Garrett Duke

Well as for me, my baseball season starts and ends with the Chicago Cubs...so sadly my season ended at the end of September. For some reason the head commissioner of basebally didn't seem to think the Cubs made it into the playoffs. I am sticking with that they didn't know their math...or perhaps they just don't know baseball. Because we all know that the Cubs are the BEST baseball team EVER! Right? LOL Though don't worry, I am sticking with my yearly statement. NEXT YEAR WILL BE THEIR YEAR!!!!!!!!!!! (I say that long enough, sooner or later, I will be right. Right? ) Anyways, as far as the playoffs are concerned, I haven't seen any of the games...though being a die hard Cubs fan, MM...I agree, I was pulling for the Dodgers to beat the Cardinals. Am more of a NL fan, but in this case, hope the Red Sox will win the World Series. Thoguh it really doesn't matter much to me...as I said, my baseball season starts and ends with the Cubs. With that said.... GO CUBS GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (I am a die hard Cubs fan til the end...no matter what! )

Thanks Hoss for your helpful info. Glad to see Ricky ran well for you. (Well and for me. He is in my paid NASCAR fantasy league I am in...) As for the Bears they lost 41-45 against Dale Jr's Redskins. So he would be happy. Though Bears QB Jay Cutler left hurt and will have an MRI tomorrow to see how bad. I am NOT happy about that at all and hope it isn't as bad as they say it could be...they need him!

Well I failed y'all again as I missed today's race as well as my Bears game to go to the pumpkin patch with my niece and nephew. Had fun, but hate missing the race. Gordon made it sound like it was bumper to bumper as well as someone said Matt Kenseth and Gordon wanted to race, but others kinda left them out to dry so to speak. And of what I read from...was a pretty clean race. The race ended under caution as Austin Dillon lost control on the final lap and Jamie McMurray went on to win for the first time this season. 1 Jamie McMurray 2 Dale Earnhardt Jr. 3 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. 4 Paul Menard 5 Kyle Busch 6 David Ragan 7 David Gilliland 8 Martin Truex Jr. 9 Ryan Newman 10 Clint Bowyer 11 Greg Biffle 12 Kevin Harvick 13 Jimmie Johnson 14 Jeff Gordon 15 Michael McDowell 16 Joey Logano 17 Carl Edwards 18 Kurt Busch 19 Travis Kvapil 20 Matt Kenseth 21 Jeff Burton 22 Aric Almirola 23 Trevor Bayne 24 Justin Allgaier 25 Dave Blaney 26 Austin Dillon 27 Casey Mears 28 J.J. Yeley 29 Brad Keselowski 30 Josh Wise 31 Cole Whitt 32 Michael Waltrip 33 Danica Patrick 34 Bobby Labonte 35 Terry Labonte 36 Kasey Kahne 37 Landon Cassill 38 Denny Hamlin 39 Marcos Ambrose 40 David Reutimann 41 Juan Pablo Montoya 42 Joe Nemechek 43 Tony Raines

No NASCAR does NOT come out and say he or she has taken this drug and so on and so on, but what it is that they failed for is not really anyone's business other than those involved. What is important that they failed the drug test and that NASCAR has DONE something about it. And I am sure everyone does something different...doesn't mean one party does it wrong and the other one does it right. Or the other way around. As for today's race, it is starting to look like that I may not be able to watch it or the entire race due to family. I will make sure to write a review on it one way or another though.

HA HA Roger. Thanks for the update Hoss...it has been a busy weekend thus far for me. Glad to say I have a off day to watch the race and my Bears game today. I find it kinda bittersweet to see Almirola on the pole today. His crew chief, Todd Parrot, on Thursday was suspended indefinitely by NASCAR for failing his drug test. Parrot is a veteran NASCAR cc. He has been around for several years. Find it very disappointing to see this from him. Also very disappointing to see another crew member suspended for failing their drug test as a member in the truck series got suspended last week for the same thing. What is going on?! This is definitely a CRAZY season for NASCAR...one better off to move on from and hope for better next year. Will never understand why pro sports people mess up like this...they work their whole lives to get to this level and once here they get in some big trouble or another. Am super proud of NASCAR to stand up for what is right and not tolerate this sort of junk...other sports need to watch NASCAR and seek their example! We are at Talladega. Restrictor plate racing. Home of the "BIG ONE". Really hope that today's race will not include the big one, but if history repeats itself, we will have the big one. Am hoping and wishing everyone will survive this race healthy and safe and hoping for the best with all of our drivers. Last night's truck race saw several big ones. One that led to Justin Lofton going to the local hospital after a last lap big accident. One that totaled Kyle Busch's truck and left him on the ground with medical attention...though he was later released from the infield care center and is said to be OK. Saw a pic of it and he looked aweful and his truck looked worse. Really hope not to see any of that today. Hoping for a safe race for EVERYONE!

