Posted by David Newton
HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. -- Random thoughts while walking through the tall oaks at Sea Pines Resort, site of this past weekend's PGA tour event, and sitting poolside.
• It's much quieter at both the golf course and the pool than at a NASCAR event, although a few more people are shirtless poolside than the track. Only a few, though.
• Why aren't people here making a big deal about Danica Patrick's win in the IRL race in Japan? Well, for starters, golf doesn't have a problem getting women into the sport. The LPGA is alive and well with No. 1 player Lorena Ochoa making headlines as big as Patrick -- if not bigger. Luring women poolside is no problem, either. About the only time a woman gets headlines in NASCAR is when Ashley Judd wears a dress to the track. Hopefully that will change one day soon.
• Is Mexico City worth the trouble for the Nationwide Series or NASCAR? Having gone to the event the previous two years it's easy to get wrapped up in the hoopla of taking the sport outside the U.S. borders. But the cost puts financial strains on teams, many that can't get full sponsorship at home. And the fan support has decreased every year. Seems it would make more since to spend the time and effort at home if there are no plans -- which there aren't -- to put a Cup race there.
• Kyle Busch is amazing whether you like his personality or not. He's won three straight Nationwide events now on three different styles of tracks. He's also been dominant in the Truck series, albeit troubles have cost him a few wins, and led the Sprint Cup standings for four of the first eight races. Outside of Carl Edwards, who has won three Cup events, he's the biggest story of NASCAR's season thus far.
• The Aaron Fike story that got so much attention two weeks ago when Fike revealed he drove in a Truck race while on heroin seems almost forgotten. The same thing happened a year ago when Fike was arrested for possession of heroin. People made a fuss about it for a week and then brushed it under the rug. Guess we'll have to wait until something truly tragic happens to
believe this could be a problem.
• Why is the cabana boy late with that tropical fruit drink ordered 20 minutes ago?
