Jeremy Markovich

WCNC Producer

It happened like this:

A few months ago, I started running a daily segment on the news at 4:30 called "Cruel Fuel." It takes me about a minute to write. It merely consists of the average price of gas in the Charlotte area, followed by the cheapest price we can find.

You may not follow it every day. I do.

In all that time, I can't remember the price of gas ever going down. If it did, it was usually by a fraction of a cent. And that got me thinking--how much am I spending just to get to work every day to write, among other things, a segment on the price of gas?

The answer: $2. That's $10 a week. $500 a year. Just to get back and forth to my studio. And I only live about five and a half miles away.

There had to be a better way. What if I took the bus? Would I actually save any money? I'd been riding my bike fairly regularly over the summer. Could I do it EVERY day?

My curiosity became an obsession. I figured out the answers I wanted. Then I wondered how much other people living in other places were paying. Did the options that made no sense to me make more sense to them?

That's when I decided to grab a camera.

I picked five ways that I thought were the most realistic ways to get to my job. I found the shortest one. The cheapest one. The most comfortable one. And one that I'll never do again. Ever.

Along the way, I found people that could help me improve on my commute. I somehow convinced them that this guy with a tiny HD camera and an awful microphone was legit. They took a ride with me. They told me what I was doing wrong. They clued me in on some pretty interesting stuff.

I ended up shooting close to five hours of footage. I've whittled it all down into a series of stories that I hope will point out the best and worst or getting to work. Maybe you'll use it to save money. Maybe you'll use it to save the environment. Or maybe you'll just use it to satisfy your curiosity.

I learned a lot in five days. I hope you will too.

Tell us about your commute. Has it changed with high gas prices? What have you learned? E-mail us at commute@wcnc.com.

Greg Bailey

WCNC Sports Director

If you are fortunate in this business, every once in a while you meet one of those people you'll never forget. Jill Moore skis, rides horses, water skis and scuba dives. She's also on pace to get scholarship offers in track and basketball. And she does it from a wheelchair.

The sophomore from Northwest Cabarrus High will compete this Thursday as part of the Olympic Trials program in Eugene, Oregon. Right before America's best long jumpers and high jumpers battle for Olympic berths, Jill will race in the 800 meters against the country's best wheelchair athletes. She earned that spot, in part, by scoring points for her able bodied track team this spring. She's the first wheelchair athlete in the state to pull off that feat. And she did it all in a chair that's really a hand me down. She's saving her money to buy a custom chair that all the top athletes have. She's gotten help worth a few hundred dollars from a fundraiser, but she has about $4,000 to go.

Jill smiles when she talks about finally having "her own" chair. She's smart and bright and well spoken. And she has wisdom well beyond her years. She speaks frankly about breaking records and the pride she takes in finally being able to share a "team experience" with her able bodied high school teammates. We'll keep you updated on Jill's progress in Oregon and throughout her summer. She's off to water skiing camp next.

For more information, visit www.aucarolinas.org.

Rachel Clapp

WCNC

Beijing here I come!

We are in the process of preparing our coverage for the 2008 Beijing games. Throughout the games we'll be airing a nightly show, called "The O-zone." It will feature Olympic stories, tidbits and reports from some of Charlotte's very own who are attending the games.

It takes a lot of planning and scheduling. We shoot a lot of the stories in advance because once we get closer to the games, the people involved are busier and busier.

Wednesday I went to Raleigh to shoot a story on the Olympic torch. Why do I head to Raleigh for that, you ask? Well, Lenovo, which has an office in Raleigh, beat out 300 designs and they designed the Olympic Torch. I interviewed the head of the U.S. design team. They had torch design teams in Beijing and Yamato, Japan. A lot goes into designing a torch and it's not all that different, surprisingly, from designing computer products, which is what Lenovo is known for. The torch is meant to look like rolled up paper, which is symbolic in Chinese culture.

At the end of our interview, the Lenovo folks suggested my photographer Mike Hanson and I get our picture taken with the Olympic torch. I brushed it off, but then they said, really it's a once in a lifetime opportunity and I thought, you are right! Seize the Moment! So I got my picture taken with the torch. There I am. I could've run back to Charlotte if I wanted to. I felt super cool. When I watch the opening ceremonies, I'll be thinking of myself holding the same thing! That's the closest I'll probably ever get to being an Olympic athlete. Hope I didn't make you too jealous...You can Photoshop yourself in the picture if you want. I won't be offended. Here's to Beijing!

For full local coverage of the Olympics, visit www.nbcolympics.com/wcnc.

Sara McMann

Olympic Medalist in Wrestling

Hello everybody!

Well, it's coming down to crunch time. I leave on Wednesday to compete in my Olympic Trials in Las Vegas. I weigh in on Thursday and wrestle on Friday.

I'm feeling a mixture of nerves and excitement as the date gets closer and closer. This is a crucial time for a wrestler because the weeks leading up to a competition can be grueling. It seems that the actual event is less stressful than the weeks leading up to it.

Since this is not my first major tournament, I am very seasoned on distracting myself and staying calm. Stress and nervousness can lead to negative results in performance. It can make you far more tired than than you should be. It can cause you to be a step behind in reflexes and instincts. It can cause you to "freeze up" or choke.

