I hope these are close.

- Padraic

2009 TRACK LEADERS
OVERALL BOYS
100 (state record :10.32, Cole Tucker, R.C. Central, 2005)
Jared Hannigan, Aberdeen Central 10.60
Chad Hofkamp, RC Central 10.80
Brock Bills, SF Washington 10.90
Phil Wright, SF O’Gorman 10.90
Sam Wolff, RC Stevens 10.90
Nick Haglund, Watertown 10.90
Jarrett Jank, Madison 10.90
Zak Prpich, RC Stevens 10.92
Brad Tunge, Marion 11.00
Lukas VanLaecken, Sanborn Central 11.00
Trevor Gebhart, SF Washington 11.00
Taylor Olson, Harrisburg 11.00
Austin Dilts, Milbank 11.00
Justin VanDeBerg, Garretson 11.00
Daine McNenny, Sturgis 11.00

200 (state record :21.22, Chas DeMers, Winner, 2006)
Luke Hauert, Stickney 22.30
Jordan Mueller, Yankton 22.40
Phil Wright, SF O’Gorman 22.40
Zak Prpich, RC Stevens 22.40
Taylor Olson, Harrisburg 22.50
Chris Curry, Dell Rapids 22.50
Chad Hofkamp, RC Central 22.50
Kyle Tibke, Dell Rapids 22.60
Brad Tunge, Marion 22.80
Brandon Kovash, Harrisburg 22.80
Brett Anderson, SF Lincoln 22.80
Kelby Tague, SF Washington 22.80
Lucas Thompson, SF Lincoln 22.80
Jack Moran, Tri-Valley 22.80
Sam Wolff, RC Stevens 22.83
Chad Hofkamp, RC Central 23.00
Eric Peterson, Estelline 23.00

400 (state record :47.8, Larry Miller, Free. Academy, 1982)
Brett Anderson, SF Lincoln 49.60
Casey Shade, SF Washington 49.90
Amdau Myers, SF Lincoln 50.40
Matt Green, Dakota Valley 50.70
Trevor Gebhart, SF Washington 50.70
Trevor Gebhart, SF Washington 50.70
Brandon Kovash, Harrisburg 51.00
Lucas Thompson, SF Lincoln 51.10
Adam Johnson, SF Lincoln 51.40
Alex Lugo, SF Roosevelt 51.40
Andy Coy, Hill City 51.50
Chris Curry, Dell Rapids 51.60
Tony Bergstrom, SF Lincoln 51.70
Christian DeCurtins, Gettysburg 51.70
Kyle Tibke, Dell Rapids 51.70
Parker Erickson, Gayville-Volin 51.80
Taylor Hill, RC Central 51.90

800 (state record 1:51.1, Jim Reinhart, S.F. Lincoln, 1973)
Casey Shade, SF Washington 1:55.70
Andy Coy, Hill City 1:57.20
Alex Lugo, SF Roosevelt 1:59.10
Damien Schuster, Sturgis 1:59.60
Alec Espeland, Pierre 2:00.00
Jared Ailts, Yankton 2:00.30
Thomas Kjerengtroen, RC Stevens 2:00.60
Travis Brenner, Yankton 2:00.70
Ben Schultz, Brandon Valley 2:00.70
A.J. Holtz, SF Washington 2:01.30
Jake Arechigo, SF Roosevelt 2:01.50
Scott Strand, SF Washington 2:02.60
Parker Erickson, Gayville-Volin 2:03.20
Tyson Gau, Hanson 2:04.30

1,600 (state record 4:06.30, Jim Reinhart, S.F. Lincoln)
Travis Brenner, Yankton 4:18.40
Josh Heitkamp, SF Washington 4:19.40
Alec Espeland, Pierre 4:21.80
Jared Ailts, Yankton 4:23.90
Alex Muntefering, Parkston 4:27.12
Mitch Yaggie, Yankton 4:30.30
Andy Coy, Hill City 4:31.10
Damien Schuster, Sturgis 4:31.90
Alex Hohenthaner, Yankton 4:32.40
Jeff Grossenburg, Yankton 4:33.10
Billy Brockmueller, Brandon Valley 4:33.30
Nathan Richardson, RC Stevens 4:34.00

