Friday, December 12, 2008

A couple of positives to talk about for a change

This has been a tough offseason already for NASCAR, its teams and its fans. The talk has been about teams laying people off or even closing their doors. It has been about how the sport will have to change to survive, and we all know how much NASCAR fans despise change.

It has been so bad, so depressing that you find yourself looking for good things to write about. It reminds you that you should do more of that even when times are good.

This, then, has not been a wasted week at all.

Let’s start with something that’s very, very good and is something you’ll have the chance to see Saturday night at 9 p.m. on CMT.

It’s a new film from CMT Films and the NASCAR Media Group called “Ride of Their Lives.” It’s good. It’s really good.

It is, in fact, so good that I am asking that you watch it. If you’re a NASCAR fan, you will love it. If you’re one of those fans whose love for the sport is in relapse over how all of the changes have “ruined” everything, I honestly believe this movie will touch whatever part of your heart that still burns for NASCAR.

I watched it and I thought for the first few minutes that it was going to be just another movie telling the same old NASCAR story. I was wrong.

This is a movie with NASCAR’s in-house production brand on it that talks, in considerable detail, about Wendell Scott and issues about race and the Confederate flag. There’s a great section about Tim Richmond, unquestionably the longest look anything with a NASCAR seal of approval has ever taken at that fallen star.

At no point, though, does it get preachy. It’s not a sociology project. It just deals with real things in a real way.

The film’s focus is families. The Frances, the Pettys and the Allisons are prominent, as they should be. But family also includes Darrell Waltrip and his wife, Jeff Gordon as his stepfather, Scott and his sons and Richmond’s sister.

The stories are well-told. There are moments when you’ll be near tears and there are moments that will make you smile. There’s tremendous footage, some you’ll see for the first time and more that you haven’t seen in too long.

Watch it. Please. You will not regret it.

Here’s one more bright spot.

Some of the women who work as officials in the garage have put together a cookbook with more than 200 recipes from all kinds of people in the sport. The book is called “Recipes from the Garage” and it’s being sold to raise money for Motor Racing Outreach.

The books are $15 each, plus shipping. You can order them online at go2mro.com and if you order now you can still get them in time to give them as holiday gifts.

17 comments:

Anonymous said...

Positive news is so contagious, thanks Dave!

Anonymous said...

I'm glad to read a column that speaks of someone doing something right. There is so much to celebrate.

Anonymous said...

Great idea for MRO....everybody, order one today....I did....

Anonymous said...

Nice column Poole. Love the new positive David. It's heartwarming.

Anonymous said...

And the Earnhardts aren't a family?

Anonymous said...

You know you might actually find some more positive things about which to write if you guys in the print media weren't so focused on trying to find negative things to write about - and I do not mean you should be a cheerleader. News, real news, does not always have to be negative, a putdown, or a criticism of something or somebody.

For instance, why has there been nothing written about the 10 car at GEM and its apparently going forward for 2009 without any reports of having signed a sponsor? Maybe GEM is optimistic and/or strong enough to count on running for 2009 whether or not it has full sponsorship in hand?

Anonymous said...

The one thing that would be positive about this movie would not to have a Earnhardt mentioned in it.That's what has driven so many people away from this sport,having a Earnhardt rammed down your throat everytime someone mentions racing.

Anonymous said...

Dang someone else wants to see positive reporting that makes 2 Poole.Are you listening?

Anonymous said...

Poole must be on vacation this week as a result this was writen by a replacment reporter. Poole being positive is impossible. He'll never figure out if NASCAR goes away so will will the $ that fill his dinner table.

Anonymous said...

Bring back the cranky Poole!! His entries get more comments.

Anonymous said...

Hey, David, The Daly Planet has a bit on the movie. He did not give you credit. Maybe you ought to drop him a line! Of course he would not post it. He'd just tell you to email him directcly (to avoid anyone thinking there is negative feedback on what he says.)

Anonymous said...

Good show........

thanks for the head's up!

Chrissy

Anonymous said...

I listen to you daily on TMD and heard you mention the movie on CMT as you did here. I strongly recommend it to anyone. Being a fan for about 13 year, I stil learned alot. The open view of everything is exaclty what we, as fans, like to see.

And keep up the good work D-Pizzle

Anonymous said...

It would be a positive thing if we could have one string of comments without someone whining about an Earnhardt.

Now THAT would be a breath of fresh air!

Anonymous said...

I agreee that there are tons of feel-good stories out there waiting to be told. We have lots of skilled sport's writers, but maybe they think we only like it when they do scandles, fights, cheating, etc.

I would like to have more indepth stories about both Ryan Newman and Tony. They are now going to compete with the big boys. I know there have been the official announcements, but I'm thinking more in a human interest. I mean to give up a steady paycheck at a time like this, is a story.

What is going to happened to the really big and expensive charities that drivers/owners/NASCAR have committed to support? I don't mean just writting a check for what you can afford. I mean when it is a brick and mortar organization? What happens to Victory Junction Gang or the Jeff Gordon Children's Hospital?

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the heads up about CMT's movie. Finally got to watch part of it last night and loved it.

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