Tiger and Danica II

Continuing from last time, there's obviously something magical, or even compelling, about Tiger Woods. Given he's far from what most people would consider a "role model", how else to explain his hordes of die-hard fans and the fascination the media continues to have with him?

There have been, and continue to be times when Woods is hopelessly out of contention at a particular tournament. He can be 20 strokes back, but the TV folks act like they're under some sort of mandate to show replays of various shots Tiger took on the course. Amazingly enough, there have been times when Tiger wasn't even ENTERED in a particular tournament, yet they'll STILL find a way to dial up Tiger replays, perhaps from when he played the event in the past.

To be clear, yours truly neither roots for nor against Tiger. In the past, others have said I'm a Tiger-hater. They are mistaken. I don't like him and I don't dislike him. Yes, he's a great golfer but, to me, he's just another sports figure out there amongst millions of others. However, I reserve the right to protest when, as a viewer, I feel I'm being water-boarded with Tiger coverage to the exclusion of much more relevant golf action -- namely the players that might be far ahead of him in any given tournament. THOSE are the guys I want to see replays of. Not Tiger knocking in a 6-foot putt to salvage a par, while not even on the leader board.

Yet in fairness, Tiger will certainly go down in golf history as one of the best of all time. That sets him quite apart from.....

Danica Patrick. Though having achieved world-wide name recognition herself -- it is mystifying as to just how that happened. After all, save for some obscure race in Japan several years ago during her Indy car days -- Danica hasn't won anything. Like Tiger being a black man in a predominantly white man's sport, perhaps Danica evokes much fascination because she's a woman trying to compete amongst the NASCAR "good ole boys".

However, Danica was hardly a lady pioneer in either racing series. In NASCAR, that honor belongs to one Sara Christian, who competed in the inaugural race at Charlotte Speedway, way back in 1949. A couple other not-so-notable women drivers would follow, but not have much success either. During those years, it was taboo for a woman to even think about driving an Indy car.

And then along came Janet Guthrie. In 1976, she not only completed the World 600 in the NASCAR series, but finished ahead of a guy you may have heard of named Dale Earnhart. The following year she would qualify for the Indy 500, to become the first woman to race at the hallowed brickyard amongst other guys whose names might ring a bell. Like Foyt, the Unsers, Rutherford, Sneva, Johncock, Andretti, etc. (BTW, yours truly was camped out in the infield in turn 4 for that race.)

But back to Danica. What exactly is it that she's accompished that's made her such a media darling? Sure, she won the pole at the Daytona 500 earlier this year, and was competive throughout most of the race. However, that was deceiving. Race fans know that on super-speedways, "drafting" is paramount. Two or more cars teaming up in tight formation will go faster than any single car left on it's own. Danica had lots of drafting partners throughout most of that race. Sadly, it turned out those mean boys were just using her. Poor thing. When it came time to REALLY go racing -- as in the last few laps -- Danica got kicked to the curb and watched as her former suitors zoomed by her left and right.

It's not like Danica has been lacking for good equipment or a top flight pit crew. As a driver for the Stewart-Haas team, she enjoys the luxury of both. Yet Ms. Patrick doesn't appear to be remotely competitive. Out of the first 39 races run this year, Danica has finished in the top 10 only once, and her average finish is 27th. Along the way, at roughly $400,000 a pop, she's totalled millions of dollars worth of race cars with some of her not-so-brilliant tactics. Kyle Petty caught a lot of flak a while back when he said Danica isn't afraid to go fast, but she's not a racer. Considering her record over the years, it would be difficult for an objective person to rebut Petty's statement. It is what it is.

But like Tiger, Danica has become a media darling. No matter how far back she may be in any particular race, the media folks will find a way to give her coverage. It's like they think the public at large craves a Danica "fix" every time she's participating in a race.

The recent NASCAR race at Dover was a good example. Though Danica wasn't within "beam me up Scottie" range of making the "Chase", and is just running out the string like a few other bottom-feeders, never underestimate the Manchurian candidates the media is ready, willing, and able to produce when they see fit for their own reasons.

While a flagship sports channel was listing the final running order at Dover -- sure enough -- there it was.

1. Jimmy Johnson. 2. Dale Earnhart Jr. 3. Joey Logano. 29. Danica Patrick.

Stop right there and think about that. Why -- pray tell -- is it so important for the public to get another media dose of Danica? I looked in on that race from time to time and, with it barely half over, Danica was already 4 laps behind and hopelessly out of contention. Yet they just had to find a way to get her name out there again.

Here's a novel idea. How about if she actually -- you know -- WINS something -- ANYTHING -- before we're all brainwashed into bestowing sainthood on and/or inducting Ms. Patrick into various Halls of Fame? That would seem reasonable enough.

Then again, perhaps we get what we deserve. Like Tiger, Danica is prone to throwing hissy fits when things don't go their way during the course of competition. And strangely enough, millions of people not only excuse it, but eat it up and crave more.

So let's see. Black/white. Man/woman. Golf/NASCAR. What do they have in common to make them both such media darlings? Two pretty faces? Opinions vary. Scads of endorsements? No doubt. Same cup size?

Nah, even yours truly isn't going there........