Danica Patrick made her NASCAR debut yesterday in Daytona, and things didn’t go as well as she’d hoped.  Not only did she not win, she didn’t even finish.  She tried to work her way out of a 12-car orgy and ended up crashing herself.

Patrick finished sixth in last week’s ARCA event at Daytona, and felt comfortable enough to move her NASCAR debut up a week to the Nationwide opener. The IndyCar star went into Saturday’s start saying her main goals were finishing the race, staying out of trouble and learning as much as she can.–Fox Sports

Danica spent much of the race outside the top 20 and then the top 30, but to be fair, someone has to be last so it may as well be her.  Both Dale Earnhardt Jr. and the race’s winner Tony Stewart came to Patrick’s defense, citing the uniqueness of the Daytona event in general and the fact that she didn’t crap out sooner as reasons she’s legit.

“We’ll go to these other tracks where she’ll literally be driving the car, it’ll be handling good or bad,” Earnhardt said. “Then people can start forming their opinions on what kind of learning curve she has. But I feel pretty confident. She’s been in a tough situation with the media and the pressure and the attention, I couldn’t have done it.”–Fox Sports

All of the hype is certainly good for business.  There are plenty of sadists in this world that will tune in just to see if she fails.  However, she’s hot, young trim behind a powerful machine in a man’s sport–if she starts winning she’s going to be like a unicorn.  As long as she never lets herself go, anyway.  Then she’d be completely useless.

Picking up the first gold medal for the U.S., Hannah Kearney dominated the slushy moguls in Vancouver yesterday.  She beat the thermal panties off Canadian skier Jenn Heil, with a score of 26.63.

Moments after Heil put up a score of 25.69 to catapult into first place, Kearney put together the run of a lifetime. The skier who admits she was once afraid of being upside down completed a backflip and a 360-degree turn before blazing across the finish line with the fastest time of the night.–Fan House

Kearney’s performance was a 180 from her 2006 Olympic showing in Turin, where she placed a disappointing 22nd while Heil beamed in 1st.  However, that was on Italian soil.  Canada has never won a gold on their own turf, and they had high hopes for Jenn.

Heil came in having won her last four World Cup events and was considered one of the nation’s best bets to finally reach the top of the podium in a home games. Prime Minister Stephen Harper showed up to cheer on Heil, hoping she could provide the golden moment the country had invested $110 million in as part of its “Own the Podium” program.–Fan House

As of this morning, Canada hasn’t earned a gold medal yet.  With their “best bet” already down, maybe instead of “Own the Podium” they should focus on owning more realistic things.  Like a maple farm.  Or a bear that rides a unicycle and plays a trombone or something.  I don’t care.  Hannah Kearney is my hero. USA! USA! USA!

During last night’s Rookies vs. Sophomores game for NBA All-Star Weekend in Dallas, the Sophomores looked like they could learn a thing or two from the new kids on the court.

“We got our butts kicked in every aspect of the game,” said Patrick Ewing, the Orlando assistant coach who headed the sophomore squad. “I know it’s an All-Star game, but we didn’t play with enough pride in my eyes. They outplayed us, they outhustled us, they outscrapped us.”–Fox Sports

Apparently Minnesota Timberwolves forward Kevin Love, who put up just 12 points and 6 grabs, predicted a “lopsided victory” over the Rookies.  So, that’s probably what doomed them right there–letting one of the Wolves predict your success.  That and the Rookies definitely went out with something to prove.  And prove it they did with record-setter DeJuan Blair snagging 23 rebounds and 22 points.  Impressive as that may be, the game’s MVP trophy actually went to teammate Tyreke Evans, who scored 26 points.  However, he wanted to share the accolade with Blair after their 140-128 defeat of the Sophs.

Evans, the league’s top-scoring rookie and 14th overall with 20.3 points a game, made 11 of 15 shots to go with six rebounds and five assists. Milwaukee rookie Brandon Jennings had 22 points and eight assists, and James Harden from Oklahoma City also had 22 points.

“Everyone came out and contributed,” Jennings said. “DeJuan Blair … that’s amazing right there.”–Fox Sports

Even Russell Westbook’s phenomenal 40 points weren’t enough to pull the Sophomores out of their slump.  Defense was non-existent and they didn’t want it enough.  Even though it is All-Star Weekend and doesn’t really count for anything, everyone out there should be playing like All-Stars for the people that voted them in.  Except Kevin Love.  Those must’ve been pity votes.  But it was nice to see Brandon Jennings teach everyone a lesson by saying he was going to break assist records and not even coming close with 8.  You show’em!

