Heat of the Moment
Susan Grace
Archives
In the past few days, a small avalanche of articles have been written on the behavior of Tony Stewart when he allegedly shoved and tried to kick a photographer following Sunday's Brickyard 400. The majority of them, to say the least, are rather unsupportive. What I find interesting is there was almost no mention of Kurt Busch making an a - - ...umm... spectacle of himself in the middle of the track following his incident with Jimmy Spencer. What little that was said actually seemed to condone Kurt's actions.
Now I should probably state for the record that I am no Tony Stewart groupie. Far from it. Two years ago I would have chaired the campaign for his suspension. I sneered when my brother sullied the good family name and married a woman who proudly displayed a # 20 Home Depot license plate on the front of her car. Compound this with the fact that he arrived with a mighty high price tag on my rather dismal fantasy team this year, and you have the perfect recipe for dislike. Despite it all, something strange has happened. Maybe it's a case of the West Nile virus, but I actually find myself almost coming to his defense in this instance.
Anger is a natural human emotion. Who among us can truthfully say we have never acted on this emotion and done something impudent we later regretted. Tony took his frustration and disappointment out on the first person that provoked him after the race. There is no denying it was wrong and unprofessional and all the things that all the other sportswriters and photographers said it was. And no doubt Tony deserves the fine and the probation (again). However, it is generally considered stupid to go poking a stick into a nest of angry hornets. Shouldn't the photographer be held at least a little responsible.
Granted, Kurt Busch didn't shove or kick anybody, though I'm pretty certain if Jimmy could have gotten out of the car, blows would have been exchanged. Kurt running out onto the track with his wild gestures was dangerous and kind of amusing and immature all at the same time. But it is not where my peeve lies. It is his total lack of respect for the veteran drivers who have shaped this great sport over the years that I find appalling. Here is a guy still wet behind the ears, looking for his first Winston Cup win who's sense of self is so inflated he calls half the field "decrepit old has beens". No modesty here. No manners either. Somehow I find this statement vastly more offensive than Tony Stewart's tangle with the photographer. At the very least, Jack Rousch should wash this young man's mouth out with soap, if not take him behind Mike Helton's trailer for a good strapping.
Lastly, there were comments made that maybe Tony should go back to IRL or get out of the sport if he cannot accept the disappointment of losing. On the other hand, maybe he should get out of the sport when he CAN accept that.
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