The HALL of BAHL

Sports is and always has played a significant role in my life. I have found that most all of life's lessons are learned between the lines. Discipline, individual responsibility, teamwork and sportsmanship are among many opportunities presented within the games that offer guidance to prosper in life.

Over the years, there have been many individuals associated with sports that I have looked up to, been a fan of, owned a jersey of or just pulled for. These are my guys, and although it has not always been a road without bumps for many, these are my guys. In an effort to recognize these folks, I have formed The Hall of BAHL. Individuals making this list may or may not be the greatest ever players, coaches or ambassadors, but they are my favorites.

Each year, I will induct a new class members into The Hall of BAHL. In honor of my good buddy and sportsman Big Ole BudFeiser, who we lost in 2011 and who I grew up playing sports with, each class will annually be announced on his birthday, June 13.

The inductees for the 2021 Hall of BAHL class are listed in no particular order below:

SALVADOR PEREZ

Kansas City Royal catcher Salvador Perez is a fan favorite for Royals fans, considered one of the best overall catchers in the league. Salvy, as he is affectionally known, is very valuable to the success of the Royals.

Salvy is exceptional on the defensive side,  winning multiple Gold Gloves, but his bat has quite a pop as well, with Perez know for some big time timely hits, including a huge one in Kansas City's 2015 World Series Championship.

Perez is the quarterback of the ball club, handling the pitchers and defensive alignments throughout the season. As such, he is a team leader in the clubhouse. But more importantly, Salvy has a deep love for the game, and his positive attitude and determination is infectious, bringing out the best in all those who are blessed to play with him.

Salvy awards players of the game the Salvy Splash, where the Gatorade jug of water is dumped on the head of the player of the game. It is great fun and is a favorite among Royals fans. Having attended many Kansas City Royal games both in Kaufman Stadium and on the road in Atlanta and Tampa Bay, we have had many occasions to interact with Salvy, and every single time he has greeted us with his wonderful smile.

We are so pleased to welcome Kansas City Royal catcher Salvador Perez to The Hall of BAHL!

TONY STEWART

I became an instant fan of Tony Stewart when he came over to NASCAR from IndyCar to pilot one of Joe Gibbs Pontiacs.  In fact, Stewart would step into the Cups series in a Gibbs Pontiac with sponsorship from The Home Depot, one of my larger stock holdings and a company I frequently support.

Stewart was very competitive in the series right out of the gate, and went on to win three Cup Series Championships.  Stewart left Gibbs to form his own team, teaming with Gene Hass. Stewart finished driving career with 49 career wins as a driver, finding great success on the superspeedways and road courses. His first win was a Richmond International Raceway, a track he scored many wins on. We used to say that that out on the track, if Tony hit you, you needed hitting. 

These days, Stewart Hass remains quite successful, continuing to stack up wins with a trio of Ford teams, lead by former Cup Series Champion Kevin Harvick.

Stewart has racing in his blood. He has formed a new racing series, similar to the old IROC series, which will have drivers from all series of racing competing. This series will no doubt very interesting, and great fun.

We will continue to watch and cheer the contributions to racing by one its greatest ambassadors, Tony Stewart. We welcome Tony Stewart to the 2021 class of The Hall of BAHL!

DALVIN COOK

Former Florida State running back Dalvin Cook was one the best at his position to ever play for the Seminoles, and he was simply incredible to watch. He got loose with the best of them, and when he did, he most often found paydirt!

A product of Miami Central, Cook not only excited with his blazing speed, but he broke tackles with the best of them. For Seminole fans, we were particularly pleased that Cook had some of his best performances against our hated rivals.

Always displaying a fun demeanor, Cook was a great teammate for the team, counted upon often to lead FSU to victory. Cook left Florida State with 4464 yards rushing and 48 total touchdowns.

We saw Dalvin around town on occasion, and he was always friendly placing his big smile on display. 

In the 2017 NFL Draft, Cook was selected in the second round by the Minnesota Vikings. What a steal! Although he has had some injury issues, Cook has exceled with the Vikings and is considered without question one of the best running backs in the NFL, and a favorite of fantasy football players nationwide.

It is exciting to welcome former Florida State great Dalvin Cook to The Hall of BAHL!

Smoke Stands On It!

Lead, follow or get out of the way!

In what has to be one of the best races ever, Tony Stewart held off Carl Edwards to win the 2011 Sprint Cup Chase.

Congratulations to Tony Stewart, who drove the absolute wheels off his Office Depot Chevrolet Impala. Carl Edwards, classy in defeat in his AFLAC Ford, did everything he could but Smoke was not to be denied keeping the floorboard mashed all day. PHOTO/GETTY IMAGES

It was a great race put on by Edwards and Stewart; one for the ages!

