NASCAR, The True Religion

I read about a preacher who lost his son to another congregation because that preacher was a NASCAR fan and the father wasn't. I don't care what anybody says, if you hate the NASCAR presence, you will not last long in Charlotte or in the Carolinas. Many will try to avoid the subject or keep themselves out of southern folklore distance. The ones who can, are the naives ones from out of town or non-English folks. Once you have taken a point of view of a southerner( whether its about race, religion or politics), you better embrace the sport. Parks Helms as Chairman of the Mecklenburg County Commissioner was despised by many conservatives in Charlotte because he always raised taxes and isn't shamed to admit because in his words, "if you don't like it then leave." But nobody left when the public money went to the museum during the recession. (By the way, he is still a deacon at Park Road Baptist church).

Speedy Thompson (2nd left) winning the 1960 National 400. 

In this part of the area to be competitive, you either take the Vanderbilt view or the Redneck view if you are honest about it. If you aren't competitive, you go on the "you love everyone" tick or the drug tip. Very few, will be all embracing in everything. Here to get a balance on the environment and themselves, most will be on the avoider trip or take the southern-gentlemen kick in hard and fair play. Football is the main sport for these southern gents and arts& lit for the avoiders that includes academia.

As for me, it was Sunday. Something real spiritual happens to me when I'm here. Even though I'm not religious. In Atlanta, I love to work on Sunday's but not when I lived in Charlotte. I asked the hotel attendant if there were churches or temples nearby and she gave me a list as well as a mapquest for those placess(thank you). I saw one Hindu Temple which was off Independence Boulevard, too far from Woodlawn to drive. There were a lot of church listings but decided against driving to them. Instead, I decided to walk to a nearby mono-rail which I noticed when driving from the Carrie Undewood concert.

I figured, I would notice a church from the train and get off. I saw this chuch right next to the station in a office warehouse but it was closed until 11 a.m. and it was 9:30 a.m. When I got on the train, I notced how easy it was. A small car but you can get on street level like a trolley. Inside, they had an area for wheelchair bound folks with a hook that can latch on their chair for safety. Security seemed lax because there was none at the Woodlawn stop but I paid money on the coin dispenser. Good thing coz on the next stop, a couple of Charlotte Mecklenburg police showed up asking for tickets.

On the way, I saw a lot of warehouses, trendy apartments with trees and benches, restaurants, and offices but no church. I did see the Time Warner Arena right next to the rail. Wasted money for that adventure from the night before. Asked the cops where the museum was and they told me. I walked about a couple of blocks and found the building on East Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard.

The exterior had an oval, metallic exterior that resembles the remodeled version of Soldier Field in Chicago. Very majestic with a billboard TV showing old races as well as the Wild Wing Cafe restaurant. I got to the ticket booth, prices were relatively cheap. 12 bucks for kids, 17 bucks for seniors and military, and 19 for adults. I chose the Hall of Fame one for 24 plus the 19 just because it was new. Little did I know what the decision would do for me.

The Carrie Underwood Show

I love Charlotte. That is my home visitation place. The fun for me is going to places that I didn't plan for. Charlotte is that town. Other places, you have to put in advance, organize, and plan accordingly. My issue with that is when something goes wrong (something small), it ruins the vacation. However, disorganization costs a lot of money if you are cost conscientious. But since I don't care, I went exploring.

Driving through I-85 is fun on a Saturday afternoon. It was warm without the slushy rainfall. Bit chilly at night but no cold mist or wind. I was just driving around in downtown when I noticed cars filled up at Time Warner Arena. I parked my car at a this lot. I first tried to put cash in this dispenser but it took all my money without giving me a receipt. I had to use my credit card for a 10 dollar parking lot.

After some debating, I decided to stay and go inside the arena. It was Halloween, you saw some kids going to clubs with a Halloween theme. They seemed to have fun. I preferred a basketball game since the Bobcats play there or so I thought. As I went to the arena, the ticket boxes were closed so I had to go find a ticket scalper as well as an ATM machine. Oh, I found both real quickly as well as a homeless guy talking about how he was done in.

