Pearson should have made inaugural NASCAR Hall

By Joe McAdory

NASCAR’s inaugural Hall of Fame class was released Wednesday with some scrutiny, but scrutiny always seems to follow polls and elections anyway. The group consisted of Dale Earnhardt, Richard Petty, Junior Johnson, Bill France Sr., and Bill France Jr. Not a bad group, obviously. Each were major contributors to the growth and prosperity of the sport.

But if I were voting ... here’s my top five in no particular order: Richard Petty, Dale Earnhardt, Bill France Sr., Junior Johnson and David Pearson. The difference in my five and the inaugural class is Pearson and France Jr. Nothing against the Frances, but I’d prefer to see one NASCAR czar enshrined at a time instead of taking up 40 percent of the class. Big Bill had his era and get inducted first. His son followed with growth in the 80s and 90s. Let him get inducted in the second class.

David Pearson is the only driver besides Richard Petty to amass more than 100 wins (105). I’m not sure if he wasn’t better than Petty or Earnhardt.

So with the first class chosen, here’s how I would vote the 2010 class (not that NASCAR will ask): Pearson, Cale Yarborough, Bobby Allison, Darrell Waltrip and Lee Petty. If Waltrip is inducted next year, I hope the man doesn’t ham it up and grab all of the attention. The spotlight should fall on five winners, not one.

Maybe Byrne and AEA can meet in the middle

By Joe McAdory

The war is on between Republican gubernatorial candidate Bradley Byrne and state Democratic executive secretary Paul Hubbert.

Tuesday, Byrne called upon fellow GOP candidates not to accept campaign money from the union, a lobbyist group that represents teachers statewide, and referred to the union as the “single greatest impediment to quality education in this state.“

Them’s fightin’ words.
“I stand foursquare with teachers of the state of Alabama ... But I don’t think that AEA stands for the best of their profession. AEA stands for the worst of it,“ Byrne said outside the Alabama Capitol.

Obviously, Hubbert took exception.

“If working for classroom teachers is an impediment to education, I don’t know what it would take for him to believe AEA is a positive force,“ Hubbert said.

“He is telling people he is upset with us. AEA does what its membership asks us to. If we are successful, I guess we make some folks upset with us.“
Byrne believes the union stands in the way of reforms and controlled the state’s education budget for years.

Well I would hope the union has a hand on the state’s education budget considering it represents the men and women who teach our children. However, when I view the AEA, I don’t think of teachers, and that’s sad. I think of politics. To me, the AEA has become less of a teachers organization and more of a player in Montgomery. When I see the Alabama School Journal, front-page stories have little to do with improving teachers’ techniques or offering other ideas for the classroom. Instead, I see stories from the Legislature.

Alabama needs its teachers union as it is so vital to protecting and enhancing the careers of our educators who work hard to nurture our children with the best quality learning atmosphere possible. However, I’d like to see the union turn its focus more on the classroom and less on the Legislature. When that happens, men and women campaigning for the GOP gubernatorial nomination would take the union seriously as a positive factor in the state rather than a megative one. Democratic candidates are already on the AEA side. Why? Hubbert’s ties to the party make that pretty clear.

It’s time the state’s teachers union was non-partisan. It’s time for cooperation and consideration in Montgomery. It’s time politicians and teachers unions stop bickering. It’s time to focus on education.

So who’s right? Both to some degree and neither to some degree. Maybe they can meet in the middle and take steps forward rather than slugging one another in the press and in the Legislature when it convenes next winter.

Busy time

By Joe McAdory

It’s been a pretty busy time here, which is often reflected in my lack of postings. In that span of time I’ve ...

* Seen the Atlantic Ocean, but did not step foot on the beach.

* Played two rounds of golf, one the best round of my life and the other completely in the opposite direction.

* Drove past Daytona International Speedway and reflected on how my interest in NASCAR has plummeted over the last few years.

* Cooked BBQ ribs and look forward to doing it again.

* Spent a Saturday afternoon watching more football in one day than I have in years.

* Locked myself out of my hotel room ... twice.

* Ran into a drive-through menu.

McCalebb hurt, should be ok

By Joe McAdory

The extent of his injury isn’t clear, but AU running back Onterio McCalebb was hurt when tackled on a fake punt play late in the second quarter. From my vantage point, I’d guess the injury was ankle or foot related. Just a guess.

In the third period, he was walking around the sidelines with his helmet on. I’d guess the dude’s ok.

Top 10 reasons why Auburn struck back

By Joe McAdory

The title speaks for itself.

10. Ball State’s Zane Fakes fumbles at the Auburn 24 with the Cardinals ahead 7-0. If he doesn’t, BSU has a chance for an early double-digit lead.

9. AU’s passing game. The Chris Todd to Darvin Adams combination is on fire. As I write this, Todd hasn’t had an incompletion.

8. Anthony Gulley’s second fumble on a punt return wasn’t recovered by Ball State.

7. Terrell Zachery has wheels. Big time.

6. Zach Clayton’s big hit on MiQuale Lewis pushed the Cards back to the 2. Two plays later, they couldn’t get out of the end zone for a safety.

5. Because Craig Stephens and John Bynes are pretty sporty linebackers.

4. Because Auburn can’t afford to get into a dogfight with a bad team.

3. Because it’s rainy and we’re hoping for the mercy rule.

2. Because Onterio McCalebb is fast. Sick fast.

1. Reality.