The Table

Tomorrow, the University of Dayton chapel will play host to the sacrament of holy matrimony.  Afterwards, all guests will travel to the wedding reception, & dinner will be served.  Usually, the guests at each table know each other, but they guaranteed have something in common.  They are either family or friend of either the bride or groom, or they are the significant other of someone who fits that description.  Conversation will flow, with life updates from each person a probable topic.  Not that I am opposed to that type of conversation.  Without it, the conversation will be brief, & people will want to head to the dance floor, the bar, or another table with their family or friends.  What I support is deeper questions in response to the life update story.  My thinking resulted from the readings a few weeks ago, where the word table encapsulated the readings.
The second reading, Hebrews 12: 18-19, 22-24A, & the Gospel, Luke 14: 1, 7-14, talk about the table.  At Mass we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus by gathering around the table & partaking in the body & blood of Jesus.  The second reading discusses the ultimate table, heaven, or as the reading refers to it, Mount Zion.  Mount Zion seemingly reaches the heavens with its massive height.  While people cannot comprehend it with any of their senses, it is attainable & desirable to reach.  In the Gospel, the Pharisees watch Jesus like a hawk.  He instructs them to love EVERYONE.  Jesus then tells us to humble ourselves.  Tim McGraw instructs people how to do so in his recent chart topper “Humble and Kind.”  Personally, I enjoy when a story or connection to my life & current events is included in the homily.  Thankfully, the priest told two anecdotes about times he sat at tables, & I remembered two unique stories of my own.
The first story occurred shortly before I graduated from UD.  All graduating History majors attend a formal dinner, paid for by the History department, a week or two before graduation.  I sat at a table with two other History majors, Dr. Carter & Dr. Flockerzie, both whose classes I took, & another professor.  As the conversation progressed, & this mystery professor sat across from me, I felt bad & impolite I never introduced myself nor knew him.  I politely introduced myself & asked his name.  Dr. Carter chuckled & Dr. Flockerzie asked me, “Who don’t know who this is?”  I shook my head no & the other two students laughed.  Finally, Dr. Flockerzie told me that was the department head as the department head smiled.  Trying not to sound so oblivious, I responded I have never dealt with him before nor has he ever taught one of my classes.  As soon as I finished, I realized & told them he was supposed to teach History of the Caribbean which I took, but he did not.  When he asked how it was, I told him it would have been better if he taught it.  After the comedy of the situation dissipated, the conversation of the table became more enlightening, with a variety of topics.  When the dinner concluded & we readied to leave, I shook the department head’s hand & told him it was good to meet him.  He laughed as he shook my hand & said congratulations on my graduation.
The second story occurred soon after I moved to Philadelphia.  Nearby my residence was a house where every Thursday, young Catholics gathered every Thursday night for Mass & dinner.  Although work ended after Mass began, my coworkers & I attended dinner.  The first time we went there, I knew nobody.  Therefore, I filled my plate & sat down at a table.  I sat there mostly quiet, & as I listened to the conversation, I realized the rest of the table was full of couples, either dating or engaged.  I was the only single person at this table & it was my first time there.  I finally informed them of my discovery, & nearly everyone looked at me, wondering who I was.  I told them my name & that I just moved to Philadelphia.  I then jokingly remarked I would answer any question as if I was an open book.  Honest to God truth, the first question came from a fella who asked, “Have you ever had sex?”  I immediately laughed.  A group of people in our twenties & the first question that comes from a guy is about sex, to a person he just met to boot!  I said no, & the remaining questions were about topics you can probably guess, such as where I attended college, how do I like my new job, etc.
The two stories the priest told were also humorous, although he reminded us there was a point to his stories.  When you sit down at a table with someone, you immediately shared commonalities.  For one, you are both eating food.  As I previously said, you both also have an interest in the event.  In summation, if you are sitting at a table full of people you do not know, the conversation will probably start with some awkwardness.  Trust me, awkwardness can also breed some embarrassment into the conversation.  As evidenced from my two stories, the conversation can leave you with a smile on your face.  Plus, if you pay attention & ask questions deeper than surface level, you might learn something, all while sitting eating at a table. 

