I have always had a fondness for the game of baseball. As a kid, I played minor league, but I also took my mitt and bat with me just about everywhere for a quick set-up game, whether it was before or after school, or during recess. Growing up in Connecticut, I followed the Yankees of the early 1960s and vividly remember when the Mets were introduced. As we moved across the country, I became a fan of the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Chicago Cubs, and eventually watched the rise of the Big Red Machine in Cincinnati. Frankly, I don’t think we’ll see another team as good as the 1976 Reds. They were very special.

I played coed softball leagues growing up. When I became a father, I coached boys’ baseball, girls’ softball, served on the local Little League board of directors, and was an umpire. My signature as a coach was to line up my kids at the infield foul line before a game and pledge allegiance to the flag. After all, it is America’s game. Interestingly, there were some coaches who were adamantly opposed to me doing this, but I see citizenship as an inherent part of the game.

I did not suffer under the illusion that my sons were going to be superstars and as such I focused on teaching the basics (hitting, fielding and pitching), teamwork and hopefully a love of the game. There is something magical about the game of baseball; the smell of the grass, the warmth of the sun on the back, the taste of the leather thread in the cowhide glove, the crack of the bat and the emotion of the play. You enjoy the camaraderie of your teammates, the accuracy of a perfect bunt, the tenacity of a runner stealing a base, and the grace of an infielder throwing out a runner or executing a double play flawlessly.

Baseball is a game of nuance and you can’t really appreciate it if you’ve never played it. As you approach home plate to bat, you see the fielders preparing to play with you, whether it’s deep, tight, or in a particular field. You take the cue from the third base coach, check the pitcher’s eyes, listen to the cheers of the parents, and throughout, your mind is constantly calculating all the variables involved. Your hands grip the bat as you step into the batter’s box. His body language tells the other team whether or not he can be intimidated. Finally, just before the pitcher makes the take on him, he spits. Translation, “Forward!”

There are also a lot of communications in a baseball game, both vocal and silent. The voice is quite obvious, silent communications are much more interesting. We’re all aware of the third base coach doing weird hand twirls to call the play, but there are also plenty of not-so-obvious subliminal cues, like a manager turning up his neck or crossing his legs. The communication between the pitcher and the catcher is also well known. The great Willie Mays stood out for his ability to study and steal the opposing team’s signals. It just takes a little concentration and attention to detail.

When I was coaching Little League and my kids were hitting with one or more runners on base, I would suddenly yell from the dugout, “Red-22, Red-22.” It was really just a red herring as it meant absolutely nothing, but he made the other team nervous as they thought a tricky play was about to be made. My kids thought it was a riot.

As a Little League coach, he realizes he is having an impact on his young players when they begin to ask him more questions about the game, such as the meaning of the infield fly rule, how to keep a scorecard, how it is calculated the batting average. o ERA, the number of ways a runner can advance to first base (eight) or the number of ways to make an out (14), etc. It’s no wonder that baseball is a great game for trivia fans, as it has many facets. Casual viewers don’t really appreciate baseball as much as students of the game.

You know you have a love for the game when you collect baseball cards, not as a commodity, but just to have them; that you keep a precious baseball signed by your teammates many years ago; that you cannot bring yourself to throw away an old baseball bat or glove years after you have stopped using them, or; You completely understood what Pete Rose meant when he said, “I’d walk through hell in a gas suit to play baseball.”

It’s a great game.

Keep faith!

The NFL franchise market looks really tempting right now and owning a sports team can see you not only take advantage of the opportunity, but also change the fortunes of a city or town. The opportunity to own a specialty business is tempting to many people, but many do not have the knowledge to start a successful holding. But, when buying a National Football League franchise option, you are buying in a family setting or supporters club and therefore it is necessary to form a mutual understanding and appreciation. NFL franchises offer openings for training and start-up support. Purchasing a franchise opportunity, which is established on a national and global scale, allows the person to own and run the business, but needs the support of another franchisee. The ongoing support and experience of the initial owners is shared with the new owners and other stakeholders. The new owner should have researched new locations and other franchise alternatives to help the new investor succeed. Here’s a look at an existing National Football League team that has used people and investors to build success.

The Green Bay Packers are based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The team is a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) North Division in the National Football League (NFL) and is the third-oldest franchise in the NFL.

The Packers are the last vestige of the “small town teams” once common in the NFL during the 1920s and 1930s. The team was founded by Earl “Curly” Lambeau (Lambeau Field is named after him) and George Whitney Calhoun in 1919.

The Green Bay Packers traced their lineage to other semi-pro teams in Green Bay dating back to 1896. In 1919 and 1920, the Packers competed as a semi-pro football team against clubs from all over Wisconsin and the Midwest. They joined the American Professional Football Association (APFA) in 1921, the forerunner of what is now known as the National Football League (NFL).

