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Old 02-07-2007, 09:19 PM
  #91
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It's upswing, I suppose.

Posting this here instead of the NBA thread because it perhaps has cross-sport relevance:

Quote:
John Amaechi, a former player with the Utah Jazz and Orlando Magic, has become the first NBA player to come out as gay.

Amaechi will announce publicly for the first time that he is gay on an episode of ESPN's "Outside The Lines" to air Feb. 11 at 9:30amET, Outsports has learned. His book, "Man In The Middle," published by ESPN Books, in which he chronicles his NBA career and directly addresses the travails of being a closeted professional athlete, will be released Feb. 14.

Amaechi's sexuality has been rumored for years. In an April 2001 column for Outsports, NBA columnist Randy Boyd named Amaechi, then playing with the Orlando Magic, as No. 16 among those in the NBA most likely to be gay.

"Could be that the Nigerian-Brit just operates on a different planet?" Boyd asked in his column. "But then again, that explanation for his atypical behavior wouldn’t be any fun now would it?"

That atypical behavior included a penchant for designing gardens, listening to opera before games and writing poetry.

In Amaechi's first contact with Outsports in December, he asked with his playful sense of humor, "Why wasn't I higher than 16th?"

Outsports has been tracking this story for the last year, as quiet rumblings in private conversations started to surface, and had agreed to embargo a story until just prior to his first TV appearance. However, speculation that Amaechi was coming out has become heavy in the past few days, with his publicist, Howard Bragman, dropping hints at a Super Bowl week party in Miami about an NBA player coming out.

Amaechi contacted Outsports' Cyd Zeigler in December and Outsports introduced Amaechi to Bragman. The publicist had previously handled the coming out of NFL player Esera Tuaolo, golfer Rosie Jones and WNBA superstar Sheryl Swoopes.

Outsports acquired a copy of Amaechi's book last week. It is clearly the work of a thoughtful, intelligent man who has focused even more on developing his character and spirit as he has on his jump shot and rebounding.

The book traces his life from early childhood until he was bought out of his contract with the New York Knicks in early 2004. Along the way it paints the picture of a lonely man who only found community when he gathered the strength to start coming out to friends and family.

Amaechi was raised mostly in England by a single mother. He did not discover basketball until he was well into his teens. He spent one year playing high school basketball in the United States before heading to Vanderbilt, where he played only one season before transferring to Penn State.

Amaechi was a standout on the Penn State basketball team from 1992 to 1995, where he was twice named First Team Academic All-American. He was not drafted, but he became the first undrafted player in league history to start in his first game as a rookie, with the Cleveland Cavaliers.

He followed his time as a Cavalier with three years playing in Europe, where he dated and had a regular boyfriend for a time in England. He returned to the NBA in 1999 and was celibate until he went to the Jazz. His guaranteed contract with the Jazz set his mind at ease, and it was there that he began venturing out to gay establishments and building a mostly gay circle of friends (the first wide circle of friends of his life, according to the book).

"Those grumpy social conservatives who continue to insist that gay life is lonely and unhappy have obviously never met my friends," Amaechi wrote.

He writes of his first sexual experience in the United States, and how the Utah Jazz and Salt Lake City, controlled by the Latter Day Saints, was an odd backdrop for what felt like his coming out party. He also acknowledges that those in gay clubs like New York's Splash and Los Angeles' Abbey who have claimed in the past to have spotted him there while he was with the Jazz may, in fact, have done so.

"By the end of my second Utah season, I was practically daring reporters to take the bait and out me," he wrote. "But it never happened. My sexuality, I felt, had become an open secret, which was fine by me. I'd left enough open to interpretation that suspicions were gaining momentum."

In a 2002 interview with the Scotsman newspaper, Amaechi had this to say about the subject of gays in the NBA: "If you look at our league, minorities aren't very well represented. There's hardly any Hispanic players, no Asian-Americans, so that there's no openly gay players is no real surprise. It would be like an alien dropping down from space. There'd be fear, then panic: they just wouldn't know how to handle it."

The book also offers insight into the closed world of professional sports, including Amaechi's spirited and friendly political arguments with Karl Malone, what he called the betrayal of Orlando Magic management, kind words from former Indiana coach Bobby Knight, his regret that he never told Greg Ostertag, "the gentle big man" whom he respected, that he was gay when Ostertag asked him while they played together in Utah, his respect for then-Rockets coach Jeff Van Gundy, and his lack of respect for Jazz coach Jerry Sloan.

