Indy Race Car Fans…start your engines!

Posted on March 22, 2013 by admin

The Izod Indy Race Car Series gets underway this weekend in St. Petersburg, Florida.  This first race of the season is a road race, or as my Indy insider likes to call it, a “parade”.  Those of us who love the open wheel racing really prefer the ovals but they are unfortunately, few and far between.  With all of the NASCAR mania, Indy racing has taken a back seat and does not have the fans and support of it’s bigger and more popular racing brother.  But I love the Indy series.  Dario Franchitti is my driver and it will be interesting to see how he fares this season.  He is in the midst of a just announced divorce from his wife of twelve plus years, Ashley Judd (who has been recently spotted supporting her half sister, Wynonna on DWTS) and other than his big win at the Indy 500, a rather lack luster season last year.  He and his chief rival, Will Power, will face off for yet another hotly contested season of this once very popular open wheel racing series.  My Indy insider will be in attendance this weekend so hopefully, I will have some insight to offer after the weekend’s festivities.  The race will air on NBC sports channel this Sunday at 12:00 pm.  It will have a lot of viewing competition with March Madness in full swing and the final round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational from Orland, FL on for our viewing pleasure.


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March Madness continues…

Posted on March 22, 2013 by susan

#1 seed Indiana advanced with little drama over James Madison 83 – 62.  Remember, I picked them to win it all…we shall see!  Falling today was 4th seed Kansas State to LaSalle, 63 – 61.  LaSalle staged a furious second half rally to upset K State so another upset today.  Both #1 seeds, Gonzaga and Louisville advanced last night although not without drama.  Louisville (the number one seed in the tournament) had a routine win over North Carolina A & T, 79 – 48.  Gonzaga, playing in Salt Lake City was not so fortunate.  They had a real tussle with upstart Southern from Baton Rouge, LA and finally prevailed, 64 – 58.  The other #1 seed Kansas is in action tonight vs. Western Kentucky.  Also advancing today 2 Miami over 15 Pacific, 78 – 49.  An intriguing matchup on the docket tonight is 8 University of North Carolina and 9 Villanova.  The madness is just getting started!


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Tiger stumbles down the stretch

Posted on March 22, 2013 by admin

Tiger Woods stumbled down the stretch today at the Arnold Palmer Invitational in Orlando, FL, bogeying the 16th, 17th and 18th hole to finish at -5.  Very uncharacteristic.  Still Tiger is lurking as play heads into the weekend with rain in the forecast.  Atop the leaderboard, Justin Rose and Bill Haas at -9.  John Huh is at -8, Ken Duke, J J Henry and Jimmy Walker are at -6 and joining Tiger at -5 are V J Singh and Mark Wilson.  Phil Mickelson and Brandt Snedeker finished at a disappointing +8 and will miss the cut (projected at +2).  Also missing the cut Ernie Els (playing with Tiger and Rose) and +6.  Coverage resumes tomorrow at 2:30 pm EST on NBC.  Try to squeeze in some viewing time amidst all the coverage of March Madness!


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Playing for Keeps on demand

Posted on March 22, 2013 by admin

Not into the March Madness or the golf (uh?), anyhow, check out Playing for Keeps on demand starring Gerard Butler, Jessica Biel, Uma Thurman, Catherine Zeta Jones and Dennis Quaid.  Pretty cute movie, Gerard Butler looks mighty fine, especially in a soccer uniform!  Nice story about a Dad and son as well.  Of course, it has a predictable happy ending with his ex-wife played by Jessica Biel.  Missed it at the theater but enjoyed it on demand.


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SEC takes one over the Big Ten

Posted on March 22, 2013 by susan

Score a big win for the SEC over the Big Ten as Ole Miss upsets 5th seeded Wisconsin, 57 – 46.  Huge win for the Rebels.  2 Duke advances with ease over Albany, 73 – 61.

Tiger watch….-6 at the 10th playing with the leader Justin Rose at -9.  Stay tuned…


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Let’s hear it for Harvard!

