Dale Jr's Brew Crew Site |
The Bird by Lisa Matthis Flipping the bird, showing the middle finger only, the number one sign or just "the finger" has been happening for years. Reports say that the once-taboo gesture, known as the digitus impudicus, goes all the way back to ancient Greece. According to pop culture reports, an official sighting documented in this country occurred in 1886. Apparently a baseball player was in a team photo shoot and was captured on film "flipping the bird." The team was the Boston Beaneaters and the player was Charles 'old hoss' Radbourn. I wonder if he was fined what today's equivalent would be of $10,000. Then again, if I played for a team known as the "Beaneaters" I probably wouldn't have been that excited either. The FCC supposedly frowns upon any profanity and vulgarity that goes over the airwaves, be it photographic or verbal. Since the infamous Janet Jackson wardrobe malfunction at the Super Bowl two years ago, NASCAR has cracked down on their drivers. They have been informed that they are to "mind their p's and q's when speaking, as this is a family sport," so to speak. I've been watching racing for many years, and going to races with my family since 2002 and the language and "sign language" has not changed, in fact, NASCAR's cracking down has me cracking up with laughter. Ever see a junior high school bus driving down the road? I guarantee if you follow that bus for more than a mile, you will see some kid flip the bird eventually, either to a pal on the bus, or out the window to someone getting off the bus. Driving the highways and byways of Pittsburgh, my hometown, in rush hour will broaden your sign language horizons at least once. Even in my new hometown of Mooresville, driving my son to school this morning I was trying to get into the slow lane to make a right turn. The lady that was on my rear fender motioned me to come over as I turned on my right turn signal. Yes, I actually use those blinker things. I wave to say thanks as I pulled over. As soon as I turned my blinker off, she flipped me the bird. Now I ask you, she told me to pull in front of her, I properly signaled and thanked her, yet I got the dreaded finger. She must have seen my license plate and must not be a Dale, Jr. fan. The finger is just that, a finger. Once again NASCAR has shown the power of the mighty and fined a driver points for showing the finger. You can't tell me that NASCAR and Fox did not see that finger coming. As I watched Dale Jarrett walk toward Shane's car, I said to the TV (I was home alone), "Oh no, Shane.. don't do it" I saw it coming, they could have pulled that camera shot out of that car and put it on the outside of the car and no one would have been the wiser. Shane would still have some cash and points and nothing further would have been said about it except behind the walls of the oval office and board rooms. NASCAR docked Dale Jr. points and cash last fall in the heat of the Chase for a slip of the tongue. This proves consistency at least. But what concerns me is how far they are going to go with docking points for a slip of the finger or tongue in the future. Watch inside the cars, fingers are flying all the time on the track, you just don't blatantly see them. Fining drivers cash I can see, taking points away is just wrong. After all, our kids see and hear worse than this on the school bus and driving in the family car. My advice to the drivers is to flip three fingers, or better yet, wave hello. If you all have the same sign language, no one else will be the wiser! Any donations of cash are accepted if I get fined by NASCAR for speaking about the bird. Until next time, go fast, turn left, stay safe and keep the shiny side up and the middle finger down. |
