Smoke still holds a candle for Indy.

One of the great days of racing is this Sunday, with the Monaco Grand Prix, The Indianapolis 500, and the Coke 600 all taking place on Sunday. The one driver to finish in the top ten at Indy and Charlotte on the same day is Tony Stewart. Naturally, Smoke still pines for the day to run at Indy on Memorial Day.

How much of a physical demand is running the 1,100 miles? “The first year we were so worried about dehydration that I drank and I drank and I drank and I drank. I just never ate enough solid, nutritious food the night before. And the day of the race, I wasn’t hungry because I was drinking so much to try to ensure that I was being hydrated. I got my body so out of whack that, by the time the 600 was done in Charlotte, I’d had enough. I was hungry 50 laps into the race. It’s a 400-lap race in the 600, so 50 laps into it, it was still daylight. It was early in the race and there wasn’t a drive-thru in sight. It made for a long day. We actually tried to get one of Bobby Labonte’s PowerBars – try to get something in me to tide me over until the race was over. It didn’t work. I got two bites of it and two bites did not make it the next 350 laps around Charlotte. It was a good learning experience. I think we finished ninth and fourth that year in the two races. It was a good learning year. We got our feet wet and raised a lot of money for charity that first year. Then we did it two years later with Ganassi at Indy and Gibbs in Charlotte. We had a nutritionist who was with us the entire month of May, so I was in a lot better shape. The first year, my girlfriend drove me home and I was sick the whole ride. The second time around, I drove her home and she slept. So, I was in a lot better shape the second time.” Stewart said recently.

Smoke added “We’re still the only guy who’s completed all 1,100 miles of the double duty, which is something I’m really proud of. I think the best two finishes we had was sixth in the 500 and third in the 600. It makes for a very, very long day. When you’re done with the 600, after running Indy and the flight and helicopter rides and police escorts and all that during the day, you’re very, very content to lay your head on a pillow. And even when you do that, it still feels like it’s not stopped moving, yet.”

So, does he still dream of running open wheel at Indy? “In my heart? Absolutely. I would love to do it. The problem with it is that Indy cars have become so competitive now. There are so many things that have changed since I ran Indy cars so many years ago, I’m not sure I would be up to speed and be able to get competitive enough, quickly enough. I have all the confidence in the world the cars I would drive would be competitive. But to really do it and do it right, and to feel like you have a legitimate shot to win the Indy 500, you would have to start at the beginning of the year with the team you’re going to race with during the month of May.”

The reporting of Tom Brady's comments show how absurd the off-season is.

New England Patriots fans don't get much from the players or coaches in regards to real tidbits for what they think. It's all part of The Patriot Way. Team first, stay on script, follow along with the corporate plan, and say nothing to be construed as "bulletin board material". No one is better than this than Tom Brady. (digression: maybe Belichick) Brady understands fully where his place is in the game, both currently and historically. He also understands how the Boston media is, and how every word will be over analyzed on sports radio. That's exactly what happened today.

This morning, TB12 appeared on WEEI's Dennis and Callahan show, where he was asked the inevitable Wes Welker question. We was asked about any quid pro quo when it came to his contract restructuring, and how, if at all, it affected the Welker situation. “Those aren’t my demands. I want us to field as competitive a team as we possibly can. And I have all the trust in the world that Mr. [Robert] Kraft and Jonathan [Kraft] and coach [Bill] Belichick will do that. There’s nothing about me, I don’t say that, I’m not general manager, I can’t say, ‘Look, I do this, you do this.’" Brady said. He also stated “Of course I have feelings. But those feelings are very personal to me,” he said. “I used to get caught up in anger and frustration and disappointment. But I don’t make the decisions. These things aren’t up to me. At some point you’ve got to realize the things that are out of your control. You’ve just got to let go and focus on my job and what I need to do. Because the game moves on, the team moves on. There’s only so long you can dwell on the past. At some point you’ve got to move forward."

