Jimmie Johnson Athlete of the Year?

redsk1 · 12-21-2009, 05:21 PM

Four-time Cup champ Johnson first driver to be AP Athlete of the Year - Sprint Cup, NASCAR - CBSSports.com NASCAR, IRL, F1

I have alot of respect for Nascar drivers but I don't think they should win any athlete of the year awards. There's alot of talent involved and you better be in good physical condition, but let's face it, they drive cars around a track. Not buying the athlete of the year deal.

SmootSmack · 12-21-2009, 05:26 PM

Why not? Jimmie Johnson has been as dominating as anyone the past four years. And it's not easy at all to drive a race car. Especially a stock car.

redsk1 · 12-21-2009, 05:40 PM

Athlete of the Year to me, implies a level of personal achievement vs competition. Of course, JJ has been dominant in racing. I know too, that driving a stock car, for hours and hours in brutal condition aint easy.

You've got to rely on a good team in racing and more importantly the car itself. I can guarantee, that if JJ, drove for a lesser team or engine builder, he wouldn't be as successful. Also, I just don't think drivers should be classified w/ all other athletes. Maybe, it's because I grew up watching the old regime of Nascar like Darrell Waltrip, Dale Sr, Harry Gant, and others. Jimmie Spencer...not much of an athlete, although a heck of a driver.

I don't know..just never really thought of a Nascar driver as an athlete. That's not downgrading their talent. Just an opinion.

SmootSmack · 12-21-2009, 05:50 PM

So who's your athlete of the year then?

WaldSkins · 12-21-2009, 06:41 PM

1 vote for Tiger Woods

Trample the Elderly · 12-21-2009, 06:47 PM

With any luck Jimmie will hit the wall in Daytona. I vote Danica. She's a hottie.

wolfeskins · 12-21-2009, 07:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by redsk1

Athlete of the Year to me, implies a level of personal achievement vs competition. Of course, JJ has been dominant in racing. I know too, that driving a stock car, for hours and hours in brutal condition aint easy.

You've got to rely on a good team in racing and more importantly the car itself. I can guarantee, that if JJ, drove for a lesser team or engine builder, he wouldn't be as successful. Also, I just don't think drivers should be classified w/ all other athletes. Maybe, it's because I grew up watching the old regime of Nascar like Darrell Waltrip, Dale Sr, Harry Gant, and others. Jimmie Spencer...not much of an athlete, although a heck of a driver.

I don't know..just never really thought of a Nascar driver as an athlete. That's not downgrading their talent. Just an opinion.

i agree with ya and i'll even take it a step further. to me, an athlete is someone who participates in a sport. i do not consider nascar a sport.

Dirtbag59 · 12-22-2009, 01:14 AM

NASCAR is a competition, not a sport. Sort of like how coaches are not athletes, at least not recently or better yet jockeys. Rule of thumb states that if the equipment does the majority of the physical work then you don't have a sport. Doesn't matter how much you sweat and how grueling it is. Sports are competitions that require some form of running, jumping, punching, etc.

Quote:

Originally Posted by SmootSmack

So who's your athlete of the year then?

Should have been Messi. 6 championships in one year.

TheSmurfs22 · 12-22-2009, 01:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by redsk1

Athlete of the Year to me, implies a level of personal achievement vs competition. Of course, JJ has been dominant in racing. I know too, that driving a stock car, for hours and hours in brutal condition aint easy.

You've got to rely on a good team in racing and more importantly the car itself. I can guarantee, that if JJ, drove for a lesser team or engine builder, he wouldn't be as successful. Also, I just don't think drivers should be classified w/ all other athletes. Maybe, it's because I grew up watching the old regime of Nascar like Darrell Waltrip, Dale Sr, Harry Gant, and others. Jimmie Spencer...not much of an athlete, although a heck of a driver.

I don't know..just never really thought of a Nascar driver as an athlete. That's not downgrading their talent. Just an opinion.

~~~
Agreed. Having been around NASCAR when I lived in North Carolina and some of the people involved in it, I came to respect the guys for what they do, but like you, I do not really consider them to be athletes, eventhough it does take a certain level of mental and physical stamina to do what when I think "athlete" race car drivers are the last ones that come to mind.

TheSmurfs22 · 12-22-2009, 01:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dirtbag359

NASCAR is a competition, not a sport. Sort of like how coaches are not athletes, at least not recently or better yet jockeys. Rule of thumb states that if the equipment does the majority of the physical work then you don't have a sport. Doesn't matter how much you sweat and how grueling it is. Sports are competitions that require some form of running, jumping, punching, etc.
~~~~~
So true!

~~~

Should have been Messi. 6 championships in one year.

~~~~
The guy is a stud! Do you ever go to castrolindex.com? It runs all sorts of soccer stats, including how much these guys run a game. The average is between 5-7 miles a game.

FRPLG · 12-22-2009, 02:07 AM

My problem with JJ as athlete of the year is that car racing is almost the epitome of team sport. To me basketball is less of a team sport than car racing. JJ is a great driver...is he better than a dozen other guys? Nah. He's just got fantastic team.

