Countdown Whining - can we put it to rest? (1 Viewer)

[mike]

Yeah, it was drama for me when they'd say "So and so needs to at least do this well here to stay in contention." When someone locked it up early, I saw it as a great achievement. This may sound weird but, I think it motivated me in other areas of my life. Work harder, smarter, and/or longer, throw in a little luck and life might reward you.

Now it's "Work harder, smarter, and/or longer, build a nice points lead and watch it be taken away. It just seems too much like "Nobody gets more than anyone else, even if they earned it" socialism to me. I thought drag racing was one place where I didn't have to worry about that stuff. Your points are actually confiscated from you when you didn't do anything wrong.

To all the pro countdown peeps, take a good read of this post. And then you'll understand why I and others are against the BS we currently have!

Good post Ron.

 

[RAPID]

Alright Ronald,,,that post contained WAY TOO MUCH rational thinking and logical thinking!

It will not be tolerated on the internet as we know it!!!!!!

Rapid

 

[Nitrohaulic]

Alright Ronald,,,that post contained WAY TOO MUCH rational thinking and logical thinking!

It will not be tolerated on the internet as we know it!!!!!!

Rapid

LOL, they might as well figure out a way to assign progressive income taxes to people who earn "too many" points. Wow! I never really thought of this thing in an anti-capitalism light until now!

 

[Rexfiles]

To all the pro countdown peeps, take a good read of this post. And then you'll understand why I and others are against the BS we currently have!

Good post Ron.

Yawn

And you'll keep complainin'

And us "peeps" will keep smilin'

Ahhhhhhhh...........isn't life grand

REX

PS
Huh.......I just googled "peep".............it's a Easter candy........uhhhh......OK..........I guess

 

[Rexfiles]

LOL, they might as well figure out a way to assign progressive income taxes to people who earn "too many" points. Wow! I never really thought of this thing in an anti-capitalism light until now!

Uhhhhhhhh...........hate to break the news ta' ya' ol' pal.......

shhhhhhhhh........they already work it that way

REX

 

[Nitrohaulic]

Uhhhhhhhh...........hate to break the news ta' ya' ol' pal.......

shhhhhhhhh........they already work it that way

REX

LOL, I shouldn't have even let my brain go there! "You worked harder, smarter, and/or longer. You've got TOO MANY points and we're going to have to confiscate and redistribute them to make it "fair" for the others who might not be so "fortunate."

I know. It has nothing to do with attempting to be "fair." It's more like "If we can screw some achievers and maybe sell a few more tickets? Hey!"

Income redistribution. Points redistribution. What's the difference?

I still love that the "can we put it to rest" Countdown thread is the one we're still discussing the Countdown on. Someone won't try THAT again! Is there anything else you'd like to NOT talk about?

 

[I was NITRO BREATH]

Yeah, it was drama for me when they'd say "So and so needs to at least do this well here to stay in contention." When someone locked it up early, I saw it as a great achievement. This may sound weird but, I think it motivated me in other areas of my life. Work harder, smarter, and/or longer, throw in a little luck and life might reward you.

Now it's "Work harder, smarter, and/or longer, build a nice points lead and watch it be taken away. It just seems too much like "Nobody gets more than anyone else, even if they earned it" socialism to me. I thought drag racing was one place where I didn't have to worry about that stuff. Your points are actually confiscated from you when you didn't do anything wrong.

Couldn't agree more--- the other day I was talking with my wife about how we are bombarded with Tv shows hosted by chefs who have only a year or two experience or "master carpenters'' who are only 20 years old etc. etc. I said the cream no longer rises to the top. And what kind of message does this send to people. Then I realized the same is happening in drag racing.The countdown is the beginning of it. A concern with ratings over quality

 

[Rexfiles]

I thank my lucky stars that I have what is called "a grasp"

Such as we are talking about a Sport.

A Sport that is a very expensive potentially lethal one but nevertheless still a sport.

Yes it is also a buisness.

If the Countdown stays or goes it will give me even less discomfort than a mild case of gas.

For all the times I have seen "NOT FAIR!!!".....sniff, whine(hadda' throw that in......could not resist), and "IT SUCKS" (now THERE is intellegence at work)

I'd swear for the life of me this was a third grade playground.

I'm an adult........if I don't like the rules and I still play I just plain get with it and do it.

Phooey on "FAIR" and "NOT FAIR"

GOOD LORD.........Mommy and Daddy never let you in on the secret???????

It ALL ain't fair.

Especially when it ain't goin' yer way.

And when it is it's quite fine and dandy.......it's quite fair.......isn't it??

Difference between those that have grown up and those still on the playground with tears in their eyes.