The scalper saw me first and asked me to buy 40 dollars. I said I would think about. Then, he went 30 dollars and told him that I would go by the ATM machine to get my machine. When he noticed that I was talking with those homeless guy after I got my cash from the ATM, he went down 20 dollars. Bought the ticket and gave homeless man, 20 dollars. You should have seen the scalper's face. Oh, man.

The arena was pretty cool but I had to sit way up there next this curtain that was covering up the upper deck seats. Everybody was warm and fuzzy with their special someone. Looking down was okay except it wasn't a basketball game but a Carrie Underwood concert. Oh, great. Carrie just got married to a hockey player.

I have to say though, I enjoyed the show. Say, what you will, Carrie brings it. Sitting on the bed of a pickup truck being suspended in mid-air over the crowd by 40 feet high with this metal rail, moving the truck around in a circular motion. You should have seen the fans, moving away from the truck because it that sucker fell .... Oh, well. I like the the three layer, circular, jacuzzi-looking tile stage that she stood on. The middle circle would go down with Carrie and then, you would see her in a new costume every few minutes. She once popped up in a piano (she actually played it), and to start the show, in a love seat. But never in a jacuzzi. Damn!

I took pictures of her in my phone but too far up. Sat in my seat till everybody left and security told me to go home. Traffic wasn't too bad which is very unusual for Charlotte. Drove around and found this hotel that I discussed with the Rest Area person when I got into NC earlier that day. This lady was very nice and found me a coupon at this Days Inn in Woodlawn Road. Cost me 47 dollars per a day for two days. The place was good with a Mexican restaurant in the site. Nice bed and TV. Next day, NASCAR Hall.

Its Fun Time!

I got invited by this lady from the Indian Meetup Group in Atlanta to a trip to Gatlinburg for Labor Day Weekend. I went to her apartment and went with a group of four, including me, packed in the small Mazda with a hatchback. We left about 8 p.m. from Atlanta and got there about 11 p.m. but we sort of got creeped out by the mountside and the cabin we were supposed to stay at. It was mountainous and not exactly paved. One of the meetup members knew somebody who owned the cabin and rented it out to him for the weekend. 114 dollars for each individual. There ended up being about 7 or 8 people at the cabin. Remote but had showers, washer & dryers, satellite TV, and a land line phone. There were about 4 bedrooms with a kitchen, living room, beds, and other luxury necessities. Soap for body and clothes cleaning were provided as well as refrigeration. Outdoor deck looking straight at the Smokies.

The group was great. Lot of teasing and jabs as well as great friendship. I liked the board game competitiveness from that Saturday night! Though, I got scared a bit. LOL. Great cooking from the group with burgers , other meat, veggies, and the coffee/tea. Great job guys because I couldn't cook. But I did help clean, somewhat. Restaurants were good in Gatlinburg. Unfortunately, the traffic was a bit much due to the Labor Day Weekend. Cars came from so many other states than Tennessee.

I got to ride in a helicopter for the first time with these rides that service for a minute, 4 minutes, 8 minutes and so on. We paid 32 dollars each for an 8 to 12 minute ride. Did the skylift. I love the people and the strangers. Very kind folks. Did the Bumper cars. Thanks for the bump, dude? LOL. But most involved deep conversations that stays in the cabin. Finally, learned the basics of chess from a seven year old. Thank you for breaking me out that shell. AJC Chess club will be happy.

Leaving Gatlinburg was fun too. The day before, we went to the streams at this national Park. That was cool. But traveling with the original four and adding another was something else. The cars was stuffed with bags and suitcases. I barely could move. The car was going on the left side off I-40 going 90 before getting on I-85. But the drive was fun. Felt like clowns in a Volkswagen Beetle. Cracker Barrel near Asheville, North Carolina was great but the service reminded me of the movie, Bhaji on the Beach particularly where we were placed after waiting for 15 minutes. But the attendants at the gift shop were wonderful. This lady went out of her way and I bought some things. Sorry, mom, dad, and the whole family. But, hey it's a vacation.

Nothing to conclude which I like because I hope this trip never ends for me except for my wallet. Ha, ah, ha!

Competitive Morality

As a young boy, I was a bit of brat until girls didn't like it so I became nice. Then I realized something. I can be a moralist and judge people. He is a sissy because he eats vanilla ice-cream and I don't. Or he touches girls. He is a nerd or he talks back to the teacher. Man, all sorts of things. When I look at facebook, I see that from me. People putting down sayings and quotes. However, when it hits you. I get competitive. I wonder if they do the same thing.