The team has won twelve league championships (more than any other NFL team), including nine NFL championships before the Super Bowl era and three Super Bowl victories in 1967 (Super Bowl I), 1968 (Super Bowl II) and 1997 (Super Bowl). Bowl XXXI). The team has a fierce rivalry with the Chicago Bears, whom they have played in over 170 games. The Packers also share a storied rivalry with the Minnesota Vikings, who reside in the NFC North along with the Packers, and the Dallas Cowboys, who have historically been known as the Packers’ biggest playoff rivals after the Packers defeated them in the famous Ice Bowl.

The Packers claim 12 world championships, the most in the NFL. The first three were decided by league position, the next six by the NFL Title Game, and the last three by Super Bowl victories. The Packers are also the only team to win three consecutive NFL titles, having done so twice (1929-1931 and 1965-67).

Setting personal boundaries is like identifying the gates in our invisible fences that protect the precious heart and soul within our bodies. Many people view boundaries as walls, but when we set healthy boundaries, it provides a way to distinguish what we choose to let in and what we choose to let out. They form flexible doors, not stationary walls. It is important to learn how to set healthy boundaries so that we can make decisions about what is and is not allowed in all relationships.

limits are valuable

All relationships work more harmoniously when the participants know what to expect and what is expected of them. Being kind but firm in saying what you need from a relationship allows the other person to reciprocate. The way other people act and think often has nothing to do with you, but with their own perceptions. You can only take care of yourself.

It doesn’t matter how elaborate the billboards and how eloquent our statements, if we don’t honor ourselves enough to draw the line and stick to it consistently. It is just as valuable for the other person to learn how to be with you and what are the guidelines for the relationship.

Body language and tone of voice

Verbal communication is the language of information and only 20% is absorbed. Body language and tone of voice is the language of relationships and is 80% remembered. Make sure you appear confident and speak in a neutral, calm, and non-accusing tone when setting your boundaries. Use “I” statements that reflect how things affect you, rather than “you” statements that put people on the defensive.

4-Step Model for Setting Limits

1. Inform the other person calmly by saying, “I feel uncomfortable and want to shut up when you yell at me.”

2. Request that they respect your limit. “I ask you to speak to me without shouting.” Or ..In order for me to listen and listen to what you say to me, I need you to speak to me in a calm voice without shouting.

3. Insist that they respect your boundary, again in a firm but friendly voice, “I insist that when we speak we speak in a calm voice.”

4. Get out of the situation. Now is not the time or place to continue communicating with someone who refuses to respect your boundaries. Leave the door open to talk later in a more respectful way. Continue to maintain a calm but firm voice and say, “I will not continue this conversation in this manner. I appreciate the opportunity to speak to you without yelling or yelling at another time. Please let me know if you decide to visit without raising your voice.”

don’t take it personally

You cannot take responsibility for other people’s feelings, agendas, or methods of communication. You can only indicate how you want to be treated in life. If there are old patterns, it may take some time to convince others that you are serious about sticking to your limits. Everyone has the right to be treated with respect and courtesy.

The people you meet may be surprised at first when you tell them they’ve crossed the line, but in the end they’ll respect you more. Hopefully, they will model this style of communication and it will lead to more honest and open relationships for everyone.

© Judy H. Wright, parent educator and author

www.AlcachofaPress.com

As I’ve said so many times, “fortunes change very quickly in the MLB.” Just the latest examples are the current destinations of the LA Dodgers and the St Louis Cardinals. The Dodgers won 3-0 last night in the debut of Greg Maddux’s team (six innings and no hits!) and enter the weekend with the longest active winning streak in MLB (six in a row).

My free game for Friday is Oak A’s over the Sea Mariners at 10:05 ET. Tonight in the MLB, I’ll be throwing one of my signature LEGEND plays (4-0 in the 2006 MLB), as I look to snap out of an ugly nine-day skid. Be sure to check out over the weekend my play at this year’s NFL Hall of Fame Game on Sunday.

Meanwhile, the Cardinals were blown out 8-1 by the Phillies last night as Chase Utley had three hits for the Phillies and extended his hitting streak to 35 games. The Cardinals have now lost seven straight games, the longest active losing streak in MLB. Not too long ago, things had been very different for these two teams.

The Dodgers opened the second half of the season by losing 13 of their first 14 games (they were outscored 81-29) and had lost eight straight before their three-game home series with the Nationals last Friday. The Dodgers won a week ago tonight by a score of 13-1 and have outscored their opponents by a combined 42-16 in their winning streak.

