President Obama welcomed Jimmie Johnson and other 2010 Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup drivers to the White House to honor Jimmie Johnson’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Championship.
Said President Obama, "Jimmie’s talent has been to make a very difficult, demanding sport look easy. But this year, the Number 48 team also showed its toughness. They entered the last race of the Chase trailing, and ended up pulling off an extraordinary comeback."
Johnson was joined by Denny Hamlin, Matt Kenseth, Kyle Busch, Jeff Gordon, Clint Bowyer, Kurt Busch and Jeff Burton.
Johnson presented the president with driving gloves he wore during a race he won in Las Vegas.
"I don't get to drive much anymore these days", said the president, joking that he would use the gloves when he drove 'Golf Cart One', a golf cart used by the president at Camp David.
The President recognized the efforts by Johnson and NASCAR to give back to their community as part of their visit, continuing the tradition begun by President Obama of honoring athletes and sports teams for their efforts on and off the field.
Last month, the drivers and staff toured Walter Reed hospital, served dinner to 400 wounded warriors and their loved ones. NASCAR has been a huge supporter of the Joining Forces program instituted by First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden in upport of military families. Today, Johnson made a special visited the Pentagon. Later this week, NASCAR will once again honor the U.S. military and first responders in Richmond the night before the anniversary of 9/11.
The Sprint Cup Championship is a 36-race season running from February to November. After 26 races, the point standings are realigned and the top 12 drivers compete evenly in the “Chase for the Sprint Cup”, a 10 race shootout for the championship.
This is Jimmie Johnson’s fifth consecutive win since 2006.President Obama welcomed Jimmie Johnson and other 2010 Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup drivers to the White House to honor Jimmie Johnson’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Championship.
We posted this in late July, but as the official event gets closer to the September 10th date, we want to remind you of this epic event between two of the most prominent college football teams of our time.
Read (or re-read) the press release, issued in July, 2011 by EventsDC and plan to get your tickets today to attend Saturday's game at RFK.
Events DC announced today that the official schedule of events surrounding the inaugural Nation’s Football Classic™ will be held Thursday, September 8 through Sunday, September 11.
The inaugural game features Howard University and Morehouse College, two of our nation’s most recognized and heritage-rich Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). Howard and Morehouse renew their rivalry at RFK Stadium on Saturday, September 10 beginning at 3:30 p.m., marking their first meeting in 14 years.
A full line up of **FREE** events has been planned. Thursday, September 8 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Presidential Symposium: Beyond the Stereotypes – Academics, Athletics, Character and Black Male Achievement – Howard University Cramton Auditorium. Through panel discussions, this event will showcase the positive roles colleges and communities play in improving educational and social opportunities for Black males.
Friday, September 9 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. UNCF Empower Me Tour / HBCU College Showcase and Recruitment Fair – Walter E. Washington Convention Center
Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. College-bound students and their parents participate in seminars focused on financial education, college readiness, career readiness, entrepreneurship, health and wellness, service and philanthropy. In addition, admission and recruitment information on HBCUs will be available.
Noon – 1:00 p.m. Nation’s Football Classic™ Kickoff Rally – Downtown D.C. location includes the official Kickoff Rally in the heart of the nation’s capital. Reps from participating schools, city officials, music and much more.
2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. "The Game Before The Game": Howard vs. Morehouse Student Debate – Howard University Cramton Auditorium. Witness the academic rivalry between Howard and Morehouse as they showcase each school’s tradition of developing great orators.
7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. HBCU Alumni Networking Reception - DC Renaissance Hotel. Alumni from all HBCUs gather for networking and fellowship
A Recap of DC's Most Talked About Sporting Events (Most Mondays)
Since Monday is a Labor Day holiday, we're taking a little break, but want to still highlight some sporting events that took place over the holiday weekend.
Boxing We congratulate Maryland boxer, Gary Russell on his win over Leonilo Miranda. The two fought at Biloxi, Mississppi's Beau Rivage Casino where the undefeated Russell won an eight-round unanimous decision, improving his record to 18-0, 10 KOs.
In other boxing news: Still to come - Jimmy Lange returns to the Patriot Center September 10th to take on Raul Munoz.
The card will also feature DC's 17 year-old welterweight star Dusty Harrison, his first hometown appearance since turning pro earlier this summer.
-- Skate On! Skateboarding enthusiasts enjoyed a day-long skateboarding event at the Maloof Money Cup. The event, which continues through Sunday, brings the hottest skateboarders to DC for a chance at winning $100,000.
Check out Saturday's semi-final action below.
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Summer League Basketball Summer league basketball remains dominant in the DC metro with the The Melo League Vs. The Goodman League with NBA's Carmelo Anthony, LeBron James, Chris Paul and Kevin Durrant all participating.
James raked in 38 points, while Melo tried to top that, missing the mark with 36. Kevin Durrant, Oklahoma's ballin', brass-bomber topped all scorers with 59 points.
The Melo All-Stars won 149-141 over the Goodman League.
Can you say ballin'?!!!
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Perhaps the Biggest DC Sporting Event of Last Week Who can forget the season finale win for the Washington Redskins as they defeated the Tampa Bay Bucanneers 29-24, perhaps giving the team a little bit more street cred than many (including us) had suspected.
#16 Brandon 'Speedy' Banks of the Redskins gets by a Tampa Bay defender. Photo/Aaron J. for DC UrbanSports.
