Scandals Rock NASCAR, Tim Hardaway Speaks Out About Gays

So much going on, and all I can do right now is try and keep my head from exploding!  I have a brutal case of bronchitis, I'm wheezing more than the engine in Michael Waltrip's back up #55 car, and if I cough one more time, my head will roll right off my shoulders - but that would be a relief considering how much it hurts right now!

Okay, enough whining for me, let's touch on these two stories:

Fifth NASCAR Crew Chief Thrown Out

Sounding more and more like a soap opera as it gets closer to the Daytona 500, today's installment of "As The Engine Revs" finds Michael Waltrip's crew chief David Hyder and team director Bobby Kennedy were indefinitely suspended after an unknown substance was found in the manifold of the #55 car.  Hyder was fined $100,000, Waltrip's car was torn apart and he was docked 100 points before the season even opens on Sunday.  IF he can get a backup car that can clear inspection, he'll be able to participate in the Gatorade Duels this afternoon.

Four other teams have been brought down by various allegations of cheating  - Matt Kenseth, Kasey Kahne, Scott Riggs and Elliott Sadler all h ad their crwe chiefs suspended yesterday for illegal alterations to the cars.  All five drivers were docked points in an unprecedented move by NASCAR, which has never taken points before the season started. 

Okay, now, the important question.  Does this points deduction affect my fantasy league?


Hardaway Backtracks and Apologizes

Retired Miami Heat guard Tim Hardaway who said while being interviewed for a radio talk show Wednesday that he hates gay people, has apologized for his remarks.

"You know, I hate gay people, so I let it be known. I don't like gay people and I don't like to be around gay people," Hardaway said while being interviewed on Sports Talk 790 The Ticket in Miami. "I'm homophobic. I don't like it. It shouldn't be in the world or in the United States."

Hardaway was asked how he would interact with a gay teammate, after John Amaechi had recently revealed he was gay.

"First of all, I wouldn't want him on my team. And second of all, if he was on my team, I would, you know, really distance myself from him because, uh, I don't think that is right. I don't think he should be in the locker room while we are in the locker room."

If he did find out that a teammate was gay, Hardaway said he would ask for the player to be removed from the team.

"Something has to give," Hardaway said. "If you have 12 other ballplayers in your locker room that's upset and can't concentrate and always worried about him in the locker room or on the court or whatever, it's going to be hard for your teammates to win and accept him as a teammate."

Hardaway has since apologized for the remarks during a telephone interview with Fox affiliate WSVN in Miami.

"Yes, I regret it. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said I hate gay people or anything like that," he said. "That was my mistake."

The NBA has decided to remove Hardaway from any further league-related appearances.  "It is inappropriate for him to be representing us given the disparity between his views and ours," NBA commissioner David Stern said in a statement to the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. 

That's enough for now, I'm going to eat some soup and open up the Vicks VapoRub!