Daily Quickie: Halfway point

Dan Shanoff on the MLB All-Star Game, Home Run Derby, Ryan Howard, Francisco Liriano, Danica, Bode, Carmelo, Zidane, ESPYs and more!

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Daily Quickie

The dunk contest is a bigger dud than ever.

It's time to get creative with the awards banquet

NASCAR's annual Sprint Cup awards banquet needs a little less teleprompter and a lot more drama. Terry Blount has five award categories that should be part of the show.

This holiday season, slow down to appreciate the gas fumes and tire smoke

Ryan McGee has plenty to be thankful for this holiday season: Tony Stewart's haircut, Carl Edwards' banzai move, the neon red hot dogs at Martinsville, The King, the brilliance of Chad Knaus, Dale Jr. for being Dale Jr., and the rumble of a 358 Chevy.

Mad scramble for sponsorship dollars leaves Cup teams in limbo

One of the most unenviable jobs in this shell-shocked economy? Try persuading cash-strapped corporations to pay you millions of dollars in exchange for a logo on a race car. You might be better off trying to unload that swampland in Florida, writes Terry Blount.

Three down and more to go? Johnson, 48 team, might just be getting started

Before you think Jimmie Johnson, crew chief Chad Knaus, and owner Rick Hendrick are ready to rest on their three-peat laurels, realize that's not what makes this team tick, writes Ed Hinton.

...NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Jimmie Johnson (right) celebrates with crew chief Chad Knaus after winning the 2008 championship following the Ford 400 at Homestead Miami Speedway

...driver of the #48 Lowe's Chevrolet (left), talks with crew chief Chad Knaus (right) prior to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Ford 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway on November 16, 2008 in Homestead, Florida...

...Series driver Jimmie Johnson (right) celebrates with crew chief Chad Knaus (left) and car owner Rick Hendrick after winning the 2008 championship following the Ford 400 at Homestead Miami Speedway

Knaus stands alone among crew chiefs with third title in a row

...Getty Images No one has been able to top the dynamic duo of Jimmie Johsnon, left, and Chad Knaus for three seasons. HOMESTEAD, Fla. -- Chad Knaus was standing atop Jimmie Johnson's pit box early...

Johnson makes it official with title-clinching effort at Homestead

Cale Yarborough has company. Jimmie Johnson raced his kind of race Sunday at Homestead-Miami Speedway to win his record-tying third consecutive Sprint Cup championship, writes Ed Hinton.

Think what JJ and the No. 48 are doing is nothing special? Think again

You want a comparison of how difficult it is to three-peat in NASCAR? Think Vince Lombardi and the Packers and you still aren't there yet, writes Ed Hinton.

Funny how traditions take root in NASCAR

Homestead blog Saturday

Palm trees, blue skies and breezy conditions ... we must be in South Florida

Homestead blog Friday