You Can Stand Under My Umberalla, ella, ellla, ay!

Earlier today I mentioned the rain-slicked Formula 1 racing at the Japanese Grand Prix (see below) just outside of Tokyo last Sunday. Those guys, unlike the NASCAR boys, will race in almost any kind of weather. And those photos of the cars zooming around the track with rain water flying everywhere are always a cool site to behold. However, those on-the-track images aren't the best photos that came out of the race. I prefer this image of Japanese umbrella girls -- actually they're called race queens -- standing by in case they're needed. Very sexy! With that I say, good night everybody and have a great weekend. …and, rain or shine, enjoy the games!

UPDATE: I just realized this is my 100th post to the sports/weather blog. That's a bit of a milestone, right? Right! Especially for a part-time, novice blogger such as me.

UPDATE #2: I know I said the above were my last words here for the day, but I just found a really cool photo you should see heading into this weekend's college football schedule. The photo is of Kelsi Metzler, a University of Oregon cheerleader, posing with an umbrella as part of a photo shoot for SI.com. Metzler is the Web site's Cheerleader of the Week. You can see the entire 18-picture gallery here, beginning with the umbrella pic. Be sure to check out photo one. Metzler makes those hideous Oregon football jerseys look nice while rocking a super-tight tummy and some really tight jeans. Go Ducks!

Ok, that's it for today. I promise.

Slick Racing

I know NASCAR is the most popular racing entity in the States, but you have to hand it to the Formula 1 guys when it comes to bravery in dealing with the natural elements.

Last Sunday's Japanese Grand Prix was no exception, as you can see in the photo above taken of British driver Lewis Hamilton, Aussie Mark Webber and Japanese racer Sakon Yamamoto during the race at the Fuji Speedway in Oyama, Japan. That's just west of Tokyo for those of you not up on your geography of Japan. (AP Photo/Chitose Suzuki)

Hamilton may not have been the safest driver on the track. According to news reports, the FIA is investigating his driving tactics during his win in Japan.

Meanwhile, the NASCAR fellas (left), on the same day, huddled under their umbrellas while waiting for rain to stop in Kansas City. What a bunch of pansies.


The baseball photo below is about a week old, but it may be my last chance this year to bring you a pic of a ballpark grounds crew. The photo shows members of the PNC Park crew clearing rain water following a sudden downpour during a Pirates game with the Arizona Diamondbacks.


You XM Radio subscribers out there who frequent or sometimes just scroll past the regional traffic/weather stations in the low 200s may have noticed a unique message on the Boston station Thursday. As you may know, the display screen for those channels offers weather messages such "Fair" or "Rainy" or "JAM ALERT" for, of course, traffic jams in that particular city. But on Thursday, the opening day of the Major League Baseball playoffs, and the first game between the Red Sox and Angels being played at Fenway Park, the Boston channel display read "Go Sox!"