Fox to begin contract negotiations with NASCAR

Feb 26, 2012

The best and the worst of Apple are on display this week. On one side of the coin, its stock cruised through $US500, making Apple the biggest company in the world (but still not the biggest ever). Not bad for an outfit that nearly went broke in the 1990s and was only saved by the good grace (and cynicism) of Microsoft, which desperately needed a viable competitor to ward off antitrust scrutiny at the time.

In addition to its stock price, here's some other big numbers about Apple : The company's market cap is closing in on half a trillion dollars ($470 billion) and it currently has $100 billion in cash. The cash pile is up another $24 billion since Steve Jobs died late last year.

On the other side of the coin, Jobs was the CEO who thought nothing of conspiring with his 'gazillionaire' peers in Silicon Valley to suppress the cost of labour for his US workforce. And famously, he was not shy about taking advantage of the far sighted industrial relations policies in the worker's paradise of modern China. Deng Xiaoping called it “socialism with Chinese characteristics” and Jobs evidently approved. Alas for employees of Apple's partners — partners like Foxconn, first world problems like Jobs’ penchant for anti-poaching programmes are simply the stuff such as dreams are made of.

[ Keep your finger on the pulse with the latest developments in mobile technology—such as phones and tablets—in Computerworld's Mobility & Wireless newsletter ]

Now, to overcome the unpleasant stench of its business practices, or at least those of its partners (not that we would ever judge a company by the company it keeps), Apple has appointed an external organisation to monitor and report on conditions.

These are not the droids you are seeking...

Apple's choice of external monitors, however, hasn't exactly filled critics with confidence. The Fair Labour Association has represented other companies such as Nike — also well known for its progressive approach to third world employment. The New York Times quotes Jeff Ballinger, who is the director of labour rights group Press for Change, describing the FLA as “largely a fig leaf” .

Still we should acknowledge that shining a light — even a dim one — into dark places is a step up from Apple's previous behaviour. For a sample of what Grok means, here's a snippet from Wikipedia's entry about Foxconn:“In reaction to a spate of worker suicides where fourteen died in 2010, a report by twenty Chinese universities described Foxconn factories as labour camps and detailed widespread worker abuse and illegal overtime. In response to the suicides, Foxconn installed suicide-prevention netting at some facilities, and it promised to offer substantially higher wages at its Shenzhen production bases. Workers were also forced to sign a legally binding document guaranteeing that they and their descendants would not sue the company as a result of unexpected death, self-injury, or suicide.”

Apple makes great products. Grok's house is bulging with Apple’s shiny, shiny toys. This column was written on his irreplaceable Mac Book Pro, so we guess that makes him partly complicit. But nobody should cut Apple any slack over its record on these matters just because its indentured labourers made prettier baubles than anyone else's. Still, a little shame never went astray.

But of course, not everyone agrees. Just as Grok was submitting this story, a story popped up on the radar — 'Apple beats out Google, Amazon for Highest Corporate Reputation Score' . If you didn't laugh, you'd cry.

Creative destruction cuts both ways

It's been a good week for the tech sector's latter day Zaibatsu with regulators all over the world rolling over to have their tummies tickled. The big one, of course, was Google clearing the regulatory hurdles in the US and Europe for its $12.5 billion acquisition of Motorola Mobile.

As The New York Times pointed out in this piece , there are still a few minor jurisdictional issues to overcome, but the turkey, as they say, is in the oven.

Now that the US government and those cheese eating surrender monkeys in Europe have acquiesced, all those Android mobile phone manufacturers might like to start ramping up their own personal anxiety levels. Somebody somewhere is going to get crushed.

Separately, the Justice Department in the US decided there was no reason to stop Microsoft, Apple and Research in Motion picking over the bones of Nortel Network's patents, or Apple's purchase of various Novel patents.

Cue the musical score from The Lion King…It’s the 'circle of life'.

Andrew Birmingham is the CEO of Silicon Gully Investment

UPTON WATCH: Move over, Danica Patrick. There's a new woman turning heads in the NASCAR garage.