3,200 (state record 8:56.30, Erik Grumstrup, R.C. Stevens, 2001)
Josh Heitkamp, SF Washington 9:53.00
Billy Brockmueller, Brandon Valley 9:56.00
Nathan Hauge, Brandon Valley 9:56.20
TJ Gleason, SF Lincoln 10:00.30
Tony Smoragiewiez, RC Central 10:02.30
Alex Muntefering, Ethan-Parkston 10:04.00
Mitch Yaggie, Yankton 10:04.70
Andy Coy, Hill City 10:05.00
Josh Wilson, Aberdeen Central 10:05.30
Riley Coates, RC Stevens 10:06.60
Jens Lillevold, Yankton 10:06.90
Kiko Mendoza, Cheyenne-Eagle Butte 10:08.30
Nathan Richardson, RC Stevens 10:10.50
Matt Horan, SF Roosevelt 10:11.00
Danal Abera, SF O’Gorman 10:12.20
Nathan Hauge, Brandon Valley 10:14.30

110 hurdles (state record :14.04, Matt Tetzlaff, Pierre, 2007)
Matt Tetzlaff, Pierre 14.59
Luke Hauert, Stickney 14.60
Ben Schempp, SF Roosevelt 14.80
Chris Hubbs, Yankton 15.00
Chris Bakke, Brandon 15.10
Caleb Allard, RC Stevens 15.30
Justin Achua, SF Lincoln 15.40
Bradley Farwell, Dakota Valley 15.40
Mike Hanley, RC Stevens 15.43
Skyler Leighton, Madison 15.60
Erik Hill, Tea Area 15.70
Riley Schrank, Corsica 15.70

300 hurdles (state record :37.89, Tom Taylor, S.F. Lincoln, 1988)
Matt Dunbar, Dell Rapids 39.50
Chris Hubbs, Yankton 40.50
Mike Hanley, RC Stevens 40.80
Erik Hill, Tea Area 40.80
Dino Dautahojic, SF Washington 40.80
Hayden Hast, RC Stevens 41.00
Lukas Bernard, Watertown 41.30
Justin Carson, Brookings 41.30
Luke Hauert, Stickney 41.50
Bradley Farwell, Dakota Valley 41.50
Zach Rohlfs, Aberdeen Roncalli 41.60
Tyler DeBriyn, RC Central 41.60
Justin Achua, SF Lincoln 41.70
Andrew Myers, Brookings 41.70
Ryan Huizenga, Hitch-Tulare 41.70
Justin Carson, Brookings 41.80
Michael Oberle, Vermillion 41.90

Shot put (state record 67-4.5, Eric Flores, Custer, 2006)
Chandlor Mikkonen, Douglas 54-6
Cody Snyder, Andes Central 53-7.5
Chase Douglas, Brandon Valley 53-4
Wyatt Hunter, Vermillion 52-9.75
Kyle McKelvey, Beresford 52-7
Ryan Hahn, Pierre 52-2.5
Daniel Whipple, Tri-Valley 51-0
Denton Stephens, RC Stevens 51-0
Devon Russell, Pierre 49-4
Scott Geary, GP Lutheran 49-2.5
Ryan Hahn, Pierre 48-10.5
Pat Rous, Bennett County 47-9.75
Jeff Rieger, Estelline 47-9.5
Matt Engleman, Miller 47-6

Discus (state record 211-4, George Amundson, Aberdeen, 1969)
Cody Snyder, Andes Central 163-5
Darin Smith, Custer 163-1
Scott Geary, GP Lutheran 162-9
Tyler Schultz, Custer 162-1
Tait Johannsen, Wagner 157-11
Pat Rous, Bennett County 156-4
Dylan Wheeler, Harrisburg 153-7
Sam Thorson, Groton 151-10
Chandlor Mikkonen, Douglas 150-1
DJ Toczek, Bennett County 149-3
Jared Schager, SF Roosevelt 147-10
Brock DeVries, Dakota Valley 147-9
Cullen Mack, Watertown 147-8

