NASCAR fans show “class” during past two races

When the books are closed on Jeff Gordon’s career, he will go down as one of the top five greatest drivers in the sports history. He will also go down as one of the more controversial.

That has nothing to do with how he raced, or how he has handled himself off the track, but primarily the love, hate relationship the fans have with Gordon. Fans (myself included) love to boo him at tracks. It’s part of the atmosphere of the sport.

However, some fans seem to take that booing to a new level, as has been the case throughout most of Gordon’s career. Following his win last week at Phoenix, coupled with this week’s victory at Talladega, Gordon moved past the late Dale Earnhardt on the career wins list with 77.

That didn’t sit well with what I’d like to call the “intoxicated fan.” Fans at Phoenix complained when Gordon showed respect for the sport and dignity by bringing out a Dale Earnhardt flag during his post-race celebration. I guess they can look past other drivers who have done similar acts in the past five years.

Then, yesterday, they throw their garbage onto the track when Gordon won under caution.

And then NASCAR fans complain when they don’t get any respect from the national media.

Gordon, whether you love him or hate him, is one of the best drivers in the business and is part of the reason for the growth in the sport. He took what drivers like Earnhardt and Richard Petty created and took it to a new level. Even Earnhardt saw his talent and helped him in his early career development.

But the fans - many of whom started drinking three weeks before the race - forget that and feel that it is their right to throw their trash where they please, especially when it includes Gordon. They have become an embarrassment to the sport, especially at Talladega where this has happened on numerous occasions.

It reminds me of professional wrestling fans, who started to throw trash into the ring during the height of World Championship Wrestling’s popularity when the new World order and Hulk Hogan made their way to the ring. It should come as now shock to anyone that NASCAR shares a similar fan base from professional wrestling.

NASCAR should take a harder stance on incidents like this. Until it does, perhaps Tony Stewart should make more NASCAR is like pro wrestling comments to the media. He’s more right every day, especially after trash like this.

Busy Monday News Day

After a long and restful weekend, I need to clear my mind out to take care of some things that I’ve been thinking about both in the sports and news world.

The Oakland Raiders were smart to draft JaMarcus Russell with the overall No. 1 pick. Afterwards, it was a comedy of errors for the team from Oakland, or is it Los Angeles, at least that is where the NFL’s Gene Washington believes Al Davis’ squad still plays.

Russell is a talented quarterback who gives the Raiders the deep ball threat. So you would think having a quality wide receiver in Randy Moss would be a good aspect. Obviously not as the Raiders parted ways with the former Marshall University standout and sent him off to New England, all but insuring the Patriots a berth in the AFC title game, if not the Super Bowl. Only Miami had a worse draft. Even though I predicted Ted Ginn to go high, the Dolphins missed on taking Brady Quinn, who would have given the team stability at quarterback.

The teams that made the biggest splash on this draft weekend - Cleveland, New England, and the San Fransisco 49ers, who picked up Darrell Jackson from the Seahawks for practically nothing.

The Washington Media is a buzz today with the “D.C. Maddam” story. The story involves Deborah Jean Palfrey and her little black book of clients, which allegedly includes top Bush Administration officials, and a conservative think tank leader. It’s all part of the government’s case against Palfrey for running what they believe is a prostitution ring. Palfrey claims her business was “legit” and that others, her customers, should be charged as well.

This case will catch the media’s fancy for awhile because it deals with government leaders and sex. It’s a money-making combination, just ask President Clinton.

And finally, the St. Louis Cardinals are dealing with the death of a pitcher once again with the tragic death Sunday morning of Josh Hancock. The reliever was killed in an automobile accident in St. Louis.

This is the second time in five years the Cardinals have dealt with death as a team. Darryl Kile died in 2002 in a Chicago hotel room.