REX

 

[Rexfiles]

Couldn't agree more--- the other day I was talking with my wife about how we are bombarded with Tv shows hosted by chefs who have only a year or two experience or "master carpenters'' who are only 20 years old etc. etc. I said the cream no longer rises to the top. And what kind of message does this send to people. Then I realized the same is happening in drag racing.The countdown is the beginning of it. A concern with ratings over quality

Ratings sell advertising.

Advertising generates revenue.

Revenue pays salaries.

NHRA is a sport/buisness.

They operate on money

Shows get cancelled primarilly due to the fact that they no longer generate a profit or the cost outweighs the benefit (usually $$$$$$$$)

It's as the Great John Force says........."The Bottom Line".

REX

 

[Rexfiles]

LOL, I shouldn't have even let my brain go there! "You worked harder, smarter, and/or longer. You've got TOO MANY points and we're going to have to confiscate and redistribute them to make it "fair" for the others who might not be so "fortunate."

I know. It has nothing to do with attempting to be "fair." It's more like

"If we can screw some achievers and maybe sell a few more tickets? Hey!"

Seriously??

I dont believe the "screw some achievers" was the goal, the goal was/is meerly the latter part of that statement.

Income redistribution. Points redistribution. What's the difference?

There is a difference as I see it, but its a gamble, true.

A "rising tide floats all boats" comes to mind.

REX





I still love that the "can we put it to rest" Countdown thread is the one we're still discussing the Countdown on. Someone won't try THAT again! Is there anything else you'd like to NOT talk about?

 

[I was NITRO BREATH]

Ratings sell advertising.

Advertising generates revenue.

Revenue pays salaries.

NHRA is a sport/buisness.

They operate on money

Shows get cancelled primarilly due to the fact that they no longer generate a profit or the cost outweighs the benefit (usually $$$$$$$$)

It's as the Great John Force says........."The Bottom Line".

REX

Agreed- but quality can produce ratings and lots of money---The Sopranos
60 minutes
Law and order
the list goes on

 

[Rexfiles]

Agreed- but quality can produce ratings and lots of money---The Sopranos
60 minutes
Law and order
the list goes on

And the list of complete stinkers goes even longer.

I would agree on the Soprano's

But that show was not for everyone.

I would not let a child watch for instance.

As far as 60 minutes???????

It's all subjective anyway.

If I look or listen to what some people consider "outstanding!!!!"

I wonder if they came from the same planet as I

As far as Law and Order goes my wife loves it

I'd rather watch "First 48, "Investigative Reports, or "Cold Case Files"

To each his own.

REX

 

[Nitrohaulic]

I don't know about whether or not they TRIED to screw the achievers. It is the same organization that just limited team ownership to four. Maybe behind closed doors one of the things liked while putting this Countdown together was that they thought they could achieve parity without it being too obvious that they were trying to achieve parity. It would be like NASCAR saying "Let's take a little spoiler out of this one just because that car looks better that way!"

When it comes to entertainment, is the most profitable thing always going to be what makes "sense."? Who makes the best selling music, produces the best selling movies, or makes that coffee you like so much? (LOL) Who does the best cooking shows, decorating shows, etc? Drag racing is never going to achieve world peace and, like you, whatever points system NHRA chooses to use (I still like my idea of waving a wand, saying "eenie, meenie, minie, ooga, booga, booga, you're the champ" myself) will change my life one iota (thank you Don Garlits for introducing iota into my vocabulary years ago--I can't even remember what he was talking about now).

Maybe the new person that the Countdown might bring in might not be as offended as those of us who have lived under both systems and see the difference at the level of the competitor. Maybe being new, they'd be more inclined to adopt "Okay, this is how drag racing works."

I'm the last person who would expect life to be fair. It's like perfection. You know you can't achieve it but, it's what you're supposed to (I thought?) strive for. It's why you and I sit around and discuss things we know we'll never be able to change. We care, even if it's all we're able to do.

 

[Paul]

Yawn

And you'll keep complainin'

And us "peeps" will keep smilin'

Ahhhhhhhh...........isn't life grand

REX

PS
Huh.......I just googled "peep".............it's a Easter candy........uhhhh......OK..........I guess

Thanks for saving me a bunch of replies Rex. I hate to break the news to some of you, but times are changing and change is good for the sport. I know change is hard for some people to grasp, but no need to worry because the sport will be OK in the end. We have now been debating this for well over a year now and you know what, the Countdown is still here and will be here in some shape or form for many years to come. Hopefully, the anti-Countdown chatter will dwindle as time goes on just like the anti-Chase chatter went down in Nascar. I would like to see not every thread turning into the Countdown sucks. We will see what the winter brings.

