The Sporting News articles from December 2003

The Sporting News archives from December 2003

Crunch time.(SportingNews.Com)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... If you're a fantasy football player, the playoffs are just around the corner. Now is no time to second-guess yourself--let the experts of the Fantasy Source help you through the stretch drive. We provide customized analysis, rankings and more....

Anytime, anywhere.(SportingNews Radio)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... Not near a radio or a computer when you need a Sporting News Radio fix? Don't worry--the nation's No. 1 sports talk radio network is available on a variety of platforms, including XM Satellite Radio (channel 143) and RealOne Mobile for Sprint...

Shopping season.(SportingNews Books)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... Looking for the perfect gift for that sports fan in your life? Our bookstore has just what you need. Titles in all your favorite sports, from baseball to NASCAR, are available at www.sportingnews.com/books; order now to ensure on-time delivery...

To know list: 5 ways to beat tryptophazzzzzzzzzzzz ...(Know It All)
December 1, 2003... (1) THE STATE OF BARRY It's business as usual for Bonds--he comes first Barry Bonds is within two homers of Willie Mays, 56 of Babe Ruth and 97 of all-time leader Hank Aaron. He's coming off his third straight National League MVP award...

Bob Hille's starting 5.(Know It All)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... (1) Keyshawn. He claims he was singled out, but really he'll end up just like every other Buc: a non-factor in the NFL playoffs. (2) NBA realignment. In the Southeast Division, the expansion Bobcats join the Hawks, Heat, Magic and...

Caught on the fly.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... Another Rush to judgment? Even though the Jaguars aren't winning many games this season, the future still looks great with Byron Leftwich. He's big, strong and smart and has good intangibles. Of course, this only is what Fly is hearing. It...

On air.(Word Association Edition)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... from the Century 21 Studios Peter Brown says: "The Sooners might be the best collection of football players we have seen in the past 30 years." Peter Brown Noon-3 p.m. ET...

Wanted: an opportunity.(My Turn)
December 1, 2003... As my name has surfaced as a candidate for different Division I college football coaching jobs, one prevailing question has been asked: Can an African-American at a historically black college coach at the major college level? But the real...

Your turn.(Know It All)(Letter to the Editor)
December 1, 2003... * Congratulations to Eric Gagne for winning the N.L. Cy Young Award. Converting 55 saves is impressive. Too bad the only time anyone actually saw him pitch was when he blew the All-Star Game. Tom Linz, Glenview, Ill. * If Dave Kindred...

It's like going to football heaven: a visit to NFL films.(Know It All)
December 1, 2003... Ron Jaworski is on the phone, but he doesn't sound like Ron Jaworski. He is trying to sound like Bill Cowher. Pittsburgh was crushed by San Francisco the night before, and Jaworski is leaving Merril Hoge a crank message. Sounds like something...

Deal with it.(Static)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... * Deal with it: Bet you can't guess the hottest TV sport: It's poker. No bluffing. World Series of Poker, an ESPN summer series, outrated baseball throughout the dog days and playoff chases; it's being rerun as a seven-hour Thanksgiving...

The buzz.(Static)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... * The buzz: NFL owners may repeal the dreaded 75-mile rule and assign teams "designated market areas," i.e., TV's geographic regions. Heaven help The League if the intention is expanding "local" blackouts.

Vital stats.(Static)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... * Vital stats; Cowboys late-afternoon kickoffs rank 1-2-3 in network viewers this year. Dallas' Sunday nighter against the Patriots was cable's fifth most-watched program ever.

Do not adjust your set.(Static)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... * Do not adjust your set: Jim Nantz signed off The NFL Today by suggesting the use of lasers on goal-line plays, such as Stephen Davis' breaking of the plane in Redskins-Panthers. Then he got a call from a league rep, wanting to know who leaked...

Eliminating the middle man: once again, the Mavericks are trying to win a title without a true center, employing a retooled roster more loaded than ever with perimeter talent.
December 1, 2003... A month into his grandest experiment, Don Nelson insists he doesn't get a thrill from being different. That is, the Mavericks coach isn't starting a 6-8 center and encouraging his 7-0 forward to jack up 3-pointers and letting a 6-9 forward run...