The post interview analysis focus on Brady's tone and his pauses as he thought about his answers. Whether his voice, pitch and cadence changed. Groan. It just goes to show you how ridiculous the off-season is. Of course the guy is upset his binky and best buddy is now catching passes from Peyton Manning. Of course he's disappointed. How is this possibly newsworthy? It's simply because the sports reporting is at saturation point, and the talking heads have nothing else to talk about. 

FVP Wednesday Night All-Star: Angelus

Haven't had a tattooed hottie for sometime, figured you guys were overdue. Here's Canadian gal Angelus, who's into anime and ice cream. Who doesn't like Ice Cream, right? Go follow her on facebook.

Dick Trickle passes away at 71.

NASCAR lost a legend today, as Dick Trickle passed away, from a reported self inflicted gunshot. He was 71 years young. In a statement released by NASCAR, Brian France said "Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family and friends of Dick Trickle on his passing today. Dick was a legend in the short-track racing community, particularly in his home state of Wisconsin, and he was a true fan favorite. Personalities like Dick Trickle helped shape our sport. He will be missed."

In a 24 year career in NASCAR, Trickle made 303 starts in the top series, then known as Winston Cup. He has 15 top five finishes, 36 top tens, and 184 laps led. He did have a pair of Nationwide series wins.

Boston Bruins game 7 OT vs Toronto win a game for the ages

Wait…what?!?

The Boston Bruins have caused cardiac problems all over the Northeast with a thrilling, impossible-dream, never-say-die win in OT in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference quarterfinals against the Toronto Maple Leafs. The B’s were down 4-1 at 9:18 of the third when Nathan Horton started CPR on the Black-and-Gold. Tuukka Rask heads for the bench with 2 minutes remaining. With just over a minute-20 left, Milan Lucic potted another to make it 4-3. Maybe… You could sense the momentum-which had been all Leafs since Game 5-shifting. The B’s best all-around player Patrice Bergeron sent the Garden crowd into delirium with 51 seconds left with a 40-foot slapper to tie it. Insanity.

To OT…the ice is tilted toward hard-luck Leaf goalie James Reimer. Who else but Bergie ends it 6:05 into free hockey.

After the Bruins lackluster play and lack of offense in the last two games, they had pretty much been given up for dead. Frankly, the Bin stuck a fork in them Sunday night.

Game 7 will go down in the annals of hockey history as “The Comeback for the Ages.”

Speechless.

Heart. Fight. Intensity. “Do you believe in miracles? Yes!”

Just when you think Boston is down-and-out…not so fast.  Win it for Martin Richard, Krystle Campbell, Lü Lingzi, and Shawn Collier. Boston Strong.

FVP Monday Night All-Star: Danielle

Taking a break from our Vegas girls tonight. We head over to Houston to meet Danielle, Internationally published glamour model, mom, vocalist, business woman, and aspiring author. Go follow her on facebook.

JD Gibbs assesses Denny Hamlin's chances of making The Chase

Denny Hamlin missed four races after his wreck and resultant back injury. Season over right? No chance at making The Chase, right? Well, hold up.

Denny Hamlin brought home the #11 Fed Ex Toyota Camry to an outstanding second place finish Saturday night. The win moved Hamlin to a respectable 26th in points, with the meat of the summer schedule ahead of him.

Post race, JD Gibbs was asked about Hamlin's Chase chances. "When he came over to congratulate Matt after the race was over, I asked him how he was feeling. He said, I'm sore because, man, I've wanted this for a long time. He's passionate about it. I think when you're not in the sport, you haven't been driving for a while, it reignites that passion. He's kind of back in that mode. He felt a little bit of pain, but it wasn't nearly what he thought it might be. I think he's excited to be back in that role." Gibbs said. He added, on the Chase, "I don't know. Going to have to win some races, get top 20s. I told Matt, Why didn't you let Denny win? Matt is like, I ain't going to let him win. I think he's got pretty good chances, but it's hard to predict that stuff."