California Speedway: Disaster Track in Fontana

No track in the past decade has been widely criticized in motorsports than 2-mile California Speedway at Fontana. What was a dream for NASCAR expansion turned into a giant nightmare. Many NASCAR fans, current and former, point to this track as one of many reasons NASCAR is on a downside. It wasn't used to be that way. When Roger Penske opened this track in 1997 it was welcome arms for open-wheel racing and stock cars. While open wheel cars put on a show at the track it was different for NASCAR as they proceed to bore the audience. Then came the following moves that not only effected the track but entire American auto racing.

International Speedway Corporation, owned by NASCAR France family, bought the track including all of Roger Penske owned tracks in 1999. Later in the year track was rocked with a deadly crash of CART driver Greg Moore. Some of the audience, whom watched in the stands or on TV, got turned off by the track due the death of talented driver. It went downhill as they spent five years trying to force feed NASCAR to the Southern California market while slowly cutting open wheel racing from CART to Indycar who still put on amazing show and drawing a crowd over NASCAR. It was evident when estimate 90,000 still show up on a MONDAY to watch CART race after it was postponed for rain. It finally came when California got their second NASCAR date for 2005 season taking away one of Darlington races, a crown jewel in NASCAR. Not only that it kicked out all of open wheel racing from the track after 2004 season. It was the move that broke the straw of the back. NASCAR fans, especially hardcore ones, got fed up and stop following the sport. It also added another open wound to American open wheel racing who still having trouble drawing fans to the track despite blowing NASCAR away on ISC tracks due to the split. Despite two NASCAR races at the track they have hard time bringing fans in even giving the track a "playoff" race (which also took away one of Atlanta races). The crowd attendance each season in heavily saturated SoCal market declined. Last year spring race they drew 70,000 instead claim 100,000. The year before it was around 80,000.

Another problem they spent the time trying cater "rich Hollywood elite" instead the working class where 95% of the fanbase are. For ISC management they manage to dismiss complaints acting like there are no problems where there are problems from high prices (tickets to food) to souvenir booths moved from outside to inside track requiring to buy a ticket (which is high). ISC management refused to make changes even during California economic crisis which is still going on to this day.

Despite now having one NASCAR date the track is still a black eye to the fans and entire American auto racing landscape. NASCAR races are still boring on a track built for open wheel cars with crowd likely around 80,000 instead what ISC claim. As for American auto racing landscape how bad did it screwed up? Indycar CEO Randy Bernard decide to cut all ISC tracks from 2011 schedule which is a shame since produce far better action than NASCAR. Despite the better action ISC did little or no promoting of Indycar races (in act of jealousy and sabotage business decision) on their tracks thus having few ten thousands attend an Indycar race. Amazing how one ISC move single-handingly made fans turn their back on a series and an open wheel series giving them a big "FU."

There are times I wish Roger Penske never sold his tracks to ISC because most of the tracks were core to open wheel racing instead NASCAR like Fontana and Michigan. Now wish they close and tear Fontana down or move up north to Bakersfield for that short track. Fontana track wasn't a Hollywood dream; it's a Hollywood disaster.

The Intimidator

Still miss him.

National Signing Day goes over the top

It's official. National Signing Day became over the top spectacle. First with a player committing to Texas AM after his mother forged his signature and faxed the letter to Ole Miss. Now we have a player live on camera with help of ESPN decide publicize his commitment to a college as you can see with this video:




Just like LeBron James except this is a high school kid. I remember when it was low-key and only time media talks about high school athletes making college commitments was on local/state news. Now its a nationwide phenomenal with ESPN spearheading thanks to their top 150 high school recruited football players. It turn into a big game of major colleges trying to get a player signed to their school. Now the announcement of college signings have gone over to top with ESPN sticking their cameras live on the player on which college the athlete chooses. It puts more pressure on the high school athlete who already have enough trouble which school to go. One "wrong" choice will get a backlash from a college fanbase and next thing you know a likely attempt to find a paper trail trying claim a college paid money for a player to come. Another thing how many of these top 150 recruited football players did turn out so well to play in the pros few years down the road? For one more over the top signing day moment:




Thanks to ESPN for turning National Signing Day into a crazy spectacle when its not needed to be.

New Jersey Devils = most disappointing team midway of the season

I watched Red Wings vs Devils game earlier and it ended with 3-1 Red Wings win. The lost left Devils with a 16-30-3 record last in the eastern conference going into All-Star weekend. Midway through the season they are a big disappointment. When the team finally signed Kolvachuk to a big 15-year, $100 million contract it was thought to be the missing puzzle for a long playoff run. Instead team went backwards with them likely being out of playoff contention. The amount of money paid to players such as Ilya Kolvachuk, Patrick Elias, and Zach Parise they haven't gotten much in return. Kolvachuk, while currently leading the team in goals, haven't stepped up in scoring. Only three players have scored double digits in goals so far (Kolvachuk, Elias, and Jason Arnott). Parise and Travis Zajac are having a down year. Brian Rolston been a signing disappointment as he hasn't reach the numbers when was playing for the Bruins and Wild. The team already fired long-time Devils player turned coach John McLean with Jacques Lemaire going back behind the bench. It hasn't helped much as the offense has been the weakness this year. Goalie Martin Brodeur is the only bright spot as he can still go, but haven't gotten goal support. He is not going to save the team all by himself. Another note he is getting there with age and on pace to likely finish the season with under .500 win-loss record. One of problems the team have gotten older while its needed to younger. Only 10 of the players on the roster are 25 or under while they have 9 players that are 30 or over. For the team to contend for the playoffs in the future they need to get younger rebuilding through drafts and trades. Slowly phase out the veterans in few years and dump off bad contracts. What their disappointing season showed how bad they regressed and a must need to rebuild not for next season but the future. Devils are rolling down the slope to their "Mickey Mouse" seasons.