Stairs, Stairs, Stairs

Stairs, stairs, stairs.  What a truly unique human creation you are.  Coming in different sizes, shapes, & colors.  Stairs, stairs, stairs.  I go to college & the notion of using you disappears.  In the Darkside & Ghetto houses, you return as you are the way to my bedroom.  Stairs, stairs, stairs.  A single one in the ol’ cottage took out Jordan & several glasses with him.  People race you in the Sears Tower & they claim its fun.  Stairs, stairs, stairs.  My new adventure in Philadelphia includes many of you.  Always worried I will fall down you with food in my hands.  Stairs, stairs, stairs.  Many of you did Rocky gallop up.  My goodness he was in shape.  Stairs, stairs, stairs.  Tired I was after walking down you, you the set Rocky effortlessly glided up.  Out of shape I know I was after running up you.  Stairs, stairs, stairs.  With new technology, old creations fade out.  Yet you I doubt we will ever lose.  Stairs, stairs, stairs

Farewell Very Special Agent Anthony DiNozzo

A fan is someone who cares about someone or something. What the word fails to inform you is the duration of someone’s fandom. When I moved to Philadelphia in September 2014, I lived in the Kensington neighborhood working on $100 stipend, & I knew neither anyone nor anywhere. As a result, I watched TV, & a coworker enjoyed watching NCIS reruns. Looking for something to occupy my time, I joined her. Additionally, Tuesday nights new NCIS episodes premiere & we watched the season 12 premier. We also watched NCIS: New Orleans series premier, & to this day I watch it, even convincing Dad to join me. When I first began watching NCIS, I was 11 seasons behind. Fortunately, USA Network shows NCIS reruns on Mondays, Wednesdays, & sometimes Saturdays. My work schedule allowed me to watch all day Monday if I desired as it was our off day, Wednesdays our work finished around lunch & we were free until community night dinner, & Saturdays our work lasted until about lunch as well. Commence Mark binge watching! I watched many episodes then & still often watch reruns now. Therefore, while I have not watched NCIS for many years, I have spent far too many hours watching NCIS since September 2014.

Today marks the last episode of Tony DiNozzo. Yes, Michael Weatherly is leaving NCIS. For millions of fans including myself, we are sad to say goodbye to Very Special Agent Tony DiNozzo. I guarantee tonight’s episode garners very high ratings, a fitting sendoff for the character & actor who love the limelight. Now, if you search online Tony DiNozzo you will find seemingly infinite links, discussions, highlights, etc. for him. After all, Michael Weatherly joins Mark Harmon, David McCallum, & Pauley Perrette as the only actors to appear on every NCIS episode, & Weatherly has appeared on all the franchises’ spinoffs. Totaled up, you can spend almost two straight weeks watching Tony DiNozzo! When NCIS showed its 300th episode earlier this season, a popular image displayed many statistics about the show. How many head slaps, how many nicknames DiNozzo bestowed upon McGee, how many bowties Ducky wore, & several others. DiNozzo plays a role in every statistic. How many head slaps he received, how many different episodes he gave McGee a new nickname, how many times he visited Gibbs basement. When Weatherly announced his departure, fans were shocked, & some even angrily said they are never watching the show anymore.

I can only speculate on the outcome of tonight’s episode. Based off last week’s episode & previews for tonight’s episode, it looks like DiNozzo leaves NCIS to find Ziva. I bet any monetary amount DiNozzo does not die by the end of the episode. As far as Ziva, it is a mystery. Perhaps even an unsolved mystery at tonight’s conclusion. Leaving the fate of Ziva unknown or showing her alive opens the possibility for Cote de Pablo to return, even if it is for a guest appearance such as for the series finale. If Ziva dies, the writers guarantee de Pablo never returns to NCIS, which she willingly left, so killing her character mirrors the death of Caitlin Todd. Sasha Alexander wanted to leave the show & NCIS subsequently killed seemingly someone nearly every season. Caitlin Todd, Jenny Shepard, Mike Franks, Ned Dorneget, & several other characters were killed, recently Tom Morrow. If NCIS did not kill a character, there is a strong attempt as all major characters have at least one near death experience. The death of Ziva also hypothetically ends those who clamor for the return of de Pablo. Lastly, Ziva’s death would scar DiNozzo as she arguably is his true love.

