I wouldn't really call this a return, but rather a reopening. I've been away from the blogs for a long, long time. Well, I'm back. At least for the short term.
I'm currently in Junction City, Kansas. For those of you not in the know I've started a new job. I'm a Documentation Specialist with General Dynamics SATCOM Technologies. Or as Robert calls it, I'm building Skynet. I'm more in line with the British stuff, so I liken it to building the Archangel Network. (Props if you get the reference.)
So, what's new in my life? Well, work mostly. I'm working a lot, but I really love this job. The travel possibilities range from the mostly mundane (Kansas, Texas, New Jersey) to the incredibly exciting (Hawai'i, Germany). The pay is better than anything I've ever made. In short, fantastic.
In other things... Formula 1 rolls on. Kimi Raikkonen took the Belgian Grand Prix at the beatiful Spa-Francorchamps circuit, which is the best racing circuit on Earth. Lewis Hamilton, the defending Driver's Champion, and Jenson Button, the current Driver's Championship leader, crashed out on lap one.
Football, of all kinds is about to start. Sorry guys, no Football Future-see this year.
Well, that's about all the update for now. Take it easy.
Monday, August 31, 2009
Friday, May 22, 2009
Grand Prix-view: Monaco
Spectacle. That's what this weekend is all about. Spectacle. Formula 1 powers into the Principality for the Grand Prix of Monaco. Unfortunately, this weekend's activities will take a bit of a back seat to the politics going on. Ferrari and some others are threatening to walk if Max Mosely gets his way. And now Bernie "Fifth Beatle" Ecclestone has told Ferrari that, should they quit, he will sue them for breach of contract.
If you've ever played MarioKart, you're probably familiar with the Delfino Square circuit. This is as close as it gets. The boys with the fast cars roar through city streets, no more than ten feet from some buildings.
Lewis Hamilton finally put together a fairly decent run. He's really good at Monaco. This will be his third race there and he's finished no worse than second in the past.
Nico Rosberg was once again the fastest in practice, but he's yet to translate that to the podium. We think he breaks that streak this week. We're looking for some good runs from Ferrari and McLaren as well, as this tracks plays well for them.
Projected Podium:
1. Rubens Barrichello - Brawn GP Mercedes
2. Nico Rosberg - Williams
3. Lewis Hamilton - McLaren Mercedes
If you've ever played MarioKart, you're probably familiar with the Delfino Square circuit. This is as close as it gets. The boys with the fast cars roar through city streets, no more than ten feet from some buildings.
Lewis Hamilton finally put together a fairly decent run. He's really good at Monaco. This will be his third race there and he's finished no worse than second in the past.
Nico Rosberg was once again the fastest in practice, but he's yet to translate that to the podium. We think he breaks that streak this week. We're looking for some good runs from Ferrari and McLaren as well, as this tracks plays well for them.
Projected Podium:
1. Rubens Barrichello - Brawn GP Mercedes
2. Nico Rosberg - Williams
3. Lewis Hamilton - McLaren Mercedes
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Max Mosely, Budget Caps, and Ferrari's Self-Righteousness
Ferrari lost their case. The courts ruled in favor of FIA President Max Mosely's proposed $60 million budget cap, something Ferrari was fighting because it would force them to slash their own annual budget by nearly 90 percent. Ferrari, Renault, Red Bull, Toyota, and Toro Rosso are all threatening to pull out of the series for 2010, as none of the teams agree with the budget cap. The most egregious misstep of the proposed cap is the invention of, essentially, a two-tiered championship system.
According to Mosely, teams that willingly comply with the budget cap will be given more technical freedom than the teams that don't. Ferrari equated this to two runners in a 100-meter race, but one of the runners has to carry a sack of potatoes on his back.
It is universally acknowledged that the budget cap is Max Mosely's way of leaving his mark on the sport before he retires. Of course, it is the opinion of the Right Wing, that there are better ways to leave your mark than chasing off five of the current ten teams, and having beaten one team (McLaren) into virtual submission. I think the only reason McLaren hasn't joined Ferrari and Renault is because they are too afraid to step out of line right now, as they basically get punished for the slightest things.
Not that Ferrari has been perfectly nice, though. When they saw a leaked list of the teams wanting to join the field in 2010, they scoffed. Teams like ProDrive, USF1, Lola, Epsilon Euskadi, iSport, and Formtech will have an easier path with a lowered budget structure. But according to Ferrari, none of these teams are famous enough to make for compelling racing. If you take Ferrari's side in this argument, then we should kick out Force India and Toro Rosso, because neither are famous enough to be involved with Formula 1 racing.
It's relatively easy to see that Formula 1 as we know it died today. If the five teams pull out, and if McLaren actually does opt to go with them, Bernie Eccelstone and Max Mosely will be the biggest losers. The teams association, FOTA, has talked before of creating their own break-away series. This could be the proverbial straw that makes the camel leave Bernie and Max and go off on its own.
According to Mosely, teams that willingly comply with the budget cap will be given more technical freedom than the teams that don't. Ferrari equated this to two runners in a 100-meter race, but one of the runners has to carry a sack of potatoes on his back.
It is universally acknowledged that the budget cap is Max Mosely's way of leaving his mark on the sport before he retires. Of course, it is the opinion of the Right Wing, that there are better ways to leave your mark than chasing off five of the current ten teams, and having beaten one team (McLaren) into virtual submission. I think the only reason McLaren hasn't joined Ferrari and Renault is because they are too afraid to step out of line right now, as they basically get punished for the slightest things.
Not that Ferrari has been perfectly nice, though. When they saw a leaked list of the teams wanting to join the field in 2010, they scoffed. Teams like ProDrive, USF1, Lola, Epsilon Euskadi, iSport, and Formtech will have an easier path with a lowered budget structure. But according to Ferrari, none of these teams are famous enough to make for compelling racing. If you take Ferrari's side in this argument, then we should kick out Force India and Toro Rosso, because neither are famous enough to be involved with Formula 1 racing.
It's relatively easy to see that Formula 1 as we know it died today. If the five teams pull out, and if McLaren actually does opt to go with them, Bernie Eccelstone and Max Mosely will be the biggest losers. The teams association, FOTA, has talked before of creating their own break-away series. This could be the proverbial straw that makes the camel leave Bernie and Max and go off on its own.
Thursday, May 14, 2009
The Great Formula 1 Fallout
Ferrari has threatened to not enter the 2010 season if the FIA institutes the reg changes and a budget cap for the season.
Renault has joined them in this threat, and it appears other teams are sending out feelers along the same lines.
Except for McLaren Mercedes. But who can blame them? If Merc so much as looks to be out of step with the FIA then Max Moseley will probably order them shot.
More on this as it develops...
Renault has joined them in this threat, and it appears other teams are sending out feelers along the same lines.
Except for McLaren Mercedes. But who can blame them? If Merc so much as looks to be out of step with the FIA then Max Moseley will probably order them shot.
More on this as it develops...
Monday, May 11, 2009
Reviewing the Spanish Grand Prix: Button Once Again!
Well, I still like the track at Barcelona.
Yet another Formula 1 race with a massive incident of some kind in the first turn of the first lap. This time Both Toro Rosso cars succeeded in eliminating each other, with Bourdais going airbourne over Buemi in a motorized audition for the Cirque du Soleil. Jarno Trulli was taken out by Adrian Sutil, and about three tons of carbon fibre debris was scattered over twenty-six square feet of asphalt.
BrawnGP finished 1-2 once again, but this time there's controversy. Rubens Barrichello has confronted the team and stated that he won't play second fiddle to anyone. He was once under team orders to allow Michael Schumacher to pass so that Schumacher could secure the Driver's Championship. Now it seems that Barrichello's three-stop strategy was given to Jenson Button, almost as though the team is favoring the young Brit who currently leads the points. Ross Brawn has stated that the team has given Barrichello everything it can so that he can win, it's up to him to actually cross the line first.
As for our prediction, at least we got the winner right. And we had a Red Bull car on the podium, just the wrong driver.
Two weeks to Monaco.
Yet another Formula 1 race with a massive incident of some kind in the first turn of the first lap. This time Both Toro Rosso cars succeeded in eliminating each other, with Bourdais going airbourne over Buemi in a motorized audition for the Cirque du Soleil. Jarno Trulli was taken out by Adrian Sutil, and about three tons of carbon fibre debris was scattered over twenty-six square feet of asphalt.
BrawnGP finished 1-2 once again, but this time there's controversy. Rubens Barrichello has confronted the team and stated that he won't play second fiddle to anyone. He was once under team orders to allow Michael Schumacher to pass so that Schumacher could secure the Driver's Championship. Now it seems that Barrichello's three-stop strategy was given to Jenson Button, almost as though the team is favoring the young Brit who currently leads the points. Ross Brawn has stated that the team has given Barrichello everything it can so that he can win, it's up to him to actually cross the line first.
As for our prediction, at least we got the winner right. And we had a Red Bull car on the podium, just the wrong driver.
Two weeks to Monaco.
Saturday, May 09, 2009
Grand Prix-view: Taking Our Cues From Q3
The first leg of the European part of the Formula 1 season is this weekend, as the boys with the fast cars journey to Barcelona. The track, I must say, is very nice. For someone who hasn't been into F1 for very long, it is reminiscent of Fuji, with a long straight and then a bunch of curvy bits. The Turn-1-2-3 complex is one of my favorite turn complexes in all of motor sport, and remember, I haven't actually seen a race on it yet.
Qualifying was intense, well, more intense than qualifying should be. As Q3 was winding down, it looked as though Rubens Barrichello had P1 wrapped up, and then Sebastian Vettel took the spot in a Red Bull, but Brawn was not to be outdone, as Jenson Button laid down one of the best qualifying laps I've ever seen, landing the pole position.
The big winner for Qualifying: The Fans Who Watched It.
There wasn't really a bad or slow moment, as it seemed like every lap was important this time, unlike previous qualifying sessions.
The big loser: Kimi Raikkonen.
Kimi ran a quick lap in Q1, and then pulled a Massa. He pulled into the pits and parked it and sat in the car, thinking his time would hold. It didn't, and the Fin dropped to P16
Listed Below is the finishing order for qualifying:
Q3
1 J. Button Brawn GP
2 S. Vettel Red Bull
3 R. Barrichello Brawn GP
4 F. Massa Ferrari
5 M. Webber Red Bull
6 T. Glock Toyota
7 J. Trulli Toyota
8 F. Alonso Renault
9 N. Rosberg Williams
10 R. Kubica BMW
Q2
11 K. Nakajima Williams
12 N. Piquet jr. Renault
13 N. Heidfeld BMW
14 L. Hamilton McLaren
15 S. Buemi Scuderia Toro Rosso
Q1
16 K. Räikkönen Ferrari
17 S. Bourdais Scuderia Toro Rosso
18 H. Kovalainen McLaren
19 A. Sutil Force India F1
20 G. Fisichella Force India F1
Now, for the race tomorrow, expect some action. The cars seem fairly equal, and especially fast. In practice Friday 12 cars posted better lap times than Kimi Raikkonen's established fastest lap at the track.
No McLaren Mercedes reached Q3.
Ferrari qualifyed in the top 5 for the first time since 2008. Formula 1 sites are thinking that Ferrari is sandbagging, but the results like P5 and P16, it's hard to know for sure.
Which brings us to the big finish, our prediction for Spain.
Podium Finishers:
1. Jenson Button, Brawn GP
2. Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull
3. Timo Glock, Toyota
Qualifying was intense, well, more intense than qualifying should be. As Q3 was winding down, it looked as though Rubens Barrichello had P1 wrapped up, and then Sebastian Vettel took the spot in a Red Bull, but Brawn was not to be outdone, as Jenson Button laid down one of the best qualifying laps I've ever seen, landing the pole position.
The big winner for Qualifying: The Fans Who Watched It.
There wasn't really a bad or slow moment, as it seemed like every lap was important this time, unlike previous qualifying sessions.
The big loser: Kimi Raikkonen.
Kimi ran a quick lap in Q1, and then pulled a Massa. He pulled into the pits and parked it and sat in the car, thinking his time would hold. It didn't, and the Fin dropped to P16
Listed Below is the finishing order for qualifying:
Q3
1 J. Button Brawn GP
2 S. Vettel Red Bull
3 R. Barrichello Brawn GP
4 F. Massa Ferrari
5 M. Webber Red Bull
6 T. Glock Toyota
7 J. Trulli Toyota
8 F. Alonso Renault
9 N. Rosberg Williams
10 R. Kubica BMW
Q2
11 K. Nakajima Williams
12 N. Piquet jr. Renault
13 N. Heidfeld BMW
14 L. Hamilton McLaren
15 S. Buemi Scuderia Toro Rosso
Q1
16 K. Räikkönen Ferrari
17 S. Bourdais Scuderia Toro Rosso
18 H. Kovalainen McLaren
19 A. Sutil Force India F1
20 G. Fisichella Force India F1
Now, for the race tomorrow, expect some action. The cars seem fairly equal, and especially fast. In practice Friday 12 cars posted better lap times than Kimi Raikkonen's established fastest lap at the track.