Calming your nerves is a difficult task. Our sport psychologists offer a lot of valuable advice for relaxation. Some include meditation, deep breathing exercises, and stretches. I have simply done the things that are most natural to me when I am thinking about an upcoming event. These include reading, watching a movie, sleep, and focusing on things that I care about outside of wrestling. I know that at the end of the day, my friends and family will love me and support me no matter how I perform. That alone eases some of my pressure.

Finally, the greatest aspect I have to settle my nerves is confidence. I know that I have prepared myself the best that I can and that comforts me during my matches. Not simply working hard, but also working smart.

Thanks for all of your support!

Sara

A break from training

May 26, 2008

Training has been tough these past few weeks, but we finally had a good day off. Typically, I want to sleep all day long because my body is exhausted. Instead of sinking into my bed, my teammates and I decided to go swimming in the Broad River.

It was just what we needed to relax and feel rejuvenated. When you've been sitting under the pressure of the upcoming Olympic Trials, your stress levels slowly creep up on you. I think that by sitting beside the river and laughing with our friends, we were able to set that weight down, if only for a day.

Today it's back to managing our weight and training our bodies to be elite. Yesterday's fun makes it a little easier to do that...

Big Moments

I once heard a quote that roughly said, "Overnight success usually takes about 15 years." This quote helps to remind me of two important aspects that I must diligently pursue to attain my own success. The first one is to tirelessly set right the most minute details to hitting my moves correctly. Here is where most people get left behind because it is the most boring chore that an athlete can face. The second one is that I must perform these skills when it is the most important time of my life. Failure to do either of these things will result in poor performance. Here are some of the tricks I use to attain these two things:

1) Have a sense of humor. Boring drills and extreme pressure can cause fatigue, but joking around in between drills or matches helps lighten my mood.

2) Remember WHY I am doing this. All of us are a compilation of our habits. I know if I practice good habits, it will become a part of who I am. If I feel too much pressure, I remember that I love my sport and there's no where else I'd rather be.

3) Help someone younger. If I can't find the motivation to have a great practice, helping a young, eager wrestler helps me to focus on the finer points, but not get too caught up on my own mistakes. Plus, enthusiasm is contagious.

4) Take time OFF!! Recovery is absolutely essential for everyone. If any problem is getting too big, step away for a little while. This can help you to see solutions that were not apparent before. It can also help to give renewed energy to attack the problem.

These aren't all of my tricks, but you get the idea, right? I'm not only talking about success in wrestling, I think these little tricks can help people in many different areas. Well, I'm off to practice. I've got the Olympics on my mind...

June 7, 2008

Today, I had the day off. I thought to go paddle anyways on flat water early in the morning but when I woke, I decided this was not a good idea. I kept with the plan of taking the full day off.

We went to Silk Street Market to do some shopping. Silk Street is famous here for its cheap prices. And they have everything you need from shoes to iPods.

I went to buy just one pair of shoes and came home with two different pairs, a wind resistant jacket, and some socks.

Silk Street is also known for its bargaining. I held to my prices I wanted and in the end, got what I wanted. Only one person turned me away. It was amazing because everyone is trained in bargaining and you can hear all of them saying exactly the same things.

The vendors really attack you but all the ones I dealt with were really nice and I felt this was true with all because it was a game we were all playing and having fun doing. The game of who could get the best price.

So, a fun day of shopping but after all that walking, my feet hurt. And now as I go to bed with feet in pain, I have to set my alarm for an early rising.

And by the way, I use my cell phone for an alarm and so I have to turn it on for the night. Because U.S. phones work in Beijing, I frequently have gotten phone calls in the middle of the night because there is a 12-hour difference. I guess some friends still don't know that I am in Beijing at the moment. I am afraid to pick up because the phone call might cost a lot but I will remember those names that come up.

These few people have probably left messages but I will not check until I return to the U.S. in July, so you can e-mail me, this would be better.

Well, I think these are all my thoughts for tonight.

Cheers,
Pablo

Aching arms

June 6, 2008

Well, after today of training, my arms really hurt, but this is OK because I will take tomorrow off from paddling and finally get a chance to be a tourist.

This whitewater course is hard because of big whitewater. It takes a lot of work from my muscles to stay online and now after paddling nonstop for about an hour, my arms are hurting. All the paddlers are saying the same thing.

So I get a full day off tomorrow, I will try to go see the Great Wall and go down town Beijing and do some shopping. I think a pair of shoes are needed and if I find a good price, I will get myself a present.

I will let you know later how it goes.

Cheers,
Pablo

Arriving in Beijing

June 3, 2008

Well, after many days of not having internet, I have it now and things are great.

It was a long flight, 16 hours total of flying time. I had a two-hour layover in San Francisco where I met my sister at the airport for lunch. Without warning I arrived in San Fran, called her and she jumped in a cab right away. This was very nice before having to board the plane for an 11 hour flight.

