Well It’s About Time Perhaps Selig Can Take The Hint?

I wasn’t completely aghast today when I heard the news that players’ representative and union head Donald Fehr had stepped down from the position as their Executive Director

Dondal Fehr the Executive Director of Major League Baseball Players' Union. Fehr announced today that he was stepping down from the position . He'd been involved with the game for almost a quarter of a century in some format. picture appears courtesy of ap/photo/ Ron Kirk ................

To my mind it’s been several years too late ! And furthermore given the blight of the game and his own failures in the role. I do believe that he ought to offering a sincere apology not only to the fans of baseball. But also to the public at large. What he and the entire union had done in conjunction with the league itself over the last decade and a half has been so egregious that words can’t completely describe the litany of charges he could face. Especially if it were possible to bring a class action law suit against both parties.

Given the fact that a certain Jose Canseco intends to go down that particular route suggests to me that he stands a better chance of winning several state powerball lotteries, than he would in suing both Major League Baseball and Major League Players’ Association. This coming from a player who by his own admission had chosen to flout the laws of the land that of the game. Oh the irony of it all ! It has now come to the point where he , Canseco chooses to sue the Players’ Association and Major League Baseball for defamation of character and the loss of wages. Clearly from Canseco’s point of view he believes that he stands a real chance of getting this suit heard. But in reality it’s liable to be laughed out of the Federal Court System altogether.

Donald Fehr (left), Executive Director of MLBPA and Allan 'Bud' Selig Commissioner of Major League Baseball exchange a few words after giving testimony upon Capitol Hill, Washington D.C before members of Congress . picture appears courtesy of ap/photo/ Ron Dillard ....................

As for Fehr, himself, is anyone liable to be overly concerned as to where his future may now lay ? Perhaps he can return to the law in his chosen field as a litigator ? Or more to the point how about righting the wrongs done to the game and its patrons the fans by at least admitting that mistakes were made by himself and the union. Rather than thanking everyone and then choosing to act as if under his tenureship the game of baseball for all appearances had improved.

The financial benefits of the players notwithstanding has been about the only real benefit with which one could say that has been to their advantage. Just about everything else during his tenure has in some way been mired in controversy and a great deal of infamy. The joint handling of the steroid issue by both the Players’ Association and that of Major League Baseball was a complete fiasco . And their handling of it all was an embarrassment to the game. And Fehr along with the entire union and Major League Baseball with its own selected officials are entirely to blame.

Palmeiro gives it to you straight from the horse's mouth 'I've never used steroids ' Duh ! picture appears courtesy of afp/Rich Clarke.....

Allan Huber ‘Bud’ Selig as Commissioner of Major League Baseball was entirely complicit along with the owners and his counterpart in Donald Fehr of duping the entire public and the fans of the game. And their outright denial that they were unaware as to what was taking place across the sport just goes to show how out of touch they both really were. They were the ipso facto leaders of the biggest scandal to hit the game in its entire history and that includes the Black Sox scandal of 1919 .

 

Though it has to be said that both Fehr and Selig offered little by the way of candor when they were on Capitol Hill , Washington D.C in front of the members of Congress. There was enough posturing from both sides to make a child squirm . And the mere fact that the players in attendance and the game’s hierarchy when giving testimony had about as much credibility as the members of Congress. It made you really wonder whose best interests did they all really have at heart ? Was it the game’s or in-fact their own ? In all likelihood I think we all know the answers to both questions !

If the Players’ Union is to now seek and regain real credibility. Then it’d be in their best interest to seek out an impartial but passionate representative who’d really like to see improvements in the game. And that’s not just from the point of view whereby it’s just about their members and their livelihood . But also how best to truly reinvigorate the fans and show them that the game has really learned from their mistakes.

Perhaps with Fehr’s own resignation from his post. Could we possibly see Bud Selig follow suit ? I know that it’s naive of me to ask the question. But I just thought I’d put it out there and see what you thought about the matter . In all honesty though the seventeen year tenure of Selig has really been devoid of anything meaningful by way of real improvements in the game. Other than perhaps the wild card system he introduced to the game. I for the life of me can’t name one real tangible improvement that he’s made to the game. His steroid policy introduced and made a rule of the game is still mired controversy and ridicule. And given the fact that the most recent recipient of a suspension in Manny Ramirez is still allowed to suit up and play a game of baseball . Albeit that it’s in the minor leagues just goes to show arcane and stupid this new rule really is. A suspension from the game ought to mean just that. And not something whereby you can still be allowed to play the game.

