While at the Aaron 499 NASCAR race held in Talladega, Alabama last month I witnessed a very strange and disturbing sight.  When the race ended many so called fans lost their temper and threw stuff (mostly beer cans) onto the track while the race was still in progress.  Apparently they were protesting Jeff Gordon winning the race which enabled him to pass the late Dale Earnhardt for sixth place on the all-time win list.

        The two fellows seen here getting some special attention from the police sat behind me during the race.  Now I am not trying to say that ever word coming out of their mouths was filthy, vulgar and inappropriate, but I can definitely say that their vocabulary was unquestionably limited.  Then when it was certain that Jeff Gordon was going to win the race, these two guys lost control and it started to raining beer on my head as this fellow throws a can onto the racetrack.

        As people began to argue with them and question their intelligence for throwing stuff onto the track, they immediately told us all to mind our own business.  And it was just about that time I see this police officer forcefully making his way to our general location.  I turn around and hold my camera about belt high and take this photo as they are yanked up and dragged out of the stadium.  Their only defense was some tears and a sad story that went something like, it was not me, I did not do it…

        No doubt, when we lose our temper bad things happen.  Lifelong friends stop speaking, marriages are broken and eventually the people we care about get hurt; all because we lose our temper.  We are like steel—when we lose our temper we are worthless.  We all have things that annoy us and nobody likes to lose, but we do not have to allow these to control us.  Today, be kind to those who try your patience, practice self control and remember, every moment you are angry, you lose a minute of happiness.

Something to think about:

• Some people do odd things to get even.

• A temper displayed in public is always indecent exposure.

• A cheerful loser is always a winner.

• Nothing cooks your goose more quickly than a boiling temper.

• The trouble with being a good sport is that you have to lose to prove it.

• It’s not whether you win or lose, but how you place the blame.

• How a man plays the game shows something of his character; how he loses shows all of it.

• When upset, count to ten before speaking. When very angry, count to a hundred; then don’t speak.

• Your temper gets you into trouble—your pride keeps you there.

Your suds soaked reporter
Rickey Moore