Garrett Duke

I know, right? You gotta love it...LOL. Well some of it we would be better without. As always, I will keep you updated if I hear anything more "official" about this.

Thanks Roger for the congrats. I stayed up late to watch the game and it was well worth it...though Bears player Henry Melton tore his ACL in the game. Is out for the REST of the season! Doctors say he won't be completely healed until next May or June. I am very happy about the win...and very upset about the loss of Melton. Melton missed most of pre season with a concussion...and now this?! Well at least he isn't one of the Bear's main players, but still not happy that he got hurt. Congrats Roger on your Pirates going to the playoffs...I hope they go all the way for you. May you beat those nasty red birds...HA HA. The Cubs beat your Pirates today on their last home game. Making me one sad fan. Well happy with the win, but sad that they won't be at Wrigley for another SEVERAL months. Really hate the off season! (I know, I know, baseball isn't over until the world series, right? Well wrong. For me, my baseball season starts and ends with the Cubs. I may have a team that I want to win, but that is as far as it goes. Perhaps one of these years my season will end in October instead of September...hey what am I talking about?! NEXT YEAR IS THEIR YEAR!!!!!!!!!!! ) As fas my Bears playing MM's Seahawks...just looked at the Bears' schedule. Looks like the Seahawks were too scared to play the Bears this season...HA HA. (Sorry MM. Please don't delete me...had to say it!) I may not be a Pirates fan, but I do know who Jason Kendall is...that is awesome you went to school with him, MM. You didn't by chance get me his autograph in between classes, did you?

Well I wasn't going to write anything about this until something happened, but it is Wednesday and am in need of something NASCAR to talk about or to watch... With NAPA leaving Michael Waltrip Racing at the end of this year, Michael Waltrip has told Martin Truex Jr. (who NAPA sponsors for the remaining eight races...) that he wouldn't try to stop him him Truex wanted to leave MWR after the season. I haven't heard yay or nay as to what Martin wants or is planning to do after this season is over, especially with the permission to leave MWR. But if he is to leave MWR, it is kinda late in the season to be losing your job and having to seek another ride. I have heard RUMORS that Joe Gibbs Racing is looking into starting a fourth car...and IF he does, that would be a great ride for Martin Truex Jr. Especailly if he can bring NAPA with him. (NAPA has said they are willing to look at other places/rides to sponsor outside of MWR). But outside of the Joe Gibbs RUMOR of a ride, that pretty much only leaves the 78 of Furniture Row Racing open for Truex to consider going if he was to leave MWR. Like I said, wasn't planning on writing anything until something came out of this...but had to write about SOMETHING.

Well it looks like I shoulda made that bet with Roger. Ah well...perhaps the Bears earned a new fan after today. Is that possible, Roger? LOL. For you, I am sorry your Steelers lost today. Though was very happy to see the Bears go 3-0 today. What you think of Howie Long's son, Kyle, playing for the Bears? He is a rookie this year...looks great so far. Hopefully your Steelers will win in New Englad next week...

Woo hoo. Always nice to have MM on my side. Though the Bears have slowed down since the first quarter...need to step it up!

Well Roger...we're on... I don't know about you, but I am watching the BEARS game.

The race has just gotten over. Not a whole lot to talk about. Juan Pablo Montoya wrecked out his team mate Jamie McMurray...though McMurray was able to recover and have a strong finish. Martin Truex Jr. led a lot of laps after losing his sponsor (after the season ends) but came home tenth. Jeff Gordon led a lot of laps before he went into pits and over shot is pit stall and came out twenty second. He comes home fifteenth. Kasey Kahne wrecked himself into the wall hard. Came out looking like he was holding his hand and when they interviewed him he seemed out of it and they cut the interview short. Did come back out, but 22 laps behind. Matt Kenseth has won his seventh race of the season...second race in row. Two races into the Chase so far...and Kenseth won them both. He won today on his 500th career NASCAR start. 1. Matt Kenseth 2. Kyle Busch 3. Greg Biffle 4. Jimmie Johnson 5. Jamie McMurray 6. Dale Earnhardt Jr 7. Brian Vickers 8. Jeff Burton 9. Carl Edwards 10. Martin Truex Jr. 11. Brad Keselowski 12. Denny Hamlin 13. Kurt Busch 14. Joey Logano 15. Jeff Gordon 16. Ryan Newman 17. Clint Bowyer 18. Marcos Ambrose 19. Juan Pablo Montoya 20. Kevin Harvick 21. Aric Almirola 22. Paul Menard 23. Mark Martin 24. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. 25. Casey Mears 26. David Reutimann 27. Danica Patrick 28. Travis Kvapil 29. David Ragen 30. Michael McDowell 31. Dave Blaney 32. Josh Wise 33. JJ Yeley 34. Landon Cassill 35. Joe Nemechek 36. Timmy Hill 37. Kasey Kahne 38. Kevin Swindell 39. David Gilliland 40. Bobby Labonte 41. Tony Raines 42. Johnny Sauter 43. Scott Riggs We are back at Dover next Sunday for Chase race number 3.

