By Jayson D. Henry
There are plenty of racing fans out there who hate Kyle Busch. That is pretty apparent every time his name is announced over the loud speaker at any track. That was certainly apparent in Martinsville on Sunday. Although the loudness of the boobirds and the number of obscene gestures seems to be declining since he had his infamous run-in with the ever popular Dale Earnhardt, Jr. last year in Richmond.
Busch actually is the representation of the things so many fans say they want to see in their favorite NASCAR drivers. He is not afraid to show his feelings.
When his Nationwide Series crew cost him the race in Bristol he did not get out of his car and say it was a good points day because he finished in the Top 10. He got out of his car visibly upset.
The next day during a pit stop for the Sprint Cup race in Bristol he challenged his crew by saying, “OK, ladies. It’s time to man up now.” There was no politically correct there.
Also, Busch is not afraid to say what he thinks. If he wants to take a dig at Earnhardt, he does not veil it in some twisted language in the hopes that Junior Nation might not boo him the next weekend like so many other drivers do. He goes ahead and calls it like he sees it.
And the biggest reason of all to like him, he drives like a man possessed. He will go three wide to get through traffic where other drivers will sit back and wait a lap or two for everything to sort out. Those same drivers seem to never make the pass but instead get out of the car at the end of the day and blame their inability on the car and its being aero-tight in traffic.
Some may claim they don’t like him because he drives a Toyota. He drives a CoT like every other driver out there. That thing is no more a Toyota than it is an army tank.
Some say his ears are too big or some other silly remark about his looks. Most of those old guys everyone likes to remember so fondly from the good ole days weren’t exactly Brad Pitt either.
Busch is a winner. Now, I’m not sure why the collapse of last year’s Chase took place, but I’m betting it does not happen again.
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Friday, March 27, 2009
Kentucky better get it right this time
By Jayson D. Henry
On Friday the University of Kentucky surprised no one by relieving head basketball coach Billy Gillispie of his duties. In two years on the sidelines of Rupp Arena the embattled head coach kept watch over a program that had slipped from the ranks of perennial NCAA contender to a team that couldn’t make it to the NIT semi-finals.
Of course, that downward spiral had already begun before Gillispie arrived in the ‘Bluegrass State’. Previous coach Tubby Smith had been so criticized that he opted for the bitter cold of Minnesota over Lexington.
The thing UK must consider very carefully is that they had better get it right with their hire this time around. Whoever they bring in to lead the Wildcat program better be a guy who will be willing to stay and who will be wanted to stay for several years.
Hard to believe as it may be, Kentucky could be on the verge of dropping to an also-ran status in college basketball. Just look at where they stand within their own conference, or in their own division in that conference for that matter.
Florida is within easy memory of winning consecutive national championships. Tennessee has made giant leaps forward since Bruce Pearl arrived in Knoxville. As it stands right now, Kentucky is only a good name away from being considered in the same class with South Carolina, fighting for third in the SEC’s East division.
That good name could be in jeopardy if this coaching hire goes badly.
Think of how Kentucky will be considered among the ranks of college coaches. Within the coaching ranks, Tubby Smith is well respected and he was essentially run out of town despite the fact that his teams were competitive and his players rarely got into trouble or embarrassed the university off the court.
Then, Gillispie was brought in to get UK back to the final four status fans in Lexington feel is there rightful place. He was only given two years despite the fact that Wildcat fans claimed the talent level had been allowed to slip below acceptable levels in the Tubby era. Two years is not very long to correct such a problem if such a problem really existed.
Also, many claimed Gillispie was not very sociable. In other words, UK fans have told any coach who might be considering taking the job that they might get rid of the him if he isn‘t likable enough.
Another short term coach and Kentucky may find itself scraping the bottom of the coaching barrel the next time around.
There will be plenty of names to surface over the next few days and weeks as to who will replace Gillispie. Travis Ford will be a name thrown around very soon. There will be those who will toss out a wish list with former UK coach Rick Pitino’s name on it. Who knows, perhaps Sean Miller or Jamie Dixon may even surface. And of course, former UK assistant and current Florida head coach Billy Donovan’s name has already surfaced in the rumor mill.
Again, whoever it is, Kentucky better get it right if they want to stay on the map of college basketball’s elite programs.
Think it would be impossible for a program with such history to fall into obscurity? Ask the fans of Alabama football if it’s possible. Which, by the way, made Billy Donovan’s ‘I’m not going to Kentucky’ declaration of Friday afternoon sound a bit Nick Saban like.
Contact me by e-mail at NeverEnoughSports@yahoo.com
On Friday the University of Kentucky surprised no one by relieving head basketball coach Billy Gillispie of his duties. In two years on the sidelines of Rupp Arena the embattled head coach kept watch over a program that had slipped from the ranks of perennial NCAA contender to a team that couldn’t make it to the NIT semi-finals.
Of course, that downward spiral had already begun before Gillispie arrived in the ‘Bluegrass State’. Previous coach Tubby Smith had been so criticized that he opted for the bitter cold of Minnesota over Lexington.
