M-Borg vs. THE Flavortown U Thread, Orig. by Buckeye Paul, absconded w/by talent.

[Tony G]

This place must have been empty during the RR years then.

[lineygoblue]

Not empty .. but definitely contentious ...

[Pasadena Blue]

I've tended to lump NASCAR in with the WWE ... tend to draw a similar fan base as well.

[SeanB]

I've been down this road before, but whatever. Folks who think NASCAR is the equivalent of WWE don't know what they are watching, or what type of engineering and skill goes into both the cars that are driven and the drivers behind the wheels.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not one of those "these guys are athletes, too" type of fan. I understand what I'm watching. While some of the more successful drivers are certainly in prime physical condition these days, it's a different set of skill that is involved. Plus, it often comes down to your Crew Chief and your Car Chief. The best teams have the best talent in the engineering department. Period. If you want a good example and you're familiar with the sport, just look at Mark Martin with Alan Gustafson and then the next year with "mid-pack McGrew". There was a reason Dale Jr and then Mark both ran the same equipment in the 15s to 20s with McGrew in consecutive years. He was a mediocre crew chief with top notch equipment.

I've always enjoyed watching it, despite many of my friends wondering why! My interest has waned as Mark Martin winds down his career, but joining up in a NASCAR pool might just relight the fire.

I joined up, talent. I just have to convince myself the $$ is worth it before the 25th!

Anyway, I digress. And I expect to be hit with the anti-NASCAR pom-poms any minute.

[iam416]

Excellent news, Sean -- glad you're in. FWIW, you can still be in the pool w/o paying. There are a couple people who just do the contest, but don't pay. They're, obviously, out of the running for cash payouts.

And, of course, you're right. It's not an "athletic" endeavor necessarily, but it's a skill contest, no doubt. I find it fairly comparable to golf or billiards or darts. But there's no doubt it's a skill -- you can't possibly explain, e.g., Jimmie Johnson's success otherwise. Or, e.g., Edwards and Stewart in the final 5 races last year.

[Optimus Prime]

I was at Daytona Beach yesterday, one phrase suits, high-hillbilly heaven.

[lineygoblue]

NASCAR is definitely better than the WWE. I mean, have you seen the WWE lately? ..sheesh ..

[Tony G]

I prefer Formula One, IndyCar, ALMS and Then NASCAR but I'll take what racing there is. :-)

[*JD*]

NASCAR is definitely better than the WWE. I mean, have you seen the WWE lately? ..sheesh ..

Haven't watched either and am very okay with that.

However, I did hear that Randy Savage and Dale Sr. share a cloud up in redneck heaven.

[Pasadena Blue]

I will admit NASCAR has gotten better as they eliminated the special advantages for certain drivers (that amounted to race fixing of sorts in my books --- one reason for the WWE analogy) and added more race courses that required drivers to actually make right hand turns.
I stand by comment on overall similar fan bases (this does not mean that there are not many intelligent cultured NASCAR fans).

If one is interested in real racing engineering and driving talent IMO, they should be talking about F1. Anyways, I am not going to say anymore about this. Seems to be a hot button issue.

[Optimus Prime]

Haven't watched either and am very okay with that.

However, I did hear that Randy Savage and Dale Sr. share a cloud up in redneck heaven.

Impossible, according to hillbilly legend , "Dale ain't dead"!

[Pasadena Blue]

This is good stuff on the Pope poking fun at a Michigan football player's education.

http://www.lostlettermen.com/ohio-st-sign-rips-michigan-academics/

This is worse than a pot calling a kettle black, and is so pathetic it is funny.

I especially like the "Criminology" majors at Ohio ... I suspect that will go up with new regime.

I suspect that the differences in percentages relate to the actual difficulty level of achieving some of those "harder" majors at M.

[Dr. Strangelove]

Seems very pertinent. Michigan has long sheltered its players in easy courses. A degree in "general studies" is a disgrace universities everywhere

[iam416]

I enjoy UFM tweaking M fans with facts.

What was the study some paper did - like 3% of M students are general studies majors, while 40% of athletes are. Hardly surprising or shameful - unless you take yourself too seriously.

Anyway, I'm surprised it has taken it this long to work its way over here.

[Optimus Prime]

Absolutely hilarious, the Urbanator earned a degree in psychology at Cincinnati, followed by a Masters in Sports Administration at Ohio...and he is throwing stones?