November 13, 2006

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas. On Saturday I went up to Woodbury Commons and got a few things. The lamps were decorated with wreaths and garlands. Then on Sunday, my mom and I watched Miracle on 34th Street, until the disc froze. I guess we’ll have to get yet another copy of it!

NASCAR Update:
We’re getting down to the wire for the 2006 season. Following the race in Phoenix, only five drives are mathematically still alive, although Matt Kenseth, who’s in 2nd only 63 points out, says that the only way he can win the championship is if Johnson “blows up.” (foxsports.com). Johnson has to finish 12th without leading a lap, 13th and lead one lap, or 15th and lead the most laps, to clinch his first ever championship. Meanwhile, Tony Stewart has locked up the 11th place spot and one million dollar bonus.

On Sunday, Johnson came home second, his fifth straight top two finish. He was the only driver able to contend with race winner Kevin Harvick. But for Harvick, it’s a case of too little, too late as he stands 90 points behind Johnson going into Homestead. The race went 71 laps without a caution, which came out for debris. Kyle Busch was the lone Chase driver not to finish in the top 13. He was involved in a late race wreck when Jamie McMurray slid in front of Tony Stewart, and Stewart spun McMurray around. McMurray hit just about everything before coming to a stop on the track. The only non-chasers in the top ten were Carl Edwards who finished fourth and Kurt Busch who finished eighth.

Shout outs to Jamie McMurray, who prior to the crash was having a great day, steadily in the top 15 all day.

Points after Checker Auto Parts 500
Chase for the Nextel Cup Championship
1. Jimmie Johnson LEADER
2. Matt Kenseth -63
3. Kevin Harvick -90
4. Denny Hamlin -90
5. Dale Earnhardt, Jr. -115
6. Jeff Gordon -167
7. Jeff Burton -225
8. Mark Martin -273
9. Kasey Kahne -319
10. Kyle Busch -359
Chase for 11th (Points behind 11)
11. Tony Stewart –
12. Carl Edwards -323
13. Greg Biffle -719
14. Kurt Busch -743
15. Casey Mears -762
16. Brian Vickers -803
17. Clint Bowyer -910
18. Ryan Newman -955
19. Bobby Labonte -1082
New Jersey’s Finest
20. Martin Truex, Jr. -1111

NASCAR Notes: Rumors are swirling that DEI is planning on buying Robert Yates Racing’s #88 car currently driven by Dale Jarrett who will be moving on to Michael Waltrip Racing next season. Steve Hmiel, confirmed there have been negotiations between the two teams, but DEI is more interested in purchasing the building, surrounding property and equipment. DEI hopes to one day move a four car operation onto the grounds. Other rumors have Toyota teams bidding to gain the #88’s points to guarantee a spot in the first five races which includes the Daytona 500.

Random Quote: “That’s a shame. That boy can DRIVE a car…” –Dale Earnhardt, Jr. talking about teammate Martin Truex, Jr.

Giants Update:
You could call the Giants 38-20 loss to the Chicago Bears on Sunday a tale of two halves. The Giants dominated the first half until the final two minutes when the Bears were able to lead a charge that ended the half with a touchdown and left the Bears trailing the Giants 13-10. The Bears proved to be too strong in the second half, even though it seemed towards the end of the third quarter the Giants were back on track after a Brandon Jacobs touchdown. With a crazy field goal attempt that was returned by the Bears for a touchdown, the Giants were unable to recover. They drop to 6-3 but still lead the NFC by a game over the Philadelphia Eagles.

Around Sports:
Baseball
The Yankees dealt Gary Sheffield to the Detroit Tigers for three minor league pitchers on Friday. That same day, they sent pitcher Jared Wright to the Baltimore Orioles for Chris Britton. The Yankees agreed to pay $4 million of Wright’s $7 million contract.

According to the AP, Mets third base coach, Manny Acta will take over the managerial job for the Washington Nationals after Frank Robinson was let go in September.

All memories of Shea Stadium will be gone when the stadium is bulldozed in 2009, I’m sure. In its place will stand the newly named CitiField. Citigroup is said to be paying $20 million a year to have its name on the building.

The Silver Slugger Awards were handed out on Friday. Congratulations to AL winners, Boston’s Manny Ramirez and David Ortiz, New York’s Derek Jeter and Robinson Cano, Los Angeles’ Vladimir Guerro, Minnesota’s Justin Morneau and Joe Mauer and Chicago’s Joe Crede and Jermiane Dye. The NL winners are New York’s Carlos Beltran and Jose Reyes, Washington’s Alfonso Soriano, Florida’s Miguel Cabrera, Philadelphia’s Ryan Howard and Chase Utley, Arizona’s Matt Holliday, Atlanta’s Brian McCann and Chicago’s Carlos Zambrano. The awards are handed out by Louisville Slugger.