The thing UK must consider very carefully is that they had better get it right with their hire this time around. Whoever they bring in to lead the Wildcat program better be a guy who will be willing to stay and who will be wanted to stay for several years.
Hard to believe as it may be, Kentucky could be on the verge of dropping to an also-ran status in college basketball. Just look at where they stand within their own conference, or in their own division in that conference for that matter.
Florida is within easy memory of winning consecutive national championships. Tennessee has made giant leaps forward since Bruce Pearl arrived in Knoxville. As it stands right now, Kentucky is only a good name away from being considered in the same class with South Carolina, fighting for third in the SEC’s East division.
That good name could be in jeopardy if this coaching hire goes badly.
Think of how Kentucky will be considered among the ranks of college coaches. Within the coaching ranks, Tubby Smith is well respected and he was essentially run out of town despite the fact that his teams were competitive and his players rarely got into trouble or embarrassed the university off the court.
Then, Gillispie was brought in to get UK back to the final four status fans in Lexington feel is there rightful place. He was only given two years despite the fact that Wildcat fans claimed the talent level had been allowed to slip below acceptable levels in the Tubby era. Two years is not very long to correct such a problem if such a problem really existed.
Also, many claimed Gillispie was not very sociable. In other words, UK fans have told any coach who might be considering taking the job that they might get rid of the him if he isn‘t likable enough.
Another short term coach and Kentucky may find itself scraping the bottom of the coaching barrel the next time around.
There will be plenty of names to surface over the next few days and weeks as to who will replace Gillispie. Travis Ford will be a name thrown around very soon. There will be those who will toss out a wish list with former UK coach Rick Pitino’s name on it. Who knows, perhaps Sean Miller or Jamie Dixon may even surface. And of course, former UK assistant and current Florida head coach Billy Donovan’s name has already surfaced in the rumor mill.
Again, whoever it is, Kentucky better get it right if they want to stay on the map of college basketball’s elite programs.
Think it would be impossible for a program with such history to fall into obscurity? Ask the fans of Alabama football if it’s possible. Which, by the way, made Billy Donovan’s ‘I’m not going to Kentucky’ declaration of Friday afternoon sound a bit Nick Saban like.
Contact me by e-mail at NeverEnoughSports@yahoo.com
Kiffin gets Major(s) stamp of approval
By Jayson D. Henry
Much like when Bruce Pearl took over the University of Tennessee basketball program, Lane Kiffin seems to be pushing the right buttons to excite the fan base in Knoxville.
Pearl used his high energy personality and personal magnetism to quickly win over the local folk in east Tennessee. When the wins started to come in numbers Vol fans were somewhat unaccustomed to the love affair between coach and fans grew.
Kiffin too has created a spark, even before he has ever coached his first game in Neyland Stadium. His sometimes outlandish comments, and sometimes inaccurate comments, have brought new attention to a football program that had grown stale, boring and mediocre. Many in this area are showing an renewed enthusiasm for football that is noteworthy, even for the football crazed SEC.
Like Pearl, Kiffin has reached back into history to score points with the fan base. In the Vols’ most recent practice Kiffin had a previously alienated UT legend on site for a special visit. That legend was none other than Johnny Majors.
Majors is one of the great players and coaches in UT history. In 1956 he finished second in the Heisman Trophy balloting behind Notre Dame great Paul Horning. That particular Heisman balloting is still held in low esteem in the Knoxville area, by the way.
Majors also triumphantly returned to his alma mater to coach just after having won a national championship at the University of Pittsburgh in 1976. He led the Vols to several fondly remembered victories including a 1985 Sugar Bowl win over Miami among others.
However, he suffered a heart ailment and was replaced on an interim basis by Phillip Fulmer in 1992. Then, Majors’ downfall at UT began. After a couple of upset losses upon his return to the sidelines and a dust up with some key higher-ups in the UT hierarchy Majors was forced out at the end of the ‘92 season and replaced by Fulmer permanently.
Needless to say, that did not sit too well with the coach and he has distanced himself from UT ever since, until yesterday.
Now that Fulmer, the symbol of his ouster, is gone Majors appears ready to embrace his old school and its new head coach. On Thursday, he attended a UT football practice for the first time since 1992 and he seemed to like what he saw.
“I thought it was outstanding in every way.” Majors declared. “That’s the way football should be practiced.
“The tempo, the energy, the effort and the attitude was superb. There was a lot of continuous coaching going on from the time they got on the field to the time they left. Nobody was standing around, players or coaches.
“There wasn’t a dull moment.”
There was probably a dig intended for the more demure Fulmer in there somewhere.
Whether intending to or not, Lane Kiffin is following the lead of Tennessee basketball coach Bruce Pearl by bringing in pieces of the past. Now, like Pearl, he will have to produce wins to solidify his relationship with the Volunteer faithful. But for now, he has earned one Major(s) stamp of approval.