Posted on March 22, 2013 by susan

Let’s hear it for the boys from Harvard!  Huge upset yesterday in NCAA men’s basketball tourney…as Harvard upended 3 New Mexico State, 68 – 62.  Bet you didn’t have that one in your bracket, I sure did not.  Harvard played with aggression and discipline and simply outplayed the much higher ranked and favored team from New Mexico.  A little early to start talking Cinderella team but we shall see!  I got four games wrong after yesterday, (did not pick Harvard in the upset) missed on OK State and Oregon and Pittsburgh and Wichita State.  Also, UNLV and California.  Couple of big wins for the Pac-12 yesterday.  Action continues as of right now!!


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Wednesday – Surviving “Paradise” day again!

Posted on March 20, 2013 by admin

It is Wednesday and that means once again, it is Surviving “Paradise” day as it is every Wednesday.  If you think living in southwest Florida is all about palm trees, beaches, and golf, THINK AGAIN!  All that glitters is not gold.  (See my YouTube video on the home page of my site, www.survivingparadise.info).  Please check out my book Surviving “Paradise” by Susan Willoch Shaver.  It is available at Amazon.com for $9.99 in paperback, $3.30 for kindle edition, and $4.99 at Barnes and Noble nook.  book_cover_c_rev1


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Tiger Woods quest to return to #1

Posted on March 20, 2013 by susan

With all the talk of Tiger Woods and his new girlfriend, skier Lindsey Vonn, Tiger is set to return to action tomorrow in the Arnold Palmer Invitational Tournament from Bay Hill Club and Lodge in Orlando, Florida.  Tiger can return to the world golf #1 ranking (after three years) with a victory.  Gotta say, all the haters out there regarding his relationship with Vonn is becoming a bit tiresome.  They seem like a good match to me.  Look at the other couples who are athletes and how well it is working for them: Fellow golfer Rory Mcilroy and tennis star Caroline Wozniacki, Race car drivers Danica Patrick and Ricky Stenhouse, Jr, Nomar and Mia (baseball and soccer) and tennis greats Andre Agassi and Steffi Graff (parents of two lovely children).  Really people, wish them well and focus on the positive.

Coverage of this event begins tomorrow at 3:00 pm EST on Golf Channel.  Will have a bit of competition over the weekend as the NCAA Tournament gets into full swing!


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Tiger Woods quest to return to #1

Posted on March 20, 2013 by admin

With all the talk of Tiger Woods and his new girlfriend, skier Lindsey Vonn, Tiger is set to return to action tomorrow in the Arnold Palmer Invitational Tournament from Bay Hill Club and Lodge in Orlando, Florida.  Tiger can return to the world golf #1 ranking (after three years) with a victory.  Gotta say, all the haters out there regarding his relationship with Vonn is becoming a bit tiresome.  They seem like a good match to me.  Look at the other couples who are athletes and how well it is working for them: Fellow golfer Rory Mcilroy and tennis star Caroline Wozniacki, Race car drivers Danica Patrick and Ricky Stenhouse, Jr, Nomar and Mia (baseball and soccer) and tennis greats Andre Agassi and Steffi Graff (parents of two lovely children).  Really people, wish them well and focus on the positive.

Coverage of this event begins tomorrow at 3:00 pm EST on Golf Channel.  Will have a bit of competition over the weekend as the NCAA Tournament gets into full swing!


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Kobe Bryant to return to action this Friday

Posted on March 20, 2013 by susan

Celebrate for all of us Lakers fans!  Kobe Bryant is set to return to action this Friday when the Lakers face off against the Wizards. Kobe has been out with a sprained ankle and flu symptoms.  The Lakers have gone 1 -1 so far with him out.  Also set to return this Friday, Pau Gasol.  Good news for the Lakers as they continue their quest to deliver on the guarantee of making the playoffs.  Will never happen without Kobe and having Gasol back will be an added bonus!


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