CBS renewed NCIS for two more seasons & cast two potential replacements for Weatherly. Sarah Clarke’s character Tess Monroe I disliked because her behavior appeared unprofessional at times, & if she took point for the injured Tobias Fornell, she became the FBI equivalent of Gibbs. Joining the NCIS team then is a step-down career wise for her. It also changes the dynamic of the show, which has maintained a healthy balance for 13 seasons. There have always been three major male agents & one major female agent. Gibbs is the surrogate team father, the two other men (DiNozzo & McGee) have a brotherly relationship, & the female is one the team deeply protects (Todd, Ziva, & Bishop). Wouldn’t Tess Monroe trump all the experience of McGee & discredit the hard work of Bishop? For both characters, it is an insult to all their success in the show thus far. The other possible replacement, Clayton Reeves, played by Duane Henry, I thought would be a suitable replacement. He is British which the writers could create into a unique friendship with Ducky, he brings comic relief to the show, & he has a police mindset to offset Gibbs’ military background, McGee’s tech savvy background, & Bishop’s intelligence. As with Ziva, his international background could allow the show to grow as he could teach the others different interrogation techniques, he could talk about popular British sports such as soccer & instead of movie references, the writers could show him walking into a crime scene joyful of a club’s victory. Additionally, because Michael Weatherly has stated he would love to return to NCIS in a guest role at some point, Clayton Reeves would be a friend to him just as the rest of the team is.

When DiNozzo returns, it could be for an episode such as when McGee gets married. For example, in such an episode, the team rushes to finish a case on time to make it to the church for the wedding. Upon their arrival, they see DiNozzo already at the church as the best man, & the first lines DiNozzo says are a movie quote about a wedding, & once he sees the team, he smiles & proclaims, “Hey guys!” Another possibility would be an episode concerning something international, & DiNozzo & Clayton Reeves would reconnect to share information, & viewers would see DiNozzo on the screen at MTAC. He could also come to bid farewell to the retirement of Ducky as David McCallum hinted his time on the show might be reaching its end. Lastly, DiNozzo could return for the funeral of a member, family, or friend of NCIS.

I will miss Very Special Agent Anthony DiNozzo. While the shows’ writers wrote the character, the acting of Weatherly made the character a fan favorite. Michael Weatherly has acted brilliantly, transforming the character from a womanizer to a cautious leader to a loyal friend to a confident agent. DiNozzo brought comic relief to show, proved himself a capable leader in place of Gibbs, a mentor to other team members such as Bishop, & a failed womanizer who fans laughed at his struggles. The relationship between Tony & his father reminded fans that estranged relationships are not failed ones, only ones that required hard work. We felt sad for him when his relationship with Jeanne Benoit crumbled, & their reunion this season brought hope they would reconcile, only to leave each other on more civil terms. We hoped his relationship with Ziva would evolve into a romantic one, & we felt his pain when she chose to stay in Israel & he chose to return to NCIS. We laughed at every head slap, we enjoyed his endless movie quotes, & we loved how he pointed out the obvious. Tonight, enjoy the episode. Appreciate all the DiNozzo scenes, from movie quote, to a head slap, to a serious moment, to the heart wrenching goodbye scenes. At the end of the episode, when the credits begin to roll, give a goodbye nod. Farewell Very Special Agent Anthony DiNozzo, we’re going to miss you.

