With Tarik Glenn expected to announce his (early) retirement shortly, the Colts outlook for the season just acquired another shadow. And somewhere near Boston, "the sweatshirt" just got a little less surly.

First, they lose a half dozen key defensive contributors from the playoff awakening defense of last year. They lose their key slot receiver Brandon Stokley. They lose their starting running back Dominic Rhodes (in fairness, he was always viewed as the back-up back - even though he started). And now Glenn. Peyton's key protector, the guy who is charged with preventing blind-side bulldozing of the Colts messiah; a ten-year veteran at a position that takes at least two years to get in-synch with your teammates - and one of the best in the league at this most difficult position (left O.T.).

Speaking on behalf of Indy fans everywhere -

Uh oh.

I'm a corporate type guy. A business suit wearing, profit maximizing, jargon speaking, "who moved your cheese" type of guy. Here's what I'd do to fix NASCAR:

1. Tweak the dress code. The gaily coloured driver and crew jumpsuits don't cut it. Copy what works for big business in America. Let Brooks Brothers, Armani, or Ermenegildo Zegna come up with a crisply tailored two or three-button flame retardant suit (could put tasteful advertisements on the ties). Maybe declare a race or two to be "casual Friday" type affairs, although I'm personally not too keen on that.
2. Lay-off all of the pit crew except one guy (or gal!). Gross inefficiency here. This fix will save each team at least half a million dollars per year, and make each pit stop way more interesting than they are now.
3. Conduct a driver-satisfaction survey on an annual basis. These guys seem to be pretty unhappy about stuff. Survey them to find out what they like and dislike and then act on it (e.g. do they want a microwave in the lunchroom?, are same-sex marriage benefits important to them?, etc.).
4. Lose "NASCAR" as the brand name. It's old and tired and no longer tests well. I suggest "Amoreg" plus a smiling panda as the logo. Both tested well with wealthy males AND females in the critical 49 to 53 year old Chinese and Hispanic market groupings.

Next: conducting more productive driver meetings; and, hot dogs vs. Hot Pockets - taste or profits?

I figured there'd be some comments in here by now regarding the Copa final.  Then I remembered; the most active writers in here over the past month or so likely didn't enjoy the final.  As in it wasn't close, not barely debatable, NO QUESTION who the champion should be.

You can still enjoy the "Argentina vs. Mexico, Argentina vs. USA" type posts.  Argentina clearly outclassed those two teams (still, like our chances with about 18 more months of seasoning of our top players ...).  But Brasil wallops Argentina in the Copa Final - with Argentina as motivated as ever vs. a somewhat depleted Brasil ...

Maybe next time, yes? No?  ... cat got your tongue?

 

I need my weekly fix, ... I'm getting dopesick.  You can't do this to us - hook us and then string us along like this ...

As expected:

Indianapolis, IN (Sports Network) - The United States Grand Prix will not be part of the 2008 Formula One schedule.

Indianapolis Motor Speedway CEO Tony George and Formula One Management CEO Bernie Ecclestone could not reach an agreement on a contract extension, ending the circuit's eight-year run at the famous track.

"After several discussions, Bernie Ecclestone and I were unable to agree how to keep Formula One in Indianapolis for the near term," said George in a statement Thursday. "However, we have agreed to leave the door open for a potential future date.

"It has been a pleasure having the United States Grand Prix at Indianapolis, and I hope that as we approach our Centennial Era at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, an opportunity might present itself that would allow its return."

The U.S. Grand Prix was the only Formula One event in the United States.

I'm sorry to see the USGP leaving Indy. F1 racing is a truly different phenomenon, and I very much enjoy both the speed and spectacle of this form of racing. As it stands, there likely won't be a USGP next year - although it is possible at this moment it could take place elsewhere in the U.S. - a replacement race has not yet been specified.

We DO have our pride here. There were only so many times Bernie could kick us in the teeth and have us come back with a "thank-you sir, may I have another". So with the sorry goes a measure of pride and relief that this little billionaire storm trooper is off our radar screen. It's a very expensive sort of pride and relief, so we better enjoy it.

As mentioned in an earlier blog, we in Indy will very much miss the great fans who visited our city during F1 race week - it was an incredibly electric atmosphere downtown in the three or four days leading up to the race. The race enriched our coffers and our cultural awareness. We hope it will return, preferably after Bernie has succumbed to a (mysterious) shaving accident. or some such misfortune (God forbid ... deese tengs happen, whudduyagonnado?).