Posts
8758
Joined
3/21/2007
Location
HAIKU, HI, USA
Edited Date/Time
4/26/2014 7:53am
I just read what I had feared all along: Reed might not be racing at GH due to his SX injuries still mending.
Please know I am a Chad Reed fan and have been since he joined YoT (2003 I believe) but admittedly wavered a bit when his attitude went off track but for the last several years I've been back on the bandwagon. I learned over the years to NEVER count Chad out but I would be lying if I said I thought he would get two wins this year. I would have been impressed just getting on the box regularly but am beyond impressed with Chad's performance. The guy is a legend end of story in my mind.
However I am beyond disappointed that Chad let his heart over ride his brain and tried to race after getting injured. I am aware it is his team his decision and he doesn't owe me or anyone jack squat but IMHO there was nothing to gain and everything to lose (like a shot at the National title) by racing that next weekend. There was no way he had a snowball's chance in the warm place of finishing the series. I mean seriously did anyone think he'd finish out the series?
As a fan I wanted him to get fixed and be ready for GH. I'm ready for a barn burner outdoor series and want as many guys battling as possible. Whenever Chad does line up I will be cheering him on 1000 percent but man I wish he wouldn't have kept racing SX.
QUESTION: Given the extent of Chad's injuries how much does his being allowed to race say about our sport? Do we owe it to the racers to keep them from making bad decisions that affect their health, their careers as well as possibly the safety of those around them?
Now that this has played out my vote would be in addition to the baseline concussion testing riders have to go through before being allowed to race after a big crash there is a basic range of movement as well as weight lifting exercises racers have to demonstrate before being allowed to race.
What's your vote? Not sure how other motorsports do this but I remember Dale Earnhardt racing Watkins Glen or Sears Point with a freaking broken sternum but nothing is a taxing as SX/MX.
Please know I am a Chad Reed fan and have been since he joined YoT (2003 I believe) but admittedly wavered a bit when his attitude went off track but for the last several years I've been back on the bandwagon. I learned over the years to NEVER count Chad out but I would be lying if I said I thought he would get two wins this year. I would have been impressed just getting on the box regularly but am beyond impressed with Chad's performance. The guy is a legend end of story in my mind.
However I am beyond disappointed that Chad let his heart over ride his brain and tried to race after getting injured. I am aware it is his team his decision and he doesn't owe me or anyone jack squat but IMHO there was nothing to gain and everything to lose (like a shot at the National title) by racing that next weekend. There was no way he had a snowball's chance in the warm place of finishing the series. I mean seriously did anyone think he'd finish out the series?
As a fan I wanted him to get fixed and be ready for GH. I'm ready for a barn burner outdoor series and want as many guys battling as possible. Whenever Chad does line up I will be cheering him on 1000 percent but man I wish he wouldn't have kept racing SX.
QUESTION: Given the extent of Chad's injuries how much does his being allowed to race say about our sport? Do we owe it to the racers to keep them from making bad decisions that affect their health, their careers as well as possibly the safety of those around them?
Now that this has played out my vote would be in addition to the baseline concussion testing riders have to go through before being allowed to race after a big crash there is a basic range of movement as well as weight lifting exercises racers have to demonstrate before being allowed to race.
What's your vote? Not sure how other motorsports do this but I remember Dale Earnhardt racing Watkins Glen or Sears Point with a freaking broken sternum but nothing is a taxing as SX/MX.
On these facts specifically, I have no problem with Chad giving it a go.
I'm confident that Doc Bodnar can navigate the issue directly with the racers.
Unless there's a brain injury involved that would affect judgement, i'm okay with his decision.
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Don't think I get that quote in your signature line. You were either really drunk when you picked it... or really drunk when you posted your nonsense... (either that, or you just enjoy contradicting yourself... never really sure of what you really want)
GraoeApe Good one. Actually it wouldn't be much thicker to include mandatory upper body and spinal protection as in chest protectors not neck braces.I'm only putting this medical clearance thing out there for debate and currently have no plans to be on any rules committees.
To be clear I'm was mainly speaking as a fan when I said I wished CR22 would have parked it...not being critical just being a fanboy that wants Chad to be battling at GH.
For me it speaks to following your dream and not letting anything stop you. Interesting that these same words apply to Chad Reed as well in view of his unbelievable determination he demonstrated trying to race the next weekend.
Regarding your opening line it never ceases to amaze me how some people freak out over putting ideas out there for discussion. Hope we never get to the place where ideas for discussion are viewed as threatening in the real world. When I don't have the answer or am not sure about something I like getting outside input and opinions and I am just curious what others think. The downside is occasionally I know what being out in left field looks like.
BTW I was sober as judge when I picked that Michel Petrucciani quote. Michel was born with brittle bone disease and he was about three feet tall but one of the world's best if not the best jazz pianist to ever walk the earth. He unfortunately died at 36 due to health issues related to his condition. Think pneumonia was the cause but it was the last of a series of health challenges. Click on the link when you have time....think he starts to improvise at the 2 minute mark and it is a thing of beauty. I saw him play three times in LA in the 90s and once I was within ten feet of him playing having dinner with a friend with direct eye contact but I digress. Get me thinking about Michel's music and I get side tracked. There are beaucoup videos of him on YouTube as well.
The video interview I saw with him and Weigandt sounded pretty optomistic about him being back in time. I just looked for it and it is no longer up there... weird. Not to go too far off topic, but if the RV rumors are true, this thing should be wide open between Stewart, Dungey, Reed and Canard. They all have their strengths and weaknesses and it should all be a pretty even fight.
Et tu Lenny? Et tu?
mark_swart-Excellent point regarding we don't know for sure if riding an additional week made it worse or not. One thing's for sure though I don't see how it could have helped any either. Again this medical clearance topic is a general question and not specific to Reed. Unfortunately we'll have other instances where riders are pushing the envelope to keep racing while injured and I would prefer for the racers' long-term health to be the number one priority and not winning a championship as unpopular as that position is.
I've finally found one of these people that fits that image in my head.
Pit Row
https://youtu.be/SNI0AQcTjQk
With that being said.....I just hope he gets back out there when he's damn well ready.....and not before.
What you guys think ? How has the biggest chance to give Stew Fits ?
I work in heavy industry, and safety is important. But every year we get some goofy ass "to do" book that has safety oriented goals, when you meet a goal you get a hard hat sticker! yeah! When is the milk and cookies break?! So these motherfuckers you see walking around with all the stickers and shit on their hard hat are the ones that are clean and not doing any real work.
Post a reply to: CR22 not 100% for GH & bigger question for the sport