Articles posted in May 2011

Ohio State Grows a Set and Punts Jim Tressel
May 30, 2011

by Kent Sterling Ohio State president Gordon Gee finally had enough.  The constant Chinese water torture of the drip, drip, drip of information about screwy violations that were nothing more than kids doing what kids do pushed the button that made Tressel a bigger liability than an asset. (Yeah, yeah, I know this is being […]

Talk of Gasoline Alley’s Donald Davidson Tells My Favorite Indy 500 Story – His Own
May 29, 2011

by Kent Sterling The Indianapolis 500 is a fascinating event celebrating its 100th anniversary today, and the guy who knows more about the traditions and race than anyone else in the world has become one of the events greatest traditions himself. Donald Davidson has hosted “The Talk of Gasoline Alley” for 40 years, and followed […]

Indy 500 TV Blackout Defies Convention, Belief, and Wisdom
May 27, 2011

by Kent Sterling There is only one place remaining in the world that clings to the notion that not televising an event locally leads to greater attendance.  Everyone else in every organized sport has adopted the philosophy that the more people see an event on TV, the more they will want to pay to see […]

Donald Davidson Remembers Four-Time Indy 500 Champ and Pace Car Drivers A.J. Foyt
May 26, 2011

When Donald finished talking about A.J. Foyt in this video, he asked, “Do you think I was fair to tell those stories?”  He said that Foyt wouldn’t like people hearing about his generosity. Click here to follow Kent on Twitter @kentsterling I told him that it was more than fair.  The more people hear about […]

Donald Davidson Remembers Three-Time Indy 500 Champion Bobby Unser
May 24, 2011

Bobby Unser was my favorite driver when I was growing up.  He was a balls to the wall competitor who seemed to want victory more than life. His car was cool.  He honesty was cool.  And he four ways to win that at the very least challenged the interpretation of the rules. Click here to […]

Ed DeChellis Leaves Penn State for Navy – Huh?
May 23, 2011

by Kent Sterling College basketball is nutty.  On its face, the Ed DeChellis to Navy move looks like the act of a mentally unstable man. Why would a guy leave the Big Ten for a Patriot League gig at a military academy where the academic standards are rigid and very high? Add to that, Billy […]

Summer vs. High School Basketball – 10 Reasons Why Kids Like Summer More
May 23, 2011

by Kent Sterling Basketball purists hate summer basketball.  They say it erodes the specialness of the high school seasons, and features kids doing little more than what they used to do at playgrounds in previous generations. High school coaches hate it as it erodes the influence they have over a kid.  College coaches love it […]

Donald Davidson Remembers 1965 Indy 500 Champ Jim Clark
May 23, 2011

Jim Clark was one of the best drivers that many have never heard of.  He won in 1965, and was killed six weeks before the 1968 race.  No telling how many more 500s he would have won if not for the fatal crash in Germany. Tweet

Donald Davidson Remembers “Hurk” – Jim Hurtubise
May 22, 2011

Jim Hurtubise never won the Indianapolis 500, but when you talk to the drivers from a half-century ago, there are always stories about Jim Hurtubise. He was a character, but also a great driver.  An accident at Milwaukee robbed him of some of that ability, and he became known for trying to qualify front engine […]

Donald Davidson Remembers 1957 Winner Sam Hanks
May 21, 2011

Sam Hanks was a phenomenal Indy 500 driver, who finally won the race in his last attempt at the age of 43. For those who are curious about the history of the Indianapolis 500, listen to “Talk of Gasoline Alley” every night except the night before the race during the month of May.  Host Donald […]