Month of May Bucket List

The Month of May is here, well almost. The 2 weeks of May that will make up practice and qualifying for the Indianapolis 500 gets under way Saturday May 14th. This year, outside of the race itself, it should be a fun and exciting as the Speedway celebrates the 100th birthday of the first 500 back in 1911.  Talking to a good friend of mine who shares the same passion for the 500 as I, We decided to come up with a bucket list of things to do this month. Here is mine.

1. Spend every time at the speedway that its open for track activity. I accomplished this last season, I'm fortunate to have a Silver badge, and plan to be out there everyday.

2. Tweet. Follow my personal twitter @tonyd6624 and also follow me on @500coverage for up to the minute update from the Speedway.

3. Check out the Museum. With most of all the past 500 winners cars, defiantly worth the time to check out.

4. Take a minimum of 200 pictures. This may be the easiest, plenty of things to capture and keep for years to come, especially with family and friends coming down for the race.

5. Meet someone new everyday. These days, it is about who you know, and there is nothing such thing as knowing too many people.

6. Watch a practice session from the top deck in turn 1. A great view looking straight down the front stretch, I could probably take 200 pictures up their alone.

7. Survive Carb Day. Pretty self explanatory.

8. Continue some traditions that have been set. Spending race morning with friends and family. Walk Georgetown Road at 1am race morning, buy a cheap 5 dollar T-shirt after the race.

9. Meet every driver that will start the 500. This shouldn't be too hard, just need to meet maybe 5.

10. Take in the month, the advantages and opportunities I have and hope it does not end too soon.

Thats a Wrap

37-45. Not the best of records, but enough to get into the NBA Playoffs for the Pacers, that's the good news, the bad news, the Bulls, the #1 overall seed would await them. The Bulls are a hell of a team, Derrick Rose takes your breath away, Bulls lover or hater, any fan of the game would pay money just to see him. The sure MVP of the league, is one of the NBA's new born stars, and he is only 22.

The Pacers are young, and came into the playoffs with a nothing to lose mind set. They took the Bulls to the brink in the first three games, but inexperience, the lack of a closer, and no post presence let the Bulls take the first 3 games right from under the Blue and Gold. These Pacers remind you a little bit of the 8 seeded Bulls of a year ago, unfortunately, a #1 draft pick is not in the Pacers future any time soon.

It doesn't matter if your a die hard Pacer fan, or a casual follower of the NBA, you knew the Pacers would not win this series. The meaning of a best of seven series is to have the best team win. Anyone can beat anyone once, but to do it four out of seven tries is hard. The Pacers gained valuable experience, grew as a young team, played physical, and earned the respect of the NBA.

The off season brings some unknowns to the table. Who will return? Who will be brought in? One thing is for sure, the Pacers have cap room, and they need a Power Forward. Danny Granger needs to become more of a vocal leader, work on his defense, and practicing driving to the cup. This could be the first of many years we see the Pacers in the playoffs.

As for the Bulls, Luol Deng and Derrick Rose played outstanding. Carlos Boozer was disappointing to say the least, especially for a 90 million dollar man with tons of playoff experience. Kyle Korver earned his paycheck this entire series and the role players did what is expected. I'm not sure this is the year the Bulls win it all, but I do know they are built for the future, a future that is bright for both the Pacers and Bulls. A new emergence of contenders have arrived, The Bulls, Thunder, Sixers and Pacers all have bright futures ahead.