Sports fan

So on Sunday Dario Franchitti, a racecar driver who won this year's Indy 500, also clinched the season championship. Here's the thing. I am a fan of Dario's. Not a huge fan, but he's the guy who I quietly root for when I watch IRL racing. And the reason? Cause we share the same birthday.

Yep, that's it.

I've often wondered how people choose singular athletes to root for. I mean, how do you choose a tennis player? A golf player? Well, here are a few "singular" sports and the people I root for and why. The reasons are all kind of random and stupid, but hey, if it's not the town you grew up in (or went to college in) what else is there?

Nascar: Tony Stewart. Um, he drives the Home Depot car? And even though I usually do prefer Lowe's, Walz already roots for Jimmie Johnson. So we gotta do the ying and yang thing. Besides, Home Depot is really close to the condo in Pittsburgh, our first house. Also, Tony's birthday is the day after mine. (I'm big on this birthday thing, can't you tell?)

Golf: Jim Furyk. Well that one's easy. He graduated from Township.

Men's tennis: Andy Roddick. He hosted SNL. I'm a big fan of SNL.

Women's tennis: Maria Sharapova. She does Canon commercials. And boy, do I love those little point and shoot cameras!

ChampCar: Graham Rahal. This is a real stretch because I never watch this at all. But I met Bobby Rahal (Graham's dad) in the Pittsburgh airport once, and he talked to me. So that was cool. First famous person I've ever talked to.

Cycling: Floyd! Floyd! Go Lancaster! Although if he loses the Tour title I'll have to find someone else. Probably another American at least. But we'll keep our hopes with Floyd. Floyd!

Speaking of sports, this weekend I'm going down to Louisville to watch them beat the snot out of Syracuse. I'm pretty stoked. The Pitt-Louisville game is Homecoming for the Cardinals, so tickets weren't available. I guess I'll wear a red shirt with a Pittsburgh t-shirt underneath.