The Hits keep Coming!

Now that the “Mr. excitement” (Pete Carroll) era is over. Can rookie Hawks’ Head Coach Mike Macdonald return them to the Promised land? (The Tomaso Collection)

 

But does it really matter What Time it Is? Or that the Harbaugh’s and Mike Macdonald know each other?

 

Naturally, after finishing my two part No Fenders riveting Football prose. I learned that Jimmy HarBooBooBaugh’  (Harbaugh) left Michigan underneath a cloud of NCAA Violations, a la Pete Carroll going from USC to the Seattle Seahawks over a decade ago, Wayback’ in 2010.

 

As Harbaugh leave the Wolverines after nine years in Michigan, and at age 60, surely is in the zenith of His Head Coaching career, Righto?

 

Whilst speaking of those Seahawks. Seattle’s first pre-season game August 10th just so happened to feature the Hawks traveling to SoFi Stadium to play the Los Angeles Chargers. Which Seattle decisively won 16-3, albeit it was just pre-season competition…

 

Yet interestingly, the game featured Jay Harbaugh, son of Jim as Seattle’s new Special Teams coach, under rookie Seahawks Head Coach Mike Macdonald’s tenure.

 

As Jay spent nine years   With Poppa Bear’ Jim at Michigan, before they both left the Wolverines program. With Jim now being the new Head Coach of the Los Angeles Chargers.

 

Reportedly the last time this father-son duo competed against each other was when Dad Jim was the Head Coach of the San Francisco 49ers against His brother John’s Baltimore Ravens in Super bowl XLVII. As Jay was just beginning His coaching career under His uncle John’s tutelage as a Offensive Quality Control assistant. As the Ravens defeated the 49ers 34-31, in a game which featured a 34 minutes “impromptu”

Blackout, Err power outage in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans on February 1, 2013 while the Ravens were leading handidly.

 

And in another episode of “Six Degrees of Seperation”. Macdonald, who at age 37 is reportedly the current youngest NFL Head Coach. Spent considerable time with the Baltimore Ravens between 2014-20. Beginning as a Defensive Quality Control Assistant. Then as a Coaching intern, Defensive assistant and Defensive Backs coach.

 

For 2021, Macdonald became wait for it, Tuh-Duh! Michigan’s Defensive Coordinator under Jim Harbaugh.

 Before returning to the Ravens as it’s Defensive Coordinator between 2022-23 prior to becoming Seattle’s Head Coach…

 

And that’s way, mucho more than I wanted to know about Football! Since I didn’t even know that Jim Harbaugh had been hired by the Chargers Wayback’ on January 24th until hearing about Harbaugh’s NCAA recruiting rules violation just days before the NFL pre-season began via the Indianapolis Star’s Sports section, Hut-Hut Omaha! 

Once Again, IndyCar makes way for Football

Although Jim Harbaugh began His NFL playing career with the Bears. This isn’t the car He drove during the 2013 Indianapolis 500. (The Tomaso Collection)

 

Not to mention next year’s Jam-packed IndyCar schedule ends in August, Urgh!

 

Nah, AIN'T gonna G-O Ballistic upon Penske Entertainment’s No. 1 Puffed shirt Mark "I'm The Decider!" Miles brilliance in listening to the vaunted Boston Consulting Group – effectively Neutering any semblance of Indy Cars gaining any positive traction due to its STUPENDOUS multiple Off-season's the past few years.

 

Ooh, the season's been stretched out a whole three weeks into September, Eureka! Especially since we're supposed to be A-L-L Rainbows and Bunnies right now marching  towards the end of our Championship stretch. Even though in less than a Fortnight. Thar’ will only be another 348 Days to go 'til St Pete…

 

As that’s what I partially scribbled some Gory eight years ago! But hey, if IndyCar can return to Milwaukee after an eight year’s hiatus, then I can Gory bring this story outta mothballs! Not to mention, we’re All still Ah-Waitin’ Mark Miles really, really Big Plans…

 

http://www.nofenders.net/2014/04/the-mark-miles-sing-along-song.html

 

Are You Ready to Rumble?

Since by now, Y'all are frothing over thee 869lb GORR-RILLIA kicking off it’s 2024 season Thursday night, before Week-1 commencess this Sunday, SPEW! When the NFL takes over TV Land's Airwaves in this great Country 'O Tee’, righto? Did somebody say Tee? Hut-Hut, Omaha! Let's Tee I-T Up, Oh somebody give me a Barf Bag!

 

Thus, Now over a decade ago,  when the Dallara DW12 and the 2.2-liter V-6 turbo era was commencing, Yikes!