I arrived with all my luggage in Beijing to wait about 45 minutes for my pick up to arrive. I did not know who would pick me up, I was only a little worried but not stressed to much. I walked outside, then tried to find internet which I failed at. But it was to be found soon after by Liza, who was very nice and worried about me because she was stuck in traffic. But I assured her I hope that I was happy just waiting, I knew someone would get there eventually.

We dropped off my boat at the whitewater park, which is amazing; I will post some video tomorrow after I get some more footage. We then went to the King and Queen hotel, which is amazing also. It has the biggest lobby I have ever seen.

I have suffered greatly from jet-lag. I have slept a lot and now after two days, I am much better. The paddling is hard. Wow, I have a lot of work to do and I am happy I am here now to prepare for the games and not later. Thank you ICF for giving me this opportunity to train here. The International Canoe Federation has invited me here to Beijing to take part in a training camp which is for people from certain countries that do not have much development in kayak. So, I am very happy to be here.

We have great coaches and a great group of people to train with.

As of now, I have not done any tourist things but I hope to in the next couple days.

And, the food here is crazy, some good, some weird. A lot of the food, I have no idea what I am eating but this does not bother me too much. I always like to try a little of everything but then I end up with too much and my stomach complains. Oh well, the food is interesting and I feel I must try it.

Alright, this is enough for now, until next time

Cheers,
Pablo

Big race Friday

I am sitting in bed now after an easy day. I only paddled once, early in the morning at 8 a.m. I must admit that it was a bit early for me; usually we paddle around 10.

I woke up, took a shower, found some clothes on my floor, went to the river and paddled well. I was not expecting the paddling to be good because of the early morning session, so it was a nice surprise. I have been feeling good and looking forward to the next two days of training. Then the race is Friday, and all I can say is that I am ready.

So, first the broken boat: It's fixed and does not matter any more. It feels no different and I am glad to be back in it. Next problem -- on Friday, I started getting a cold. Saturday, I felt horrible and did not paddle. On Sunday, I skipped my first morning workout and tried to paddle in the afternoon but I was still weak from being sick and so my paddling was painful, which means could have been better.

Finally as I am writing this on Sunday night I feel actually great and I am looking forward to a good workout tomorrow at 10. I have technique workout with the guys, I should be able to handle this. First the boat, then the sickness, maybe it's because I am a little nervous for the big race, maybe it's just my luck. Well, that's all for now. I will try and get to bed, its a bit late. After resting so much today trying to recover from the cold, I am up with lots of energy.

Broken boat

So, over the weekend, I broke my brand new boat that I was scared I would never get because of the price. But thanks to some help I received, I got the boat, and what happens? Well I was paddling on what we call the big drop at the whitewater center and I did an ender in my boat, which is when the bow goes straight in the air. My stern sinks deep and hits the bottom of the river and breaks.

Well, it's not so bad after I fixed it. The only bad thing about my break is that the boat just does not look as good as it did before.

Other than breaking my boat, I have been paddling great, well maybe not all the time but most of the time. I am going today to pick up a paddler from Ecuador at the airport and I have a Brazilian staying with me currently. I have an important workout today and I will let you all know how it went later.

Until next time,

Pablo "Chilean Wonder" McCandless

Qualifying for the Olympics (4/3/08)

My sport of whitewater slalom kayaking involves racing down class three rapids with a start and finish line, much like slalom skiing, but on water. There are poles that hang from wires above the river and two poles make a gate which we must go between without touching them with any part of our boat, paddle or body. Some gates are colored with green stripes which we must maneuver through in a downstream direction. Other gates are colored with red stripes which we must negotiate in an upstream direction. Each run for the fastest boats takes an average of 90 seconds depending on the venue and course configuration. You get a two second penalty for touching a gate and a 50 second penalty for missing a gate. For a race, you make two runs which are added together for the final result.

During the last weekend of April, the US Olympic trials will be held here in Charlotte. This will consist of three days of racing and include, the Pan American Championships, which I will be racing in and the Canadian Team Trials. Everyone competes on the same race course; but at the end of the day, the results are split up according to country. As for myself, the first day of racing, the 24th of April is a qualifier for the finals the next day. That day, the 25th of April, will determine if I make it to the Olympics.

I have been competing since I was 15 years old in the Washington DC area, where I grew up, Western North Carolina, where I went to school, and now in Charlotte at the US National Whitewater Center. In 2003, I started representing Chile in the World Cup race series, (I have dual citizenship because my mother is from Chile and I lived there until I was 8 years old.)

I went to Athens to qualify for the Olympics in 2004, but missed qualifying by one spot. I have been racing these last four years on the world cup circuit in Europe and South America. My main goal has been to be more consistent because in many of my races I have had one great run and one not so good run.

If I can put together two goods runs on the 25th of April, I will have a very good chance at qualifying for the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. For the first time in my racing career I have taken off from work and am training full time. For the last two months, I have competed at many races in the US in preparation for the Olympics trials. I have travelled to Texas, Western North Carolina, Maryland and also raced twice right here in Charlotte. I have won one of these races which was on the Nantahala River. As for the other races, it was mixed results but with some very fast runs, close or faster in time to the top US guys. So I am almost where I need to be and will continue to train hard for the next few weeks and hope to put it all together when it counts. I will post blogs about my progress for the rest of the month leading to the last weekend. You can learn more about me at www.ChileanWonder.com.