My Last Semester at UD

It is Christmas Break & I have plenty of free time. So, watching a good deal of TV I have. Disney Channel has been showing the High School Musical trilogy. While the first is the only one plot-wise I can stomach, I admit first two movies’ soundtracks are above average. Yet I caught myself watching a part of the final film. Chad looked at Troy & said, “So I guess when they hand us that diploma, we’re actually done here?” Troy simply remarked, “What makes you thinking we’re getting diplomas?” While they were in high school, I can rather relate to Chad’s question. My last semester. My last birthday in college. My last St. Patty’s Day. My last Lent. My last Chi Rho meeting. My last class. My last paper. My last final exam. My last Marycrest Mass. My last piece of KU pizza. My last Ghetto Mass. My last time lectoring at Ghetto Mass, whenever that may be. My last work shift at Marycrest. My last Creative Monday Status, which will be an epic two weeks. My last alarm clock, which will probably come on graduation day itself. My last sign of peace at Ghetto & Marycrest Mass. My last retreat, which is yet to be determined. My last video game, which may be graduation day. My last night sleeping in my bed. My last day as a University of Dayton undergraduate student. So much to look forward to. The completion of my final exams. The blessing at the end of Ghetto Mass. The playing of “We Are Marching.” The joy of finishing my papers. The jubilation following the end of classes. The known laughter & tears. The unknown fear of the future & everything in between. The agony of late nights of homework & possibly of social life embarrassment. The delight in spending time with friends, God, & future accomplishments. May 4 is only a mere four & some change months away. This semester holds so much promise. I am excited, scared, & ready for it. My last semester at UD.

I guess I'll have to score a touchdown

I guess I’ll have to score a touchdown. Ok, here is the situation. I, Louisiana Tech full of improved Duck Dynasty members, am playing North Texas in my college football video game. Up 28-17 at the end of the 3rd quarter. North Texas scored a touchdown & converted the two pointer. Louisiana Tech 28 North Texas 25 4:57 remaining in the 4th quarter. After a Phil Robertson completion to Jase Robertson, Jase fumbled the ball & North Texas recovered. To quote Dad, “You’re going to need that.” North Texas methodically drove down the field & scored. North Texas 32 Louisiana Tech 28 3:10 left in the 4th quarter.

I drove down the field, both picking up yardage & trying to kill time to help my defense. One of those was a mistake. Nevertheless, touchdown run Jase Robertson. Louisiana Tech 35 North Texas 32 1:28 remaining. Quickly, though obviously taking time, North Texas quarterback shredded my defense & even ran in the touchdown himself. North Texas 39 Louisiana Tech 35 28 seconds left.

I had all timeouts remaining. In hindsight, I should have used at least one to calm my defense but I did not. I seriously doubt it would have made a difference. After the kickoff return, I needed 70 yards. I thought I would get it in two chunks. However, an incompletion cost me 6 seconds & I had 15 remaining. I called the next play. Right side, the receiver in the left slot does a straight sprint across the field. If he can beat the corner off the line & I hit him before the safety comes up, I have at least 15 yards & can use a timeout. What happened is the safety came in, looking to fake a blitz. I knew if my wide receiver beat the cornerback off the line, it might be a foot race with the safety as he has to turn around to catch him. Instead, the cornerback blitzed. I threw to the wide receiver. Open field for 70 yards. As I sprinted toward the end zone, I began to weave to kill time. I no longer trust my defense. Finally I scored. With 4 seconds left. Louisiana Tech 42 North Texas 39. On the squib kick off, I tackled the computer with zeroes across the scoreboard. I won!

It said Phil Robertson was the player of the game. I was unsure who would take home the honors. Certainly not anyone from my defense. I raced downstairs & showed Mom the highlights. It ranks as my second greatest game ever. Right behind my absurd comeback as Michigan I am sure. As I told Mom, I would score a touchdown & ask my defense for a stop. They would not oblige so there was only one thing to do. I guess I’ll have to score a touchdown

Coca-Cola: The official soft drink of Mark Kristl

In my first 48 hours in Philadelphia, I realized something. I have a caffeine addiction, mainly to pop. Today, I opened a can of Coke Zero & after I felt better after I drank it. In my family, we drink pop to get our caffeine fix. When Stephanie was little, whenever Dad opened either a can or bottle of Coke, she heard that sweet sound of an opened pop, raced down the stairs, & asked, in her sweetest voice, “Can I have a sip?” Dad gave her some although sometimes she drank more than a sip. Now, she just opens the fridge & pours herself a glass or takes a can.