Under the radar: armed with the nation's best defense, LSU is sneaking toward a Sugar Bowl matchup with Oklahoma.(College Football)
December 1, 2003... Sometimes those old coaching axioms just don't get through. Take Nick Saban's 24-hour rule. The premise is fine, really: After a game has ended, his players at LSU can talk only about that game for the first day; then they must let it go and...

Their time is now: this season's Ohio State-Michigan showdown--with a conference title and possibly a Sugar Bowl berth on the line--was bigger than ever. Next season's game likely will mean far less.
December 1, 2003... Tony Pape had trouble sleeping last week. "How'd I do it?" the Michigan offensive tackle asked with his head cocked. "NyQuil, man. Lots of NyQuil." Hey, it was Ohio State week. Pape's mind raced with possibilities--good and bad--when...

Why not? There has been a rebirth of the NFL experience in Cincinnati, where remarkable Marvin Lewis has the Bengals looking cautiously toward the playoffs and asking.(NFL)
December 1, 2003... If you need conclusive evidence that the world of pro football as we knew it is desperately out of whack, consider this: It's November, and the Bucs are stumbling and the Raiders are tumbling, and we are writing a story about football in...

Scars and stripes.(NFL)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... The Bengals haven't made the playoffs since the 1990 season--the longest active postseason drought in the league--and owned the worst regular-season record (55-137) from 1991 to 2002. Comparing the Bengals' numbers with NFL averages in those 12...

On frozen pond: the arctic chill of the Heritage Classic was no match for the warm memories of hockey's roots that were kindled by the NHL's first outdoor game.(NHL)
December 1, 2003... "Wayne Gretzky threading his way through a slalom course of plastic laundry detergent bottles on his backyard rink in the 1960s is hockey's equivalent of Pele dribbling a tied up bundle of rags through the alleys of Tres Coracoes, Brazil, in...

A team transformed.(NHL)
December 1, 2003... A year ago, it appeared possible that there wouldn't be NHL games this season in Buffalo. A year ago, the biggest hockey story in Buffalo was off the ice. But the team was saved, and now the Sabres' story is starting to play out inside the...

Officials should use the buddy system.(Straight Shooter)
December 1, 2003... NHL referees have the hardest job in the world. I couldn't imagine doing it. The game is so fast, and there are so many penalties and so many things to watch. In basketball, it's pretty obvious what's happening. Referees are looking for guys...

Ladislav Nagy, LW, Coyotes.(Scouting Report)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... 5-11, 186 Age: 24 Nagy, in his third full NHL season, is becoming an offensive force. Through 18 games this season, he had 10 goals and 10 assists, was plus-2 and was among the league's leading scorers. He is playing on the Coyotes' first...

Preparing for the worst brings out the best in the Patriots.(NFL)
December 1, 2003... In an age when a turf toe injury can reduce a contender for the Super Bowl to a contender for the top pick in the draft, the Patriots are 9-2 because they are deeper than Dante's Inferno. Whenever a Patriots player is injured, coach Bill...

Right or wrong, Bucs acted decisively on Keyshawn.(NFL)
December 1, 2003... Ever notice how receivers seem to be the only players who complain about not getting the ball enough? You rarely hear a running back ripping his coach for being ignored. Quarterbacks don't whine about being underused. But receivers never seem...

Week 13 matchup.(NFL)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... Steve Smith WR, Panthers vs. Troy Vincent CB, Eagles Smith has developed into much more of a complete receiver this season. He always has been an enormous threat after the catch and on vertical routes, but now he also is a...

League leaders.(NFL)
December 1, 2003... LEAGUE LEADERS RUSHING Atts. Yds. Avg. TDs. J. Lewis, Bal. 265 1364 5.1 7 Green, G.B. 249 1326 5.3 10 McAllister, N.O. 242 1228 5.1 8 Davis, Car. ...

TSN scoreboard.(NFL)(Illustration)
December 1, 2003... TSN SCOREBOARD NFC EAST DAL PHI NYG WAS W-L 8-3 8-3 4-6 4-7 Pct. .727 .727 ...

Fearless forecast.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... 1 p.m. ET Minnesota at St. Louis. Both teams have explosive but turnover-prone offenses and opportunistic defenses, so winning the turnover battle will mean winning the game. Look for the Rams to ride the energy of their noisy dome crowd to...

