January 10, 2006

Last night I forced myself to go to the gym, something I should try to do a little more often. I then fell asleep watching the "People’s Choice Awards". Yeah, they were that exciting!

NASCAR Update:
Jamie McMurray paced Tuesday’s AM practice while Dale Earnhardt, Jr. was on top of the charts during the PM drafting practice.

AM
1. Jamie McMurray (26) 48.889 sec/184.090 MPH
2. Mike McLaughlin (20) 48.918 sec/183.981 MPH
3. Jimmie Johnson (48) 48.933 sec/183.925 MPH
4. Ricky Rudd (88) 48.947 sec/183.875 MPH
5. Tony Raines (96) 48.965 sec/183.805 MPH
6. Dale Earnhardt, Jr. (8B) 48.966 sec/183.801 MPH
7. Joe Nemechek (13) 49.044 sec/183.509 MPH
8. Casey Mears (25) 49.049 sec/183.490 MPH
9. Mike McLaughlin (20) 49.062 sec/183.441 MPH
10. Boris Said (60) 49.071 sec/183.408 MPH

PM
1. Dale Earnhardt, Jr. (8A) 48.423 sec/186.606 MPH
2. Casey Mears (25B) 48.273 sec/186.440 MPH
3. Tony Raines (96A) 48.276 sec/186.428 MPH
4. Reed Sorenson (41) 48.279 sec/186.416 MPH
5. Bill Elliott (37) 48.284 sec/186.397 MPH
6. Ricky Rudd (88B) 48.306 sec/186.312 MPH
7. Scott Riggs (10B) 48.315 sec/186.278 MPH
8. Jamie McMurray (26B) 48.327 sec/186.231 MPH
9. Grey Biffle (16A) 48.401 sec/185.947 MPH
10. Ricky Rudd (88A) 48.410 sec/ 185.912 MPH

Without a lead sponsor, IROC has announced they will postpone their season opener and skip Daytona Speedweek.

Giants Update:
The New York Giants are expected to announce they will be keeping Tom Coughlin as head coach. Coughlin will most likely have to retool the coaching staff.

Around Sports:
Baseball
Congratulations to Tony Gwynn and Cal Ripken, Jr. who were voted into the Hall of Fame on Tuesday. Mark McGuire received only 23.5% of the votes, far short of the needed 75% for induction. Atlanta Braves star, Dale Murphy received 9.2%.

Former Atlanta Braves catcher, Javy Lopez has signed a one year, $750,000 contract with the Colorado Rockies.

Basketball
Sad news…Jason Kidd has filed for divorce from wife of 10 years, Joumana Kidd citing extreme cruelty. This is going to get uglier than Michael Straham’s divorce. (AP)

With their 101-86 win over the Toronto Raptors, the New Jersey Nets have moved into first place in the Atlantic Division.

Random Quote: "I feel that all the guys who started should get a stat sheet tonight. Take it on the bus with them and put it under their pillow and sleep with it. Sometimes you need that slap in the face." - Sam Mitchell, Head Coach of the Toronto Raptors on their play

Hockey
Sidney Crosby of the Pittsburgh Penguins is the youngest person to be voted as a starter in the NHL All-Star game besting Jaromir Jagr by six months. The 19 year old was the top vote getter.

Separated at Birth:

Around the World:
Ray Heilwagen was reunited with his wallet 62 years after he had lost it in France during World War II. Stephen Breitenstein, whose father was a WW II veteran, had recently passed away. While going through his things, Breitenstein found Heilwagen’s wallet, contacted him and mailed the wallet to Heilwagen. (AP)

Popo in my crib News:
Ana Rivera drove her suspended daughter to Woonsocket Middle School in Rhode Island so she could fight Maribel Santiago’s daughter. Talk about the bad idea train…When it was all said and done, both mothers were arrested and charged for simple assault, while their two daughters and two other girls were charged with disorderly conduct. Watch out people, because the popo are on your tail! (AP)

Celebrity Tid Bits:
Congratulations to Brooke Burke and fiancé David Charvet on the birth of their daughter, Heaven Rain (really?) on Monday. She joins big sisters Nerriah and Sierra Sky, Burke’s two daughters from a previous marriage.

Congratulations to Melissa McCarthy and her husband Ben Falcone. The couple is expecting their first child this spring. McCarthy plays Sookie St. James on “Gilmore Girls.”

Congratulations to Courtney Thorne-Smith, who married her boyfriend Roger Fishman on January 1st. Thorne-Smith currently stars in “According to Jim” but is best known for her roles on “Melrose Place” and “Ally McBeal.”

New Couple Alert: Marilyn Manson and Evan Rachel Wood

New Couple Alert: D.J. AM and Mandy Moore

TV ALERT: “Friday Night Lights” is all new tonight at 8 PM/est on NBC

Congratulations to Kenny Chesney, Carrie Underwood and Rascal Flatts who all were big winners at the “People’s Choice Awards” on Tuesday.

Happy Birthday shout outs to Larry McReynolds, Pat Benetar (54), George Foreman (58), Rod Stewart (62) and Harry Gant

It’s been fun blogging with you,
Kate