Oaklawn Park was supposed to open its live racing season today, but Thursday a decision was made to postpone the opening until next Thursday because of freezing temperatures.
The decision wasn't a surprise. Oaklawn officials are always concerned about the safety of the horses and jockeys, so riding on a frozen surface was not an option.
In fact, the decision had already been made when director of racing David Longinotti was contacted early Thursday morning.
Oaklawn's new expanded gambling facility and simulcasting are still open.
Oaklawn still projects a record purse distribution of $23.5 million for this season and that it will still sell out of 50-cent corned-beef sandwiches on opening day Thursday.
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Even though this scribe has been fighting with sinuses, and is finally starting to win because of oily drops (thanks, Dr. Graves Hearnsberger) and some strong cough syrup (thanks, Dr. Blake McGowan) -- there is no excuse for the brain freeze in Thursday's column.
It was Tennessee, not Georgia as reported in this space, that made the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament last season.
The Bulldogs won two games in the NIT and finished third in the SEC standings, not second.
As the old saying goes, he who finds no fault in himself needs a second opinion.
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Jameis Winston's decision to declare for the NFL was not a shock.
It wasn't even a mild surprise and, like it or not, his draft status will be determined only by how he played on the field for Florida State and how he does during his interviews with NFL teams.
Winston's off-the-field behavior is just symbolic of so many young athletes who think they are entitled.
The media were never his problem. He was the problem.
However, he is young and hopefully he's learned from his mistakes.
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The news this week that the College Football Playoffs, with NCAA approval, will pay up to $1,250 per parent for travel expenses to see Monday's championship game between Oregon and Ohio State was long overdue.
ESPN paid $7.3 billion to broadcast the playoffs for 12 years, so spending a little money on the parents of the athletes was the right thing to do.
Parents of basketball players in the Final Four also will receive stipends.
Is this a step in the direction of a financial reward for those kids who spill their blood, sweat and tears for a college education?
Hopefully.
When Oregon and Ohio State meet Monday, it will be their 15th game, one less than an NFL team plays in the regular season, and we know how much money those players make.
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It is a pair of lunch bets, and yours truly is in last place.
Every so often on Overtime, which airs from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday on KABZ-FM, 103.7, The Buzz, Matt Jones, Trey Schaap, Joe Franklin and I pick some games and the loser buys lunch.
If we do picks that don't include lunch, such as the World Cup and regular-season major league baseball games, I usually do great. When it has to do with a meal, well, I've bought before and am on the verge of doing it again.
We picked the entire bowl schedule this season. Jones schooled us by picking 29 of 38 correctly, and I'm currently last. But if Oregon wins I'll move ahead of Schaap, who picked Alabama.
We also picked the NFL playoffs, and everyone got three. Jones, Schaap and Franklin got three right. I got three wrong, so now I have to take a shot at an upset and I'm leaning toward Baltimore over New England.
Believe it or not, Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco has been more productive in playoff games than Tom Brady.
Plus, desperate times call for desperate actions. How many tacos should one guy have to buy?
Go Ravens.
Sports on 01/09/2015