"Unbeknownst to me at the time," Amaechi wrote, "Sloan had used some anti-gay innuendo to describe me. It was confirmed via e-mails from friends who worked in high-level front-office jobs with the Jazz."

In reaction to Amaechi's comment, Sloan released this statement: “John is 1 of 117 players I have coached in the past 19 seasons, and it has always been my philosophy that my job is to make sure Jazz players perform to the maximum of their abilities on the floor. As far as his personal life is concerned, I wish John the best and have no further comment.”

On the court, Amaechi played in 301 games over five seasons, ending in 2003 with the Utah Jazz. His best seasons were in 1999-2000 and 2000-2001 when he started 89 games for the Orlando Magic. His career high for points came in a 2000 game against Denver, when he scored 31.

While the book gives a glimpse into the life of the first openly gay former NBA player, it more importantly paints a picture of a man whose dedication to philanthropy once led him to turn down a $17 million contract with the Los Angeles Lakers. It was for his philanthropic work and motivational-speaking endeavors that he was a 2006 recipient of the Penn State Alumni Achievement Award.

Amaechi, listed on the website 100 Great Black Britons, now runs the ABC Foundation, designed "to get kids playing sports," according to his website. "The ABC Foundation aims to increase participation in physical activity and holistic support services by building affordable, quality facilities and making expert coaches, respected mentors and educators available to all young people." The foundation's first sports center was built in Manchester, England, close to his childhood home of Stockport.

Amaechi embraces his position as role model for kids with as much vigor as so many professional athletes try to distance themselves from it.

"It would be nice to one day see one of these kids play in the NBA," Amaechi wrote. "But that's not what gets me up in the morning. It's a chance to change the culture, at least for a few kids."

Amaechi also owns Animus Consulting. The company, according to its Web site, offers a "range of programs … tailored to inspire, motivate, challenge and entertain in the pursuit of individual and group development - in a way that directly impacts the bottom line."

Said Boyd of Amaechi's coming out: "Hopefully it will be an inspiration to people who are hetero-identified to be more tolerant and to not assume that all 10 players on a given court have sex the same way they have sex."

Outsports: The Home For Gay Sports Fans and Athletes
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Old 02-09-2007, 09:14 AM
  #92
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I don't even remember him.
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Old 02-21-2007, 11:16 PM
  #93
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Top 10 useless sports traditions
Dave Golokhov / AskMen.com

There are a number of rules, customs or traditions that exist in sports that, at one point, may have been logical, but today they no longer make sense. These types of enigmatic practices range from the mundane, such as the "foul pole" that marks fair territory in baseball, to the more serious, such as the tolerance to fighting in the NHL versus the zero tolerance in the other major sports.

Those useless habits don't make much sense and here are 10 others:

10. Eye black or antiglare stickers
To reduce glare from the sun or stadium lights, athletes often apply grease known as eye black under their eyes. While it does have a minimal value to subdue the shine, it has become more of a fashion statement than anything else. From the rest-in-peace memo worn by Rutgers running back Ray Rice to Reggie Bush displaying his area code 619, the under-eyes have become the chic place to display a message. This grease is the modern day reincarnation of face paint and the usage to diminish blinding light is merely a side effect.

Solution: Sunglasses or a visor work just fine to fight the brightness. Athletes should save the cute messages and shout-outs for MySpace.
9. NFL overtime rules
Most sports use the "equal opportunity" model when it comes to overtime rules — most sports except the NFL, that is. The NFL rules give an advantage to the team that wins the coin toss. The team that wins the toss and receives the first possession in sudden-death overtime gets a leg up, even if they fail to score. While the statistics don't indicate an enormous edge in winning percentage to the team that earns the first possession, it still creates an uneven playing field at the beginning of overtime. It may be rare, but the system is always scrutinized when the uncommon case of a team with the first possession scores and wins.

Solution: Like college football, both teams should have at least one possession in overtime. If the team that wins the toss scores on its opening possession, the opposing team should be given a drive with the football to equal the score. If the team that earned the first possession of overtime fails to score, sudden-death rules fall in place.
8. NBA Draft Lottery
In sports, the team that finishes with the worst record in the regular season is typically awarded the best pick of the litter when the new batch of prospects comes around in the draft. Not so in the NBA.