Selig, I know isn’t liable to step down anytime soon. The exorbitant salary that he’s being paid as commissioner has all but taken care of that particular concern. As he looks down from his ivory tower over all that is his domain. I doubt that Selig really knows where reality sets in and where imagination begins. He’s that much of a buffoon that the owners wouldn’t want it any other way at this juncture. His predecessor Bart Giamatti must now be turning over in his grave having seen both Selig , Fehr and the players bring the game into disrepute.

At this juncture with Fehr now gone. Let’s just hope that it won’t be long too before we see Bud Selig take the same steps. The thought’d be nice don’t you think ?

Question Marks Surround Future No.1 Pick Griffin

The NBA Draft will be conducted in New York on Thursday, and the drama has already been taken away with regards to whom the Los Angeles Clippers will select with the first-overall pick. Oklahoma forward Blake Griffin — widely considered to be the best player available in the draft — will be the choice. The Clippers said so the minute they won the lottery, and they have also said that they are not willing to trade the pick.

The question now becomes just how good Griffin will be for the Clippers. Currently, there are more than a few question marks surrounding his game and why he will be the No.1 pick.

First off, the 2009 draft class is weak. Very weak. In fact, many analysts are calling this the worst NBA draft class in the last 25 years, and I would agree. There seems to be no debate about who the best player available is, and though Griffin is a very talented player, he really is the only player executives can justify selecting with the first-overall pick. After Griffin, there are no players that jump off the page. No one that would make a team attempt trade up for the No.1 pick because his a player that can turn a franchise around.

As a result, Griffin will be the No.1 pick, no questions asked. Analysts will spend all of Thursday discussing how good of a player Griffin is, and there is certain to be high levels of hyperbole involved, as there tends to be with every No.1 pick. But can Griffin live up to that hype?

 

Second, Griffin is a very athletic and raw player, to say the least. His athleticism is off the charts. At his size, it’s amazing the things he can do with the basketball, especially his leaping ability. He used his athleticism to his advantage in college, and that is how he scored most of his points.

He is a 6-foot-10, 251 pound forward. It is hard to know if he truly is 6-foot-10, because most colleges tend to exaggerate on player’s height. In the NBA, his body type puts him in between the small and power forward positions. His game, however, points heavily toward power forward. Griffin was a very good rebounder at Oklahoma, averaging 14.4 rebounds per game. The problem with that is that he used his size and will to bully around smaller players in college. In the NBA he will only be facing bigger players who want the ball just as much as he does. Currently, rebounding is the best aspect of his game. Moreover, it is the only part of his game that is developed. That is why the best description of Griffin would most likely be “raw.”

The negative facets of his game are not good signs, at all. For one, he showed no signs of knowing how to play any defense, whatsoever. The excuse that has been floating around is that his head coach, Jeff Capel, told him not to play defense because he didn’t want Griffin to get into foul trouble. That excuse is Bologna, and it speaks to Griffin’s knowledge of the game. If he were a good defender, he would know how to play without fouling. The fact that Capel was worried about Griffin getting in foul trouble speaks volumes about just how good of a defender he was. Plus, he went up against smaller players all throughout college, and the fact that he was not able to bully them around and pile up on blocks is disconcerting.

Create Your NBA Dream Team

I love basketball, so I love using my basketball knowledge to construct teams and make up trades.  This game is perfect for the NBA fan that wants to use their imagination and create a one-of-a-kind team.  There would be no point in making this game if you could add whoever you want, so there are rules.  After everyone has submitted their Dream Teams, we will have a vote to determine who created the best team.

Here Are The Rules:

• The Dream Team Rosters will include 12 players.
• All the players have to be current players and they count as how good they were last season (that means that Jason Kidd is not a 15-12-9 player and Shaquille O’Neal isn’t a 30-11 player).
• You must set them up in a rotation (not including minutes and subbing patterns).  With the starters in their positions as well as the number’s 6-12 on the bench.
• There are no injuries on the Dream Team, so don’t pay any attention to a players’ injury history.
• There is no salary cap, so you can get whoever you want, even if their real salaries add up to over $100 million.

Roster Rules:

You Get:

• 1 Superstar
• 1 Allstar
• 1 Semi-star
• 3 Above-average role players
• 4 Normal role players
• 2 Benchwarmers
• 1 Coach

Notes: You don’t need to start your best players, you can have a star sub like the Spurs have in Manu Ginobili.