When I started my collegiate career at UD, pop cost about 50 cents more than water, a quarter more than milk & the juices (orange, apple, etc.), & it was cheaper than Vitamin Water. In addition, UD was a Coke college. When I began working at Marycrest, I learned that when I was on the clock, I received free fountain drinks & unlimited refills. Working Sunday mornings, I resisted Coke products until 10 am, & while numerous times I struggled to reach 10 am; I successfully resisted, but then drank a glass promptly at 10 am. Right before I clocked out, I filled up a glass to the brim with minimal ice, & left with it. Typically, I pitched the ice out of the empty glass & gave it to Mother Nature. My senior year UD & Buffalo Wild Wings switched to Pepsi products. Grocery shopping included Coke even more so. At the first Club 6 party of senior year, someone challenged me to chug a can of Pepsi. If memory serves me right, it was Andy Gainor because he knew I drank Coke like water. I did, & to wash the disgusting taste out of my mouth, I drank another can.

When Mom & I vacationed to Indianapolis this past summer, I made it a personal quest to find a Share a Coke with Mark Coke bottle. When our trip to Broad Ripple Village proved to be a bust, we stopped at the CVS Pharmacy to look for the Mark bottle. I found it! The sweetest tasting Coke I drank! Of course, after I drank the bottle, I kept it-hey, I cleaned it.

Therefore, I have a Coke addiction. It is neither drugs nor alcohol nor detrimental to my life. It will not kill me although my wallet argues otherwise. Funny enough, I have lived without air conditioning but struggle living without Coke. Sunoco is the official fuel of NASCAR. With a twist, you learn something about me. Coca-Cola: the official soft drink of Mark Kristl

My relationship with alcohol

Monday night Maureen & I talked for quite a while & one of those topics was journaling. So here I am ready to resume. I still remember my first night on campus. I cried tears of fear; come Sunday I will cry tears of joy. Both times I fear the future. I left Mom, Dad, & Stephanie, & walked back to Marycrest. I dried my tears & came back into my room. My hall mates said they were going to Harper’s sister’s house. I walked with them; campus seemed so big & I did not know what street I was on. Truthfully, I still confuse K & L Street. I stood on the porch & stayed quiet. I knew nobody; what was I supposed to do? Someone offered me a beer & I told them no thank you. I have no idea why; divine intervention. Shortly thereafter, one of my hall mates bent over the railing & puked his guts out. That, along with other reasons alcohol related, became my motivation & reasoning not to drink alcohol until my 21st birthday. I stayed true to that.

On my 21st birthday, I went to class, & then I worked for four hours. Within the first five minutes or so, I needed to refill a bag of barbecue sauce. I emptied the bag, reached down below, grabbed the box of barbeque sauce, & then something I may never forget happened. The bottom of the barbeque sauce bag ripped & out barbeque sauce came. All over my uniform, seeping into my t-shirt, on my jeans, & all over my shoes. Ned came out, saw what happened, & asked if I was ok. I just told him to go get Jenny. She came, I then took off my apron, threw it in the hamper, washed my hands, dried part of my jeans & t-shirt, wiped off my jeans as best I could, & got back to work. I sang in my head, happy birthday to me 21 times. What a start to my 21st birthday.

That evening, Ben, Peter, Rob, & I drove to Lucky’s only to see it filled & returned to Buffalo Wild Wings. Peter bought me my first ever beer Blue Moon. Thank goodness Blue Moon is not the only beer. If so, I would be sober for the rest of my life. Instead, I exchanged beers with Peter & drank Killian’s. After finishing it, I thought maybe not all beer is bad. After dinner, Nick joined us & we headed to trivia at the Fieldhouse. There, Nick bought me my first Yuengling. Now that is a high-quality beer, I do not care what you say. For our team name for the first round, I chose Bazinga. In celebration, Amy & Brandon bought me Yuengling & Candice led us in numerous cheers. Twice I recall knowing the correct answer. Once was the question of naming the TV show based off its theme song. I immediately knew the answer upon hearing the song & proclaimed Sons of Anarchy! Nick pushed my head down, told me shush, & everyone else laughed. The second one was to name the song & artist. It turned out to be the theme song of Duck Dynasty. That time I looked at Laura & told her “Sharp Dressed Man” by ZZ Top. After five rounds of trivia, two where we finished second, we walked back to 340 Stonemill. The last thing I remember besides drinking Yuengling was watching The Big Bang Theory, roughly around 1-2 am. The next morning, I woke up & Peter asked me how I felt. I told him thirsty, a bit tired, & out of it. Peter chuckled & said congratulations on your first hangover. I crawled out of bed & after getting a glass of water, asked what happened towards the end of the night. Peter informed me we watched The Big Bang Theory, chilled until about 4 am when we walked back & I promptly went to sleep. I asked him if I did anything stupid, he said no, & I said nice. I proceeded with my day, & at our porch group that day, Candice, Nick, & I reminisced about the joy of the previous night.

