The New Jeff Gordon(speaks his mind and keeps his faith to himself)

USA Today ^ | 7/3/03 | Chris Jenkins

[truthandlife]

The new Jeff Gordon lives part time in a Manhattan apartment and takes his girlfriend to out-of-the-way nightspots. He vacations in the Hamptons. He jokes on TV about being cleaned out by divorce lawyers and freely admits that personal turmoil affected his driving last year. He's more willing to speak his mind. And he no longer goes out of his way to thank God in victory lane.

[truthandlife]

I thought this was an interesting excerpt,

''I still believe in that and I have a strong faith, but I keep it more to myself,'' he says. ''And it's not that I'm trying to gain or lose fans or anything like that, it's just that's the way I've chosen to deal with it.''

''And then I realized that there's so many different religions out there, and I've tried to learn as much as I can about each.''

Gordon has read ''bits and pieces'' of books about religion but says, ''I'm better at getting it from people that know about it.''

He says: ''(Religion) interests me, because I think that there's a lot that you can pick up from all of them, but I really have a hard time being so focused on one.

''It's like being a Republican or being a Democrat -- it's like somebody tells you you have to believe this, even though you may not, but in order to be a Democrat or a Republican, you have to do that. I don't want to be like that. I don't want to be restricted how I can go about my religion and my life. And I just, again, want to know what's going to make me happy. So I think that (religion is) still part of me, it always will be, but I might not be as public about it.

''Some people say that in order to be a Christian, you have to thank God all the time and you have to go out there and try to bring other people into the faith. I wasn't ever really pushed. I liked the fact that I was going to make that decision on my own, and I want to lead more by example and how I live my life, more so than what I'm saying you should trust or believe in.''

[presidio9]

It's gonna take more than one mediocre year to convice Jeff Gordon that there is anything more important in this world than Jeff Gordon.

[foreverfree]

bump

[homeschool mama]

Hmmmm.

[ikka]

Isn't it wonderful how he has "grown" since his divorce. Just like Republicans "grow" when they endorse socialist policies like abortion or higher taxes.

[homeschool mama]

Anybody know why he and his wife divorced? Was one unfaithful? Are there children?

[homeschool mama]

huh?

[Pukin Dog]

Gordon is going Formula 1. He's got the bug.

[CougarGA7]

Gordon was sleeping around and got caught. He deserved to get taken to the cleaners. No kids thankfully.

[AppyPappy]

I think Jeff was running around. It's best that he keep his "faith" to himself.

[schaketo]

Gordon is a whimp.

[SamAdams76]

Well his ex-wife was a supermodel. I can't think of a single successful marriage involving a "trophy wife." Don't know why but they never seem to work out and are always more trouble than they are worth. Men are usually better off marrying the "plain Jane" than the popular cheerleader "knockout" type. (Hope my wife doesn't read this)

[sarasota]

He was having an affair. She hired a PI and got him on plenty of film. The investigation was the hard part (for her). After she had the evidence, she toasted him for millions.

[CougarGA7]

She was litterally a "Trophy Wife". They met when she was presenting the trophy to at after he won a race. I think it was at Daytona but I'm not sure.

[Gurn]

You can take this for whatever it's worth, but I have a friend who's acquainted with the NASCAR beat writer at the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Word is that Brooke was an isufferable bee-yatch. Controlled everything about the guy's life. Gave him no rest, no peace. I mean, she was in his hip pocket everywhere: the track, the garage, personal appearances.

This reporter has also said that the other drivers have really warmed up to Jeff since Brooke got out of the picture.

Jeff Gordon's not my guy, but I think he's the best driver in Winston Cup. And (gasp!) I've found myself pulling for him more and more.

[TommyDale]

Since he was sued for divorce by his wife for "Marital Misconduct" (note: not adultery, which would indicate fooling around with another woman) I have never seen such a public relations campaign by anyone. Only Bill Clinton's spin machine was ever this active.

Please, Jeffie, go whine to someone who cares. Go bump some competitors like you usually do, knock them out, then get off scott free. Just like your marriage.

[ctlpdad]

I will miss the Winston girl after nascar goes nextel.

[Cold Heat]

Nothing can be said to convince me that Gordon was and continues to be a "jerk".

[Bluntpoint]

Jeff Gordon has some polititican or governmental official in his back pocket.

Watch just how fast he goes and never gets a ticket.

Tickets are for us little people.

[Gurn]

"scott free"?

Dang. $15 million sounds pretty pricey.

I'm guessing you're an Earnhardt guy, huh? Maybe Rusty?

(If it's the latter, you really shouldn't be complaining about drivers who whine.)

8^)