(Reposted from Original Article from Bo)

After my last column, it was suggested that instead of jumping directly into my thoughts I should use the first couple of lines to tease it. OK…Nany-Nany-Boo-B…huh, not that kind of tease…hmm-mm. How ‘bout this. Your Momma is so fa…oh! Still not right. Heck, just hit the [read more] button.

My first purpose is to address DJ’s response to my last set of “Random Thoughts”. If you haven’t had a chance to read them yet, go ahead and hit your [back] button and catch up. We’ll wait…

Ok, looks like everyone is here. I have to respectfully disagree with you DJ about being nicer to Jimmy Spencer. There was a point in time, not too many years ago, where your argument would be very valid. However, in today’s NASCAR, the higher-up’s must keep a tighter rein on those who represent the sport. Where does the line get drawn on racist comments? What if Jimmy dropped the N-bomb into a conversation? Or how about if he let an anti-Semitic statement slip out. (These are just “what-if’s” and do not infer any of J. Spencer’s beliefs.)

In this day of 41 daily airings of SportsCenter and the “regular” news ready to pounce on any controversial comments by anyone in the public eye, there has to be some accountability. The Oval Office cannot control what their drivers say and do. They can, however, make a point using significant fines and suspensions. Why am I stuck on this topic for two weeks? Well, one reason is I don’t want to see this sport go down the road of other sports.

Since the 80’s, the regularity of picking up the sports page and seeing another athlete either in trouble with the law or sticking his foot not only in his mouth but also down his throat has continually increased. It started in the 80’s when Barkley was regularly throwing someone through a window or getting into an altercation with someone who dared get in his face. Since then, the drug possession charges, the crimes against women, the DUI’s (yes, I’ll give my thoughts on Scott Wimmer in a bit), the stabbings and shootings by athletes or members of their posse are regular occurrences. And there have been plenty of stories of these professionals spewing out trash, too.

Instead of going back to Jimmy the Greek or everyone’s favorite former Braves’ closer for some examples, let’s take a few from last year alone: •Early last year, while behind Yao Ming in All-Star votes, Shaq comments (in a mock Asian accent), “Tell Yao Ming,’Ching Chong, Yang Wau, Ah So’.” Maybe Shaq was trying to be funny, but he failed. Racist comments aren’t funny.

Dusty Baker decides to put his 2 cents in about how African-American and Latin athletes are better suited for playing in the heat of the summer. “It’s easier for most Latin guys and it’s easier for most minority people because most of us come from heat. You don’t find too many brothers in New Hampshire and Maine…Right?” He goes on, ”We were brought over here for the heat, right? Isn’t that history? Weren’t we brought over because we could take the heat? I don’t see brothers running around burnt…” Dusty may have been trying to be funny, but failed. D. B., keep racism out of baseball.

Most of us remember Rush Limbaugh’s comments about Donovan McNabb. So I’ll skip the recap.

It’s not just the guys. LPGA star Jan Stephenson got her racist blast in a few months ago. “This is probably going to get me in trouble, but the Asians are killing our tour.” Way to pull a Fuzzy Zoeller. The thought of a race “killing” a sport is brilliant. Maybe someone should let Jan know that Tiger Woods has a Thai mother. Tiger is half Asian. Are you saying that Tiger is helping to kill the tour too? Interesting.

As I mentioned last week, NASCAR deserves props for saying that foul language in front of the media is unacceptable. I’m sure this somehow evolves from Janet Jackson showing the world how creative one can be with a BeDazzler. But if you’re considered a professional, you should act professionally. Heck, even in our incredible little “Rubbings” forum that has an adult only membership, I’m not allowed to include the word aka “H-E-double toothpicks” in a reply without it showing up as [censored]. In fact, this column will sit in a holding tank longer then the networks 5-minute delay to be approved as site worthy. Why? To maintain the integrity of the site.

My point is I do not want to see this sport that we party around, write about, and yes, wager the precious liquid of our choosing on to have the image it has worked hard to build and maintain tarnished because of inaction by the officiating body when action is needed. Yes, this sport was born from moonshiners running their swill but it did not become a sport until the drivers were gathering locals to pay to watch them run around a track. The only thing on the side of the car was a hand-painted number. If the locals weren’t shelling out there hard-earned dollar (or maybe less, back then?) and you didn’t win the race, your family may not have food on the table that week.