Therefore, that is the story. How I stayed alcohol-free & sober until my 21st. Then I got drunk; it was all in fun & my friends kept me safe. I am proud of staying sober until my 21st birthday. That night ranks in my Top 10 fun times of my UD career. I admit I have been drunk since. I admit I like a good beer. However, I never was a fan of going to the Ghetto for partying with the purpose of becoming drunk. So, it goes. My relationship with alcohol

2016 NASCAR Truck Series preview

If you ask sports fans about NASCAR, they recite names of iconic NASCAR drivers like Richard Petty, Dale Earnhardt, Darrell Waltrip, Jeff Gordon, etc. These drivers are some of NASCAR’s greatest drivers. Now, the best drivers are the Busch brothers, Kevin Harvick, & Jimmie Johnson, among others. Those drivers all race in the top NASCAR series, the Cup Series. With famous races such as the Daytona 500, the July 4 race at Daytona, & the Labor Day weekend race at Darlington Raceway, NASCAR is equipped with a loyal & strong fan base, including me. While I enjoy watching the Cup Series races, I also relish watching the Truck Series races. In this entry, I will provide you a preview of the upcoming NASCAR Truck Series season's fulltime teams & drivers.

To begin with, I start with Chevrolet teams because there are more of them than any other manufacturer. These first three drivers all race for their family owned teams. John Wes Townley won his first race last year at Las Vegas Motor Speedway & he finished eighth in points, & he returns chasing more trophies this year. In #02 truck is Tyler Young, who with 56 Truck Series starts, desires more Top 10 finishes. Having purchased the equipment & owners’ points from Billy Boat Motorsports, each race for rookie Tommy Joe Martins will provide experience & hopefully he garners the respect of the other drivers. Returning to the driver’s seat for her own team is Jennifer Jo Cobb, & while statistics lack in terms of great races, her persistence is admirable as she races while I watch the races on my TV.

A feel-good story is Jordan Anderson & new #66 Bolen Motorsports Chevrolet. Last year, racing for an underfunded team & missing six races, he finished 19th in points. This year, he has sponsorship, will race fulltime, & with his determination, an improvement upon last season is achievable. His team last year, Mike Harmon Racing, fields a truck for owner Mike Harmon & other drivers, & while the team lacks top equipment, perhaps Anderson’s success last year attracts drivers & sponsors this year. New to the Truck Series this year is Contreras Motorsports, & owner Carlos Contreras will pilot #71 Chevrolet at Daytona International Speedway, with other drivers filling in the remainder of the schedule. While neither Norm Benning in his #6 Chevrolet nor Timmy Hill in Premium Motorsports #49 truck have a victory on their resumes, both add to the competitiveness of the Truck Series as both drivers work hard competing fulltime.

Quite possibly the most improved team in the Truck Series is GMS Racing. Last year, the team fielded trucks for rookie Spencer Gallagher & the duo of Austin Dillon & Brandon Jones. This year Gallagher wants to be more up front at the finish as he had only one Top 5 last season. New to GMS Racing this year is veteran Johnny Sauter, who finished in fourth place last year despite never reaching victory lane. Sauter seeks a return visit, & he will be the team mentor to Gallagher & rookie Grant Enfinger, who takes over the truck driven by Dillon & Jones. While Enfinger is only a rookie, he raced fulltime in ARCA Racing Series the past two years & is the reigning ARCA champion, so he certainly has the qualifications to move up into the Truck Series.