The conditions are ripe for running.(NFL)
December 1, 2003... There was a time when 1,000 rushing yards meant something. As recently as 1994, only 10 players reached that milestone. This season, seven players already have more than 1,000 yards, and the number could be 20 by the end of the season. The...

Inside linebackers.(Draftwatch)
December 1, 2003... 1. Daryl Smith, 6-2, 234, Georgia Tech. The quarterback of Tech's defense, he has improved his stock with his performance this season. Is an athletic player with speed, range and strength at the point. A good tackler with the ability to...

AFC East.(NFL)
December 1, 2003... BUFFALO BILLS OLDER, WISER, BETTER: LG Ruben Drown remains one of the best guards in the NFL. He can be overpowering at the point of attack and rarely loses one-on-one matchups once he engages a defender. As Brown, 31, has gotten older, he...

AFC North.(NFL)
December 1, 2003... BALTIMORE RAVENS FULLER FALTERS: CB Corey Fuller has been benched, and it's unlikely he'll get his starting job back this season. Teams have been going after Fuller, who has lost a step. The Ravens should move FS Gary Baxter to cornerback...

AFC South.(NFL)
December 1, 2003... HOUSTON TEXANS SACKS NEEDED: The biggest offseason need is a pass rusher. The team would prefer to get one in the form of a defensive tackle who also plays the run well, but it would settle for an outside linebacker or an undersized end...

AFC West.(NFL)
December 1, 2003... DENVER BRONCOS WEAK LINES: Teams with big, strong offensive and defensive lines bully the Broncos. Kansas City's big offensive line pushed them around, and last Sunday Chicago's big defensive line caved in Denver's pocket and made the day...

NFC East.(NFL)
December 1, 2003... DALLAS COWBOYS ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT:. Second-year RG Andre Gurode has not developed into a dominating blocker, but it's way too early to give up on him. The Cowboys like his size and work ethic, but they want him to eliminate subtle errors...

NFC North.(NFL)
December 1, 2003... CHICAGO BEARS YOUNG TURKS: The defense continues to make incremental progress, thanks in large part to the contributions of rookies, particularly starting CB Charles Tillman and LB Lance Briggs. Tillman's continued development seems to...

NFC South.(NFL)
December 1, 2003... ATLANTA FALCONS ANOTHER SETBACK: Any chance QB Michael Vick would make his season debut Sunday at Houston all but disappeared when he sprained his ankle in a walkthrough last week. lf he returns to practice this week and finally takes some...

NFC West.(NFL)
December 1, 2003... ARIZONA CARDINALS SCHEMING TO DAYLIGHT: The players continue to work hard for coach Dave McGinnis, and the staff is capable of producing game plans that work. The Cardinals went to a one-back set against the Rams, using three receivers to...

Utah must have missed the memo.(NBA)
December 1, 2003... Sitting courtside when the Jazz is in town generally requires the genteel basketball observer to pack a set of earmuffs or risk an auditory assault unlike any other in pro sports. The courtside seat provides a nice view but also puts one within...

Looking ahead at the Big(ger) East.(College Basketball)
December 1, 2003... Perhaps because we were at Madison Square Garden, the capitol building for Big East basketball, or because some people like crunching numbers more than they should, the backstage conversation during the Coaches vs. Cancer Classic focused on how...

TSN power poll.(College Basketball)
December 1, 2003... TSN POWER POLL The TSN Power Poll is determined by TSN writers and editors. Rk. Team (preseason) W-L Early-season issues, Cat in the Hat style 1. Duke (1) 1-0 The...

Recruiting: best uncommitted players.(College Basketball)
December 1, 2003... RECRUITING Best uncommitted players Rk. Name Ht./Wt. School (location) 1. Dwight Howard 6-10/225 Southwest Atlanta Christian (Atlanta) 2. Malik Hairston ...

Andrew Bogut, C, Utah.(Player of the Week)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... This was the most brilliant debut by a leading man since Dustin Hoffman stepped in as Benjamin Braddock in The Graduate. In wins over Georgia State and Minnesota in the Preseason NIT, Bogut, a freshman from Australia, had a combined 34...

