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So Jimmie Johnson was named AP Male Athlete of the Year, with Roger Federer and Usain Bolt coming in second and third. Are you f---ing kidding me?
Now I'm not saying that NASCAR doesn't require skill and racing isn't a competition, but are the competitors really athletes and is racing a sport? What is athletic about it, and how can you pick a race car driver over two superb and accomplished athletes like Federer and Bolt? That's lunacy.
According to the article, Johnson thinks he's an athlete because he's in shape. UPS drivers are in shape, but I don't think driving a UPS truck could considered athletic.
this conversation has come up here a few times before. I'll simply repeat what I've said in those conversations:
Anyone who thinks race car drivers are not athletes has never done it seriously or competitively. It takes a good deal of upper body strength and a lot of endurance to spend hours fighting G-forces that are sometimes high enough to make lesser-conditioned people black out as you wrestle a car with an effective weight of up to 5,000 pounds (after factoring in downforce) to hold it in a precise line while a rock-hard suspension beats the hell out of you the whole time because straying just a few inches from that line could cost you a position or even cause a crash, all while sweating your balls off wearing a flame-retardant suit in a 125-degree cockpit, fighting dehydration serious enough that drivers can lose up to 15 pounds in a single race. It may look easy on TV but it's not. So yes, racing is a sport and race car drivers are athletes in the true sense of the word.
The days of the stereotypical "fat slob" NASCAR drivers are gone -- especially these days where the cars have become so standardized and room for "building in" an advantage is very slim. Every pound counts, and being fit matters.
Well, I don't know, but I've always thought that distance running would have to be 100 times worse. What do you think would be harder, running 26.2 miles, or driving 400?
Just about anyone can run a marathon with a bit of conditioning. Only an elite few can do it competitively. Same goes with driving a car -- just about anyone can hustle one around a track, but only an elite few can do it competitively.
running is a sport because there is physical activity. I know cuz i am a runner. I also follow NASCAR and i think that racers can be an athlete. But not an athlete to get the Athlete of the Year award. When there are actual athletes working their butts off trying to win. Johnson in addition didnt start really racing this season until the chase. Mark, Gordon, and Stewart were the real racers.
When there are actual athletes working their butts off trying to win...... Johnson in addition didnt start really racing this season until the chase. Mark, Gordon, and Stewart were the real racers.
Don't race car drivers work to win? Plus, Johnson has won four championships in a row. That's incredible.
I don't even think golfers are athletes- take away the ball and the club and it's walking. I will admit it takes skill to be a golfer and race car driver but it also takes skill to be a decent barber and barbers aint athletes
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