No McLaren Mercedes reached Q3.
Ferrari qualifyed in the top 5 for the first time since 2008. Formula 1 sites are thinking that Ferrari is sandbagging, but the results like P5 and P16, it's hard to know for sure.
Which brings us to the big finish, our prediction for Spain.
Podium Finishers:
1. Jenson Button, Brawn GP
2. Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull
3. Timo Glock, Toyota
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Will Everyone Please Stop Acting Like Mark Sanchez is the Second Coming?
ESPN, I'm looking at you. You single-handedly raised Mark Sanchez from a 8th-14th pick in the 2009 draft to a top five pick. This is a man who has started only 16 games in a conference that really isn't all that strong. The PAC-10 is really just USC and 9 also-rans. Now Sanchez in a NY Jet. The Jets gave up a first round pick, a second round pick, and three players to get an unproven rookie quarterback with very little arm strength (comparatively speaking).
Now everyone at ESPN is acting like the Jets made the steal of the draft, and that they had the best draft ever, when they only selected three players. I have nothing against Mark Sanchez, I wish him the best. But to act like he's the greatest football player in the history of history is a bit much, even for Mel Kiper and Todd McShay.
Sanchez started 16 games in the PAC-10. Matthew Stafford (drafted 1st overall, but apparently a dud compared to Sanchez (again, I'm looking at you ESPN)) won 27 games in the SEC. I will repeat that, Stafford WON 27 games in the defense laden SEC. Most PAC-10 teams (outside of USC) don't know what a defense is (until they play USC). The defenses are so good in the SEC, that last season there was a game played between Auburn and Mississippi State, and Auburn won the game 3-2. I'm not kidding.
So let's get off the Mark Sanchez bandwagon for a while. In fact, let's not have player bandwagons at all. Let's wait until these guys get on the field in game situations before we start crying aloud that one is better than the other.
Signed,
A True SEC Fanatic
Now everyone at ESPN is acting like the Jets made the steal of the draft, and that they had the best draft ever, when they only selected three players. I have nothing against Mark Sanchez, I wish him the best. But to act like he's the greatest football player in the history of history is a bit much, even for Mel Kiper and Todd McShay.
Sanchez started 16 games in the PAC-10. Matthew Stafford (drafted 1st overall, but apparently a dud compared to Sanchez (again, I'm looking at you ESPN)) won 27 games in the SEC. I will repeat that, Stafford WON 27 games in the defense laden SEC. Most PAC-10 teams (outside of USC) don't know what a defense is (until they play USC). The defenses are so good in the SEC, that last season there was a game played between Auburn and Mississippi State, and Auburn won the game 3-2. I'm not kidding.
So let's get off the Mark Sanchez bandwagon for a while. In fact, let's not have player bandwagons at all. Let's wait until these guys get on the field in game situations before we start crying aloud that one is better than the other.
Signed,
A True SEC Fanatic
Formula 1 recapped: McLaren, Bahrain, and Jenson Button
So the politics are done, at least for now. The World Motor Sport Council held an "extraordinary" meeting to discuss the fate of McLaren Mercedes after the "liargate" incident at the Australian Grand Prix. To recap, at the end of the race at Melbourne a safety car was deployed and under the safety car conditions Toyota driver Jarno Trulli went off the track. Lewis Hamilton passed Trulli for third place, but was unsure if this was legal (under the sporting regs it is entirely legal to overtake a car if said car goes off the track). Lewis contacted his team to let them know that he had let trulli back in front, but he wanted to know if third place was his. The team tried to contact Charlie Whiting, race director, but no answer came quickly enough, and the race ended. Afterward, Lewis was asked if the team had told him to let Trulli pass and he said no (semantically this is correct, if you listen to the tapes he said he had let Trulli pass and asked if that was okay, and the team told him to hold position because they were seeking an answer from Charlie). A huge kerfuffle erupted and eventually McLaren employee Dave Ryan was selected as the sacrificial lamb and was fired. The stewards decided that McLaren had lied to them, and therefore disqualified the team's results.
So today McLaren had their meeting with the WMSC to determine a fate that many claimed had already been determined. The team was disqualified from the race in which the infraction was committed. But in F1, and especially when dealing with McLaren, it is a necessity to kick a team while they are down.
Thankfully, though, the WMSC saw reason. They handed out a suspended three race ban, which means that if McLaren screws up again they will be banned for three races, but so long as they fly right and stay within the rules, then the punishment already meted out is all that will stand. Finally, we can put politics behind us and get back to the racing we all enjoy.
Speaking of which, I have to say that I really enjoy the track at Bahrain. It has a decent amount of elevation change, and it is apparently very hard on the brakes. Jenson Button won the race, making it three out of four for Brawn GP. Lewis Hamilton, aforementioned of the council meeting, has found some speed in the MP4-24 Mercedes, posting a fourth place finish, marking three consecutive points finishes for the Brit with the slow car.
Ferrari is still stuck in their own personal doldrums, with Kimi Raikkonen's sixth place finish at Bahrain coming in as the team's first points finish of the season. 2008 Championship runner-up Felipe Massa has only finished in the top ten once (a ninth place finish at Malaysia) and has already retired from 50% of the races this season, a very inauspicious start.
Another team suffering greatly at the moment is BMW Sauber, who looked impressive in pre-season testing, but has yet to put it together on the track. Lead driver Robert Kubica has run all four races, obviously, but his finishes are less than inspired (14, Ret., 13, 18, respectively). Nick Heidfeld has scored the only points for the team this season. Hey, at least they still have more points (4) than Ferrari(3).
So today McLaren had their meeting with the WMSC to determine a fate that many claimed had already been determined. The team was disqualified from the race in which the infraction was committed. But in F1, and especially when dealing with McLaren, it is a necessity to kick a team while they are down.
Thankfully, though, the WMSC saw reason. They handed out a suspended three race ban, which means that if McLaren screws up again they will be banned for three races, but so long as they fly right and stay within the rules, then the punishment already meted out is all that will stand. Finally, we can put politics behind us and get back to the racing we all enjoy.
Speaking of which, I have to say that I really enjoy the track at Bahrain. It has a decent amount of elevation change, and it is apparently very hard on the brakes. Jenson Button won the race, making it three out of four for Brawn GP. Lewis Hamilton, aforementioned of the council meeting, has found some speed in the MP4-24 Mercedes, posting a fourth place finish, marking three consecutive points finishes for the Brit with the slow car.
Ferrari is still stuck in their own personal doldrums, with Kimi Raikkonen's sixth place finish at Bahrain coming in as the team's first points finish of the season. 2008 Championship runner-up Felipe Massa has only finished in the top ten once (a ninth place finish at Malaysia) and has already retired from 50% of the races this season, a very inauspicious start.
Another team suffering greatly at the moment is BMW Sauber, who looked impressive in pre-season testing, but has yet to put it together on the track. Lead driver Robert Kubica has run all four races, obviously, but his finishes are less than inspired (14, Ret., 13, 18, respectively). Nick Heidfeld has scored the only points for the team this season. Hey, at least they still have more points (4) than Ferrari(3).
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Draft Day 2009
I have been accused of looking at Draft day like it was Christmas. But I’m not going to say I’m sorry. I love it. The NFL Draft is one of my favorite days of the year. I get to watch every team in the league pick who they think will be the next face of their franchise. I get to see who trades up, who trades down, and who just stays put.
Watching the prospective players gather in New York, waiting for their name to be called, and then going up on stage to get the jersey and cap… I love it. The New York fans gather, both Giants and Jets (they are geographically closest to the venue), and usually boo rather loudly, regardless of who is picked.
Speaking of the NY Giants, they pick 29th in the first round this year, but rumor is they are looking to trade up so they can get a certain wide receiver. Darius Heyward-Bey is the supposed target, and he is currently projected to go somewhere between 13 and 19.
The Detroit Lions made it official last night, signing Georgia QB Matthew Stafford to a six year deal worth a reported $72 million, $41.7 million of which is guaranteed.
So here’s the Right Wing 2009 Mock Draft Top 10:
1 Detroit Lions: Matthew Stafford, QB Georgia
Stafford is a playmaker with an Elway-like arm and poise under pressure. He gives Detroit a franchise QB to build around. And with a weapon like Calvin Johnson, I doubt you’ll hear Stafford complain.
2 St. Louis Rams: Jason Smith, OT Baylor
Smith is one of the better pure athletes in the draft this year, and recently offensive tackles have become regular first round selections. Just last season OT Jake Long went first overall.
Alternate possibility: Aaron Curry
3 Kansas City Chiefs: Tyson Jackson, DE LSU
Jackson’s stock has soared recently, and this originally projected late first rounder has climbed the board steadily. The Chiefs need a strong central piece to their defense, and Jackson could just be it.
Alternate possibilities: Aaron Curry, Jason Smith
4 Seattle Seahawks: Mark Sanchez, QB USC
ESPN has single handedly raised the draft value of Mark Sanchez through their man-crush on any and all things USC. Sanchez started only 16 collegiate games, but is apparently worth a very high first round pick. Seatttle’s choice here now essentially hinges the whole draft. If they go a different route than Sanchez, the fun will start around pick 8.
Alternate possibilities: Michael Crabtree, Aaron Curry
5 Cleveland Browns: Aaron Curry, LB Wake Forest
Curry is probably the best pure athlete in this draft class. He brings speed to a defense, but he’s mostly an inside linebacker, so he’s more of a run stopper than anything.
Alternate possibilities: BJ Raji
6 Cincinnati Bengals: Andre Smith, OT Alabama
Smith is a logical choice for the Bengals, who need to better protect Carson Palmer. Smith, though, has raised questions about his desire, and a weak showing at the Combine gave cause to pause.
Alternate Possibilities: Michael Crabtree, Jeremy Maclin
7 Oakland Raiders: Michael Crabtree, WR Texas Tech
Oakland on Draft Day is about like watching a demolition derby, it’s not gonna be pretty, but it will be exciting. The Raiders need a top WR and Crabtree just might be their guy.
Atlernate possibilities: Jeremy Maclin
8 Jacksonville Jaguars: Jeremy Maclin, WR Missouri
Maclin is a double threat at least, as a receiver and kick returner. Jacksonville likely will hope that Mark Sanchez falls to this spot so they can trade the pick, gather more selections later on.
Alternate Possibilities: Eugene Monroe, BJ Raji
9 Green Bay Packers: Michael Oher, OT Ole Miss
The Pack needs to protect Aaron Rodgers, and an SEC O-lineman is as good a choice as any.
Alternate possibilities: Eugene Monroe, BJ Raji
10 San Francisco 49ers: Aaron Maybin, LB Penn State
The 49ers might try going after a QB, but Maybin makes sense here. The Niners will need a strong central figure for their defense.
Alternate Possibilities: Eugene Monroe, BJ Raji
Now obviously we didn’t discuss the possible trades that could take place. A few teams are inquiring about Jacksonville’s eight spot pick, especially Washington and the NY Jets. Both teams are interested in moving up to acquire Mark Sanchez.
The Broncos are a team to watch, as they have the #12 and #18 picks. The Eagles also have two late first round picks, one of which they are projected to use on Georgia RB Knowshon Moreno.
The Atlanta Falcons sit at #24, and were originally projected to select TE Brandon Pettigrew out of Oklahoma State. But two days ago the Falcons trade and 2010 2nd Round pick to KC for TE Tony Gonzalez, effectively ending the Pettigrew projection. The Falcons will likely bolster their defense now. LB Clay Matthews (USC) or DT Peria Jerry (Ole Miss) would both be great additions.
Watching the prospective players gather in New York, waiting for their name to be called, and then going up on stage to get the jersey and cap… I love it. The New York fans gather, both Giants and Jets (they are geographically closest to the venue), and usually boo rather loudly, regardless of who is picked.
Speaking of the NY Giants, they pick 29th in the first round this year, but rumor is they are looking to trade up so they can get a certain wide receiver. Darius Heyward-Bey is the supposed target, and he is currently projected to go somewhere between 13 and 19.
The Detroit Lions made it official last night, signing Georgia QB Matthew Stafford to a six year deal worth a reported $72 million, $41.7 million of which is guaranteed.
So here’s the Right Wing 2009 Mock Draft Top 10:
1 Detroit Lions: Matthew Stafford, QB Georgia
Stafford is a playmaker with an Elway-like arm and poise under pressure. He gives Detroit a franchise QB to build around. And with a weapon like Calvin Johnson, I doubt you’ll hear Stafford complain.
2 St. Louis Rams: Jason Smith, OT Baylor
Smith is one of the better pure athletes in the draft this year, and recently offensive tackles have become regular first round selections. Just last season OT Jake Long went first overall.
