If you spend most of your time scouring sports news Web sites instead of studying like I do, then not only are you probably going to fail that midterm today, but you know that Dale Earnhardt Jr. is leaving the racing company that bears his father’s name, Dale Earnhardt Incorporated, because of his evil stepmother Teresa.

This is a truly sad story. Dale Sr.’s wife and son are both so power and money hungry that the two could not even sit in the same room during DEI ownership negotiations.

I really don’t blame Dale Jr. for quitting the team. If it weren’t for his driving skills, DEI would be worthless. He wants his pay day and he deserves it.

But while reading and watching all of the reports on this story I found myself wondering if Hallmark had paid Dale Jr. to make this announcement right before Mother’s Day.

The whole saga revolves around a mother. Even the most brain-dead, Budweiser loving NASCAR fan can make the connection between this drama and the fact that a tulip-filled holiday is coming up.

The Earnhardt escapade also teaches us not to argue with your mom. Not only will you have to switch teams, but you will simply lose. Mom’s are always right.

This is why when my mom told me to check out some of Northwestern’s women’s sports teams this weekend I went ahead and did just that.

Do you know what I found out? NU’s spring female athletes are good – really good.

I’ll start with the obvious. NU women’s lacrosse is poised to win its third straight national championship. The top-ranked and top-seeded Wildcats have the best offense and best defense in the nation and sophomore goalie Morgan Lathrop leads the NCAA in save percentage (.605) and goals-against-average (5.44)

They also have two of the five Tewaaraton Trophy finalists in sophomore Hannah Nielsen and senior Kristen Kjellman. This is comparable to having both Tyrell Sutton and C.J. Bach