Long jump (state record 23-8.75, Jared Vlastuin, Lennox, 2008)
Austin King, Tri Valley 22-2.5
Jared Hannigan, Aberdeen Central 22-2
Ochan Furula, SF Lincoln 22-1.5
Brett Anderson, SF Lincoln 21-6
Ethan Johnson, Watertown 21-3.5
Jared Schrempp, Gettysburg 21-2.75
Andre Hern, Douglas 21-2.75
Spenser Arrowsmith, Brandon Valley 21-2.5
Gavin Cordell, Spearfish 21-1.75
Jordan Mueller, Yankton 21-1.25
Dustin Gearman, Lennox 21-1.25
Jarrett Janke, Madison 21-1
Alex Robey, SF O’Gorman 21-0
Ethan Johnson, Watertown 20-11
Jacob Martens, Tri-Valley 20-10
Marty Little, Douglas 20-9.25

Triple jump (state record 47-11.5, Bud Hamilton, Hot Springs, 1991)
Jordan Mueller, Yankton 44-10
Ochan Furula, SF Lincoln 44-9.75
Gavin Cordell, Spearfish 44-4.25
Tad Schuurmans, Bon Homme 43-4.75
Austin King, Tri-Valley 42-10
Jordan Wileson, SF Washington 42-10
Jake Sanderson, Brookings 42-9
Connor Morley, Chamberlain 42-8.25
Darren Niklason, Brandon Valley 42-8
Austin Eichacker, Lennox 42-6
Xavier Glover, Lead-Deadwood 42-5.5
Dustin Gearman, Lennox 42-5
Jon Schneller, Canton 42-4
Marquese Brooks, SF Roosevelt 42-3
Bryan Brown, Brandon Valley 42-2.75
Ben Mitchell, Dell Rapids 41-11
Jordy Peterson, Hitchcock-Tulare 41-8.5
Riley Miesner, RC Central 41-8

High jump (state record 7-2, Scott Benson, R.C. Stevens, 1988, Nick Johannsen, Miller, 1991)
Drew Iddings, RC Stevens 6-9
Jordan Mueller, Yankton 6-7
Zane Abrahamson, Lyman 6-5
Dustin Lotzer, Sisseton 6-5
Cameron Krump, Tri-Valley 6-4
Taylor Hill, RC Central 6-3
Zach Bedard, RC Stevens 6-3
Jordan Wielson, SF Washington 6-3
Matt Dykstra, Avon 6-3

Pole vault (state record 16-1, Andy Henrichsen, R.C. Stevens, 1995)
Tim Rotert, Huron 13-3
Danny Mayer, Pierre 13-0
Ben Larson, Spearfish 12-9
Ryan Schafer, Brookings 12-9
Drew Danforth, Watertown 12-3
Jason Duprel, Sturgis 12-3
Garrett Sletten, RC Central 12-3
Bradley Farwell, Dakota Valley 12-3
Seven tied at 12-0

OVERALL GIRLS
100 (state record :11.58, Jasmyne King, R.C. Central, 2008)
Jasmyne King, RC Central 12.00
Gina Fritz, Colman-Egan 12.10
Carly Carper, Oldham-Ramona-Rutland 12.10
Christy Schultz, RC Christian 12.11
Megan Bren, SF Roosevelt 12.40
Kari Heck, SF Washington 12.50
Chanesse Schaefer, Faulkton 12.60
Karissa Prpich, RC Stevens 12.60
Alyssa Frantz, Dell Rapids 12.80
Abby Albers, Spearfish 12.93