Alternate possibility: Aaron Curry
3 Kansas City Chiefs: Tyson Jackson, DE LSU
Jackson’s stock has soared recently, and this originally projected late first rounder has climbed the board steadily. The Chiefs need a strong central piece to their defense, and Jackson could just be it.
Alternate possibilities: Aaron Curry, Jason Smith
4 Seattle Seahawks: Mark Sanchez, QB USC
ESPN has single handedly raised the draft value of Mark Sanchez through their man-crush on any and all things USC. Sanchez started only 16 collegiate games, but is apparently worth a very high first round pick. Seatttle’s choice here now essentially hinges the whole draft. If they go a different route than Sanchez, the fun will start around pick 8.
Alternate possibilities: Michael Crabtree, Aaron Curry
5 Cleveland Browns: Aaron Curry, LB Wake Forest
Curry is probably the best pure athlete in this draft class. He brings speed to a defense, but he’s mostly an inside linebacker, so he’s more of a run stopper than anything.
Alternate possibilities: BJ Raji
6 Cincinnati Bengals: Andre Smith, OT Alabama
Smith is a logical choice for the Bengals, who need to better protect Carson Palmer. Smith, though, has raised questions about his desire, and a weak showing at the Combine gave cause to pause.
Alternate Possibilities: Michael Crabtree, Jeremy Maclin
7 Oakland Raiders: Michael Crabtree, WR Texas Tech
Oakland on Draft Day is about like watching a demolition derby, it’s not gonna be pretty, but it will be exciting. The Raiders need a top WR and Crabtree just might be their guy.
Atlernate possibilities: Jeremy Maclin
8 Jacksonville Jaguars: Jeremy Maclin, WR Missouri
Maclin is a double threat at least, as a receiver and kick returner. Jacksonville likely will hope that Mark Sanchez falls to this spot so they can trade the pick, gather more selections later on.
Alternate Possibilities: Eugene Monroe, BJ Raji
9 Green Bay Packers: Michael Oher, OT Ole Miss
The Pack needs to protect Aaron Rodgers, and an SEC O-lineman is as good a choice as any.
Alternate possibilities: Eugene Monroe, BJ Raji
10 San Francisco 49ers: Aaron Maybin, LB Penn State
The 49ers might try going after a QB, but Maybin makes sense here. The Niners will need a strong central figure for their defense.
Alternate Possibilities: Eugene Monroe, BJ Raji
Now obviously we didn’t discuss the possible trades that could take place. A few teams are inquiring about Jacksonville’s eight spot pick, especially Washington and the NY Jets. Both teams are interested in moving up to acquire Mark Sanchez.
The Broncos are a team to watch, as they have the #12 and #18 picks. The Eagles also have two late first round picks, one of which they are projected to use on Georgia RB Knowshon Moreno.
The Atlanta Falcons sit at #24, and were originally projected to select TE Brandon Pettigrew out of Oklahoma State. But two days ago the Falcons trade and 2010 2nd Round pick to KC for TE Tony Gonzalez, effectively ending the Pettigrew projection. The Falcons will likely bolster their defense now. LB Clay Matthews (USC) or DT Peria Jerry (Ole Miss) would both be great additions.
Friday, April 24, 2009
Formula 1 Bahrain Grand Prix-view
Well, I woke up early this morning, after a very fitful night of irregular sleep, I might add, and watched the practice session for this weekend’s Grand Prix in Bahrain
The track, located in the middle of a desert, has a fair amount of elevation change, though obviously nothing like Spa. See, unfortunately I’m jaded. I mean, anyone would be jaded after seeing a race at Spa. Even you despise Formula 1, Spa is one of the most beautiful tracks on Earth. But
The surface is tricky, as winds will often blow a considerable amount of sand onto the track. RBS Williams driver Nico Rosberg, who for the whole season has been consistently fast in Practice (although he’s yet to translate practice speed into race speed), claims that Bahrain is one of his favorite tracks to race at.
Now that the diffuser issue has been settled, the seven teams without the “trick” diffuser of Brawn,
Ferrari has denied claims that they are considering scrapping the 2009 campaign to focus on 2010, but they have held a crisis meeting (at least once).
McLaren is sitting on edge at the moment, as their date before the World Motor Sport Council looms (April 29). McLaren’s sponsors have already started asking for leniency, claiming that a stiff penalty will force them from their sponsorship, and will likely ruin the team. Of course, I believe that the team has been punished enough, as they were disqualified from the race in which the infraction occurred. Any further penalty would seem to be an instance of “piling on” by the FIA. Then again, I truly think the FIA has it out for McLaren. As does team Principal Martin Whitmarsh.
McLaren was called before the WMSC for lying to the stewards at
As for today’s practice, it was once again Williams, Toyota, and Brawn toward the front. Fernando Alonso, who had claimed that Renault could fight for the title this year, ran at the back for most of the session. The bottom five had some pretty big names in it, and at the end of practice looked like this:
16 Felipe Massa - Ferrari
17 Robert Kubica - BMW Sauber
18 Kimi Räikkönen - Ferrari
19 Heikki Kovalainen - McLaren Mercedes
20 Nick Heidfeld - BMW Sauber
So, what about our prediction for Bahrain? Well, here it is:
1. Jenson Button - Brawn GP
2. Nico Rosberg - Williams
3. Mark Webber - Team Red Bull
Saturday, April 18, 2009
Chinese Grand Prix-view
The third round of the Formula 1 season takes place this weekend, as the boys with the fast cars take to Shanghai for the second time in less than half a calendar year, and the second time in the span of 5 races. This track hosted the penultimate race of 2008, and now hosts the third race of 2009.
Sebastian Vettel scored the first ever pole for Red Bull racing, and Fernando Alonso finally found some speed in the zamboni they call the R-29. A Red Bull - Renault front row marks the first time this season that Jenson Button and Brawn have failed to be on pole. And now that the Diffusers have been declared legal, look out for a more level playing field... in about six weeks or so. Ferrari still has to sort out what they're doing wrong, Force India would just like to get some points instead of just reliving the glory days of Spyker F1.
McLaren is praying that the FIA suddenly inherits some common sense. At the start of the season it appeared as though there would only be an 18 car grid, which no one wanted. Now, though, it seems like the FIA is clamoring to have that same 18 car grid. Did McLaren lie? Yes. Have they been penalized? Let's see, you took away all the points they scored at Australia, the race in which they lied... so, yeah, I'd say they have. Anything more is just beating someone while they're down.
Speaking of McLaren, Ron Dennis stepped down from his position with the company. No one was surprised.
BMW Sauber is still trying to figure out what has happened to Robert Kubica. His run-in with Vettel at Melbourne seems to have created a snowball of bad luck for the Polish driver. His car broke down and subsequently caught fire at Sepang. And this morning in Shanghai he failed to get out of Q1, landing him P18 to start. I was hoping that the team would get it together, because I like Kubica. And as for that run-in with Vettel, that was what we call a racing incident, no one should've been fined for it, but Vettel took the fall.
Now, on to Shanghai. This track looks like it came straight from mid-Cold War Soviet Russia. Just watch the video and you'll see what I mean. The imposing columns along the outside of the main-straight grandstands look like abandoned-then-converted missile silos. The trademark hairpin turn at the end of the incredibly long back straight is relatively common in F1. All in all, fun track.
Last year Lewis Hamilton drove one of the more dominant races of the season here, winning the pole and never looking back, the Brit won his fifth Grand Prix of 2008. The cars are radically different, so expect a much different outcome this season.
Our Predicted Podium:
1. Fernando Alonso - ING Renault
2. Jenson Button - Brawn GP
3. Sebastian Vettel - RedBull Racing
Sebastian Vettel scored the first ever pole for Red Bull racing, and Fernando Alonso finally found some speed in the zamboni they call the R-29. A Red Bull - Renault front row marks the first time this season that Jenson Button and Brawn have failed to be on pole. And now that the Diffusers have been declared legal, look out for a more level playing field... in about six weeks or so. Ferrari still has to sort out what they're doing wrong, Force India would just like to get some points instead of just reliving the glory days of Spyker F1.
McLaren is praying that the FIA suddenly inherits some common sense. At the start of the season it appeared as though there would only be an 18 car grid, which no one wanted. Now, though, it seems like the FIA is clamoring to have that same 18 car grid. Did McLaren lie? Yes. Have they been penalized? Let's see, you took away all the points they scored at Australia, the race in which they lied... so, yeah, I'd say they have. Anything more is just beating someone while they're down.
Speaking of McLaren, Ron Dennis stepped down from his position with the company. No one was surprised.
BMW Sauber is still trying to figure out what has happened to Robert Kubica. His run-in with Vettel at Melbourne seems to have created a snowball of bad luck for the Polish driver. His car broke down and subsequently caught fire at Sepang. And this morning in Shanghai he failed to get out of Q1, landing him P18 to start. I was hoping that the team would get it together, because I like Kubica. And as for that run-in with Vettel, that was what we call a racing incident, no one should've been fined for it, but Vettel took the fall.
Now, on to Shanghai. This track looks like it came straight from mid-Cold War Soviet Russia. Just watch the video and you'll see what I mean. The imposing columns along the outside of the main-straight grandstands look like abandoned-then-converted missile silos. The trademark hairpin turn at the end of the incredibly long back straight is relatively common in F1. All in all, fun track.
Last year Lewis Hamilton drove one of the more dominant races of the season here, winning the pole and never looking back, the Brit won his fifth Grand Prix of 2008. The cars are radically different, so expect a much different outcome this season.
Our Predicted Podium:
1. Fernando Alonso - ING Renault
2. Jenson Button - Brawn GP
3. Sebastian Vettel - RedBull Racing
Tax Day Tea Parties Revistied
Well, we're now a few days removed from the Tax Day Tea Parties, and the hits just keep a-coming.
CNN was falling over themselves to make teabagging references.
One CNN reporter, Susan Roesgen, went out of her way to confront people at the tea party in Chicago. First, she grew upset over someone comparing Obama to Hitler. Now I don't condone comparing American Presidents to the Nazi leader, but I recognize the First Amendment and free speech, even if I disagree. But you have to remember, this is the same Susan Roesgen who, at an Anit-Bush rally in New Orleans two years ago referred to a Bush-mask with a Hitler mustache and devil horns as a "lookalike." Now she's offended because someone is saying the same thing about the Anointed One. Secondly, she spoke to a man who was there with his two-year-old son, and she continually interrupted the man, even as he tried to make a point. He ranting about him being eligible for a $400 credit, and the state of Lincoln receiving $50 Billion in government stimulus were shrilly driving through the man's own point. (I just wish he would've been quick enough to ask her where she thought the government stimulus money was coming from. Eh, Susan? Any ideas?) She then turned back to the camera and said that it was clear that the rallies were anti-government, and they were anti-CNN, as they were promoted by the conservative (read: EVIL) Fox.
Then Anderson Cooper, who I once respected as a journalist, made snide remarks like "It's tough to talk when you're teabagging." Classy.
Keith Olbermann, whose MSNBC program could lose a rating battle with a show titled "Watching Paint Dry," was all too happy to point out that the Tax Day Tea Parties were the corporate brainchild of Fox News and that only stupid, ignorant, racist Americans attended. Janeane Garofalo, as a guest on his show, called the attendees a bunch of racists rednecks who aren't upset about taxes, but hate the fact that a black man is President. She claimed that none of the rally-goers had any idea what the Boston Tea Party was about. All the while Keith Olbermann blithely agrees with every word she says.
Now I'll admit that there were some rather offensive signs at the rallies, but nothing worse than what was gleefully reported about George W. Bush for the last six years or better. Yet when a majority Conservative movement happens it has to be downplayed, and ridiculed. Did Cavuto exaggerate? I don't doubt he did. Point out one journalist on CNN, MSNBC, or Headline News, who hasn't exaggerated. It's become part of mainstream media these days.
The most reassuring thing to me in all of this is that Fox News, whose coverage of the Tea Parties contained no sexual innuendos, and no snide remarks about the event-goers being racist rednecks, out-rated every other broadcast news source for the day. If you listen to one side, please listen to the other side.
And while we're on the subject of taxes, let me just say how thrilled I am that we don't have this stupid Fair tax idea. I mean, why would I want to be taxed 23% at the point of purchase. A sales tax of 6% is already too much. I'm happier with the government going on and taking 35% out of my check before it ever hits my hands. I don't have to do any work, they do it for me. Now I can go watch American Idol.
And yeah, that last paragraphed reeked of a little thing we call sarcasm.
CNN was falling over themselves to make teabagging references.
