Elvis Has Left The Building
Posted May 13, 2007, 8:24 PM ET

I don't get it. How can the powerbrokers at DEI watch Dale, Jr walk out the front door without a deal in place?

They have lost their minds....and their franchise.

The Dale Earnhardt, Jr soap opera is about to go into overdrive. I really thought both sides would work out an arrangement that would be a win/win for all parties involved. Evidently, that isn't going to happen anytime soon.

When Dale, Jr. appeared on my "PrimeTime with the Packman" show on April 24th, he was very upbeat and confident a deal would be worked out....I guess he was being optimistic.

There is no question that Junior is going to land on his feet with a ton of cash, support and probably with a team that gives him a better chance to compete for and win a championship. It had to be a difficult day to walk away from the "family business", but he is making a move that is in his best interest. And based on my last conversation with him, it was obvious that he would have liked to see a deal worked out with the people who have been so supportive of him from day one.

I still can't figure out what Teresa Earnhardt must be thinking. She is a smart woman, and I'm assuming that the suits at DEI have a pretty good handle on the business, too....but letting Dale, Jr. walk without any compensation is flat-out stupid.

Teresa Earnahrdt pulled a Jerry Richardson, and issued a statement after the mega-press conference last week. Her "statement" mentioned that she (DEI) remained excited about the company's future....good luck, sweetheart. No disrespect to Martin Truex and the rest of the DEI stable of drivers, but I don't sense that anybody will be beating down the doors in the meantime. The star power drop-off from Junior to the rest of DEI is like going from George Clooney to George Jetson.

I wonder what "diddy" was thinking about during the ugly episode?

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I have some random thoughts about the sports weekend......

I spent some time in South Florida over the Mother's Day weekend....somebody explain to me what in the world Ricky Williams is doing? You would think that to a guy who wants to really get back into the NFL, it might be a good idea to lay off the weed? It's only the fifth time that he has failed a drug test in the NFL. He even had the audacity to explain that he's been clean for months....Right, Ricky. Given the NFL's amazing arrest rate since last year, it appears that Williams will fit right in with the rest of the mix.

Speaking of the NFL, Pacman Jones met with the new NFL Commish to state his case on why he shouldn't be suspended for the entire 2007 season. His attorneys unleashed an amazing stat....Since 2000, there have been 283 (not counting Ricky Williams' latest effort) NFL players arrested, and not one single one of them has been suspended for an entire year.

I wonder if Falcons owner Arthur Blank is having any second thoughts about trading away Matt Schaub during the off-season? It seems as if Michael Vick is in the news every week for something stupid.

You're not going to believe who I ran into at our hotel in Palm Beach? Panthers' big cheese Mark Richardson. I still gave him grief for dodging us on the radio show...He must be taking orders from his dad. But it is a small world indeed.

It looks like Phil Mickelson is doing just fine with his new coach, Butch Harmon. Lefty has posted a pair of third-place finishes and he won The Players for the first time this past weekend. Maybe he's getting his game in shape to challenge Tiger Woods....the US Open is right around the corner at historic Oakmont in June.

I couldn't help but laugh when I heard that Tiger threw another tantrum and refused to speak to the media after another over-par round at The Players. After Saturday's third round, Tiger had no interest in talking with the media. It was his fifth consecutive over-par round at the Ponte Vedra course....I guess it's easy to put up with the media when you win every week....one bad week, and he shuts it down. I'm assuming that he answered questions after his closing 67 on Sunday. What a joke.

I'll cut Tiger some slack if we're talking about Rory Sabbatini. You remember that guy, don't you? Last week at the Wachovia, he called out Tiger after the third round and claimed that he was looking forward to the final round pairing and challenge. That didn't work out so hot for old Rory....Tiger wore him out on Sunday.

After the first round of The Players, Sabbatini was up to his trash talking standards....after firing a 67, he hoped that Woods would get his game in shape to join in the mix on Sunday. For the record, Tiger fired a 75 in the opening round.

When Tiger was told of Sabbatini's remark that he (Tiger) was more beatable than ever, Woods got in a great shot. He claimed that the "new Tiger" had won nine of his last 12 tournaments including three this year. The three wins match Sabbatini's career total. 'Nuf said.

By the way, Tiger's five under par 67 on Sunday allowed him to finish the tournament at even par.....one shot ahead of Sabbatini.

Imagine that?....A Hendrick car won again. Jeff Gordon won at Darlington. According to my records, a Hendrick car has won four straight (three by Gordon), 8 of the last 9 races, and all 5 "Car of Tomorrow" showdowns. That's called "domination".

It also needs to be noted that I was able to maintain my points lead over Michael Waltrip. Even though I wasn't able to qualify in my Ford F-150 pickup truck....I'm still stuck at 0 points this year. Waltrip is in my rear view mirror at -27. Next stop, Lowe's Motor Speedway.

I know a lot of folks have zero interest in the NBA Playoffs....but I have found myself getting hooked to the Golden State Warriors. They play a wide-open game, and point guard Baron Davis has been incredible. The crowds in Oakland have been insane, and they remind me of something you'd see at Cameron or at Allen Fieldhouse....except for the neon-yellow t-shirts.

I have no idea if they will survive the Utah Jazz, but they have me paying attention. It's good to see an eighth-seeded team doing damage. Even though I'm sure my buddy Mark Cuban would beg to differ. The biggest problem with NBA Playoffs concerns the tip-times....you have to be a fanatic to get pumped up for a weeknight 10:30pm tip.....and you wonder why the playoff TV ratings are sinking into the toilet?