Mike Decourcy's 3 questions.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... 1 Is Indiana's Patrick Ewing Jr. as good as we're hearing? When Ewing was signed last spring, he was supposed to be a consolation prize for a fruitless Hoosiers recruiting haul in the fall of 2002. But the 6-8, 215-pound Ewing has been terrific...

Zook is superior in his own way.(College Football)
December 1, 2003... Ron Zook slapped a muzzle on the big fella earlier this season, saying in no uncertain terms that he didn't want Shannon Snell's mouth spewing statements the Florida Gators would have to sidestep. After weeks of silence, the gum-flapping,...

TSN Power Poll.(College Football)
December 1, 2003... The TSN Power Poll is determined by TSN writers and editors. Rk. Team (last week) W-L Last week 1. Oklahoma (1) 12-0 W, 56-25 at Texas Tech 2. USC (2) 10-1 W, 47-22 vs. UCLA 3. LSU...

Recruiting: quarterbacks.(College Football)
December 1, 2003... Rk. Name Ht./Wt. High school (location) 1. Rhett Bomar 6-4/205 Grand Prairie (Texas) 2. Anthony Morelli 6-4/208 Penn Hills (Pittsburgh) 3. Chad Henne 6-3/210 Wilson (West Lawn,...

QB John Navarre, Michigan.(Player of the Week)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... Can one game erase all the criticism heaped on Navarre during his years in Ann Arbor? If it's one like last weekend's--he passed for 278 yards and two touchdowns against bitter rival Ohio State--it just might. (S) Hear from our Player of...

Hayes' six picks.(College Football)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... LSU 23, Arkansas 21. RBs Vincent, Carey help the Tigers avoid a letdown. Florida State 24, Florida 16. The Seminoles play smart and use RBs Jones and Washington to wear down the Gators' undersized front seven. Colorado 27, Nebraska...

Heisman watch.(College Football)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... 1. QB Jason White, Oklahoma. His huge season has been overshadowed by ridiculous babble that he is a product of the Sooners' system. 2.WR Larry Fitzgerald, Pitt, His numbers are mind-boggling, but he's not the best player in the country....

Turning a marathon into a sprint.(NASCAR)
December 1, 2003... It's not unusual for NASCAR to use its competitors and the media to float ideas, seeking to find which ones fly in the arena of public opinion and which ones sink like lead balloons. This year's hot topic is the revision of the points...

Driver reports: why these teams finished near the top--and where they're headed.(NASCAR)
December 1, 2003... Matt Kenseth 17 Kenseth's 2003 Cup title stems from consistency. He had five wins in 2002, but he also didn't finish three races. The crew addressed its weaknesses, mainly restrictor-plate and road races, and made improvements. By winning...

Survival of the youngest: a supportive owner, top-notch equipment and a turning point in Texas helped Brian Vickers, 20, capture the Busch Series championship.(NASCAR)
December 1, 2003... If Ricky Hendrick had listened to his dad, who would have blamed him? Certainly, Rick Hendrick's credentials as a car owner--five Winston Cup championships--qualify him as an expert. But you know how kids are... "I pretty much told...

Look familiar? Like Matt Kenseth in Winston Cup, Travis Kvapil parlayed consistency into a Craftsman Truck Series title.(NASCAR)
December 1, 2003... With a sixth-place finish at the Craftsman Truck Series season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway, Travis Kvapil wrapped up the series championship, but not without some help. Points leader Brendan Gaughan was taken out in a wreck with Marty...

Mets should invest in a-rod.(Baseball)
December 1, 2003... Never mind how difficult it would be for the Mets to obtain Alex Rodriguez and squeeze him into their payroll. Just consider how quickly he would revive their franchise. Attendance would rebound. The value of the club's next local television...

A.L. reports.(Baseball)
December 1, 2003... ANAHEIM ANGELS IF Alfredo Amezaga looked lost at times at the plate last season (23 strikeouts in 105 at-bats), but he has been more selective in the Mexican winter league. His defense already is spectacular, and if he has a strong spring,...

