Ramblings on Congress and The Daytona 500.
J. Panetta
February 15 2008

Your tax dollars were hard at work this week on Capital Hill. Did we solve the mortgage crisis? Did we solve the gas gauging crisis? Did we solve the recession? Did we solve the immigration problem? The answer to all of the questions is NO. We did however really get to the bottom of did Roger Clemens use steroids and the Bill Belichick spygate situation, didn't we? No we didn't, we just wasted time and money.

That's right with all of the problems that we face as a country, your elected representatives felt that it was more important to question Brian McNamee and Roger Clemens about past use of steroids. Senator Arlen Specter felt that it was more important to question NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell about the New England Patriots and spygate. Do you think that any of them had any tips to offer on illegal immigration?

I can tell you this, if my elected official was wasting my tax dollars on this stuff he or she would be hearing from me. All this happens to be; is more grandstanding by people that we elect who have no knowledge or business worrying about this. During the over four hours that the committee spent questioning both McNamee and Clemens makes you just what else they could have been working on.

Bill Parcels in charge the Miami Dolphins are cleaning house. This week they said goodbye to Trent Green, Dolphin great Zack Thomas and six other players. This will not be your fathers Dolphin team to start the next season. You just have to wonder how long that it will take to bring them back to the top.

The other thing to think about concerning South Florida sports favorites is to consider this. Over the past year the Dolphins have released Thomas and traded both Wes Welker and Chris Chambers. The Heat sent Shaquille O'neil packing and the Marlins traded away both fan favorites Dontrell Willis and Miguel Cabrera. This makes Miami the place were fans should not get too close to who they root for, because they may not be there tomorrow.

NASCAR kicks off this season with the 50th Daytona 500 this Sunday and I love it. Heck we haven't even gotten to the race yet and already Tony Stewart and Kyle Busch are double secret probation. Well almost, but they are on a six race probation after an incident in practice last week.

Michael Waltrip has already had a major turn around over last seasons woes by qualifying on the outside of the front row. Toyota has made a splash and has more cars in the field than last season. Remember though that Toyota add Joe Gibbs racing to it's team list this season. That alone made them stronger.

Dale Jr. has started off much better than last season, since moving to Hendrick Motor Sports. He has already won The Bud Shootout and one of yesterday's twin Gatorade races. He has had a strong car, which you can expect from any Hendrick car.

There has been an influx of open wheel racers from both IRL and CART. You have to wonder how NASCAR fans will take to this as these drivers look for the big money. Look both IRL and CART are floundering and will never regain past glory as much as NASCAR. The problem is that a good number of these drivers are foreign and NACSAR is seen as America's racing, with strong southern roots and these drivers aren't' having to work their way up the ranks. They are also taking away possiblities from the grass roots drivers, who happen to be the ones that built NASCAR.

Just because Juan Paublo Montoya has some success last season; I don't think that traditional fans will take to him or any of the foreign drivers. Like I said this is considered America's racing. You may see drivers like Sam Hornish do Ok with fans much like Tony Stewart but he may be one of the few. Remember it is the fans that have always been loyal and made NASCAR what it is, so NASCAR and it's team owners need to listen to them.

Look for a battle between both the Gibbs and Hendrick teams with Tony Stewart edging out Dale Jr. for the win.

Have a great weekend.


You can send your comments to Joel Panetta by email at joel@thesportsblitz.com