With Tampa Bay deciding not to play any of their twenty-two starters, the Redskins impressed a crowd of almost 60,000 at FedEx Field by scoring in the end zone - multiple times - including a 95 yard run by returner Brandon Banks who almost missed the mark after a replay suggested that his pre-celebratory jesture found his foot had not reached the end zone. After review, officials decided however that his hand carrying the ball, extended over the end zone before his foot, thus allowing the official call of a touchdown to stand, giving the Skins a 13-0 lead.
Twitter was on fire after the play with Tweets like this one:
Banks said he wouldn't make the same mistake that probably would have cost the team a TD (and the game). He made no mention of the episode on his Twitter account, but did tweet - "That was a great game!" Indeed it was, a game that further solidified his spot on the roster, one where many tried to suggest he wasn't worthy due to his offseason adventures.
Tampa Bay Catches Up One electrifying Tampa Bay moment was led by Ed Gant breaking tackle, claiming a 96-yard touchdown in the third quarter.
Another moment came after Tampa's Armando Allen threw a 20-yard touchdown catch and Jonathan Crompton’s two-point conversion pass to Gant had the Skins making adjustments in order to perform a little late-in-the-4th-quarter magic of their own.
Just when you hadn't seen, or heard, much from Donte’ Stallworth this preseason the wide receiver caught a late 4th quarter, 41-yard TD pass from Skins' Kellen Clemens with just 1:07 remaining to secure the win for the seemingly revamped Redskins.
Kicking A Perfect 10 Kicker Graham Gano proved solid throughout the preseason and last Thursday's game was no exception. The kicker, turned new father last month, finished the preseason a perfect 10-of-10 on field goal attempts and 8-of-8 on PATs.
Kicker Graham Gano completes a perfect season vs Tampa Bay. Photo/Aaron J. for DC UrbanSports.
Rookie Rehire Skins' rookie Evan Royster managed a 1 yard touch down from John Beck, the game's starting quarterback, early in the second quarter to give the Skins an early lead over Tampa Bay.
#25 Evan Royster of the Redskins breaks tackle for a 1 yard touchdown to help the Skins win over Tampa Bay. Photo/Aaron J. for DC UrbanSports.
The touchdown is Royster's first of his NFL career. The running back suffered a mild concussion in the game, to which Coach Shanahan remarked, "Too bad Evan had that mild concussion. I would have liked to see him play a little bit more." To add to injury, Royster was one of 24 players the team cut to make the NFL's mandatory 53-man roster.
However... (and there's always that).
A 'report' earlier today finds that Royster has been signed to the team's practice squad, after no longer feeling the effects of his concussion.
Looks like coach Shanahan will get his chance to see Royster "play a little bit more" after all.
Trimming Down A press statement Saturday indicated that the Redskins have released 24 players and placed safety Kareem Moore on the reserve/physically unable to perform list. Trying to comply with the NFL’s 53-man roster limit, the team cut the following players: WR Isaac Anderson, LB Horatio Blades, NT Anthony Bryant, T Selvish Capers, QB Kellen Clemens,TE Tony Curtis, RB Shaun Draughn, LB Thaddeus Gibson, QB Matt Gutierrez, G/T Artis Hicks, S Chris Horton, G Maurice Hurt, LB Edgar Jones, CB Reggie Jones, T Clint Oldenburg, C Donovan Raiola, WR Aldrick Robinson, S Anderson Russell, TE Derek Schouman, S Davonte Shannon, DE Jeff Stehle, DE Doug Worthington, and RB Keiland Williams.
The team opens the season on September 11th against the New York Giants. Tampa Bay takes on Carolina.
And while those two teams no who their starting quarter back is for the season opener, and perhaps the rest of the season, Washington still doesn't know who will get the nod, Beck or Grossman.
Two QBs, of almost equal talent, and still no confirmation.
Beck, like Grossman, thinks he can be the starting QB. Photo/Aaron J. for DC UrbanSports.
The only thing we can confirm on the quarterback issue is that mum's the word, at least from the coaching staff.
Shanahan, when asked the million dollar question after last Thursday's game replied with his usual answer: “We don’t know at this time. I’ll tell you after I take a look at the film.”
Film at 11. Rather nine-eleven, when the Redskins take on the New York Giants.
Will we know before then?
Says Beck, “I’m sure he’ll make a decision, but Coach Shanahan doesn’t want to lose any competitive advantage. So for him, he might keep it hush-hush so the Giants don’t know, because that would be an advantage for us going into the game.”
**Update** -- Shanahan announces that Rex Grossman will be the Redskins' starting QB.
He was confident in this video that he would get the job, and lo and behold... he got the job.
Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial. A Fine Piece of Work.
A side angle view of the MLK, Jr. monument, at night. Photo/ CD Brown.
If you haven't gotten a chance yet to see the newly opened Martin Luther King, Jr. memorial situated along the Tidal Basin in Washington, DC, you should.
We had the opportunity to check out the 30 foot masterpiece last week, at night, as well as a few events from the week, despite the initial dedication ceremony being postponed due to Hurricane Irene.
A great piece of work for a great man honoring his legacy and his vision for a better world for all people.
Although Dr. King didn't play sports, he supported quite a few sports figures and events in his time.
MLK, Jr. Sports Trivia *Baseball legend and phenom, Jackie Robinson toured with Martin Luther King, Jr. to fight for civil rights
*Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. had a friendship with Muhammad Ali, a great man in his own right.
*Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. joined the protest against the 1968 Olympics.
Disclaimer: As we've said previously, even though we categorized this article under our famous 'Not Really Sports Related Moment' section, you can see it really is sports related in a minute kinda way, as many of our NRSRM articles usally are.