Jay Cutler...a crybaby and a coward

Is Jay Cutler that much of a coward to at least get back on field or even attempt to cheer on his team after leaving the game on MCL sprain? After spending the first half of the game getting bulldozed by the Packers and having a mediocre throwing game he caught a lucky break on getting injured on MCL sprain. Once out of the game he stood there on the sidelines still watching a 3rd stringer trying to make a comeback. After the game you walked around on the injured knee to congratulate the Packers on the win. Does Cutler knew the game was for a trip to the Super Bowl? In middle of the game Cutler gave up on his team as if he doesn't want be part responsible why the Bears lost when he's one of the reasons why the Bears lost. Does this guy even have guts to play the game of football? I don't blame football players in the league ripping on him while quickly wearing out his welcome in Chicago. For Jay Crapper...errr...Cutler if you are not cut out to play then leave and take up another sport. I heard curling is less violent they involves sweeping a rock down the ice unless you are afraid of the rock sliding down the ice.

EDIT: Few hours after posting this I found out Tim Duncan hurt his knee and left the game in the 2nd quarter. He return back to the game in the 3rd quarter. Yep a basketball player is more tougher than Jay Coward Cutler.

End of Whines-worth?

Redskins about to finally put the misery out of overpaid loser Albert Haynesworth by suspending him the final four games of the season without pay. The guy been nothing but waste $100 million piece of turd who got lazy, flopped around, and half assed his way on the field whining about playing certain positions and defensive format. He should have gutted it out and learn 3-4 defense but chose to complain and whine. To show his disgust he skipped workouts and got out of shape in quick fashion. When given a chance to be cut or to remain on the team he remained after deciding to pocket $21 million in bonus. Instead following orders and working his way back up he continued to whine about everything from playing with backups to being a non-starter. Mike Shanahan. the coaching staff, and the team tried to whip him into a team player. Instead he continued to become himself alienating his teammates. Very quickly he exposed from "Best defensive tackle in the game" to the most overpaid lazy selfish greedy sack of shit to play on the field. Albert Whines-worth enjoy your four weekend vacation. Once you are cut in the offseason and finally be free teams will think twice before offering up a large contract which you never deserved in the first place you whiny loser.

That's cold and deplorable!

Few days ago after late Pat Burns funeral scumbags broke in his widow's car stealing possessions such as autograph jerseys for all 30 NHL team, sheets, family photos, and a watch. It's heartbreaking cold and deplorable a scumbag would do such thing while the family continues to grieve. Today police found Burns two stolen suitcases but the jerseys and possessions such as a watch still remain missing. Hope they find the bastards, tie them up to the goals, and gets peppered with flying pucks unprotected because they deserve it!

Why do I have to view too many commercials on ESPN.com before getting a clip

What's the difference between viewing the clip of Derek Anderson rant on NFL.com and ESPN.com? On ESPN.com you go through 5-20 commercials and they are mostly 20-30 second long to get the clip. NFL.com has one commercial which is around 6-10 seconds before showing the clip. Is ESPN that monster desperate for commercial money that they stacked on multiple commercials to get to that clip? ESPN have gone downhill for years and this takes the cake.

Media Hacks - Part 1

I swear there are bunch of media "journalists" that should have their media credentials card revoked. This is one of them.

A player had a bad game along with the team. A "journalist" finds an odd 3-10 second "Ooh this is news!" clip of and make a big deal out of it. As you can see he's not going to discuss it. Instead moron hack "journalist" keeps on pressing the issue resulting in a now-infamous blow up. When a player said no and not going to discuss it he is not going to discuss it. End of discussion. These days the word "NO" doesn't mean anything and that goes to the "journalist" hacks.

I applaud Derek Anderson for walking out on the press conference. The douche "journalist" should have his media pass stripped for rest of the season.

Wrigley Field football configuration - SERIOUSLY?

Welcome to configuration gone wrong. When I first saw the goal post pic of the east end of Wrigley Field I thought how are they going to get this off. Turns there was no way as it was decided to use west end of the goal for offense. Yes only one end zone will be used for offense during the game. Consider the fact the stadium used to hold football games from early 1920s to 1970. Talk about good idea on paper, but gone bad when executed. I feel sorry for the fans that paid good money at the east end only to find out they are not going to see any offense coming to their way. Not a good way to bring back a classic or it was really bad idea in the first place.