Until next time.

Cheers,
Pablo McCandless

WCNC Reporter

I got back on board the light rail today, the first time since CATS launched the LYNX Blue Line in November of last year.

As I pulled into the parking deck at the I-485/South Boulevard stop I could see a major difference in ridership. Six months ago the second and third levels were practically empty. This time, I had a tough time finding a spot, and sure enough by 8:25 the lot was full. I met one man, who like many people, parked at the shopping center across the street and hoofed it to work. I hope he doesn't get a ticket!

My photographer and I talked to over a dozen people, some who have been riding for months, for others, it was only their first or second time -- the reasons were pretty consistent. They like the convenience, avoiding the cost of parking uptown, and the one everyone agreed on -- gas prices.

Whether you supported or opposed the highly controversial project, you can't blame the riders for opting to by a $2.60 round trip ticket, versus a gas guzzling trip to work. "So how much are you saving?" I asked over and over. I heard $75 a month, $50 a month, $100 a month. We're not talking chump change. One passenger (a Bank of America employee) said he had done an analysis and discovered he saved $150 a month between the cost of gas and parking. For him it was a no-brainer. Not to mention, someone else gets to battle the morning commute while you sit back and relax.

Sure, there are still kinks to work out. We had problems getting change from a ticket machines, and the lack of parking is a problem at the stations farthest south. But 13,000 people on average are riding everyday -- 4,000 more than CATS officials expected.

As I fill my gas tank with $80 of what might as well be liquid gold, I wish the light rail was an option for my commute. Unless it expands west, I guess I'll have to keep driving my gas guzzler to work.

Greg Bailey

WCNC Sports Director

King Kasey

I'll call the race at LMS "good" but not quite "great." It was a really good show, but when I dish out the "great" label I want to see racing for the lead in the final laps. We did get a great show for long stretches with lead changes, big names and plenty of action.

What a turnaround from Kasey Kahne. Last night on Sports Extra I said that Kasey had just sat in the media center only a few days earlier and told us that his team wasn't good enough and had to get better to compete at an elite level. Bang! Win the All-Star race then turn around and win the Coca-Cola 600. Suddenly the man who dominated at LMS back in 2006 is dominating again in Charlotte.

Kahne did it on tires more than he did it on gas. Hats off to the #9 Bud crew for recognizing that the new car needs fresh tires, especially on the right side. Lesson learned for Tony Stewart. I understand his frustration, but the Home Depot team got beat on pit road. It's not just great when other teams do it. It's part of racing and it's always a big part of winning, even when it's not the dramatic last stop when one team beats another in and off pit road.

The star of the night was the group of fans that narrowly avoided getting hurt by Brian Vickers' flying tire. Somehow that thing just broke free and turned into a missile. Everyone is lucky they weren't hurt, and we can all be thankful that a great day at the track went smoothly from there. Bill Peterson is the fan who got his grill smashed by the tire. He showed our cameras the damage and showed everyone that it really was a close call. Photographer Frankie Gunnell got a volunteer to "re-enact" what might have happened if someone got hit with the tire. He was ready with ketchup to show what the wounds might have looked like. We operate under the belief that our volunteer was feeling no pain after a long afternoon in the infield.

Race fans in Charlotte should be proud of themselves for showing up en masse. $4 gas and all the stands were all but full and the nation got to see how it's really done. It's a great measure of what race weekend and Memorial Day mean to the people in our area. I have no doubt that a good number of the fans who showed up did that to bid farewell to Humpy Wheeler. He deserved it and was spot on when he thanked the fans in his farewell. Wonderful and appropriate -- vintage Humpy. I hope to see him soon. I bet I will.

Road to Recovery

Memorial Day weekend at the Coca-Cola 600 was right there in front of all of us to talk to and listen to. Thousands of American servicemen and women lined up on the track. Every one of them is remarkable. Every one of them volunteered to serve all of us. One after another they told me that when they hear "thank you" it means a great deal to them. I plan on saying "thank you" more often.

The men and women of the Road 2 Recovery bike ride made an impression I will never forget. Many of them have suffered catastrophic injuries serving in the Middle East. Captain Ferris Butler came home to 52 surgeries. It's a staggering number and when he told me that, I imagined all of the pain and anguish that came with every one. His 53rd surgery changed his life. Captain Butler (that will be official within a matter of days, his latest promotion) made the decision to have doctors amputate his leg. In a matter of weeks people at Walter Reed told Butler he needed to take a 10 mile bike ride with them. After 18 months in a wheelchair he thought that was impossible. But he tried. And that's where his latest round of heroism comes in. He tried. Instead of quitting after surgery 12 or surgery 42, Ferris Butler just kept trying.

He made that bike ride with his prosthetic leg. And just a few months later he joined the Road 2 Recovery bicycle ride from Washington D.C. to Charlotte. Butler didn't ride every mile, but he rode more than his share of the six-day, 480-mile marathon.