N.L. reports.(Baseball)
December 1, 2003... ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS G.M. Joe Garagiola Jr. is working the phones and will scour the free-agent market in his quest to add some power to the lineup. The team plans to fill its other main need, a left-handed reliever, by giving non-roster...

Fantasy source.(Fantasy)
December 1, 2003... Insights from the editors of the Ultimate Fantasy Source, your online fantasy authority. http://fantasy.sportingnews.com PLAY ACTION by ROB HURTT Whoever wrote the song "Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!" certainly didn't...

Matchup heaven & hell.(Fantasy)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... Favorable and unfavorable matchups for Week 13. HEAVEN Chiefs RB Priest Holmes vs. Chargers. In his last two games against San Diego, Holmes has averaged 171 total yards and scored three touchdowns. Watch for him to get lots of work as...

Steroids spawn cynics as well as mutants.
December 1, 2003... Her e-mail began, "My name is Rachel," and she gave me her take on steroids in baseball. Her take was the cynicism of the betrayed. I loved her for it. A 22-year-old college student, the child of baseball purists, Rachel said she grew up...

Looking ahead.(SportingNews.Com)(Brief Article)
December 8, 2003... Bummed out because your favorite team is 3-9 instead of 9-3? Then it's time to start thinking about next year's NFL draft. Sporting News' Draft Central provides year-round coverage, including a weekly mock draft, player analysis, rankings and...

Hanging with J.B.(SportingNewsRadio)(the James Brown Show)(Brief Article)
December 8, 2003... If you haven't been listening to the James Brown Show recently, you've missed visits from Darryl Strawberry, Keyshawn Johnson, Dan Marino, Marvin Lewis, Tony Dungy and Don Shula, just to name a few. You never know which sports personalities...

Happy holidays.(SportingNewsBooks)(Brief Article)
December 8, 2003... Put smiles on the faces of the sports fans in your life with gifts from the SPORTING NEWS Bookstore. From baseball to football, basketball to hockey, we have all your shopping bases covered. Order now at www.sportingnews.com/books to ensure...

To know list: 7 wins--two more and we could get fired at Nebraska.(Know It All)
December 8, 2003... (1) FANTASY FOOTBALL PLAYOFF TIPS Be smart; don't get snowed Thanks to the BCS, football fans will weather one more December without a college playoff. After all, December playoff games would keep student-athletes from preparing for...

Bob Hille's starting 5.(Know It All)(football and holiday shopping)(Brief Article)
December 8, 2003... (1) NFL officiating. Every week we hear after the fact about a really costly screw-up. That kind of consistently flawed track record usually can be traced back to just one thing: a general election. (2) The BCS. You want proof...

An Eli homecoming would be heaven sent.(Caught On The Fly)
December 8, 2003... When it comes to physical skills, Aaron Brooks has it all. When it comes to intangibles, well, something is missing, which is why the Saints sent him to leadership school last offseason and why this team looks utterly clueless from time to...

On air.(Caught On The Fly)(rating athletes)(Brief Article)
December 8, 2003... Bob Stefton says: "Elton Brand has averaged a double-double every year, yet he is constantly overlooked when people discuss the premier players in the NBA." Bill Lekas Bob Stelton Doug Russell ...

Put up and shut up.(My Turn)(national football league)
December 8, 2003... Can I see a show of hands of those who think the 49ers, Buccaneers, Vikings and Giants are living up to expectations this year? Anyone? Didn't think so. What do these teams have in common? They have (or had) a very talented, but very loud...

Your turn.(Know It All)(Letter to the Editor)
December 8, 2003... * I was considering renewing my SPORTING NEWS subscription until I read Matt Hayes' column sucking up to the monopoly commonly known as the BCS (TSN, November 24). Anyone with any college football knowledge knows Northern Illinois lost to...

Counterpoints.(Know It All)(Heisman candidates)(Brief Article)
December 8, 2003... Jason White I hear this ridiculous argument weekly: Larry Fitzgerald is the best player in the country but he won't win the Heisman Trophy. Here's some news, folks: The best player will win the Heisman. That player is Jason White. ...

A toast to Art Rooney.(Sports On Stage)(Brief Article)
December 8, 2003... In a November episode of TV's The West Wing, set during a pre-holiday budget crisis, President Jed Bartlett excuses himself from a political debate by announcing he is off to watch Notre Dante play Providence in basketball. As any hoops fan...