Player Categories:

Superstars - LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Dwight Howard, Chris Paul, Dwyane Wade, Tim Duncan, Kevin Garnett

Allstars – Yao Ming, Deron Williams, Steve Nash, Pau Gasol, Dirk Nowitzki, Danny Granger, Paul Pierce, Ray Allen, Carmelo Anthony, Chauncey Billups, Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili, Joe Johnson, Michael Redd, Andre Igoudala, Elton Brand, Amare Stoudemire, Al Jefferson, Kevin Durant, Chris Bosh, Tracy McGrady, Gilbert Arenas, Caron Butler, Carlos Boozer, Brandon Roy

Semi-Stars – Richard Jefferson, Rajon Rondo, Hedo Turkoglu, Rashard Lewis, Shaquille O’Neal, Andrew Bynum, Jameer Nelson, Mo Williams, Allen Iverson, Rip Hamilton, Jose Calderon, Shawn Marion, Ron Artest, Antawn Jamison, Corey Maggette, Stephen Jackson, Jamal Crawford, Monta Ellis, Andris Biedrins, Zach Randolph, Marcus Camby, Chris Kaman, Baron Davis, Kevin Martin, Jason Kidd, Josh Howard, Rudy Gay, OJ Mayo, Derrick Rose, LaMarcus Aldridge, Ben Gordon, Jason Richardson

Above-Average Role Players – Lamar Odom, Trevor Ariza, Travis Outlaw, John Salmons, Andres Nocioni, Kendrick Perkins, Shane Battier, Jason Terry, Andre Miller, Tayshaun Prince, Rasheed Wallace, David Lee, Marc Gasol, Mario Chalmers, Michael Beasley, Jermaine O’Neal, Raja Bell, Boris Diaw, Nene, Brook Lopez, James Posey, Peja Stojakovic, Ronny Turiaf, Kelena Azubuike, Eric Gordon, Greg Oden, Russell Westbrook, Jeff Green, Kirk Hinrich, Brad Miller, Joakim Noah, Chris Duhon, Andrei Kirilenko, Mehmet Okur, Al Thornton, Luis Scola, Nate Robinson, J.R. Smith, Linas Kleiza, Thaddeus Young, Andrew Bogut, Charlie Villanueva, Ramon Sessions, Mike Miller, T.J. Ford, Tyson Chandler

Normal Role Players – Chris Andersen, Grant Hill, Luke Ridnour, Jason Kapono, Reggie Evans, Anthony Parker, Kenyon Martin, Anthony Carter, Sasha Vujacic, Steve Blake, Jarrett Jack, Mike Dunleavy Jr., Jordan Farmar, Derek Fisher, Delonte West, Ben Wallace, Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Wally Szczerbiak, Glen Davis, Leon Powe, Stephon Marbury, Eddie House, Jerryd Bayless, Rafer Alston, Marcin Gortat, Daniel Gibson, Josh Powell, Erick Dampier, Larry Hughes, Drew Gooden, Roger Mason Jr., Michael Finley, Bruce Bowen, Luke Walton, etc.

Benchwarmers – Brian Scalabrine, Chris Mihm, Marko Jaric, Adam Morrison, Sun Yue, Bill Walker, Mikki Moore, Steve Novak, Tarence Kinsey, DJ Mbenga, J.J. Redick, DeAndre Jordan, Fabricio Oberto, etc. (you know who they are…)

Coaches – Any of the Head Coaches in the NBA right now + Avery Johnson, Sam Mitchell, Eddie Jordan, Tom Thibodeau, Mo Cheeks, P.J. Carlesimo, and Reggie Theus

Lucas Who … ?

The 109th US Open from Bethpage Black ,the public link’s course at Farmingdale , New York ,finally reached its culmination. And surprise , surprise the winner was none other than Lucas Glover. Lucas who you might say ? And that’s the question I’m now beginning to ask myself.

Lucas Glover winner of the US Open held at the public links' course at Bethpage Black in Farmingdale , upper state New York. picture appears courtesy of getty images / Clive Robertson ..........

And along with the win comes golfing immortality as this’ll be championship that can never be taken away from the player. His four under (-4) par win by two strokes over second placed finisher Phil Mickelson, might well have been what the doctor ordered in terms of the dreariness of the weather provided over the almost five days of competition. Also tied for second were first through third round leader Ricky Barnes. Whose meltdown over the final round was seemingly how one’d envisage a nightmare of disastrous proportions. Literally going from a four stroke lead and having your first Grand Slam major seemingly almost within your grasp. Overnight, Barnes let his chance slip .