Along the road people stopped to salute. It made the next ten miles go easily. Another day a veteran stopped on the roadside and pulled up his pant leg to reveal his own prosthetic leg. He saluted, too. That made the next 50 miles seem easy. Simple acknowledgments made a remarkable group of people even better. They were already amazing to begin with.

Specialist Justin Clark couldn't wait to talk to our camera crew. That Justin can talk at all is mind boggling. He suffered a serious brain injury a few years ago in Iraq. He stutters a mile a minute, but he talks about 3 miles a minute and that makes it great to hear him. His enthusiasm for everything makes you believe. Believe in life, the human spirit and men who are willing to make this sacrifice. Clark says he aches after riding a good chunk of the 480 miles, but "that's why they make Icy Hot." He rode a recumbent bike that you sit down on. It looks kind of like a trike and an exercise bike combined. He grinned ear to ear as he rounded the turn onto pit road for the end of their parade lap.

Specialist Clark also told us he's getting married. He said it "sounds good, but I don't really know." He laughed and we all laughed harder. I left knowing this is a man who has found more good in life than most of us will ever know. How is that possible when he has suffered so much? The answer is simple: he's a better person than I am. My "thank you" for him doesn't seem like nearly enough.

Ira Cronin

WCNC Sports

I have to admit it. I was a Kyle Busch hater. Last year when he raced for my favorite team, Hendrick Motor Sports, I said good riddance, farewell, auf wiedersehen! Go ahead and call me a bandwagon jumper, but I have to admit young Kyle (who likes to be called Rowdy) is wining me over this year at Joe Gibbs Racing.

He's winning me over, not just with his driving on the track, but his attitude and how he's handling his business off the track. He's certainly not being rude but he has a take-no-prisoners attitude.

Over the last 2 weeks at Lowe's, I have personally watched him win the pole for the truck race, he won the pole for the all-star race, and he won Saturday night's Nation Wide series race.

Keep the bows coming Rowdy!

Greg Bailey

WCNC Sports Director

Eight-year-old Henry stood at his mother's side with a wide grin on his face. As he watched the pictures scroll by on the screen, he grabbed his mom's leg and tugged to get her attention. The rest of us saw only the sick and bloated little boy in those photos, tubes running out of his chest, no hair on his head, but Henry saw wonderful memories with his family. Just like so many healthy children we all know who react to photos of a great trip or family vacation, Henry reacted to pictures of himself wearing a costume or a silly wig. Every time he looked past the signs in the photos that said "CHEMO DAY 4" and "CHEMO DAY 6," I realized that these moments, all from the hospital, are the only memories that Henry has.

Henry is our latest star from the Hendrick Marrow Program. Sunday night Henry's mom and dad came to the Learn, Live, Hope Foundation dinner and auction to tell us about their son and the incredible journey that he continues to take. Henry battled a rare, life threatening illness for years with no success. From one doctor and one state to another his parents desperately tried to save their only son. They tried fund-raisers and online pleas for prayers and for funds. Rick and Linda Hendrick helped by paying for tests to see if they could find the one in a million who would act as a matching bone marrow donor.

Henry's parents grew so desperate they decided to have another child to see if a brother or sister could save their first born. They received the blessing of a healthy son, but suffered heartbreak when tests revealed Henry was not compatible with his baby brother. Every time they didn't know where to turn Rick Hendrick and his foundation would keep hope alive.

Sunday at the dinner we all got to see what happens when faith and community rally together to fuel that hope. A man named Russ introduced himself before kneeling to greet Henry for the first time. Everyone in the room watched through tears as Henry and his family met the man who saved their little boy. Henry's dad cried while his mom smiled and hugged everyone around her.

I was struck then and now by just how regular Russ is. He's a husband and father of two girls who turned himself into a hero simply by allowing doctors to swab his cheek. They take the big q-tip, test it and store it away. Years after he entered the marrow program the call came and Russ answered just in time to save Henry's life.

Today I watched as Henry and his two young brothers run to tell Russ' daughters about all the stuff they had seen and done with Rick Hendrick and his team. The man who saved Henry and the little boy who battled for years have now brought their families together. It's remarkable, and it is also something that can be done again and again.

Rick and Linda Hendrick have raised over $2 million dollars for their marrow program in the last two years alone. The intensive care unit at the new Levine Children's Hospital in Charlotte bears Ricky Hendrick's name, honoring their son who lost his life in the plane crash in 2004. At last year's banquet the hospital unit was still under construction. This year it's already serving children, their families and saving lives. I can't wait to see what happens in the coming year. I can't wait to meet another survivor and the man or woman who acted as a hero and an angel all at once to save them.

Greg Bailey

WCNC Sports Director

All-Star Saturday

There are worse things than a 70-degree day at LMS. What a brilliant afternoon. Despite that I couldn't help but notice that some of the campgrounds aren't as full as years past. Gas prices and the slumping economy are the likely culprits. Some officials are sure that this race is the one that's at or ahead on ticket sales. We might be in for a little bit different look next week for the Coca Cola 600, a race that seems to draw more people from out of town. This year those are "more people" who have to pay $3.89 for a gallon of gas. I paid $63 to fill up my Camry the other day, and I have to admit it stings.