200 (state record :24.23, Jasmyne King, R.C Central, 2008)
Jasmyne King, RC Central 25.10
Carly Carper, Oldham-Ramon-Rutland 25.70
Bethany Gross, Hanson 25.70
Gina Fritz, Colman-Egan 25.80
Christy Schultz, RC Christian 25.80
Ashley Odegaard, Brookings 26.00
Megan Bren, SF Roosevelt 26.10
Karmen Nyberg, SF Lincoln 26.10
Chrissy Strasburg, Elk Point-Jefferson 26.30
Darian Thompson, Spearfish 26.40
Melissa Turner, RC Central 26.50
Karissa Prpich, RC Stevens 26.59
Breezy Bolden, Custer 26.60
Karui Heck, SF Washington 26.60
Sami Galliger, West Central 26.60
Nevada Sorenson, SF Lincoln 26.60
Ashley Gruenwald, Clark-Willow Lake 26.60
Alyssa Frantz, Dell Rapids 26.80
Anne Parsley, Flandreau 26.80
Jessica McDonald, Hill City 27.40
Madison Whitley, RC Central 27.70
Makenzie Hageman, Waverly-South Shore 27.70
Kendra Knight, Mitchell 27.94

400 (state record :55.20, Jasmyne King, R.C. Central, 2008)
Jasmyne King, RC Central 57.40
Darian Thompson, Spearfish 58.50
Kari Heck, SF Washington 58.60
Anne Parsley, Flandreau 59.20
Hope Stapleton, Sisseton 59.50
Jessica McDonald, Hill City 59.59
Chrissy Strasburg, Elk Point-Jefferson 59.60
Kendra Knight, Mitchell 59.60
Bethany Gross, Hanson 60.00
Ashley Gruenwald, Clark-Willow Lake 60.10
Jordyn Houseman, SF Washington 60.20
Anna Hyronimus, Brandon Valley 60.50
Gina Fritz, Colman-Egan 60.50

800 (state record 2:07.9, Kay Stormo, Watertown, 1978)
Chandler Nielsen, SF O’Gorman 2:21.70
Sami Smith, SF Washington 2:22.30
Krista Creager, Yankton 2:22.90
Rachel Wienandt, Yankton 2:24.10
Madeleine Takahashi, Sturgis 2:24.40
Megan Hilson, Yankton 2:24.60
Mariah Hofer, Yankton 2:25.30
Christina Scheler, Douglas 2:25.30
Haley Kruger, Brandon Valley 2:25.30
Tia Hemiller, Watertown 2:26.50
Jessica Brandli, RC Stevens 2:26.80
Kasey Presler, Brandon Valley 2:27.50
Molly Kokesh, Scotland 2:27.60
Jessica McDonald, Hill City 2:27.70
Becca Steadman, Centerville 2:27.70
Bridget Simmons, Pierre 2:28.03
Cady Sea, SF O’Gorman 2:28.10
Paige Nelson, Colman-Egan 2:29.70

1,600 (state record, 4:46.84, Ramsey Kavan, Yankton 2005)
Megan Hilson, Yankton 5:09.20
Mariah Hofer, Yankton 5:10.20
Madeleine Takahashi, Sturgis 5:17.00
Erin Hargens, SF Roosevelt 5:17.20
Annie Pfeifle, RC Stevens 5:23.70
Tera Potts, Sturgis 5:24.90
Alex Hess, SF Roosevelt 5:25.90
Seanna Kautz, SF Roosevelt 5:26.40
Molly Kokesh, Scotland 5:26.40
Brittany Arment, Aberdeen Central 5:28.50

3,200 (state record 10:19.50, Allison Eckert, S.F. Roosevelt, 2006)
Mariah Hofer, Yankton 11:19.50
Seanna Kautz, SF Roosevelt 11:21.20
Madeleine Takahashi, Stugis 11:31.20
Megan Hilson, Yankton 11:37.60
Alex Hess, SF Roosevelt 11:38.40
Erin Hargens, SF Roosevelt 11:39.90
Haley Kruger, Brandon Valley 11:46.60
Tera Potts, Sturgis 11:47.82
Courtney Neubert, Aberdeen Central 11:49.70
Annie Pfeifle, RC Stevens 11:52.10
Arielle Schmidt, Brandon Valley 12:01.20
Lindsey Bohl, Garretson 12:03.90