The Cardinals were struggling going into the break and had lost 13 of 16 games after dropping the first game of their four-game series with the Astros in Houston on the final weekend of the first half of the season. However, the Cardinals took the last three games of that series and then opened the second half by sweeping a four-game series in Los Angeles against the then-slumping Dodgers.

Now the Cardinals are struggling again, allowing 34 hits and 24 runs in their last two games while being outscored 50-26 in their current slide. The Dodgers will try to extend their winning streak this weekend in Florida as the Cardinals try to end their streak against the Brewers at home. St. Louis opened with a minus $1.85 favorite despite their losing streak as Chris Carpenter starts and starting money already has them hovering around minus $2.00.

Speaking of $2.00 favorites, Carlos Zambrano and the Cubs open Friday’s 15-game schedule as under-$2.15 favorites when they host the Pirates at 2:20 ET. Zambrano (12-3, 3.26) has won his last nine decisions, last losing on May 31. He is 7-2 with a 3.45 ERA in 11 career starts and two relief appearances against Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh starts Tom Gorzelanny, who is coming off his first ML win in his last outing. However, at 13-40, the Pirates own the worst road record in MLB.

Three American League teams opened as $2.00 favorites on Friday and they’re all playing on the road! Randy Johnson goes for the Yankees when they visit the Orioles tonight at 7:05 ET and is 11-9 with a 5.07 ERA. However, the Orioles send Bruce Chen to the mound, he’s 0-6 with a 7.07 ERA, if he’s wondering why the Yankees are such a heavy favorite.

The Red Sox visit the Devil Rays in Tampa tonight at 7:15 ET and with Curt Schilling on the mound, they opened as under-$2.30 favorites. Boston dominated the series at Tropicana Field from 2001-04, going 28-10 in that span. However, since the start of last season, the Red Sox have gone 6-10 in Tampa Bay and have lost their last three series there, including both this season.

Curt Schilling (13-4, 3.84 ERA) has also had his problems at Tropicana Field this season, losing both of his starts there to account for half of his losses. Meanwhile, Boston’s starting rotation has posted a 2-5 record, a 7.47 ERA and a .342 batting average over his last 11 games. So why are the Red Sox big favorites? The answer is Tampa’s rookie starter James Shields. The right-hander is 0-5 with a 7.26 ERA in his last seven starts after going 4-0 in the first five outings of his career.

Minnesota’s Johan Santana (12-5, 3.11 ERA) is 9-3 with a 3.74 ERA in 25 career appearances against the Royals, including 14 starts. He’ll attempt his 10th career win against the Royals tonight at 8:10 ET, a team that owns the worst overall record in MLB (38-70) and is just 8-22 against starters. lefties this season. Mark Redman (7-6, 5.40) goes for KC and the Twins have had little trouble hitting Redman. He lasted just 1 2-3 innings in a 7-3 loss to Minnesota on April 27, allowing six hits and five runs. Redman is 0-3 with a 6.14 ERA in seven career starts against the Twins.

NFL ratings

The 2006 NFL preseason kicks off Sunday night from Canton, Ohio, with the Hall of Fame Game between the Oakland Raiders and the Philadelphia Eagles (8:00 ET on NBC). The Eagles are favored by three points with a total hovering around 36 or 36 1/2. I’ve been teasing the upcoming NFL season all week and will begin my countdown to the 2006 season in earnest next week.

It’s important to note that fortunes change quickly in the NFL, just as they do in the MLB. Consider that since the NFL expanded to 32 teams and two four-division conferences, 21 of the 32 teams have won at least one division title (65.6 percent) and 26 teams (81.3 percent) have made at least one appearance in the playoffs.

The six entrants who have not made the playoffs in the last four years are the Cardinals (who last made the postseason in ’98), the Bills and Lions who last made the playoffs in ’99, the Saints (who last made the playoffs in ’00) and the Dolphins and Texans. Miami, which incidentally ended the 2005 season with a six-game winning streak, last made the playoffs in 2001, while the expansion Texans are 4-0 in their four years since becoming franchise number one. 32 in the NFL in 2002.

Speaking of the playoffs, last year’s 12-team playoff field included seven teams that hadn’t qualified for the postseason in 2004. The league adopted its current 12-team playoff field in the 1990 season and, beginning in 1991, it is not unusual for a year’s playoff roster to be populated with teams that had not qualified for the postseason the previous year.

Last year’s total of seven was high, but one short of the 2003 playoff season, when eight teams in that year’s postseason field had not qualified for the previous year’s playoffs. The average playoff season (over these past 15 years) has seen their playoff roster filled with an average of 5.67 teams per season that hadn’t made the postseason the previous year. The 1994 season saw only four entrants who did not make the previous year’s playoffs, as five of the six NFC representatives had also been to the 1993 playoffs.