Contact me by e-mail at neverenoughsports@yahoo.com
Much like when Bruce Pearl took over the University of Tennessee basketball program, Lane Kiffin seems to be pushing the right buttons to excite the fan base in Knoxville.
Pearl used his high energy personality and personal magnetism to quickly win over the local folk in east Tennessee. When the wins started to come in numbers Vol fans were somewhat unaccustomed to the love affair between coach and fans grew.
Kiffin too has created a spark, even before he has ever coached his first game in Neyland Stadium. His sometimes outlandish comments, and sometimes inaccurate comments, have brought new attention to a football program that had grown stale, boring and mediocre. Many in this area are showing an renewed enthusiasm for football that is noteworthy, even for the football crazed SEC.
Like Pearl, Kiffin has reached back into history to score points with the fan base. In the Vols’ most recent practice Kiffin had a previously alienated UT legend on site for a special visit. That legend was none other than Johnny Majors.
Majors is one of the great players and coaches in UT history. In 1956 he finished second in the Heisman Trophy balloting behind Notre Dame great Paul Horning. That particular Heisman balloting is still held in low esteem in the Knoxville area, by the way.
Majors also triumphantly returned to his alma mater to coach just after having won a national championship at the University of Pittsburgh in 1976. He led the Vols to several fondly remembered victories including a 1985 Sugar Bowl win over Miami among others.
However, he suffered a heart ailment and was replaced on an interim basis by Phillip Fulmer in 1992. Then, Majors’ downfall at UT began. After a couple of upset losses upon his return to the sidelines and a dust up with some key higher-ups in the UT hierarchy Majors was forced out at the end of the ‘92 season and replaced by Fulmer permanently.
Needless to say, that did not sit too well with the coach and he has distanced himself from UT ever since, until yesterday.
Now that Fulmer, the symbol of his ouster, is gone Majors appears ready to embrace his old school and its new head coach. On Thursday, he attended a UT football practice for the first time since 1992 and he seemed to like what he saw.
“I thought it was outstanding in every way.” Majors declared. “That’s the way football should be practiced.
“The tempo, the energy, the effort and the attitude was superb. There was a lot of continuous coaching going on from the time they got on the field to the time they left. Nobody was standing around, players or coaches.
“There wasn’t a dull moment.”
There was probably a dig intended for the more demure Fulmer in there somewhere.
Whether intending to or not, Lane Kiffin is following the lead of Tennessee basketball coach Bruce Pearl by bringing in pieces of the past. Now, like Pearl, he will have to produce wins to solidify his relationship with the Volunteer faithful. But for now, he has earned one Major(s) stamp of approval.
Contact me by e-mail at neverenoughsports@yahoo.com
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
NASCAR's Chase will never match NCAA Tournament
By Jayson D. Henry
Here we are in the midst of the NCAA Tournament to decide the college basketball national champion. This tournament is one of the most exciting events in all of sports. It creates water cooler talk, is the cause of numerous office pools and just generally stirs interest.
In 2004, NASCAR introduced its own playoff system in the hopes of creating the same kind of interest. Of course, that playoff system is called the Chase for the Championship. It was hoped the Chase would help NASCAR maintain a solid television audience after the college and NFL football seasons began in the fall.
With the NCAA Tournament getting so much attention here in the month of March it would seem like a good time to compare NASCAR's version of a playoff against the college basketball championship.
The NCAA Tournament generates so much interest for a variety of reasons. For one, not just the big and powerful have a chance to get into the playoff. Since the winners of conference tournaments are given automatic bids even teams like George Mason from smaller conferences are given a chance to compete.
Another reason why the NCAA Tournament is better than the NASCAR Chase is that there is always the chance of the big upset. A #16 seed has never beaten a #1 seed in a first round game but there have been many other major upsets. Everyone wants to see the little guy knock out the big guy, provided it's not your team getting knocked out that is.
In NASCAR, that type of thing will never happen. For one thing, the little guy will never even qualify for the Chase for the Championship. Take last year as an example. The 12 drivers who made the Chase only came from 4 power teams. Someone like Robby Gordon will never make the Chase, much less pull off the monumental upset of winning the thing.
The NCAA Tournament is a made for television event that stirs all sorts of interest and boosts ratings. The Chase has not managed to do the same thing for NASCAR. As a matter of fact, TV ratings for NASCAR have been in a steady decline over the last few years.
Maybe part of the problem is that many NASCAR fans have never accepted the Chase winner as a legitimate champion. Some would argue that Jeff Gordon has been robbed of two championships because of the new system.
The old, season long points standings system was in place for so long that the new system has been seen as repulsive by more than a few. On the other hand, post season tournaments have long been a fixture in basketball and other sports.
The bottom line is, the NCAA Tournament is an awesome event that has done great things for college basketball. The Chase for the Championship has not had such an impact in NASCAR.
Please contact me with your thoughts by e-mailing me at NeverEnoughSports@yahoo.com.
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