Tied for second David Duval hold his young son Brayden during the trophy presentations for the US Open golf tournament. Duval wasn't able to overcome a two shot deficit in order to force a playoff. picture appears courtesy of getty images / Chris McGrath ...........

And rounding out the second place finishers is a name long forgotten but who suddenly appeared atop of the leaderboard. For David Duval this was a triumphant return to the major golf scene. Wherein for almost the last decade he’s had his ups and down professionally within the sport. And where his private life also had its own share of turmoil.

Glover celebrates his victory alongside NBC's Bob Costas after his 2 stroke victory of the US Open at the Bethpace Black golf course. picture appears courtesy of getty images / Ross Kinnaird ....................

And whilst Mickelson may well have been the emotional favorite to win the tournament down the stretch. Alas, this was not to be . With Tiger Woods also pressing his claim for a share of the championship , seemingly trying to ignite himself and the sparse crowd in attendance with that sense of urgency and a last minute charge. The winner of the tournament would be a first time claimant of a major Grand Slam golf title. And along with that win comes the prize money of $ 1,350,000-00 for the winner. Not bad for roughly four and a half days’ work.

Phil Mickelson reacts after his putt inches towards the hole on the 16th green during the final round of the US Open . Mickelson would finish in a tie for second place at (-2) two under par for the tournament. He was as such the sentimental favorite to win the tournament given the emotional turmoil he'd been under. picture appears courtesyb of getty images/ Andrew Reddington ................

And for Woods this was another case of what might’ve been. Had he performed better in the earlier rounds. Albeit that he finished in a tie for sixth place alongside Swede , Soren Hansen. This was in effect something of a dramatic way to end a tournament that seemingly was just waiting to anoint an almost reluctant Ricy Barnes. Instead in his place it’s Lucas Glover who lives to tell the tale of the infamy of Bethpage Black. A public links’ golf course that can seemingly sap the strength mentally and presence of even the most skilled of professional golfers on the PGA Tour.

A somewhat forlorn Tiger Woods looks on from the fourteenth tee during the final round of the US Open from the public link's course at Bethpage Black State Park , Farmingdale , New York. picture appears courtesy of getty images/ Ross Kinnaird .................

And now with the first two majors of the season over. It’s now on The Open from the Turnberry Links Golf Course in Turnberry,Ayrshire , Scotland. The ancestral home of the game of golf and where the game itself was invented. This is the one major considered to be the most difficult to win of all. And it is considered still the most prestigious professional golf tournament in the world . An argument can be made that to win The Open , is to win the world championship of golf. Were there such an accolade befitting the sport to begin with. Then one might attest to the fact that the event itself is the pre-eminent tournament of its kind in the world. It has the history and the feats of excellence that has gone with it over the years. But more so the fans in attendance may well just be about the most knowledgeable there is that the game has to offer.

Glover poses for the photographers having won the 109th edition of the US Open golf tournament. The next major on the calendar is The Open in the United Kingdom. picture appears courtesy of getty images /Ross Kinnaird ......................

For Glover this win opens a lot of doors in terms of opportunities. And with it comes an exemption to play in all of the four major golf tournaments for the next decade. And also has to bear in mind the endorsement opportunities that’ll no doubt come his way. He’ll no longer be viewed as something of a journeyman on the PGA Tour. As fans and his peers alike will be saying ‘…. there goes Lucas Glover he’s a Grand Slam major winner’. So few players are afforded the opportunity each year of saying that they’re the winner of a Grand Slam major. And with there being only four opportunities that come by each year in terms of The Masters , the U S Open, The Open and the PGA Championship. It has to be said that it does take a special breed of player to win one the Grand Slam events.

Glover now joins the ranks of those and if he should never have the chance again to win another major. At least he knows that his name has now been etched on a trophy for prosperity and that it’ll never be taken away from him at all.

As to what surprises may or may not lie ahead for the next two majors. No one can really say. But it’s a fair bet that those who’ve entered will be of the opinion that they’ve got the same sort of shot as Glover to have their own name etched on a Grand Slam trophy.

………………….

I Am A Man, And To Question My Sense of Well Being Is To Deny Me A Right

Well the the New York Yankees (38-31) now sit a mere 4 games adrift of the Boston Red Sox (42-27) in the AL East standings. And whilst on the face of it this doesn’t seem a large margin to make up between the two teams. The situation as such couldn’t be more dire for the franchise at present. That’s unless you’d count a recurrence of the inane rants of Hank Steinbrenner as an overall cause for concern ?  

