LITTLE ROCK — NASCAR not about smooches
A lot of folks are getting all caught up in the budding relationship between NASCAR drivers Danica Patrick and Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
Just don’t count Orlando Sentinel columnist George Diaz among them.
“There is no making out in NASCAR,” Diaz writes. “No hugs, no exchanging of Valentine’s Day cards, none of this schmoozie poozie stuff with the nauseating soundtrack of a Michael Boulton/ Barry Manilow mix-tape.
“The romance between race rivals Danica Patrick and Ricky Stenhouse is threatening the demise of a sport that thrives on the edge of hate. How easily we forget that mainstream America fell in love with this sport after an epic battle at Daytona International Speedway in 1979.
“Donnie Allison and Cale Yarborough got tangled with each other on the final lap, with both cars stopping on the infield grass short of the finish line. As Allison and Yarborough were arguing, Bobby Allison - Donnie’s brother - stopped his car to give his bro some backup. They all began fighting, and lucky-dog beneficiary Richard Petty slid through unimpeded for the victory.
“The story made the front page of the New York Times sports section the next day.
“NASCAR became a major player in the sports universe, thanks to wreckin’, racin’ and the occasional ’rassling.
“These days, the storied Times and just about every news group in America is smitten over Danica’s romance with Stenhouse.
It spawned the most number of offbeat questions during NASCAR media say at Daytona International Speedway on Thursday.
“What did Danica get Ricky for Valentine’s Day? What did Ricky get Danica? What happens if they crash? What happens if they break up?
“For now, though, it’s all lovey dovey. Danica got her sweetheart a bunch of stuff: ‘There’s like a whole bag dedicated to Valentine’s Day.’
“Enough pillow talk.
“Those old-school guys know what I’m talking about.
It’s all about the contentious relationships, not amorous ones.” Bring it on
The Caltech baseball team recently broke its 228-game losing streak.
“Ironically,” wrote Brad Dickson of the Omaha (Neb.) World-Herald, “if Caltech played in the Big Ten, they would be a co-favorite to take the league crown.” Bucking the law
Consider this a warning.
Support the Ohio State Buckeyes at your own risk.
The Columbus (Ohio) Dispatch reported this week that a 65-year old woman and her husband were pulled over by Tennessee police for having a Buckeyes leaf decal on their car. Apparently, the police mistook the decal for a marijuana symbol.
Bonnie Jonas-Boggioni told the newspaper she and her husband were driving through Tennessee on their way home to Plano, Texas, when they were stopped just east of Memphis on Interstate 540.
Jonas-Boggioni said one of the officers asked her what they were doing with a marijuana sticker on their bumper. The couple explained the meaning of the Ohio State sticker, which is given as a reward to Buckeyes players. Jonas-Boggioni’s husband even stepped out of the car to show officers his 2002 national championship sweatshirt, which featured a Buckeye leaf as part of its design.
“Police hunting drugs should know that a Buckeye leaf - which has five leaflets - doesn’t look much like a marijuana leaf,” Jonas-Boggioni told the newspaper.
Officers even suggested that the couple should consider taking the sticker off the car.
“I didn’t take it off,” Jonas-Boggioni told the newspaper. “This little old lady is no drug dealer.”
Quote of the day
“I feel like going into the next couple of games I’ll be a lot more relaxed and feel good going up to the plate.” Arkansas first baseman Eric Fisher, who made his first start Friday after redshirting last season.
Sports, Pages 20 on 02/16/2013