Thursday thoughts

Carolina Panthers opened training camp with a full pads, 9 a.m. practice in Spartanburg. By all accounts, it went well. A couple of players were dinged up with hamstring issues, and what not, but for the most part, nothing out of the ordinary. That automatically means the start of camp 2010 is far better than 2009, when DT Maake Kemoeatu went down with a torn Achilles tendon in the first half hour of the workout.

We'll have complete coverage of day one at Camp Wofford on Sports Night at 10, so don't miss it.

Other notes on this Thursday...

• The US Senior Open is underway at Sahalee C.C. in Washington. Charlotte's own Rick Lewallen is in the 156 player field. Had the chance to visit with him last week before he went out. Wonderful man with an even better story. He is a cancer survivor, defeating prostate cancer. After talking to him, I hope he is a guy in the hunt on the weekend, so the world can hear his story. We'll keep our eyes open for him on ESPN2 both Thursday and Friday, and then on NBC over the weekend.
• NASCAR off to Pocono this week, and what a week the Sprint Cup series has had. You had the super-secret fining of 2 drivers (ESPN.com has identified Denny Hamlin and Ryan Newman as the drivers that were penalized), for critical comments of the series. Jeff Dickerson was hired as Jeff Gordon's new sponsor. Marcos Ambrose is leaving JTG-Daugherty Racing at season's end and will be replace by Bobby Labonte in 2011. Ambrose hasn't outlined his plans, but there is talk he could end up at Richard Petty Motorsports.
• And then there was the plane crash of team owner Jack Roush in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. It's Roush's 2nd plane crash, the first coming in 2002. The Cat in the Hat has been moved to the Mayo Clinic after having surgery to repair damage to his face. As of this writing, he was in serious, but stable condition. I'm not one to tell people what to do, but Mr. Roush, maybe it's time to hire your own pilot. We understand you are a tough man, but you don't have to crash planes to prove it. I know he didn't intend to do so, but this might be the time to quit while you're ahead.
• Also had the chance to check in with the Big South on their media day on Thursday. Big year for the conference, as their conference champion will earn an automatic spot in the FCS Championship playoffs. Gardner Webb is a pre-season pick to finish 5th in the conference, with Liberty being picked to rule the conference. We'll hear from Commissioner Kyle Kallander and GWU Head Coach Steve Patton on Sports Night as well.

Mike Solarte

Follow me on Twitter! www.twitter.com/MikeSolarte