Supermodel Kate Upton was at Daytona International Speedway on Sunday, serving as grand marshal for the Daytona 500 along with her "The Three Stooges" co-star Jane Lynch.

Upton grew up in nearby Melbourne riding horses but has come a long way since.

She landed the cover of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue released earlier this month and has modeled for Guess, Dooney & Bourke and Victoria's Secret.

Not surprisingly, she was a big hit among drivers, crew members and race fans.

She really could have turned things up a notch had she decided to dance. Last year, a video of Upton dancing the "Dougie" at a Los Angeles Clippers game went viral and increased her popularity.

"I learned a new one, the `Cat Daddy,'" Upton told The Associated Press. "I can't wait to throw that one out. I did it the other day on a shoot in my cover bikini, so who knows."

Upton and Lynch took part in the 500 to help promote their upcoming movie. They play nuns in the movie, which is scheduled to be released April 13. Sean Hayes, Chris Diamantopoulos and Will Sasso star as the Stooges and were selected to drop the green flag.

"It will introduce the Stooges to a new generation," Lynch said. "It's very much like the series, except it's not shot in black and white. All the colors are muted. Even though it takes place today, it looks like it was shot back then."

Lynch also raved about Upton and offered a hint about what moviegoers can expect from Upton's role.

"She's very game," Lynch said. "There's a great shot when she comes out of swimming pool. She plays a nun, but she does emerge from a swimming pool in an interesting get-up."

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TOUGH TALK: UFC light heavyweight champion Jon "Bones" Jones, the honorary official for the Daytona 500, didn't hold back when asked about his upcoming fight against Rashad Evans.

When a reporter asked Jones about Evans' calling him fake in a recent interview, Jones lashed out at his former friend and now top rival.

"Yeah, he's been calling me that since the beginning of my career," Jones said. "He's the guy who's the fake really, you know. A lot of his actions really don't add up to the person that he portrays. It's interesting. It's pre-fight drama, and I plan on kicking his butt. That's my only option really."

Jones and Evans are scheduled to fight as the main event during UFC 145 on April 21 in Atlanta.

Jones toured Daytona International Speedway, said he loves cars and was planning to pull for former Daytona 500 champion Kevin Harvick. He added that NASCAR drivers and mixed martial arts fighters have a bond that stems from putting their bodies at risk every time they compete.

"What I think attracts NASCAR drivers to mixed martial arts is just it's as real as it gets," Jones said. "In the cage, it's not really a game, you know. If you mess up, you can get seriously injured. It's live speed, and it's extremely real. I think that's something maybe drivers relate to. When you're on the track, every movement counts, and a mess-up could be really dangerous."

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GIANT VISITORS: New York Giants defensive ends Justin Tuck and Osi Umenyiora were on hand for The Great American Race. The Super Bowl champions were introduced at the pre-race drivers' meeting, and the most significant part of their appearance was Tuck's left shoulder.

Tuck's arm was in a sling, evidence of his recent shoulder surgery.

Coach Tom Coughlin revealed the surgery Friday at the NFL Combine.

Tuck battled through a number of injuries during the regular season and missed four games. He was held out of a practice prior to New York's NFC wild-card round game against the Atlanta Falcons because of his ailing shoulder.

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WAKE-UP CALL: Lenny Kravitz wasn't quite ready for his midday concert.

Kravitz preformed the pre-race event and strolled into Daytona International Speedway wearing dark shades and moving somewhat slowly.

"Once I wake up, we should be OK," he said.

The seven-time Grammy Award winner eventually got things rolling and played some fan favorites in the rain, including "American Woman" and "Are You Gonna Go My Way."

He joked about how different his lifestyle is from the normal.

"It's oddball every night," he said. "Nothing normal about this life."

Much different from NASCAR?

"You guys go fast; we play loud," he said.

