Spent a lot of the weekend watching the 50th Rolex 24 from Daytona. What a great show! Even if you’re not into motorsports you’ve got to appreciate the team-work, endurance and just pure sporting nature of a guys and gals that want to get after it and compete for 24 hours straight. It was also a lot of fun to watch one of our favorite guests, Andy Lally, win his fourth Rolex-this time with Magnus Racing.

The folks at Magnus Racing did a tremendous job in the GT class putting together two strong teams They did an even better job representing one of their sponsors in The Children’s Tumor Foundation. What they did for those kids and the NF Heroes was fun to watch. The win was impressive but the work they all did at Magnus for those kids was humbling. We can all take a lesson! If you’re a fan of racing or just want to help, go to their facebook page!

As for the event itself, I wouldn’t mind seeing some other sports give the 24 Hour thing a try! Pocono already seems like that for the Nascar folks but I still think it would be cool to see the engine builders try and come up with a Nascar engine that could last that long. It would also be cool to see how long Kurt or Kyle Busch would last. . .

I’m not sure how to do a 24-Hour event for football but if anyone has any ideas, let me know.

Undercover Boss

I just got done watching Undercover Boss with the President  of Kendall-Jackson. It may be stupid, but I’ll be more likely to buy their wine and products in the future after watching the show. Whether it be for TV or otherwise, I’m usually impressed with leaders that go on that show and are willing to make changes, admit that strategy might have been misaligned and then face the music. Rick Tinger seemed to fit that bill tonight.

Obviously the true test will be time. Will Tinger continue to be as open-minded and willing to listen to the people that make the company work? My bet is that he will. When you do a show like this, you not only make yourself accountable to your employees, you open yourself up to the scrutiny of the wine buying public. Pretty good way to hold yourself to your standards.

Texas Tech Football

National Signing Day can’t get here soon enough for Tommy Tuberville and the Red Raiders I’d imagine. They need something good to take everyone’s mind off the finish to 2011 and an off-season that saw the ugly divorce between the program and former defensive coordinator Chad Glasgow.

For what it’s worth, I think Texas Tech A. D. Kirby Hocutt did a fine job handling the mess back in December. Maybe now some fans will understand why Texas Tech was being so guarded in the responses to the media and others about Glasgow’s status. Hell, I’m not even sure Glasgow was sure of his own “status” after reading the e-mails in the A-J on Friday. He obviously wanted out, but he obviously wanted to make it look like he got fired. That comes in handy when making a cash-grab. Between college football coaches and city managers around here, I’ve got to figure out a way to get paid while leaving my job . . .

Speaking of the recruiting class, @AJ_DonWilliams has the latest on another California kid coming to play defense for the Red Raiders. I wonder if Robert Prunty put out a help wanted ad there. . .If the mid-term guys make an impact next year, and most have to, that alone with make the class a success. As it stands, it looks like Tuberville and crew will back-up last years strong class with another. That’s how it gets rolling.

Come Monday on The Show we look forward to taking your calls on about all of this and much more. We’ll have the obligatory Super Bowl hype as well as look back over a weekend that saw the Lady Raiders take down Texas (that never gets old), the men scrap pretty well at Mizzou but come up short again and we’ll even delve into the world of food and fun just because we can. Join us starting at 3p.m. on www.1340thefan.com. We’ll be taking your calls on The Domino’s Fan Line-1-866-984-5326.

Looking forward to hearing how y’all recap the weekend on the Good, Band and Ugly topic.

Rest well, get us your thoughts and drive Texas Friendly.

Hyatt

It’s nice to be back writing. We took some time off because our brain ran out of words. It happens. When you talk for a living, sometimes you leave all the good stuff in the studio. No promises that any of this will qualify as “good stuff”, but it is nice to find some time to write again and ( as always ) get your feedback. So, here goes. . .

1.  For two straight weeks Tony Romo has won games for the Dallas Cowboys that only he was going to be able to win. I’ve said in the past, and still maintain, that some guys have the “IT” factor and some don’t Romo doesn’t. But, big but here, he is showing signs as this season goes along of handling those situations better and making plays to win for his team vs. the other team. I still think he’s a better than average QB in the NFL, but not elite. That said, it is a proven fact you can win big in the NFL without an elite QB as long as they don’t hurt you. Perhaps, just perhaps, Romo is at that point in his career right now that he won’t be the problem if Dallas doesn’t win the division or make the play-offs. If you’re a Cowboy fan, the last two weeks should make you feel good. Those were games you lost in the last few years with or without a talent advantage. This time you won those two. That’s how you go from a 10 win team in this league to 12. Could this be the shift for Romo? You tell me.

