tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24138427.post279662720258707342..comments2024-03-08T11:07:25.905-05:00Comments on The Godfather's Blog: COMMENTARY: Dale Junior Calls It a CareerDave Moodyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14273464897477668872noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24138427.post-70934332447480964832017-05-04T17:37:18.073-04:002017-05-04T17:37:18.073-04:00Changes to the cars and tracks were inevitable. ...Changes to the cars and tracks were inevitable. Senior was far too controversial to be seen as some kind of beloved figure; people need to stop glossing over his negatives - the on-track bullying and the Al Davis-esque quality in his personality. <br /><br />NASCAR has lost some huge talent in recent years and one further laments the drivers who weren't there - the talented drivers who either died before achieving in Cup (Rob Moroso and Kenny Irwin, to name two), who never made it that far (Jeff Purvis, Ted Christopher, Tim Steele among others) or who for one reason or another never achieved the same level of success (Ward Burton, Bobby Hamilton, John Andretti, Joe Nemechek, Ricky Craven, etc.)Monkeesfanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14522953722006761283noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24138427.post-82358143088587689822017-05-02T11:10:10.560-04:002017-05-02T11:10:10.560-04:00We have lost some HUGE talents the last couple of ...We have lost some HUGE talents the last couple of years. Smoke, Edwards, Jeff Gordon, now Junior. I know the sport is changing, but honestly the new crop of racers are very sterile and lack personality lie these guys. It's going to be hard to watch soon. Sorry it's the way I feel. And please remember Senior's birthday was Saturday. It should be celebrated every year by NASCAR. He is the one we couldn't lose but because of him so many racers are alive today because of the changes to the cars and tracks Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24138427.post-48732113728871081802017-04-27T14:52:29.205-04:002017-04-27T14:52:29.205-04:00It is sad our champions age and move on. Dale jr. ...It is sad our champions age and move on. Dale jr. was and always will be a gentleman. His fans knew that instantly when the spotlight focused on him in 2001. It is unfortunate that a championship wasn't in the cards before his final year. Now NASCAR has to deal with post Jr. How will they keep his fans? Not everyone (not a majority for sure) will keep watching the racing hoping for a new hero to replace him. Unfortunately, there is no one to step into his shoes.<br /><br /> A champion without a trophy I hope he becomes a great Dad and husband and visits with us from time to time in the announcer's booth.<br /><br /><br />Thanks Jr.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24138427.post-46435310842747924642017-04-26T21:17:38.962-04:002017-04-26T21:17:38.962-04:00This will defiantly speed up the slow death of NAS...This will defiantly speed up the slow death of NASCAR but I'm happy for him I think after last year it's time. Not really worth the risk at his age to get another concussion. He really has carried NASCAR on his shoulders and will be missed. Mikehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02748726281743465551noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24138427.post-82775931008940308772017-04-26T19:48:54.691-04:002017-04-26T19:48:54.691-04:00To Anonymous - while your point about NASCAR's...To Anonymous - while your point about NASCAR's decline in popularity certainly has validity, you seem to go too far in declaring that without Earnhardt Junior there is nothing worth watching in the sport either at the moment or down the road. Sports is NEVER about just one participant.<br /><br />Having lived through the 1970s era of racing - NASCAR and Indycars - I've seen at least four transitions in driver talent apiece in those two forms of racing, from the Petty-Pearson-Cale-Allison-Baker-etc. era of NASCAR and the Foyt-Unsers-Rutherford-Johncock-Andetti era of Indycars through to today. I certainly agree the present NASCAR generation has a far greater share of stars heavily-disliked by fans (and often with objective reason) than most between Harvick, the Busch brothers, Jimmie Johnson, the now-retired Carl Edwards and Tony Stewart, and Joey Logano and that drivers genuinely worth rooting for are not advancing in success - best shown in the 2014-16 period where over some twenty-three months the Cup series failed to see a first-time winner. But historically the sport's driver generations issue takes care of itself.