I can't wait to see Dale Jarrett drive the big, brown UPS truck around the track tonight. He tells us that fans everywhere always ask, "When will you do it?" Tonight is the night, and it sets up as a great moment. We got a huge kick out of DJ calling the contest winner to tell him that he gets to ride along for one of the most notable parade laps in recent history. The guy didn't believe it was really Jarrett. He'll believe it tonight.

I'm intrigued by the burnout contest. Some of the veterans don't like the idea. It seems like a great way to tear up good equipment. But it is a show, and Humpy Wheeler loves a show.

Can anybody stop Kyle Busch? I can't see it tonight, but I do love the idea of big brother Kurt starting right behind the No. 18 Toyota. Let's see how well that goes and who's ready to play nice.

Dale Junior tells us that he doesn't care for the new format. 25 lap segments are too much, he says, especially in the final segment. 10 laps is all it takes for Dale. I don't care so much about that, but I do love the idea of this race. Let it all hang out and let's ride.

What a Friday at LMS

Sorry I'm late. I was swamped with the TV side and had computer trouble. That's code for I don't know what I'm doing sometimes with the computer.

Kyle Busch stole the show in every way on Friday. His qualifying run was more than a run to the pole. It's another message to everybody else in the Sprint Cup garage -- catch me if you can, but you can't. Busch is in that kind of a roll right now with what looks like a perfect combination of car, crew, driver and team.

The secret nobody talks about enough is the role confidence plays in all of this. Not just for Busch, but for his No. 18 Joe Gibbs team. I'm sure they've never felt better about what they're doing. That showed again in a great pit stop in All Star qualifying on Friday. You could see it in the way the crew moved long before the clock told us that they had sizzled just like their driver does every week. The crew also expects Kyle to dominate. It's a great combination of expecting dominance while it's all still new enough that they celebrate every move and every win.

I stood in Busch's pits late in the Daytona 500. They expected Kyle to do something to win that race. They were disappointed that day, but clearly they also understood that better days were ahead.

Dale Earnhardt, Jr., had a great day with the media on Friday. He was relaxed, confident and honest. The most telling moment came when someone asked Junior if he was still angry about the finish in Richmond. Junior cracked a half smile and said, "I've had worse things happen to me."

That's what makes Dale's honest talk about loving his racing this year so interesting. He smiled when he told us that he says sometimes that not winning bothers him a lot. But he said today that he really only says that so we won't get the impression that he doesn't care. Clearly he does. He'd love to win, but he also loves running up front and having that chance every week. That's what Hendrick has done for Junior. Every week he shows up knowing that his equipment and his team will give him a chance to run well and have fun competing.

We also had a great time talking to Junior about his role as a car owner. What a blast. He admits he's impatient and doesn't like the attitude of his drivers. Talk about a role reversal. We'll bring you that complete story early next week.

See you Saturday. I won't be so late.

Bobby Sisk

WCNC Anchor

It's been a long, but fulfilling day here in D.C. At noon, my photographer and I attended and covered the 27th Annual National Peace Officers Memorial Service. It was situated on the west front of the Capitol, and drew a crowd in the tens of thousands.

The service started with the National Anthem, as I said in my story at six, in the most American of places with the Capitol building in the background. The invocation came next and then a song from recording artist, Jo Dee Messina. The chorus went something like this, "heaven was needing a hero like you."

That song and the service that followed honored not only the officers who've died in the line of duty, but also their families who've given so much. The President of the grand lodge of the Fraternal Order of Police put it this way. He summed up the day as one of remembering, mourning and celebrating the lives of those who are no longer with us.

It is a powerful sight to see the widows of fallen CMPD Officers Sean Clark and Jeff Shelton place a single red carnation on a wreath in memory of their husbands. It is also powerful to talk to one of Jennifer Shelton's close friends who described to me how difficult this past year has been. It makes the hustle and bustle of my day, running from one location to another to make it on the air, seem trivial. It also makes me thankful to get to attend an event like this...and even more so, to bring it to you.

Thanks for taking time to read this. Email me if you'd like at bsisk@wcnc.com.

Traveling to D.C. for police memorial

It's almost 8 p.m. Wednesday night and my flight to Washington, D.C. is an hour late, but that gives me time to write this. I'm traveling there for something I see as an honor, a chance to attend the National Peace Officers Memorial Service on the West Lawn of the Capitol.

This is the 27th year for the service, and this year the names of two Charlotte-Mecklenburg officers who died in the line of duty will be read aloud. Officers Sean Clark and Jeff Shelton were on duty March 31st when they were gunned down at an apartment complex in Northeast Charlotte.

Since that time, I've gotten to know some friends of the Shelton family and gained some insight into how heartbreaking the past year has been. Just this past Saturday, I was invited to attend a kickoff to Police Week in the town of Locust, in western Stanly County. That is where Jeff and his wife Jennifer, along with beloved dog Cody lived.

What I saw there is hard to put into words. After the welcome and invocation, Jennifer Shelton addressed the 40 or so people who gathered at the park, which bears her husband's name. She said it was something she wanted to do, to talk about the effect her husband had on so many lives, and to plead with those in earshot to never take for granted a police officer's sacrifice.