One CNN reporter, Susan Roesgen, went out of her way to confront people at the tea party in Chicago. First, she grew upset over someone comparing Obama to Hitler. Now I don't condone comparing American Presidents to the Nazi leader, but I recognize the First Amendment and free speech, even if I disagree. But you have to remember, this is the same Susan Roesgen who, at an Anit-Bush rally in New Orleans two years ago referred to a Bush-mask with a Hitler mustache and devil horns as a "lookalike." Now she's offended because someone is saying the same thing about the Anointed One. Secondly, she spoke to a man who was there with his two-year-old son, and she continually interrupted the man, even as he tried to make a point. He ranting about him being eligible for a $400 credit, and the state of Lincoln receiving $50 Billion in government stimulus were shrilly driving through the man's own point. (I just wish he would've been quick enough to ask her where she thought the government stimulus money was coming from. Eh, Susan? Any ideas?) She then turned back to the camera and said that it was clear that the rallies were anti-government, and they were anti-CNN, as they were promoted by the conservative (read: EVIL) Fox.
Then Anderson Cooper, who I once respected as a journalist, made snide remarks like "It's tough to talk when you're teabagging." Classy.
Keith Olbermann, whose MSNBC program could lose a rating battle with a show titled "Watching Paint Dry," was all too happy to point out that the Tax Day Tea Parties were the corporate brainchild of Fox News and that only stupid, ignorant, racist Americans attended. Janeane Garofalo, as a guest on his show, called the attendees a bunch of racists rednecks who aren't upset about taxes, but hate the fact that a black man is President. She claimed that none of the rally-goers had any idea what the Boston Tea Party was about. All the while Keith Olbermann blithely agrees with every word she says.
Now I'll admit that there were some rather offensive signs at the rallies, but nothing worse than what was gleefully reported about George W. Bush for the last six years or better. Yet when a majority Conservative movement happens it has to be downplayed, and ridiculed. Did Cavuto exaggerate? I don't doubt he did. Point out one journalist on CNN, MSNBC, or Headline News, who hasn't exaggerated. It's become part of mainstream media these days.
The most reassuring thing to me in all of this is that Fox News, whose coverage of the Tea Parties contained no sexual innuendos, and no snide remarks about the event-goers being racist rednecks, out-rated every other broadcast news source for the day. If you listen to one side, please listen to the other side.
And while we're on the subject of taxes, let me just say how thrilled I am that we don't have this stupid Fair tax idea. I mean, why would I want to be taxed 23% at the point of purchase. A sales tax of 6% is already too much. I'm happier with the government going on and taking 35% out of my check before it ever hits my hands. I don't have to do any work, they do it for me. Now I can go watch American Idol.
And yeah, that last paragraphed reeked of a little thing we call sarcasm.
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Tax Day Tea Parties
I'm not exactly sure how to go about this. See, a while back I changed the format of the Right Wing to sports and nostalgic humor, and I dropped politics. But I think this requires mention.
Today is Tax Day. Every April 15th you have to get your taxes in or suffer penalties. Firstly, let me state that if we didn't have such a horrifyingly complex tax structure in this country then these tea parties probably wouldn't happen. Of course, when 10% of Americans are paying 72% of the taxes, and roughly 50% of the nation pays next to no taxes at all, it'll be hard to make a change. But these Tea Parties are the first step.
And There are some bastions of conservatism that claim that the Federal government is attempting to draw attention away from the tea parties. President Obama is reportedly making speeches about how the economy is turning around at a more rapid rate than believed possible. And Homeland Security has reportedly released a report that returning veterans could become radicalized right-wing extremists. Sad.
It is a true grass roots movement happening. 5000 people showed up in Cincinnati. Thousands are expected in Atlanta. Sean Hannity will be hosting his nightly show from the steps of the Georgia Capital building.
People are rising up and saying that enough is enough. Taxpayers are tired of essentially being punished for their success so that the "less fortunate" can be given money instead of earning it. And I know that some people have been through bad situations. But at the same time there are freeloaders out there who make their living off receiving welfare money from the fed.
I hope these Tea Parties get out the right message.
Today is Tax Day. Every April 15th you have to get your taxes in or suffer penalties. Firstly, let me state that if we didn't have such a horrifyingly complex tax structure in this country then these tea parties probably wouldn't happen. Of course, when 10% of Americans are paying 72% of the taxes, and roughly 50% of the nation pays next to no taxes at all, it'll be hard to make a change. But these Tea Parties are the first step.
And There are some bastions of conservatism that claim that the Federal government is attempting to draw attention away from the tea parties. President Obama is reportedly making speeches about how the economy is turning around at a more rapid rate than believed possible. And Homeland Security has reportedly released a report that returning veterans could become radicalized right-wing extremists. Sad.
It is a true grass roots movement happening. 5000 people showed up in Cincinnati. Thousands are expected in Atlanta. Sean Hannity will be hosting his nightly show from the steps of the Georgia Capital building.
People are rising up and saying that enough is enough. Taxpayers are tired of essentially being punished for their success so that the "less fortunate" can be given money instead of earning it. And I know that some people have been through bad situations. But at the same time there are freeloaders out there who make their living off receiving welfare money from the fed.
I hope these Tea Parties get out the right message.
Saturday, April 04, 2009
The Music of 1994: 15 Years Later
If that title doesn't make you feel old, then... well, it makes me feel old. This is the music I grew up to. These are the bands that made me want to play guitar. And all of this was fifteen years ago.
1994 was a banner year for the music industry. Changes were occurring that would shape the music scene for years, and some would argue that the repercussions are still being felt.
Let's start in February of 1994, when pseudo-indie punk band Green Day launched the
crappy-sounding album Dookie. While some of the more wholesome musical pundits decried the album's vulgar title, others actually listened, and were rather impressed. The record peaked at #2 on the Billboard 200, and to this day is the band's highest selling album, with over 15 million copies sold.
Songs like Basketcase, Longview (with it's definitive bass rhythm), Welcome to Paradise, and When I Come Around (which is one of the most memorable songs ever written) set the tone for Green Day's popularity for the next few years, although the indie punk scene immediately labeled the band as a group of sellouts. Apparently these people have never heard of the idea of profitability.
Green Day continued to have success, and they still perform today, but the magic that made Dookie such a fun album just doesn't seem to have returned.
March of '94 saw the release of Superunknown, by Soundgarden. While I can claim that I wasn't really into Soundgarden when they first released this album, I will wholeheartedly agree with those who claim the number one single off the record, Black Hole Sun, is the preeminent anthem of the Summer of '94.
Superunknown debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200 and has since been certified 5X Platinum in the United States. Soundgarden doesn't exist anymore, but frontman Chris Cornell has made a good living for himself with solo projects and Audioslave.
In April The Offspring arrived. Although they had already released two albums, Smash brought them into the mainstream. The hard rocking punk grunge sound was seemingly unique among all the other bands of 1994. Singles like Come Out And Play, Self-Esteem, and Gotta Get Away brought the band much
lauded playtime on MTV, because you have to remember that MTV still played music in 1994, and not just continual reruns of The Real World, and other assorted crap.
The Offspring brought out a sound that we had all heard before, but they did it in a way that was new and exciting. They made the phrase "la la la" part of music again. Seriously, just click on that link to Self-Esteem and you'll see what I mean.
Smash has since been certified 6X Platinum in the United States, with over 16 million copies sold. The band continues to produce records, and many fans applaud their latest release, Rise and Fall, Rage and Grace (just look up the songs Trust in You (which uses a Latin phrase Quo modo? (maybe the band is made up of college professors)) and You're Gonna Go Far, Kid and you'll see that the new album really does hearken back to the days of Smash) as a return to the sound that made them famous.
Some time passed in 1994 and as December rolled around the world waited patiently for Britain to offer up some kind of good music. And the Brits delivered. On December 5, 1994, the debut album of grunge band Bush hit the shelves. Sixteen Stone was both accepted and rejected by musical pundits. Some said the band sounded too much like Nirvana or Soundgarden. Others said the band didn't sound enough like Nirvana or Soundgarden.
In my opinion, Bush did everything right as a band. The album was capable of maintaining listener interest without having slower songs that tend to sap the interest right out of the album.
Singles like Everything Zen, Little Things (which has one of the best opening guitar riffs I can recall), Comedown, and the wildly popular Glycerine (c'mon, you remember the video of the topless chick standing on the chair in an empty house while Gavin Rossdale sulks in the back room playing guitar? I knew you hadn't forgotten.) pushed the band to the main forefront of music for a brief time, but eventually the negative critics gained a stronger footing.
Bush released several albums after Sixteen Stone, like Razorblade Suitcase, The Science of Things, and Deconstructed, but none enjoyed the real commercial success of their debut foray. The last two albums broke away from the grunge sound that made them famous and began some experimental sounds.
In the fifteen years since these albums hit the store music has changed. Rap/Hip-Hop has become steadily more popular. The Indie scene has also become more popular, which almost feels like a contradiction in terms when you type it out like that.
Soundgarden and Bush no longer exist, although the members of Bush, and more to the point, frontman Gavin Rossdale, have hinted at a possible reunion tour in 2009 or 2010. The Offspring are enjoy commercial success with their newest album, and Green Day is still pumping out songs. These four bands made up the music of 1994. Yeah there were other bands, but none of them caught my attention the way these four did. They are the reason I play guitar today.
1994 was a banner year for the music industry. Changes were occurring that would shape the music scene for years, and some would argue that the repercussions are still being felt.
Let's start in February of 1994, when pseudo-indie punk band Green Day launched the
crappy-sounding album Dookie. While some of the more wholesome musical pundits decried the album's vulgar title, others actually listened, and were rather impressed. The record peaked at #2 on the Billboard 200, and to this day is the band's highest selling album, with over 15 million copies sold.Songs like Basketcase, Longview (with it's definitive bass rhythm), Welcome to Paradise, and When I Come Around (which is one of the most memorable songs ever written) set the tone for Green Day's popularity for the next few years, although the indie punk scene immediately labeled the band as a group of sellouts. Apparently these people have never heard of the idea of profitability.
Green Day continued to have success, and they still perform today, but the magic that made Dookie such a fun album just doesn't seem to have returned.
March of '94 saw the release of Superunknown, by Soundgarden. While I can claim that I wasn't really into Soundgarden when they first released this album, I will wholeheartedly agree with those who claim the number one single off the record, Black Hole Sun, is the preeminent anthem of the Summer of '94.
Superunknown debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200 and has since been certified 5X Platinum in the United States. Soundgarden doesn't exist anymore, but frontman Chris Cornell has made a good living for himself with solo projects and Audioslave.
In April The Offspring arrived. Although they had already released two albums, Smash brought them into the mainstream. The hard rocking punk grunge sound was seemingly unique among all the other bands of 1994. Singles like Come Out And Play, Self-Esteem, and Gotta Get Away brought the band much
lauded playtime on MTV, because you have to remember that MTV still played music in 1994, and not just continual reruns of The Real World, and other assorted crap.The Offspring brought out a sound that we had all heard before, but they did it in a way that was new and exciting. They made the phrase "la la la" part of music again. Seriously, just click on that link to Self-Esteem and you'll see what I mean.
Smash has since been certified 6X Platinum in the United States, with over 16 million copies sold. The band continues to produce records, and many fans applaud their latest release, Rise and Fall, Rage and Grace (just look up the songs Trust in You (which uses a Latin phrase Quo modo? (maybe the band is made up of college professors)) and You're Gonna Go Far, Kid and you'll see that the new album really does hearken back to the days of Smash) as a return to the sound that made them famous.
Some time passed in 1994 and as December rolled around the world waited patiently for Britain to offer up some kind of good music. And the Brits delivered. On December 5, 1994, the debut album of grunge band Bush hit the shelves. Sixteen Stone was both accepted and rejected by musical pundits. Some said the band sounded too much like Nirvana or Soundgarden. Others said the band didn't sound enough like Nirvana or Soundgarden.
In my opinion, Bush did everything right as a band. The album was capable of maintaining listener interest without having slower songs that tend to sap the interest right out of the album.
Singles like Everything Zen, Little Things (which has one of the best opening guitar riffs I can recall), Comedown, and the wildly popular Glycerine (c'mon, you remember the video of the topless chick standing on the chair in an empty house while Gavin Rossdale sulks in the back room playing guitar? I knew you hadn't forgotten.) pushed the band to the main forefront of music for a brief time, but eventually the negative critics gained a stronger footing.Bush released several albums after Sixteen Stone, like Razorblade Suitcase, The Science of Things, and Deconstructed, but none enjoyed the real commercial success of their debut foray. The last two albums broke away from the grunge sound that made them famous and began some experimental sounds.
In the fifteen years since these albums hit the store music has changed. Rap/Hip-Hop has become steadily more popular. The Indie scene has also become more popular, which almost feels like a contradiction in terms when you type it out like that.
Soundgarden and Bush no longer exist, although the members of Bush, and more to the point, frontman Gavin Rossdale, have hinted at a possible reunion tour in 2009 or 2010. The Offspring are enjoy commercial success with their newest album, and Green Day is still pumping out songs. These four bands made up the music of 1994. Yeah there were other bands, but none of them caught my attention the way these four did. They are the reason I play guitar today.
