Longtime blog reader Stephan says there has been too much golf coverage mentioned in this space recently. So, today's edition will be golf-free as a service to our most loyal readers. Also, not mentioned in this edition are roller derby, lawn jarts and televised poker so you don't go peeking ahead. Stephan's son, Joshua is twelve and won a reading contest where they live in Munich, Germany. His prize is that he gets to host his own weekly radio show. Hopefully, he'll let me come on as a guest so I can talk about my new golf clubs.
Last week, Mick Mixon and I led a question-and-answer session with Panthers coach John Fox at the Charlotte Touchdown Club. I have to say they've done an impressive job of fortifying nearly every unit on the team between the draft and free agency. The offensive line is bigger, the running backs are bigger and the receivers are bigger. They'll at least look imposing when they announce the starting offense running through the tunnel. Defensively, I've lost count of the quality linebackers they have on the roster. The biggest question might be whether the defensive line can muster a consistent pass rush and carry on without Kris Jenkins, Mike Rucker and Kindall Morehead.
The Panthers open a couple of weeks of summer school, or OTAs (Off-season Training Activities) on May 28th. Then it's on to training camp in Spartanburg in late July. The health of rookie running back Jonathan Stewart's toe and Jake Delhomme's elbow figure to be two of the more anticipated summer updates.
The possibility exists of an NFL work stoppage in 2011. NFL owners are opting out of the current labor agreement, which could mean no salary cap in 2010. I could almost see the players wanting more out their deal with some unhappy with union chief, Gene Upshaw. I don't understand how much more money the owners are wanting as they don't look like they are struggling. Wayne Huizenga sold 50 percent of the Miami Dolphins and their stadium for $550 million. Almost every team is under the salary cap, with an average of the 32 teams at $12-million under the cap.
While Humpy Wheeler and Lowes Motor Speedway do a terrific job of creating excitement around the NASCAR races here, most everybody agreed the Sprint All-Star race was not as riveting as past years. The Coca-Cola 600 is the hardest race to make competitive since it's the longest and the cars get so spread out. Kyle Busch seems to have the bad boy image for the moment, but it will pass as soon as Tony Stewart or somebody else gets into Dale Junior's car.
Boston Red Sox pitcher Jon Lester is on a roll over the past year or so. His no-hitter over Kansas City follows clinching the World Series in the deciding game versus Colorado, and also beating cancer. Only 24-years-old, good things couldn't happen to a nicer guy. It was a much better baseball story than the Yankees Jason Giambi revealing that the team passes a golden thong around to hitters that go into a batting slump. And to think the White Sox got all of that bad press for having blow-up dolls in their clubhouse.
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