2. Texas and Texas A&M officials can bluster and posture all they want but I firmly believe this series will be back on the schedule within a couple of years. Not from political pressure, not from ESPN pressure ( not even the all powerful yet never seen force known as The Longhorn Network ) but rather because the fan-bases will demand it. Same thing goes for Kansas and Mizzou particularly in basketball. Emotions will die down in a couple of years, new decision makers will be in place and these games will come back. Remember, once upon a time Alabama never played at Auburn. . . Things change.

3.  @DanBeebe is the best twitter account out there. @FauxPelini runs a close second. @TheOrangeCone is the best inanimate object I’ve ever had the pleasure of getting to know. It’s sad when fiction is better than reality.

4.  Those that don’t follow college basketball will see the score in the Texas Tech’s 60-49 loss to Indiana St. and think this is a sign that the Red Raiders are horrible. I mean really? Indiana St.? Ya, they’re good. They go to the NCAA Tournament and make teams work. They’re better than Texas Tech right now, but not by much. The Red Raiders put Indiana St. on the line way too many times. 25-31 vs. their 5-9. That is a sign that you’re either out of position or you are out-classed physically. Don’t think they were out-classed physically so you do the math. The good thing is that is a correctable problem. Bad news is that it may take a while to correct it. Lots of growing pains with this Tech team but I like their athleticism and hustle. The smarts will come. Oh, and feel free to be an impact player each night Lewandowski. Tech won’t win many games this year if he has more lines like today. He must be a difference maker each night.

5.  As we embark on the Christmas season let’s get this perfectly clear. “It’s A Wonderful Life” is the greatest holiday movie of all-time. There can be no debate.

Now, y’all get out and support local businesses and drive the economy. My wife can’t do it all by herself!

Hyatt

First and foremost, happy Father’s Day out there to all of you worthy of the title. Remember though, that anyone can father a kid, make sure you do your best to be Dad! I was lucky. I had a Dad! Happy Father’s Day,  Coach!

Alright, on to the picks for Michigan. It is trendy to say that Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s win-less streak stops here at the track he last won at. True, he’s running better and I expect a top ten run today but we’re not going with him.

It is almost impossible to ignore success of the Ford FR9 engine this year, certainly on tracks like Michigan where those things can get wound up pretty good. Throw in the fact that Roush has had such success here and we’ve got to decide between Carl Edward, Greg Biffle and Matt Kenseth.

It’ll be a little warm today and a little slick so I’m gonna go with Biffle for the win. If he bobbles, makes a mistake on pit road and can’t get fuel in the car like we saw earlier this year, Kenseth will get another nice, boring trip to Victory Lane. Edwards bounces back with a top 15 finish this week.

So that’s our pick. Who are you guys going with today. Anyone that gets it right will get a gift certificate to Lubbock’s legendary Caprock Cafe! Fire away!

Hyatt

McIlroy has all the makings of the young star golf needs right now. No matter what happens Sunday, he’ll be a big story.

That said, who are some of the other people in sports, athletes, coaches, announcers, owners, you name it; that you really find interesting? What is it about them that you find compelling?

Tell us here and we’ll use your best answers on the show come Monday.

In the meantime, enjoy your Saturday and stay out of the heat here in West Texas. Just brutal out there today!

Hyatt

Who are some of the other

5 THINGS WE KNOW ON A FRIDAY

1.  I don’t care what his ranking is or where he is on the leader board at the U.S. Open right now. The person I’d least like to play for cash would be Phil Mickelson. He’d end up driving my convertible away from the bar I’m afraid.

2.  While I’d still have no problem if Nolan Ryan replaced Ron Washington at any time, the biggest cog still missing from last year to this year for the Rangers is Clint Hurdle. I think he brought something to that clubhouse much more than just letting guys know there was something called the “opposite field”.