In the NBA, the non-playoff teams make up a lottery of ping-pong balls, with the worst team receiving no better than a 25 percent chance to net the top pick. But since every nonplayoff team is in the lottery, they all have a shot — no matter how small — at garnering the top pick. This backward system typically gives the shaft to at least one franchise per season and allows another team a much higher selection than deserved.

Solution: Instead of using this system of chance, the NBA should employ the fair system that is used by the other three major leagues. If you finish with the worst record, you get the first selection overall; if you finish with the second-worst record, you earn the second selection overall; and so on.

7. Soccer penalty shootouts
Soccer is a game of skill that tests endurance, finesse and teamwork, and shootouts are a cheap way to come to a decision. In games that need to crown a winner, the shoot-out system is used if added time hasn't settled the match. This is simply a system of chance. With such a wide net, goalkeepers have only two prayers to stop a penalty kick: guess the right direction or hope that the ball misses the net completely. Furthermore, the shoot-out format eliminates defensive play, passing and coaching — all of which are key elements of the game.

Solution: The first step is to remove the silver goal method and return to the golden goal system, which means the first team to score in overtime wins. Next, each team will remove two players from the field, creating more space and therefore more goal-scoring opportunities. Lastly, grant each team two substitutions; fresh players are likely to create an offensive spark.

6. Arguing with MLB umpires
Peanuts, crackerjacks and the seventh-inning stretch are as much of a part of baseball as seeing a clash between a manager and an umpire. The problem, though, is that the latter custom serves no purpose.

Managers such as Lou Piniella have thrown plenty of fits, but regardless of whether they are arguing balls, strikes or a close call on the base paths, their appeal is rarely upheld. Umpires almost never overturn a call and managers never cease to try.

Solution: Frustration mounts among fans and players when a speculative judgment is made. Engaging in heated shouting matches is not only a bad example for young onlookers, it doesn't solve the problem. Baseball should get with the times and implement an instant replay system that will allow managers to make a formal challenge.
5. NCAA basketball play-in game
The March Madness play-in game is as irrelevant as Vince Young's Wonderlic score, yet somehow it has become an annual event.

The men's tournament includes a game between two mopes that battle for the right to earn a bid as a No. 16 seed and to play the No. 1 seed. In the history of the tournament, no No. 16 seed has ever defeated a No. 1 seed, thus making the game meaningless.

Solution: The NCAA awards a bid to each conference winner and an extra entry was created when the Mountain West Conference split from the Western Athletic Conference in 2001. The solution is to eliminate an at-large bid and the play-in game; this is the route the women's tournament decided to follow when they were faced with the same dilemma.

4. Diving in soccer
With the incessant diving, faking and pleading to referees, soccer has earned the reputation as a poor-sportsman sport. Only in soccer can the slightest shin-to-shin contact turn into somersaults, wincing and a stretcher — only to see the player return to the field within minutes. Coaches preach exaggeration to their players and the leagues never penalize or fine the actors after the fact.

Solution: Instant replay would catch the culprits on the spot, but it is the league officials who should take responsibility. They must start reviewing game film and doling out suspensions if they want to change this pattern of behavior.
3. NHL overtime losses
Can you imagine a team earning half of a win in the NBA if a game is tied after regulation? How about in baseball, awarding teams half of a victory if a game goes into extra innings? Sounds far-fetched, but that is what happens in hockey.

The NHL awards a point to each team that makes it to overtime, which is a carryover of a rule that was implemented when the league experienced an inordinate amount of ties. It was installed to encourage offensive play in the extra frame in order to avoid neutral outcomes.

Now that the shoot-out is in place and ties are not a possible result, this rule essentially awards free points and just clutters the standings picture.

Solution: When a game requires overtime, neither team has accomplished anything in terms of a win or a loss. The NHL should ditch this rule.
2. BCS rankings
It's said that sports are decided on the field and not on paper, but in college football it is the other way around. With an unreliable system that depends on a speculative computer formula to produce National Championship candidates, it leaves fans with nothing but questions and very few answers.

The bogus debates about rankings and bowl matchups are incessant and the conversation has been dumbed-down to the point that the following expressions are frequently heard:

1. "Team A has a better loss than Team B."
2. "Team A hasn't garnered as many style points in their wins as Team B."
3. "Team A has more quality victories than Team B."

