JIMMY SPENCER IS A JACKASS

By: B

By now, we should know not to expect athletes to be role models. Athletes aren't thrust into the spotlight for their public service duties, but rather because they are physically superior to the rest of us. Some can throw an object faster and farther than others, others can strike an object faster and farther than others, and so on. I learned long ago not to care much what athletes say. Until now. This past week I was reading a NASCAR article for work and discovered something.

Jimmy Spencer is an absolute jackass. For those who don't know him (I commend you), he is one of those product-hawking sellout goons who drives a car in a circle for a living. Since he displays no special aptitude for speed, strength, agility or hand-eye coordination, it's a stretch to consider Spencer an athlete. He is, however, seen on Sportscenter and in Sports Illustrated and basically every other form of media. And, he is a jackass. But first, background.

NASCAR has decided to allow Toyota trucks to be included in its Truck Series, which has caused some hullabaloo with the rednecks running the show. (Why they were disallowed in the first place is only a question considered by levelheaded people, and it seems none of the people turning left for a living possess that characteristic.)

NASCAR drivers (and fans) are known for being extremely loyal. Ford, Dodge and Chevrolet are the only cars at this point that are driven in any of the NASCAR races. However, since the NASCAR phenomenon has been inexplicably growing in the past few years, and since Toyota is a miraculously successful car company, its inclusion only seemed natural. However, given the nature of fans and drivers, everyone knew this would be an issue. The fact remains: NASCAR is an American pastime, and racecar drivers aren't too keen on letting a Japanese-made car in their race.

The real question here is: why should anyone care if Toyota trucks are used while driving in a circle? How can any person living in the 21st century , with all the gains we've made regarding political correctness, possibly justify not wanting a Japanese-made car driving next to them during a race? Jimmy Spencer answered these inquiries with sheer eloquence.

"Those sons of bitches bombed Pearl Harbor, don't forget."

Huh? The very same people who bombed Pearl Harbor in 1941 are still alive and happily retired from the service and are now focusing on building affordable, high-quality, gimmick-free automobiles? Really? By this rational, Spencer must be a slave-trader. So am I, evidently.

The scary part about that statement is that no one blinked an eye. Imagine the controversy had Allen Iverson or Brett Favre made the same remark. Their subsequent suspensions would be astronomical, and well deserved.

That would never happen though, because real athletes are still subjected to a certain amount of expectations. Shrinking, yes, but still evident. We as a society have agreed that athletes aren't real life heroes. They make mistakes and say the wrong things, but for the most part we can forgive them. One thing that is unforgivable, however, is being a bigot. There is no room in sports for racism or sexism or any other form of illogical hatred. Ask Vijay Singh or Fuzzy Zoeller or Jimmy “The Greek” Snyder. So the real problem with Spencer's statement is not that he said it once or feels it always, but that the “sport” of auto racing is so used to blatant hatred that it goes unnoticed. And Spencer will go unpunished.

"That's Jimmy Spencer," NASCAR spokesman Jim Hunter said. This is the same way people used to defend Rickey Henderson (“That's just Rickey”) and it is equally pathetic.

It is unfathomable that the popularity of NASCAR is increasing while the act of being politically correct is also gaining importance. The lack of controversy surrounding Spencer's comments make for a safe assumption that other drivers feel the same. His colleagues have not ostracized him; in fact, he hasn't been so much as criticized.

According to many, this is America's new national pastime. It's loud and fast and there is apparently some amount of strategy involved. Thousands of fans eagerly flock to the races, tailgating and partying and whooping it up on a weekly basis. There is loyalty and camaraderie, and driving a car in a circle for a living is assuredly more fun than writing about it.

However, judging by the overall attitude of the drivers and the accepted public bigotry, is this really the sport we want representing our country?

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