Weekend Tube Review: Daytona 500 > All-Star Game

By Brian Powell
There’s nothing like playing a game of pick-up basketball in front of a huge crowd that has the emotion of someone in a coma, but I guess that’s what all-star games have turned into today.
[img=http://i.tsn.com/i/photos/20080218/86784.jpg]
Sure there were moments of excitement, but the crowd seemed spoiled after the dunk contest the night before. Marv Albert was just trying and trying to show some excitement, but when your partners are Doug Collins and Reggie Miller, well, even the best of commentators would start to lose it.
The best part of the whole event was by far the anthem, halftime show and intros, which incorporated many elements of New Orleans music and culture. Minus the game itself, it was a pretty great weekend with no problems unlike last year in Las Vegas. They should really consider holding the ASG in the Big Easy every year.
The Daytona 500 on the other hand absolutely blew me away. I’m admittedly not the biggest NASCAR fan in the world, but I can appreciate the skill and effort that go into the sport. There was what seemed like three hours of lead in before the big race (in actuality, it was “only” an hour and 40 minutes), but none of it seemed like overkill to me. FOX went through the history of the 500, and anytime there’s a flyover for an event, it’s going to get me excited (apparently every NASCAR race has a flyover ... great idea).
The race itself didn’t disappoint the way the NBA All-Star Game did as Ryan Newman took the lead on the final lap and fought off about 20 different drivers to take the win.
Add to this Kelly Pavlik’s second defeat of Jermain Taylor and Duke being upset late Sunday Night (their entire starting line-up fouled out, as well), and it was a heck of a weekend.
Quote of the Weekend:
“I’ve never used the word ‘titty’ on the Basketball court.”- Charles Barkley in reference to Reggie Miller calling a wide open three a “titty.”
Video of the Weekend:
Courtesy of Bugs & Cranks, video of the Phillies extremely well executed prank on second-year pitcher Kyle Kendrick:

↵