These were powerful words coming from a woman who lost her husband and best friend just 13 months ago. Afterward, I got to meet Jennifer. She's a very kind and strong woman who is surrounded by supportive family and friends.

That was how this year's National Police Week started for me, in Locust, and Thursday's service in Washington, D.C. is a fitting end. The Grand Lodge of the Fraternal Order of Police puts on the event and I'm told it can draw as many as 40,000 people. I'll be among that crowd on Thursday and do my best to capture the emotion and spirit of the day's service. Watch for my live reports from the Capitol, Thursday night at 6 p.m. and 11 p.m.

Until then, thanks for taking the time to read this and feel free to say Hi. Drop me a line at bsisk@wcnc.com.

Mark Pipitone

Assistant News Director

If Saturday night was any indication of how the next two weekends are going to go at Lowe's Motor Speedway, you better practice your 'boos'.

Kyle Busch was the class of the field last night and became the youngest driver to ever win at Darlington Raceway, running away with the Dodge Challenger 500. It didn't matter to Busch that he was showered with boos by the Darlington crowd from pre-race introductions to his victory "bow" on the front stretch. Busch has been the target of Dale Earnhardt, Jr., fans since collecting Junior in the final laps of last weekend's race in Richmond. Junior was leading at the time.

"These guys love the noise the fans make," Busch said, nodding toward his Joe Gibbs Racing team. "Keep it up everybody. ... We need to keep that bull's eye on us, where everybody is shooting at us."

Busch was a monster all night. His only hiccup came from something that happened while he wasn't racing. He survived a black flag penalty for a missing lug nut following a caution on lap 140. That left him 23rd on the restart. But you knew it was just a matter of time before Busch charged to the front of the field to take the lead again. It was just a question of how long would it take him. At one point, the Motor Racing Network gang said Busch was racing like a "madman" to get back to the front.

The only person all night who may have had a shot at Busch was Greg Biffle. He and Busch swapped the lead for the first third of the race. But on lap 234, Biffle pulled into the pits during a green flag run. His engine was toast.

"Loose wheels all night, bad vibration, then I think the motor blew up. All I want is equipment to drive that stays together," he said.

So now with the All-Star Race next weekend and the Coca Cola 600 a week later, Kyle Busch is center stage again. Expect the same outpouring of emotion on Busch at Lowe's. And who knows, it may get even worse, with Junior Nation fans getting angrier and angrier as Busch continues to win and Earnhardt extends his two-year winless streak.

But you've also got to love the rivalry that's brewing between Junior fans and Busch fans (yes, there are some). About midway through Saturday night's race, a Busch fan adorned in a bright yellow Kyle Busch t-shirt took the opportunity when he was heading for a bathroom break to stop in the middle of the stairwell, and pose, showing off his Busch colors. He faced the crowed, flexed his muscles, gave us a gladiator pose, and flashed the "Number One" sign. Tough dude. He got pelted with an assortment of hamburger buns and hot dog wrappers. Fortunately that was it and nobody was injured in the making of this Busch-Earnhardt rivalry moment.

Can't wait to see what happens next in this battle. Who knows, maybe Junior can pull one out at home next week or the week after. And if that happens, what a perfect time for Junior Nation to flex their muscles.

Other news and notes: One of the coolest happenings of the day was getting a chance to see David Pearson's 1971 Mercury. Yep, the original, complete with four sticks of gum taped to the dashboard. David was a notorious gum chewer during races. "Step back boys, don't leave any drool marks on the paint!."

A couple of those who were drooling: Dodge boss Ray Evernham and driver Sterling Marlin. Evernham looked like a kid in a candy store, checking under the hood, in the driver's compartment, yukking it up with Leonard Wood, one of the original "Wood Brothers."

"Is it legal to have the front-end that low?," Evernham kidded. Several crew members from the Cup teams were giving the Mercury a once-over, too. Maybe checking for competitive advantages...

Ever smell tire smoke? I smelled it all night last night, but I wouldn't trade it for the world. Turn 4 is the place to be at Darlington. I had the best seat in the house on the far side of 4. You catch the guys striping the wall through three, and then you get a full monty of them banging the end of the turn 4 wall as it juts out into the straightaway. One of the drivers told me it's like they stuck a wall right in the middle of the front straightaway...

Something has got to be done about the traffic disaster at Darlington. Fans sat in parking lots for up to two hours after the race. Cops were doing the best they could. The city needs to close 151 to non-race traffic when races get out, and route all race fans out in one direction.

Dave Wagner

WCNC Anchor

It was an eight hour drive from one "Queen City" to another. As I drove from Cincinnati to Charlotte, I passed the time talking by phone with family and friends. At 1:30 on a Sunday morning, I found myself driving down I-77 feeling a little like Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz. I would soon discover that Charlotte would feel very much like home.