Derek Jeter (left) and teammate Nick Swisher of the Yankees wait to bat during the eighth inning of an inter-league series game against the Florida Marlins played in Maimi. The Yankees would end up losing the game 6-5 and the series also 2-1. picture appears courtesy of getty images/ Lyne Sladky .............

And with the Yankees having gone 4-6 in their last ten games. All appears to be not quite tranquil as far as ‘The Evil Empire’ goes. With the Red Sox seemingly playing baseball at their usually proficient standard. Anything that’d indeed create on appearance of a gap as to the quality in between the two team’s play would be of cause for concern. Especially when one considers the rivalry between the two teams and their faction of fans. In all of professional sports this may be the most heated and fabled rivalry of them all. In essence it adds to the reason why as baseball fans we can be transfixed by anything that merely happens between the two teams on or off the field of play.

Joe Girardi manager of the Yankees has a discussion with home plate umpire Tim Simmons (95) and his colleagues during the eighth inning of the game played against the Florida Marlins at Land Shark Stadium in Miami, Florida . picture appears courtesy of getty images /Lyne Sladky .................

The AL East as we know is most definitely the most glamorous division in all of baseball. It certainly is the most contentious in terms of the quality of the teams and their competitiveness. And with the young upstarts of last year in the Tampa Bay Rays (37-34) now being added to the mix. Let’s just say that any slip ups by either of the two more prominent teams within this division and the Rays’d be more than willing to take advantage of the situation. As the reigning AL East champions , having won the AL pennant and making it to the World Series. The thought of a return visit hasn’t escaped the thoughts of this young team. The elixir that’s success once having become accustomed to. The taste of more isn’t at all easy to give up or even overlook.

Yankees' 3rd baseman Alex Rodriguez tosses his bat in frustration having been struck out in the third inning of an inter-league game played between the Marlins and Yankees at Land Shark Stadium , Miami , Florida. picture appears courtesy of getty images/ Lyne Sladky ..............

Yankees’ manager Joe Girardi can’t be at all happy with the frailties now being shown by his team. And with a slumping Alex Rodriguez now hitting a mere .213 and adding little if any potency to the offense as of late. It can’t have gone unnoticed that the player and his off the field situation earlier on in the season may well have to an extent reared its ugly head once again. Never mind the allegations now being made as to his relationship with actress Kate Hudson. Added to the fact their ace pitcher C C Sabathia may well have some injury concerns . A visit to the DL mightn’t be out of the question should the injury prove to be of concern.

Fans in the crowd are somewhat jocular given that the game was being played on Fathers' Day in Miami between the two inter-league teams. picture appears courtesy of getty images/ Lyne Sladky .....................

For Girardi his patience will now be severely tested. Say nothing of which with Hank Steinbrenner not less than a few steps away opining on things and closely scrutinizing every move concerning this team. The calm before the storm may well be about to uncorked. And with the All Star break just around the corner . A widening gap in the margin between the two teams (Red Sox) would make the Yankees’ predicament less enticing as a fan of the organization.

 

We Know Our Fans And Our Fans Know Us : Oh Really ?

Well NASCAR’s season has seen some highs and lows. Lil’ E as or Jr he’s come to be known hasn’t won a Sprint Cup race in ages. And Dale Earnhardt Jr’s team of Hendrick Motorsports has taken it upon themselves to make the changes that they deem necessary to turn the tide as to his fortunes.

Kyle Busch (18) seen here driving the M&M's Toyota leads the eventual winner Kasey Kahne seen here driving the Budwieser Dodge in the Toyota Save Mart 350 at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma , California. picture appears courtesy of getty images/ Johnathan Ferrey .....................

And with the Sprint Cup standings being as they are at present . Earnhardt Jr’s chances of attaining a postseason berth in the Race For The Chase as to the championship seems to be taking exceedingly long odds as they now presently stand. He currently sits in the twentieth position in the standings, some 277 points from the cut off position. Wherein the top twelve drivers are then part of the chase format for the Sprint Cup Series championship.

Patrick Carpentier (55) in the NAPA Auto Parts Toyota leads Jeff Gordon (24) driver of the Du Pont Chevrolet during the NASCAR Sprint Cup series race held at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma , California . picture appears courtesy of getty images/ Robert Laberge ..................

And with a mere ten races to go before the elimination point begins. It’s becoming extremely hard to see how Earnhardt can still qualify given the scenario at present. His relationship with his former crew chief and cousin , Tony Eury Jr may well have been somewhat too trusting. But given the fact that they’d relatively no success of the past 70 plus races in NASCAR’s premiere race format. The tide was most certainly against them and the writing was most definitely on the wall.