100 hurdles (state record :14.08, Shannon Hellman, Douglas, 2004)
Nevada Sorenson, SF Lincoln 14.30
Anna Gagliano, RC Central 14.80
Steph Bachman, Brandon Valley 14.90
Adrienne Waldner, Sioux Valley 15.20
Sierra Schepper, RC Stevens 15.30
Brigitte Gross, Hanson 15.30
Alexa Berg, Pierre 15.41
Erin Duffy, STM 15.57
Jessica Koupal, Wagner 15.80
Conner Anderson, Rosholt 15.90
Christa Koller, DeSmet 15.90
Tricia Watson, Watertown 15.90

300 hurdles (state record :42.5, Anne Vollmer, R.C. Central, 1993)
Nevada Sorenson, SF Lincoln 45.60
Jacqee Jasinski, RC Central 46.60
Erin Duffy, STM 47.20
Brigitte Gross, Hanson 47.90
Kelli Norrid, Winner 48.00
Conner Anderson, Rosholt 48.50
Steph Bachman, Brandon Valley 48.60
Jill Schaefer, Chester 48.70
Lauren Hill, Tea Area 48.70
BreeAna Olson, Oldham-Ramona-Rutland 49.00
Charelle Moore, SF Washington 49.20
Sierra Schepper, RC Stevens 49.20
Tricia Watson, Watertown 49.40
Molly Ervin, SF Washington 49.80

Shot put (state record 48-1.5, Kris Schaffer, Custer, 2006)
Shelby Assmus, Stickney 40-11
Kelly Herrmann, RC Stevens 39-11.5
Caitlin Way, Watertown 39-9
Stacie Wiesler, Yankton 38-8
Heather Spier, Kimball 38-3.25
Marissa Whipple, Baltic 38-2
Madison McLaughlin, Wall 37-11.5
Breanna Janovy, Sturgis 37-8.5

Discus (state record 163-2, Karen McDonald, Pierre, 1980)
Madison McLaughlin, Wall 131-11
Shelby Assmus, Stickney 129-9
Caitlin Way, Watertown 129-8
Kae Jacnuschka, SF O’Gorman 124-6
Marissa Whipple, Baltic 118-4
Christine Broders, Yankton 117-10

Long jump (state record 18-10.75, Jasmyne King, R.C. Central, 2008)
Bethany Gross, Hanson 18-0.25
Jasmyne King, RC Central 18-0
Abbey Vandenberg, SF O’Gorman 17-6.5
Ashley Odegaard, Brookings 17-4.25
Abby Albers, Spearfish 17-2
Meghan Lambert, SF Lincoln 17-1
Cassie Shaffer, Yankton 17-0.25
Carly Carper, O-R-R 16-11
April King, Tri-Valley 16-7
Marie Malloy, Parkston 16-7
Christy Schultz, RC Christian 16-6.25
Amy O’Neill, Bennett County 16-4

Triple jump (state record 38-10.75, Alicia Heiser, Aberdeen Central, 1999)
Meghan Lambert, SF Lincoln 36-6.75
Allie Lahren, SF Lincoln 35-11.25
Mary Wirth, SF Lincoln 34-11.5
Amy O’Neill, Bennett County 34-11.5
Tess Johnson, Clark-Willow Lake 34-8.5
Carley Chambers, SF Lincoln 34-8
Mackenzie Mears, Milbank 34-7
Danielle Baker, South Central 34-6
Hilary Gorder, Estelline 34-5.5
Cassie Schuurmans, Bon Homme 34-5
Caitlin Duffy, STM 34-4.5
Adrienne Waldner, Sioux Valley 34-3
Tessa Dee, Mitchell 34-2.25
Mary Wirth, SF Lincoln 34-2
Jerra Olson, Deuel 34-2

