Tom Reck
Special to the Tribune-Star
TERRE HAUTE —
Nobody asked me, but:
• It’s a relief to have the Lebron James Wait and Spectacular behind us. Whew. We can all live our normal lives again.
A note in The Indianapolis Star pretty well summed up the thoughts of lots of folks: I hope the Cleveland Cavaliers win an NBA championship before Lebron James wins one or something to that effect.
• Another All-Star Game will be played tonight in Major League Baseball. Will the National League actually win one of these games again and gain home-field advantage for the World Series?
Some of us fans actually can remember when the NL dominated the action just as the AL has done in recent seasons.
Our All-Star pick for the champs come October: Texas in the AL and Los Angeles in the NL.
• Tiger Woods is in the field for the British Open this week. In spite of his recent play, some fans and golf gurus think he can win another title in the event.
In the meantime, Chad Collins had three great rounds in The John Deere Classic and earned more than $36,000 for his efforts.
• There is no NASCAR Sprint Cup action this week. Next up is the Brickyard 400 in Indy on July 25.
In case you had not heard, general admission tickets at $40 will be sold for the NASCAR race for the first time. That’s not a bad price to see a big race at Indy.
IndyCar Series racing is slated this week in Toronto and next week at Chicagoland Speedway. Will Power is the driver to beat right now for the championship but a lot can happen in the next eight races.
I I I
n Top teams — ESPN The Magazine recently released its rankings of all pro sports franchises in the country.
Some of the rankings were not surprising. Some were.
Not surprisingly, the New Orleans Saints was first followed, in order, by the Los Angeles Angels, Indianapolis Colts, and Pittsburgh Penguins with the second 10 consisting of Tampa Bay Rays, San Antonio Spurs, Detroit Red Wings, Green Bay Packers and Cleveland Cavaliers.
Not sure the Cavaliers will be No. 10 next year.
Some other rankings: Chicago Blackhawks 16, St. Louis Cardinals 22, Cincinnati Reds 43, New England Patriots 46, LA Lakers 51, New York Yankees 62, Chicago White Sox 73, Boston Red Sox 74, Pittsburgh Pirates 82, Chicago Bears 86, Indiana Pacers 98, Chicago Cubs 100, St. Louis Rams 114, and LA Clippers 122 (last).
Rankings were based on financial analysis, team research and fan surveys.
• Tom-Cattin’ It — Western Indiana Conference football teams again will have a day in the Lucas Oil Dome in Indy with final regular-season games to be played in the facility on Oct. 16.
We also understand the West Vigo-South Vermillion game may be played at Memorial Stadium.
• Boosters of Martinsville High School softball in Illinois are trying to raise enough funds to keep their sport alive at the school.
Officials announced the sport would be dropped due to state budget constraints. One reason given is that the school had more girls sports than boys sports.
Boosters are hoping to raise about $10,000 to get the sport back on the schedule. Softball coach Amy Daugherty, baseball coach Bill Downey and players are working to get the job done.
Players and parents sold bottled water at the Martinsville Ag Fair last week.
Tom Reck may be contacted by telephone at (812) 232-3231, by email at tm_reck@yahoo.com or by mail at 4284 S. Fifth St., Apt. 3, Terre Haute, IN 47802.
