Today is the 19th anniversary of “The Dunk” and it was the greatest moment of my life as a Knicks fan. I still remember it like it was yesterday.   I was only a child of two immigrant parents that knew nothing about this game, where behemoths fought over an orange ball and attempted to put it into a metal hoop. Their ignorance didn’t stop me from loving the sport and from cherishing the moment. I still have the poster….somewhere. Not exactly sure where it is just like I don’t know where the Knicks’ gumption was during the Miami Heat series two weeks ago.

The hesitation that Starks used to freeze BJ Armstrong and then the quick step to the right in order drive baseline that caused BJ to lose his socks and eat his shoe was just awesome. I thought he was going to stop short for a short jumper because of his diminutive stature and the fact that Horace Grant was creeping with one eye on him from the other side of the paint. But there was an opening…..and he kept going. And when he leaped into the air Read the rest of this entry »

OTA’s are well under way throughout the NFL and no story is bigger than the Tim Tebow saga in New York.  Not even the return of Peyton Manning in a Broncos uniform can top the media attention that Tim Tebow gets.  Never in the history of the NFL has a backup quarterback received this much attention.  If the Meadowlands Messiah as much as sneezes during practice, you’re gonna hear about it. Read the rest of this entry »

Aric Almirola poses after qualifying for the pole position in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 24, 2012 in Concord, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)

Richard Petty will always be King, but on Thursday night he ruled Charlotte Motor Speedway.

Aric Almirola captured the Coors Light Pole Award for the Coca-Cola 600 with a lap speed of 192.940 mph, and his Richard Petty Motorsports teammate, Marcos Ambrose will start second.

As Petty walked into the media center, he joked “Haven’t sat up here in a while.”

During his career , Petty won 123 poles, a Sprint Cup record.  The last time his Petty Blue No. 43 was the polesitter for a race was 46 years ago.

Kurt Busch will start at the back of the field after wrecking in qualifying.

Danica Patrick qualified 40th for her first Coca-Cola 600. Patrick will also win the NASCAR Nationwide Series History 300 on Saturday afternoon.

While there is no track activity on Friday, you can catch all NASCAR Sprint Cup Series practice on Saturday starting at 10:00am EST, while the race is on Fox on Sunday, May 27 starting at 6:00pm EST.

Just a reminder my pick to win the race is Dale Earnhardt, Jr.. Now it’s your turn! Who ya got NASCAR fans?

Starting Lineup:

1. Aric Almriola
2. Marcos Ambrose
3. Jimmie Johnson (WON THE ALL-STAR RACE LAST WEEK)
4. Greg Biffle
5. Clint Bowyer
6. Mark Martin
7. Kasey Kahne
8. Denny Hamlin
9. Paul Menard
10. Regan Smith Read the rest of this entry »

While there’s no word if they’ve fixed the glitch where linebackers can jump 4 feet off the ground at the line of scrimmage and pick-off passes intended for receivers 30 yards down the field, EA Sports has announced that Tebowing will be included in Madden NFL 13 as a touchdown celebration.  South Park fans eagerly await the verdict on the inclusion of Faith Hilling and/or Taylor Swifting. Read the rest of this entry »

By Jason Smith, Getty Images for NASCAR
Kevin Harvick celebrates in Victory Lane after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, N.C.

It’s the longest race of the season and anything can happen. Last year, Kevin Harvick, who wasn’t even in contention to win the whole evening, won the Coca-Cola 600 after Dale Earnhardt, Jr. ran out of gas. Goes to show you that anything can happen in 600 miles.  Danica Patrick will pull double duty for the third time in 2012 by competing in his first Coca-Cola 600 as well as Saturday’s NASCAR Nationwide Series race.  Charlotte Motor Speedway is a 1.5 mile asphalt track that was built in 1960. The first race at the track was held on June 19, 1960.