Most of us who work in television news have worked in several cities. My path took me from Lexington to Milwaukee to Tampa to Cincinnati. Each stop has given me a chance to meet some terrific people and I discovered that some of those people have ended up here in Charlotte. The first person to welcome me to North Carolina was Bev Rowland from Bessemer City. Bev had been a loyal viewer when I worked in Florida. Bev's email was the first indication that Charlotte rolls out the welcome mat. Beth Tatman is another of the many viewers who've reached out to me. Beth lives in Chester, South Carolina and I met her while shooting a story more than 15 years ago. She was once the Florida leader of the group Little People of America and has a big heart and a dynamic personality. I've also been welcomed by the many Ohioans who've relocated to the Carolinas. Among them, Judi and Dean Phillips from Tega Cay. They moved from Cincinnati two years ago and have offered to show my family everything this area has to offer.

I spent 12 years anchoring in Tampa, Florida and Charlotte reminds me of that area. Both are cities of tremendous growth with an influx of newcomers. While I've been caught in a few traffic jams, I'm impressed by the planning in this growing city. While many cities talk about light rail, Charlotte has made it a reality. I'm also impressed by the passion of the people. Recently, a group of Charlotte residents walked to the government building to voice their concerns about crime. Nobody is happy about crime, but it's heartening to see Charlotteans banding together and demanding change. To me, that's the sign of a strong city.

I'm temporarily staying in an apartment, looking for a home and anxious for my family to arrive. While I'm clearly a newcomer, I already feel right at home in the Queen City and for that, I thank you.

Sara McMann

Olympic Medalist

Hello Everyone,

I thought today would be a good day to talk about how wrestlers make weight. Just to set the record straight, wrestlers LOVE food! We daydream about it, make lists of all the delicious treats we will eat once we make weight, and indulge every chance we can when we aren't cutting weight. So it is not any easier for us to lose weight than it is for anyone else. The only motivation we have is that when the weigh-in comes, we'd better be on weight. No matter how hard it is, you make weight.

Depending on how much we are over weight, we typically start 2-3 weeks before the weigh-in day. We cut out high calorie foods that contain a lot of fat. That means no more ice cream. Then we add a lot of veggies to give us energy and clear our systems of anything lingering in our intestines. Some wrestlers have to add in extra cardio sessions to get lean. As we get closer to the weigh-in day, all of our food and drink intake is closely monitored. Most people don't think about it, but water alters your weight, too. The day before we weigh-in, almost all water is stopped. Then we usually sweat as much weight as we can to shed those last pounds. This is typically done in a sauna. We try to keep our actual weight around 3-5 pounds heavier and lose it through water weight on the last day. This helps us to immediately drink back our weight and recover faster.

After we weigh in, we drink plenty of water and electrolyte replacement drinks. We don't compete until the next morning, so we go out to dinner to pack in the carbs. It is really difficult to keep from overeating because we have been diligent for so long. Also, making weight gives us a tremendous sense of accomplishment. We were able to deny our urges and do extra workouts on top of our daily practices. Naturally, we want to celebrate. This is where we have to remember that we don't want to feel stuffed and bloated for the competition. Smart wrestlers eat two small meals and let their food digest slowly.

After the competition is over, we plan on eating well with the best of intentions. I have not met anyone who can actually do this :-D We are well aware of the fact that we must weigh in again, but typically we try to enjoy that week before we start the next cycle of losing weight. We have to have fun some time!

On a side note: Contrary to what some people believe, this is not classified as an eating disorder. We do not do these things because we look in the mirror and think we are fat. We lose weight only to reach our goal, then we eat. If we are losing too much weight, coaches encourage wrestlers to get stronger and move up a weight class. We try to compete at the lowest body fat percentage to maximize our strength advantages.

Jeff Campbell

WCNC Anchor

There is nothing quite like being up-close and personal on a movie set. And when it's a movie about a Charlotte icon, well, it's even better.

Photojournalist Ken Corn and I got the chance to spend the day on the set of Billy: The Early Years in Watertown, TN. For anyone who hasn't been on a movie set, it is an incredible experience.

We have some pretty cool equipment here in the TV world. Expensive cameras, state-of-the-art lights, and ultra-sensitive microphones. But then you go to a movie set and you realize what an amazing production it is. The crew will spend hours setting up the perfect scene just to get one shot that might not even make the movie.

Literally, we watched them spend 90 minutes setting up. The entire scene took 10 seconds.

What is really interesting about this movie is that it is about a part of Billy Graham's life you might not know all that much about. Everyone knows about the Reverend's crusades, his counseling of countless American presidents, and the latter half of his life.

But you might not know all that much about the early years of his life. What this movie makes clear is that Graham's early years -- born in Charlotte, and transformed by the 1934 Charlotte revival -- really changed his outlook and helped shape the life that would touch millions of people worldwide.

The movie is filled with names you'll probably recognize -- Martin Landau, Jennifer O'Neill, and the rising country star Josh Turner playing George Beverly Shea.

Billy is played by Armie Hammer, who from the scenes we saw, is an incredible actor and a dead ringer for the young Graham. For those who remember Billy in younger years, you'll be stunned by the similarities.

The movie is scheduled to be released this fall. For a preview, and a closer look at our time on the set, watch WCNC Monday at 6, for our all-access pass to the film.