The National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) has released its initial findings in the on-track death of 2-time champ Scott Kalitta.

"It has been determined that a tragic series of events took place that fateful afternoon.  An explosion near the end of the run resulted in separating most of the car's body from the chassis.  The car's parachutes did not blossom, and the vehicle continued down the right side of the shut down area at a high rate of speed.  It went off the top end of the track, up into the right catch net pole, and hit the television camera boom beyond the end of the sand trap before coming to a rest."

((courtesy: nhra.com)) 

The NHRA is also making some temporary adjustments to their quarter-mile approach to determine champions in their Top Fuel and Funny Car classes. Instead of 1,320 feet races will be run to a temporary distance of 1,000 feet.

The NHRA's determination and rationale are here ((courtesy nhra.com))

Team Kalitta has their tribute posted on their website teamkalitta.com  

Cross-up or Intentional?

Stephens County principal David Friend apologized to the Georgia High School Association for an incident in the Class AAA championship baseball series Saturday in which Stephens County's catcher ducked and allowed a pitch to strike an umpire in the face mask. Click HERE to read Todd Holcomb's story in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

((Editor's Note: There is no [perhaps]. The perception was that it was intentional. Some reporters need to learn how to appropriately quote their sources. That is all.)

UPDATE: According to the GHSA, Stephens County High School has been fined $1,000, and has been placed on "severe warning" status. In another development, the catcher involved in the alleged duck-and-plunk - Matt Hill - has been dropped off the roster at Gordon College. After seeing the video, Gordon College baseball coach Travis McClanahan recinded his offer for Hill to walk onto the team. Negative consequences for negative actions - intentional or not.

All is right now in the NBA.  The league’s two cornerstone franchises, the Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers are facing each other in the NBA Finals.  The old-timers will recall the battles between Bob Cousy and Elgin Baylor then later Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlin.  Those from my generation remember the great rivalry in the 80’s with Larry Bird and Magic Johnson continuing a battle that began in college.

All of a sudden, word came down from the bad boys at Sportsnet that Damon Allen was retiring. Next thing I know I was working like mad to put together a Damon Allen career retrospective.

The OHL’s version of the Final Four is now set and the league can’t be happier. In the Western Conference, Kitchener faces Sault Ste. Marie – the top two seeds in the conference. While out East, Belleville will meet Oshawa. Again it’s a battle of the top two seeds.

I have to say, it surprised me to see Buckner get so choked up more than two decades after his infamous gaffe that contributed to the Red Sox losing the World Series back in 1986. For the first time I stopped to think about what he must have gone through afterwards. Not as a player, but as a person.

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