ENOUGH WITH THE DALE EARNHARDT TRIBUTES ALREADY!!!

The BBQ Pit
1

I love NASCAR, and I was bummed as anyone else when Dale Earnhardt went to the great oval track in the sky, but JEEZ, people gotta fucking accept that HE’S FUCKING DEAD ALREADY and enough with those goddamn prissy tributes they start and end each race with!!

First race after Daytona, all tears and tributes and the THREE MINUTES of silence. Is he too good for only one minute? Oh, I get it, “3” is his number and all. Three jet fighters fly over in the “missing man” formation, usually reserved for Presidential funerals and such. Laying it on a little thick are we? Fine, it’s the first race since he died so let’s let all these crybabies get it out of their system and move on. Oh shit, FOX announces that for the rest of the season, the 3rd lap of the race will be run “silent” with no announcer commentary. Whatever.

2nd race, Las Vegas, Jeff Gordon wins. He talks all about “This one’s for Dale,” and “Dale was in the passenger’s seat,” blah blah. Since when do race cars have passenger seats? Oh, I get it, he’s discorporeal and all. He should pick a “Ghost #3” and get back to racing, yeah there we go.

Next race…umm, Darlington? I forget. They got a big black “3” on the infield made of 7,000 black balloons, “1000 for every championship he won.” Hey, why are we still doing these cheesy tributes? Ooh, rookie Kevin Harvick beats that Gordon bitch by inches!!! WHOOHOO!!! WHAT A FINISH!!! Good ol’ Kevvie, winning his 3rd race in his career after taking over Dale’s ride. Uh-oh. 3rd race. #3 again. Yup, there he is saying, “This one’s for Dale!” and everyone crying and all that. “Dale in the Driver’s Seat” this time. Hey Kev, your fuckin’ ex-boss is DEAD, you don’t have to keep kissin his ass, ok?

Last week…oh wait, THIS was Darlington. What was last week? Blessedly few Dale references. Oops, the other “Dale” (Jarrett) won. Nah, now I’m just bitter. He does the “Polish victory lap” (in memory of that other dead guy from nine years ago…which is why I don’t like where all this is going…) with 3 fingers held in the air. I wanted so bad that feral kid’s razor-sharp boomerang from “The Road Warrior”…

Fox Sports Net shows “Beyond the Glory: The Pettys”. I watch eagerly to see Adam Petty’s fatal wreck. They don’t show it. I guess it wasn’t filmed.

Ahh, today is Bristol, best short track of the series. What’s this?? They got these big 3’s painted all over the track!!! This logo is ready to make me vomit by now! And now, ANOTHER FUCKING MINUTE OF SILENCE FOR DALE! So the first three minutes weren’t enough? Did Dale call down and say, “Hey! I’m racin go-carts with Jesus and changed my number to 4!” Dammit…just stop. STOP!

I don’t need anyone reminding me that the guy’s dead, jeez I saw that crash 2,000 times on the news, if they wanna do a real tribute then give rotten dot com his damn autopsy photos ok? Maybe I should switch to watching golf…nah, I’m not that desperate. Yet.

Ok, back to the race. I’m pullin for Sterling “The Killer” Marlin this year. Maybe he’ll give Jeff Gordon a nice “bump” into the wall by race’s end? No, then we’ll be having #24 tributes every damn week…

J.E.T.

2

You’re a Ford person, aren’t you?

You know, a lot of people lost their hero when Dale Earnhardt died. And the NASCAR family lost a great driver. Many are still in shock, and I’m sure all of them are still grieving to some extent. So try to have a little respect for that.

And your comment about the autopsy photos was a bit uncalled for. I would think that a person who posts on a message board such as this one would be against posting such pictures online. Those photos won’t serve to educate anyone, and will only cause more pain for both the Earnhardt family and the NASCAR family.

3

Sorry…I couldn’t resist that.

Being stuck in a Dale Earnhardt household (the house is just about a shrine to him by this point) I can see where you’re coming from, JET.

I thought it was good for the first week or so, maybe even the first two weeks, that they had several tributes to him, and I liked watching the past clips, and the slo-mo doughnuts he did in the infield at Daytona, and the final kiss by Teresa right before his final race. I had a perpetual lump in my throat nearly every time the television was turned on.

