Attention NASCAR fans, leave Tony Stewart alone. It is sad that so called fans want to get their 15 minutes of fame at Tony Stewart's expense. It is also a shame that NASCAR and Joe Gibbs don't do something to protect one of the best drivers on the circuit. They protected the late Dale Earnhardt when he screwed up, they have kept Kevin Harvick from making more headlines for fighting and mouthing off, and they have definitely respected Jeff Gordon's privacy in his divorce. The blame lays only slightly on Gibbs and NASCAR though. The blame belongs to the media and the so-called fans. The media wants NASCAR to conform to the rest of the sporting world. The NBA has "Bad Boys" like Dennis Rodman and Allen Iverson, the NFL had Michael Irvin, and I'm sure we can go on for days about athletes with bad reputations. The difference is this, the NBA, NFL, MLB, and the NHL don't let fans mingle with the athletes before and after the game like NASCAR does. The media would have you believe that stars like Michael Jordan, Vince Carter, and Kobe Bryant are like Gods and we can't ever meet them and get to know them. NASCAR is different. The sport is based around corporate sponserships and the drivers are spokespersons for the companies who sponser them as well as NASCAR. The drivers are all too accessible. Does the entire NFL get together and have shows for all the fans to meet the athletes? Does Major League Baseball stars make appearances night in and night out? No. The reason is simple, it is my never humble opinion that these other sports care about one thing and one thing only. B.I.S.... Butts In Seats. NASCAR, sometimes to their disadvantage, open all doors to the drivers. You see, if other sports opened their doors like NASCAR did, they would find out what I, atleast, all ready know. They are regular human beings. You think Shaquille O'Neal doesn't have a bad day? The difference is that after Shaq misses a dunk, they don't stick a microphone in his face and ask how it felt. He would probably cuss you out if you did. The media doesn't think twice but to hound a driver right after something goes wrong. Since the fans are right there too they hound the drivers as well. Tony Stewart is guilty of being human, no more, no less. Most drivers try to sound politically correct even though they would just as soon strangle the first person that comes near them. Some have a harder time with being PC. Should you hold that against them? The answer is NO. I believe that the media and the fans should respect the drivers right to be pissed off and back away. You can interview them after they have cooled off a little. We have all had bad days... professional or not. To the media, I must restate the title off this article.... LEAVE TONY ALONE!!! Thanks for listening.
