Life in the Fast Lane

Most sports writers focus on a single sport... maybe two. Some columnists tackle a multitude of sports but tend to rely on one or two go-to items, their crux topics if you will.

Before we discuss a couple of intriguing sports topics for the week, let's shred a couple for fun.

Phineas Taylor Barnum would be proud of Calvin Borel. Borel tried his best to steal the spotlight from the race for the Triple Crown this year.

Most years, the focus is directed toward the horses. This year, Borel's antics overshadowed the thoroughbreds. I can't begin to tell you how glad I am that he lost the Belmont last weekend.

Imagine the media's rush to quantify his accomplishment if he would have won the third leg. The thought makes me ill. If we're going to risk horses' lives for our enjoyment, at least give them the attention they deserve.

Take Fair Meadows for example. Yes, our city's favorite little horse track is opened for business again this summer. In fact, this is the 20th anniversary of the track's reopening, a mere 84 years after the previous horse racing took place in T-Town.

Admission is free. You may read a quip or story on a jockey, but make no mistake about it; the evening is focused on the true stars of the show: the horses. Ride out.

This should come as no surprise either. NASCAR is struggling. A few years ago NASCAR was championed as the "sport" of the future. Ironically, the car of the future is partially to blame for the sport flaming out.

The contest (not a sport) struggles for sponsors and viewers. Poor leadership, flailing economy and boredom are slowly killing the events. Will I watch the Daytona 500? Sure. The LifeLock 400?

However, not all racing is bad. There is always Danica Patrick doing Danica-type things in the IndyCar series. Again, outside of the Indianapolis 500, are you watching? Didn't think so.

Let's say you are still looking for speed. Hell, speed rules. That's why Hollywood belted out the fourth reincarnation of The Fast and the Furious.

Check out Tulsa Raceway Park, 3101 North Garnett, this weekend for drag racing action. The 2009 Sooner Nationals are June 13-14. Qualifying is Saturday.

Sunday is put up or shut up for the fastest drivers across the land. Drivers race all three pro categories during the weekend: Pro Stock, Pro Mod and, of course, Top Fuel.

Native Oklahoman Cary Goforth (Holdenville) brings the Pro Stock points lead with him to Tulsa. He has one victory under the hood already this year.

"I have a lot of support [in Tulsa] and if there was ever a place that we could say we have home field advantage, it would be here," Goforth said in an official IHRA release. "We ran well here last year while everybody else was struggling and we look forward to going back.

"We test there, we know the track, and we know which lane is better. Tulsa is probably the best racing surface in the country and to be blessed with us being able to walk into here with the points lead and being from Oklahoma that is a big deal for us."

Reason number 34 why drag racing trumps NASCAR: Straight-line, high-end speed > Pretty-fast, left turns. Interested? Visit www.tulsaracewaypark.com for more information.

Cup is Half Full

If I were to tell you the Oral Roberts Golden Eagles captured the Summit League Commissioner's Cup for the 2008-09 school year would that excite you?

The Commissioner's Cup is bestowed upon the athletic program that accumulates the most points combined between the men's and women's sports. Four first-place finishes and three second-place finishes were enough to hold off South Dakota State and finish first.

Men's tennis, men's golf, baseball (of course) and women's golf powered the Oral Roberts to the championship.

This is the fourth consecutive year ORU claimed the title. One or two more years and I'll start a petition to rename the Cup. Let the suggestions begin.

The X-treme Fighting League is holding another MMA/kickboxing card at the SpiritBank Event Center. Let's hope the XFL gets paid. But seriously, the fight card is Friday night.

A solid fight card usually outweighs the guest celebrity fighter appearance. I can only think of four or five current fighters I would truly like to meet and converse with.

One of them? Tito Ortiz. The XFL is bringing him to town for this event. He'll also be available for autographs at the Central Bar located inside Cherokee Casino Resort at 9pm on June 11.

Ortiz is a lightning rod in the MMA world. He dominated the dark years of the UFC. He single-handedly kept the company afloat. He had a falling out with Dana White. His verbal pissing match with the UFC makes Vince McMahon blush. Oh yeah, and he just had twins with world famous porn starlet Jenna Jameson.

So, you could see where the conversation might be interesting. Then again, what exactly would you ask him? He is a high profile athlete. His life is an open book.

He's recovering from back surgery. He's out of action until rehab is complete.

If Dana White and the UFC "do the right thing," Ortiz will be inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame one day. Why not take the opportunity to meet a legend?

Stay hungry my friends.

action until rehab is complete.

If Dana White and the UFC "do the right thing," Ortiz will be inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame one day. Why not take the opportunity to meet a legend?

Stay hungry my friends.