But I have to say, it’s kind of wearing thin now. I still am wild about Earnhardt, and will always consider myself a fan (well, posthumously) and I know without a shadow of a doubt that my dear husband will continue to stock this over-stuffed house with Earnhardt hats, jackets, t-shirts, model cars, posters, and any other memorabilia he can dig up, for the rest of his natural life. That’s fine. But I am personally a little weary of seeing Fox and everyone else salute him over and over and over again, ad nauseum.

I understand alot of fans are probably still in shock, but it’s almost like they (meaning Nascar and Fox) are doing their best to KEEP them in shock and of course, keep them TUNED IN. It’s nothing but a way to keep raking in the money now. And it’s very, very blatant. While I know they are in the money-making business, I think it’s pretty lousy they are leeching off a man’s death to do so.

I have a Dale Earnhardt theme on my pc at the moment, and the only reason it’s there is because I got sick of the Reservoir Dogs one I’d had all week. That’s about all the tribute I think I can muster for this week.

I feel your pain, JET. I’m feeling it more and more as the weeks whiz past.
Just my 3 cents. (snort) :slight_smile:

4

Give it time. Soon, only the sad neurotics, like those who deified Princess Di, and morbid folk like me, whose trail of their racing fandom is littered with tombstones, will remember him.

5

{{Barf}}

Hey, I know where you’re coming from, Dale was my hero too and his death had a bigger effect on me than Phil Hartman and Kurt Cobain combined. To quote the words of Dale Earnhardt Jr., “I’m not immune to the selfish pity that is mourning.” I’m glad he said that, because it’s true. When someone dies, we’re mainly sad because they’re no longer around to make us happy. Especially with celebrities.

I’ll admit I’m insensitive to death (for a real hell-ride, see my school shooters thread), but Dale was a special case. I never understood the need for shrines, televised memorials and candlelight vigils in the wake of Columbine, et al. Now I think I get it. There’s sort of a cathartic experience involved. And I retract my flippant autopsy photos remark. If they did appear on the 'Net somewhere, I wouldn’t even look at them.

Still…enough already. Plastering the goddamn “3” everywhere just cheapens his death and his contribution to the sport. Never thought about the idea of FOX trying to rake in a profit from it, but shit, I wouldn’t put it past them.

And how bout that FUCKING ASSHOLE Jeff Gordon knocking Tony Stewart out of the way on the final lap??? Jeff gets one measely extra spot while Tony drops from 4th to 25th!!! What a self-aggrandizing cocksucker, I hope his next wreck paralyzes him.

J.E.T.

6

Hey! A point is a point! Don’t think Tony Stewart wouldn’t have fought for position too. I think the real asshole behavior was Tony’s after the race was already over.

I have to agree with all this junk about GhostDale helping his drivers. If he is so omnipresent why hasn’t his son been able to finish a race without smashing up his car?

I don’t have a problem with the silent third lap, or having the 3 on the infield, but I do wish FOX and everyone else would stop milking this.

7

:):):):):):):):):):slight_smile:
:):(:(:(:(:(:(:(:):slight_smile:
:):):):):):):):):(:slight_smile:
:):):):):):):):):(:slight_smile:
:):):):):(:(:(:(:(:slight_smile:
:):):):):):):):):(:slight_smile:
:):):):):):):):):(:slight_smile:
:):):):):):):):):(:slight_smile:
:):(:(:(:(:(:(:(:):slight_smile:
:):):):):):):):):):slight_smile:

:smiley:

8

It’s not over yet. There are currently no velvet Dale paintings up for auction on ebay.

9

My new favorite euphemism for death. Good one JET.

-Myron

10
11

Dammit, friedo, you owe me a new keyboard.

12

**
To use Darrell Waltrip’s words, “If it were me, I woulda hit him harder.” Did anything come out of that meeting with Tony, Jeff & the officials? I can’t watch Victory Lane because its up against the goddamn Sopranos…

Silent 3rd lap I can deal with. That number on the field has gotta go. It cheapens the memory of Dale, especially if Fox is deliberately using it as a promotional gimmick. I’d like to see if NBC still uses it when they take over in mid-summer.

friedo: Nice work. :wink:

J.E.T.

13

My brother sent me this. Sorry if its a bit too glurgified.