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NASCAR spotlight shines bright on Danica Patrick

Feb 25, 2012

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla.—As her car hurtled out of control toward the inside retaining wall at Daytona International Speedway, Danica Patrick did a split-second survey of her situation.

With no chance of avoiding a head-on collision at nearly 190 mph, Patrick prepared for the impact. She took her hands off her steering wheel and pulled them close to her body. In her mind, she had clenched her arms tight near her shoulder harnesses.

In reality, the in-car camera showed her hands were much higher, almost at her face. And just like that the talk shifted from her otherwise clean run in Thursday's qualifying race to a discussion about the pretty girl who covered her eyes right before a big scary accident.

It didn't matter that it wasn't true.

"In IndyCars, you learn to take your hands off the wheel," Patrick explained Friday. "I was trained when there is no saving it and no hope, you let go. That's what I did.

"No, I wasn't covering my eyes. But, yes, I did close them as I got to the wall. I didn't want my eyes to pop out of my head."

Everything Patrick does this season, her first full year in NASCAR, will be scrutinized. She's one of the most popular athletes on the planet, but her spotty racing resume makes her an easy target for hard-core racing fans who consider her an overhyped driver unworthy of the attention she receives.

She's found often on ESPN, which broadcasts the bulk of Patrick's races. She has dabbled the last two years in the Nationwide Series and will run the full schedule this year for JR Motorsports. She also will make her Sprint Cup Series debut in Sunday's season-opening Daytona 500, the first of 10 scheduled events this season for Stewart-Haas Racing.

So, it's easy to understand why the traditional auto racing fan is concerned that ESPN might overwhelm fans with its interest in "Danicamania."

"Our coverage is in balance with what we believe the audience interest is," said Rich Feinberg, ESPN vice president of motorsports.

Former NASCAR champion turned ESPN analyst Dale Jarrett understands the conundrum facing Patrick and her move to NASCAR, which openly admits it hopes she drives ratings and attracts new fans. She'll be heavily featured in Saturday's season-opening Nationwide race at Daytona.

"I think she's a polarizing figure," Jarrett said. "I'll be quite honest. I was very skeptical when she came over. Could she handle these cars, get in and mix it up? I think she can. Is she going to go out and set the world on fire? That's going to be difficult to do, because she's up against the best in the world.

"But she's good for the sport, and I think we do a very nice job of balancing that and giving her enough and giving the fans enough but not going over the top either."

The hardest thing to overcome is Patrick's statistics.

In 115 IndyCar starts, she won one race—Japan in 2008. She had seven podium finishes, and two of them came when she began dabbling in NASCAR two seasons ago. Since coming to NASCAR, she has three top-10 finishes in 25 races over two years.

Patrick understands, even accepts, that there are people who find her results unacceptable.

"I know it's somewhat of a product of becoming popular. When you get a lot of attention, the general public expects everything to be at that level," she said. "They expect my results to be at my popularity level. They expect everything to be earned, deserved and on the same level. I get it.

"There's just certain people that are intriguing. I still don't know why I'm intriguing to people, because there have been other girls that have been race car drivers. While I like to think that I have done a good job at times with my driving and with results, people just want to know about me and are curious. It grows, and it snowballs. Do I wish I could have more wins? Yeah, of course I do."

There always have been mixed feelings about Patrick in IndyCar, where for seven seasons she overshadowed every other driver and was the main storyline even when the focus should have been on others. But her former competitors have always supported her, and few ever criticized her talent.

"She's a good driver, and she's not exceptional," Helio Castroneves said. "But you've got to admit, she's a female, and she broke a barrier that a lot of females before couldn't do. It is a men's sport. People are used to that, and when she succeeded the way she did, you're going to get attention. I always respect her as a driver, and I knew when she had a good car she'd really go for it.

"And when she didn't have a good car, she really knows how to respect the limits."

At the same time, there's a bit of a relief that she's moved on.

"I think she was great for this series, but man, this series has to stand on its own," Will Power said. "I think it will be good for the series to run free by itself with us."

