Thursday

I had intended to get this written this AM, but it was a late start today and work got in the way.  While we had a brief period of snow before lunch, it amounted to not much and the streets are clear for the evening commute.  2 and I need cooperation from the weatherman for our visit to Harvest Path tomorrow afternoon.

Here's the artist's rendering of the ND Stadium expansion plan that was announced yesterday...at the Board of Trustees meeting...in Rome!  Why wouldn't you make a major announcement affecting ND football in Rome?

Why butting up to three sides of the stadium, you ask?  This will shock you, but I'm betting that the number one reason is M-O-N-E-Y!!  Let's say that the university needs more classroom/research/facilities for legitimate reasons.  Sure, taking a few acres from the parking lots has urban-sprawl negatives.  But really?  While on the other hand, you have several(?) new, state-of-the-art buildings, for academic purposes, of course, that just happen to attach to one of the most valuable pieces of US real estate not located on Park Avenue?  With conveniently-placed luxury suites for ND football?

Naming rights to the buildings?  The conference rooms?  The concourses?  The fund-raising for this deal will be done before a shovel is turned.  And the annual fees for those luxury boxes will pay dividends for decades.

The Phoenix Open is this week at the TPC Scottsdale.  They've run this golf tournament the week of the Super Bowl in recent years.  Its a very popular tournament on the schedule, and they get huge crowds.  Here's a shot of the par 3 16th hole.  They actually have two course at TPC Scottsdale...and for good crowd-friendly viewing reasons, they call this one the Stadium Course.

The boys golf trip has played the Stadium Course before, but not when I have been with the group.  They want around $250 a round for green's fees.  Its not a private course and so anyone can play if they pony-up the dollars.  We paid $175 this year at Grayhawk, which I would argue is just as good of a course.

I know that the Peanut Gallery is also thirsting for NASCAR news.  There was an announcement today about some changes in their championship Chase format.  They're still trying to capture viewers and get their "play-off" (race-off?) races more dramatic.  If Jimmie wasn't winning all the time, they wouldn't be tweaking the system.

Of more interest on the NASCAR scene is the fact that Junior's car still has some 2014 sponsorship available to the right bidder.  I find it interesting that the track's most popular driver is not fully booked for the year...and next year for that matter.  Rick Hendrick is basically saying, "We're OK.  We have a premium brand.  Show me the money...and your name goes on the hood of the 88."  And given Junior's air-time, an ad firm can probably work out the equation that show's it's a cheap date. As a matter of fact, I'm sure that Rick Hendrick has those stats already available for you to review.

Enough for now.  Need to pack for the trip North.  Watch for the Twitter feeds from the road.  And we'll add pics during the weekend.

Thanks for reading.

BCOT