Ordinarily Roush Fenway Racing’s president, Geoff Smith, will talk to us about anything racing business-wise. So when his latest blog, Danger is Inherent in “Sport,” came my way I thought it was worth a read, if only for a change of pace.
It’s not a rehash of the debate whether drivers are athletes. Nor is it merely a congratulatory pat on the back for NASCAR safety.
What Geoff does, is bring facts into the equation.
For example he points out that the NFL had 400 players on its’ injured reserve list at the end of 2009, versus NASCAR which he says has no driver missed a race, in that same period due to injury.
The fact is that all sports have some risk of injury.
Carl Edwards suffered a broken right foot throwing a Frisbee, and Denny Hamlin tore an anterior cruciate ligament while playing basketball.
Smith also points out that the more risk of injury, the higher the attendance.
It’s only human nature. At its’ worst, as in the days of the bloody battles at Rome’s Colosseum, people came out, literally, to see blood spilled.
Hopefully, we are more civilized today.
People live vicariously through sports whether it’s the amateur game, and rooting for an alma mater, or watching NASCAR cars hanging on in the turns at breathtaking speeds.
Smith also points out that if speeds were reduced to ridiculous numbers such as 55mph no one would watch. I agree.
NASCAR officials are faced with decisions to keep the sport in balance. Safety is the ultimate goal, but there has to be room for entertainment.
Although many fans hated the Car of Tomorrow, one look at Michael McDowell’s crash at Texas and Jeff Gordon’s crash at Las Vegas will tell you that the new car is safer. Lost in the noise of day-to-day coverage is moving the driver closer to the center of the car and having energy absorbing foam in the door makes it a better vehicle.
While race cars have been maxed out speed-wise by carburetor restrictor plates, take a look at athletes. Not just in football. Some of today’s pro basketball stars would make professional footballers of the past look puny.
There’s very little, in the way of protective gear that the NBA can do about that.
So I do agree with Geoff, there’s danger in sports, I call it risk of injury, and while organizers try to contain it, it will always be out there lurking.
photo:Eric Gilbert Motorsport.com
It’s not a rehash of the debate whether drivers are athletes. Nor is it merely a congratulatory pat on the back for NASCAR safety.
What Geoff does, is bring facts into the equation.
For example he points out that the NFL had 400 players on its’ injured reserve list at the end of 2009, versus NASCAR which he says has no driver missed a race, in that same period due to injury.
The fact is that all sports have some risk of injury.
Carl Edwards suffered a broken right foot throwing a Frisbee, and Denny Hamlin tore an anterior cruciate ligament while playing basketball.
Smith also points out that the more risk of injury, the higher the attendance.
It’s only human nature. At its’ worst, as in the days of the bloody battles at Rome’s Colosseum, people came out, literally, to see blood spilled.
Hopefully, we are more civilized today.
People live vicariously through sports whether it’s the amateur game, and rooting for an alma mater, or watching NASCAR cars hanging on in the turns at breathtaking speeds.
Smith also points out that if speeds were reduced to ridiculous numbers such as 55mph no one would watch. I agree.
NASCAR officials are faced with decisions to keep the sport in balance. Safety is the ultimate goal, but there has to be room for entertainment.
Although many fans hated the Car of Tomorrow, one look at Michael McDowell’s crash at Texas and Jeff Gordon’s crash at Las Vegas will tell you that the new car is safer. Lost in the noise of day-to-day coverage is moving the driver closer to the center of the car and having energy absorbing foam in the door makes it a better vehicle.
While race cars have been maxed out speed-wise by carburetor restrictor plates, take a look at athletes. Not just in football. Some of today’s pro basketball stars would make professional footballers of the past look puny.
There’s very little, in the way of protective gear that the NBA can do about that.
So I do agree with Geoff, there’s danger in sports, I call it risk of injury, and while organizers try to contain it, it will always be out there lurking.
photo:Eric Gilbert Motorsport.com