Sports Thoughts 2/21
*To Steeler Nation, if you are still in mourning over what happened two weeks ago in Dallas at the Super Bowl, it’s time to move and get over it. They are not going to replay that game. You cannot give the ball up, give the opponent 21 points, and expect to win, even though the Steelers had ample chances to do just that. Despite how well the Packers played, and how deserving they are of the win, the mistakes the Steelers made are what hurt them. They beat themselves. It will be a long offseason, the pending lockout notwithstanding, for everyone on the roster after that debacle. It might serve as motivation for next season, if there is one.
*I am a racing fan and have been for a long time. I am a huge NASCAR fan and racing gets me from football season to football season. I have loved cars and racing ever since I was a kid, when my parents got me Matchbox and Hot Wheels cars. My dad took me to the Daytona 500 in 1983, which was the 25th anniversary of that race, and it was an experience I will never forget.
Those of us who love cars are called “gearheads.” There is nothing quite like the marriage between man and machine. Before anyone thinks that racing is nothing more than a bunch of cars going around in circles, or those who race on road courses, it is anything but that. If someone is not a fan, that’s fine, but don’t be ignorant about it.
Automobile manufacturers put a lot of stock into what happens on the racetrack. It involves engineering, ingenuity, competition among the brands, how does a car perform in different situations, and many other elements that most would never realize. There is a racing axiom that goes “Win on Sunday, sell on Monday.” Detroit watches the races very carefully because all three nameplates are represented – Ford, Chevy (GM), and Dodge, plus Toyota has been racing in the Sprint Cup Series for the last number of years.
Last Saturday night was the Budweiser Shootout, an exhibition race for money run the weekend before the Daytona 500. This week was/is Speedweeks at Daytona, the Super Bowl of stock car racing. The Gatorade Duel qualifying races (two) were run Thursday afternoon, the Camping World Truck Series will/was run Friday night, the Nationwide Series (the equivalent of baseball’s AAA) Saturday afternoon, and the grand finale, the 500 on Sunday afternoon.
Despite what some may think, this area is chock full of racing fans, as evidenced by racing shops that dot the landscape, not to mention tracks in the area. Among the NASCAR tracks within driving distance are Michigan, Bristol TN, Richmond VA, Pocono PA, and Dover DE. There was talk years ago of an indoor racing facility to be built out by the new airport, but those plans fell through or were put on hold. However, racing is a big part of this area, even though not many know about it.
Those of us who are gearheads are looking forward to this week and this weekend with all of the events going on at Daytona. If I had it to do all over again, I would have tried my hand at racing. I inherited by dad’s sense of driving and sense of direction and I know I could have held my own. Of course, I inherited his lead foot, too! But I quickly learned to curb that, as all that does is cost you money, and a lot of it.
NASCAR is now officially in season and not a moment too soon. Fans will be following their favorite drivers, with the new paint schemes on their cars, in anticipation of a new and successful season. If the NFL is dark in the fall due to a lockout, then NASCAR will be there to pick up the slack and I will be watching. NASCAR will be a regular part of this column for the spring and summer months.
*What happened Friday night on Long Island is something you might see in the movies (Slap Shot), but it has no place in the modern game of hockey. Yes, there will be fighting in the game, and the only sport where it is expected and condoned. In the other major sports, fighting results in ejection. In hockey, it gets a major penalty or a game misconduct, and that is minor.
As a long time hockey fan, I love the beauty and purity of the game. I admit I did not see the fights as I switched channels after the score got out of hand and it became academic the Penguins did not have a chance. I’m glad I switched stations. This type of behavior, out of anyone, is totally uncalled for. I would not have condoned it if the Pens had instigated the situation either. There is no place for this in the game.
Mario Lemieux was correct in the statement he made following the incident, even though he took it on the chin in the social media. Once again, the double standard in society. He is looking out for his investment (his ownership stake) and his players. They are even more important than anything else. No players, no franchise. And with the Sidney Crosby situation with his concussion, it only adds to the matter of where you draw the line with the fighting and the injuries.
This game is played with sticks and pucks. It is enclosed by glass surroundings and dasher boards. The players wear helmets, some with visors, yet there is very little protection besides that. No one is totally safe. There are no absolutes. But player safety and the elimination of goonism now takes on a new light with what happened Friday night. Mario was correct in his assessment and another threat to sell the team and get out of the game is not good for any party involved.
Hockey and the NHL need to take a good, long look at this and decide what they need to do to curb this type of behavior. It is one of the reasons why hockey is considered a niche sport and is ranked fourth out of the four major sports being played today. When played correctly, it is a beautiful game. That was not what it was Friday night.
*Spring training has begun for major league teams, with pitchers and catchers reporting this past week. I can say that this is the first time in a long time that I am looking forward to a baseball season getting started. Call it turning over a new leaf, but baseball is also a beautiful game when played correctly and by players who genuinely love the game.
Another reason for optimism is that of new Pirates skipper Clint Hurdle. He has come in and raised the bar, as well he should, and has told the team it’s time. While he needs the resources from middle and upper management to compete, he has laid the groundwork to let the team know what will and won’t work on his watch. The offensive production is there and these kids need to continue learning the game and how to get the best, and most, out of themselves. It’s the pitching the needs addressed if this team is to ever get out of the cellar in the National League Central Division.
