Word on the Tweet - June 15, 2011

The NBA Finals are over. The Stanley Cup will conclude tonight. We are now in the S..L..O..W season for sports. We have regular season Major League Baseball and “everything else” for the next 6 weeks until NFL training camps start really cranking, if there IS an NFL this year.

That does not stop your favorite athletes, coaches, and sports personalities from Tweeting or yours truly going through painstaking measures to acquire the top secret Tweets not available to the public, mainly because they are products of my imagination. It has been a few weeks but, by popular demand, here is today’s Word on the Tweet.



Joe Gibbs, owner of Joe Gibbs Racing, of which NASCAR driver Kyle Busch is a member. Busch was recently penalized six points for having a car outside of approved specifications. Busch was also in an altercation with 65 year old owner Richard Childress earlier this month and an altercation in May with driver Kevin Harvick:

@PresidentBusch_18 Fortunately, I budgeted money for all the trouble you were going to get us into when I signed you.

It's always something with him. 1

2011 NBA Finals MVP Dirk Nowitzki:

@King_James We’ll be taking our trophies from South Beach in the morning. #champions #MVP

Peace, suckers! 2

Dallas Mavericks Owner Mark Cuban, who said, during a live interview on ESPN, “Our fans punked the shit out of the Miami fans”:

This is why I don’t drink during the games. #whoops #BeerMouth #Sbomb

Mark Cuban may be a billionaire, but he still drinks Budweiser, in the aluminum bottle, of course! 3

Cleveland Cavaliers Owner Dan Gilbert:

@King_James Karma’s a b****

LeBron’s response:

@ThunderDanGilbert 19-63…It’s not only the year of the Kennedy assassination, it’s your record. #HotMess #tragic #TinyViolin

Perhaps LeBron can help Gilbert out, one day, by buying the Cavaliers. 4

Manny Ramirez, who is due $8 million in deferred salary from the Los Angeles Dodgers, owned by the nearly bankrupt Frank McCourt, after playing 66 games and hitting 8 homeruns in 2010:

I didn’t kill nobody. I didn’t rape nobody. So…. #FYouPayMe #PaulieFromGoodfellas

Ben Roethlisberger:

@MannyBeingManny Dude, this is rape. Trust me; I know.

Frank McCourt’s reply to Big Ben:

@NoMeansNo YA THINK? At least your variety doesn’t cost anything!

Can't make payroll? F you! Pay me! Wife took your shirt in the divorce? F you! Pay me! Gonna lose the Dodgers because you're out of money? F you! Pay me! 5

All time great Pete Rose, who did time on federal tax related charges:

@LennyDykstra At least it can't get any worse for you. I got railroaded after I got out. Nobody thinks you belong in the Hall of Fame.

Dykstra faces up to 80 years in the slammer on 25 misdemeanor and felony counts of grand theft auto, attempted grand theft auto, and identity theft, among other charges. What...a...LOSER! 6 

  

Don't forget to vote in the fan polls!

To advertise with The Daily Hat Trick, or to submit a guest column, please contact the editor at eric@thedailyhattrick.info.


1) Image from Fox Sports
2) image from palmbeachpost.com
3,6) Image from espn.com
4) Image from blogs.browardpalmbeach.com

5) Image from sportschatterbox.com

Kyle Busch: Part of the Solution or Part of the Problem?

NASCAR has ascended prominently into the realm of mainstream sports in recent years. It is not long ago that that a typical NASCAR race, other than the Daytona 500 or other signature event, could only be seen in the middle of the day on a weekend on ESPN or another cable network affiliate. Today, races can be seen regularly in prime time on major networks such as Fox.

The sport is guided by more technically specific rules. More drivers are marketable than at any time in the past due thanks, in part, to their personalities and racing styles. NASCAR has effectively supplanted IndyCar as the fastest growing and most popular motor sport in America.

Perhaps Busch did need to have his ass whipped. That doesn't always make it a good idea. 1

HAVE AT IT, BOYS!

Not long ago, NASCAR’s image, in the eyes of many, may have be along the lines of professional wrestling, appealing to niche audiences, concentrated in the South, and appealing to lower common denominators. Its drivers, justified or not, may have been pigeonholed by mainstream sports media and racing fans as low tech, low rent grease monkeys who were no more than glorified drag racers from the street. Spectacular crashes and sensational altercations among participants were often the most attention grabbing highlights of many races.

With the influx of sponsorships and expanded media coverage of the sport over the past 10 years, NASCAR has continued to cultivate a family friendly image, suitable for the world of mainstream sports. In fact, its recent mantra, “Have at it, boys!” was coined with the intention of ADDING some spice to the NASCAR experience. Perhaps the boys should not have at “it” quite as much.

This isn't the first time in sports an older man has put a younger man in the headlock and roughed him up. 4

KYLE BUSCH'S JUDGMENT: POOR AND STUPID?

Kyle Busch, a member of Joe Gibbs' racing team, has had his name in several recent headlines due to some questionable and checkered behavior, not a checkered flag. Busch was involved in an early June altercation with 65 year old NASCAR owner Richard Childress. Last month, Busch was involved in an incident in which he pushed Kevin Harvick’s car with his car while on pit row, with Harvick responding by throwing a punch at Busch through his window.

These are just two examples of Busch’s raceway shenanigans. The list continues. Just yesterday, NASCAR announced it would penalize Busch and Gibbs six points for a technical violation. In 2008, Busch instigated a post race incident with Carl Edwards involving the ramming of Busch's car into Edwards and Edwards responding by spinning Busch's car out.* In 2007, Busch was disqualified from a race in Pensacola for technical violations.