High jump (state record 5-10.5, Joan Brockhaus, Rosholt, 1977)
Sam Ostarello, Stanley County 5-7
Mary Werth, SF Lincoln 5-5
April Winne, Scotland 5-5
Adrienne Waldner, Sioux Valley 5-4
Ariel Glissendorf, White Lake 5-3
Emily Anderson, Yankton 5-3
Caitlin Templeton, RC Central 5-2
Ashley Wagner, West Central 5-2
Leandra Schlecht, GP Lutheran 5-1
Destinni Girton, Platte-Geddes 5-1
April Winne, Scotland 5-0
McKenzie Keffeler, Sturgis 5-0
Abby Winkels, Watertown 5-0
Courtney Carmichael, RC Central 5-0
Courtney Higgins, Brookings 5-0
McKenzie Keffeler, Sturgis 5-0
Lacey Lehmann, RC Central 5-0
Stephanie Uher, Mitchell 5-0

Pole vault (state record 13-3, Leslie Brost, Watertown, 2008)
Brittany Stangl, Watertown 11-6
Hollie Bloom, RC Central 11-0
Alli Arampatzis, Aberdeen Central 11-0
Brigitte Gross, Hanson 11-0
Brittany Stangl, Watertown 10-6
Abbie Hohman, SF Lincoln 10-0
Jordan Lillie, Yankton 10-0
Cassie Shafer, Yankton 10-0
Adrianne Skagge, Aberdeen Central 10-0
Emily VanLaecken, Watertown 10-0

Oh no. Not again.
Just when you thought the NFL off-season couldn’t get any longer, or loonier, comes this:
Could Brett Favre, who insists that he’s really (no, really!) retired this time, wind up under center in a purple uniform?
That is indeed the speculation on the NFL Network. One report has the hapless Vikes already making a phone call to Favre, only hours after the Jets released him from their retired-reserve roster.
Hopefully, the only thing said was something along the lines of congratulations on a great career, or have fun mowing your lawn, or something like that.
Brett was obviously gassed the second half of last season with New York. He knew it, and the rest of the league knew it.
Apparently, the Vikings missed that day at school, but with their dismal track record with assessing quarterback talent, this shouldn’t come as a total shock.
The only move Favre should make is to re-sign with Green Bay, and that only for the purpose of being placed on their retired-reserve list so he can enter the Hall of Fame as a Packer five years hence.

PLEASE have a happy retirement, Brett, and, with all due respect to one of the greatest quarterbacks ever to play the game, it’ll only be a happy retirement if you stay that way.

Jim Holland

Perhaps the biggest NHL series in recent memory is set to faceoff this week with Pittsburgh and Washington go at it in the Eastern Conference semifinals.

It is not so much about the two teams or who wins. The key for the NHL — a pro sports league that has lost its footing amoung the sports viewing public — is for Pittsburgh’s Sydney Crosby and Washington’s Alexander Olvechkin to put on a show.

This is the NHL’s chance for Bird vs. Magic; Peyton vs. Tom; Boston vs. Yankees. The league is crying out for someone or some team to make it mean something again.

Here’s to hoping a couple 20-somethings can do it.

Jeff

Admittedly, I’m not a fan of Big 12 football, but right now I’m a huge fan of Texas Tech head coach Mike Leach and Texas A&M’s Mike Sherman.

The two are engaged in a war of words that would make any WWE Superstar proud.

In the college football version of he said, she said (you figure out which one is which), Sherman was less than thrilled with some comments made by Leach about former A&M signal-caller Stephen McGee, who was drafted in the fourth round by the Dallas Cowboys.

“I’m happy for Stephen McGee,” Leach said in a story on ESPN.com. “The Dallas Cowboys like him more than his coaches at A&M did.”

Well as you can imagine that did not sit well with Sherman.

