Saturday, December 5, 2009

Jamie Whincup repeats

Jamie Whincup secured his second V8 Supercar title when he crossed the line in fifth place in race one of the final round in Sydney. The 26 year old Victorian had to endure a fair bit over the course of the year; whether or not he'd follow in Marcos Ambrose's footsteps by crossing the Pacific, the tug-of-war over which manufacturer his Team Vodafone car would use in 2010 along with a spirited battle in the points with HRT driver, Will Davison.

But he took it all in his stride as he became the first man since, ironically, Ambrose to clinch back-to-back championships. Since he's staying in V8's next year, he will look to become one of the few guys to win title with different manufacturers (from what I can tell, there's only been four) as the team makes the jump to Holden.

Jamie Whincup at the wheel of his #1 Ford Falcon.

In other news, I found out that SPEED will be showing the V8 Supercars next year...just a week after the actual round. So provided we don't look at any Aussie sport news for a week, we can see the series that launched Ambrose's tin top career, sweet!

Friday, December 4, 2009

World Cup draw

Alrighty then, the 32 teams have been set for the 2010 FIFA World Cup taking place in South Africa. The draw is less than ten minutes away for those interested and one team from each 'pot' will be put into the eight groups (...I think). Pot 1 has all the seeded teams I believe.

Pot 1:
Argentina
Brazil
England
Germany
Italy
Netherlands
Spain
South Africa

Pot 2:
Australia
Honduras
Japan
Korea DPR
Korea Republic
Mexico
New Zealand
USA

Pot 3:
Algeria
Cameroon
Chile
Cote d'Ivoire
Ghana
Nigeria
Paraguay
Uruguay

Pot 4:
Denmark
France
Greece
Portugal
Serbia
Slovakia
Slovenia
Switzerland

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

Sadies Thoughts And Thanksgiving Observations

Greetings from sunny and warm Southern California. I have missed my blogger friends and thought since Dad decided to take me along to his monster in-laws house I would share.

We left the house at halftime of the Packers game. Dad tells me his favorite team was named after a meat packing company and as a dog who loves meat I can relate. What should have been a half an hour drive turned into an hour and Dad got frustrated. His mood changed darker by each minute stuck in traffic. Mom said something about "don't worry they will probably lose to the Lions, it might be better if you miss it". She's always been a cat lover but went a little too far this time. Finally we arrived "just in time" to help put out the snacks and set up the bar for the rest of the guests. All the while wondering if the father in-law was going to help. Nope. Wasn't in his plans. I watched as Dad got stuff set up and cracked his first cold beer of the day. I could see the sparkle in his eye as he exercised his Irish pride. We settled in to watch the last few minutes of the game when "uncle Ted" and his "wife" Arleen walk in. Dad got up and fixed the newcomers a drink. Which was a good time for me to samle the prosciutto and melon. Prosciutto good, melon not. I hope they don't find where I left it. Finally he comes back muttering about how old Ted and Arleen are and he doesn't want to hear about anymore ailments. We sit back down. In walks a sister in-law with her dorky husband and clinging child. The kid runs over and pulls my ear. i want to bite him, I really do, but with age comes wisdom and I know if I do I won't get invited again. My Dad notices and with the Packers win he's feeling generous and offers to play pool with the dork.But dork dad decides it's a teachable moment and unscrews a pool cue and gives it to his kid so he can play. What happens when you give a 5 year old a stick? He hits things, right? Including his uncle Patrick. Dad was not amused butthe kids parents were. A-holes. Dad decides at this point drinking the afternoon away is his best option. Who could blame him. Monster in-law approaches and asks "how long do you think we should cook the turkey in my new convection oven". Dad wants to say "I don't Effin know" But what comes out is "where's the book, we'll figure it out". Which of course means Dad has taken ownership of the turkey preparation. Convection oven 101 knowledge secured and a bird is in the oven. Cousin Mark and The dysfunctional Girlfriend show up. Mark begins two fisting the shrimp cocktail like a Seinfelp epeisode. Dad leaves the room in disgust and in search of Patron. I hope for fall out. It never happens. We sit and watch a little bit of the Dallas game wondering why they don't have an opponent. Halftime comes and it is time for bocce ball. Mark is full of shrimp and half full of beer and can't play a game for fun. So our family bocce game almost becomes a full contact sport. That was fun.......NOT.....I go back and forth with the guys wondering why they keep throwing the balls and chasing them. My Mom comes out and tells Dad to check the turkey. Just like her to micro manage. He tells her it's fine and just needs some more time, no need to check it. So, after checking the turkey, bocce starts up again which ahs become a marathon because no-one is very good. Someone throws (father in-law) a ball down the hill in the third game and while everyone is looking for it Dad goes in and gets the turkey out of the oven to let it cool a little before carving. Dad goes to the wine cooler and opens a bottle of Pinot Noir, secretly hoping no-one wants any. They do, darn, but there is lots more so all is good. He comes back to carve the turkey and after answering the "do you think it's done" question 45 times He finishes. Turkey carved, table st, side dishes are ready and dinner goes without embarassment or problems.