The AFC West has been the most volatile division in the league since 2002, as all four teams in that division have won division titles in the past four years. The Raiders won in 2002, the Chiefs in 2003, the Chargers in 2004 and the Broncos last year. The most stable divisions have been the AFC East and South, where the Pats (East) and Colts (South) have each claimed three straight division titles.

The Packers had won three straight NFC North titles prior to the 2005 season, as had the Eagles in the NFC East, but both streaks came to an end last year with the Bears 11-5 winning the North (GB had only 4-12). and the Giants 11-5 won the East (Philadelphia was just 6-10).

Ness Notes is available Monday through Friday at 1:00 ET.

One of the most important days for the National Football League is approaching: the annual spring draft. The 2007 National Football League Draft will take place in New York City on April 28-29, 2007. As always, speculation is swirling around who will be the number one pick in the 2007 draft. The Oakland Raiders have the first overall draft pick with the Detroit Lions, Cleveland Browns, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Arizona Cardinals rounding out the top five.

This year, the Dallas Cowboys have the 22nd pick in the first round of the draft with 10 total picks, one in each of the seven rounds, as well as one additional pick in the sixth and two additional picks in the seventh due to past trade winds. The team expects seven to eight of the drafted players to make this year’s 53-player roster.

Building a team through the draft can be an unpredictable endeavor that requires skill, knowledge, and a bit of luck. Since entering the NFL as an expansion team in 1960, the Dallas Cowboys have done more than well in the draft. They have consistently shown a knack for drafting talent that becomes a full-fledged All-Star.

Since their first participation in the NFL draft, the Dallas Cowboys have been successful. The first draft pick in Dallas Cowboys franchise history was made in 1961 when the team selected star defensive tackle and first overall draft pick Bob Lilly out of Texas Christian University. Affectionately known as “Mr. Cowboy,” Lilly was the first to receive the Cowboys’ Ring of Honor at Texas Stadium.

Selected by the Dallas Cowboys, Ed “Too Tall” Jones, out of Tennessee State University, was the number one overall pick in the 1970 NFL draft. Jones had a successful career with the team as a defensive end and was named defensive MVP of the NFL in 1982. He is one of only three players to have played for the Dallas Cowboys franchise for fifteen years.

In 1977, the Cowboys selected running back Tony Dorsett from the University of Pittsburgh, second overall. Dorsett made an instant impression in his first year, finishing with Rookie of the Year honors and a Super Bowl Championship. The success continued as Dorsett rushed for over 1,000 yards in eight of his first nine seasons (missing the mark in 1982, due only to a strike-shortened season). He was elected to both the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the College Football Hall of Fame in 1994.

The Cowboys again found great success when in the 1988 draft, out of the University of Miami, they selected Michael Irvin 11th overall in the first round of the 1988 draft. Irvin spent his entire career with the Cowboys and is considered one of the best wide receivers in the history of the National Football League. He is also the only player in Dallas Cowboys history to have the distinction of having played for each of the team’s first four coaches: Landry, Johnson, Switzer and Gailey.

In 1989, with the first pick in the draft, the Dallas Cowboys took the projected no. 1 overall pick, UCLA quarterback Troy Aikman. Despite a slow start, Aikman led the team to three Super Bowl championships and was inducted into the Cowboys Ring of Honor as well as the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

With the 17th overall pick in the draft in 1990, Dallas Cowboys running back Emmitt Smith came out of the University of Florida. Smith would prove to be another outstanding selection for Cowboys football, as he set countless records with the team. He currently holds the NFL record for career rushing yards of 18,355 and is the only player in NFL history to rush for more than 18,000 yards.

Over the years, the Dallas Cowboys have chosen wisely in the NFL draft and have been highly successful in picking players who have become not only NFL stars, but also Dallas Cowboys legends. . All of these past players are fondly remembered by the team and their fans, as evidenced by the countless memorabilia available at dallas-cowboys-apparel.com for these legends and all Dallas Cowboys fan-favorite players.

Speculation over who will be the number one overall pick in the 2007 National Football League Draft will soon end when the player’s name is announced in New York on April 28, 2007. It is a fact that the Dallas Cowboys have They’ve done their homework and are prepared to give careful consideration to each of their ten draft picks. There is no doubt that some of the talent they will select will go on to become NFL stars and Dallas Cowboys legends.