You are welcome. As much as I am looking forward to the rest of the season this year, I am already looking forward to a fresh start at Daytona. WOO HOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You really mean you enjoyed my fantasy NASCAR league that you are interested in returning next year? You just made my day!

This is a great site and all you said, Roger, is true. Except for the last part. I do believe everyone should go for ALL Chicago sports. EXCEPT for the White Sox...they are the Cubs rivalry team and we all know the Cubs are the better team. In ALL of baseball. Just the commissioner of baseball was horrible in math :roll:and failed to put the teams in the proper standings before playoff time...otherwise the Cubs would have won the World Series this year. Am hoping the commissioner of football is way better at math so that the Bears will be seeded as the number one team when the season ends...and will win their well deserved and well earned Super Bowl.

I thought you were, but wanted to make sure... Roger seems to be the forgiving type so I am sure he will let it slide ... hopefully. So far, the Bears are off to a good start with their new manager though there is room for improvement. How are the Seahawks? I had Percy Harvin on a couple of my teams, but then dropped him because I thought he was going to be out for most of the season...then heard today they are optimistic he may start in a couple of weeks. Now am not too happy about dropping him...LOL

I was only giving you a hard time...but yeah I really do love the NASCAR thread. So thanks. Also thanks for rooting for my Bears...they need all the support that they can get.

Well this is not for NASCAR or the Sprint Cup, but still will always remember this tragic accident. Two years ago from today, Dan Wheldon died in a horrible car accident at Las Vegas. Do believe it was in Indy Series. Sadly, I feel like that accident could have been prevented if the head people would have listened to the drivers who said the cars were too fast on that track... RIP Dan...you will never be forgotten. And always missed.

Roth - that does help. Now I know I was looking in the right place...and sadly I don't have it. MM- I see how you are. You play favorites. Obviously I am not your favorite . Wasn't it even me who suggested it? Can't believe you would do that to me. Me...of all people. I mean I have been on this board for how long? Thirteen years or so...and this is the abuse I get? Yep...so unfair! LOL. Don't worry MM...do believe I know why you would hide it from ME. It is because I like the Bears and not your Seahawks, huh? Well I am a die hard Bears fan til the day I die...so you will have to do something worse than this to persuade me otherwise. Geesh what's next? Deleting me?

Thanks for trying to help...I still don't see it. Ah well...

I think I am blind...I don't see it anywhere.

Woo hoo! I finally got some awesome...excellent NASCAR news! Well, OK, perhaps it isn't as great as Jeff Gordon winning this years championship (wouldn't that be awesome? LOL) but it has me excited all the same. NASCAR has finally came out with next year's schedule...not that it is probably any different than any other year, but still...it has me looking forward to next year already! (Though don't get me wrong, I am still cherishing the next five races...but am already dreading the awful NASCAR withdrawal that is bound to come about as soon as Thanksgiving is over.... ) 2014 NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES 2/15/2014 — Sprint Unlimited (Daytona) 2/20/2014 — Budweiser Duels (Daytona) 2/23/2014 — Daytona 500 3/2/2014 — Phoenix International Raceway 3/9/2014 — Las Vegas Motor Speedway 3/16/2014 — Bristol Motor Speedway 3/23/2014 — Auto Club Speedway 3/30/2014 — Martinsville Speedway 4/6/2014 — Texas Motor Speedway 4/12/2014 — Darlington Raceway 4/26/2014 — Richmond International Raceway 5/4/2014 — Talladega Superspeedway 5/10/2014 — Kansas Speedway 5/17/2014 — All-Star Race (Charlotte) 5/25/2014 — Charlotte Motor Speedway 6/1/2014 — Dover International Speedway 6/8/2014 — Pocono Raceway 6/15/2014 — Michigan International Speedway 6/22/2014 — Sonoma Raceway 6/28/2014 — Kentucky Speedway 7/5/2014 — Daytona International Speedway 7/13/2014 — New Hampshire Motor Speedway 7/27/2014 — Indianapolis Motor Speedway 8/3/2014 — Pocono Raceway 8/10/2014 — Watkins Glen International 8/17/2014 — Michigan International Speedway 8/23/2014 — Bristol Motor Speedway 8/31/2014 — Atlanta Motor Speedway 9/6/2014 — Richmond International Raceway 9/14/2014 — Chicagoland Speedway 9/21/2014 — New Hampshire Motor Speedway 9/28/2014 — Dover International Speedway 10/5/2014 — Kansas Speedway 10/11/2014 — Charlotte Motor Speedway 10/19/2014 — Talladega Superspeedway 10/26/2014 — Martinsville Speedway 11/2/2014 — Texas Motor Speedway 11/9/2014 — Phoenix International Raceway 11/16/2014 — Homestead-Miami Speedway Personally I think they should start and end the season at Daytona...and then replace Talladega with Bristol in the Chase. But once again, they have failed to ask me!