As time went on, I believe the participants in this sport realized image was what brought more people to the track and put more dollars on the table. Families could bring their kids, meet the drivers, and maybe even touch the cars. This mentality has continued to be a major driving force in the popularity of the sport and why I believe NASCAR should take a hard-line on their athletes.

Inaction by NASCAR officials is also why I want to talk about Scott Wimmer. As you probably know, Wimmer was picked up for DUI about a month ago after crashing his truck. Let me preface my thoughts by saying this is NOT a personal attack on Scott Wimmer. It is an opinion about NASCAR’s handling of bad situations. I’ll summarize the event. Wimmer was driving in North Carolina when he hit a rock, flipped his truck and crashed into a road sign. His truck (missing 3 tires) was found by the cops, but no driver (thus, the hit-and –run charges being tacked on). They eventually found Wimmer at his house hiding behind his bed. His blood alcohol level almost twice the legal limit in N.C. Fortunately, no one was injured. Two weeks later, he’s behind the wheel zipping around the track in the 125’s. Though he’s allowed to run around the track at 200 mph, he can’t drive 2 mph on Speedway Blvd. Why? His driver’s license is revoked. NASCAR’s vice-president said, ”We take this very seriously. We have zero tolerance for substance abuse.”

Yeah, right. Now I believe in innocent until proven guilty, but the circumstances here should justify NASCAR to make a stronger statement then they did. Any professional driver caught in this situation should be suspended from being behind the wheel for a reasonable length of time. The first qualification for a driver on any of the NASCAR circuits should be: You MUST have a valid driver’s license in your possession to qualify for competition in a NASCAR event. Sounds reasonable to me. In fact, until about 10 years ago, such a rule did exist in NASCAR. I’m not sure why that is still not the case.

I’m sure Scott is embarrassed for the situation he put his family and his sport in. I’m sure he won’t put his career in jeopardy by finding himself in this situation again. But, I believe NASCAR should manage the message they send with a little more authority.

Wow! Are any of you still here? I’m tired of looking at my keyboard, so I’ll wind it down with some final thoughts:

I hate “off” weeks. There have only been two races! Get back on the track.

Keep your eye on the score of the 12 car. We like being rewarded for pole position. Now we just need some of those “most laps lead” bonus points.

My what a quiet week in “The Rub”. Where is everybody? This column is called “Random Thoughts” so bang your keyboard and throw in a line or two about anything random. It doesn’t have to relate to any of my opinions. (Unless Chris and DJ say it does).

Contribute a joke or something. Here’s one I heard the other day: Knock, knock. “Who’s there?” “Robbie.” (silence) “C’mon guy’s. It’s Robbie. Open up!!” (silence, mixed with some snickering.) “Guys, this isn’t funny. Open the door!! …Please.”

I hope everyone will begin to pitch in to the site. It is actually kind of fun once you throw some words on the screen a time or two. (In my case, a ridiculously large amount of ramblings.) Robbie. You always have opinions about things. Where are you?!?

OK let me back up, veer off track and comment on baseball players and the alleged widespread problem of steroid use. Now I am just an average baseball fan. Not one to sit down for a full game very often during the regular season unless I am at the ballpark. I admit I enjoy seeing the stars (those freakishly oversized players) hit moonshots out of the stadium and into the neighboring county. If Commissioner Selig is not going to say that something is wrong here and that the credibility of “America’s Favorite Pastime” is at stake and random testing for illegal drugs should be instituted, then I say let’s pump these players up like a Thanksgiving Turkey and see if one of them can actually knock one from Shea to Yankee Stadium. Down the road they’ll have to expand the facility in Cooperstown in order to hold the statues of their oversized, ‘roid filled melons. (Actually, I don’t condone the use of steroids; this was just a thought that cracked me up.)

Oh! One final personal note. I am back to being a contributing, tax-paying member of society. I was hired to be the sole Alabama rep of a small, but established, medical supply company out of Arkansas on Friday. They already have some established accounts in the state, so I won’t be starting from scratch. I fly to Little Rock for a week of training on Monday. More details some other time. Just wanted to let you know. Until Vegas…