NASCAR Nationwide Series:

2011 Coors Light Pole Award Winner:  Ricky Stenhouse, Jr.
2011 NASCAR Nationwide Series Winner: Matt Kenseth
Laps:  200
Distance: 300 Miles

Thursday, May 24, 2012:

2:00PM NASCAR Nationwide Series Practice SPEED
3:30PM NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Practice SPEED
5:00PM NASCAR Nationwide Series Final Practice SPEED
6:30PM NASCAR Live SPEED
7:00PM NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Qualifying SPEED
8:30PM NASCAR RaceHub SPEED

Friday, May 25, 2012:

NO TRACK ACTIVITY SCHEDULED

Saturday May 26, 2012:

10:00AM NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Practice SPEED
12:30PM NASCAR Live SPEED
1:00PM NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Final Practice SPEED
2:30PM NASCAR Nationwide Series Race ABC
(History 300. In-Race Reporter Joey Logano)
5:30 PM Trackside SPEED
10:30PM NASCAR Performance SPEED
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series:
2011 Coors Light Pole Award: Brad Keselowski
2011 Winner: Kevin Harvick
Laps: 400
Distance: 600 miles

Sunday, May 27, 2012:

3:30PM NASCAR RaceDay SPEED
6:00PM NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Race FOX
(Coca-Cola 600)
11:00PM Victory Lane SPEED

**AS ALWAYS TIMES ABOVE ARE EASTERN STANDARD TIME**

By Jason Smith, Getty Images for NASCAR
Kevin Harvick celebrates in Victory Lane after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, N.C.

Race Information:

When: Sunday, May 27, 2012
Where: Charlotte Motor Speedway
Laps: 400
Distance: 600 miles

It’s the longest race of the season and arguably the most physical.  Get ready for the Coca-Cola 600 from Charlotte Motor Speedway.

Last year, Kevin Harvick wasn’t even in contention to win the 600 until the very end when Dale Earnhardt, Jr. ran out of gas a half-mile from the checkered flag and for the first time in history this race came down to a Green-White-Checkered finish. Even with the win, Harvick would tell the media after the race “I’m still miserable, in about 30 minutes I’ll be happy when we drive out of that tunnel and leave the month of May behind.” Could a win for Mr. Harvick change his mind about Charlotte Motor Speedway?

Danica Patrick will pull double duty for the third time in 2012 by competing in his first Coca-Cola 600 as well as Saturday’s NASCAR Nationwide Series race. The only other female driver to compete in the 600 is Janet Guthrie, who finished 15th in 1976. Can she last the full 900 miles?

My pick for this weekend is Dale Earnhardt, Jr. who will be driving the same car that he used to compete in the Sprint Showdown/All-Star race last Saturday night at the track. Who is yours, NASCAR Nation?

Entry List:

Entry Veh # Driver Owner Crew Chief Veh Mfg Sponsor
1 1 Jamie McMurray Felix Sabates Kevin Manion 12 Chevrolet Bass Pro Shops/Arctic Cat
2 2 Brad Keselowski Roger Penske Paul Wolfe 12 Dodge Miller Lite
3 5 Kasey Kahne Linda Hendrick Kenny Francis 12 Chevrolet Quaker State
4 9 Marcos Ambrose Richard Petty Todd Parrott 12 Ford DeWalt
5 10 Danica Patrick(i) Tommy Baldwin Tommy Baldwin 12 Chevrolet Go Daddy.com
6 11 Denny Hamlin J D Gibbs Darian Grubb 12 Toyota FedEx Ground
7 13 Casey Mears Bob Germain Bootie Barker III 12 Ford No. 13 GEICO Ford Fusion
8 14 Tony Stewart Margaret Haas Steve Addington 12 Chevrolet OFFICE DEPOT / MOBIL 1
9 15 Clint Bowyer Rob Kauffman Brian Pattie 12 Toyota 5-Hour Energy
10 16 Greg Biffle Jack Roush Matt Puccia 12 Ford Fastenal Read the rest of this entry »

Matt Kenseth celebrates his win in the NASCAR Nationwide Series Top Gear 300 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Photo: HHP

Race Information:

When: Saturday, 26, 2012
Where: Charlotte Motor Speedway
Laps: 200
Distance: 300 miles

I wonder if Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. wakes up and wishes he could race every weekend at Iowa Speedway. After winning his third race in a row at the track last weekend, Stenhouse has to be on cloud nine.