For example. One guy put about not giving excuses to your condition. Here is my response: "Look at the WNBA, Atlanta Dream. You have a coach who is asked to be a GM and a coach for the same price. Has to keep the roster to 11. When she started coaching, she not only coached her basketball team but taught 9 classes of physical education at her college. The players are amazing, they shake hands with other teams despite losses. Sign autographs despite getting beaten at home. They don't make much and always in danger of folding. They get to the Finals but not much talk."

The point is do people appreciate others who overcome circumstances and go beyond expectations. No. Unless its me. But if you ask them, do you appreciate what that team has done. Back-hand compliments but no inspiration when there should be. Aw, I'm not interested in women's basketball. Which gets me to the next point. Parks Helms.

Parks Helms is a lawyer in Charlotte. He is known for his service as a County Commissioner chairman for Mecklenburg County. Born and bred in Charlotte, he attended UNC and their law school. He has been involved in Charlotte politics since 1972, involved with various boards and appointments. Likewise, he has been a deacon of Park Road Baptist church. Finally, he served in the North Carolina legislature for many years.

After he resigned from the County Commission, he became a board member for the N.C. Alcohol Beverage Control system in Mecklenburg. He had to resign because he attended a luncheon which cost about 9,000 dollars, paid by a liquor company in London. He ended up paying one grand back while other ABC members footed the bill. The rule is you can't accept gifts for more than 300 dollars each person. However, the one that got me was his board spending 11 million government dollars for that liquor company to sell their products. Likewise, Parks's statement that his opponents were practicing "competitive morality" with him.

I personally called his law office, giving my support to him. He responded in kind saying that he remember me and wished me well.

Fannie Flagg's (Standing in the Rainbow)

Fannie Flagg, I had a crush on big time. I loved her figure but her personality and charisma made med adore. She was the mother I never had during my early elementary school years when the Match Game show was about to come to an end. In that she appeared to be nurturing, fun, loving, and full of energy. Likewise, she seemed to be understanding and pleasing. But something in schizoid mind told me that it wasn't all it seems though I wish it would be.
Now to the book "Standing in the Rainbow", I read as if she was conversing with me. There were times I wanted her to hurry up and get to the point quickly but most times, I clung to every word she said. All I could get in my head was her reading to me with me cuddled up in her lap, hoping she would lean toward the back of my head. I didn't want to get perverse with her because she always seemed to be respectful and I wanted to respond in kind. But... oh, just this once.

Anyway, what made me read the whole book instead of a few pages, was her knowledge of of the state of Missouri's history concerning the St. Louis Browns baseball team from 1944. I felt like she was there and a fan of team even though she was born and grew up in Birmingham, Alabama. Likewise, she genuinely understood characters of both men and women in fluid motion concerning their roles in society, occupation, and family. Therefore, she was able to move from church, political & social arena, and time periods while marinating the depth of the characters.

Simplicity with complicity. I thought it was cute when she added for Elvis as a friend for Minnie Oatman when she asked me to support her daughter, Betty Raye or Harry Truman endorsing Hamm Sparks. I like the story concerning Bobby Smith and he grew from a mischievous kid to a man. Sister, Anna Lee looking for Mr. Right. Tot Wooten and the hard luck life as a hairdresser with an alcoholic husband and children going nowhere. Macky and Norma Warren as the happy couple who worried alot. Beatrice, the blind boarder who could sing. Finally, Mrs. Dorothy Smith as a cook and a radio social commentator for her town while her husband was the town druggist.

The bottom line was being about getting that man no matter how strong the women were. The impression you got was women were strong due to circumstances. Only a few were naturally strong. Vice Versa too for the guys in small town America. In return, the folks were very giving to those in need like Mrs. Smith taking care of Beatrice and Betty Raye without nothing in return. But you had to get married unless you were Cecil or Mrs. Vita Green. That was the 50's and early 60's of America. Fanny definitely lived it.

