Here I go again.

Okay, I have to say it. Sheep royally annoy me. Not the farm critters, they're adorable. AND, they give us fleece. I like fleece. No, I'm talking about sheep of the human variety--people who will jump on any readily available bandwagon without thinking for themselves.
I'll start with my NASCAR rant. How easy is it to be a fan of a super successful, runs up front every week guy? Sure, there are probably genuine Gordon, Johnson, Earnhardt fans out there. But how many of the rest of their fans actually are fans or just pick them because that's who the media shoves down our throats, who has merchandise in major retail stores, who they see first. Or, worse, say, "Ooh, he's cute, I'll pick him." Seriously? How lame is that? I like these guys, I do. But not as drivers with any credibility. Anybody can drive to a win if they're given breaks and loopholes to avoid penalties, and if they're in good equipment from their rookie season until whenever. Let's see these guys "who can drive ANYTHING" in Ganassi or Haas equipment. Let's see them drive a road course race with no koolbox, no power steering, failing breaks, and other problems (such as a crew chief who won't help him with adjustments or give a bottle of water during a pit stop to someone driving in 100+ degree heat...but I'm not naming names **cough cough, Wingo,**cough cough, Gustafson** ahem, what a frog in my throat! Anyway, I have yet to see these guys live up to all of their hype with any credibility. Sure they have wins, and championships, but have they fought for it? Have they really earned it? Think of how much more impressive, how much more it would mean for somebody from an actual team that has drivers who can drive cars that aren't absolutely perfect all the time to win a championship or even just win a race? What would it mean to Robby Gordon's team, a Regan Smith, a Reed Sorenson, an Evernham team, or a Haas team, just to name a few?
Don't even get me started on the teammate issue. My favorite drivers aren't fan favorites, even by a long shot. I heartily pull for the underdogs, because they are more humble, they actually DRIVE their cars even when they aren't perfect, and because it means more when they do well. Yes, I pull for Ward Burton (it pains me that he is no longer driving), Sterling Marlin (same case as Ward), Terry Labonte, Bobby Labonte, Kyle Petty, Elliott Sadler, Casey Mears, Jamie McMurray, David Ragan, and many other drivers you'll never hear mentioned on television.
I can't stand these low-life punks who come into the sport acting like hot shots, and thinking they're the best ever. Whatever. You haven't paid your dues, let alone proven yourself at all. I can't stand the Mark Martins, who just sit and whine about everything. If he's so great, how come he only thanks his crew when he wins or finisheds in the top ten. Otherwise, he throws them under the bus--no, it's their fault that he can't drive anything that isn't perfect. Give me a break. Not to mention....he was supposed to have retired at least four years ago! How disrespectful to his fans, who stood with him/bought his retirement merchandise, to his family (he was retiring to spend time with them), to David Ragan and Regan Smith who were supposed to take over his ride, and now, to Aric Almirola who is being screwed out of his rookie season, and rookie of the year at season's end! Yeah, Mark Martin, he's so great! Har Har. Then why does he eagerly step out of "his" ride for Bristol, Talladega, and road courses, among other tracks? Because those tracks are hard to drive! It's tooooo harrrrrrd. Wah Wah Wah. Cry me a river. Why not retire if you aren't even going to try for an entire season. Give up your seat to someone who actually wants it?
Back to the Johnson, Gordon, Earnhardt drivers. Heck I'll throw Stewart in there too. They are all upstanding, good people. I'll give them that--they're all really nice and generous people. I just don't see where their talent should be hyped as much as it is. You don't really have to try that much when you have great equipment, so how do we really know how great they are? I take back that statement that I think Stewart is this great person. Yes, he does great charity work and is very generous, and I admire that. Here's to you, some credit, Mr. Stewart. That's all you get. He is nothing but pompous, arrogant, rude, and downright unpleasant every other time he is spoken to. Grr! I hate that! But yeah, that's all the time I'm giving him. The other guys I mentioned, and implied mention of, they're all fine people, and I like them, as their non-driving selves. I don't think I can quite respect them as far as ability as drivers. Even more, I don't understand how or why people cheer for them as their favorites. Is it just because it's easy? Frankly, I think that's pathetic.
How was that for some unpopular opinions?
I know Audrey has ranted about this before, too. If you haven't read it yet, shame on you! Go read her posts too....right over there on the fresh to death link list. It's "If it's not one thing, it's another." This is just something that bothers me so much that I had to rant about it.
I'll even rant a bit about the non-NASCAR fans. How dare you people pass judgment on us?! Are you really so uppity and hoity-toity as to think you are better than someone just because of the sport someone else chooses to watch? How petty can you be? If you don't like NASCAR, that just fine, it's certainly your perogative. But don't you look down your nose at those of us who do. Just do me a favor, don't bother talking/writing about it. Ignore it if you don't like it. Just don't use your time to insult, degrade or bad-mouth those of us who enjoy the sport.
On to NASCAR itself. STOP BENDING THE RULES TO SUIT YOUR GOLDEN BOYS!!!!! Drivers aren't allowed to pass the pace car. All drivers are not allowed to speed on pit road. All drivers may use pit road to avoid an accident as a last resort. Lucky dog passes go to the first car one lap down. Drivers who bring out cautions on purpose must be penalized. Drivers who use their cars as mechanisms of revenge **ahem, Waltrip, ahem** (there goes that frog again) shall also be penalized. Why is it then, that all drivers are not made to follow these rules, and that some rules are only enforced when necessary. To be a fair and respected organization and ruling body of a sport, the sport must be consistent in its rulings. No favoritism. That's all I ask.
I'm finished now. Thank you and good day to you.

Woo!

Why the woo? I'm posting for the second day in a row! The woo is just for effect.

I'm posting to fulfill my street-team-ing duties.....and because I want to share with the world some great music.

Call your local radio stations or satellite radio stations, or check out the artists' web sites and request some great music....I highly recommend the following:

Learning How To Bend--Gary Allan
Trying to Stop Your Leavin'--Dierks Bentley
Cry Lonely--Cross Canandian Ragweed
Better Off Wrong--Randy Rogers Band
Gunpowder and Lead--Miranda Lambert
Anything by Micky and the Motorcars
Anything by Reckless Kelly (Their new CD Bulletproof is in stores now...ask about it, then buy it.
Don't Think I Can't Love You--Jake Owen
Maybe She'll Get Lonely--Jack Ingram
His Kind of Money (My Kind of Love)--Eric Church

**Heck, it'll probably blow some radio station's minds to hear some of these names, but hey. There is better music out there than the junk that Clear Channel plays. Fight the urge to "Baaa," people.

That'll do it for now, I guess.
TaTa!

What do you think??

I picked a new color scheme....what do you people think of it?

Posts are coming soon...I'm sure you're all positively giddy with excitement.