"Did she add any fans to the sport? No, probably not," added Graham Rahal. "And where it hurt us, is we were never able to develop a personality outside of her, because there was never an opportunity."

In NASCAR, the competitors recognize that Patrick is the center of the spotlight. At a Nationwide Series event, she teamed with four other series regulars in a game of "Family Feud" vs. the media. The team was captained by reigning Nationwide champion Ricky Stenhouse Jr., who picked the official team of "Danica and the Other Guys."

No one seems to be bothered by the attention she receives, and drivers have been kind in their assessment of her skills. Of course, measuring success in NASCAR is far different from the podium-driven open-wheel mentality.

A driver can make a very nice living stringing together top-10s, even top-20s, and Stenhouse was crowned champion last year with two victories and 26 top-10 finishes. In the Cup Series, Carl Edwards lost the title on a tiebreaker, and his final statistics showed one win and 26 top-10 finishes.

So if Patrick can conserve her equipment and take what she can get on the track, she could put together a nice Nationwide season.

"I've always had a hard time trying to be happy about finishing 30th and learning from that experience—that's the thing she's good at," said three-time IndyCar champion Sam Hornish Jr.,

who will race Patrick this season for the Nationwide title.

"She's a good finisher. She's very good at taking care of the car and making sure she gets the most out of her time at the track. And she has less pressure. She's a tremendous marketing machine, so she wants to be successful because she has to live with herself. But the success she has on the track isn't necessarily going to be what determines whether or not she has a job."

Her job security, with backing from longtime sponsor GoDaddy.com, is not in jeopardy. But there's pressure on Stewart, the three-time NASCAR champion, to field a competitive team for Patrick and ready her for her full-time move to the Sprint Cup Series in 2013.

"You can't sit there and smother her," Stewart said. "She still has to figure a lot of this out on her own. I just need to be there, be available, when she does have a question. She's really good at picking up information. She has unbelievable feedback. She's really good at being able to understand what's going on and how to get that feedback to the crew chief. There's so much sensory overload of new things to learn here, that it's so hard to get it all and be able to do something with that.

"She is really, really good at that."

Patrick, who is married, has developed a strong rapport with Stewart— a bit of a brother-sister relationship. They've known each other a long time, and for any chance of long-term success, Patrick believed Stewart was her best bet.

"It's important that I am working with and driving for someone that has respect for me and someone that's willing to help me, because Lord knows I need help," she said. "I want to figure it out as quickly as possible. Tony strikes me as someone that is confident enough in himself that he can volunteer information and want to see me get better."

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Daytona 500 winner needs sponsor backing

Feb 24, 2012

Never had a 20-year-old kid won the Great American Race — until last year.

Understandably, Bayne became an overnight sensation. He made the rounds on the talk-show circuit. Rubbed elbows with Ellen DeGeneres and George Lopez. He chatted by phone with Vice President Joe Biden and Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow. And there was even the moment when Pamela Anderson compared Bayne to one of her sons.

Yes, Bayne’s astonishing win in the 2011 Daytona 500 should have been a springboard to stardom. But in the past year, there have been times it appeared the now-21-year-old was just spinning his wheels.

How can a driver so fresh, engaging and talented not attract the necessary sponsorship to provide the seat time to advance to the next level?

“Trevor is a good enough race car driver — at the very least, he should be driving a Nationwide car full time and running for that championship,” said Carl Edwards, Bayne's Roush Fenway Racing teammate and former NNS champion. “I think if we had to do it all over again, it would be done a lot differently.”

Certainly, sponsorship is problematic, particularly for Nationwide Series programs right now. Defending series champion Ricky Stenhouse Jr., another Roush teammate, also lacks a full complement of support for the No. 16 team.

For Wood Brothers Racing, Bayne’s Sprint Cup team, sponsorship also stands between the driver and a full-time ride. While the Wood Brothers reinvested Daytona 500 winnings into the team to expand Bayne’s schedule to 17 races in 2011, there’s only a 12-race budget this season.