Dale Earnhardt Jr seen here prior to the race stands alongside his car at Infineon Raceway . picture appears courtesy of getty images/ Christian Petersen ................

What has infact exacerbated the situation even further has been the person whom Earnhardt was brought in to replace at Hendrick Motorsports has had unprecedented success on the track. And the animosity between the two, in Kyle Busch and Dale Earnhardt seems to be taking on a life of its own. Wherein not a week goes by where Busch hasn’t seen fit to criticize his successor and all too often offer up a snide remark and one or two choice words as to his opinion of his competitive foe. And with Busch’s three wins this season and 5 top ten finishes. It further rubs salt into an already festering wound. Whereas Jr, has not a win to his name this season.

Kyle Busch stands on the grid alongside his race car prior to the commencement of the Toyota Save Mart 350 from Infineon Raceway in Sonoma , California . picture appears courtesy of getty images/ Rusty Jarrett ................

For the most ardents fans of NASCAR this all adds to their love of the sport . And the feuding and rivalries within only adds to the perceived drama throughout the sport. And for Earnhardt , himself at this juncture he’s not only got to be looking at the success attained this season by Busch with a little bit of jealousy. But he’s also got to be looking at the success that’s also being achieved by his teammates there at HMS. With teammates Jeff Gordon , Jimmie Johnson , Mark Martin and Brad Keselowski all seemingly having some semblance of success this season . Wherein they’ve either won or ran consistently in a number of races. The pressure is now on for Dale Jr to prove himself . And whilst we understand that he bares the name of a famous father and that comparisons are bound to be made between the two. It certainly doesn’t lessen the task ahead of him. But if anything it only adds to the burden of bearing the name. And that’s despite the fact that he’s now the sport’s most beloved driver.

Brian France (foreground) Chairman & CEO and the hierachy's President Mike Helton take questions from a convened audience made up of the press and fans alike at a media junket organized by the sport. picture appears courtesy of getty images /Jason Smith ...........

For NASCAR itself any success that can be attained by its most high profiled star can only do it and the sport a great deal of good. With the uncertainty of the economic climate at present. And with an ever growing number of corporate sponsors pulling out of the sport. Things are now becoming even more difficult for the sport. And with recent automotive bailouts, the restructuring of Chrysler and the impact of the tenous situation that GM now finds itself in. One has to wonder how much more upheaval the sport can now take. The commitments from both automotive companies as to their continued involvement in the sport remains in question.

Rick Hendrick (right) seen here with Jeff Gordon one of his drivers of Hendrick Motorsports, the company he started that bears his name.It was primarily Hendrick's decision to fire Dale Earnhardt Jr's crew chief , Tony Eury Jr. picture appears courtesy of ap/photo/ Mark Dupree' ....

Multi million dollar budgets on the major teams are being cut drastically. And the belts are being tightened to such an extent that the face of the sport is now changing. For NASCAR’s Brian France this has to be a tumultuous time for the sport that his family has overseen since its inception. France’s influence and the goodwill that he once had with the fans has begun to erode. And it certainly didn’t help his cause when the Japanese manufacturer , Toyota got involved the sport’s highest echelon as a competitor within the Sprint Cup Series. That may well have been the death knell for the sport as we know it today. As any semblance as to what the sport once was to its most ardent and voiceferous of fans how now been lost.

As NASCAR sought to broaden its appeal and fanbase both domestically and globally. It seemed to have forgotten what got them to where they were once viewed as the fastest fan participation sport in the country. The saturation and maturation point have been reached in North America. And NASCAR in the form of its CEO & Chairman Brian France and the sport’s President Mike Helton sought fit to look to chase after the corporate dollars that laid beyond the borders of North America. To many of the sport’s purists this seemed to be a betrayal of its values and what the sport represented as a whole. Though it must be said that the same difficulties that are now facing NASCAR has begun to find its way into all of the major professional sports here North America. And those tentacles have been wide reaching and wreaking just as much havoc as we’ve witnessed within NASCAR.

So as things now continue to ebb and flow as to the immediate future of the sport. It has to be said that as NASCAR’s fortunes have continued to wane. So too has the fortunes of its most popular driver. It either came about from not heeding the warning signs that first came about . But there’s no denying if their fortunes are to appreciate then due diligence will have to be made both the hierarchy of NASCAR and that of Dale Earnhardt Jr.