Kid, We're Gonna Need That Back

Roster changes are a fact of life. Just ask any Jets receiver. But the NFL goes on (despite itself), and it continues to make its presence known on television.
First of all, take a look at this commercial from last year. An expectant father, who's about to be way too busy to attend Seattle Seahawks games, is looking to sell his tickets, so he goes to an NFL.com site. Meanwhile, a man wants to take his young son to a Seattle Seahawks game, so he and his son go to the same site. The expectant father sells his tickets with what looks like a hint of regret. The other father buys the tickets, and his son runs around shouting for joy in his Matt Hasselbeck jersey (number 8 on the sleeves, "Hasselbeck" on the back).
Now, when you watch a preseason games this weekend, be on the lookout for this commercial, because it's running again. Sort of.
The expectant father still sells his tickets. The other father buys them, and the son still runs around shouting for joy. But this time, the son is simply wearing a number 8 Seahawks jersey.
Apparently, when Matt Hasselbeck went to the Tennessee Titans, he lost the rights to be in an NFL commercial. The jersey was probably digitally altered to take the "Hasselbeck" name off, but you have to wonder what would have happened if they told the kid to take the name off and use a generic Seahawks jersey instead.
Would he have reacted like this?
While you ponder that, remember to vote in our polls. The one on top will determine which quarterback the People's Pigskin will target first in its Labor Day fantasy draft. The other three will determine which NASCAR Sprint Cup drivers will represent the People's Pitstop this weekend at Michigan International Speedway. We'll be back with more on that track.

The People's Facts - Goody's Fast Pain Relief 500

Fantasy racing fans, you still have time to vote on the People's Pitstop lineup for this Sunday's NASCAR Sprint Cup race. While you ponder your votes (remember, 2 from the A List, 4 from the B List and 2 from the C List), here are some things to know about this week's site.

Track basics. Martinsville Speedway, with its famous "paper clip" shape, is the shortest track NASCAR uses. It's only 0.53 miles long, and it's been hosting races since 1948. That's right; it's even older than Mark Martin.

Recent winners. Jimmie Johnson (2009), Denny Hamlin (2008), Johnson (2007)

Who wins here a lot. Jeff Gordon has 7 wins on this track in the Sprint Cup series. Johnson (you may have heard of him) has 6.

We hardly knew ye, wing. I guess if the NHL can change its rules on head shots in the middle of its season, NASCAR can change the look of its cars in the middle of its season. This week marks the return of a rear spoiler, replacing the three-year-old wings. So does this mean all those folks designing pink cars with kitties for Kyle Busch have to resubmit their designs?

So what's with the clock? In 1964, Martinsville Speedway's founder, H. Clay Earles, found a way to distinguish his race from all the others on the NASCAR circuit and support local businesses. He awarded the winner a grandfather clock from a nearby manufacturer. The tradition stuck, even though the manufacturer has changed.

For a more thorough preview of Sunday's race, click here to download a PDF from the fine folks at Yahoo Sports.

We'll be back tomorrow with the poll results.