The 1970s represent one of the last decades in which high-risk Thoroughbred breeds dominated the public mind as they had during the 1920s, 1930s and 1940s, when great horses like Man O’War, Seabiscuit and Citation went from being sport horses. Page celebrities to bonafide culture heroes, and Quote went from sports page celebrity to bonafide culture hero. Take a look at two great horse racing stories from the ’70s: the rivalry between Affirmed and Alydar, and the life of a horse that was second to none: Secretariat.

The Rivals: Asserted Against Alydar

Although there is a natural link between aristocratic lifestyles and equestrian pursuits, the most famous horse racing stories (at least in the United States) tend, ironically, to be rags-to-riches stories. Affirmed (1975-2001) is as good an example of this trend as any. The colt of Exclusive Native and Wo n’t Tell You, this Florida-born racehorse seemed to be in the middle of the pack in his first few races: a horse with some potential, but not a world conqueror.

Even after his emergence as a serious competitor, many racing fans pinned their highest hopes on Alydar, the impressive, tough Calumet colt with whom Affirmed developed a fruitful relationship between Rogers and Shorter in the late 1970s, beating him in the Youthful Stakes. but losing to him in the Great American Stakes (one of his first meetings).

What Affirmed lacked was muscle (giving up five pounds to his rival) and advantages that he often made up for in heart, with wins late in the 1977 season in the Hopeful and Futurity stakes. Although the rainy winter of 1978 hampered his training, Affirmed gained pounds of muscle and emerged in early March as a mature and impressive racehorse.

All eyes were on Alydar and Affirmed when the 1978 Kentucky Derby flashed before their eyes. The larger of the two horses was the 6-5 favorite, but Affirmed got off to a strong start that propelled him to victory. Although he continued to be perceived as a bit of an underdog even in light of this success, with Eastern sportswriters dismissing his impressive performances as a fluke, or perhaps luck off a good start, he did score another win, albeit much closer, in which Affirmed moved into range of Alydar’s famous (but thankfully absent) final kick in Preakness.

But there are three races in the Triple Crown, the last being the Belmont Stakes over 12 furlongs. A horse that seemed stronger over long distances, Alydar posed a greater threat here, and the race played out just as Alydar’s trainers expected: a fiery head-to-head duel in the sun. But Affirmed responded to this unprecedented pressure with a grace under fire that could make Hemingway blush: locked on the rail in the final stretch, he rampaged around his rival in one last burst of power and, by a nose, won Belmont – and the Triple Crown.

Years later, the two horses were reunited at Calumet Farms, where they were both put to stud.

Secretary

Thoroughbred racing doesn’t always get all the headlines. Basketball players, quarterbacks, even football players and Olympians get most of the glory, TV biographies, Sports Illustrated covers. But twice during the 20th century, a horse became not just a media star, but a universal symbol: a galvanizing, galvanizing metaphor for legacy.

The first time, it was Seabiscuit. And in the early 1970s, when the country seemed on the brink of a second depression, when civil rights were in the dust and Watergate was slowly beginning to unravel, there was Secretariat (1970-89).

From his earliest days, when he refused to cling to his mother like most grazing newborns do, he was recognized as a special horse. The names submitted by his owner Penny Tweedy to the Jockey Club reflect this early sense of his uniqueness: “Something Special”, “Deo Volente”, “Scepter”. All of these names were in use, and it was a secretary at Meadow Stables who finally suggested “Secretary”.

In his two-year-old season, he took eight first-place finishes in a row, after an embarrassing debut in which he was shoved at the starting gate with the hands (hooves) of the other horses. This mostly bright start marked him out in the eyes of fans and speculators.

Secretariat’s owners syndicated him in a record-breaking $6,080,000 settlement, one of the conditions of which was that Colt’s racing career ended and his breeding career began after the following season. So, Secretariat began his three-year-old season with special stakes, having a year to make his mark.

The circumstances were special and required special actions. He had won the previous races in the Triple Stakes, with one rare exception, at Wood Memorial, which only served (according to his owner) to infuriate him and increase his determination. In the Kentucky Derby he earned a come-from-behind victory, while in the Preakness, the rising horse earned a 2 1/2-length victory over his closest rival. Now the anticipation increased. Would Secretariat give America the first Triple Crown victory of the TV generation? Or would he be the victim of injury, illness, or the kind of inexplicable weakness that had hurt him at Wood, but this time with much more at stake?

At the event, the Secretariat met the expectations of the viewers. But what no one could have predicted was an almost embarrassing margin of victory that established him as not just a great horse, but possibly the greatest ever. In the Belmont Stakes he entered the stretch with 20 light lengths between him and his closest competitor. Then, in the complete absence of competition, he ran just himself, extending that margin to 31 lengths and setting a world record of 2:24.

Perhaps noted writer George Plimpton put it best, in an interview with ESPN’s Classic SportsCentury series: “He was the only honest thing in this country at the time. This huge, magnificent animal who ‘just ran because he loved to run.’