However when the book goes to the 80s'and 90's, it loses its steam concerning its candor but its more of a reflection of decline in small town America concerning the economy and its values. Fanny mentions about Tot's son being incarcerated on drugs but doesn't tell the devastating effects of meth in southern Missouri during the 90's and now. You wondered about Macky's and Norma's daughter Linda who moved to San Francisco, build her own career, and adopted a Chinese girl without a father. Something seemed edited. Yeah, early in her career, she paid for her boyfriend's law school but then got divorced when she miscarried a baby. Of course, it talks about him being weak and a deadbeat. Lack of candor concerning this period.

I thought she should have stopped in the mid-70's with a reunion at the nedbut it doesn't kill the book. I think she felt obligated to write due to the promise of a young Bobby to his best friend Monroe in 1946 of both making it to the year 2000. Unfortunately, Monroe doesn't make it as he died of a massive heart-attack in the 80's. The book ends with Bobby telling his story from 1946 to the present for "Readers Digest" starting with his mother.

As for me, this is one story I would be proud to have, fiction or non-fiction. She gives those value pointers for people who are given vs. those who aren't given. For instance, Hamm Sparks had to work for what he got which got him to the govenor's office but didn't feel comfortable with people on a social level because they were given so much from their parents. Yet, Hamm was idolized from the people he envied. In short, the grass is always greener from the other side. Same way that I love Fanny Flagg and always will.

Baltimore Like Atlanta?

I don't go to Maryland that often. Yet, it feels home for me. I live in Atlanta. My sister, Kamini, who is from Dumfries, VA says Baltimore is a little bit too much like Atlanta. I don't know, I'm still looking for that harbor at Chattahoochee. LOL. Anyway, I feel comfortable there when I visit. Of course, the last time I visited Baltimore was at Paru's sister's, Julie's wedding some fifteen years back. That wedding was more relief to me than anything. For some reason, I felt scared and I wasn't even in it. But, Paru's wedding was very relaxing even though my parents told me to prim and proper like I was going to prom.

There is always a weird surprise element that occurs when you visit the Gurusamys' for anything. Let me see, the movie theater at Ocean City forcing us to see Rocky III instead of ET; then some time later at Ocean City, gas attendants giving us Super-sized cups of Coke for no reason; the weird neighbors at Timonium (Bree has to come home and eat cheese, what? and hanging clothes off the window to dry?) ; and the weird stories about personally knowing someone jumping off the Chesapeake.

This time they didn't know but before the wedding, a hotel attendant at the front desk said that Morris Day of the Time was outside. I told him that "are you kidding." I look outside and it was some old dude with a shaved head and clean shaven face. Man, I was upset, told what I saw and for him to look outside. So he gets outside the door with me and I point to the man. He said "naw, that ain't him, he is in there inside the Holiday Inn van." So, I look inside the van and sure enough, it was Morris Day with his neatly trimmed, slick back afro hair with that bushy mustache. I waived hi to him while he was surrouned by a bodyguard and a couple of fans asking for autographs. Somehow, that relaxed me and got ready for the wedding.

The wedding was plain and simple. I loved that TV screen outside the temple parking lot. Inside, it was pretty cool and formal. Lenghty but not too long. What was good about, you could go outside and not miss the wedding. Food was being served the whole time of Idli's, chappathi's, coorima, and others. I like that mango drink that the kid attendants were giving me. Then another weird thing happened. I was outside when the wedding was about to end. A puff of black smoke appeared cloud like on the wooded tree side of the temple. Behind the forest, is a neighborhood with some streets paved. Someone said, it was a car accident or something else but you could hear sirens of police, fire trucks, and a ambulance. The puff of smoke was like an omen something you see in Hindu paintings or that song, Light My Fire.

The later event was the reception. This Dr. Dude kept telling me that I can do when I was sitting at this table next to my sister Rathi's friend, Ananathi. Food was great but too uptight with old people. But the show moved well. To the Groom: "You won't see an Indian pitch for the Yankees but you may with the Orioles." Funny highlight before that was my two nephews were running around the hotel and dancing. Nephew, Loghan passed out on the chair and carrying him was funny. Velan dancing and still having energy when it was passed midnight. I come back and start dancing. Julie apologizes for playing YMCA. I said they should have played "Living After Midnight" by Judas Priest. It was a party at the reception building and at the hotel.

