Big names make big news and make big money.

That I understand.

The NBA is where it is, or, at least, where it was, because of Magic and Bird. The NHL got its big lift when Mario Lemieux was winning Cups and Wayne Gretzky was playing in the L.A. market. Baseball is doing better than it has, because the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox are playing well. The NFL does well … well … because Las Vegas exists.

This brings me to auto racing. I have read several times, now that Danica Patrick has won the IRL is going to grow. Or, once Dale Earnhardt Jr. wins, NASCAR will be back.

So, yes, Patrick winning helps the IndyCar Series. And yes, when Earnhardt Jr. breaks his slump, NASCAR will be in the headlines.

The point of this post, though, is: Neither of the sports will die if these drivers fail.

IRL is the strongest it has been since it began, particularly now the open-wheel racing merged this season. The Indy 500 this year will again have a great field like it did in its heyday.

NASCAR TV ratings still blow away everything expect the NFL and Tiger in the lead in major golf events, and its stands are filled at nearly every track.

So, go ahead and praises these drivers or scorn them for not winning, just don't say that their series are depending on them.

Because you would be wrong.

The baseball draft on TV was conducted very poorly. Instead of following the lead of the NHL or NFL, baseball had few if any of the players at the draft. Without the photos of the players holding the jerseys with the GM, what do you have? Nothing.
The Dale Earnhardt Jr. Sweepstakes will be heating up the next two weeks. I still like Ginn Racing in a surprise. … By the way, Visa denies that it is entering NASCAR, but that probably would be the only way for Junior to end up with Joe Gibbs Racing.
The Cavs need to be active in the offseason to get some more weapons for LeBron James and Mike Brown.
C.C. Sabathia is starting to look more and more like a Cy Young winner and like a very rich man. The Indians need to ride his arm this season to playoff success.
Is anyone watching the French Open?
Or the Belmont Stakes?
We already know few watched the Stanley Cup Finals.
I think I like Danica Patrick's chances in a fight with Dan Wheldon.
Has anyone seen Barry Bonds, I think he is missing.
Speaking of Bonds, it is time for Hank Aaron to stop commenting on the home run chase. He said last week that he wasn't sure how to spell Bonds' name. Now Hank, don't be stupid. Stay above this fray of steroids talk.
The U.S. Open is looking like it might have a winner near double figures over par, if the players are telling the truth after practice rounds at Oakmont C.C. in Pittsburgh. Watching Tiger Woods and the rest of his golfing mates struggle should make great TV.

Casey Mears wins his first race at Coca-Cola 600 on Sunday with J.J. Yeley and Kyle Petty following. Anyone who bet that trifecta probably can retire. It was fun to watch a great race with some different drivers leading the way.

Although since Mears runs with Hendrick, that race shop continues to dominate.

Ginn Racing is in the lead to get Dale Earnhardt Jr. That would come as a surprise but the success Mark Martin has had is getting attention.

Dario Franchitti winning the Indy 500 was a nice story, although at some point, that series needs Danica Patrick or Marco Andretti to hit it big. Otherwise, it will always run second to NASCAR.

LeBron James was fouled, but the Cavs can't wait to take the last shot. Go for the throat! … Danica Patrick will win an IndyCar Series race but not this weekend's Indy 500. … The Indians, Tigers, Angels and Red Sox will be the playoff teams in the American League. … Charlie Frye will be the starting quarterback for the Browns, and Brady Quinn will sit unless Frye and Derek Anderson get hurt. … Jamal Lewis is an ancient 27 and will show it this season. … Kent State football will make a run at the MAC title game. … Jimmie Johnson will win the Coca-Cola 600 because he does just about every year. … Expect the David Beckham talk to pick up after the holiday. His arrival to MLS is two months away. … The Yankees are done, and Joe Torre will not survive the season.

Ottawa will beat Anaheim in six games to win the Stanley Cup. … David Stern had to cringe when his next two potential superstars ended up in the Northwest with the Trail Blazers and SuperSonics winning the draft lottery's top two spots. Greg Oden will go to the Blazers and Kevin Durant to the Sonics. … Will anybody see them play? … Despite all of the offseason moves, the Patriots will not win the Super Bowl. No team has bought the Super Bowl, like you can a World Series. … Barry Bonds won't break Aaron's mark until late July at the earliest. … C.C. Sabathia will sign with the Dodgers after next season for $140 million over seven seasons. … Travis Hafner will sign a contract with the Indians, something like $75 million for five years, maybe more. … USC despite having so many players back will not win the BCS title. … Tiger Woods will win the U.S. Open next month at Oakmont C.C., near Pittsburgh. … Wait until you all see the changes to that great course.

Took my boys on a family trip to Charlotte for the NASCAR All-Star race.

What a great time, go-kart tracks, good time with family and 180,000 gear heads.

The race was outstanding with the no-holds barred format. Kevin Harvick was victorious but Jimmie Johnson, Matt Kenseth and Jeff Gordon showed that they can dominate at Lowe's Motor Speedway. And that should make the Coca-Cola 600 this weekend worth the price of admission and your time on TV this Sunday.

Don't forget about the Indy 500, which will also be raced Sunday. Three women in the race for the first time.

Folks can talk about the NBA and NHL and Major League Baseball, but the attendance marks and TV ratings show that NASCAR is second only to the NFL in the U.S.

The Indy 500 has lost a lot of its luster the past 10 years. And NASCAR has left it so far in the dust, I don't think it will ever catch up.

But the new qualifying procedures were fun to watch Saturday and the drama of Helio Castroneves winning the pole for the May 27 race was exciting and made for great TV.

Kudos to the IRL and its IndyCar Series for experimenting with ways to get fans interested again.