Busch's bad boy image follows him off the track. Last month, Busch was cited for speeding, going 128 MPH in a 45 MPH zone on a rural road in Mooresville, North Carolina. Busch apologized for the reckless behavior and the danger he caused. That bell, however, cannot be unrung.

If NASCAR is to successfully transition its image fully into the mainstream, it cannot have regular periodic instances in which racers and owners get ready to “take it outside”. Such incidents make a mockery of the intense preparation and competition involved in stock car racing. As much as an occasional brouhaha may spark the interest of the casual sports fan, gaining attention with antics that can be seen on the Jerry Springer Show does not advance the interests of a NASCAR organization attempting to expand the brand of and interest in RACING.

Apparently, Kyle Busch's truck (#18) got too up close and personal with Childress' assets (#22). 2

ONCE IS A COINCIDENCE, TWICE IS A PATTERN, AND THREE TIMES IS A TREND

Every sport has villains and bad guys. Every sport has enforcers and goons. Unlike football, basketball, baseball, and even ice hockey, however, NASCAR is still establishing its acceptance as a legitimate, competitive, mainstream sport of skill among casual sports fans. It has made significant progress toward this goal in the last decade. The Kyle Busches of NASCAR push the sport two steps backwards after a step forward with highly publicized and sensational altercations.

Busch, already on probation by NASCAR for the Harvick incident, was not punished for his role in this weekend’s altercation. NASCAR determined that Busch had not provoked the incident with the 65 year old Childress. Childress was slapped with a $150,000 fine for his actions. If this were an isolated incident, I would think nothing further about NASCAR’s inaction. But this is not Busch’s first rodeo, featuring other NASCAR personnel as the metaphorical bull. Where there is smoke there is fire. NASCAR must get a handle on these incidents, even if it means suspending popular drivers like Busch, to keep its spectacle a sport and not like a rodeo (or a steel cage match) in the eyes of the public.


Childress put Busch in a headlock and gave Busch a few knuckle sandwiches. I wouldn't mess with this old man! 3

*Source: ESPN.com
1) Image from espn.com
2) Image from bleacherreport.com
3) Image from latimes.com
4) Image from rangersfansstats.com

In Memoriam – May 13, 2011

It seems fitting that Friday the 13th would be a day to remember the passing of careers, often with shocking or horrific ends. This year has brought a number of passings, less than six months in. The Hat Trick takes a moment to reflect.

Phil Jackson’s Coaching Career (1989-1998, 1999-2004, 2005-2011)

The buzz among media insiders is that The Zen Master’s third retirement is his last. I am inclined to agree. After 20 seasons on the bench, including 13 Conference Championships, 11 NBA Championships, 7 repeat championship and 3 three-peat championships, Jackson has very little left to prove to anyone. Still it was disappointing to watch his two-time defending champion Lakers team be swept from the playoffs by the Dallas Mavericks, obliterated by 36 points in Game 4, and stained by classlessness as two of his key players, Lamar Odom and Andrew Bynum, were ejected in the fourth quarter for unacceptable cheap shots. Regardless of the final note being a sour one, Jackson will be long remembered and never replaced.

The NBA won't be the same without the Zen Master. 1

Tiger Woods’ Reputation of Dominance (1997-2011)

Tiger Woods’ withdrawal from the Players’ Championship on Thursday is the latest in a long line of disappointing performances by Woods. Citing injuries, once again, Woods' body appears to be failing him in his quest to regain his ranking as the world’s #1 golfer and pursuit of Jack Nicklaus' major championships record. Tiger has not looked like “Tiger” since prior to his well publicized Thanksgiving Day, 2009 auto accident in his neighborhood. A combination of personal and physical problems have derailed Woods’ reign on the golf world and, at age 35, I am not completely convinced he will ever regain the reputation he had as, far and away, the most dominant player on Earth.

Gravity is real! What goes up must come down. Father Time is real, too. 2

NASCAR’s Mainstream Reputation (2010-2011)

Alright, the “born” date may be a little recent. NASCAR has gradually become a more respected sport in recent years, viewed as moving more toward the mainstream. A litany of rules with technical specifications, increased television presence and rating, more sponsorship money, and greater attendance than at any time in the past was helping NASCAR shed an image that some may view as closer to professional wrestling than professional sports. For me, the real eye opener was when Indy Car driver (and super hot chick driver) Danica Patrick began competing in NASCAR last year.

I do not follow racing closely, but the addition of Danica Patrick to NASCAR competition got MY attention! 3

Then racers Kyle Busch and Kevin Harvick did their best to strengthen an association some may have had between NASCAR and steel cage matches, with competitors leaving the ring and returning with folding chairs. At last Saturday’s Southern 500 race in Darlington, South Carolina, Busch, intentionally or not, hooked Harvick’s car, causing it to spin. While both racers were on pit row, Harvick got out of his car and called Busch out for a little fisticuffs. Busch attempted to drive off, hitting Harvick’s car, again, as Harvick attempted to punch Busch through Busch’s window. I’m sure that, somewhere, there were chants of “Jer-ry! Jer-ry! Jer-ry!”.

It appears that this was a step back for NASCAR after taking gradual steps forward for quite some time. Perhaps NASCAR could alter its “Have at it, boys!” theme to, “Hold on a second, boys!”

You really must have a pair of stones to get out of your car on an active raceway to walk over and try to punch a guy while he is IN his car! 4

Don’t forget to vote in the fan polls!

To advertise with The Daily Hat Trick, or to submit a guest column, please contact the editor at eric@thedailyhattrick.info.

1) Image from blogs.hoopshype.com
2) Image from huffingtonpost.com
3) Image from blogs.smarter.com
4) Image from ketknbc.com