3.  It is great to have Texas Tech Basketball legend Bubba Jennings back in the fold after all these years, uh I mean months. . . er, days? No. Seriously, I think it is great that new coach Billy Gillispie didn’t feel like he had to reinvent the wheel at Tech the way so many coaches do when they come to a losing program. Sometimes you have to look around and realize you have some great people that may not be being utilized the best way or even in the right job spot. Business folks could take a less from that as well.

4. The Windy Man sculpture is back in Lubbock. Surely this means we’ll get no rain and be punished even harder right? Of course if it rains this weekend. . .

5.  Dale Earnhardt Jr. is gonna win at Michigan again. It just isn’t going to be this week. If he can get some Sunoco Fuel into that #16 Greg Biffle is going to Victory Lane this Sunday. If not, watch for Matt Kenseth to show up and blandly make everyone look like they have their learner’s permit.

Hyatt

1. Great show put on by Dirk Nowitzki and the Mavs last night in a win that was as enjoyable in Cleveland as it was in Dallas. Once again, LeBron ( the next not-good-enough-to-carry-Jordan’s-Haynes ) James went missing when it mattered most and again the Mavericks had some dagger shots down the stretch not just from Dirk but J. J. and the Jet. Not sure who is hating this more, the NBA or Nike. Either way I hope Dirk gets his ring. The window will close fast on this group of Mavs, particularly depending on what happens on the labor front for the league. Dirk gets his ring and he’s absolutely one of the top 20 players of all-time!

2.  This time has come, Red Raider fans. With a new athletic director in Kirby Hocutt now putting his stamp on the program the time has come for Texas Tech to consider expanded beer sales at Jones Stadium for football games. Sure, if you’re rich and your in a luxury box you can get a cold one, but why not let everyone enjoy a few buds with their buds? West Virginia recently did the same thing with new A.D. Oliver Luck taking the lead role. I’d love to see Texas Tech do the same thing.

If the brains at WVU can figure out a way to make this work and add upwards of 1.2 million dollars to the coffers, surely Texas Tech can do the same thing. Attitudes have changed in Lubbock over the past few years and I have a feeling that if Tech approved beer sales it would have the same support as the passage of beer and wine sales at grocery and 7-11′s did a year or so ago. Most folks in 2011 would just yawn. For the record, if you’re looking for a school that takes it to a new level, Louisville sales hard liquor at their games. . .

3.  I’m getting a little weary of some NASCAR fans and media raving about Kyle Busch’s total number of wins over the last few years as if he’s racking them all up at the Cup level like Richard Petty or Dale Earnhardt did. Yes, KyBu is a good wheel man and hopefully he’ll only get better. But right now, with the money he pours into the Truck series and the Nationwide series he should dominate. Cash buys speed and everytime KyBu unloads at the track he’s got a top 3 or 5 car/truck in that series. Call me back when he’s doing the same in Cup or sniffs a Chase Championship and then we can start calling him great. . .

4.  I’ll have to give credit where credit is due. . . I agree with KFYO’s Chad Hasty that Texas Gov. Rick Perry will be entering the Presidential race this summer. Look for an announcement on July 4th while Perry stands atop the Austin Capitol Dome declaring America’s Independence once again from Washington. My guess is that he’ll also be armed. I’m not sure at all that this is a bad thing, but I know that it will make things much more interesting.

5.  Mayor Tom Martin said on KFYO this morning that there would be no fireworks show after the Fourth on Broadway street fair this year. It is absolutely the right call. Now the county should ban the sale and use of fireworks as well. It has NEVER been this dry in Lubbock and it is stupid and selfish for folks to want to use pyrotechnics this year. There is no way the County or Lubbock Fire Departments could begin to respond to the fires that would be unleashed by the idiots this year. Do the right thing. Ban ‘em.

No professional sport puts their fans closer to the action and gives them more access to the participants than Nascar. It is one of the reasons there is so much loyalty amongst the fans. With that as a back-drop, 2-time Cup Champ Tony Stewart hosted his annual charity races last night at Eldora Speedway and if you missed it on PPV, you missed out on a great night of dirt track racing for great causes. With the money going to four different regional children’s hospitals Stewart’s “Prelude To The Dream” event brought in some of the best drivers in the world and let them put on a show for the fans.

