Thank goodness Dale Earnhardt Junior picked #88. Now I just need to add an 8 to my existing tattoo. I won't have to involve a laser...

Rick Ankiel isn't chasing down baseball's most hallowed record, like Barry Bonds, but I'd still say Ankiel got off easy in the court of public opinion after his alleged ties to HGH. Why the double standard? At best, Ankiel was a feel good story nobody wanted to spoil. At worst, the media single out those we don't like. Hey, at least Bonds is real. He never pretends to be anything but a jerk...

My favorite story of the week, the NFL no longer wants cheerleaders warming up in front of the opposing teams players because it's too big of a distraction. Hey, that's strategy!...

My mother recently filled in for me at the Des Moines Playhouse production of Cats. I was in an RV, mom was in my theater seat. She loved it. She even called me at intermission to go on-and-on about how good Cats was. I can't imagine I'd share her passion for people in cat costumes dancing, and she did say the second half wasn't quite as good, but if people in feline make-up make mom happy, I'm all for it...

3:10 to Yuma...that's more like it for me. What a great Western. Russell Crowe gives a wild, charismatic performance, and Christian Bale is even better as a dirt poor rancher who's willing to die if it means being a good father and a good man. The climax delivers the goods. I give it an A. Fans of westerns should not miss this one. My dad loved it too..

I'm watching the Black Donnellys on DVD. How did this Sopranos lite not work? It's good...

I'm glad the new TV season is finally here, though a sub par season of Rescue Me got me through the summer. The best buzz here at NBC is for Chuck. I'll give it a shot and report back...

Big thanks to the Ames Convention & Visitors Bureau. These folks now how to make visitors welcome, hence the name, I guess...