Scott McLaughlin is used to being in demand but, during the Supercars meet at Pukekohe this weekend, his popularity will be off the charts.Among fans, along the grid and pit lane, McLaughlin is well liked.His appeal extends to team owners.Current boss Garry Rogers tried hard to keep the 23-year-old for another year but McLaughlin accepted a multi-million-dollar deal to join Roger Penskes emerging powerhouse garage.And theres plenty of love for the Volvo driver in the stands and on the hills - and nowhere more so than his native New Zealand, and perhaps no time more than this weekend.McLaughlin is the chief threat to Triple Eights dominance of the series, sitting in fourth place behind championship leader Shane van Gisbergen, Jamie Whincup and Craig Lowndes.I can really upset their party - their 1-2-3, he laughed.In truth, the happy-go-lucky Christchurch native is too much of a nice guy to ruin anyones day.Van Gisbergen will enjoy huge support of his own, too, given hes a chance - albeit a slim one this weekend on home soil - to become the first New Zealander to win the Supercars championship in 25 years.With a maximum of 600 points left to win at Pukekohe and Homebush in Sydney, the Aucklander is in a commanding position, 148 points ahead of Whincup and 385 clear of Lowndes.McLaughlin said it added up to a win-win for the local crowds.Im not out to spoil Shane. Hes got his own thing to worry about and Ive got my own thing, he said.Everythings good for New Zealanders; theyve got plenty to pick from.They can cheer for me or someone else - Shane, Fabian (Coulthard), whoever - any time they can get a New Zealander to win, its pretty good.McLaughlin is 461 points off the mark, meaning his best hope would be to make ground on Lowndes to cement the best overall finish of his career and for his team.Weve got on top of the car as the seasons gone on, he said.Weve been pretty consistent and still been running top six or seven which isnt too bad at all.But the competition is tough. We hit a really good spot at Surfers Paradise and, if we keep it in that range, we can go well at Pukekohe. Asics Outlet Sale . Laudrup revealed Thursday he was notified of his dismissal in "the briefest of letters which gave no reasons why such hasty and final action was deemed necessary. Asics Cheap Online . You can watch the game live on TSN at 7:30pm et/4:30pm pt. The Flyers had won seven of eight before dropping their last two outings on consecutive days over the weekend. Philadelphia was handed a 6-3 loss by the visiting Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday afternoon before dropping a 4-1 decision to the Rangers the following night in New York City. http://www.asicscheap.com/ . To the surprise of many, it isnt the Wolverines but their in-state rivals the Michigan State Spartans. Cheap Asics Shoes . Nine days before the opening ceremony, organizing committee chief Dmitry Chernyshenko said Wednesday that Sochi is "fully ready" and will deliver safe, friendly and well-run games that defy the grim reports that have overshadowed preparations. Asics Wholesale China . -- Anaheim Ducks defenceman Luca Sbisa will be out at least six weeks with a torn tendon in his right hand. CHICAGO -- Loyola University has parted ways with womens basketball coach Sheryl Swoopes.The school said in April that it would investigate allegations against Swoopes brought by former players. One former player, Cate Soan, has said Swoopes humiliated her and created a hostile environment.On Sunday, the school released a three-sentence statement.Sheryl Swoopes is no longer serving as the womens basketball coach at Loyola University Chicago, athletic director Steve Watson said in the statement. A search for her replacement will begin immediately. Loyola thanks Sheryl for her service to the womens basketball program.Swoopes has been at the private Chicago university for thhree seasons with a record of 31-62.dddddddddddd She was elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame this year. She was the first player signed by the WNBA and won three Olympic gold medals.Late Sunday night, Swoopes spokeswoman Kimberly Blackwell released a statement.In response to the inquires made about the investigation, Sheryl is comfortable with its outcomes, Blackwell said. She is disappointed, however, with the actions that have followed. In respect of the holiday, we plan to have Sheryls voice heard at an appropriate time. ' ' '