Friday, April 03, 2009
Formula 1 Grand Prix Preview: Malaysia
The boys with the fast cars go to Malaysia this weekend. Weather forecasts portend rain, so expect some fun racing.
The grand kerfuffle from Australia is still playing out. McLaren faces further penalization, including the possibility of being excluded from the championship. Driver Lewis Hamilton has been rather effectively cleared once the car audio was released. To me, this whole thing seems a grand lot of confusion that seems to have a very simple answer.
I really think I'd like to see Lewis Hamilton in a Brawn GP car next year. He and Jenson Button would make a rather formidable team. But I guess I have to file that under the heading "Things I'd like to see Happen" along with the resignations of Max "Beat Me With a Swastika" Moseley and Bernie "Fifth Beatle" Ecclestone.
As for the prediction for the Malaysian Grand Prix:
Podium:
1. Jenson Button, Brawn GP
2. Sebastian Vettel, Team Red Bull
3. Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari
But the Predictions don't really matter. In a Right Wing exclusive, we have obtained the FIA's finishing order for Malaysia. We obviously cannot reveal our source for this information, but let's just say he had a Nazi power symbol bruise on his forehead...
1. Felipe Massa
2. Kimi Raikkonen
3. Jenson Button
4. Rubens Barrichello
5. Sebastian Vettel
6. Jarno Trulli
7. Nico Rosberg
8. Robert Kubica
9. Adrian Sutil
10. Giancarlo Fisichella
11. Heikki Kovalainen
12. Timo Glock
13. Kazuki Nakajima@
14. Fernando Alonso#
15. Nelson Piquet Jr.
16. Nick Heidfeld
17. Mark Webber
18. Sebastian Buemi*
19. Sebastian Bourdais*
20. Lewis Hamilton +
@: Kazuki Nakajima was awarded five grid spots out of mercy and kindness
#: Fernando Alonso was docked ten grid spots for his past relation to McLaren
*: Scuderia Toro Rosso was disqualified for their refusal to hire anyone not named Sebastian
+: Lewis Hamilton was disqualified when evidence came to light that in third grade he lied about stealing a crayon
The grand kerfuffle from Australia is still playing out. McLaren faces further penalization, including the possibility of being excluded from the championship. Driver Lewis Hamilton has been rather effectively cleared once the car audio was released. To me, this whole thing seems a grand lot of confusion that seems to have a very simple answer.
I really think I'd like to see Lewis Hamilton in a Brawn GP car next year. He and Jenson Button would make a rather formidable team. But I guess I have to file that under the heading "Things I'd like to see Happen" along with the resignations of Max "Beat Me With a Swastika" Moseley and Bernie "Fifth Beatle" Ecclestone.
As for the prediction for the Malaysian Grand Prix:
Podium:
1. Jenson Button, Brawn GP
2. Sebastian Vettel, Team Red Bull
3. Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari
But the Predictions don't really matter. In a Right Wing exclusive, we have obtained the FIA's finishing order for Malaysia. We obviously cannot reveal our source for this information, but let's just say he had a Nazi power symbol bruise on his forehead...
1. Felipe Massa
2. Kimi Raikkonen
3. Jenson Button
4. Rubens Barrichello
5. Sebastian Vettel
6. Jarno Trulli
7. Nico Rosberg
8. Robert Kubica
9. Adrian Sutil
10. Giancarlo Fisichella
11. Heikki Kovalainen
12. Timo Glock
13. Kazuki Nakajima@
14. Fernando Alonso#
15. Nelson Piquet Jr.
16. Nick Heidfeld
17. Mark Webber
18. Sebastian Buemi*
19. Sebastian Bourdais*
20. Lewis Hamilton +
@: Kazuki Nakajima was awarded five grid spots out of mercy and kindness
#: Fernando Alonso was docked ten grid spots for his past relation to McLaren
*: Scuderia Toro Rosso was disqualified for their refusal to hire anyone not named Sebastian
+: Lewis Hamilton was disqualified when evidence came to light that in third grade he lied about stealing a crayon
Monday, March 30, 2009
Melbourne Revisited
The Australian Grand Prix was quite an exciting race, all thing considered. Once again the stewards made a decision that altered the podium post-race. Ferrari failed to finish. Robert Kubica and Sebastian Vettel were both having great runs until they decided to try to be in the same place at the same time, which usually doesn't work in an 800-bhp F1 car.
Brawn GP dominated the race, as Jenson Button was never out of the lead. Rubens Barrichello flubbed the start, caused a bit of a kerfuffle in turn one leading to more than one car exiting the race at least temporarily for repairs. He then charged back through the pack, tore off part of his front wing in a minor collision with Kimi Raikkonen, and then finished 2nd. It is the first time since 1954 that a new team has finished 1-2 in their first Grand Prix event.
Raikkonen decided to spin out in a move reminiscent of Spa 2008. His partner at Scuderia Ferrari, Felipe "Hit Everything in Sight" Massa, actually had a rather uneventful day. He didn't hit anyone, ruining my prediction that a driving koala bear would be safer. He did, however, suffer mechanical problems that forced him from the race.
BMW Sauber was having a good day up until the moment when Robert Kubica and Red Bull driver Sebastian Vettel tangled on lap 55 of 58, spinning both cars. They both attempted to drive on. Vettel slammed into the wall about two hundred feet later, and Kubica made it another hundred feet before crashing out in spectacular fashion. Vettel's car was heavily damaged but still mostly driveable and he tried to make it back to the pits. As a result he has been penalized $50,000 and ten grid spots at Malaysia for carrying-on in a damaged(dangerous) car. The highest starting spot available to Vettel at Malaysia, then, is eleventh.
Force India had a relatively good day. Although they didn't finish in the points, they did finish ninth and tenth.
Scuderia Toro Rosso had a good points day as well. Buemi finished seventh and Bourdais finished eighth, giving the team points for both spots.
Williams had a rather disappointing day. Nico Rosberg had been unbelievably fast in practice, but it translated to a sixth place finish in the Grand Prix. Teammate Kazuki Nakajima crashed out on lap 18.
Toyota, as a penalty for having flexible rear wings, started from the pit lane. They charged through the pack, the trick diffuser apparently working its magic. Jarno Trulli was running third at the end of the race, but the stewards penalized him for passing behind the safety car, a 25-second time penalty, dropping him to 12th spot. Timo Glock, as a result of Trulli's penalization, ended up fourth.
McLaren Mercedes had perhaps the most diametrically opposed day that a team could have. Heikki Kovalainen crashed out on lap 1 (see kerfuffle, above), ending up in 20th spot at the end. Lewis Hamilton started 18th because of a broken gearbox that had to be replaced. He drove perhaps one of the best races of his career, landing in fourth spot by the end. Hamilton was awarded third after the race because the stewards deemed that Jarno Trulli passed him under safety car conditions. The decision will likely be reviewed, as there is conflicting evidence apparently pointing to both drivers passing each other under safety car conditions.
All in all, fun race. Malaysia next weekend looks great as well. And the all-to-early weather forecast for the southeast Asia track: RAIN.
Brawn GP dominated the race, as Jenson Button was never out of the lead. Rubens Barrichello flubbed the start, caused a bit of a kerfuffle in turn one leading to more than one car exiting the race at least temporarily for repairs. He then charged back through the pack, tore off part of his front wing in a minor collision with Kimi Raikkonen, and then finished 2nd. It is the first time since 1954 that a new team has finished 1-2 in their first Grand Prix event.
Raikkonen decided to spin out in a move reminiscent of Spa 2008. His partner at Scuderia Ferrari, Felipe "Hit Everything in Sight" Massa, actually had a rather uneventful day. He didn't hit anyone, ruining my prediction that a driving koala bear would be safer. He did, however, suffer mechanical problems that forced him from the race.
BMW Sauber was having a good day up until the moment when Robert Kubica and Red Bull driver Sebastian Vettel tangled on lap 55 of 58, spinning both cars. They both attempted to drive on. Vettel slammed into the wall about two hundred feet later, and Kubica made it another hundred feet before crashing out in spectacular fashion. Vettel's car was heavily damaged but still mostly driveable and he tried to make it back to the pits. As a result he has been penalized $50,000 and ten grid spots at Malaysia for carrying-on in a damaged(dangerous) car. The highest starting spot available to Vettel at Malaysia, then, is eleventh.
Force India had a relatively good day. Although they didn't finish in the points, they did finish ninth and tenth.
Scuderia Toro Rosso had a good points day as well. Buemi finished seventh and Bourdais finished eighth, giving the team points for both spots.
Williams had a rather disappointing day. Nico Rosberg had been unbelievably fast in practice, but it translated to a sixth place finish in the Grand Prix. Teammate Kazuki Nakajima crashed out on lap 18.
Toyota, as a penalty for having flexible rear wings, started from the pit lane. They charged through the pack, the trick diffuser apparently working its magic. Jarno Trulli was running third at the end of the race, but the stewards penalized him for passing behind the safety car, a 25-second time penalty, dropping him to 12th spot. Timo Glock, as a result of Trulli's penalization, ended up fourth.
McLaren Mercedes had perhaps the most diametrically opposed day that a team could have. Heikki Kovalainen crashed out on lap 1 (see kerfuffle, above), ending up in 20th spot at the end. Lewis Hamilton started 18th because of a broken gearbox that had to be replaced. He drove perhaps one of the best races of his career, landing in fourth spot by the end. Hamilton was awarded third after the race because the stewards deemed that Jarno Trulli passed him under safety car conditions. The decision will likely be reviewed, as there is conflicting evidence apparently pointing to both drivers passing each other under safety car conditions.
All in all, fun race. Malaysia next weekend looks great as well. And the all-to-early weather forecast for the southeast Asia track: RAIN.
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Time to Say Farewell
UPDATE*** Well, it's 3:50 pm EDT and I just deactivated the Facebook account. I have to say that it's lovely how Facebook tries to make you feel bad for leaving. You have 226 friends who you'll no longer be able to get in touch with. That's right, no one has a cell phone. For that matter, the friends I'm most often in touch with live within five minutes of my house, so it's not exactly a struggle to get together with them. Thanks, Facebook, for reaffirming my decision to leave. ***ETADPU
Long ago, when Skewed View was still up and running, I would make fun of Robert for all those times he would say he was taking a leave of absence from the blog, and there was especially some darn good humor when he announced he was pulling the plug on Facebook. I think I gave him a week before he was too bored with life and returned to the internet.
Well, just as Robert said that it was time to move on, that time has come for me as well. I'm leaving Facebook, effective Sunday night.
Truth be told, I'm over it. The fascination, the intrigue, it's just not there anymore. At one time Facebook was truly a networking tool for me. It became my de facto daily planner. But since that time I've grown and Facebook has seemed to lag behind. Lately I've felt like Facebook was holding me down.
I've got nearly 250 friends on Facebook, but that whole friends thing was never true. Most of them are one time acquaintances or people I went to high school with who haven't really been a part of my life in years. Honestly, traffic on my little corner of Facebook has dwindled, which tells me that the time is ripe to pull the plug, so to speak. The clock has struck midnight on the whimsical romance that was internet-based social networking.
And so, I've decided to move on. I really think that this move will allow me to focus solely on writing. Not only do I have Historia working over at Novel Idea, but I've got some other short works in my head that I need to get down on paper, so it's time to wipe away the clutter, and Facebook is part of that clutter.
I won't deny that I had some really fun times. All the picture definitely document that very well. Posting Darby was probably the most fun I had, but it also came to an end.
The blogs are still running, but the Facebook links will end. I'm done with it. Truthfully, I don't even feel sad. Such is life.
So Facebook: Goodnight. And may God bless.
Long ago, when Skewed View was still up and running, I would make fun of Robert for all those times he would say he was taking a leave of absence from the blog, and there was especially some darn good humor when he announced he was pulling the plug on Facebook. I think I gave him a week before he was too bored with life and returned to the internet.
Well, just as Robert said that it was time to move on, that time has come for me as well. I'm leaving Facebook, effective Sunday night.
Truth be told, I'm over it. The fascination, the intrigue, it's just not there anymore. At one time Facebook was truly a networking tool for me. It became my de facto daily planner. But since that time I've grown and Facebook has seemed to lag behind. Lately I've felt like Facebook was holding me down.
I've got nearly 250 friends on Facebook, but that whole friends thing was never true. Most of them are one time acquaintances or people I went to high school with who haven't really been a part of my life in years. Honestly, traffic on my little corner of Facebook has dwindled, which tells me that the time is ripe to pull the plug, so to speak. The clock has struck midnight on the whimsical romance that was internet-based social networking.
And so, I've decided to move on. I really think that this move will allow me to focus solely on writing. Not only do I have Historia working over at Novel Idea, but I've got some other short works in my head that I need to get down on paper, so it's time to wipe away the clutter, and Facebook is part of that clutter.
