(From Sept 24, 2007) My eyesight has just now returned to normal after watching the Philadelphia Eagles' game this weekend (Sept 23).

I want to know whose bright idea it was to have the Eagles don those baby-blue and bright yellow eye-sores. They should be working on developing non-lethal weapons, like the incapacitating flashlight which emits a light-array designed to cause the target to vomit. I know I felt the urge a few times while trying to watch the Eagles light up the Detroit Lions Sunday.

As disorienting and nauseating as those uniforms were, it could not chase the latest Dale Earnhardt Jr. news from my mind.

I predicted Junior's addition to Hendrick Motorsports back in May (May 17, "Don't mess with the karma") but I never expected it to turn out like this.

It's like the Hatfields and McCoys. It's like Peyton and Eli Manning. What do you do?

Since Junior signed with Hendrick last month; Budweiser changed sponsorships to Kasey Kahne, Mark Martin will drive the No. 8 car for Junior's former team (Dale Earnhardt Inc.), and Kyle Busch switched from Hendrick to Joe Gibbs Racing where he will be driving the M&Ms-sponsored No. 18 car.

The biggest surprises were the unwillingness of DEI to allow Junior to take his famed No. 8 to Hendrick and Hendrick's unwillingness to shuffle sponsorships to allow Budweiser to move with Junior. The other changes were pretty predictable.

Even Junior's switch to No. 88 was rather obvious. You can't expect Junior fans to have to remember another whole number when cheering for the Dale Jr. So to keep it simple, instead of one "8", he just went with two. Don't confuse Junior fans. They have enough to remember as it is; you should see them at a road course when the drivers actually have to turn right sometimes. They look like a deer in a headlight factory.

But the news that came as the biggest surprise was the choice of Junior's sponsor. It was clear it would a Pepsi-sponsored car, but I never expected to see Mountain Dew on Junior's No. 88 car when they unveiled it last week.

Junior as Jeff Gordon's teammate is funny because it is ironic; this is just wrong.

If you haven't guessed by now - after years of reading "Pressbox" - I'm a Mountain Dew addict. If there was an MDA, Mountain Dew Anonymous - no not that group Jerry Lewis holds that telethon for every Labor Day weekend, I'm sure my wife would have forced me into it long ago. I mean, I don't just drink Mountain Dew, I'll go for a Mountain Dew Amp, Code Red, Live Wire, or even an MDX.

If I could find a way to make Mountain Dew an official sponsor of "Pressbox," I would.

But this move by Hendrick and Junior puts me between a rock and another rock. I've been looking for a Mountain Dew race car to place on my desk for years. Kahne has occasionally driven a Mountain Dew-themed car but I have not been able to find a die cast replica to place on my desk.

Now they will be everywhere. It's the bittersweet side of associating with Junior. I'll be able to find Dale Jr. Mountain Dew stuff at the local grocery stores. I won't have to scour the internet looking for merchandise.

But do I buy the car or jacket because I have been looking for one for so long?

But doing so will willingly put money into the enemy's hands. Or do I resist the urge, betraying my addiction to the fruity goodness that is Mountain Dew - the sweet nectar of life?

And how am I supposed to fuel the rivalry between Junior fans and Gordon-nation when they are wearing and waving the symbol of my cherished Mountain Dew?

That's like Peyton Manning standing on the sidelines during the Indianapolis Colts versus New York Giants game hoping his brother does well, but still wanting his team to win. It's a tough line to walk.

To do the dew or not to do the dew, that is the question. Whether it is nobler in the mind to suffer the slings and arrows of Dale Jr. fans, or to make sport of their faults, and by opposing end them?