January 22, 2007

This weekend Christa and I headed down to Baltimore to visit our friend Kathleen for her house warming. Besides the random stranger that knocked on my car window at the rest stop and the 60 MPH winds that practically moved my car off the road, it was a great weekend.

NASCAR Update:
According to foxsports.com, the Chase for the Nextel Cup will add two more drivers to the mix bringing the total to 12 drivers and there will be extra five points given to the winner of each race. The addition of two drivers was obviously to appease corporate sponsors and not to add to the quality of racing!

Congratulations to Stephane Peterhansel on winning the Dakar Rally. Robby Gordon finished 8th overall.

NFL Playoffs:
Sunday’s Scores
New Orleans Saints 14
Chicago Bears 39

New England Patriots 34
Indianapolis Colts 38

Playoff News: Peyton Manning will have x-rays on his injured right thumb. This injury will not keep him from playing in the Super Bowl...This Super Bowl would have been the first to feature one black Head Coach after Lovie Smith and the Bears beat the Saints, but Tony Dungy and the Colts decided to make it two.

Around Sports:
Baseball
Congratulations to Chase Utley who not only got a seven year, $85 million extension, he also got married on Saturday.

David Wells and the San Diego Padres came to a preliminary agreement on a one year, $3 million deal. He could earn an additional $4 million in incentives.

Basketball
The NJ Nets Richard Jefferson will undergo arthroscopic surgery on his right ankle on Monday.

Football
Bill Parcels has decided to retire from coaching football. This leaves the Dallas Cowboys searching for a new head coach.

Mike Tomlin, defensive coordinator for the Minnesota Vikings, is expected to be named the new head coach for the Pittsburgh Steelers taking over for Bill Cowher.

The Miami Dolphins have hired Cam Cameron as the new head coach replacing Nick Saban.

Around the World:
Terrie Berdenden has created a beer for dogs. The pet show owner felt bad that after a long day of hunting she could unwind with a beer but her dog could not. By using beef extract and malt, her dogs can enjoy a nice cold one. (AP)

In that’s why we have insurance news…A survey found that 81% of Americans do something else while they drive. 80% admitted to adjusting the radio, 73% said they talked on their cell phones (a major pet peeve of mine) while 19% said they text messaged and 5% said they checked their email. And you wonder why you’re involved in so many car accidents. I once saw someone reading a book and driving in traffic. That takes the cake my friends! (Reuters)

Popo in my crib News:
Cinncinati Bengals cornerback Jonathan Joseph was arrested on Monday for marijuana possesion. He is the ninth Bengal to be arrested this season. Watch out Jonathan, because the popo are on your tail!

A drunken ship captain ran a ship aground in Latvia. Apparently, there was quite a party on board seeing that four other crew members were also a little tipsy. Watch out drunkards because the popo are on your tail! (AP)

Random Quote: "Unfortunately, alcohol is involved in one of the cases. We don't need this -- we have enough problems with drunk drivers already. When you add drunken sailors to that -- that is not a normal situation." -Krists Leiskalns, a spokesman for the interior ministry (AP)

Celebrity Tid Bits:
Apparently “The Bachelor: Rome” Prince Lorenzo Borghese had second thoughts on his final pick. Lorenzo originally chose school teacher Jennifer, but has been reportedly seen in New York City having dinner with runner-up Sadie.

Congratulations to “Sister, Sister” star Tia Mowry on her engagement to long time boyfriend Cory Hardict.

Congratulations to Season 2 “Project Runway” finalist Kara Janx and boyfriend Sharone Schayegh. The pair married on January 14th.

Stomp the Yard continued its run at the top of the box office this weekend bringing in $13.6 million followed by Night at the Museum and Dreamgirls. The week’s only new released The Hitcher came in fourth and The Pursuit of Happyness rounds out the top five.

According to tmz.com, Billy Ray Cyrus, Ian Ziering, Joey Fatone and Laila Ali will be a part of the fourth season of “Dancing with the Stars.”

Watch out NYC bars, because Miss USA Tara Conner just got out of rehab!

Congratulations to Rodney Atkins on his second #1 single, “Watching You.”

Martina McBride’s new album Waking Up Laughing will be released on April 3rd. (Or as I like to call it, the day before my birthday!)

Happy Birthday shout outs to Willa Ford (26), Beverly Mitchell (26), Diane Lane (42) and Linda Blair (48).

It’s been fun blogging with you,
Kate