Last year, Erik Jones won the championship in the first season he competed fulltime due to age restrictions. Like Jones, these next two drivers will race fulltime this year as they are no longer restricted due to their age. Cole Custer is a young driver with tremendous talent, & in his part-time schedule last season, he won a race & accumulated four Top 10’s. This year, he competes for the championship in #00 JR Motorsports Chevrolet. While I believe Custer’s lack of experience will hinder his championship hopes, he will be a weekly frontrunner. John Hunter Nemechek raced part-time two years ago, & despite missing five races last year, he finished 12th in points. If you add his father Joe Nemecheks’ points to his, then John would have finished in seventh. Not only did he debut in spectacular fashion with a win at Chicagoland Speedway & 10 Top 10’s, he also won the Most Popular Driver Award. Nemechek showed ample skill behind the wheel of #8 NEMCO Motorsports Chevrolet, & I cheer for him this year. His added experience will benefit him more so than Custer, & thus he is my pick to win the championship.

MAKE Motorsports is an underfunded newer team whom I follow on social media & I root for their success. Travis Kvapil, 2003 Truck Series champion & whose autograph I have, will drive #50 Chevrolet fulltime. To the best of my knowledge, various drivers will fill the other truck. MB Motorsports has fielded trucks since the inception of the Truck Series, & while they field numerous drivers, I hope they field a truck for Bobby Pierce at Eldora Speedway so he can duplicate the same excitement as he battled with Christopher Bell for the victory last year.

I promise less Ford teams. Brad Keselowski Racing, whose two drivers could easily win the championship, unquestionably leads Ford. Tyler Reddick won two races, finished second in his rookie season, & now has a steady teammate in Daniel Hemric. All of this should only improve Reddick’s consistency as he chases the championship. Hemric wins a race this year, write it down, you heard it here first. With Cup Series champion Brad Keselowski as his owner, Penske power, & a terrific teammate in Reddick, Hemric will win at least one race. Both drivers are strong candidates to be in the Truck Series inaugural Chase. This week Richard Petty Motorsports announced a driver development program with Empire Racing, so maybe Richard Petty Motorsports drivers Aric Almirola, Brian Scott, & Jeb Burton drive the Empire Racing #43 Ford. All three drivers have a Truck Series win, so if they compete in the Truck Series, they are contenders. Lastly, new team Lira Motorsports is fielding two trucks this year, & they are a driver developmental team for Roush Fenway Racing, so perhaps Darrell Wallace Jr. will return at a track like Eldora Speedway in hopes of another victory.

Kyle Busch Motorsports is the defending championship winning team & is arguably the top Toyota team. Busch, himself the defending Cup Series champion, has two rookies racing fulltime this season. While Christopher Bell is a rookie, he captured people’s attention last season with an exciting victory at Eldora Speedway. Additionally, he ran four more races last season, so he has limited experience. Liberty University will sponsor young William Byron's #9 Toyota. While his lone Truck Series race last season ended prematurely in a crash, Byron won the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East championship last season. Kyle Busch Motorsports also will field a third truck for several drivers, including Daniel Suarez, who nearly won at least one race last year driving part-time duty, & Cody Coughlin, who brings family sponsor & owner of cool paint schemes Jegs.

Not to be overlooked out of Sandusky, OH is ThorSport Racing Toyotas led by two-time champion Matt Crafton. Crafton, always a frontrunner, is the mentor to a sophomore & two rookies. Cameron Hayley returns after a sixth-place finish last season & wants to gain at least five more spots because although he finished with 13 Top 10’s, only four of them were Top 5’s. Dirt track master Rico Abreu steps into #98 Toyota, & what he lacks in height he makes up for with talent as he has advanced to the Truck Series at age 24. From watching Truck Series practice at Daytona, Abreu sought advice from Crafton, & learning from the two-time champion can only benefit Abreu. Lastly, ThorSport is fielding a fourth team this year for Ben Rhodes, who has family sponsor Alpha Energy Solutions onboard his #41 Toyota. While Rhodes only has four Truck Series starts, three of them were Top 10’s, so he certainly wants to continue to race upfront. While Abreu & Rhodes are rookies, they race in great equipment & will go fast.