As we reported yesterday, Georgian Luger Nodar Kumaritashvili died tragically after crashing during a training run at the Winter Olympics in Vancouver.  New reports following investigations cite that the track is not at fault for the luger’s death that cast a somber cloud over the Opening Ceremony–though concerns regarding the track were voiced prior to the incident.

But the International Luge Federation and Vancouver Olympic officials said their investigation showed that the crash was the result of human error and that “there was no indication that the accident was caused by deficiencies in the track.”

In a joint statement they said Kumaritashvili was late coming out of the next-to-last turn and failed to compensate. “This resulted in a late entrance into curve 16 and although the athlete worked to correct the problem, he eventually lost control of the sled, resulting in the tragic accident.”–FanHouse

While the track may not have caused the actual accident, what about the design’s impact on the injuries that resulted in his death?  “Preventative measures” are being taken to ensure it doesn’t happen again, and lugers have been allowed extra practice rounds this morning.  However, it is a bit alarming that people raised concerns for MONTHS regarding how technically difficult the course is and the limited practice times teams would have to become acquainted with it.  In addition, there were problems with it during competitions last year.

But the accident is simply “human error” and bad luck.  I haven’t received my internet certification for Luge Track Expert in my email yet, but judging by the pictures of the accident site it looks treacherous.  Those exposed steel beams look like a) they’d be easy to hit, and b) they’d fold someone in half the wrong way–why weren’t they padded? Since Kumaritashvili’s accident was during a training run, I think it’s tough to say that more practice on the track would have prevented this.  It’s really unfortunate that a world-class athlete had to die in order for preventative measures to be taken, regardless of whether or not it was his or the track’s fault.  If one thing is for certain it’s that all eyes will be on that ill-fated turn 16 once the races are finally underway.

We’re reworking our lead-off post to give you a plate full of sports news goodness every morning. We’re calling it the Morning Meat, and it will set the table for the business that With Leather gives you throughout the day. Like everything else on this site, it’s a work in progress. Img.

Sizzling headlines straight from the griddle

Do Flailing Mavericks Need Fresh Blood? Not if you ask Mark Cuban.  Though they’re slumping, he’s not looking to load up his roster unless it’s a definite upgrade.  Not to be results-oriented, but the Mavs are barely #1 in their division, and 4th in their conference (8th overall). There are a lot of games yet to be played, but I wouldn’t hang onto the sentiment of “we’ve looked worse,” when you just got beat by the 13-40 Timberwolves last week.

Women Ruin Everything. Many people have been left scratching their heads because NBC won’t be airing the U.S.A. vs. Canada hockey game on Sunday, February 21st–it’s been relegated to MSNBC.  The reason: Women like ice dancing better.  So, if you can’t afford cable screw you.  You get to watch Johnny Weir prance around in sequined spandex, wearing the latest MAC Cosmetics makeup campaign.

News Flash: Brett Favre is Vague. Yes, people are still talking about Brett Favre.  This time he issued a heartfelt (coughmedia-friendlycough) thank you letter in which he is gracious for his season in Minnesota, but still leaves the retirement question unanswered.  Big shock.  This guy is a bigger DT than an over-developed 15 year-old (2 words: international waters).

Speaking of Minnesota, Anyone Want a Stadium? ‘Cause the State might sell it to ya real cheap.  Like $1-cheap.  One State Representative isn’t really gung-ho about using public funds to pay for a new stadium, so his idea is to sell the Metrodome AKA Mall of America Field (P.S. that name is turrible) to the Vikings for a buck and let them have their way with it.

Scores Over Easy? We’ve Got Upsets!

Upsets are determined using the opening line on each game.

NBA Spurs 111, Nuggets 92

NHL Capitals 5, Senators 6

Sabres 3, Hurricanes 4

Bruins 5, Lightning 4

Stars 3, Flames 1

Oilers 3, Kings 2

No breakfast is complete without some links!