MTK · 12-22-2009, 10:00 AM

Personally I don't think driving a car qualifies you as an athlete, and I don't consider golfers athletes either.

Guess it depends on your definition of "athlete".

Dirtbag59 · 12-22-2009, 05:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheSmurfs22

~~~~
The guy is a stud! Do you ever go to castrolindex.com? It runs all sorts of soccer stats, including how much these guys run a game. The average is between 5-7 miles a game.

Exactly. I mean look at this video at around 0:08. The guy gets quadruple teamed and runs around everyone until he gets fouled.

Stephenie · 12-29-2009, 05:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WaldSkins

1 vote for Tiger Woods

haha that makes sence

budw38 · 01-01-2010, 10:31 PM

UFC 101: Anderson Silva cuts down Forrest Griffin in one round - ESPN . Maybe Anderson Silva , dominating athlete/fighter . Not sure about Race car drivers , but ... driving a car at 150-185 mph < including corners > around other aggressive hot shots , you have to have nerves of steel and some big Kahuna's . Tebow might get some consideration ?

12-21-2009, 05:21 PM	#1
redsk1 The Starter Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 2,351	Jimmie Johnson Athlete of the Year? Four-time Cup champ Johnson first driver to be AP Athlete of the Year - Sprint Cup, NASCAR - CBSSports.com NASCAR, IRL, F1 I have alot of respect for Nascar drivers but I don't think they should win any athlete of the year awards. There's alot of talent involved and you better be in good physical condition, but let's face it, they drive cars around a track. Not buying the athlete of the year deal.

12-21-2009, 05:26 PM	#2
SmootSmack Uncle Phil Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 45,256	Re: Jimmie Johnson Athlete of the Year? Why not? Jimmie Johnson has been as dominating as anyone the past four years. And it's not easy at all to drive a race car. Especially a stock car. __________________ You're So Vain...You Probably Think This Sig Is About You

12-21-2009, 05:40 PM	#3
redsk1 The Starter Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 2,351	Re: Jimmie Johnson Athlete of the Year? Athlete of the Year to me, implies a level of personal achievement vs competition. Of course, JJ has been dominant in racing. I know too, that driving a stock car, for hours and hours in brutal condition aint easy. You've got to rely on a good team in racing and more importantly the car itself. I can guarantee, that if JJ, drove for a lesser team or engine builder, he wouldn't be as successful. Also, I just don't think drivers should be classified w/ all other athletes. Maybe, it's because I grew up watching the old regime of Nascar like Darrell Waltrip, Dale Sr, Harry Gant, and others. Jimmie Spencer...not much of an athlete, although a heck of a driver. I don't know..just never really thought of a Nascar driver as an athlete. That's not downgrading their talent. Just an opinion.

12-21-2009, 05:50 PM	#4
SmootSmack Uncle Phil Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 45,256	Re: Jimmie Johnson Athlete of the Year? So who's your athlete of the year then? __________________ You're So Vain...You Probably Think This Sig Is About You

12-21-2009, 06:41 PM	#5
WaldSkins Playmaker Join Date: May 2007 Location: Harrisburg, PA Age: 41 Posts: 2,726	Re: Jimmie Johnson Athlete of the Year? 1 vote for Tiger Woods __________________ "I would change that around, Jesus isn't Cutler. I guarantee you Jesus couldnt thread the ball like Jay does."-Monksdown

12-21-2009, 06:47 PM	#6
Trample the Elderly Playmaker Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Three Chopt Virginia Age: 47 Posts: 2,906	Re: Jimmie Johnson Athlete of the Year? With any luck Jimmie will hit the wall in Daytona. I vote Danica. She's a hottie. __________________ A funny thing happened on the way to the temple. The moneychangers bought the priesthood.

12-22-2009, 02:07 AM	#11
FRPLG MVP Join Date: May 2004 Age: 46 Posts: 10,164	Re: Jimmie Johnson Athlete of the Year? My problem with JJ as athlete of the year is that car racing is almost the epitome of team sport. To me basketball is less of a team sport than car racing. JJ is a great driver...is he better than a dozen other guys? Nah. He's just got fantastic team.

12-22-2009, 10:00 AM	#12
MTK \m/ Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: NY Age: 52 Posts: 99,518	Re: Jimmie Johnson Athlete of the Year? Personally I don't think driving a car qualifies you as an athlete, and I don't consider golfers athletes either. Guess it depends on your definition of "athlete". __________________ Support The Warpath! \| Warpath Shop

01-01-2010, 10:31 PM	#15
budw38 Playmaker Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Northern,Va. Posts: 2,706	Re: Jimmie Johnson Athlete of the Year? UFC 101: Anderson Silva cuts down Forrest Griffin in one round - ESPN . Maybe Anderson Silva , dominating athlete/fighter . Not sure about Race car drivers , but ... driving a car at 150-185 mph < including corners > around other aggressive hot shots , you have to have nerves of steel and some big Kahuna's . Tebow might get some consideration ?

Jimmie Johnson Athlete of the Year?

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