Veteran Timothy Peters returns to Red Horse Racing, & while he boasts 10 career Truck Series wins, he wishes to finish higher in the standings than fifth, where he finished the past two seasons. Last season, Ben Kennedy rode the SAFER Barrier at Kentucky Speedway during a crash, & for Kennedy to improve, he must cut down on DNF’s as he had the most out of any Top 10 driver last season. Hattori Racing hopes to race fulltime this season after attempting only three races a year ago, but Ryan Truex has amassed 67 starts in NASCAR’s top three series at only age 23, so he will not be afraid to challenge drivers for positions. Finally, new team AM Racing with Austin Wayne Self drives from two straight second place finishes the past two years in ARCA into the Truck Series. While his opening ARCA race this season ended with a damaged car, he hopes to replicate his success in the Trucks.

In NASCAR, there are constantly new teams & faces in the garage. There are many part time teams, some who will race multiple times, others who are struggling to find funding to race once, & others who hope success in one race gain them attention from another owner. All they ask for is an opportunity & they all dream of becoming the next household name after Jimmie Johnson & Tony Stewart. If they fail, persistence is necessary, though sponsorship is essential. NASCAR is expensive; thus, why drivers such as John Wes Townley & Ben Rhodes enjoy the benefits of family sponsorship. This season the Truck Series will be a blend of veterans such as Matt Crafton racing with youngsters such as Cole Custer. With all these teams, I promise it will be an exciting season.

Thanks to the weirdest game I've ever seen

I watch a lot of football. More college than pro but a great deal nonetheless. The 2013 R&L Carriers Bowl might be the weirdest I have watched yet. It was between Tulane & Louisiana-Lafayette. In my bowl pick ‘em game, I chose Louisiana-Lafayette. I chose them because in my college football rankings, they hovered around the Top 25. This was the fourth game of the college football bowl season. I needed a victory after starting 0-3. Louisiana-Lafayette quickly grabbed a 14-0 lead. Tulane’s offense marched down the field to the Louisiana-Lafayette 7. Nick Montana, son of Joe, stared down a receiver. Yet the cornerback jumped in the way, intercepted the ball & 93 yards the opposite way, Louisiana-Lafayette had a 21-0 lead.

That was Part 1 of the game. Tulane put in a different quarterback & found a spark. Additionally, for some reason Louisiana-Lafayette altered their offensive game plan. Before halftime, Louisiana-Lafayette had a potential opportunity to drive the ball but they declined. At halftime, Louisiana-Lafayette was reeling as Tulane had all the momentum, but Louisiana-Lafayette led 21-14. At some point in the second half, most likely the third quarter, Tulane scored again & the score was tied at 21. Then the game became a defensive battle.

Part 3 began when Louisiana-Lafayette switched back to their original offensive game plan. Then, after an interception thanks to a horrendous pass followed by a player’s stupid action leading to a personal foul, Louisiana-Lafayette had the ball in field goal position. They appeared as if they were going to get a first down converting a third down but cramping in the quarterbacks’ legs cut that play short. Field goal, Louisiana-Lafayette up 24-21. Tulane drove the ball & appeared to have a shot at about a 55-yard field goal to tie it. With the best kicker in America, you take the shot. They passed & Louisiana-Lafayette got the ball back. Their backup quarterback played well but failed to take play clock down as much as possible. Then, before clock expired on a third down, they called timeout. They punted, giving Tulane one final last chance. Miraculously, their quarterback avoided a sack & heaved a ball to about midfield where the wideout caught it as the corner lost track of the ball. Following some bad, if not horrible but certainly not good clock management, Tulane’s kicker missed a game-tying field goal & Louisiana-Lafayette won; so, did I.

When they announced MVP, I did not who deserved it, nobody really stood out. It was weird. Both teams had a combined dozen fall-start penalties. There was a questionable defensive pass interference call & a missed intentional grounding call. Both teams dealt with the clock in odd ways. Both teams offensively played strange. Louisiana-Lafayette’s shift & Tulane should have run the ball more. Both quarterbacks played suspect at times. Both teams had problems with their kicker. Tulane’s refusal to initially let theirs try to tie it. Louisiana-Lafayette’s using a different kicker for the first time all season. Tulane was smaller & slower, yet Louisiana-Lafayette’s offensive line sometimes forgot to block. If I thought harder, I could probably continue. But hey, I got my first victory today. Thanks to the weirdest game I have ever seen.