Another weird element, you had Redskins fans at a Baltimore suburb hotel, cheering hardcore for a pre-season game against the Patriots. I went swimming on cold at the hotel pool. Finally, on Sunday we went to this restaurant, the whole family and my sister's family. I had the seafood platter. Then I took off from the Thurgood Marshall Airport hugging my nephews, an my sister saying those words about Atlanta and Baltimore.

Thanks Dad for the hotel rooms, Yogesh for your hard work. Mom with Velan/Loghan. Rathi great job of braving the knee. Vadivan for being very supportive. Remy hope you had the great Murugan experience. I love Greenbelt, MD so much. I wrote to the mayor telling her so and she said if I come back to email her so she can tell me the places to go and when those tours starts. She also said that she was born in Atlanta.

What you see is what you get

One of the perks of going to broadcasting school like I did at CSB is that I got to go to basketball games when the Hornets were in town. I held the cable wire from the camera guy under the basket and during timeouts. Unlike the fans, I had to be there two or three hours before game time. The guy in charge was man named Lou. He is the middle man for everything involved Charlotte sports. You didn't want to mess up or end up being where I'm at. I did okay but mistakes were made. Anyway.

You got to see players work with coaches. I saw assistant coach Lee Rose working with Hornets player, George Zidek. It wasn't just one time. Ever game, he did this. Footwook on offense from the the catch to post moves as well feet shuffle on defense. Mostly, I remember offensive moves. Later on, Tony Delk was wearing a parachute suit with strings attached to his waist and shoulders. Lee would hold and stretch the string portion to the free throw line while Tony was jumping underneath the basket. He had to jump and land with perfect balance. If he leaned just a little bit on one side of the body or favored a shoulder, foot, hip, knee or any body part, he had to do it again.

Most of the Hornet players particular the starters would show up later on, 45 minutes before game time. The camera crew, ticker ushers, coaches, trainers, and ball boys would start appearing as well as fans who had ties to the players. They would go into their character mode, go over plays, camera angles, lighting, scripts, ifb's, commercials, player interviews, product promotion while out of breaks or during action, and makeup. Before a game is just as busy as game action. Preparation to the game is where the the real money is made. Therefore, these folks are not easy people to talk to. They can Rasheed Wallace on you in a hurry if you tick them off.

Announcers go into character mode when the camera is on and than change when the camera is off. Sometimes, they change from bad to good but mostly its good to bad. They are just as bad as players to fans when it comes to interactions. They don't want to do nothing with you and some are just assholes. Its not like the fans ask for their autographs. I know I didn't. Most times, I just said hi but they would brush off and be their prima donna self. You talk about Bill Russell not signing autographs, announcers are worse.

What you see is what get from Bill Raftery. On camera, he is very enthusiastic and hyper with all those phrases. Before I met him, I thought he was annoying. Somebody who worked too hard to please like a girl on a date. I met him off camera after he interviewed Kendall Gill for the New Jersey Nets during a game in Charlotte. I was holding cable for a camera man. Usually, we only broadcast or videotape the Charlotte Hornets team. However, something went wrong with the Nets camera or they decided that they would use the Hornets camera guy. The interview with Kendall went well, surprising, considering that Bill got on him for not hustling during that year and Kendall had some choice words but Bill spoke to him positively and patted him on the back as if to say "go get em, kid. I'm behind you."

After he finished the interview, I introduced myself told him about one of the games that he did. The game involved UNC-Charlotte during the flu or measles epidemic at a college in the Northeast where no fans showed up. He related something to Charlotte concerning the late coach, Al McGuire. Talked about Al coaching at at a small Catholic school, Belmont Abbey near Charlotte. Mentioned that Al would get New York players by placing a picture of the Duke campus on the Belmont Abbey's brochure. I made a mention of this and he looked at me, smiled and said, "Good memory" and told me that I was very knowledgeable.

He was very enthusiastic about what I had to say because of personality of wanting to make everyone happy. Unlike some announcers when the camera is off, they want to leave or move on the next segment. Mind you, I'm not saying anything but, "Hi" but like the movie "Bull Durham" where the bat boy tells Crash Davis to get a hit, he tells him to shut-up. Therefore, when you hear an announcer criticize a player for not relating to fans or giving autographs most likely the announcer is the player unless he is Bill Raftery. From Bill, "What you see is what you get."