“I don’t understand Coach Leach’s comments about Stephen McGee,” Sherman replied on Monday in the same ESPN.com story. “He was named our starter until he got injured. … Coach Leach is in no position to comment about my relationship with Stephen McGee.”

Even McGee got in the act.

“I don’t know where that comment came from or who it was directed at,” McGee added. “But I am shocked because my time at A&M was very special to me. Obviously, I got injured, and many people think that Coach Sherman benched me. That’s just not true.”

Of course, Leach has his undies in a bunch because star wide receiver Michael Crabtree, who many believe was the best player in the draft, fell to No. 10 in the draft (was it the poor attitude Crabtree was rumored to be showcasing during numerous visits with NFL teams) and QB Graham Harrell wasn’t even drafted.

Even if this skirmish is over, it should still make for an interesting Saturday when the two teams are scheduled to play on Oct. 24 in Lubbock.

Andrew

In our office, scores and stats fly though the air with regularity, especially this time of year, when even the NFL can find a way to take 15 hours of our time.

But one statistic made three of us pause last night: 121-63.

Yes, some of you may recognize that as the 58-point pasting of the New Orleans Hornets last night by the No. 2 seed Denver Nuggets. It just so happens that the score ties the playoff record for the worst blowout, matching the same deficit from a Minnesota Lakers game in the 1950s.

Reading up on the game, It is astonishing how bad the Hornets were. Chris Paul had only four points, and did not even play in the fourth quarter. Perhaps the most eye-popping part of this is that the loss came with New Orleans already in a 2-1 series deficit and the game was in New Orleans. That’s about as bad as the Detroit fans chanting MVP for LeBron James this week, and the Pistons’ owner sending requests to Cavs season-ticket holders to come watch their team win in Detroit. Wow.

- Russo

Legend has it that the surreal events that seem to take place at Talladega Superspeedway stem from the fact that the place is built on the site of an ancient Native American burial ground.
Add Sunday’s NASCAR Sprint Cup race to the legend, and this one could have ramifications extending far beyond the world of NASCAR.
It was back in 1987 when Bobby Allison’s car, running at well over 200 miles per hour, cut a tire in the tri-oval area of the 2.66 mile track and sailed into the catch fence in front of the grandstands. Several spectators were injured, although none seriously, but the spector of a racecar getting that close to the paying customers prompted changes to racing.
Carburetor restrictor plates were added to slow the cars at Daytona and Talladega. Roof flaps, designed to deploy and quell the lift generated when a car turns tail to the wind, were mandated. Speedway catch fences were reinforced with extra posts and miles of steel cable.
Even at local tracks including Black Hills Speedway, insurors demanded higher premiums and forced restrictions of fan access to pit areas because of that incident.
Fast forward to Sunday, when Carl Edwards’ car got airborne in the tri-oval, bounced off Ryan Newman’s car and sailed into the catch fence. All the safety equipment worked. Video shows the roof flaps did their job. It was the impact with Newman’s car that lifted Edward’s Ford into the fence, which absorbed the impact of a 3,700-pound car moving in excess of 180 miles per hour.
Edwards climbed out uninjured and even ran to the start-finish line to symbolically finish the race. There were at least seven spectator injuries, none apparently worse than a broken jaw.
Brad Keselowski, a rookie in just his fifth Sprint Cup start, won the race.
Will this incident have a ripple effect throughout motorsports? Time will tell.

–Jim Holland–

17. Tampa Bay, QB Josh Freeman: Not a fan of Freeman. Was told all week he was headed to Denver. Apparently has all the tools, but, in my opinion, will struggle with the Buccaneers.

18. Denver, DE Robert Ayers: I thought this would be their pick at No. 12. Broncos definitely needed defensive help. Ayers can also play OLB and should be an immediate contributor on one of the league’s worst defenses.

19. Philadelphia, WR Jeremy Maclin: I’m not sold on Maclin, since he played week in and week out against terrible Big 12 defenses.