• HOUSE OF PUNTE brings you a podcast featuring yours truly, Christmas Ape’s Miami experience, and Josh’s Vegas recap with Dan Levy of On the DL.  Kissing Suzy Kolber.
• Daniel Tosh lays his wood into an iPad.  Actually it’s an iron, but I just wanted to use that phrase.  Warming Glow.
• Great Britain has a bus that drives on land and floats on water.  Except when it doesn’t float and it starts to sink.  Good job.  Gamma Squad.
• There’s a new trailer for Hot Tub Time Machine, and John Cusack always gets a thumbs up from me.  “I WANT MY TWO DOLLAAAARRRSSS!”  Film Drunk.
• Star Wars has expanded again with a new comic and novel, “Star Wars: Knight Errant”.  Yay?  Comics Alliance.
• If there’s one thing guys love it’s musicals, especially remakes.  Am I right?  Okay, not so much, but at least this one is about hookers.  Inside Movies.
• Some of the greatest sports moments have been recreated in video games.  Sadly I don’t think Morningstar’s free throw made the cut.  Unreality.
• The 25 Hottest POA’s to ever grace the cover of the SI Swimsuit Issue.  Bleacher Report.
• It’s Flash Game Friday: Robot Unicorn Attack.  You’re going to be singing this song allllllll weekend.  Adult Swim.

Tips? Okay, but that’s it.  Anything more and I’ll have to turn you in to HR: WithLeather-Tips@Uproxx.com

We’re reworking our lead-off post to give you a plate full of sports news goodness every morning. We’re calling it the Morning Meat, and it will set the table for the business that With Leather gives you throughout the day. Like everything else on this site, it’s a work in progress. Img.

Sizzling headlines straight from the griddle

It Ain’t Easy Being Cheesy. The one to watch at the Winter Olympics beginning this weekend is the super hot Lindsey Vonn, who isn’t a slouch on the slopes either.  Except that an intense deep-tissue bruise on her shin might leave her watching her gold medals swish by on TV.  She’s hoping the cheese wraps will heal the bruising in time for the races.  You read that right: cheese wraps.

UFC Kicks Trigg to the Curb. Frank Trigg,  UFC welterweight who was already dismissed once for sucking, has been KTFO of the UFC once again after fighting his way back in.  He’s unsure of what he’ll do next.  If I might offer some suggestions, he could look into porn or maybe become a bounty hunter.  But I think porn seems like the more logical choice.

Boston University Just Became Hasselbeck’s Heir. Except the only payout they can expect is in the form of brain.  Don Hasselbeck, who estimates to have been on the receiving end of some 20 concussions in his career, is donating his brain to research upon his death.  The hope is that they will be able to see the effects of concussions in football.  Awwww…what a guy.

Your WTF? Quote of the Day. Graham Watanabe, a snowboarder on the U.S. Olympic team, has high expectations for what he wants his second Olympic appearance to be like:

“Pegasus mating with a unicorn and the creature that they birth I somehow tame it and ride it to the sky and clouds and sunshine and rainbows–USA Today

Scores Over Easy? We’ve Got Upsets!

Upsets are determined using the opening line on each game.

NCAABK New Mexico 76, UNLV 66

NBA Heat 94, Hawks 76

Kings 103, Pistons 97

Celtics 85, Hornets 93

Lakers 96, Jazz 81

Trail Blazers 108, Suns 101

Clippers 102, Warriors 132

NHL Predators 2, Rangers 1

Sharks 0, Blue Jackets 3

Capitals 5, Canadiens 6

Coyotes 3, Wild 2

No breakfast is complete without some links!

• CGI Dino porn, brought to you by the Discovery Channel.  If you’re into that sort of thing.  Warming Glow.
• Your Super Bowl Meast and Least.  Wait, the Super Bowl happened already?  I guess I hadn’t heard.  Kissing Suzy Kolber.
• The Dongria of India lead a life and struggle that parallels those of the Na’avi.  They are disappointingly not blue.  Film Drunk.
• A new rice has been developed that you don’t have to cook.  Sigh I love efficiency (read: laziness).  Gamma Squad.
• George Snufalupagus got the most pointless strip tease ever from his wife live on GMA.  Inside TV.
• Never get tired of public figures lookin’ like a fool.  The Top 10 Most Embarrassing Moments in NBA Slam Dunk Contest History.  Bleacher Report.
• When I read “Top Ten Bear Stories You Need to Know About” I totally thought they meant the kind you you might find at a leather bar.  Boy am I disappointed.  Gunaxin.
• This list of ways to improve the Winter Olympics is missing only one thing: massive amounts of booze.  Holy Taco.
• Quiz: Name the NCAA Helmet.  Sporcle.

Tips? Okay, but that’s it.  Anything more and I’ll have to turn you in to HR: WithLeather-Tips@Uproxx.com