Subject: NASCAR and Perspective19 February 2001 On 18 February 2001, while racing for fame and fortune, Dale Earnhardt died in the last lap of the Daytona 500. It was surely a tragedy for his family, friends and fans. He was 49 years old with grown children, one, which was in the race. I am new to the NASCAR culture so much of what I know has come from the newspaper and TV. He was a winner and earned everything he had. This included more than “$41 million in winnings and ten times that from endorsements and souvenir sales”. He had a beautiful home and a private jet. He drove the most sophisticated cars allowed and every part was inspected and replaced as soon as there was any evidence of wear. This is normally fully funded by the car and team sponsors. Today, there is no TV station that does not constantly remind us of his tragic end and the radio already has a song of tribute to this winning driver. Nothing should be taken away from this man, he was a professional and the best in his profession. He was in a very dangerous business but the rewards were great. Two weeks ago seven U.S. Army soldiers died in a training accident when two UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters collided during night maneuvers in Hawaii. The soldiers were all in their twenties, pilots, crewchiefs and infantrymen. Most of them lived in sub-standard housing. If you add their actual duty hours (in the field, deployed) they probably earn something close to minimum wage. The aircraft they were in were between 15 and 20 years old. Many times parts were not available to keep them in good shape due to funding. They were involved in the extremely dangerous business of flying in the Kuhuku mountains at night. It only gets worse when the weather moves in as it did that night. Most times no one is there with a yellow or red flag to slow things down when it gets critical. Their children where mostly toddlers who will lose all memory of who “Daddy” was as they grow up. They died training to defend our freedom. I take nothing away from Dale Earnhardt but ask you to perform this simple test. Ask any of your friends if they know who was the NASCAR driver killed on 18 February 2001. Then ask them if they can name one of the seven soldiers who died in Hawaii two weeks ago. 18 February 2001, Dale Earnhardt died driving for fame and glory at the Daytona 500. The nation mourns. Seven soldiers died training to protect our freedom. No one can remember their names. James V. TorneyCW4, USA Retired

14

They’re pretty silent, but apt tributes.

I would like to see them retire #3 permanently. I do think that this will happen. I would like for GM Goodwrench to retire the black and silver motif - I think this will happen, too.

I heard the day after he died that NASCAR was considering renaming the Daytona 500 the “Dale Earnhart Memorial 500” but I never heard anything about it again. In fact, it was probably the conjecture of the radio DJs I was listening to and had no basis in actuality. I would like to see it happen, though.

15

Dale Earnhardt was not a hero.

He was a highly skilled racecar driver, but he was not a hero. Heroes teach learning-disabled children for low pay,
serve in the armed forces, work as policemen, firemen, and EMTs, discover life-saving drugs and medical techniques, give their lives to save others. A guy driving a car very fast is not a hero, despite his dying a tragic and premature death. I think Dale Earnhardt would be the first to say this, if he were able to speak from the Great Beyond.

16

Goboy said:

I beg to disagree.

Not because he was a famous race car driver with fans. What he did for a living was to risk his life driving a souped-up car around in a circle fast, and skillfully. And he eventually lost it that way. That doesn’t make him a hero.

I’m not a NASCAR fan, and I could have cared less about his career. And though I don’t like to see anyone die in an accident, it made no special impact on me.

Then I read a column by retired editor A.P. Snow in the Raleigh News and Observer.

Dale Earnhardt gave away the lion’s share of his winnings to charity. With no publicity as a condition. Groups as diverse as a volunteer fire department and a children’s health research group were among the recipients.

He had a special interest in sick kids. And spent a great deal of his “off” time visiting children’s wards in hospitals – where, this being North Carolina, a visit from Dale Earnhardt would be a special treat for most kids.

None of this was ever made public, until Mr. Snow found out about it after his death. He wasn’t interested in stroking his own ego; he became wealthy through his racing skills, and was moved to help his fellow man with what he earned, and with his time.

That’s what made him a hero. And I, and everyone else, never knew until after he was gone.

17

I stand corrected.

18

In honor of Dale Earnhardt, in all future Winston Cup races the drivers will race with only three tires on their cars.

-The Man Who

19

This is because all the fanatics were selling them roadside around here this past weekend during the Bristol race. No, sadly, I am not kidding. I despise race weekends in east Tennessee.

20

(sarcasm)

Dale Earnhardt died ? Really ?

(/sarcasm)
I do hear what you are saying, but I beg you not to blame the Earnhardt family or even NASCAR, but rather the media. It is not with respect or remorse that these people bang the lastest news into out heads like hot iron into virgin wood. They are milking this story like they do any story that is lactating. Thus is the pathetic result of this country’s “freedom of the press”.

I will miss Dale, but enough is enough.

Number 3 is gone.

God rest his soul.

but then move on . . .