tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1266573065584680131.post9164093989224248364..comments2023-05-23T06:58:05.579-04:00Comments on Fugue for Tinhorns: Support horse racing in ESPN pollGlenn Cravenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09760553404742644042noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1266573065584680131.post-26570569180541973262010-09-16T13:07:49.405-04:002010-09-16T13:07:49.405-04:00I wouldn't just watch cricket sooner than I...I wouldn't just watch cricket sooner than I'd watch the WNBA ... I'd rather listen to crickets. Lawn chair, sweet tea, starlight, crickets.<br /><br />The WNBA, and really the NBA, are just invasions of what could otherwise be peaceful silence.Glenn Cravenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09760553404742644042noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1266573065584680131.post-9321054760215851822010-09-16T12:53:36.296-04:002010-09-16T12:53:36.296-04:00Now at #7 overall, and more interestingly, it has ...Now at #7 overall, and more interestingly, it has MORE first-place votes than 2-6 (it must have fewer top-six votes overall to have wound up 7th.) It is distantly beating, among others, Major League Soccer and NASCAR. <br /><br />And I hope ESPN looks at this and realizes: NO ONE CARES ABOUT THE WNBA. It's like basketball, only MORE boring. I'd sooner watch cricket, but that wasn't an option.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1266573065584680131.post-27953288856809839262010-09-08T15:26:01.265-04:002010-09-08T15:26:01.265-04:00Haha, Nicholas, yeah, there are a lot of sports on...Haha, Nicholas, yeah, there are a lot of sports on that list I probably haven't watched for five minutes in my lifetime. Like the X-Games.Glenn Cravenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09760553404742644042noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1266573065584680131.post-12019729801925267822010-09-08T15:20:29.120-04:002010-09-08T15:20:29.120-04:00I had no idea there were so many sports I don'...I had no idea there were so many sports I don't like. Agree completely Glenn, after about No. 5, I was into "what I dislike least" territory.Nicholashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01344585684539908751noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1266573065584680131.post-75168503372734872292010-09-08T13:56:18.812-04:002010-09-08T13:56:18.812-04:00Spoken like someone who has watched a race or two....Spoken like someone who has watched a race or two. And I agree. Other than a couple of tracks, the product today is just terribly boring.<br /><br />Fans (when I followed) used to complain that the networks broke for advertising so often -- "NBC, 'Nothing But Commercials,'" they used to say -- but really, on most tracks, what did we miss?<br /><br />On these 1.5-mile tracks like Texas, Vegas, California, Kansas, Chicagoland, etc., it's pretty much just "mash the throttle and hit your marks." If you're gaining ground, keep the setup the same. Losing ground? Change the setup.<br /><br />The person at the wheel is practically secondary.Glenn Cravenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09760553404742644042noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1266573065584680131.post-79220464906245349072010-09-08T12:26:01.549-04:002010-09-08T12:26:01.549-04:00The NASCAR product would be 1000% better if there ...The NASCAR product would be 1000% better if there was visually obvious racing (passing, blocking, drafting, etc.) on the tracks other than Talladega, Daytona, Darlington, and the road courses. So few of the tracks feature actual racing. It's about hitting the marks and finding clean air. It's a very boring product, in my opinion, because 30 out of 36 races feature no visually obvious racing.<br /><br />Oh, and change the cars so that the leader racing in clean air doesn't have a HUGE advantage over everyone else in the field, thus drawing away and making the race even less compelling.<br /><br />David H.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1266573065584680131.post-83661375557720627822010-09-07T20:56:17.264-04:002010-09-07T20:56:17.264-04:00So, the NYT (or whomever) was suggesting there nee...So, the NYT (or whomever) was suggesting there needs to be MORE NASCAR drivers under 30? ... One of the things that bugged me was that experienced drivers who knew what they were doing were being replaced willy nilly by kids I wouldn't trust in the flippin' interstate, let alone at 150 on the back straight.<br /><br />Short-track and mile races are a blast, especially if you're there in person. It takes a lot of skill to drive those tracks, even though you're "just going in circles." The mile-and-a-half ovals are just "mash the throttle and hold your line." All comes down to the strength of the engine shop, the setup and the pit stops. Driver skill largely removed from the equation.<br /><br />None of which, I'm sure, is compelling to you at all. :-)Glenn Cravenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09760553404742644042noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1266573065584680131.post-69408887524908449662010-09-07T20:16:59.030-04:002010-09-07T20:16:59.030-04:00There was an article in the NYTimes recently about...There was an article in the NYTimes recently about Nascar's struggling numbers, which they think is due in part to the handful of drivers under 30. I think it's due to the fact that it's completely and utterly boring crap.Natalie Keller Reinerthttp://retiredracehorseblog.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.com