Bad sports, good sports: Dan Wheldon killed during IndyCar race

Posted on October 17th, 2011 by Alan Spoll

Sports may often feel like life and death to a fan, but in the end, it is all just a bunch of games, right? Death should not be a part of sports. There are many things in this world worth dying for, and I imagine that very few people would list the playing of a game very high on that list. There is little worse than when a human being loses his or her life while playing sports. It just seems like such a waste. On Sunday, IndyCar driver Dan Wheldon was killed during a massive wreck only eleven laps into the series’ final race of the season in Las Vegas.

Fifteen cars were damaged in the accident, and three other drivers, including Will Power, who was running for the title, were injured. No one was hurt as grievously as Wheldon, though, whose car flew in the air and hit the catch fence with the top of the car, where the driver’s head is exposed. I am only an occasional watcher of the IndyCar series, and I have often been amazed at the fact that injuries do not happen more often, based on the way these cars are built and the fact that the driver’s head sticks out the top of the vehicle the way it does. In NASCAR, those cars can bang against each other, since they have fenders, and they often do. The IndyCar cars, though, are traditional open-wheel vehicles, which have few of the safety features that NASCAR’s cars have, simply based on the body type of the cars. When those wheels touch, a wreck is virtually guaranteed. How they have never covered the cockpit with some kind of roof is really the question, though. I guess there must be visibility issues for the drivers, but it would seem that something would have to be done there. After a tragedy like this, it seems certain that some kind of changes will have to be made.

Wheldon, the 2005 series champion, was having an unusual season. He did not have a full-time ride this year, due to sponsorship issues. Despite that, he entered and won the Indy 500, his second victory in his sport’s biggest race. He was also running for a possible $5 million prize in Sunday’s race, something that had been offered by IndyCar CEO Randy Bernard to any part-time driver who could win the season finale. The driver was 33 years old, and leaves behind a wife and two sons.

Dan Wheldon paid the ultimate price on Sunday while essentially playing a game. That should just never happen.

Bad sports, continued:

2) The sideline at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa was a dangerous place to be on Sunday afternoon, particularly for coaches. First, New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton was run into by tight end Jimmy Graham in the first half. That collision resulted in a torn MCL and a fractured tibia for Payton. Then, in the second half, Jimmy Lake, the defensive backs coach for Tampa Bay, tore his patella tendon while celebrating a big play for the Bucs defense that helped put the game away.

3) I feel as bad as anybody about the 1-4 start that the Philadelphia Eagles have foisted upon us fans. They won yesterday, which helps the outlook for the rest of the season a bit. Early last week, though, some guy set up shop across the street from the Novacare Complex, where the team’s offices and practice facilities are, hanging a poorly written sign suggesting that head coach Andy Reid should be fired. Two of the team’s offensive linemen, Evan Mathis and Jason Kelce, paid a visit to the guy where they asked (or told) him to take down the sign. I am not a signmaker, and as passionate as I am about this team, I would not bother standing outside its headquarters with a sign on a workday (or any day, for that matter). Still, for the players to go challenge the guy is just stupid. Focus on your own stuff and tune the rest of it out.

4) Pittsburgh Penguins forward Arron Asham beat up Washington Capitals forward Jay Beagle on Thursday night, knocking Beagle to the ice with two quick punches. Asham immediately used a boxing gesture to indicate a knockout, and then placed his hands together next to the right side of his tilted head, indicating Beagle was asleep. Although fighting has been a part of hockey for my whole life, it is pretty amazing that it is still tolerated in a professional sport. In this era of extreme concern about head injuries, though, the stuff Asham did after the fight was pretty inexcusable.

5) University of South Carolina quarterback Stephen Garcia was kicked off the team last week after testing positive for marijuana. The really amazing part of this story is that Garcia had been suspended from the team five times previously. How does someone even get a chance to be suspended five times, let alone to remain on the team beyond that? It seems like something is wrong in Spurrier-land.

6) English soccer player Wayne Rooney was banned for three games last week after a ridiculous looking assault on the back of an opposing player. Honestly, the ludicrous fake reaction by the assaulted player should have earned a suspension as well.

7) Saturday night, NASCAR visited North Carolina for a race at Charlotte Motor Speedway. In advance of the race, the track introduced a new item at its concession stands, known as the “funnel bacakanator.” Yes, this is two funnel cakes, one on top of the other, covered in bacon, chocolate sauce, and strawberry sauce. Seriously. I’ve been to some NASCAR races. I am pretty sure that most of the people there should not be eating anything like this.

Good sports:

1) A nine-months-pregnant woman who ran the Chicago Marathon last week went into labor immediately after completing the race. Amber Miller’s daughter was born a few hours later.

2) I will admit that I have seen little of the baseball playoffs in the past week, as I am still in mourning after the Phillies lost in the first round a week and a half ago. Still, it has been hard to ignore the series that Texas Rangers outfielder Nelson Cruz had against the Detroit Tigers in the American League Championship series. Cruz hit a record six homeruns in the series, including the league’s first-ever walkoff grand slam in a playoff game in game two, along with a three-run shot in the eleventh inning of game 4 to help put that game away.

Bad sports, good sports appears every Monday

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Alan Spoll

Alan Spoll is a software quality assurance director from the suburbs of Philadelphia where he lives with his wonderful wife and children. He has spent his entire life as a passionate fan of the Eagles, Phillies, Sixers, Flyers, and Penn State. Recent Phillies success aside, you will understand his natural negativity. Follow me on Twitter - @DocAlan02