The financial tsunami is affecting every walk of life, even motor-racing is not immune to it.
Two major Japanese manufacturers, Honda and Kawasaki, have pulled out of the Formula One and MotoGP World Championship respectively. Many fear that other teams may soon follow suit.
It is only natural for manufacturers to pull out in light of the financial situation. But would Charles Darwin be happy to see these two Japanese giants to go?
As you may recall, our Mr Darwin proposed the famous "Natural Selection" theory which, in layman terms, suggests that the strong will stay, while the weak will go.
If the theory holds true, Kawasaki would have no complaint as is definitely the weakest team in MotoGP. But is Honda the weakest team in Formula One? Definitely not if you consider that they won a race in 2006 in Hungary, and had a podium finish last season at Silverstone.
In a perfect world, Honda should have stayed. But since this is not a perfect world, the following teams survive despite their inexcusable ineptitude:
Detroit Lions (NFL) - The only 0-16 team in NFL history. Once proud franchise left in tatters thanks to the great Matt Millen. Once drafted four wide receivers with top-ten picks in a five-year stretch, and only one of them is not a bust. Need I say more?
Oakland Raiders (NFL) - Commitment to Excellence? Excel in what? Finding promising young coaches, getting into a messy feud with them, dismissing them while withholding compensation, only to see them succeed after joining your arch-rival?
Pittsburgh Pirates (MLB) - 16 consecutive losing seasons? Now they are signing not one, but two pitchers from India, of all places? What's next? An outfielder from Mars?
Toyota (Formula One) - Boasting one of the biggest budgets of all teams, but still looking for its first victory? Come on! Even the supposedly second-fiddle Toro Rosso has won a race!
And finally ...
Dallas Cowboys (NFL) - My beloved Cowboys are without a post-season win since 1996, and have been playing extremely poorly in the month of December. They should be barred from playing any games after the end of November each year.
Friday, January 16, 2009
Monday, January 12, 2009
Showing Your Cards
Who would have guessed that the Arizona Cardinals will host the NFC Championship Game next week?
Before last week's victory over the Atlanta Falcons, the Cardinals haven't won a playoff game since 1998 (against my beloved Dallas Cowboys, FYI), and haven't hosted a home playoff game since 1947. In fact, since the expansion of the NFL in the 1970s', they were the only NFC team that had not advanced to the NFC Championship Game.
Until this year.
The Cardinals have been plagued by their inability to play decently anywhere far away from home, and were trounced by the New England Patriots and Philadelphia Eagles at the east coast this season. They advanced to the playoff as the fourth seed thanks to winning the mediocre NFC West, and got to host next week's NFC Championship Game only because the sixth-seeded Eagles' upset the top-seeded New York Giants away from home.
The Cardinals' success this season has long been overdue. With their so-and-so regular season record the past seasons, they have secured good draft positions and, to their credit, have made excellent uses of it. Their solid draft choices include star receiving tandem of Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald, running back Tim Hightower, defensive lineman Darnell Dockett, linebacker Karlos Dansby, as well as cornerbacks Antrel Rolle and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie. With such a solid draft record, it's only a matter of time for them to have a breakout season.
Up next? A re-match against the Eagles, probably the hottest team right now led by Donovan McNabb who has been rejuvenated since his benching against the Baltimore Ravens a month or so ago. Many predict that the Eagles would emulate the Giants' feat last season by riding on a hot streak all the way to the Superbowl victory as the ultimate "Road Warrior".
But I would put my money on the Cardinals, who have so many talented receivers and a veteran quarterback in Kurt Warner to do some serious damage. And with their running game starting to gather momentum in their two playoff victories thus far, they would go on to beat the Ravens in Superbowl XLIII, in a battle of the birds.
Before last week's victory over the Atlanta Falcons, the Cardinals haven't won a playoff game since 1998 (against my beloved Dallas Cowboys, FYI), and haven't hosted a home playoff game since 1947. In fact, since the expansion of the NFL in the 1970s', they were the only NFC team that had not advanced to the NFC Championship Game.
Until this year.
The Cardinals have been plagued by their inability to play decently anywhere far away from home, and were trounced by the New England Patriots and Philadelphia Eagles at the east coast this season. They advanced to the playoff as the fourth seed thanks to winning the mediocre NFC West, and got to host next week's NFC Championship Game only because the sixth-seeded Eagles' upset the top-seeded New York Giants away from home.
The Cardinals' success this season has long been overdue. With their so-and-so regular season record the past seasons, they have secured good draft positions and, to their credit, have made excellent uses of it. Their solid draft choices include star receiving tandem of Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald, running back Tim Hightower, defensive lineman Darnell Dockett, linebacker Karlos Dansby, as well as cornerbacks Antrel Rolle and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie. With such a solid draft record, it's only a matter of time for them to have a breakout season.
Up next? A re-match against the Eagles, probably the hottest team right now led by Donovan McNabb who has been rejuvenated since his benching against the Baltimore Ravens a month or so ago. Many predict that the Eagles would emulate the Giants' feat last season by riding on a hot streak all the way to the Superbowl victory as the ultimate "Road Warrior".
But I would put my money on the Cardinals, who have so many talented receivers and a veteran quarterback in Kurt Warner to do some serious damage. And with their running game starting to gather momentum in their two playoff victories thus far, they would go on to beat the Ravens in Superbowl XLIII, in a battle of the birds.
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