Sports allow teams to answer for themselves, but that is not the case in the NCAA football playoffs.

Solution: The simple solution that most fans and coaches are begging for is some sort of a playoff format. For starters, place the 10 teams that play for the five BCS bowls into a tournament. This will allow the fans to see more of the best teams, since the eventual champion will play three playoff games, and will allow the top 10 contenders a chance to decide who deserves the No. 1 spot.
1. Referee discretion
Have you ever heard a commentator say, "The referees are letting the players play" or "The referees have put their whistles away," and wondered what that really meant?

Essentially, the commentators are referring to the biggest enigma in sports, which is inconsistent officiating.

In some hockey games, a play that is deemed a penalty in the first period is not viewed the same way in the waning minutes of the third period. Similarly, a basketball referee has a different definition of what constitutes a foul, and it often depends on who is the victim. If it's Dwayne Wade, he's going to the free throw line and if it's Tyronn Lue, the show goes on.

In baseball, some umpires have small strike zones, while others have large ones.

From period to period and game to game, the only thing consistent about officiating is that it is in fact inconsistent.

Solution: Nobody is perfect and nobody is demanding perfection from referees, but while professional sports spend billions of dollars to perfect marketing, stadiums and talent, investing more money to teach officials consistency would help. A better usage of technology, such as instant replay, would also make the system more reliable.

Out with the old
Most traditions or rules in sports served a purpose at some point, but often the sport itself has evolved and outgrown those old pants. In fact, sports traditions are like fashion: one day the BCS and parachute pants make sense, the next day they don't. It's time to get with the times and get rid of these out-of-date practices.

FOX Sports - More Sports - Top 10 useless sports traditions
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Old 02-23-2007, 09:48 AM
  #94
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Good read.

I definitely agree w/ #9 and #10.
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Old 03-28-2007, 12:56 AM
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Quote:
Wednesday March 28, 12:53 PM
Swim coach 'must not contact daughter'

A Ukrainian coach caught on film in an altercation with his daughter at Melbourne's world swimming championships has been banned from contacting her and will have his fate determined by the sport's governing body on Wednesday.

Mikhail Zubkov, 38, was filmed pushing and striking his daughter, competitor Kateryna Zubkova, during a physical altercation in a marshalling area at the swimming venue on Tuesday.

Victoria Police said they sought an intervention order against Zubkov on his daughter's behalf, after viewing the footage taken by host broadcaster Nine Network.

Superintendent Mick Williams said the order was granted in an out-of-sessions hearing on Tuesday night and bans Zubkov from contacting his daughter or going within 200 metres of her.

Zubkov was bailed on his own undertaking and ordered to appear at the Melbourne Magistrates' Court on Thursday.

Supt Williams said police were also investigating whether any criminal charges could be laid against the father.

He did not know if the father's passport had been withheld, but said police hoped to conclude their investigations before the Ukrainian team left Melbourne at the end of the week.

Kateryna returned to the pool on Wednesday morning, winning her heat in the women's 50-metre backstroke but failing to qualify for the next round.

Supt Williams said the swimmer was interviewed by police and examined by a doctor who found she was not injured in the "disturbing" attack.

"The advice I've got is she was quite open and frank and did not hold back about what the incident was about," he told reporters.

FINA - the governing body of international swimming - withdrew the coach's accreditation on Tuesday night.

Melbourne 2007 chief executive Michael Scott said swimming body FINA was convening a disciplinary hearing on Wednesday to determine Zubkov's fate.

Mr Scott said organisers had steps in place to ensure the swimmer's welfare was protected.

"Like most people I found what I saw last night on the vision distressing, disturbing and unacceptable and FINA have acted promptly by withdrawing the accreditation which means the coach cannot come into any (swimming) venue anymore," he told Southern Cross Broadcasting.

Mr Scott said the incident occurred in a room where athletes assemble before entering the arena.

Kateryna and her father had arrived about 30 minutes ahead of the other swimmers and were alone when the altercation broke out, he said.