I won't deny that I had some really fun times. All the picture definitely document that very well. Posting Darby was probably the most fun I had, but it also came to an end.
The blogs are still running, but the Facebook links will end. I'm done with it. Truthfully, I don't even feel sad. Such is life.
So Facebook: Goodnight. And may God bless.
Melbourne Grand Prix Preview
The Silly season is over. The practice is completed. Qualifying has come and gone. All that remains is the Grand Prix in Melbourne. Formula 1 has waited for months to prove that Lewis Hamilton didn't deserve to win the championship last year. How dare anyone not from Ferrari take home the World Driver's Championship. In fact, next year, Bernie Ecclestone is renaming the series "Ferrari 1 Everyone Else Can Bite Me."
But not so fast, you wacky Beatle-wannabe. Brawn GP is proving that with a little incentive anything is possible. They paced out into P1 and P2 to start the Aussie Grand Prix, and they were in the heaviest cars on the grid. Toyota both suffered wing infractions that are forcing them to the back of the pack, along with Title-defender Lewis Hamilton, who was forced to replace his gearbox.
The "Diffuser Three" (Williams, Brawn GP, and Toyota) have been at the forefront of action all weekend, thanks to the FIA deeming that the diffuser set-up they are running, which is vastly different from the other seven teams, is legal under the new regulations.
Sebastien Vettel continued his hot streak from last year, posting up to P3, and our pick to win the Grand Prix, Robert Kubica, is a respectable P4 to start the race.
While up late the other night watching some of the first practice, I noticed one of the graphics as they went to commercial was a koala bear, which got me to thinking, if they would let the bear race instead of Felipe Massa, it would probably be safer for all parties involved.
McLaren is struggling for pace, even though they have one of the better looking cars on the grid. Which goes to show you, a good looking car does not a winner make.
Jenson Button has already been declared, by the bookies and Felipe Massa, to be the Champion for this year. Massa has even stated that Brawn GP will lock up the point's title by June or July. And if Bernie gets his wish, which it looks like he will, the medals system will be in place for 2010. Regardless of team approval or team refusal, Ecclestone has been quoted as saying, "It won't be necessary to discuss it with anybody. Providing the regulations are out before they enter the championship, that's how it is."
Bernie "Fifth Beatle" Ecclestone also stated that there would be 26 cars on the grid by opening weekend 2010. USGPE (Formerly USF1) and two other teams will be joining the grid by March of next year, which should bring some excitement to the ranks.
But most fans are still troubled by the medal system, which would award the driver's championship to the winningest driver, which on paper doesn't sound bad, but if you consider that a driver can win three races, and if that hold out as the most wins on the season, he's the champion, regardless of if he even races the rest of the schedule.
Sunday looks to be an interesting day to say the least. Brawn is outpacing everyone. But speed only carries you so far. Driving talent is required as well. The Right Wing is still saying Kubica for the win, but Jenson Button might make for an exciting day.
But not so fast, you wacky Beatle-wannabe. Brawn GP is proving that with a little incentive anything is possible. They paced out into P1 and P2 to start the Aussie Grand Prix, and they were in the heaviest cars on the grid. Toyota both suffered wing infractions that are forcing them to the back of the pack, along with Title-defender Lewis Hamilton, who was forced to replace his gearbox.
The "Diffuser Three" (Williams, Brawn GP, and Toyota) have been at the forefront of action all weekend, thanks to the FIA deeming that the diffuser set-up they are running, which is vastly different from the other seven teams, is legal under the new regulations.
Sebastien Vettel continued his hot streak from last year, posting up to P3, and our pick to win the Grand Prix, Robert Kubica, is a respectable P4 to start the race.
While up late the other night watching some of the first practice, I noticed one of the graphics as they went to commercial was a koala bear, which got me to thinking, if they would let the bear race instead of Felipe Massa, it would probably be safer for all parties involved.
McLaren is struggling for pace, even though they have one of the better looking cars on the grid. Which goes to show you, a good looking car does not a winner make.
Jenson Button has already been declared, by the bookies and Felipe Massa, to be the Champion for this year. Massa has even stated that Brawn GP will lock up the point's title by June or July. And if Bernie gets his wish, which it looks like he will, the medals system will be in place for 2010. Regardless of team approval or team refusal, Ecclestone has been quoted as saying, "It won't be necessary to discuss it with anybody. Providing the regulations are out before they enter the championship, that's how it is."
Bernie "Fifth Beatle" Ecclestone also stated that there would be 26 cars on the grid by opening weekend 2010. USGPE (Formerly USF1) and two other teams will be joining the grid by March of next year, which should bring some excitement to the ranks.
But most fans are still troubled by the medal system, which would award the driver's championship to the winningest driver, which on paper doesn't sound bad, but if you consider that a driver can win three races, and if that hold out as the most wins on the season, he's the champion, regardless of if he even races the rest of the schedule.
Sunday looks to be an interesting day to say the least. Brawn is outpacing everyone. But speed only carries you so far. Driving talent is required as well. The Right Wing is still saying Kubica for the win, but Jenson Button might make for an exciting day.
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Bernie Gets His Way...
Rejected Beatles cover-band member Bernie Ecclestone has finally gotten his way. During the silly season, when he pitched the idea of having medals awarded tot he top three finishers in a race, much like the Olympics, he was roundly laughed out of the paddock, and for good reason. A medals system would have been a death blow to teams like Force India, Honda, and (sadly) Williams. But fret not, because Bernie is not one for giving up. He kept pushing, and today it was announced by the FIA that the 2009 Championship would be awarded to the driver with the most wins.
Take last year for example. There was much sadness in the paddock as the results poured in at Interlagos. Felipe Massa, by virtue of his win had locked up the point's championship. At least, that's how it seemed. Lewis Hamilton was languishing in sixth place behind Sebastien Vettel and Timo Glock. Glock's Toyota, though, was on dry tyres in wet conditions. He lost control and Vettel and Hamilton sped past, kicking the Brit back into fifth place and handing the Driver's Championship to the McLaren pilot. Some cried unfair. How can a driver that finishes fifth be given the point's title? Well, it's quite simple, Lewis Hamilton was the most consistent driver over the course of the entire season. He overcame having a win stolen from him at Spa (which would have given Hamilton 6 wins instead of five, and left Massa with five instead of six), he overcame some horrible decisions by the stewards at Fuji, and he raced with all he had at Brazil to grab the fifth spot.
For a hypothetical situation under Bernie's new proposal, consider this scenario:
Felipe Massa wins three races, and then finishes in the points (let's say second) only one other time, leaving fourteen races without a points or podium finish. That would be about 38 points on the year.
Lewis Hamilton wins two races, but averages a third place finish for the other sixteen races. That would be about 116 points on the year.
Obviously this is a rather outlandish scenario in light of the regulation changes and all, and it's not likely that Hamilton will ever put up those kind of Schumacher-esque numbers, but the point of this exercise is simple: under the new rules Felipe Massa, with 38 points, would win the Driver's Championship of Lewis Hamilton, who has 116 points.
I'm sitting here right now and hoping and praying to any God or gods that will listen that this idea is only a one year thing, because if it's not, I'm out. I love this sport, but Bernie, you're screwing it up. Stop it!
Take last year for example. There was much sadness in the paddock as the results poured in at Interlagos. Felipe Massa, by virtue of his win had locked up the point's championship. At least, that's how it seemed. Lewis Hamilton was languishing in sixth place behind Sebastien Vettel and Timo Glock. Glock's Toyota, though, was on dry tyres in wet conditions. He lost control and Vettel and Hamilton sped past, kicking the Brit back into fifth place and handing the Driver's Championship to the McLaren pilot. Some cried unfair. How can a driver that finishes fifth be given the point's title? Well, it's quite simple, Lewis Hamilton was the most consistent driver over the course of the entire season. He overcame having a win stolen from him at Spa (which would have given Hamilton 6 wins instead of five, and left Massa with five instead of six), he overcame some horrible decisions by the stewards at Fuji, and he raced with all he had at Brazil to grab the fifth spot.
For a hypothetical situation under Bernie's new proposal, consider this scenario:
Felipe Massa wins three races, and then finishes in the points (let's say second) only one other time, leaving fourteen races without a points or podium finish. That would be about 38 points on the year.
Lewis Hamilton wins two races, but averages a third place finish for the other sixteen races. That would be about 116 points on the year.
Obviously this is a rather outlandish scenario in light of the regulation changes and all, and it's not likely that Hamilton will ever put up those kind of Schumacher-esque numbers, but the point of this exercise is simple: under the new rules Felipe Massa, with 38 points, would win the Driver's Championship of Lewis Hamilton, who has 116 points.
I'm sitting here right now and hoping and praying to any God or gods that will listen that this idea is only a one year thing, because if it's not, I'm out. I love this sport, but Bernie, you're screwing it up. Stop it!
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Formula 1: the STR4, bunny-ears, and our projected Melbourne Podium
The last Formula 1 car of the season to be unveiled is the Scuderia Toro Rosso STR4. Last year, running a Ferrari chassis, Scuderia Toro Rosso upstaged big brother Team Red Bull on a weekly basis, especially over the last nine races of the year, the feather in the cap coming when Sebastien Vettel scored the team’s maiden win in 
the rain at Monza
the rain at This year STR brings back Sebastian Bourdais (below, left), who won the ChampCar Championship four consecutive years, but in his inaugural F1 season was bested by Vettel. Vettel has moved on to Team Red Bull, replacing the retired David Coulthard. To replace Vettel, Scuderia Toro Rosso had many options. Once Honda folded the veteran drivers of that team became available, at least momentarily.
Also on the market was Bruno Senna, nephew of the late Aryton Senna, quite possibly one of the most popular drivers of all time. Having the Senna name attached to the
product would’ve likely meant sponsors, but on the world stage Bruno Senna is most unproven. Scuderia Toro Rosso finally made their choice, tapping Sebastian Buemi (pictured, right), the Swiss GP2 star. Apparently, no one at STR knows anyone not names Sebastian or some variation thereof.
The car was unveiled last week, and like all the others it is drastically different from last years models, thanks to the FIA’s new aerodynamic regulations. The STR4, oddly enough, has the Red Bull lettering instead of Toro Rosso lettering, but this could easily be a testing livery and something that Scuderia Toro Rosso plans to change by
The most glaring difference between the STR4 and the other cars on the grid this year seems to be the nose of the car, just above the front scoop. Ferrari, Renault and Force
The paint scheme, like last year, is darn near identical to the RB5 of Team Red Bull, with only some minor modifications denoting the differences in team. With the sharper, less curved nose, the car is a definitive throwback to the 1990s, especially the old Benetton car of Michael Schumacher.
The STR4 features little in the way of aerodynamic doodads, unlike the Williams FW31 and the VMJ02 of Force 
wing, are technically legal, as the new aero-regs actually list no restrictions for that particular area of the auto-body. If testing proves a positive difference between running the car with the bunny-ears versus without, then look for other teams to copy the Williams design, and perhaps improve on it.
So let’s make some rather impromptu and off-the-cuff predictions for
The new technologies in place as a result of the aerodynamic regulations for 2009 should result in more stability across the board, especially with the new engine rules. The backmarkers will have their typical outings, but the top tier programs should be hyper-competitive during the race.
The Right Wing Projected Podium for Melbourne:
Winner: Robert Kubica – BMW Sauber
Second: Lewis Hamilton – McLaren Mercedes
Third: Felipe Massa – Scuderia Ferrari
Saturday, March 07, 2009
The Big Big Formula 1 2009 Season Preview
It's been a while since I posted anything here on the Right Wing, and even longer than that since F1 has seen any face time on ye olde blog. But that all changes today.
The 2009 Formula 1 season is only 22 days away, as the season kicks off on March 29 in Melbourne, Australia. We've already discussed most of the new cars, but there are three quick additions to make.
Williams finally unveiled the 2009 livery of the FW31, and I'm not really impressed. It seems to me a big step backward from the dark blue, Darth Vader car; the interim testing livery they ran
before unveiling their new colours. Two things strike me as odd when I look at this car. First, there seems to be a bit of an effort to look like the BMW Sauber team. Second, I was under the impression that aerodynamic doodads were right out, yet Williams has installed a set of "bunny-ears" on the car to funnel air to the rear wing, thus increasing downforce. Williams has claimed that other teams will do the same thing by Melbourne, but I'm just waiting on the FIA to call the Williams team over to the side for a bit of a light chat.
In other news, Force India finally unveiled their perennial backmarker, the VJM02, which will
now have a McLaren chassis, but otherwise will probably run about the same grid spots as last year. Like most of the other cars that have already been unveiled, the VJM02 doesn't exactly sparkle. From the newly-regulated boxy rear wing to the snowplow front scoop, the car screams "Not So FAST!" And in keeping with the spirit of Williams snubbing their noses at the FIA's regulations, Force India has a few aero-doodads on the sides of the car. Apparently they thought that by painting them the same color as the rest of the car no one would notice. Once again Adrian Sutil and Giancarlo Fisichella will pilot the Force India cars in the world's premier racing league.
