While watching a Formula One race a while back a breaking news story came across the screen about a former World Rally Champion being killed in a helicopter crash in Europe. Details were sketchy at the time but we were promised more information as it became available. None was given during the allotted time slot for the race so I thought I'd eventually read it in the paper on the following day. No such luck as not even one word was spoken of it.
Back in August I attended my first professional race as a spectator in more than 15 years. Both the American LeMans and Champ Car series visited scenic Road America in Elkhart Lake Wisconsin and the competition was absolutely furious. Not just in the pro races but the supporting events held plenty of excitement for everyone as well. We even had a local kid on hand who's been trying to break into the pro ranks for some time now. He managed to finally find the financial backing to contest the last few events of the Star Mazda series and was making his debut on this weekend. I for one was excited to see this but unfortunately the journalists in attendance seemed to think different. What could have been the making of a good article in the local paper turned out to be one paragraph on the pros and not much more.
In addition to not getting the coverage that this sport deserves, the other thing that chaps my rump is when the media buys in to the mentality that if it doesn't include a horrible wreck then no one wants to see it. This redneck frame of mind is prevalent in some markets but for the most part I truly believe that the masses want to see a good close race. We want to hear about the guy who fought back from 29th spot on the grid to first place in 20 laps. I want to hear about the local guy who beat all odds and gave the pros a run for their money when they came to his home track. And what about the increasing number of karters who moved on to Indy Cars or the Rolex Sports Car series. We have so much talent in this state alone that goes unheard of because the editors feel that for whatever reason it's not news worthy. The sport itself does a good job of promoting these individuals but it seems to be done in vain at times. Without help from the media what good does it do? Unfortunately in this day and age it seems that you have to be in the midst of a scandal to get any coverage.
To that point I have to ask when was the last time you heard of a race car driver driver involved in a doping scandal? How about dog fighting or even steroid use? A few of America's finest past times have been riddled so badly with these issues lately, yet they still demand half page stories after every event. And although it's usually a few bad apples who ruin their chosen sport these are definitely not the role models that I feel our kids should be looking up to.
I had once thought that it had a lot to do with pay scale. Give a man a twenty million dollar contract and he feels he can do any damn thing he'd like. Crash your Bentley into a tree and just buy another. Shoot up patrons at your favorite night club and you'll walk. After all you're a celebrity, and you know that there's a separate judicial system for your kind. And don't worry about using elicit drugs to give you a performance advantage. Everyone does it anyway. Besides, it's a victimless crime to begin with, right? Tell that to the millions of Hank Aaron fans who feel a bit cheated by our new home run record by Barry who?
On the other hand when you sit down and compare these athletes to the majority of today's highest paid auto racers it's night and day. The similarities end at the obscene salaries and endorsement deals. Michael Schumacher made it through an illustrious career without scandal. And just about all of the current Formula One drivers still manage to maintain an admirable profile on and off the track. Even Champ Car's undisputed bad boy, Paul Tracy, pales in comparison to some of these guys. As rude as some drivers can be to each other I have yet to see someone jump in a crowd and beat a fan for heckling them. Have you been to an NBA game lately?
Go to any race. Pro or non-pro, kart racing or car racing, and you'll find countless families contributing to some of the highest attendance numbers for a single day in a sporting event. By the way how many families do you find at an NFL game? You would think statistics like these would speak loudly enough in itself, yet these events are still relegated to the back page of the sports section with a column of about 200 words or less.
This really has to change, and soon. There's a whole world of future champions out there who need, and are very deserving of this exposure. There are dozens of stories about overcoming adversity to be the best at what they do. There are increasing numbers of young girls and women who are breaking down barriers and proving wrong the old stigma of the sport being for men only. And there is plenty of excitement and close competition available to you on any given weekend that would make a great story for any paper. These people are fierce competitors and the closest of friends at the same time. They put on quite a show and don't embarrass themselves in the process.
So if you want to do the right thing for a change and not chase after someone's dirty laundry, stop by a local track and see what all the excitement is about. I can assure you won't be disappointed.
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