Baltimore, located on the east coast of the United States, is the largest city in the state of Maryland, and is better known as Charm City. It has a large natural port located on the banks of the Patapco River, and it is a bustling port. Baltimore is located at a distance of 200 miles inland from the Atlantic Ocean, near the Chesapeake Bay. More than 600,000 people reside in Baltimore, amid 6,400 acres of parkland. The country’s national anthem, the Star-Spangled Banner, was composed in Baltimore by Francis Scott Key. Key had survived the bombardment of Fort McHenry and was imprisoned on a British ship on September 13, 1814. As the bombardment ceased, the sight of the American flag flying overhead prompted him to compose the poem Star-Spangled Banner, which eventually it became a song and the national anthem.

Baltimore receives about 14 million tourists each year who are drawn to Baltimore’s warm hospitality, modern conveniences, and endless list of attractions. The first stop of every tourist is Inner Harbor, a festive market with shops, restaurants and many activities. Baltimore offers a full list of experiences for the tourist: a Civil War museum, world-class art museums, the aquarium, a science museum, the Babe Ruth Museum, comedy clubs, fine dining, theaters, concerts, movies , antiquing, boat cruises, historic homes, churches and synagogues, and much, much more. Highlights, besides the Inner Harbor, are the Baltimore Museum, the National Aquarium, the Maryland Science Center, the Baltimore Ravens, and Fort McHenry. The Baltimore Orioles major league team is headquartered in Camden Yards, with small cafes, microbreweries, and shops on the surrounding streets.

In addition, one can find tempting restaurants, quaint pubs, and beautiful boutiques, along with charming historical and cultural attractions throughout the city. A world-class transportation system and a pleasant climate enhance the tourist experience.

Roy Richwine purchased the property now known as Williams Grove Speedway in 1937. It was previously known as Grangers Picnic Fairgrounds. The first race was held on May 21, 1939. Joey Chitwood Sr set the fastest time that day by finishing a lap in 26.03 seconds. Tommy Hinnershitz won the forty lap feature, earning $400. The Flying Farmer won 19 sprint car races at the track, racing through the late 1950’s! He also won 7 Eastern sprint car championships and enjoyed a top ten finish at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

The only NASCAR Cup race at Grove took place on June 27, 1954. It was won by Herb Thomas, who led 150 of the 200 laps, in a 1954 Hudson. Leading the other 50 laps and finishing in second place was the winner pole sitter Dick Rathmann, Hershel McGriff was third. Other notable drivers included Buck Baker, Lee Petty, Dizzy Dean, Ralph Ligouri, and Hilly Rife.

July 29, 1951 became known as “Black Sunday.” Two drivers, Cecil Green and Bill Mackey, were killed in back-to-back qualifying races at Winchester, Indiana. Also that day Walt Brown was murdered in the Grove. He spun in turn two while qualifying his #29 car. He turned around, and Brown died at Carlisle Hospital later that day. Eleven other pilots, as well as 1 official and 1 spectator have lost their lives on the track.

The Grove has a connection to the Indianapolis 500. The last connection is that of the pilot PJ Chesson, who participated in the event. Indy winners with sprint car victories at the track include George Robson (1946), Bill Holland (1949), Johnny Parsons Sr (1950), Troy Ruttman (1952), Pat Flaherty (1956), Jimmy Bryan (1958 ), AJ Foyt (1961, 64, 67 and 77), and Parnelli Jones (1962). Jan Opperman, Joey Chitwood Sr, Johnny Thomson, Duke Nalon, Duane Carter Sr, Eddie Sachs, Rodger McCluskey and Elmer George (whose family still owns IMS) all have sprint car victories here. Ted Horn won 14 sprint car (then known as “big cars”) races here plus 3 national driving championships (1946-48)! He was killed in DuQuoin, IL in 1948, but he had enough points to win the title.

Jack Gunn was the announcer for the track, and later took over as promoter. He added Selinsgrove, Penn National and Hagerstown to his list of promotional efforts. Gunn, whose last name was actually Gunnells, attended the Milton Hershey School for Orphans along with his brother Trim. Trim owned a garage business in Lebanon, Pennsylvania and was a track car owner for many years. Jack won Promoter of the Year in 1979 and passed away in 1980. Gunn is responsible for bringing the best drivers in the country to race in central Pennsylvania. He is in the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame.

Since sprint car racing began weekly in 1967, Fred Rahmer has become the most successful driver, winning 83 races. Lance Dewease has 75 wins, Donnie Kreitz Jr has 54 wins, and Keith Kauffman enjoyed 51 wins. Kauffman has the most wins in a season with 13 in 1984!