Bayne is all too aware of the sponsorship reality. Most parents can carry a driver only so far financially in racing. By the time drivers reach the Sprint Cup Series, the budgets well exceed seven figures.

Still, last season, Bayne’s Nationwide Series owner, Jack Roush, ran the team out of his own pocket. While Bayne will start on the front row for Saturday’s DRIVE4COPD 300, the car will be named the “RFR 25th Ford.”

Bayne's biggest challenge right now isn’t performance; it’s finding a partner to subsidize his racing.

“For me, it’s just convincing guys that I can help their brand and be their race car driver and be their representative,” Bayne said. “That’s what I’m trying to do. That’s the hardest part of our sport right now. It’s not (just) driving . . . ”

Bayne is grateful for the opportunities he’s had. His career appeared to be on the right path last spring after winning the 500 and running for the title in the Nationwide Series. Then Bayne became seriously ill after he was bitten by an insect. The symptoms were so severe he ended up at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. Bayne was fourth in the Nationwide standings before he sat out five races in an effort to get well.

“I don't know if it took me off my game necessarily, but you never know what could have happened,” Bayne said. “We could have been Nationwide champions. I say that not taking anything away from (champion) Ricky and (crew chief) Mike Kelley, because they deserved it. But you never know how it could have played out. We were four points out of the lead at the time — not that it really matters, because it didn't happen.

“I'm exactly where I'm supposed to be now. For some reason, I'm supposed to be right here where I'm at. But, having won a championship, it could have changed things a little bit. But I would think that after winning the 500, as well, and it hasn't really. So I've just got to work really hard and stay after it and make the best of what we've got. You can't really look back and change anything.”

Team owner Eddie Wood has worked with legends in the sport. Yet he remembers vividly the day Bayne came buzzing into his shop to have his seat fitted for his Sprint Cup debut in November 2010.

Perhaps what Wood admired most about Bayne was how upbeat and genuine he was that day. And that demeanor didn’t change after the title Daytona 500 champion was placed next to Bayne’s name.

“With everything he’s gone through, from the highest of highs to the lowest of lows, he handled it really, really well,” Wood said. “He was already a very grown-up 20-year-old, but after winning the 500 and then getting sick and being forced out of the car, I think that was a real eye-opening experience that no one would want to go through or wish on anyone. But he worked his way through it and got healthy.

“I think he’s a more mature driver now, from having to deal with the adversity. There was a period last year when we didn’t run real well, but then it started to click again. And down here this week he has been real focused and ready to go.

“He told me just a little while ago, ‘I can win this race again. I’m going to win this race.’ So the confidence is there. The maturity is there. It just all has to fall into place.

"That’s how this race has always been. It’s historic. It’s always has been that way here — when

it’s your day, it’s your day."

Bayne had a miscue during the first Gatorade Duel on Thursday, getting in a wreck on Lap 9 while drafting with Michael McDowell that damaged the right rear quarter panel. Then, on the last lap, Bayne drove over a coil spring from Danica Patrick’s mangled machine, relegating the No. 21 Ford to the No. 40 starting spot for the Daytona 500.

Still, Bayne is confident he can use what he learned during the qualifier to run up front on Sunday and defend his Daytona 500 title. But nothing will replace that first win.

“So coming back here and being called the champion, I still don’t think right now that I understand it,” Bayne said. “I can honestly say that in five years I’ll look back at it and appreciate it more than I do right now. And I already feel like I appreciate it to the max, but I’m sure later on it’ll mean even more to me.”

For now, though, nothing would mean more to Bayne than finding a sponsor.

“I just have to make the most of all the opportunities that I have and show everybody that I’m not going to sit around and complain about it,” Bayne said. “I’m fortunate to be the age that I am and have the opportunity that I have.

“I’ve raced against thousands of kids along the way that don’t even get this chance. But I want to be around for a long time and stay around, so that requires having sponsorship, that requires running for championships and running for race wins, and that’s what we want to do.”

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