The St. Louis Cardinals re-signed center fielder Jim Edmonds to a two year, $19 million contract.

Aramis Ramirez re-signed with the Chicago Cubs with a 5 year, $73 million deal. The Cubs also re-signed pitcher Kerry Wood to a one year contract.

Congratulations to Detroit Tigers’ Justin Verlander and Flordia Marlins’ Hanley Ramirez who picked up Rookie of the Year honors on Monday. Of the top four vote getters in the NL, three of them were Marlins players, Ramirez, Dan Uggla and Josh Johnson. The lone non-Marlin was Washington Nationals Ryan Zimmerman. Verlander easily beat Boston Red Sox’ Jonathan Papelbon and Minnesota Twin Francisco Liriano for the award.

Football
Gang Green just won’t die! They beat the New England Patriots, 17-14 on Sunday and pulled with one game of the lead in the AFC East. Weren’t the Jets supposed to stink this year?

The Pittsburgh Steelers used their pent up anger to beat the New Orleans Saints, 38-31 on Sunday.

The Arizona Cardinals unveiled an 8 foot statue of former player, Pat Tillman. Tillman left the Cardinals in 2002 to join the Army Rangers. He was killed in Afghanistan in 2004 by friendly fire. Tillman was also inducted into the Cardinals “Ring of Honor.”

Boise State running back, Ian Johnson remains in a San Jose Hospital on Monday after suffering a collapsed lung during Boise States victory over San Jose State on Saturday. Originally taken to the hospital after complaining of back pain, Johnson was thought to have injured his spleen. Just because Chris Simms does it, doesn’t mean everyone’s going out and rupturing their spleen. Johnson leads the nation in touchdowns.

MLS
Congratulations to the Houston Dynamo who won their first MLS Championship in Houston with a shoot out win over the New England Revolution. The Dynamos have won two other championships when they were the San Jose Earthquakes.

Around the World:
Ang Chuang Yang, 16 of Singapore was crowned the new txt messaging champion of the world after needing only 42 seconds to type a 160 character message. Well, that will get her far in life!

In this was bound to happen news…Ronald Donah, 43 was killed by his pet deer. Donah had been keeping the deer penned on his property when it attacked him.

Celebrity Tid Bits:
Sad news…Oscar winner Jack Palance died on Friday. He was 87. Also on Friday, singer, Gerald LeVert died of an apparent heart attack. He was 40.

In who cares news…according to people.com, Jude Law and Sienna Miller have broken up…again. Let’s hope it’s for the last time, although I doubt it.

Congratulations to Tobey McGuire and fiancée Jennifer Meyer who welcomed a beautiful baby girl on Friday. The couple has been together since 2003. A name has not been released.

Congratulations to former American Idol finalist, Kellie Pickler, whose debut album, Small Town Girl debuted at number one on the billboard country album chart. Her debut features “Red High Heels.” I have to admit, I’m kinda stunned. The single’s cute but it’s at 37 on the billboard country singles chart. And did you see her on the CMT Red Carpet Special? She was painful. In all honestly, good for her! She’s had a really tough ride and preserved and here she is. But I just want to meet the people who bought her album!

According to tmz.com, K-Fed may have blown through $50 million of Ms. Spears’ fortune during their two year marriage. Britney’s net worth was about $100 million prior to their marriage and currently stands at about $50 million.

Borat continued to hold the top spot this weekend bringing in $29 million. It was followed by the Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause ($16.9 million) and Flushed Away ($16.7 million). The only new release in the top five was Stranger than Fiction starring Will Farrell, Emma Thompson and Dustin Hoffman which brought in $14.1 million. Saw III rounded out the top five with $6.6 million.

Brody Jenner and The Hills star, Lauren Conrad have split. I can’t wait to see how this all went down on the second season of the Hills!

Congrats to Ellen Pompeo of Grey’s Anatomy and her boyfriend Chris Ivery who got engaged on Friday, Ellen’s 37th birthday. The two grew up minutes away from each other in Boston but did not meet until they both moved to Los Angeles. How adorable.

In another one bites the dust news…Fox has pulled Justice from their schedule. The show starred Alias alum, Victor Garber and Kerr Smith of Dawson’s Creek fame.

Happy Birthday shout outs to Steven Zahn (38), Jimmy Kimmel (39), Chris Noth (52) and Gary Marshall (72).

It’s been fun blogging with you,

Kate