Lastly, the biggest news of the week belongs to Honda, who finally found a buyer, Ross Brawn. The team name has been changed from Honda to BrawnGP, and the driver lineup of Jenson
Button and Rubens Barrichello remains in place. The BrawnGP 2009 contender has already been given a bit of a shakedown at Silverstone, where Barrichello finished on the podium last year. Jenson Button gave the car a few laps, but no word has yet come out about how the car performed. The (assumed) interim livery is a plain white with black trim and neon yellow, and for some reason the car was tested on grooved tyres instead of slicks.
Brawn's purchase and control of the Honda team assures that the grid will be made up of 20 cars this season, which will provide for more interesting racing than an 18-car grid would have. With all the majors players in place, let's look ahead at the 2009 season.
2009 Schedule:
March 29 - Australia (Melbourne)
April 5 - Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur)
April 19 - China (Shanghai)
April 26 - Bahrain (Sakhir)
May 10 - Spain (Catalunya)
May 24 - Monaco (Monte Carlo)
June 7 - Turkey (Istanbul)
June 21 - Britain (Silverstone)
July 12 - Germany (Nurburgring)*
July 26 - Hungary (Budapest)
August 23 - Europe (Valencia, Spain)
August 30 - Belgium (Spa-Francorchamps)
September 13 - Italy (Monza)
September 27 - Singapore (Singapore)(night)
October 4 - Japan (Suzuka)**
October 18 - Brazil (Interlagos)
November 1 - United Arab Emirates (Yas Marina)***
*: alternates between Hockenheim and the Nurburgring
**: alternates between Suzuka and Mt. Fuji
***: New Circuit
If you followed F1 last year you'll note some slight differences from last year's schedule. Gone is the North American portion of the Grand Prix schedule, meaning that Canada no longer has its race, nor does the United States host an event, yet again. The Grand Prix of Germany will be held at the Nurburgring this year (it alternates between the Nurburgring and Hockenheim). The Grand Prix of Japan will run at Suzuka this year; last year it was held at Mt. Fuji.
The Yas Marina Circuit opens up this year, hosting the final race of the season. The new UAE course will supposedly be one of the most state-of-the-art Grand Prix courses on the tour.
Driver Lineups:
McLaren Mercedes:
Lewis Hamilton
Heikki Kovalainen
Scuderia Ferrari:
Kimi Raikkonen
Felipe Massa
BMW Sauber:
Robert Kubica
Nick Heidfeld
Toyota:
Jarno Trulli
Timo Glock
Team Red Bull:
Mark Webber
Sebastian Vettel
Scuderia Toro Rosso:
Sebastien Bourdais
Sebastien Buemi
Force India:
Giancarlo Fisichella
Adrian Sutil
BrawnGP:
Rubens Barrichello
Jenson Button
Williams:
Nico Rosberg
Kazukia Nakajima
Renault:
Fernando Alonso
Nelson Piquet Jr.
Each team carries a reserve test driver who rarely sees track time during the season. The newest addition to the Formula 1 family is Sebastien Buemi, the Swiss GP2 star who rose through the ranks and grabbed the spot vacated by Sebatian Vettel's move to Team Red Bull.
Last year's championship battle came down to the final corner of the final lap of the final race. With the plethora of rule and regulation changes instituted this year, don't look for anything quite as exciting, but still be prepared for some really fantastic racing.
The 2009 Formula 1 season is only 22 days away, as the season kicks off on March 29 in Melbourne, Australia. We've already discussed most of the new cars, but there are three quick additions to make.
Williams finally unveiled the 2009 livery of the FW31, and I'm not really impressed. It seems to me a big step backward from the dark blue, Darth Vader car; the interim testing livery they ran
before unveiling their new colours. Two things strike me as odd when I look at this car. First, there seems to be a bit of an effort to look like the BMW Sauber team. Second, I was under the impression that aerodynamic doodads were right out, yet Williams has installed a set of "bunny-ears" on the car to funnel air to the rear wing, thus increasing downforce. Williams has claimed that other teams will do the same thing by Melbourne, but I'm just waiting on the FIA to call the Williams team over to the side for a bit of a light chat.In other news, Force India finally unveiled their perennial backmarker, the VJM02, which will
now have a McLaren chassis, but otherwise will probably run about the same grid spots as last year. Like most of the other cars that have already been unveiled, the VJM02 doesn't exactly sparkle. From the newly-regulated boxy rear wing to the snowplow front scoop, the car screams "Not So FAST!" And in keeping with the spirit of Williams snubbing their noses at the FIA's regulations, Force India has a few aero-doodads on the sides of the car. Apparently they thought that by painting them the same color as the rest of the car no one would notice. Once again Adrian Sutil and Giancarlo Fisichella will pilot the Force India cars in the world's premier racing league.Lastly, the biggest news of the week belongs to Honda, who finally found a buyer, Ross Brawn. The team name has been changed from Honda to BrawnGP, and the driver lineup of Jenson
Button and Rubens Barrichello remains in place. The BrawnGP 2009 contender has already been given a bit of a shakedown at Silverstone, where Barrichello finished on the podium last year. Jenson Button gave the car a few laps, but no word has yet come out about how the car performed. The (assumed) interim livery is a plain white with black trim and neon yellow, and for some reason the car was tested on grooved tyres instead of slicks.Brawn's purchase and control of the Honda team assures that the grid will be made up of 20 cars this season, which will provide for more interesting racing than an 18-car grid would have. With all the majors players in place, let's look ahead at the 2009 season.
2009 Schedule:
March 29 - Australia (Melbourne)
April 5 - Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur)
April 19 - China (Shanghai)
April 26 - Bahrain (Sakhir)
May 10 - Spain (Catalunya)
May 24 - Monaco (Monte Carlo)
June 7 - Turkey (Istanbul)
June 21 - Britain (Silverstone)
July 12 - Germany (Nurburgring)*
July 26 - Hungary (Budapest)
August 23 - Europe (Valencia, Spain)
August 30 - Belgium (Spa-Francorchamps)
September 13 - Italy (Monza)
September 27 - Singapore (Singapore)(night)
October 4 - Japan (Suzuka)**
October 18 - Brazil (Interlagos)
November 1 - United Arab Emirates (Yas Marina)***
*: alternates between Hockenheim and the Nurburgring
**: alternates between Suzuka and Mt. Fuji
***: New Circuit
If you followed F1 last year you'll note some slight differences from last year's schedule. Gone is the North American portion of the Grand Prix schedule, meaning that Canada no longer has its race, nor does the United States host an event, yet again. The Grand Prix of Germany will be held at the Nurburgring this year (it alternates between the Nurburgring and Hockenheim). The Grand Prix of Japan will run at Suzuka this year; last year it was held at Mt. Fuji.
The Yas Marina Circuit opens up this year, hosting the final race of the season. The new UAE course will supposedly be one of the most state-of-the-art Grand Prix courses on the tour.
Driver Lineups:
McLaren Mercedes:
Lewis Hamilton
Heikki Kovalainen
Scuderia Ferrari:
Kimi Raikkonen
Felipe Massa
BMW Sauber:
Robert Kubica
Nick Heidfeld
Toyota:
Jarno Trulli
Timo Glock
Team Red Bull:
Mark Webber
Sebastian Vettel
Scuderia Toro Rosso:
Sebastien Bourdais
Sebastien Buemi
Force India:
Giancarlo Fisichella
Adrian Sutil
BrawnGP:
Rubens Barrichello
Jenson Button
Williams:
Nico Rosberg
Kazukia Nakajima
Renault:
Fernando Alonso
Nelson Piquet Jr.
Each team carries a reserve test driver who rarely sees track time during the season. The newest addition to the Formula 1 family is Sebastien Buemi, the Swiss GP2 star who rose through the ranks and grabbed the spot vacated by Sebatian Vettel's move to Team Red Bull.
Last year's championship battle came down to the final corner of the final lap of the final race. With the plethora of rule and regulation changes instituted this year, don't look for anything quite as exciting, but still be prepared for some really fantastic racing.
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Super Bowl Prediction
Super Bowl XLIII is just around the corner, and since the Right Wing has kinda fallen behind in football, we figured this would be a good time to once again showcase our prognostication prowess. It has come to our attention that Vegas is making some fairly inane betting lines, such as the color of the Gatorade dumped on the winning coach, if the winning team will score more points than LeBron James does on the same night, what color shoes Hines Ward will be wearing. It’s all in good fun. So now we’ll take our shot at it.
First touchdown(REC): Heath Miller, PIT TD reception from Ben Roethlisberger.
First TD celebration: Heath Miller, spike ball into end-zone wall
First touchdown (RUSH): Edgerrin James (ARI)
First turnover: fumble by Kurt Warner, forced by James Harrison, DE PIT
Color of Gatorade dumped on winning coach:
Coin toss: Heads
National Anthem sung correctly: No, the singer will undoubtedly add about 35 syllables to the last three words.
And now for the real prediction:
Final Score:
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
More F1 Car Unveiling Goodness
When Ferrari unveiled the F60, their Formula 1 contender for 2009 (which is their 60th year in the series, the model number commemorating such), I thought that no car in the series could be uglier. Well, darned if Renault didn’t prove me wrong. The R29, which was revealed earlier this week, quite simply is the ugliest thing I’ve ever seen, and I’ve seen James Carville. It looks like Renault took a Zamboni and a doorstop, painted both with the standard British police livery, smashed them together, put them in a wind tunnel, and labeled the result as the R29.
The body of the car is horrifying in its simplicity. At least McLaren tried to make their car look aerodynamic. 
Renault apparently took the new aerodynamic regulations as far as possible, creating a box on wheels. Honestly, the R29 looks about as aerodynamic as a building.
Drivers Fernando Alonso and Nelson Piquet Jr. both gave it a spin, and apparently were fairly pleased with its handling and speed. The paint scheme is laughable. I mean, the 2008 colors were bad enough; the 2009 scheme is downright comical.
On the same day that Renault was unveiling the ugliest car ever, Williams was showing off their FW31, their own 2009 contender. It was unveiled in the interim testing color scheme, which is a dark blue, almost black. I told Robert that it looked like the Darth Vader of F1 cars. I honestly hope they use that scheme, because it is rather impressive, especially given that Williams produced a very sleek car.
The FW31 follows the standard set by the new aero regs, conforming to the wider front wing and narrowed back wing. The dark paint scheme adds an intimidation factor that, if allowed to remain in place through the season, would return some of the intimidation Williams had for many seasons before falling behind Ferrari and McLaren.
The next day BMW Sauber got in on the action, showcasing the F1.09, not to be confused with Toyota TF109. The car retains the color scheme of the 2008 model, a darker blue and white. Along the nose is a little bit of paint deception, as Sauber tried to make a rather boxy car look sleek by painting an arrow-style design.
On the Formula 1 home page they had a picture of the 2009 model sitting beside the 2008 contender, and the difference is vast (picture below). The front wing on the F1.08 was double-foil with aerodynamic doo-dads all over it. On the F1.09 the front wing looks an awful lot like a snowplow, much like Ferrari’s F60.
The series returns to slick tyres this season, which is interesting for me, as I’ve only known the cars to run the grooved tyre.
We are still awaiting Red Bull and Scuderia Toro Rosso to unveil their cars, along with Force
2. Williams FW31
3.
4. BMW Sauber F1.09
5. Scuderia Ferrari F60
6. Renault R29
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Formula 1 Returns to the Right Wing!
There will never be another season like 2008. Seriously, people thought 2007 was good, and then 2008 happened. History failed to repeat itself as Lewis Hamilton held on to win the World Driver's Championship by one point over rival Felipe Massa.
Well, all that happened about three months ago, and since it is now 2009, the many teams making up Formula 1 are unveiling their contenders for the upcoming season.
The new aerodynamic regulation (check the link, we discussed this ever so briefly a while back) package goes into effect this year, and the differences between the cars of 2008 and the entries of 2009 in vast. The front wing is wider, covering the entire distance from the outside of the right tyre to the outside of th left tyre. The rear wing has been shrunk to minute proportions in comparison to the 2008 model and has been raised up to the same height as the top of the intake. Also returning are slick tyres, something not seen in Formula 1 since the 1990s. Most cars, in fact, probably all of them, will run the Bridgestone Potenza slicks.
First out of the gate was Ferrari, who on January 12 revealed the F60, marking their 60th year of competition in Formula 1. Sadly, the F60 is uglier than a war wound (to quote Jeremy Clarkson).
The car is not pretty compared to last year's model, which I really liked, even though I wasn't a fan of those driving. I am curious about seeing the boys race on slick tyres once again, considering the only F1 experience I have is with the grooved tyre variety.