I may have to get me a jersey or two, as I already have two caps, and I am cautiously optimistic that Hurdle is going to do everything in his power to get the maximum effort out of this ball club and give the fans in Pittsburgh reason to hope that maybe, just maybe, winning baseball can return to this region. Lord knows it is long overdue. Good luck to Clint Hurdle and the Pirates for the 2011 season.
*I am a racing fan and have been for a long time. I am a huge NASCAR fan and racing gets me from football season to football season. I have loved cars and racing ever since I was a kid, when my parents got me Matchbox and Hot Wheels cars. My dad took me to the Daytona 500 in 1983, which was the 25th anniversary of that race, and it was an experience I will never forget.
Those of us who love cars are called “gearheads.” There is nothing quite like the marriage between man and machine. Before anyone thinks that racing is nothing more than a bunch of cars going around in circles, or those who race on road courses, it is anything but that. If someone is not a fan, that’s fine, but don’t be ignorant about it.
Automobile manufacturers put a lot of stock into what happens on the racetrack. It involves engineering, ingenuity, competition among the brands, how does a car perform in different situations, and many other elements that most would never realize. There is a racing axiom that goes “Win on Sunday, sell on Monday.” Detroit watches the races very carefully because all three nameplates are represented – Ford, Chevy (GM), and Dodge, plus Toyota has been racing in the Sprint Cup Series for the last number of years.
Last Saturday night was the Budweiser Shootout, an exhibition race for money run the weekend before the Daytona 500. This week was/is Speedweeks at Daytona, the Super Bowl of stock car racing. The Gatorade Duel qualifying races (two) were run Thursday afternoon, the Camping World Truck Series will/was run Friday night, the Nationwide Series (the equivalent of baseball’s AAA) Saturday afternoon, and the grand finale, the 500 on Sunday afternoon.
Despite what some may think, this area is chock full of racing fans, as evidenced by racing shops that dot the landscape, not to mention tracks in the area. Among the NASCAR tracks within driving distance are Michigan, Bristol TN, Richmond VA, Pocono PA, and Dover DE. There was talk years ago of an indoor racing facility to be built out by the new airport, but those plans fell through or were put on hold. However, racing is a big part of this area, even though not many know about it.
Those of us who are gearheads are looking forward to this week and this weekend with all of the events going on at Daytona. If I had it to do all over again, I would have tried my hand at racing. I inherited by dad’s sense of driving and sense of direction and I know I could have held my own. Of course, I inherited his lead foot, too! But I quickly learned to curb that, as all that does is cost you money, and a lot of it.
NASCAR is now officially in season and not a moment too soon. Fans will be following their favorite drivers, with the new paint schemes on their cars, in anticipation of a new and successful season. If the NFL is dark in the fall due to a lockout, then NASCAR will be there to pick up the slack and I will be watching. NASCAR will be a regular part of this column for the spring and summer months.
*What happened Friday night on Long Island is something you might see in the movies (Slap Shot), but it has no place in the modern game of hockey. Yes, there will be fighting in the game, and the only sport where it is expected and condoned. In the other major sports, fighting results in ejection. In hockey, it gets a major penalty or a game misconduct, and that is minor.
As a long time hockey fan, I love the beauty and purity of the game. I admit I did not see the fights as I switched channels after the score got out of hand and it became academic the Penguins did not have a chance. I’m glad I switched stations. This type of behavior, out of anyone, is totally uncalled for. I would not have condoned it if the Pens had instigated the situation either. There is no place for this in the game.
Mario Lemieux was correct in the statement he made following the incident, even though he took it on the chin in the social media. Once again, the double standard in society. He is looking out for his investment (his ownership stake) and his players. They are even more important than anything else. No players, no franchise. And with the Sidney Crosby situation with his concussion, it only adds to the matter of where you draw the line with the fighting and the injuries.
This game is played with sticks and pucks. It is enclosed by glass surroundings and dasher boards. The players wear helmets, some with visors, yet there is very little protection besides that. No one is totally safe. There are no absolutes. But player safety and the elimination of goonism now takes on a new light with what happened Friday night. Mario was correct in his assessment and another threat to sell the team and get out of the game is not good for any party involved.
Hockey and the NHL need to take a good, long look at this and decide what they need to do to curb this type of behavior. It is one of the reasons why hockey is considered a niche sport and is ranked fourth out of the four major sports being played today. When played correctly, it is a beautiful game. That was not what it was Friday night.
*Spring training has begun for major league teams, with pitchers and catchers reporting this past week. I can say that this is the first time in a long time that I am looking forward to a baseball season getting started. Call it turning over a new leaf, but baseball is also a beautiful game when played correctly and by players who genuinely love the game.
Another reason for optimism is that of new Pirates skipper Clint Hurdle. He has come in and raised the bar, as well he should, and has told the team it’s time. While he needs the resources from middle and upper management to compete, he has laid the groundwork to let the team know what will and won’t work on his watch. The offensive production is there and these kids need to continue learning the game and how to get the best, and most, out of themselves. It’s the pitching the needs addressed if this team is to ever get out of the cellar in the National League Central Division.
I may have to get me a jersey or two, as I already have two caps, and I am cautiously optimistic that Hurdle is going to do everything in his power to get the maximum effort out of this ball club and give the fans in Pittsburgh reason to hope that maybe, just maybe, winning baseball can return to this region. Lord knows it is long overdue. Good luck to Clint Hurdle and the Pirates for the 2011 season.
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