Post by G on Jun 25, 2010 16:11:18 GMT -5
Just thought I'd put this out there for anybody who had a thought on it. I'm thinking about changing my sign on name. I've been gowaltrip now in one form or another for about 10 years in various places and at the time I created it, it fit, but now it doesn't.
In case you don't know, I love cheering on underdogs and I got into Nascar by rooting for the biggest bum in the business Michael Waltrip. I specifically chose him to cheer for way back in about 1994 by the persuasion of my friends who wanted me to get into Nascar a sport I hated at the time. They all told me I wouldn't get into it unless I picked a driver to cheer for and being the guy I am. I said, I'm not going to cheer for no big name like (big at the time) Dale Earnhardt, Rusty Wallace, Jeff Gordon, Ernie Irvan, Dale Jarrett, Terry Labonte, etc. (btw, those names were big in 1994). I told my friends, if I'm going to do this, I'm going to choose someone who ain't never won a race. Enter Michael Waltrip.
I've taken my fair share of grief rooting for this guy and maybe have even grown to regret it because I must say, in the 16 years that followed, I've known 95% misery and 5% good times. But my friends were right, he was someone to cheer for and I found out that even though most places he sucked royal ass, he was absolutely gifted at driving at my favorite type of tracks, restrictor plate tracks (Daytona, Talladega). It did suck me in and I considered Nascar my favorite sport for a long time afterwords.....But not anymore.
The greatest thrill came in 2001 when then winless Michael Waltrip who was at the time 0 for 462 races, finally became triumphant at the Super Bowl of racing....The Daytona 500!!! I'm going to tell you what, out of all the most memorable things I've seen in sports, seeing him win his first race there was the happiest sports moment I ever had. Unfortunately an hour later I would learn the same race he finally won, the biggest race of them all, would also be the day Dale Earnhardt died, who at the time was Michael Waltrip's boss and that was his very 1st race he ever drove for him. It was a bittersweet day. Finally a win I prayed for, but at the cost of the man who made it possible. It always seemed to overshadow what he had accomplished. Even his greatest moment, wasn't the biggest headline of the day.
2 years later he won it again and in all he wound up winning 4 races total. But after a career of ultimately 770 races, being 4 for 770 is a lot of misery with very little to feel good about. It did teach me to never give up on your dreams, but also maybe next time, find someone with a little bit better talent to root for.
Here it is 2010 and Michael Waltrip is pretty much retired except for a race here and there. He does have his own team though and he's doing pretty decent as an owner. But I find racing pretty boring these days and have lost my desire to watch. Also since Waltrip has retired, there really isn't any reason for me to be "gowaltrip" anymore. It doesn't really match who I am anymore or even anything that is happening elsewhere or within me.
So for the past few months, the thought of changing my name here is becoming stronger and I'm thinking of changing it very soon. Problem is, I don't know what to change it to. I have a few ideas, but not ready to say just what yet or to even settle on anything.
I thought rather than just do it, I'd share my thoughts about it here and see what you guys thought, if anything. Or if any of you had any suggestions, I'm all eyes. But I think the time is nearing for me to retire "gowaltrip".
Just thought I would put it out there....
In case you don't know, I love cheering on underdogs and I got into Nascar by rooting for the biggest bum in the business Michael Waltrip. I specifically chose him to cheer for way back in about 1994 by the persuasion of my friends who wanted me to get into Nascar a sport I hated at the time. They all told me I wouldn't get into it unless I picked a driver to cheer for and being the guy I am. I said, I'm not going to cheer for no big name like (big at the time) Dale Earnhardt, Rusty Wallace, Jeff Gordon, Ernie Irvan, Dale Jarrett, Terry Labonte, etc. (btw, those names were big in 1994). I told my friends, if I'm going to do this, I'm going to choose someone who ain't never won a race. Enter Michael Waltrip.
I've taken my fair share of grief rooting for this guy and maybe have even grown to regret it because I must say, in the 16 years that followed, I've known 95% misery and 5% good times. But my friends were right, he was someone to cheer for and I found out that even though most places he sucked royal ass, he was absolutely gifted at driving at my favorite type of tracks, restrictor plate tracks (Daytona, Talladega). It did suck me in and I considered Nascar my favorite sport for a long time afterwords.....But not anymore.
The greatest thrill came in 2001 when then winless Michael Waltrip who was at the time 0 for 462 races, finally became triumphant at the Super Bowl of racing....The Daytona 500!!! I'm going to tell you what, out of all the most memorable things I've seen in sports, seeing him win his first race there was the happiest sports moment I ever had. Unfortunately an hour later I would learn the same race he finally won, the biggest race of them all, would also be the day Dale Earnhardt died, who at the time was Michael Waltrip's boss and that was his very 1st race he ever drove for him. It was a bittersweet day. Finally a win I prayed for, but at the cost of the man who made it possible. It always seemed to overshadow what he had accomplished. Even his greatest moment, wasn't the biggest headline of the day.
2 years later he won it again and in all he wound up winning 4 races total. But after a career of ultimately 770 races, being 4 for 770 is a lot of misery with very little to feel good about. It did teach me to never give up on your dreams, but also maybe next time, find someone with a little bit better talent to root for.
Here it is 2010 and Michael Waltrip is pretty much retired except for a race here and there. He does have his own team though and he's doing pretty decent as an owner. But I find racing pretty boring these days and have lost my desire to watch. Also since Waltrip has retired, there really isn't any reason for me to be "gowaltrip" anymore. It doesn't really match who I am anymore or even anything that is happening elsewhere or within me.
So for the past few months, the thought of changing my name here is becoming stronger and I'm thinking of changing it very soon. Problem is, I don't know what to change it to. I have a few ideas, but not ready to say just what yet or to even settle on anything.
I thought rather than just do it, I'd share my thoughts about it here and see what you guys thought, if anything. Or if any of you had any suggestions, I'm all eyes. But I think the time is nearing for me to retire "gowaltrip".
Just thought I would put it out there....