The circuit has long straights and tight corners. It was supposedly inspired by the Legion Ascot Speedway in California. It is also known for its spectator bridge which spans over the backstretch to the inside of the field. There is a tunnel under the track on the first turn connecting the frontstretch fans to the infield. Gone are the infield starter’s grandstand and the covered frontstretch grandstands. Did you know that at one time there was a runway for airplanes off the back stretch of the runway?

Williams Grove Speedway is referenced in a Hollywood movie. The 1949 film is called “The Big Wheel” which stars Mickey Rooney as the driver “Billy Coy”. After running into trouble on the West Coast tracks, he heads east. A newspaper headline is shown with him winning the Grove. He later arrives at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Our football insiders for NFL Picks report that the Miami Dolphins are truly a team on the rise and one of the NFL teams to watch for the 2010 NFL season. The Miami Dolphins ran an unconventional wild offense last year that no one in the league could figure out, as they had one of the best rushing attacks in the NFL in fourth place in 2009. With a solid running attack, the Dolphins will look to Chad Henne, who was named the default starter when Chad Pennington went down with an injury to be their quarterback of the future.

Chad Henne went 7-7 as a starter and threw 12 touchdowns and 14 interceptions in his first year as a starter for the Dolphins, who ranked 20th in passing. The Dolphins made one of the biggest impact moves on offense this offseason by getting wide receiver Brandon Marshall from the Denver Broncos, who comes to Miami catching at least 100 passes a season over the past three years and scoring 23 touchdowns during that season. lapse. Marshall makes Miami’s offense a threat at every opportunity with the combination of Ricky Williams, who rushed for 1,121 yards, and Ronnie Brown, who is recovering from a foot injury in the 2009 season.

The Dolphins defense struggled last year against the pass and rush ranked 22nd in total yardage. His pass defense was a disaster ranked 29th in the league, prompting the firing of defensive coordinator Paul Pasqualoni and his new coordinator Mike Nolan. The Dolphins made a number of trades on this side of the ball by ditching cornerback Will Allen and safety Gibril Wilson as they will rely on second-year cornerbacks Vontae Davis and Sean Smith to take over a secondary that allowed a total of 57. completions of 20 yards or more. Miami ranked 18th against the run and may struggle early in the season without nose tackle Jason Ferguson, who was suspended for the first eight games, though new outside linebacker Karlos Dansby should close some holes for their run defense.

The Dolphins have high expectations for Henne, who has shown signs of being a top-tier NFL quarterback and if he can capitalize on his experience, this offense has the weapons to control the ball and score big points. The question will remain with this soft Miami defense, but with the changes made and new offensive coordinator Mike Nolan, they should be vastly improved. The Dolphins will be in a three-headed race in the tough AFC Eastern Conference with the Patriots and Jets. Our NFL pick football experts predict that after surviving a 7-9 season playing a first-year starter who was thrown into the fire, there’s no reason the Dolphins shouldn’t make the playoffs in 2010 if they stick with it. healthy.

Most fantasy football players will focus on the big-name rookies selected in the first round of the 2012 NFL Draft. Trent Richardson, Justin Blackmon, Michael Floyd, and Doug Martin are the obvious rookies to consider adding to your fantasy team. However, there are often rookies taken after the first round who have surprisingly productive seasons and outperform the more heralded.

Marques Colston was a little-known seventh round pick in the 2006 NFL Draft. All he did for the Saints in his rookie year was catch 70 passes for 1,038 yards (14.8 per minute) and score 8 touchdowns. Aaron Hernandez was taken in the 4th round of the 2010 NFL Draft and contributed 45 receptions for 563 yards (12.5 pp) and 6 touchdowns for New England as a rookie. DeMarco Murray (3rd round, 2011 NFL Draft) was the most impressive rookie running back last year before an ankle injury ended his season. Murray rushed for 897 yards, averaged 5.5 yards per carry, and scored 2 touchdowns in just 7 starts for Dallas. Here are six rookies who might be more productive than many fantasy football players expect:

TE Dwayne Allen, Indianapolis Colts: The 2011 John Mackey Award winner was the best tight end in the draft. Allen has the size and strength to be a solid blocker. He also has the athleticism and hands to be a receiving threat. The Colts would like to play 2 tight ends, 2 wide receivers, and 1 running back as their base offense. That’s why they drafted Coby Fleener and Dwayne Allen back-to-back. Allen believes he will play a lot in this offense. Indianapolis is wisely tailoring its offense around the talents of its quarterback, Andrew Luck. The former Stanford star is used to an offense that features tight ends. Stanford did not have a strong receiving core, but Luck thrived throwing to a deep and talented group of tight ends. A tight end can be a good security blanket for a quarterback. Dwayne Allen could become the target of a fair amount of passes from Andrew Luck.