Lead, follow or get out the way! Can't wait for the Daytona 500 on February 26, 2012!

Horror on the High Banks

Ten years ago this past February, NASCAR and millions of fans lost legendary seven time NASCAR Champion Dale Earnhardt in a crash on turn four of the high banks during the running of The Great American Race, The Daytona 500.

A group of us found out the devastating news in a limo heading back to Orlando from the race, which was won by winless Michael Waltrip, who was driving a Chevrolet owned by Earnhardt's team, Dale Earnhardt Incorporated. Earnhardt's crash did not look all that bad to our naked eye up in the grandstands, however a wild crash on the Superstretch involving Tony Stewart looked like a crash with the potential to create a serious injury.

Like many NASCAR fans, the loss of Dale Earnhardt was a crushing blow to many inside the sport, including Kenny Schrader, Sterling Marlin of course Dale Earnhardt, Jr , and even the NASCAR corporate family. A staggering loss indeed.

But, perhaps the crash had the most negative effect on Michael Waltrip, who Dale was blocking for at the time of the crash, which was coming out of turn four on the final lap. Waltrip, whose older brother Darrell is a NASCAR Champion and FOX Commentator, seemed fine, having won a second 500 and a Pepsi 400 in the following years, as I witnessed pictured below,

and form his own racing team, which after a slow start, is most competitive with drivers Martin Truex, Jr and David Reutimann, and has won a few races.

But Waltrip was still hurting, and it appears the writing of this book has helped him come full circle in dealing with the incredible highs and lows of that tragic day for all of us in Daytona that day.

Glenn Beck, who is not a sports guy, attended the Daytona 500 this past year, which was the 10th anniversary of Earnhardts death. Beck and his family had a blast, but Beck did not get a chance to meet Micheal Waltrip. Beck was aware of the his story, and was pulling for him in the race until a crash took out the #15.

Today, on Beck's national syndicated radio program, he had a chance to visit with Michael and discuss the book. The range of emotions Waltrip suffered through that day is something most of us will not have to bear, but hearing how he worked his way through it is most compelling. Take a listen:


I hope you will join me in wishing Michael Waltrip the best, and cheering for him when he races again on the Superspeedway in Talladega in late April.

Lack of Transparency

There was such great hope back when President Obama was elected by many of our citizens that government would be conducted differently, where the sun would shine in on the peoples business. It was promised by Obama, a wave of transparency:



So many could not see the real Obama while enjoying another night of American Idiot. Obama hoodwinked you folks. Obama is far from transparent, even appointing a bevy of Czars who operate and strongly influence policy without congressional oversight.

Beyond that, speaking of Congress, their actions, particularly during the passage of the Health Care Bill, have been exclusionary and anything but transparent. They have been appalling and have included bribery on various levels, including the "Cornhusker Kickback", which is an embarrassment to all us 'Huskers. The arrogance of these elected officials, who work for us by the way, really has been jaw dropping. Even the folks at CNN have had enough:


Sean Hannity discusses the lie of transparency with columnist SE Cupp, a fellow Tony Stewart fan, and the sizzling Kimberly Guilfoyle. They knock it out of the park!

Shifting Seats For Speedweeks

Speedweeks has returned to the High Banks of Daytona International Speedway after a tumultuous off season. The economic downturn has hit the garage area hard and is also being strongly felt by track owners as ticket sales have plunged. Daytona International Speedway, owned and operated by International Speedway Corporations (ISCA:NASDAQ), has slashed ticket prices up to 50% to bolster sales.

Most notable for me in the garage area was the collapse of Petty Enterprises. Without a sponsor for the famed #43, Bobby Labonte was forced to divorce himself from the team in order to try to secure a quality ride for 2009. Petty Enterprises went on to merge with Gillet Evernham, and the #43 is now part of that group now called Richard Petty Motorsports. It is not the same thing as it once was, and everyone knows it. Kyle Petty, one of my favorite people, is out of a ride. He had Wells Fargo set to sponsor him, but the banking debacle has cancelled that potential deal.

Labonte found a ride with the famed Yates Racing Ford operation and will drive the #96 Ask.com Ford Fusion. At this point, I am glad Bobby found a ride. I am not a Ford guy, but prefer it by far to Toyota, and Yates has always had fast rides. After a season with Toyota, Tony Stewart formed his own team and is now back with General Motors fielding the Office Depot/Old Spice Chevrolets for 2009. This is a bold move for Stewart, forming his own team. If you are a follower of my blog, you know I appreciate the type of entrepreneurial spirit. Good luck to my boys Bobby and Tony this year. Hope to see you boys in victory lane!