Friday, February 24, 2012

Robert Mitchum invents Nascar racing

With the advent of another Indianapolis 500, I am at a complete loss to understand the allure of the single most tedious pseudo sport this side of curling: NASCAR racing.


Why is an interminable series of left turns considered a sport? Is it the lure of the punch up between drivers afterwards that seem to be on the rise along with the ratings (Now that would be a surprise).
Or,  more likely, is it the perpetual promise of a spectacular crash leading to a collective gasp of  "Did'ja see that car hit that wall? Wotta a beautiful smash?"
I don't consider NASCAR drivers athletes. They are daredevils wearing swatches of advertising symbols.
As far as I am concerned, car races ought to be relegated to competing for face time on ESPN with Australian rules football and not STEVEN A.!, Dickie V. or Barry Melrose (who serves the critical function of being a wardrobe and fashion antidote to Craig Sager). 
I guess generations of Nascar drivers and their fans must have been weaned on dreams of outrunning revenoors.  I blame it all on Robert Mitchum.


The history of Nascar racing in all the time that it's worth (which is 14 minutes)

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