Ferrari unveiled their car at their Mugello test track, and Championship runner-up Felipe Massa was the first to take it for a spin. Massa, who has a propensity to hit everything in sight and spin out at incredibly unreasonable times, drove the car around Mugello, then back into the pits, where he claimed that it was crap and they had to start all over again. Honestly, I'm not sure if he actually said that, but Ferrari did come out rather quickly after the test drive and say that major overhauls were needed to certain aspects of the car.
The front wing (seen above, left) looks more like a snowplow than an aerodynamic addendum to a car. The standard red livery is still in place, and since the new regulations state that teams can no longer place aerodynamic doo-dads all over the car (that's right FIA regulation 2009 Code, Aero-Regs, Subsection C actually states that "aerodynamic doo-dads are right out") Ferrari appaerntly thought that meant any attempt to make an aesthetically pleasing automobile was right out as well. In discussions with Robert, the consensus was formed that Ferrari's biggest aesthetic mistake on the F60 was leaving the exhaust just dangling out the way they did. The car would be much prettier if they'd fixed that little problem. But who knows, they may fix it in the major overhauling they have to do.
Ferrari's team in 2009 will once again consist of Felipe Massa, who will, I think, again compete for the Title. Like it or not, he's actually a pretty good driver in dry conditions with no traffick in front of him. The other driver will be Mumbles himself, Kimi Raikkonen, who went missing for a time this off-season, but was found at his home three weeks ago, installing a swimming pool full of vodka.
The second team to launch their new design was Toyota. The 2009 roster for Toyota is the same as last season, Timo Glock and Jarno Trulli will once again man the battle stations on the track, and reserve/test driver Kamui Kobayashi. Toyota took a different route to unveil their car for 2009, incorporating the internet and making a pseudo-movie trailer to reveal the TF109. Kobayashi himself makes a cameo in the trailer at the :50 second mark. The problem with Toyota's movie trailer is that the action shots of the car, most notably at the :57 second mark, are using the 2008 model, not the TF109. This mistake is glaringly noted when you see that the front wing is the double-foil design from last season.
Toyota's new car features a better looking front wing design than the F60 of Ferrari. Toyota's front wing actually looks like it will make an aerodyanmic difference during the race. Ferrari's design looks like they will be called out to clean the track after an accident.
The biggest similarity between the F60 and TF109 is the nose design. I only say it is a similarity between Toyota and Ferrari because McLaren remedied the design, as will be seen if you keep reading. The front end design on the F60 and the TF109 is very flat and actually, even though the front is rounded-off, looks like it would allow air to get under the front end of the car and create lift.
The back wing design appears to be a more simplistic version of the F60, with fewer aerodynamic attachments molded in. The team gives an entire list of specs on their web page. The 8-cylinder engine will be capable of 18,000 rpm, the limit enforced by the FIA, and will generate upwards of 740 bhp. The TF109 dims out at just over 15 feet long, just under 6 feet wide, and a whopping 37" tall.
To paraphrase Jeremy Clarkson, Toyota's 2009 contender is not uglier than a war wound. Some might argue that it does slightly resemble a smashed buttock, but I disagree. Given a choice between the F60 and the TF109, I would rather take Toyota's new ride for a spin. I mean, if Felipe Massa says a car is no good, you know you have problems.
In 2008 Lewis Hamilton battled valiantly to the last corner of the last lap of the last race to win the Driver's Championship. He did so in the McLaren Mercedes MP4-23. Well, wait no more, Mr. Hamilton, the MP4-24 was unveiled to much fanfare at the McLaren headquarters in Woking.
Of the three cars unveiled thus far, the McLaren MP4-24 is by far the most elegant, stunning, beautiful, nay sexy car to be revealed. The standard Vodafone McLaren livery is back, a nice reflective metallic silver and orange. The front wing design is the best of the three to bee seen yet. It retains some of the elegance of the double-foil design of 2008, without overly flaunting the limits that McLaren pushed in the 2009 aerodynamic regulation package.
Lewis Hamilton and Heikki Kovalainen were on hand to unveil the car. Amidst the fanfare, McLaren announced some changes. The driver line-up will remain the same, as Hamilton and Kovalainen worked very well together last year. Team prinicpal Ron Dennis, who has guided McLaren for years, stepped down, turning over the reins to Martin Whitmarsh, who has served as McLaren's Formula 1 CEO for some time.
The internal changes at McLaren give the team an appearance of at least temporary instability, but Whitmarsh and Dennis have been working together for a long enough time that the change shouldn't exactly be earth-shattering. And like we said, the driver line-up is not changing, so there is still stability in the paddock.
Back to the car, though. The MP4-24, as stated earlier, escaped the ugly nose design curse that befell Ferrari and Toyota and created a sleek machine with a nose that actually looks like it was built for aerodynamic purposes. The nose actually curves downward toward the front-wing. The rear wing looks very similar to the TF109, and thus different from the F60, if you follow. McLaren also sculpted the body of the MP4-24 to incorporate the exhaust, seemingly learning from Ferrari's mistake.
If I had to rank the three cars that have been revealed thus far, the rankings would be simple:
1. McLaren Mercedes MP4-24
2. Toyota TF109
3. Ferrari F60
Ferrari is already overhauling their design. Toyota and McLaren will also likely change their set-ups as well.
Williams and Renault are set to launch their 2009 contenders on January 19th, and BMW Sauber will unveil their new machine on January 20th. After that, we'll take a bit of a break, as Team Red Bull doesn't unveil until February 9th. Starting today, January 17, we have about 70 days until the opening race of 2009 in Melbourne.
Well, all that happened about three months ago, and since it is now 2009, the many teams making up Formula 1 are unveiling their contenders for the upcoming season.
The new aerodynamic regulation (check the link, we discussed this ever so briefly a while back) package goes into effect this year, and the differences between the cars of 2008 and the entries of 2009 in vast. The front wing is wider, covering the entire distance from the outside of the right tyre to the outside of th left tyre. The rear wing has been shrunk to minute proportions in comparison to the 2008 model and has been raised up to the same height as the top of the intake. Also returning are slick tyres, something not seen in Formula 1 since the 1990s. Most cars, in fact, probably all of them, will run the Bridgestone Potenza slicks.
First out of the gate was Ferrari, who on January 12 revealed the F60, marking their 60th year of competition in Formula 1. Sadly, the F60 is uglier than a war wound (to quote Jeremy Clarkson).
The car is not pretty compared to last year's model, which I really liked, even though I wasn't a fan of those driving. I am curious about seeing the boys race on slick tyres once again, considering the only F1 experience I have is with the grooved tyre variety.Ferrari unveiled their car at their Mugello test track, and Championship runner-up Felipe Massa was the first to take it for a spin. Massa, who has a propensity to hit everything in sight and spin out at incredibly unreasonable times, drove the car around Mugello, then back into the pits, where he claimed that it was crap and they had to start all over again. Honestly, I'm not sure if he actually said that, but Ferrari did come out rather quickly after the test drive and say that major overhauls were needed to certain aspects of the car.
The front wing (seen above, left) looks more like a snowplow than an aerodynamic addendum to a car. The standard red livery is still in place, and since the new regulations state that teams can no longer place aerodynamic doo-dads all over the car (that's right FIA regulation 2009 Code, Aero-Regs, Subsection C actually states that "aerodynamic doo-dads are right out") Ferrari appaerntly thought that meant any attempt to make an aesthetically pleasing automobile was right out as well. In discussions with Robert, the consensus was formed that Ferrari's biggest aesthetic mistake on the F60 was leaving the exhaust just dangling out the way they did. The car would be much prettier if they'd fixed that little problem. But who knows, they may fix it in the major overhauling they have to do.
Ferrari's team in 2009 will once again consist of Felipe Massa, who will, I think, again compete for the Title. Like it or not, he's actually a pretty good driver in dry conditions with no traffick in front of him. The other driver will be Mumbles himself, Kimi Raikkonen, who went missing for a time this off-season, but was found at his home three weeks ago, installing a swimming pool full of vodka.
The second team to launch their new design was Toyota. The 2009 roster for Toyota is the same as last season, Timo Glock and Jarno Trulli will once again man the battle stations on the track, and reserve/test driver Kamui Kobayashi. Toyota took a different route to unveil their car for 2009, incorporating the internet and making a pseudo-movie trailer to reveal the TF109. Kobayashi himself makes a cameo in the trailer at the :50 second mark. The problem with Toyota's movie trailer is that the action shots of the car, most notably at the :57 second mark, are using the 2008 model, not the TF109. This mistake is glaringly noted when you see that the front wing is the double-foil design from last season.
Toyota's new car features a better looking front wing design than the F60 of Ferrari. Toyota's front wing actually looks like it will make an aerodyanmic difference during the race. Ferrari's design looks like they will be called out to clean the track after an accident.
The biggest similarity between the F60 and TF109 is the nose design. I only say it is a similarity between Toyota and Ferrari because McLaren remedied the design, as will be seen if you keep reading. The front end design on the F60 and the TF109 is very flat and actually, even though the front is rounded-off, looks like it would allow air to get under the front end of the car and create lift.
The back wing design appears to be a more simplistic version of the F60, with fewer aerodynamic attachments molded in. The team gives an entire list of specs on their web page. The 8-cylinder engine will be capable of 18,000 rpm, the limit enforced by the FIA, and will generate upwards of 740 bhp. The TF109 dims out at just over 15 feet long, just under 6 feet wide, and a whopping 37" tall.
To paraphrase Jeremy Clarkson, Toyota's 2009 contender is not uglier than a war wound. Some might argue that it does slightly resemble a smashed buttock, but I disagree. Given a choice between the F60 and the TF109, I would rather take Toyota's new ride for a spin. I mean, if Felipe Massa says a car is no good, you know you have problems.
In 2008 Lewis Hamilton battled valiantly to the last corner of the last lap of the last race to win the Driver's Championship. He did so in the McLaren Mercedes MP4-23. Well, wait no more, Mr. Hamilton, the MP4-24 was unveiled to much fanfare at the McLaren headquarters in Woking.
Of the three cars unveiled thus far, the McLaren MP4-24 is by far the most elegant, stunning, beautiful, nay sexy car to be revealed. The standard Vodafone McLaren livery is back, a nice reflective metallic silver and orange. The front wing design is the best of the three to bee seen yet. It retains some of the elegance of the double-foil design of 2008, without overly flaunting the limits that McLaren pushed in the 2009 aerodynamic regulation package.
Lewis Hamilton and Heikki Kovalainen were on hand to unveil the car. Amidst the fanfare, McLaren announced some changes. The driver line-up will remain the same, as Hamilton and Kovalainen worked very well together last year. Team prinicpal Ron Dennis, who has guided McLaren for years, stepped down, turning over the reins to Martin Whitmarsh, who has served as McLaren's Formula 1 CEO for some time.
The internal changes at McLaren give the team an appearance of at least temporary instability, but Whitmarsh and Dennis have been working together for a long enough time that the change shouldn't exactly be earth-shattering. And like we said, the driver line-up is not changing, so there is still stability in the paddock.
Back to the car, though. The MP4-24, as stated earlier, escaped the ugly nose design curse that befell Ferrari and Toyota and created a sleek machine with a nose that actually looks like it was built for aerodynamic purposes. The nose actually curves downward toward the front-wing. The rear wing looks very similar to the TF109, and thus different from the F60, if you follow. McLaren also sculpted the body of the MP4-24 to incorporate the exhaust, seemingly learning from Ferrari's mistake.
If I had to rank the three cars that have been revealed thus far, the rankings would be simple:
1. McLaren Mercedes MP4-24
2. Toyota TF109
3. Ferrari F60
Ferrari is already overhauling their design. Toyota and McLaren will also likely change their set-ups as well.
Williams and Renault are set to launch their 2009 contenders on January 19th, and BMW Sauber will unveil their new machine on January 20th. After that, we'll take a bit of a break, as Team Red Bull doesn't unveil until February 9th. Starting today, January 17, we have about 70 days until the opening race of 2009 in Melbourne.
Friday, January 02, 2009
Football Future-see Bowl Edition Update
UPDATED!!!
After all ten bowl games, our record came to a rather disappointing 6-4. Oh well...
Through five games, our record is 4-1.
Darn you, Georgia Tech!
Jan. 3 Update!
We're now 4-3. But let me say how scary the score calling was. I called Texas Tech over Ole Miss 34-17. If only I'd given Ole Miss 30 more points, I would've been dead on.
And that Utah beating of Alabama, I had the score right, just with the wrong teams. Creepy.
After all ten bowl games, our record came to a rather disappointing 6-4. Oh well...
Through five games, our record is 4-1.
Darn you, Georgia Tech!
Jan. 3 Update!
We're now 4-3. But let me say how scary the score calling was. I called Texas Tech over Ole Miss 34-17. If only I'd given Ole Miss 30 more points, I would've been dead on.
And that Utah beating of Alabama, I had the score right, just with the wrong teams. Creepy.
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