Virtually marvelous.(Static)(EA Sports' NBA Live 2004 with Marv Albert)(Brief Article)
December 8, 2003... * Virtually Marvelous: Give Marv Albert for Christmas? Yesss! He voices over EA Sports' NBA Live 2004, a techno de force as dominant as any video game wearing John Madden's name. The consensus of reviewers: NBA Live 2004 and Sega's ESPN NBA...

The buzz.(Static)(outdoor hockey on television)(Brief Article)
December 8, 2003... * The buzz: ABC/ESPN's not televising the Canadiens-Oilers out-doorfest that drew 57,000 and captivated northern North America was Disney's shoulder-shrugging signal concerning NHL contract renewals.

Do not adjust your set.(Static)(new sitcom based on Tony Kornheiser)(Brief Article)
December 8, 2003... * Do not adjust your set: CBS has green-lighted a comedy based on the life of Tony Kornheiser, starring Jason Alexander and co-starring Malcolm-Jamal Warner. Suggested title: PTI (Pardon the Imitation).

Driver of the Year: Matt Kenseth.(NASCAR Awards 2003)(Brief Article)
December 8, 2003... NASCAR couldn't ask for a better champion than Matt Kenseth. He's intelligent. He's consistent. He's humble. He's also well-respected by his competitors on and off the track. That respect is one reason Kenseth was a runaway winner of TSN's...

Dale Earnhardt toughest driver: Ryan Newman.(NASCAR Awards 2003)(Brief Article)
December 8, 2003... The hard charger who stood out in the minds of his fellow drivers was Ryan Newman, who won TSN s Dale Earnhardt Toughest Driver award. Newman's tenacity was evident in his aggressive driving style and in the meticulous manner with which his...

Comeback driver: Terry Labonte.(NASCAR Awards 2003)(Brief Article)
December 8, 2003... In a season of hot-blooded competition, NASCAR's Iceman, Terry Labonte, accomplished what many of his competitors could not. "We won a pole, won a race and finished in the top 10 in points, and that makes for a heck of a year," says Labonte, a...

Rookie of the Year: Jamie McMurray.(NASCAR Awards 2003)(Brief Article)
December 8, 2003... Jamie McMurray put the 2003 freshman class on notice in 2002, when he got his first Cup win in his second start, at Charlotte. Yes, he accomplished that feat with the help of Sterling Marlin's championship-caliber team, but somebody had to...

Pit Crew of the Year: Bill Elliott's No. 9 team.(NASCAR Awards 2003)(Brief Article)
December 8, 2003... Generally, the crew that wins the Union 76 Pit Crew Competition is voted the TSN Pit Crew of the Year award by crew members, and this year was no different. But the crew voting was a battle. Bill Elliott's No. 9 crew from Evernham...

Crew Chief of the Year: Robbie Reiser.(NASCAR Awards 2003)(Brief Article)
December 8, 2003... Robbie Reiser narrowly edged last year's TSN Crew Chief of the Year, Matt Borland, for this season's honor. Fellow chiefs and crew members pondered whether to select the crew chief who won eight races and 11 poles--Borland, with Ryan...

Owner of the Year: Jack Roush.(NASCAR Awards 2003)(Brief Article)
December 8, 2003... Although it can't quite compare to the satisfaction of winning his first Winston Cup championship after 16 years of blood, sweat and more tears than he'd like to remember, Jack Roush was humbled when he learned he had been chosen TSN's Owner of...

Bush Series.(NASCAR Awards 2003)(Brian Vickers )
December 8, 2003... Driver: Brian Vickers Owner: Ricky Hendrick Crew chief: Harold Holly At the beginning of the season, Brian Vickers, TSN's Driver of the Year in the Busch Series, was a long shot to win the championship. In fact, he was running well below...

Craftsman Truck Series.(NASCAR Awards 2003)(Brendan Gaughan)
December 8, 2003... Driver: Brendan Gaughan Owner: Steve Coulter Crew chief: Chris Showalter Brendan Gaughan can take some consolation from a season of heartbreak in which the Craftsman Truck Series championship was snatched from his grasp by a late-race...