Here is the New Kids latest song they have out on their newer album that came out in April or May. Haven't used the New Kids for a while and figured Hoss probably missed so here they are.

Woo hoo...sounds good.

I absolutely LOVE Darius Rucker's new song "Radio". I remember growing up watching the Cubs games on WGN and the announcers would always talk about Hootie and the Blowfish. I always thought that was a strange name for a band, but never heard any of their music, but the announcers seemed to really like them. And now one of the main singers, Darius Rucker is a star in the Country genre. Am now a true fan of Darius...and have to say this is one of my favorite songs of his! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UUVcwLy3euo This one is actually two SMALL words, but doubt I would use it in the musical chairs section so I thought I would post it here. Normally it takes me a few times of hearing a new song by an artist I don't know much about before I can start to say I like it. But not this one. I have loved this song since the very first time I heard it...had to go out and buy the album once it came out. I do like the whole album and do like the video...

Congrats Roth...you are very well deserving of this honor.

I really wish when I came to this thread that I would have some super good news to share with you about and be happy with. Sadly that is not the case for today. The only good NASCAR news I heard today was that Kevin Harvick will be racing for JRM next year in the Nationwide Series. In other words, Harvick will be racing for Dale Jr in the Nationwide Series. And for the sad news... A few years back, Brian Vickers had to sit out for most of the season when they found blood clots in his leg and they had to put him on blood thinners to take care of it. They can't race while they are on blood thinning medicine. Well they found a small blood clot in Vickers' hip. Vickers will now be out for the rest of the season (2013) due to being put back onto blood thinners. Though they are optimistic that he will be able to return in the beginning of the 2014 season. (Vickers would be out next week at Talladega anyway since Michael Waltrip will be in the car. So it will affect Vickers for four races...) Still bummed out to hear about Vickers. What rotten luck! I hope he will get it taken care of quick and be back in the car as they hope in 2014... And for more Michael Waltrip news... Since NAPA has left the team, it has left a big dent financially it seems. Michael Waltrip will drop from three full time drivers to two full time drivers...with a third team in only a few races (I assume it will be in the restrictor plate races where Michael will race.) Which will leave Martin Truex Jr without a ride for next season. Personally I don't feel bad for MWR through all of this. They are the ones that had made that call to manipulate the Chase points back in Richmond and even if it was a last minute call as Waltrip says it was, he should have stopped and thought about the consequences it would have. His sponsors. His fans. His team in general. I do feel bad, however, for Martin Truex Jr. Where it seems like when it rains, it pours. First he was put in the Chase by Bowyer's spin, then NASCAR seeing that the spin was intentional, took Truex Jr out of the Chase to put Newman in the Chase. Then NAPA (Truex Jr's main sponsor) after getting complaints by fans by what Waltrip had done, has came forth that they don't want to be associated with a team that doesn't play by the rules...has came forth saying they are leaving the team after the 2013 season and bringing their money with them. Which led to Waltrip telling Truex Jr that he would be free to find another team if he wishes, but wants him to stay. But now has been shown to the door due to the lack of funds/sponsorship due to the whole ordeal. Personally, I feel like the wrong driver/person is being the one punished. Truex Jr knew nothing about the spin or Waltrip's call. Yeah it was to help him out, but he had nothing to do with it. And yet he is the one, in my opinion, getting punished for what MW and Bowyer had done. I hope Vickers a speedy recovery and hope that Truex Jr will find a great team in 2014...

That sounds like a great compromise. I have never seen the Duke cartoons...are they good as the real thing?

Thanks Roth Potter. Have to admit, it makes me smile every time my computer comes on and I see that pic. I agree, think it is a great picture of Jeff Gordon.

Well I hope that works...otherwise that is the only way I know how to insert images from my computer. Thanks for the help Roth. Sorry it isn't any bigger...but you should get the idea of what it looks like at least. Isn't it awesome or what?!

