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Picture of the Day: Green Flag Vegas
By John
Pretty rad panoramic shot of the Tbirds over Vegas. Nice gig for them, I'm pretty sure the Vegas Speedway is right at the end of the Nellis AFB runway.
The Thunderbirds, the U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron, soar over a sold-out crowd at Las Vegas Motor Speedway March 2 before the NASCAR UAW-Dodge 400 Sprint Cup Series race. Photo Courtesy of the US Air Force.
I never could get into NASCAR, never understood the appeal. But I'm not one of those dudes who feels the need to painstakingly lecture fans as to why, exactly, NASCAR is not a real sport. NASCAR haters are kind of like aethists, in that they're not content with simply disliking the sport/established religion, but instead have to be fucking proactive about it.... letting believers everywhere know that they're simple-minded peasants for engaging in such lowbrow activities.
Which is kind of dick, if you ask me.
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Comments
John, why don't you tell us how you really feel?
NASCAR Rules!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Those guys are every bit athletes.
On the other hand, you have the NASCAR extremists who decry the sports most other folks follow as "stick and ball" sports. Works both ways, I guess...
Still, there is nothing like being at Michigan International Speedway in August with 180,000 of your closest friends, drinking beer, and watching cars move around the track at 190 MPH...
I went to a race near the end of my second class year. My buddy got us a choice spot in the infield, and brought a scaffold and a few kegs. I, in turn, brought my ring figure mug, which was worth its weight in gold that weekend. I vaguely remember some car noises at some point.
I'm an atheist, and I don't feel the need to compulsively trash religion.
Terrific!
BTW, Bullnav...how'd I know that you'd be one of the first to comment on this thread?
that was me, btw. giddy.
Slab, what track?
John, you betcha...
Shoot, I'm from southern Appalachians and I don't get NASCAR either. When I want to see real racing I go to an AMA Flat Track event. Two wheels and no seatbelts.
Disclaimer: I am no kind of athlete. Not even part athlete since Dr. Hilkemann put me on something that starts with an "L" for several months several years ago.
But I have been closely acquainted with several (several softball, basketball, soccer, football, volleyball, ... I forget what all.
If falling off a mountain (skiing), bowling, pingpong, and running pointlessly is "athletic", then NASCAR is dang sure athletic.
And for that matter, so is flying those airplanes.
The sound of freedom!
When the drivers come in for a pit stop and the crew chief leans in a talks to the driver do you know what he is telling the driver?....... Keep turning left, keep turning left....
Sorry I just could not resist
Nascar lost me as a fan a bit before going to the "Race For The Chase". I've done some racing myself on dirt(all the great drivers start on dirt IMHO) and after a race, one can be rather tired. Add that, in stock cars especially, your driving in an oven, and even the most unfit looking driver (Tony Stewart) is still a very healthy person. WRC, F1, SCCA, and most any Motorcycle racing(except drag racing. . too boring to me) are far better entertainment to me. F1 mainly because I'm a tech geek, and the G-forces. All F1 drivers are very strong, just to keep their heads from flying off in a corner or under braking. WRC for techiness and the thrill of blasting over 100mph through the woods on gravel. Flat track bikes is very cool.
Would have loved to share this shot with others, but your language makes it a nogo. Sorry if that makes me 'lowbrow' - but I'm sure you could make your point in a more classy way.
A sport generally involves a bit of risk with a significant amount of danger. A contest played with rules that minimizes risk to the point of rarity makes it a game.
Hunting, fishing, driving a fast car at the very edge of its capability, boxing, etc, these are true sporting events in the classical sense. Events played with any kind ball (soccer, basketball, even baseball) are games.
American Football and European Rugby are interesting in that one can actually hit the other players, which make them a sporting event in many respects.
And maybe now, we can begin to understand a why American football is so popular with Americans.
Interestingly enough, more people die in fishing incidents that in any other outdoor sporting activity.
bbot March 8, 2008 09:56 AM
I appreciate the fact that you are not compulsive about it. Are you suggesting it is okay to trash religion if one is not compulsive about it?
... or did I miss your point. ;)~.
I need to understand because I trash atheism all the time.
Stay in the infield at Talladega for a NASCAR weekend and you'll change your mind.
cleanitup, I did link the pic directly to the Air Force website y'know.
Don't have to visit OPFOR to see the pic.
Anyway, naughty language keeps me warm at night. Goes with the territory.
Cheers.
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I'm an atheist, and I don't feel the need to compulsively trash religion.