The "Other" Sports - by Ozzy

The Other Sports

You have to love NASCAR. For safety reasons, NASCAR does not allow teams to use different tire makers. NASCAR is afraid, and for good reason, that the competition between Goodyear, Firestone and etc. will lead these companies to try experimental tires which will increase the chances of a major crash or wreck. Therefore, NASCAR contracted with Goodyear to provide tires to all the teams. The tires are uniform in grade, size and grip.

The problem with having a monopoly on tires is that it allows for complacency in testing the tires. In Atlanta at the Kobalt Tools 500, the major complaint was the lack of grip on the tires. After finishing second, Tony Stewart, the most outspoken driver on the circuit stated ““I can’t say it’s surprising [the lack of grip on the tires],” Stewart said. “[Goodyear] got run out of Formula One. They got run out of CART, the IRL. They got run out of World of Outlaws sprint cars. They got run out of USAC divisions because they couldn’t keep up and make a quality enough product . . . If I were Goodyear, I would really be embarrassed about what they brought here. I guarantee you Hoosier or Firestone or somebody can come in and do a better job than they are right now.”

To add more salt to Goodyear’s wound, even Jeff Gordon who has never met an endorsement deal he did not like, said “I felt like I was going to crash every single lap,” said Gordon, who started on the pole and finished fifth. “I’m exhausted right now. I feel like I’ve run a thousand miles here. There is just no reason for this. This car, this tire, at this race track, was just terrible.”

As for the race itself, Kyle Busch dominated. Period. He led the most laps, he was ahead for most of the race by at least five seconds (an eternity in racing) and there was no one close to him the entire race. Carl Edwards, who won the last two weeks, was about to make a run until his car ran into some mechanical trouble. Next week is the Food City 500 and Kyle Busch won there last year, look for him to drive strong there again this year. Even though I don’t think he will win, look for a Hendrick Motorsports comeback this week and watch Gordon, Jimmie Johnson or Dale Earnhardt Jr. take the checker flag.

I don’t know if college basketball counts as an “other” sport but with Marquette in the Big East tournament I’d be remiss if I did not make some sort of comment on the games which start today. Here are my predictions for the tournament:

First Round:

(9) Syracuse over (8) Villanova; (5) West Virginia over (12) Providence; (7) Pittsburgh over (10) Cincinnati; and (6) MARQUETTE over (11) Seton Hall

No surprises in the first round. Syracuse needs the game more than ‘Nova and have played well from time to time. Look for the Orange faithful to make the trip down to NYC.

Quarterfinals

(1) Georgetown over (9) Syracuse; (4) Connecticut over (5) West Virginia; (2) Louisville over (7) Pittsburgh; and (6) MARQUETTE over (3) Notre Dame

Georgetown should wax Syracuse. UConn and West Virginia is a 50/50 draw. Both teams have had good wins and some really bad losses. I think UConn will pull it out though they’ve had a couple of more quality wins. Louisville will destroy Cincinnati. As for Marquette, I’m such a homer. Marquette is my team and I have to believe they will beat Notre Dame, who has the Big East Player of the Year Luke Harangody. Objectively speaking, Marquette has been terrible on the road and can’t seem to win away from the Bradley Center in Milwaukee. If Marquette loses in the first round look for a 7 seed, if they win in the first round and lose in the second then they should get a 6 seed and if they get out of the quarterfinals like I predict here, they I think they will be a 4 seed depending on how they play Louisville.

Semi-Finals

(4) Connecticut over (1) Georgetown and (2) Louisville over (6) MARQUETTE

I have no respect for Georgetown. Against Marquette they got a couple of lucky calls thanks to a Greybeard looking referee and I think they are one of the most overrated teams in the nation. I love Marquette, but I’m not delusional. Look for them to keep it close though.

Finals

(2) Louisville over (4) Connecticut

Louisville has been the most consistent team out of the Big East. This tournament is hard to predict because the league should get seven and maybe an eighth team into the NCAA tournament. Regardless, watch Louisville take it in NYC.