Sticks and stones
A few months ago, AP racin' writer Jenna Fryer referred to Tony Stewart as "portly." (Here's the story; go down to the 10th graf, the one that starts "If there's one thing that's certain, ...")
I recall that a lot of folks didn't like the description. I thought it was a cheap shot -- the story was about Stewart's role in the garage, not his weight.
But was it accurate? Let's put it this way: Tony Stewart's 2006 physique is Exhibit A in the case of Racin' Haters vs. NASCAR Drivers Are Too Athletes. "Portly" was probably the kindest thing Fryer could have written because Stewart got pretty big in the offseason.
The extra baggage apparently got to Stewart, too. As Dustin Long notes, Stewart's trying to take off some of the weight and get in better shape. (The original story from the Richmond paper is here.)
You'll never be able to scrub your clothes on Stewart's abs (ewwww) like you might could with some other drivers. But it's a good move on his part. He'll do better if he has more energy, especially at tracks like Martinsville where you have to concentrate hard for 3-4 hours at a time.
Yeah, 2006 was a bad year (by Stewart's standards, anyway). I expect to see him in 2007 running up a few more fences, not looking up at them and breathing heavy from the effort it takes to get out of his car.
Comments (5)
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Have you ever seen some of those so-called professional athletes on the football field? Santa Claus looks like he's annorexic compared to them. Hey Racin' Haters, if these men of the "grid iron" are classed as athletes then Stewart has to be too - portly or not.
Posted on October 19, 2006 12:34 AM
For those out there that think racin' is not a sport, then I suggest you sit in a car for about 4 hours that gets up to 130 degrees, travels at over 180 MPH, and at some tracks have three or four of your closest friends (or rivals) within inches of your doors...all the while trying to remain focused on not crashing. When you can say that all of that does not take some kind of atheltic ability, then you may have a valid argument. Regarding Tonys weight, yeah he got a bit on the plump side, but so what! At least he does not need an oxygen mask after he climbs a fence with a helmet on...unlike some other sports where they need help breathing after running only 20 yards or so!
Posted on October 19, 2006 1:28 AM
There are sports and there are activities. Football players include linemen who stay in for two downs at a time, but don't include many players who smoke--as many drivers did in the old days, including during the race. If you look at other individual sports, you don't find many winners with the physiques of Tony Stewart, Jimmy Spencer of that no-necked Hamilton kid.
Does racing require intense concentration? Yes, but so does darts.
Is there pressure? Yes, almost as much as bowling.
Fat Tony Stewart is not an athlete. He is a competitor in a sporting activity. Being in shape helps, but it's obviously not a requirement.
Posted on October 19, 2006 11:46 AM
Dang it. I didn't mean to open up the is-they-or-ain't-they-athletes debate. It's been done before.
How's this for a compromise: Drivers are athletes but not necessarily athletic? You know, sort of like golfers and most baseball players.
Posted on October 19, 2006 12:33 PM
And the "football" team over in Chapel Hill.
Posted on October 21, 2006 8:25 AM