Progressive Europeans

The perception that Europe is socially ahead of the United States has always befuddled me- If you have worked for a European company, with Europeans, you know what I know- That Europe has its share of backwards buffoons just as America is. But, one thing I think America is waaaay ahead on is issues pertaining to race. It could be because most Americans have been exposed to a lot of people of different races and we all simply don't look alike. Look at the US Olympic team for proof- Asian, African, Slavic, Latino descendants are common on this roster.

No matter where you're from in America, you're eventually going to be in the position where someone of another race is your equal...at school or work. Regardless, we still have a long way to go in the simple fact that race is still an issue at all. Heck, I have a very good friend who told me he is going to vote for Obama simply because he is black (isn't that racism?). If that's all it took to get the left on board, J.C. Watts or Alan Keyes should be the next President...and they're actually qualified. No matter.

The same continent that brought you death threats and a constant reminder of how ugly "the beautiful game" can be, now comes the hilarity of facial gestures from the Spaniard basketball team while in China. Part of what Gasol says is right- people take things too seriously...But the fact that he and his teammates saw nothing wrong with what they were doing is ignorant...and can you imagine an entire roster of Americans doing something similar? Me neither.
It's kind of like me saying that all Euros don't shower...See, that stereotype simply is not the rule...with the exception for a few unkempt individuals that ruin it for the rest of them, much of Europe practices very good hygiene.

Au Revoir US Grand Prix

Much like NFL Europa, very few sports fans in America care about the US Grand Prix that has run at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the last 8 years. I'm right there with them, but, I live in the Indianapolis area...so the event, or should I say, its fans, have been in my face each year. Despite the fact that this event brings in quite a few Euros, Pounds & Dollars to Indy, I'm really happy it's going away.

My dislike affair began the first year the race came to town. I was downtown getting something to eat and was suddenly surrounded by drunk, non-showered, ballet shoe & tight pant-wearing Euros. To tell you the truth, I could deal with that...I worked for a German company in my first years out of Purdue. So every six months, at my employer's sales meetings I dealt with something pretty similar. Plus, drunk race fans are the norm, if you've been in Indy during one of the three major races held at the IMS (Indy 500, Brickyard 400, USGP).

But, I couldn't handle what happened at the race of 2005.

Michelin and Bridgestone are the two "tyre" sponsors/suppliers of the USGP & the greater F1 circuit. Many of the drivers on the circuit didn't like the course at Indy because they thought it was tooooo scary! Supposedly, the Michelin "tyres" supplied to half of the teams didn't hold the track as well as they would have liked. So, instead of trying to solve the problem diplomatically or at least like men, these race teams decided to boycott the 2005 race...the morning of the event. The result was the 123,000 ticket-buying fans were left with a fast parade of about 8 cars. Honestly, I couldn't tell the difference between that and a normal F1 event, but the die hards could. That "race" completely wrecked the relationship between Tony George and megalomaniac Max Mosley. Although George took the high road in the presser on Thursday 7/12, I'll say what he was thinking, "So long A-hole!"

Mosley, who was born with a silver spoon in his mouth, has spoken and acted as if he and his organization are entitled to everything he's desired since he became President of the F1. I'm extremely pleased the IMS had the gonads to stand up to him.

I'm sure both the IMS & F1 will be just fine following this parting of ways...and I can absolutely tell you that the greater-Indianapolis area, and more specifically, Boilerdowd, will be much better off sans the USGP.