RACING RECAP: In K.C., Jim Pedley gives his awards for
the '00 racing season. Pedley's "Event of the Year" is the
U.S. Formula One Grand Prix, as he notes "the return of
Formula One to the United States -- at Indy, yet -- made for
one incredible week of auto racing. If spectators didn't
get chills as the first Formula One car rolled out of the
garage for the first practice, they have a serious hole in
their game." Pedley's "Scene of the Year" is the "ESPN
folks at the media hotel bar in Atlanta after the final race
of the year for Winston Cup and the final day of employment
for many of them. The usual loud, boorish behavior was
noticeably, and thankfully, absent" (K.C. STAR, 12/22).
VISIONS OF CROWDS DANCED IN HIS HEAD: In Orlando, Mike
Bianchi writes, "I came to Orlando a few months ago from
Jacksonville and expected a city as passionate about its NBA
team as Jacksonville is about the NFL. It's not even close.
The buzz here is more of a zzzzz. Magic attendance is at an
all-time low. Is this the NBA or the East Coast Hockey
League?" Bianchi also notes that the NBA is the "only major
sports league not to set an attendance record during its
most recent season" (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 12/22).