Dishes are done and plans for desert are set aside for later. Time for the annual drunken uncles poker game. My big sister asks Dad if she can play. He say "do you have any money" she says "no Daddy" .... Dad digs deep and buys her in. It works everytime for her when she says "Daddy". Poker game is progressing well especially for Big sis who is taking everyones money. Never offering to pay Dad back for the buy in. It's OK though. I hear she has a pub crawl planned for later with friends and cousins. Then another sister in-law come sin with her husband and two sons. One is 18 and knows everything. The other is 15 and knows nothing and is proud of it. It's true ignorance is bliss. We all say hello and get back to donating to the pub crawl cause. Dad and sis have a couple shots of Patron and reluctantly offer some to Ted and the father in-law. They accept. Damn. I'm beginning to understand why Dad loses at poker. It might be Patron related. A loud argument starts in teh kitchen and it's Mark and the 18 year old know it all discussing politics which is always a good idea when drinking. Th efather of the 18 year old invites him outside to discuss it. The father of the year candidate promptly places him in a headlock and that leads to his wife punching and kicking her husband yelling to let her son go. Dad and big sis raise another shot of Patron in the name of family unity and pledge their love for one another. I look for a quiet place to lay down. A few people decide to leave and Dad asks "why are you leaving the fun is just getting started" Nobody thinks he's funny. But he sure laughs alot. Sis gets picked up shortly after that commotion and begins her binge drinking. We decide we should go soon...... well Mom decided. So we watch a little TV before leaving and Cousin Mark and The Dysfunctional Girlfriend get ready to go. The monster in-law walks them out and we follow along. Then we hear a loud crash and it seems the girlfriend has pilfered two bottles of wine in her satchel sized purse. She was over served and while taking two steps forward and one backward she dropped it and shattered the wine. Everything in her bag is soaked with wine. Mark begins yelling at her and it becomes obvious she steals booze almost everywhere they go. Dad starts laughing and says he admires her priorities. Nobody thinks he's funny again and Dad goes inside to sulk. A piece of pie and coffe and we are all set to go. Traffic wasn't that bad but the ride home was very quiet. I hope Mom decides to talk to Dad soon.

So how was your Thanksgiving?
Sadie
ps. I think I'll stay home for Christmas.

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

Name That Film: Music In Film Edition!


Time for our latest edition of Name That Film!! This week, blood and I are swinging into movie quotes that come from movies that are influenced by music. Hope to see you there! Just click the title!

Lug-Nuts and Fan-Addicts NASCAR 10 Chase races

Here is the results and I think we came up with a great 10 chase race tracks. I did a average of where everyone picked the tracks on there list and this is the order. Darllington fell in the 3rd to 6th spot but the others had more picks for that spot so it moves up to second.

We start out on the smallest track and end on the grand daddy.
1. Martinsville
2. Darllington
3. Dover
4. Sonoma
5. Texas
6. Talladaga
7. Phonenix
8. Las Vegas
9. Charlotte/Lowes No More.
10. Daytona

Thanks to all who did a list and I would say we did a great job.

Take care and God bless,,,
Cheers

Monday, November 30, 2009

Man's Game

I'm trying to write a book. Not about NASCAR, or even about sports.

Excerpt here......

The 2009 Motorsport Awards...well, the ones that count anyway

Yup, it's done for another year so break out the suits and dresses!

If you're wondering why it says I did this on Thursday, it was that I started it then...had a few categories left blank so I wanted it all done before posting.

Sunday, November 29, 2009

HOT OR NOT: WRAPPING IT UP ALL IN A NEAT LITTLE BOW

GREETINGS FORM SW OKLAHOMA:

FOLKS THE LAST HOT OR NOT IS UP, I WON'T BORE YOU ANYMORE, AT LEAST FOR AWHILE.

GUNAQUAT,

CLICK TO CHECK IT OUT AND LEAVE YORU OPINIONS.

The Season Is Over!!!

The season is Over!

The champ has been crowned, once again it is the 48 team. The teams now go back to work on making their teams better for next season.

Some teams will go through major changes. Some will not even be in existence next season. While others will make small changes. And some will remain the same.

The 88 team will probably go through some major changes. This team has a driver who is capable of winning races. But there is something missing here. Don't know if it is the driver, the crew chief, the owner or just the whole chemistry. I do hav emy suspicions what the problem is.

Click title if you want to read the rest.

I give Up!

Go see what I give up on, and no I am not giving up on NASCAR at least not yet!!!!

Peafowl this is in your honor.

Click and enjoy.