 

[Nitrohaulic]

Thanks for saving me a bunch of replies Rex. I hate to break the news to some of you, but times are changing and change is good for the sport. I know change is hard for some people to grasp, but no need to worry because the sport will be OK in the end. We have now been debating this for well over a year now and you know what, the Countdown is still here and will be here in some shape or form for many years to come. Hopefully, the anti-Countdown chatter will dwindle as time goes on just like the anti-Chase chatter went down in Nascar. I would like to see not every thread turning into the Countdown sucks. We will see what the winter brings.

You're still implying that people dislike change, period.

If NHRA increased (not saying that they could) payouts to the point that professional level drag racing without the help of sponsors would be profitable, it's a change I think most of us would like to see.

If NHRA decreased payouts, it's a change I think most of us would disagree with.

Where do you continue to get this "Some people just don't like change" business? Do you base that on anything?

"many years to come" is personal opinion stated as fact. It would be like me saying it won't be here in so many years.

And, yes, I edit my posts when I want to add something or correct typos. I don't edit to delete anything I've said.

 

[Paul]

You're still implying that people dislike change, period.

If NHRA increased (not saying that they could) payouts to the point that professional level drag racing without the help of sponsors would be profitable, it's a change I think most of us would like to see.

If NHRA decreased payouts, it's a change I think most of us would disagree with.

Where do you continue to get this "Some people just don't like change" business? Do you base that on anything?

"many years to come" is personal opinion stated as fact. It would be like me saying it won't be here in so many years.

And, yes, I edit my posts when I want to add something or correct typos. I don't edit to delete anything I've said.

The change I am talking about is the people that are dead against seeing how the Countdown will work before passing judgement. My professional experience has taught me to have an open mind and not discredit an idea without having some factual information to support my view. The old points system was OLD and needed to be changed to align NHRA with most other major sports. I know SOME of the traditional fans are having a tough time with this and that is fine, but the sky is not falling and the NHRA will be alright in the end. This thread will not turn into another Ron vs. Paul piss match, so I am done.

 

[Ron]

The change I am talking about is the people that are dead against seeing how the Countdown will work before passing judgement. My professional experience has taught me to have an open mind and not discredit an idea without having some factual information to support my view. The old points system was OLD and needed to be changed to align NHRA with most other major sports. I know SOME of the traditional fans are having a tough time with this and that is fine, but the sky is not falling and the NHRA will be alright at the end. This thread will not turn into another Ron vs. Paul piss match, so I am done.

The problem I have with the countdown is not the playoff per se but the way it is structured. In every other sport on the planet that has a playoff the entities in the playoff play/race the others in the playoff. The way this is set up matches between the countdown participants are random and unlikely to occur. A simple fix would have been to have the participants always placed on the same side of the ladder stacked 1 through 8 or 9 through 16. Instead of this you have a situation in Funny Car where the champion will not have faced even one other participant before he clinches the championship in the countdown to 1. At least in NASCAR the chase participants are in the same race with each other and although there are others they have to beat the chase participants.

The current system is beyond dumb and could have been easily designed to ensure head to head racing among the cars that made the initial cut.

 

[Bob]

The change I am talking about is the people that are dead against seeing how the Countdown will work before passing judgement. My professional experience has taught me to have an open mind and not discredit an idea without having some factual information to support my view. The old points system was OLD and needed to be changed to align NHRA with most other major sports. I know SOME of the traditional fans are having a tough time with this and that is fine, but the sky is not falling and the NHRA will be alright in the end. This thread will not turn into another Ron vs. Paul piss match, so I am done.

Paul.

I am not against change. Changes in our military weapons systems is what keeps me employed. Usually, be it racing, armament systems, aircraft or whatever changes are necessary.

I am against the countdown because it takes away the points the guys earned during the year. Before this day is over I think Ron Capps would have won the championship but won't. Greg Anderson would have had it wrapped up a few weeks ago. Because of the countdown he went into test mode. I can keep going but this should give you an idea of what most of us are complaining about. Changes are fine but
THE COUNTDOWN SUCKS !!

 

[ProStockJunkie]

Paul.

I am not against change. Changes in our military weapons systems is what keeps me employed. Usually, be it racing, armament systems, aircraft or whatever changes are necessary.

I am against the countdown because it takes away the points the guys earned during the year. Before this day is over I think Ron Capps would have won the championship but won't. Greg Anderson would have had it wrapped up a few weeks ago. Because of the countdown he went into test mode. I can keep going but this should give you an idea of what most of us are complaining about. Changes are fine but
THE COUNTDOWN SUCKS !!

And can we hear an 'AMEN'.

 

[yoda]

Bob said it best..."It ain't over until it's over.."

Go Wildthing!!!!

EDIT: Crap.....