Yeah I kinda had a feeling that you aren't the most confident to go against a team that is currently 2-0 right now. Doubt this will help ya any, but I read on Facebook "Only five players on the current 53-man Bears roster were on the team the last time the Bears visited Pittsburgh in 2005: Briggs, Garza, Gould, Mannelly, and Tillman." See Roger...how many new faces you will get to see on Sunday night? Including our great quarterback JAY CUTLER!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Or Defensive end...JULIUS PEPPERS!!!! Just to name a couple of them. Not to scare you any more than you are... But as Chris Meyers from NASCAR on FOX would say...I only kid 'cause I care. Should be a great matchup...just personally hope when I wake up on Monday morning the Bears will be 3-0. HA...May the best team win!

Well Hoss, if that was too old for you, then here is a great song by my one of my all time favorite artists...favorite newer artist. JASON ALDEAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 2012 too old for you, Hoss?

Have to go back a few years for this one...but it is a GREAT song all the same. By a GREAT artist...

Well Roger...you may have a lot of faith in your recently healed rookie running back, but perhaps you should be worried. Look at what Lance Briggs, Bears player, wrote on Facebook today: Lance Briggs #Pittsburgh here we come. Looks like the Bears are ready to take on your Steelers...are your Steelers ready?

Thanks Roger. It would be great if we can learn from all of this and move forward without retaliation of any sort...we got nine more races to see how all this will settle out. At least MWR has given me plenty of things to talk about this past week and a half. Just too bad none of it is good or positive...other than to set an example to the rest of the teams of what NOT to do...

Sorry Roger...I don't bet. If betting went as my fantasy sports does, that means I'd just curse the Bears (which I probably already do since I have the Bears players on my team already...) so I don't want to curse them or cause them bad luck by placing a bet on them. Besides...we already know the Bears are the best football team. I mean they have won every seasonal game this year so far...now haven't they?

I think with all the news that has come forth this season, I think I have enough of it to write a book. Definitely not complaining...I love it. Well as long as it is all positive news about my drivers and no one getting hurt. Well it looks like NAPA has pulled their sponsorship from Michael Waltrip Racing...December 31, 2013 will be the official end of NAPA's full sponsorship of MWR driver Martin Truex Jr. “NAPA believes in fair play and does not condone actions such as those that led to the penalties assessed by NASCAR,†NAPA wrote on Facebook. “We remain supportive of the millions of NASCAR fans and will evaluate our future position in motorsports.†( NAPA Leaving MWR at the end of the Year) Michael Waltrip did make a statement about NAPA leaving...NAPA has been with Michael a long time. Be odd to see NAPA not associated with Michael Waltrip. He also did say a partial apology...I say partial because he apologized to the fans and not to the drivers that his actions had caused unnecessary drama for. Here is his statement: Michael Waltrip's NAPA Statement Here is another article that has more background info as well as what happened. MWR losing NAPA KNOW HOW/ Hmmm I wonder if by now Michael Waltrip is regretting his choice to manipulate the Chase/points as he did at Richmond...sad thing is though the innocent are the ones affected by it. I say that because as far as I know Martin Truex Jr. is the innocent party in this deal...him and Brian Vickers. And yet they both were thrown under the bus, so to speak, by Bowyer and Michael Waltrip in their conquest to manipulate the Chase/points as they did at Richmond. Sure the whole reason for Bowyer's spin was to get Truex Jr. in the Chase, but Truex Jr had no clue it was even happening. According to Truex Jr. he didn't even know he had a chance to get in the Chase. Truex Jr. left Richmond excited that he had made the Chase...only for a day or so later for NASCAR to pull him out of the Chase and put Ryan Newman in his spot. So now all because of Bowyer and Michael Waltrip, he was in the Chase...and then pulled out of the Chase. And now because of them, Truex Jr is losing his main sponsor. I would love to have a chance to ask Michael Waltrip and Clint Bowyer...if it was all worth it. But then again, don't know if I would believe their answer or not by now anyway. I feel bad for Martin Truex Jr. for being caught up in all of this. He is one of the good guys and don't deserve to be put in the middle the way he has been thanks to his boss and teammate...would like to hear his opinion towards them right now as well... I do however applaud NAPA for standing up for what they believe in and believing in doing the right thing. If you have time...it is a lengthy read, but Kelley Earnhardt (Dale Jr's sister) posted this blog about the subject on Facebook and I just got done reading it. (Dang...would love to be able to write a NASCAR blog! LOL. ) Anyway, it is a very good read and I agree with what he has to say about the whole deal...he is right on with everything. Here is his blog: NASCAR BLOG I know this whole ordeal caused a lot of drama for Jeff Gordon as he was the one that these actions affected...or as NASCAR put it, Gordon was the ripple effect of their actions. And trust me, this 24 fan was one upset fan after the Richmond race...but even if Gordon wasn't affected by MWR manipulating the Richmond race, I'd still be upset. For one...it is just wrong to cheat your way into the Chase or into anything. Second of all it was a very selfish act on MWR and Bowyer's part. And third, I did like and respect Michael Waltrip and was very disappointed to hear all this coming from him. Have to admit...I found it sad that NASCAR had to pull the drivers into a special meeting to tell them to race with everything they had, to give the race a hundred percent. Shouldn't that be just common sense? Understand helping a teammate out to a limit...give him a lap for an extra point here and there, let them borrow or use their set up, but not to change the outcome of the race. I don't know about you...but I hope we can all learn from this and move forward without any more retaliation or drawback from the Richmond race. But does make you wonder about MWR other two sponsors who also had made statements of not being happy with what they did and were investigating it...time will tell.