Really Roger? You traded in the race for Dora and cartoons? LOL. You are better than me...when my niece comes over she knows that when Blue Bloods is on or the race is on, the TV is off limits since I will be watching Blue Bloods or the race. I mean, she has plenty of toys to play with...what possibly could she want with the TV? (Though she also knows that and does watch movies / tv when the race or Blue Bloods is not on...so she has her turn. ) You are all very welcome. I enjoy writing about the race...would rather be writing about a Jeff Gordon or Jimmie Johnson win, but I have to settle with what they give me. HA. I totally loved how the race started out...just too bad it couldn't end that way. Not that I have much room to complain since three of my drivers got a top ten out of the race. Bummer about Jr though. Tough luck. Though there are a lot of people on FB complaining about Gordon's finish and their rant for a new crew chief has started up again. (I have friended lot of JG fans as well as in a few JG groups...) Which I see where they are coming from...to a POINT. They are upset at the last pit stop with twenty or so laps to go, Gordon's crew chief went with two tires over four (he went with four for the rest of the race...) while Keselowski, Johnson and others went with four. Kasey Kahne went with two as well. I think the fans think that if Gordon went with four fresh tires over two he could have a chance at the win...instead of finishing seventh. . .which maybe the case. But if you ask me...which no one has as of yet...but crew chiefs are paid to take chances and to gamble on pit road. If you go with what everyone else is doing, you won't do anything different than them! Gustafson (Gordon's cc) gambled with two and once he got out of fresh air, fell back due to everyone else having more fresh tires than him. I see their point of being somewhat disappointed with seven when he started up front and so forth, but it could have been a lot worse. And Alan didn't know until he tried. I have seen him go with four fresh tires at the last pit stop while everyone went with two and he was passed by everyone on pit road due to that and being shoved in the back didn't have time to go to the front to contend with the win. Which case I am sure Gustafson got criticized for that too. It is darn if you do, darn if you don't. Personally, I love Gustafson as his crew chief...no he may not make the perfect calls every time. May fail once here and there, but he is just as human as the rest of us is. Gordon is so positive of him and his crew...can't see why his fans can't be. Ah well...that is what is so great about NASCAR. Every fan is a die hard fan and is passionate about their driver and their sport (most of the time) and is willing to voice their opinion over such stuff.

Well I couldn't find a print screen tab on my desktop when I tried to follow the instructions....so I am still lost on how to get a picture of my AWESOME desktop picture. So I guess I will have to just tell you what it is...bummer. I reset my desktop picture every time Jeff Gordon wins. So my current picture is of Jeff Gordon celebrating his win at Pocono last season...and even though I REALLY love my desktop picture right now, would love a new one seeing how that would mean that Jeff would win again. If I wasn't such a dummy I would be proud to show you my AWESOME Jeff Gordon desktop picture...

Well y'all the race has JUST ended...and Brad Keselowski got his first win of the season. Though I guess that is jumping ahead of my review, though have to admit not a whole lot has happened in tonight's race. I think the biggest moment of excitement of the race was in the first half of the race when Brad Keselowski decided to take off of his pit stop before the jack dropped and he took the jack for a ride around the track. And then once back in his pit stall, he let his crew take the jack out before starting off again before they could get his car fixed and he had to stop band back back in to his stall. But guess that didn't stop him from winning the race. Mark Martin didn't last much over a hundred laps when his engine blew and took him out of the race and spread oil all over the track and onto Jr's and Johnson's windshield. Kyle Larson made his NASCAR Sprint Cup debut tonight but ended early with a engine failure as well. Jeff Gordon led at first before giving it up to Kasey Kahne who led the most laps. Dale Jr led several laps for his 500th start. Johnson led a lot of laps. Brad Keselowski passed Kahne with twenty or so laps left due to having four fresh tires over Kahne's two fresh tires. 1. Brad Keselowski 2. Kasey Kahne 3. Matt Kenseth 4. Jimmie Johnson 5. Kyle Busch 6. Kevin Harvick 7. Jeff Gordon 8. Ryan Newman 9. Denny Hamlin 10. Carl Edwards 11. Clint Bowyer 12. Juan Pablo Montoya 13. Ricky Stenhouse Jr 14. Kurt Busch 15. Dale Earnhardt Jr 16. Greg Biffle 17. Marcos Ambrose 18. Joey Logano 19. Jamie McMurray 20. Danica Patrick 21. Jeff Burton 22. Martin Truex jr 23. Aric Almirola 24. Paul Menard 25. Brian Vickers 26. David Reutimann 27. Brian Scott 28. Bobby Labonte 29. David Gilliland 30. David Ragen 31. Casey Mears 32. Dave Blaney 33. Landon Cassill 34. Cole Whitt 35. Travis Kvapil 36. Timmy Hill 37. Kyle Larson 38. Blake Koch 39. Joe Nemechek 40. Michael McDowell 41. Josh Wise 42. Mark Martin 43. JJ Yeley We will be going plate racing next week at Talladega...where anything can happen. Have to admit having 'Dega in the Chase makes me worried...