<br /><br />It seems a broader issue that is related to the issue of drivers who may step to the fore of NASCAR is the issue of whether there will also be a rise of newer teams or comebacks by presently-struggling teams, as the sport's competitive depth in BOTH drivers and teams does warrant monitoring. Monkeesfanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14522953722006761283noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24138427.post-27954894679071087932017-04-26T19:39:08.814-04:002017-04-26T19:39:08.814-04:00That Junior was "not his daddy" is the b...That Junior was "not his daddy" is the biggest quality he had - he was his own man and classier and more professional than some of his contemporaries. Monkeesfanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14522953722006761283noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24138427.post-1746798222314071682017-04-26T14:44:00.289-04:002017-04-26T14:44:00.289-04:00On the morning drive yesterday one of the hosts sa...On the morning drive yesterday one of the hosts said it will be hard to watch the Daytona 500 without an Earnhardt in it.<br />Bill Waughnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24138427.post-40145805586153434882017-04-26T14:17:15.264-04:002017-04-26T14:17:15.264-04:00I haven't heard any media talking about "...I haven't heard any media talking about "no more Earnhardts in NASCAR," since we are all pretty familiar with Jeffrey. Dave Moodyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14273464897477668872noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24138427.post-55523375477454426702017-04-26T11:06:38.649-04:002017-04-26T11:06:38.649-04:00I was starting to think this blog "called it ...I was starting to think this blog "called it a career"Stevehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08097504567310027711noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24138427.post-68830698178731689112017-04-26T08:01:49.875-04:002017-04-26T08:01:49.875-04:00Lots of speculation over what Junior may do next, ...Lots of speculation over what Junior may do next, be it late model racing, TV, etc, but this is the guy who could probably put the Nascar Hall Of Fame into the black for the first time. Its no secret that Junior is a huge history buff when it comes to Nascar, so adding him to the staff at The Hall would likely provide a huge boost in attendance. Not saying that Winston Kelley and his staff are lacking in their efforts to preserve the history of the sport, but Dale Jr brings an unprecedented fan base to anything that he does. But whatever he does, he will have fun doing it, and the sport is lucky to have him.Gary Tnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24138427.post-31178059343522614502017-04-26T06:56:40.346-04:002017-04-26T06:56:40.346-04:00...Well, Mr. Moody is very involved in censoring w......Well, Mr. Moody is very involved in censoring what goes on his "comments page". But for the sake of humanity and kindness, Ralph was not the only one who lost a father. I think how hard it is for Kerry, not the son of Brenda Gee, who birthed Kelley and Jr. to listen to the stories of JUNIOR missing his DAD. And this narrative obviously continues, not so much in this article but the culture of EARNHARDT thinking Dale JUNIOR was the only one to suffer. I just feel bad for Kerry and his family, maybe some kindness in future writing could be thrown the elder male EARNHARDT child and his GRANDSON who is still racing, albeit not a a great level..but hearing and reading how insensitive the NASCAR media is saying "sad day, no more EARNHARDTS racing, is well myopic and beyond hero worship. From the faux statement alone. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24138427.post-31694024222164192432017-04-26T04:15:42.218-04:002017-04-26T04:15:42.218-04:00I'm glad Dale Jr. is retiring, because like a ...I'm glad Dale Jr. is retiring, because like a lot of people, I would hate to see him get injured or killed in this sport. I'm the same age as his father and I have a son close to the same age as Jr. As a father I'm glad to see my son and now a grandson develop over the years. Something that was denied to Dale Sr. Dale Jr. will never be his father and who would have wanted that. I'm glad that Dale Sr. spread his DNA among 4 children and you see a little bit of that in each and every one of them. Things may have been different had Dale Sr. not been lost to us 16 years ago, but they may have not been better for us. I like the man I see in Dale Jr. and I know Dale Sr. couldn't be more proud of him if he were here to see him. Let's hope that only good things will become of Jr.'s decision to retire.Michael Joneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11462204933162108664noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24138427.post-68666477867526851892017-04-25T22:08:31.149-04:002017-04-25T22:08:31.149-04:00"And as for us, we will be just fine, you and..."And as for us, we will be just fine, you and I. NASCAR will survive without Dale Earnhardt, Jr., in the starting lineup, just as it did 15 years ago with his legendary father."<br /><br />Dave, we all know perfectly well you make your livelihood pontificating on all things NASCAR but if you honestly believe that Jr's retirement doesn't raise every red flag and set off every alarm then it's time to put down the microphone and take up whittling on your front porch. This is the absolute last thing this sports needs right now.<br /><br />On the bright side it gives Fox and NBC 10 months to figure how not to show the grandstands while airing the races in 2018. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com