 

On one of my countless outings to Mother Speedway, I know CARPETS' prattled off to Mwah some of Professional Football's connections to 16th & Georgetown. Where there was a brief display in the IMS Hall of Fame museum. Presumably during thy year 'O Indianapolis hosting some Super Bowl game, eh? 'Wayback in 2012 Me Thinks.

 

As I'm positive that Dave, Dave's Not Here, Hya! Pointed out to Mwah Johnny Unitas in a Baltimore Colts helmet as part of the football themed display, although I couldn’t find any connection confirming this on Zed Intrawoods’…

 

Hence, I've come up with these fleeting NFL connections the past several years to Mother Speedway, IndyCar and motor racing Justin-time’ for another airing of Monday Night Football, URGH! Or is it Sunday Night or Thursday? And don't forget 'bout College Football jamming the Airwaves Friday & Saturday night's. As think I'll get flagged for Holding on that one, eh? As how ‘bout that Big 18 with them Dawgs’, Ducks, Trojans, Oh Never Mind!

 

Jim Harbaugh

DOB: December 23, 1963, Age 60

2023 NCAA Football National Champion Head Coach

Otay, I’ll start with the obvious one, that being the former NFL Coach who used to be better known as Jimmy HarBooBoobaugh during His San Francisco 49ers coaching days! As Harbaugh, the reigning CollegeNational champion Michigan Wolverines Head Coach was a past co-owner, along with J. Douglas Boles of the long shuttered Panther Racing team. (1998-2014)

 

The team’s primary racer used the No. 4 in deference to Harbaugh’s NFL Quarterback playing number. Which even included a stint as the Indianapolis Colts “signal caller”.

 

Harbaugh also drove the 2013 Corvette C7 Stingray as that year’s honourary Indianapolis 500 Pace car driver for the race’s 97th running.

 

 

Walter Payton

DOB: July 25, 1953; Death: November 1, 1999, Age 46

1986 Super Bowl XX champion

1977 NFL Most Valuable Player

Walter Payton, better known as “Sweetness” during His professional playing days. Was arguably one of the NFL’s greatest ever Running Backs. Having been drafted fourth overall during the 1975 NFL Draft, Payton played His entire career for the Chicago Bears. Including being part of their 1985 regular season Super Bowl XX winning team.

 

Playing in the “Windy city”, I suppose it’s only natural that Walter would “Hook-up” with another fellow Illinois native named Dale Coyne…

 

As the pair co-founded Payton/Coyne Racing for the 1994 Championship Auto Racing Teams (CART) PPG Indy Car World Series. Running under the banner of Payton/Coyne Racing for six seasons, thru Payton’s death in November, 1999.

 

As it behooves Mwah to admit that I saw this incarnation of today’s long running Dale Coyne Racing team struggling yearly at the tail end of the grid during my yearly Portland International Raceway outings.

 

Whilst on a side note, Dale Coyne who originally was an IndyCar driver briefly. Made His IndyCar debut at Portland in 1984, but failed to qualify for the race.

 

Joe Montana

DOB: June 11, 1956, Age 68

1982, 1985, 1989-90 Super Bowl XVI, XIX, XXIII, XIV champion

3X Super Bowl MVP: XVI, XIX and XIV

Joe Montana, better known as “Joe Cool” during His Super Bowl winning days during the San Francisco 49ers Glory Days with Head Coach Bill Walsh! Once was part of Target Chip Ganassi Racing during it’s 1990’s CART Championship winning era as a minority owner.

 

Having joined team owner Cheep’ (Ganassi) for the 1995 season, when the team fielded drivers Jimmy Vasser and Bryan Herta…

 

Dan Pastorini

DOB: May 26, 1949, Age 75

1981 Super Bowl XV champion

Dan Pastorini will forever be remembered as a Houston Oilers QB for many. Having been drafted No. 3 overall in 1971 and playing the bulk of His 13 NFL seasons for the Oilers. (1971-79)

 

Yet it’s Pastorini’s second career I’m more interested in. As I suppose it’s only natural that the Californian gravitated towards becoming an NHRA “Nitro” Top Fuel Dragster driver…

 

As Pastorini drove a Top fuel “rail” during the mid-1980’s. Reportedly winning many event races, i.e.; Heat rounds. But what I’m guessing would have only been one “Wally”. Winning the 1986 NHRA Southern Nationals in Atlanta.

 

Pastorini also raced Sports Cars briefly. Racing for Kevin Buckler’s The Racers Group (TRG) during the 2005 Rolex Sports Car Series season.Along with running a Lamborghini in 2009 at the 12 Hours of Sebring.

 

 Screen Passes

In 2012-13, Bart Star and Bo Jackson served as IndyCar Grand Prix of Alabama Grand Marshall’s respectively. And while Bo Knows Football amongst many things. I still chuckle over His unenjoyable task of stuffing Himself into the “Fastest Seat in IndyCar’s” two seater that year!