20. Detroit, TE Brandon Pettigrew: Should provide a security blanket for new QB Matthew Stafford.

21. Cleveland, OL Alex Mack: Very athletic lineman who should team with last year’s top pick, Joe Thomas, to form a formidable front wall.

22. Minnesota, WR Percy Harvin: I thought this was a good pick for the Professor and the Vikings. A speedster known to be hurt or take plays off in college. If coaching staff can motivate him, he could be the steal of the draft.

23. Baltimore, OT Michael Oher: Had a down year with Rebels but is a character guy who could be around for 12-15 years in Baltimore. Overcame a rocky childhood to blossom into NFL player.

24. Atlanta, DT Peria Jerry: Could provided much-needed pass rush help for Falcons. Was a bit of an injury risk.

25. Miami, DB Vontae Davis: Brother of 49ers TE Vernon Davis. Enough said.

26. Green Bay, LB Clay Matthews: Great pick by the Packers. Should team with Barnett to form one of the best linebacking corps in the NFL.

27. Indianapolis, RB Donald Brown: Smaller RB that could be a great third-down back for the Colts.

28. Buffalo, OL Eric Wood: Known as a tough guy, Wood has a good work ethic and should help Bills.

29. New York Giants, WR Hakeem Nicks: Had breakout final year at UNC. Giants were obviously looking for replacement for Plaxico Burress and I think they found it with this pick.

30. Tennessee, WR Kenny Britt: Nice pick for Titans, should be an asset for whoever is throwing him the ball.

31. Arizona, RB Chris Wells: Great pick by Cardinals. Wells should immediately boost league’s worst rushing offense.

32. Pittsburgh, DT Evander Hood: Played on a Big 12 defense. Is he really first-round material? Steelers bailed on this pick.

Andrew

Here’s a quick thought on the first two rounds of the draft.

1. Detroit — Took Matthew Stafford and gave him a lot of money. Don’t see him ever living up to it and might get pounded into submission early on.

2. St. Louis — Building the offensive line seems like the right move with Jason Smith. Ohio LB James Laurinaitis has to overcome a tradition of Buckeye LBs producing next to nothing at the next level.

3.  Kansas City — Was Bill Belichick the brains of the New England draft? Seems awful high for Tyson Jackson.

4. Seattle — Perhaps the best player in the draft in Aaron Curry. Addressed offense in free agency, defense gets the boost now.

5. Jets — Traded up for Sanchez. A move they had to make because Kellan Clemens is not the answer. Side note — Got Shonn Greene from IOWA in the third round my early pick for ROY.

6. Bengals — Fitting the biggest head case franchise in the NFL takes Andre Smith.

7. Raiders — Al Davis. ‘Nuf said.

8. Jacksonville — Building the offensive line up. Maurice Jones-Drew says thanks.

9. Packers — Raji will be asked to help struggling D. I think Clay Matthews was a bit of a stretch and wonder what that pick says about A.J. Hawk … hello Buckeye

10. San Francisco — Biggest get in the draft. 49ers get best player at 10 in Crabtree

11. Bills - Maybin seems like he may be a bust. Not a big fan of Penn State DEs. Hello Courtney Brown

12. Broncos — The team that could turn any running back into a pro bowler went running back with first pick. Honestly, does Moreno and Ayers equal Cutler?

13. Redskins — Orakpo was a beast in college but we will see if he can have that same kind of impact against teams that actually run the ball.

14. Saints — Saints need defense. They got defense with Malcolm Jenkins.

15. Texans — Brian Cushing looks like a beast to me. Texas are building.

16. Chargers — Wasted pick here.

Jeff

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We are less than 10 minutes away from the start of the NFL Draft and since the Detroit Lions and Matthew Staffford have taken all of the guess work out of the first pick, I think the more relevant question is how long Detroit stays on the clock before turning in the pick. I say at least five minutes. What do you think? Do you like this new trend of signing a draft pick before the actual draft?

Andrew