"There was a prompt response by the Victorian Police, we have a Victorian Police presence on site and they dealt with the matter very efficiently and effectively to ensure that there was a separation between the athlete and the coach."
I saw the news and saw this eek...
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Old 03-29-2007, 09:19 AM
  #96
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OMG! Craziness.
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Old 03-30-2007, 03:26 AM
  #97
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Yeah, it was over her boyfriend but they both seemed to worked it out now
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Old 04-05-2007, 11:08 PM
  #98
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Well, that's good.
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Old 04-07-2007, 01:30 AM
  #99
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Quote:
Pair launch Pillow Fight League
October, Berman acquire sport's TV rights

The feathers will fly -- or at least, that's what producers Eddie October and Al Berman are hoping.

Less than a month after ESPN agreed to air the Rock Paper Scissors League championship, October and Berman have snatched up worldwide television rights to another "sport" based in childhood memories: the Pillow Fight League.

The TV-friendly twist: PFL's roster of players boasts a slew of attractive females, many of whom compete while wearing skimpy uniforms. That will be one of the key selling points as October and Berman begin pitching nets later this month on the idea of a PFL skein.

"I'm gay, and even I know that girls pillow fighting is sexy," October told Daily Variety.

October, former showrunner for "Later With Greg Kinnear" and Roseanne Barr's syndie gabber, said the PFL caught his interest just a few months ago, when he heard some of the pillow fighters being interviewed. After seeing some matches, he teamed up with Berman -- whose live TV experiences include exec producing "The Early Show" and "Rock Star: INXS"-- to pursue the TV rights.

In addition to the sex appeal of the PFL, "It also plays out on other levels," October said. "These are real fights, and the girls are totally kick-ass girls."

There's also a huge camp factor, with contestants assuming wrestling-like alter egos: Sarah Bellum, Boozy Susie, Lynn Somnia, Betty Clock'er. The PFL's motto: Fight like a girl.

Berman said PFL matches are "a return to simple pleasures.

"We all grew up pillow fighting," he said. "We're taking that experience, spicing it up and letting it loose on America."

While a male-skewing net like Spike would seem to be an obvious home for the PFL, October believes the sport could have "appeal across the board.

"The women in the PFL are empowered," he said.

As played in the PFL, pillow fighting is a contact sport -- although all contact must be made via pillow. Contestants can win by pinning their opponent within five minutes, but if that doesn't happen, a panel of three judges determines the victor using a point system that grades style, stamina and (no joking) "eye of the tiger."

No word on who might judge the televised games, but a celeb panel is a possibility.

PFL was co-founded by musician Stacey P. Case, who'll serve as co-exec producer of any broadcasts that result from the rights deal.

October's other credits include "Tommy Lee Goes to College" and VH1's "Bands Reunited." His shingle recently acquired U.S. rights to U.K. format "How Long Will You Live" and Belgium quizzer "Top of the Tables."

Berman has produced a slew of live finales for "Survivor," "The Apprentice" and "The Biggest Loser."

Deals for October and Berman were brokered by CAA and Sherry Berman, respectively.

Variety.com - Pair launch Pillow Fight League
Oh yeah. Pillow fighting is soooooooo empowering.
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Old 04-08-2007, 05:54 PM
  #100
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Seriously.

My word.
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Old 04-29-2007, 12:00 AM
  #101
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Why some athletes wear the numbers they do.
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Old 05-01-2007, 02:08 PM
  #102
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Attention Jordan Fans

Michael Jordan is an all-star again.

Jordan, managing member of basketball operations for the Charlotte Bobcats, will be grand marshal for the Nextel All-Star Challenge, the Observer has learned.

As an NBA player, Jordan appeared in 14 All-Star games. A North Carolina graduate, he virtually rewrote the NBA record book. He joined the Bobcats' front office in June.

Jordan led the Chicago Bulls to six NBA championships and was named the NBA Finals Most Valuable Player during each of those series. His career scoring average of 30.1 points is the highest in NBA history.

As grand marshal, Jordan will give the command, "Gentleman, start your engines," for the all-star race, which will pay $1 million to the winner.
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Old 05-04-2007, 08:58 AM
  #103
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Hee.

Thanks for the news.

<--- ::huge Jordan fan here::
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Old 05-10-2007, 09:35 AM
  #104
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Quote:
Earnhardt to leave DEI after '07, unsure of future
By Jenna Fryer, The Associated Press
May 10, 2007
11:55 AM EDT

MOORESVILLE, N.C. -- Dale Earnhardt Jr. will leave the company founded by his late father at the end of the year in a shakeup certain to ignite a bidding war for NASCAR's most popular driver.

