League Notes

Go Daddy's Sponsorship Of JR Motorsports Car Among Positive Signs For Nationwide Series

The AP's Mike Harris reported the NASCAR Nationwide Series is "in better shape than many expected and encouraged by what's ahead ... despite a reeling economy." The recent announcement that JR Motorsports Owner Dale Earnhardt Jr. "got sponsorship for a second entry ... has helped," as has news that Verizon Wireless will sponsor Penske Racing's No. 12 Dodge driven by Justin Allgaier for the entire season. Nationwide Series Dir Joe Balash said that he is "optimistic," despite "dire forecasts that Nationwide fields may fall short of the standard 43-car lineup as the season goes on." Meanwhile, Balash added that NASCAR is "going ahead with its plan to get a new Car of Tomorrow ready for the 2010 Nationwide Series, a move that could add a substantial initial cost to the team budgets" (AP, 1/21). But Balash added that "if things aren't better economically for teams, the car's debut could get pushed back" (HAMPTONROADS.com, 1/21).

LOSING HOPE: In California, Gregg Patton writes the PGA Tour Bob Hope Classic "reminds me of a Clippers basketball game," as it is a "professional sport, the athletes are among the world's elite, but the headliners aren't playing." Patton: "When this year's one marquee entry, local hero and rising PGA star Anthony Kim, withdrew with a sore shoulder, it suddenly felt like a Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers concert minus Tom Petty" (Riverside PRESS-ENTERPRISE, 1/22). In London, Peter Dixon writes it is "easy to imagine" PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem "wringing his hands in despair, particularly at a time when he is battling to keep sponsors on [his] side." But what is "likely to hurt most is the sight of Boo Weekley, arguably his most colourful character, choosing Qatar over California just a few weeks after Finchem had called on players to commit more to the US tour" (LONDON TIMES, 1/22).

NOT SO HOT STOVE: In N.Y., Jack Curry writes in an offseason in which most MLB teams "have been fiscally conservative," there has been "scant interest in investing in veteran players who are coming off mediocre seasons." Free agent RF Ken Griffey Jr.'s agent Brian Goldberg said, "It's a little surprising, but it's not shocking. Some of it is the market. Some of it is the economy. Some of it is teams wanting to go with younger players." Free agent P Curt Schilling "theorized that the weakened economy was contributing to the sluggish pursuit of players and called it a 'market correction'" (N.Y. TIMES, 1/22).

ONE FINAL FLAG: NFL VP/Officiating Mike Pereira, who is retiring after this season, addressed his departure during his regular segment on NFL Network’s “NFL Total Access” last night. Pereira: “We’ll go through a search and hopefully bring one of those guys in this year to shadow me in the ’09 season. Then you will, once we get to the (2010) season, I’m sure have somebody brighter and more articulate who will maybe give you more information than I give you.” NFL Network's Rich Eisen: “I throw you the challenge flag on that. I don’t want you to go” (“NFL Total Access,” NFL Network, 1/21).