happy thirty-eightth birthday to ol' five time...jimmie johnson!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well someone had to awaken this thread with a great song...might as well as be me. Love this Keith Urban song...another one of his songs that he puts such great emotion in. Especially when you see him sing it live in concert! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B-oKxpQrRY4

Well race one of the Chase is in the books...leaving ONLY nine more races left of the season. I am already dreading the off season...why can't we just skip from Richmond to Daytona? Doesn't that sound fair? HA HA. Here is how the Chase looks after one race: Position Driver Points Behind Wins 1 Matt Kenseth 2063 6 2 Kyle Busch -8 4 3 Jimmie Johnson -11 4 4 Kevin Harvick -15 2 5 Carl Edwards -23 2 6 Kurt Busch -23 0 7 Jeff Gordon -24 0 8 Ryan Newman -28 1 8 Clint Bowyer -28 0 10 Kasey Kahne -31 2 10 Greg Biffle -31 1 12 Joey Logano -52 1 13 Dale Earnhardt Jr. -53 0 Also today is Jason Leffler's birthday...he'd have been 38 years old. RIP Jason. You are missed!

Well Roger...don't know if you know it yet or not, but this upcoming weekend is going to be a big one for both of us. Not only does your Pirates come to Chicago next Monday, but my BEARS go to your Pittsburgh on Sunday. You think your team is up for the Bears? After all, the Bears are 2-0 so far...meaning they have won every seasonal game this year! The Bears seem to have a great group of talented players playing for them this year and players who are supporting and protecting Jay Cutler...have heard a time or two, that this year is the Bears' year. So....are you ready????????????????????? LET'S GO CHICAGO BEARS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This has got to be one of the craziest seasons of NASCAR that I can remember...with all that has happened with the Chase. And with how many people are changing teams and leaving their team. With all that had happened last week, I had failed to report that Jeff Burton is leaving RCR (Richard Childress Racing) and that Ryan Newman will be racing the 31 car next year. (Sorry if I reported this already...wasn't sure if I did or not.) The latest is...Juan Pablo Montoya is leaving NASCAR completely and will be driving for Penske in the Indy car series.. for car number 2 in 2014. There is a lot of people moving around next year...am glad my team Hendrick will remain the same next year.

Well Matt Kenseth went on to win the opening race at Chicagoland, Kyle Busch, Kevin Harvick, Kurt Busch, Jimmie Johnson, and Jeff Gordon make the top six. Logano and Earnhardt Jr both had engine problems it sounds. I turned it off with about a hundred laps to go...Jeff Gordon led a few laps before Cole Whitt's car caught on fire to bring out the caution and then a debris caution. Carl Edwards made it four wide after a restart which gave Gordon a flat tire and looks like a lap down. I was on my way to bed when I heard / saw Gordon going into pits. So it wasn't the win I was hoping for...but with all things considered, am happy with sixth.

Thanks Roger. I was and still super excited with NASCAR's great decision about including Jeff Gordon in the Chase. The Chase now has a whole different meaning to it than it did before. Yep just turned the race on...Matt Kenseth is still out front followed by Jimmie Johnson.

I am pretty sure that the race will start at 10:00 EST on ESPN2. I will have to write my review tomorrow afternoon after work and I get home. Sorry for letting y'all down, but I doubt I will be up to see the end. Not happy about this but perhaps Gordon will do better without me...let's go team 24!

I am hearing rumors the race may restart 8:00 central time or 9 central time...hmmm doubt I will be able to stay up to watch the whole thing. I have to get up at four tomorrow morning. Dang work anyway!

If the race goes green later tonight...it will be on ESPN 2. ESPN has said they will report at six to see if anything else is planned. Will keep you updated. Dang...what a lousy way to start the Chase.