WR Juron Criner, Oakland Raiders: The Silver & Black need a good possession receiver to complement some of their speed on the outside. Juron Criner may prove to be a steal for Raiders and fantasy football players alike. Criner caught 32 touchdown passes in college and has one hit for catching the ball in traffic. His ability to run routes allows him to play faster than the forty-yard dash. Carson Palmer should build the confidence to throw the ball to Criner because he has great hands. Palmer should also be better this year with a full offseason to learn the Raiders’ offense. Juron Criner could push for playing time as a rookie and be a surprising contributor to the Raiders.

WR Alshon Jeffery, Chicago Bears: The Bears were wasting Jay Cutler’s passing ability with a lackluster group of receivers. That changed this offseason. Brandon Marshall was signed via trade and Alshon Jeffery was drafted in the second round. Jeffery is a great target with big, soft hands. His ability to aim the ball high is very impressive. A lackluster conditioning effort and poor quarterback play led to a less productive 2011 season for Jeffery and he struggled to be a first-round pick. He is reportedly fit now and Jay Cutler can deliver the ball. Jeffery can be a factor in the end zone and a solid possession receiver for Chicago in 2012.

RB Lamar Miller, Miami Dolphins: There are a lot of changes in Miami with a new coaching staff. The West Coast offense will be used and that means a fair amount of quick, short passing. Naturally, Reggie Bush will be used more as a pass catcher this season. Lamar Miller didn’t catch many passes out of the backfield for the Hurricanes, but he did show some good hands. Miller has outstanding acceleration and speed. His pick was better than any other in the 2012 NFL Draft. The University of Miami product fell out of the draft due to concerns about his surgically repaired shoulder. Miller is recovering well from his December surgery and will be able to handle contact in time for training camp.

He could very well beat Daniel Thomas, who was very disappointing as a rookie last year. Thomas (581 rushing yards, 3.5 yards per carry and zero touchdowns) didn’t run with power or speed in 2011. Miller could carve out a nice niche in Miami’s offense as a complement to Bush. Plus, Reggie Bush has averaged just nine starts a season in his six-year career. It may have been an aberration that Bush started fifteen games last year. Miller is also a dangerous kickoff returner and his speed is a great play waiting to happen. A mediocre receiving group could mean the Dolphins must find a way to get the ball into the hands of their two most explosive players (Reggie Bush and Lamar Miller).

WR Rueben Randle, New York Giants: A rookie playing a lot on a Super Bowl-winning team doesn’t normally happen. However, the Giants lost Mario Manningham to free agency and need a third receiver to emerge. Randle could have put up much higher receiving numbers in college if he had been in a better situation. LSU wins a lot of games with its strong defense and running attack. This philosophy, combined with the quarterback’s erratic play, fails to highlight receiving talent. Randle ran several routes in college and has a good idea of ​​the wide receiver position. He has an NFL body and physically should be able to handle the press coverage. Randle isn’t a speed trader, but he has enough to make big plays on the field.

You’ll also notice a big difference between Eli Manning handing him the ball instead of Jarrett Lee or Jordan Jefferson (his LSU quarterbacks). The competition for the third receiver job isn’t too tough for Randle. Domenik Hixon has struggled with injuries and is actually a better kick returner than receiver. Ramses Barden hasn’t made an impact in three seasons. Jerrel Jernigan has speed and quickness, but he’s small. He may be better as a punt returner and slot receiver. Ideally, the Giants would like Victor Cruz to work in the slot and another receiver to complement Hakeem Nicks on the outside. Rueben Randle will have every opportunity to be the Giants’ third receiver this season.

WR Mohamed Sanu, Cincinnati Bengals: The free agency losses of Jerome Simpson and Andre Caldwell mean the Bengals need some young wide receivers to emerge. AJ Green is clearly the primary receiver and a rising star. It remains up in the air who is going to complement Green. Sanu has a good chance to emerge as a valuable contributor to Cincinnati’s passing game. Andy Dalton doesn’t have a great arm and the fact that Sanu lacks speed may not matter much.

Sanu uses his good size and toughness to execute leans effectively. Dalton can build confidence in the rookie to keep units alive with well-executed short passes. His competition for playing time is a lackluster group of receivers. Jordan Shipley (recovering from a serious knee injury), Marvin Jones (fellow rookie), Brandon Tate (better kick returner than receiver), Armon Binns and Ryan Whalen are not proven wide receivers in the NFL. Mohamed Sanu has an excellent opportunity to play a good number of snaps as a rookie.