Last year, Stenhouse won the pole for this race and finished fouth to his Roush-Fenway Racing teammate, Matt Kenseth. This was Kenseth’s first NASCAR Nationwide Series start of the season, and his first ever in the current generation car. Kenseth, who was subbing for Trevor Bayne, won his 26th career Nationwide race. He is not in this race this season.

My race pick for the NASCAR Nationwide Race is Kyle Busch. Who is yours?

Entry List:

Entry Veh # Driver Owner Crew Chief Veh Mfg Sponsor
1 100 Angela Cope Mike Ruch Chris Wright 12 Chevrolet Highland Wealth Advisors and Luichiny Shoes
2 01 Mike Wallace Johnny Davis Newt Moore 12 Chevrolet Restaurant.com
3 2 Elliott Sadler Delana Harvick Luke Lambert 12 Chevrolet ONE MAIN FINANCIAL
4 3 Austin Dillon Morgan Shepherd Danny Stockman Jr 12 Chevrolet Bass Pro Shops
5 4 Danny Efland Rusty Wallace Thomas Efland Jr 12 Ford TBA
6 6 Ricky Stenhouse Jr Jack Roush Michael Kelley 12 Ford Roush Fenway Racing
7 7 Danica Patrick Kelley Earnhardt-Miller Tony Eury Jr 12 Chevrolet GoDaddy.com
8 108 Kyle Fowler Randy Hill George Ingram 12 Ford TBA
9 10 Jeff Green Mark Smith Todd Myers 12 Toyota TBD
10 11 Brian Scott J D Gibbs Kevin Kidd 12 Toyota Dollar General Read the rest of this entry »

Elliott Sadler drives his car during the NASCAR Nationwide Series auto race, Sunday, May 20, 2012, at Iowa Speedway in Newton, Iowa. Sadler finished in second place. (Image from The Associated Press)

While he may have finished second at Iowa Speedway on Sunday afternoon, Elliott Sadler can definitely say the last two weeks have been rough on him. He was involved in a wreck at Darlington Raceway that hurt him in the points and now NASCAR has penalized him and the No. 2 team following post-race inspection at Iowa Speedway.

On Tuesday, NASCAR announced that the No. 2 Chevrolet was found to be in violation of Sections 12-1 (actions detrimental to stock car racing); 12-4J (any determination by NASCAR officials that race equipment used in the event does not conform to NASCAR rules); and 20A-12.8.1C (body height requirements- car failed to meet the minimum rear car heights) of the 2012 NASCAR rule book.

These penalties do not require either Elliott Sadler or Luke Lambert, Sadler’s crew chief, to be put on probation, it did result in a $10,000 fine for Lambert and the loss of six championship owner points to DeLana Harvick and six championship driver points to Sadler.

Hopefully Elliott Sadler and the No. 2 ONE Financial team can regroup and have a great weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Sadler is now 34 points out of first, which is currently being held by Ricky Stenhouse, Jr.

Ryan Newman drives the #39 US ARMY Chevrolet during practice for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Samsung Mobile 500 at Texas Motor Speedway on April 12, 2012. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

Could military sponsorship in NASCAR be in trouble?

If Rep. Jack Kingston, R-Ga and Betty McCollumn, D-Minn. have anything to say about it then yes.

Last Thursday, an amendment was adopted in the United States House Appropriations Committee that would prohibit the Department of Defense from spending money on sports sponsorships. This could be a huge problem for NASCAR, of the $135 million that is spent on sports, $80 million goes into NASCAR. Last year, McCollumn introduced similar legislation but it didn’t get any support. Now with Kingston on board, it could go all the way. Read the rest of this entry »