8:00 PM CSN Baltimore has video of Marcus Smith, a U.S. soldier who dressed as a minor league umpire to surprise his children at a Bowie Baysox game with a home visit from Afghanistan.
7:45 PM A Japanese Harley-Davidson motorcycle that was swept out to sea during last year's tsunami washed up on a shore in British Columbia last month. The bike's owner asked that the motorcycle be displayed at the Harley-Davidson Museum in Milwaukee as a memorial to the tsunami victims.
7:30 PM Buffalo Bills receiver David Clowneytweeted the results of his HIV test which came back negative. And to the critics of his decision to share his results, Clowney added: "Some people are Ridiculously stupid ... And can't see the bigger picture about things that are important in this world."
BIG APPLE DRIVERS SOURED OVER NASCAR TRAFFIC JAM: New York commuters were taken for a ride, as a NASCAR appearance backed up traffic even worse than usual:
The NEW YORK POST reports Manhattan motorists were delayed by over an hour Wednesday morning, as NASCAR held its Victory Lap promotion. Drivers like Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson wound their way through Midtown, closing off streets to other vehicles trying to get to work.The event also took place on the same day as the annual lighting of the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree, adding to the city’s gridlock woes.
Of course, the drivers didn’t seem to mind. The SAVANNAH (GA) MORNING NEWS raced down this reaction from Carl Edwards: “It’s neat to be able to drive a race car through downtown New York. That’s pretty cool. It’s cool to see all the people amazed at what’s going on.”And cool to see all the people flipping you off, since you’re holding up traffic.
• NEW YORK NEWSDAY pitches us news that softball siren Jennie Finch will be joining other celebs in the next series of “The Apprentice“:
• The BOSTON GLOBE bogarts info that Ricky Williams was in Boston to cure his cannabis cravings.• PART MULE thinks it’s grody to the max that Jimmie Johnson would be too Cali for NASCAR.
• 100% INJURY RATE believes that Packers linemen would be getting 30 pieces of silver for taking out Purple Jesus.• One the heels of Serena Williams having a Common interest, THE BIG LEAD lobs up a list of the tennis star’s previous paramours.
The victory helped Johnson open an 86-point lead over Jeff Gordon in the Nextel Cup standing. Barring a collapse or cool collision, Jimmie should be able to clinch his second consecutive championship next Sunday in Miami.Paying it forward seems to be paying off for JJ. Dy-no-mite!
JJ DY-NO-MITE TO DONATE WINNINGS TO CA. FIRE VICTIMS: Jimmie Johnson will be burning rubber this weekend to help victims burned by the California wildfires:
The NASCAR driver and El Cajon, CA, native will donate his winnings from Sunday’s Pep Boys Auto 500 to the American Red Cross. Money from the Atlanta race will go toward the California Wildfire Relief Fund.And whatever the Johnson takes in, car sponsor Lowe’s and Speedway Motorsports will match the same amount in donations to the Red Cross.
