The Drive:
        ...and the driving—-are Jimmie Johnson’s world. He’s the man, and when he walks into the press room at Martinsville—-it’s like royalty has arrived. I think even the grandfather clock was impressed. He talks about learning to drive the place by following Tony Stewart. He talks about the rhythm of the place. Funny, lots of drivers have followed HIM in the past couple of seasons, and only one—Denny Hamlin—has broken through. But Denny drove the place when he was younger in all kinds of machines. Denny even took yours truly in a fast couple of laps in the pacecar. Scared me half to death, skidding through the corners with tires screaming for mercy the entire time.  But he starts 19th this weekend, Jimmie third. Maybe Juan Pablo or Jeff Gordon can get it done. But it will be all about chasing Jimmie….again.

  The Fairway:
            That Xavier-KState game was the stuff of legend. I haven’t seen a back and forth battle like that since Ali-Frazier. Some of the deep threes the Musketeers made were ridiculous. I was on the phone at the time and I had to keep apologizing and stopping in mid-sentence. I couldn’t believe my eyes. Xavier’s Jordan Crawford was pouring in stuff from everywhere. Pullen was cold-blooded. It was nasty, beautiful stuff. Loved it. Now that’s March Madness.

  The Green:
            Tiger is gearing up for Augusta…practice there..then played a round—-reportedly! with former British Open winner Ben Curtis. Curtis described Tiger as “nervous”.  I don’t need to tell you, if you are “nervous” at Augusta you be better served enjoying the tea at Butler Cabin, then going and sitting under the Eisenhower tree for the rest of the round. That’s not a word I’d ever expect to collide with Tiger Woods—and golf.

The Jar:
            How about a change of latitude? Any takers?