Mixed Thoughts And Emotions For A Holiday Weekend
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A thousand thoughts are flying around in my head like a fireworks display going off in the sky, so let’s give you the highlights:
* As we prepare to celebrate our nation’s 233rd birthday, I’d like to start off by wishing Richard Petty a belated birthday. The King turned 72 on Thursday. He’s not only one of NASCAR’s all-time greats, he’s one of the nicest and most humble gentlemen I’ve ever met in the sport. Long live The King!
* Congratulations to the 25 nominees that have been selected for possible induction into the NASCAR Hall of Fame next year. The field will be whittled to a still as-yet undetermined number of honorees for the first induction class in 2010.
* Jeremy Mayfield couldn’t make the deadline to get his team to Daytona for Saturday’s Coke Zero 400, so it looks like he’ll make his return to Sprint Cup competition next weekend in Chicago. That is, unless NASCAR files an appeal to the temporary injunction Mayfield won in federal court on Wednesday.
* Next to Christmas, this weekend is one of my most favorite times of the year. The reason? FIREWORKS! I know, I still have a lot of little kid left in me, but I can’t help it, I just love watching fireworks displays, especially the almost always-thrilling multi-blast conclusions.
* I had a great chat Thursday afternoon with NFL Hall of Famer and former Chicago Bears coach and player Mike Ditka. I’m working on a story for ESPNChicago.com for next week that will be both a tearjerker and uplifting story at the same time.
* One of the things I hate most is when someone steals your online e-mail address and identity and then starts spamming all the contacts on your buddy list with fake ads. If spammers had to face a firing squad, I’d volunteer to fire the first shot. So, to all my friends who have received some strange e-mails “from” me of late, I swear it wasn’t me. This should also be a warning to never open a strange e-mail that can steal your information in less than the blink of an eye.
* Congratulations to my good friend, Pete Pistone, for being named co-host of The Morning Drive show on Sirius NASCAR Radio.
* Have a fun, safe and enjoyable 4th of July holiday weekend everyone. And don’t forget to remember in your prayers all of those men and women over the last 230-plus years who have made the ultimate sacrifice to allow us to live in the greatest country in the world. Catch you Monday.
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