They come in like a lion but by the end,  they are generally spent.   Gone is the innocence of youthful exuberance and it is replaced by a weathered face,  saying goodbye.    In the movie War Horse,  Joey and the black horse were fast friends,  both literally and figuratively.    But the story was not just about horses but the fragile nature of life itself.  It was about the people who loved them and the tragic harbors of war.  Man and horse.

As a Cardinal fan,  it a new beginning.   The horse finally comes home but has a new saddle.   

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