Clint Bowyer won the feature looking just like a guy that had spent a little time on mid-west dirt coming up, but it was the children, the hospitals, the fans and even the drivers themselves that really won. For a such a pressure-packed week-in and week-out sport you can tell by the looks on the drivers’ faces how much they love racing just for fun. We need more of that in sports if we can get it.

For Tony Stewart, a guy oft criticized over the years for his temper, his behavior and surliness with the media, it shows a side of him as a track-operator, promoter, water truck driver and a guy with a big heart that many of his non-fans never see. You get the feeling he’s come to love this week as much as anything he does.

Too often professional athletes get criticized as selfish and uncaring about the fans. To me that’s unfair. Many do things that fans and media never know about. Many more put together events leveraging their wealth and fame that the average person with a big heart just wouldn’t be able to pull 0ff. That’s the great thing I think when I see an athlete or celeb realize that they do have a bully pulpit to do great things for other folks. Stewart gets that. Now, just don’t tell anyone that he may actually be a nice guy after all. We don’t want to ruin his image.

TEXAS TECH FOOTBALL RECRUITING

Texas Tech has added some more oral commits on the recruiting trail over the past week. Don Williams has a great round-up here in the A-J.

Make no mistake, there is more interest in Texas Tech this time of year in the recruiting process by top players than we’ve ever seen. Part of it is the success of the program over the past several years that has caught the attention of high school kids but a lot of it is the commitment by Tommy Tuberville and his staff to go toe-to-toe with the top programs in the Big 12 and in particular in Texas. Tuberville has brought a higher level of expectation to recruiting, the likes of which we may not have seen since Jim Carlen in the early 1970′s around here. It is fascinating to watch.

Today on the show we’ll examine the impact of the process of recruiting that Tuberville and his staff have put together. Look forward to talking to you on that Domino’s Fan Line starting at 3p.m. at 1-866-984-5326.

After learning that car owner Richard Childress had allegedly punched fellow owner-driver Kyle Busch Saturday night after the truck race my first thought was I wonder how thrilled NASCAR is that bland is getting back to grand. Now of course, we can’t have owners punching owners out at the track, that would be so, so, uncivilized and no one wants that.

But of course we all secretly and not so secretly do. And that is what is so right about what Childress did to Busch. If  “Have At It Boys” works for the drivers, it should work for the owners too. Now, we know that drivers can push it too far just like Kevin Harvick, Kyle Busch, Juan Pablo Montoya and Ryan Newman have done at times already this year and we know that there is some nebulous line out there that if you cross, you’ll get fined or put on double-secret probation.

That’s o.k.

What Childress did will get him a deserved fine, but if they didn’t suspend him for yesterday’s race at Kansas I can’t see how they’ll take him off the track in the future. They set the standard yesterday and now NASCAR has to live with it. And again, that’s o.k.

NASCAR needs more color, needs more rivalries, heck it flat out needs blood-feuds. It drives the sport it drives the passion of the fans and it is what makes NASCAR different. If NASCAR wants to continue growing while staying strong with its base fans it needs to embrace its differences and not try to look, act and sound like any other sport.

Why would NASCAR want to sound like the NFL right now with its labor trouble? Why would NASCAR want to look and sound like baseball with its attendance woes in major markets ( that’s you Cubs ) NASCAR is different and needs to act different.

The interesting part of the equation for me on driver-owner discipline now by NASCAR is that Mike Helton and the gang have their hands tied and they know it when it comes to parking, suspending or docking crippling amounts of points to high profile teams. The days of Big Bill France being able to lecture both driver and owner about it being “my way or the highway” are long gone. Back then NASCAR did control the money and the access to it. Now it has flipped around because of the growth and success of the sport and it is the car owners coupled with their sponsors and high profile drivers that are driving the big bucks to NASCAR.

NASCAR  is no more going to tell huge multi-million dollar sponsors like Budweiser, M&M, or even Cup sponsor Sprint that the top guys are not going to be on TV that week than Kevin Harvick is going to be inviting Kyle Busch over for sushi later this week.

So instead, NASCAR should proffer up some great language today about how Richard Childress’ actions were unacceptable, that they can’t be tolerated and that he’s been fined and put on probation the remainder of the year. Privately they should give him a medal, call up his sponsors and say how grateful they are that he and they are in the sport and then sit back and watch the ratings climb when folks tune in next week to see who is fighting whom.

Have at it, NASCAR!

Hyatt