Norman Chad
Nuf' said.
Posted on 06/07/2010 4:32:01 AM PDT by Chi-townChief
It's just a wasteful, reckless, unnecessary, ozone-destroying exercise
Last Sunday, they ran the Coca-Cola 600 and the Indianapolis 500. That's about 1,100 unnecessary miles of tire treads wearing thin.
My friends, auto racing is a road to nowhere.
Ten years into a new millennium, it's time to put the exhaust pipes into an antique shop. It's time we engage in a new age of enlightenment, recognize auto racing as obsolete and end the around-the-oval madness.
At the risk of being tossed out of the sports fraternity -- Who am I kidding? I was tossed out years ago; why do you think I sit at home alone watching the passing parade? -- let me suggest that, rather than continuing to be obsessed with ''higher, faster, stronger,'' we set our sights on smarter, kinder, better.
(I often look back on thriving ancient civilizations as a guidepost to proper living. And in 4th century B.C. China, you never heard. ''Gentlemen, start your rickshaws.'')
NASCAR has the carbon footprint of a brontosaurus.
This whole business of maintaining an industry on wasteful, reckless behavior -- we're talking technology not to build a better mousetrap but to simple create a faster race car --should be tossed into the junkyard.
(I realize some of you are saying, ''You think auto racing is irrelevant? Aren't you the guy who broadcasts poker on TV?'' Gosh, I hate when people say poker that way. Granted, poker is not helping solve the world's problems, but it isn't creating a hole in the ozone layer, and it keeps college kids from studying too much.)
This year, NASCAR decided to let its drivers race even more roughhouse to give fans more bang -- and banging -- for their buck. Robin Pemberton, NASCAR's vice president of competition, said they wanted to put racing ''back in the hands of the drivers, and we will say, 'Boys, have at it.'''
Boys, have at it?
That's like the National Rifle Association asking gun owners to be a little more trigger-happy.
Surely, the unruly behavior on the track translates to more aggressive driving on the roads. We're an imitative culture. Heck, if Danica Patrick started applying makeup on Turn 4 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Sunday, there'd be a Revlon revolution on our interstates by Monday.
But the road rage NASCAR encourages is not nearly as indicting as the damage NASCAR wreaks on the planet.
If the Exxon Valdez was an environmental assassin, auto racing's a serial killer.
Forget ''Drill Baby Drill.'' How about ''Still Baby Still''?
Auto racing wastes hundreds of thousands of gallons of precious fossil fuel and adds tons of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere, contributing to global warming.
(Yeah, I know -- global warming doesn't exist. Then why do I wake up in a cold sweat every night in the dead of winter?)
And what do thousands of fans drive to a NASCAR race? Gas-thirsty RVs. This is like eating hot dogs before a hot dog-eating contest.
NASCAR cars average about 5 mpg. Even an armored Humvee gets 8 on the highways.
(To really waste fuel, why don't we race airplanes?)
In 1974, the Daytona 500 was actually the Daytona 450 --NASCAR cut its races that year by 10 percent in response to the energy crisis. But that was a public-relations gesture rather than a substantive solution.
It's time to put it in park.
In the interest of the greening of America, we should replace stock- car races with three-legged races. This kills two sparkplugs with one stone: It's better for the environment, and it's better for physical fitness.
Besides, I think everyone should walk to work.
This is one of the dumbest articles I’ve read in months.
I could almost feel my IQ dropping with each passing sentence.
(Yeah, I know -- global warming doesn't exist. Then why do I wake up in a cold sweat every night in the dead of winter?)
If I remember correctly night sweats are a symptom of AIDS.
Maybe he really doesn't like guy stuff!
We do, you ignorant dumbass "sportswriter"
I agree with you. Entertainment comes in many forms. And even though you and I may relish the skill and strategy of a baseball game, let’s face it, it’s high priced entertainment for the unwashed masses. Sporting events are food basically engorgement opportunities and a chance to live your fantasies through others. So be it.
If we could we could stop liberalism too. And that would be a good thing.
As usual, Rush saw this early-on with his brief encounter with the sportscasting world. But now it starts to come to the surface so the "rest of us mortals" can now see it too.
Norman Chad
Nuf' said.
L
Ha. I wanna see someone come down to Charlotte Motor Speedway and tell the people this.
I’m guessing limousine lefty. If he truly believes in what he says... sell the house, cut off from the grid, dump the car(s), put up your solar panel and good luck to you.
Wonder how much gas & oil are burned for all the entrants to get to these poker fests?
I’d agree the auto racing world is heading towards a dead-end but nothing to do with green politics. It used to be ordinary people could soup up the Dodge in their own garage and head for the track. Now unless you have multinational conglomerates paying the freight, you can’t afford to get any closer to the track then the stadium seats.
Teams of cars are fielded with stooges to suppress the opposition and make a hole for the “star” to coast to victory. Instead of man to man competition, it’s “Tide” vs Extenz. It would be nice if the sport could return to the people, not just the boardrooms.
Millions of people are at home in front of a TV for four or five hours on Sunday watching NASCAR. If they weren’t doing thet, they would be out driving to the mall or driving around on their boats, etc. NASCAR saves fuel. We need more NASCAR to prevent global warming.
That explains a hell of a lot.
Interesting article from 1974 about cutting Daytona laps down.
http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=kBofAAAAIBAJ&sjid=M40EAAAAIBAJ&pg=5718,1603290&dq=in+1974+the+daytona+500+daytona+450&hl=en
In a nutshell, it was done at the request of federal energy officials.
“It’s just a wasteful, reckless, unnecessary, ozone-destroying exercise”
This can describe any sport imaginable.
Not to mention how much energy is burned in those Vegas casinos keeping them cool and illuminating their massive signage.
There is no such thing as Global Warming so the Carbon Footprint is a mirage. If people want to watch it so what, go back to riding bicycles and leave America alone. What a Maroon.
Pray for America
My guess is that market forces will greatly reduce or kill off most of the major spectator sports within 5 or 10 years. I won’t miss them. Many years ago, I thought it was worth money to watch guys drive in a circle, but not so much now.
All is not lost. The rednecks can still pick their banjos. (He said as he glanced lovingly at his Ramsey custom 5 string.)
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