He told Dale Earnhardt Inc. on Thursday that he had decided to make the switch to another team when his contract expires.

"We worked really hard, but we were never close," Earnhardt said of negotiations with DEI. "I am a little sad, but I am trying to remind myself to be excited about what's ahead."

Earnhardt had asked for 51 percent ownership of the team now run by his stepmother, Teresa. Negotiations on a contract extension began before the season and have been tense all along. Earnhardt's sister, Kelley Earnhardt Elledge, had set a deadline to get the deal done by the end of the month.

"I'm sad that I have to leave some employees that I got close to, leave some relationships," Earnhardt said. "We're going to finish this year out, and I told my guys we're going to run hard. I don't want any excuses for us not giving our best effort. I plan on giving everything I've got like I always do, and hopefully that's what I'll get in return."

Three-time Cup champion Darrell Waltrip, one of Dale Earnhardt's friendly rivals, traveled from Nashville at Earnhardt's request to join him for Thursday's announcement.

"This was incredibly difficult, a lot of emotion and the hardest thing he's had to deal with up until now," Waltrip said of Earnhardt's decision to leave DEI. "This is a big deal."

Now, Earnhardt must decide which team is the best fit for him.

"I've always thought RCR just because of the Childress-Earnhardt relationship," said Waltrip of Richard Childress Racing, where the elder Earnhardt won six of his seven championships. "I have personally have always thought the racing world would be right if Dale Earnhardt Jr. drove the black No. 3 car."

Earnhardt has made it clear he wants to be in a Chevrolet next season, but that loyalty could limit his options.

It's also possible that Earnhardt will field his own Nextel Cup team from JR Motorsports, where he runs a Busch Series program and several Late Model cars out of a brand-new shop in Mooresville. Earnhardt scheduled his news conference at that facility.

Although he said at last month's grand opening that he'd like to eventually expand JRM into the Cup Series, his sister was taken aback by the remarks. Elledge, who runs JRM and has handled his contract negotiations, later said the duo had no immediate plans for expansion.

At a sponsor appearance Wednesday night, the Atlanta Journal Constitution reported Earnhardt told fans his priority as a team owner is promoting young drivers and mechanics.

"I don't want the company to get too big," he said. "I've got about 70 employees now, and I don't want to get too many more."

There are three Chevrolet teams better than DEI, but Hendrick Motorsports has no room in its stable for Earnhardt.

Hendrick, winner of seven of the past eight Cup races, is already maxed out with four teams but could assist Earnhardt by leasing him engines. Hendrick already leases motors to Ginn Racing and Haas-CNC Racing, and Earnhardt recently got to feel their horsepower when he jumped into Kyle Busch's car during a race last month.

Richard Childress Racing always has been considered the most logical place for Junior to go. Childress and Dale Earnhardt were extremely close, and Junior has maintained a relationship with the car owner.

RCR, which owns the No. 3 should Junior ever want to drive it, can add him as the fourth and final team NASCAR permits each owner. It would team him with Kevin Harvick, who replaced the elder Earnhardt following his 2001 death, and has openly invited Junior to join the organization.

It's also possible that RCR would lease JR Motorsports its engines should Earnhardt field his own team. RCR already gives JRM its motors.

The wildcard could be Joe Gibbs Racing, another powerful three-car Chevy team that would pair him with buddies Tony Stewart and Denny Hamlin. Earnhardt and Stewart have worked wonderfully together on restrictor-plate tracks, and Earnhardt befriended Hamlin early in his career.

Gibbs is coach of the Washington Redskins, and Earnhardt is die-hard fan. He wore a Redskins cap backward Monday during a test session at Lowe's Motor Speedway, where he expressed frustration over the NASCAR-mandated Car of Tomorrow and admitted DEI can't keep up with Hendrick's COT program.

Earnhardt and Elledge have been adamant their only goal is to help Junior win Cup championships, something he's been unable to do at DEI. He hasn't been a legitimate title contender since 2004. In 2005, he had a horrendous season when Teresa Earnhardt split up his crew, and he failed to make the Chase for the championship.

He rebounded last year by making the Chase, but was never a threat for the title.
I seriously think this is for the best.
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Old 05-10-2007, 10:34 AM
  #105
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Yeah, it probably is.
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