Second Thoughts

Junior knows taking it slow a smart move

NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. admitted in a radio interview earlier this week that the biggest holdup in getting married to girlfriend Amy Reimann is a jewelry phobia.
NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. admitted in a radio interview earlier this week that the biggest holdup in getting married to girlfriend Amy Reimann is a jewelry phobia.

Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s girlfriend, Amy Reimann, has become a common sight in recent years during NASCAR weekends.

Their relationship has prompted talk of whether the two will marry, an issue addressed during Earnhardt's appearance on The Dan Patrick Show earlier this week.

Patrick asked Earnhardt, 40, during the interview if he had any plans to propose to Reimann.

"Not yet," Earnhardt replied with nervous laughter. "Me and Amy are doing great, though. We're heading in the right direction."

Patrick then asked: "What does heading in the right direction mean?"

"If I want to get engaged, I don't want to spoil the surprise on Dan Patrick's radio show," said Earnhardt, who went on to explain that the timing wasn't right. "I have a phobia that nobody knows about. I have a jewelry phobia. I know it sounds crazy, but that's the biggest hold-up for me getting married."

Mississippi mudslinging

One of John Daly's former wives, Sherrie Miller, is suing the two-time major winner's new fiancee, Anna Cladakis, for the demise of their marriage.

Miller filed suit in Mississippi in 2011 against two employers and Cladakis, who met Daly (Dardanelle, Arkansas Razorbacks) through his sponsorship with Hooters restaurants. Miller alleges that Cladakis began a sexual relationship with the golfer in 2007 while Miller and Daly were separated.

In Mississippi, such lawsuits, known as "alienation of affection" lawsuits, are permissible. It is up to Miller to prove whether Daly and Cladakis conducted a sexual relationship in the state of Mississippi while Daly was still married to Miller.

A DeSoto County judge threw out the lawsuit in 2012, arguing he had no authority to hear the case because neither Miller, Cladakis nor the employers were located in Mississippi.

Miller appealed to the Mississippi Court of Appeals, which ruled the lawsuit should be heard in DeSoto County because the alleged sexual activity between Cladakis and Daly within the state of Mississippi, which contributed to the breakup of Daly's marriage with Miller, constituted a tort committed at least in part within that state.

Cladakis said the lawsuit is irrelevant since neither she nor Daly live in Mississippi.

'Friendly' bets

GolfDigest.com contributor Shane Ryan dove into the money-match culture on tour in the most recent issue of ESPN The Magazine.

Included is an antidote where Phil Mickelson reportedly enticed Dustin Johnson and Nick Watney into a bet during a practice round at the 2010 British Open

Mickelson proposed a simple stroke-play match, with the highest score paying the winner $1,000 and the middle man walking away scot-free. Watney, knowing the amount could easily increase with presses or novelty bets, told them he preferred to play for less.

"They started calling me names that shouldn't be in print," he said. "So I gave in to peer pressure."

Watney was the ultimate loser. On the 18th green, he counted out $1,000 and handed it over with a word of congratulations. Mickelson grabbed the stack of cash, gave it a quick glance and handed it right back.

"This is Britain," he told Watney. "I need pounds."

Watney stared at him, hoping it was a joke.

It wasn't. He later found himself handing over $1,700 to Mickelson.

QUIZ

How many victories does Dale Earnhardt Jr. have in NASCAR Sprint Cup Series competition?

ANSWER

23

Sports on 02/14/2015

Upcoming Events