My day at the Indy 500 was cool and spine tingling, but it started with a bit of unpleasantness.
A long time ago, I distributed a memo about proper conduct and behavior at the Indy 500 in general, and the world-famous J Stand in particular.
Hell…I even wear a T-shirt proclaiming those hallowed values!
Apparently, some folks did not get the memo.
There was an incident that you should know about.
Sitting next to my son and I in J Stand were a couple of older white guys…I’d say middle 50s or older…graying beards and both wearing Milwaukee Brewers hats.
During Taps, the flyover, the Invocation Prayer by the Most Right Reverend Archbishop of Canterbury O’Mara, and the military parade of heroes thing, the guy sitting next to Willie wouldn’t shut up.
I overheard parts of it, but Willie heard all of it, and I could tell Willie was shocked and hurt by what he was hearing.
The guy kept talking, and I paid closer attention.
He was saying things like, “This is all bullshit. Screw these military assholes, etc...”
They were also saying all kinds of racist bullshit about Mexicans, etc…and shaking their heads in disgust and contempt with the entire proceedings…Memorial Day Weekend…at the Indy 500!
I would have none of it!
I leaned over behind Willie and gave the guy a sharp poke on the shoulder and said loudly so that everyone around us could hear, “Look, pal. I’m not gonna sit here listen to your shit!”
He shut up, and, a few moments later, he offered his hand and stated he meant no offense. (a little late for that)
Then, I said, “Look…you have every right to voice your opinion, but there’s a time and a place for everything. This is neither the time nor the place.”
He then said, “Let’s just have a good race, OK?”
I agreed, and nothing else was said the remainder of our time in the stands.
I really wanted to knock this asshole’s teeth out, but I didn’t because of my inner-peace, love-of-my-fellow-man thing I got going on now.
I’m kinda like Gandhi, or Mandela, or something.
Sorta.
Plus, I was stone cold sober, and didn’t have a drink all day.
I suppose if I’d been liquored up, things would have been different.
Maybe.
This incident almost ruined my Race Day. Almost…
Anyhoo…thought you should know.
The race was fun and exciting.
Helio won his third Indy 500!
He cried a lot and climbed the fence again!
Congratulations Helio!
As a part-time sub-contract labor person for the Penske Organization, I bet this means I’ll get a bonus.
Or something.
Sorta.
I will not rehash the race for you. You can get that information from many sources.
Post-Race pit stop competition
Anyhoo….This concludes my blog type mess for the 2009 version of the Indy 500.
I hope you all have enjoyed it, but I have to go back to work now and make money for my needful family.
I’d like to thank some people and things for making my vacation possible and so enjoyable.
My thanks are not in order of importance, and if I forget somebody or something it’s not because I hate you or anything…it’s because I’m getting old and forgetful.
Thanks to my wife and family for your understanding and generosity.
Thanks also to TrackForum, Curt, Marc, Tommy, Glenn, Barb, Brie, RacingPortaJohn, Ziggy and his crew, Plymouth, Chrysler, Paul Tracy, Grover, Roach, New Castle Ale, Coors, Coca-Cola, Camp ‘N’ Brew, Kodak, Olympus, Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the Bronze Badge Program, Tony George, The Alley Cats, BlogSpot.com, ImageShack, Hewlitt Packard, Dell, Microsoft, Motorola, Ray-Bans, Pepsi-Cola, the Yellow Shirts, T13, Rev-ed, CuC, Reebok, Avia, Bayer Aspirin, Smith & Wesson, Coppertone Sports Sunscreen 50SPF, Rubbermaid, my beloved USMC and all other members of the US armed forces, members of Indiana law enforcement, gass, pdalbey, plec, lotuspoweredbyford, zenman, my boss Mike and all the guys at work for understanding and leaving the vacation schedule open, the convenient stores of Speedway, the kind soul who gave me his pit pass (Indy 500 karma is real), Trevor, Shane, Canon, Epson, Linksys, FaceBookPlant, Twatter, AOL, Yahoo!, Zazzle, INGO, all the folks at those private websites (you know who you are), the drivers and crews for Indy Lites and IndyCar for giving us a great show…your hard work and dedication is appreciated, anyone who has clicked and read my foolishness and gets it and knows what Indy means.
No thanks to the two commie jerkoffs in J Stand.
Dedicated to my dad, Rick Johnson.
Also to Uncle Dave, Lloyd Ruby, Larry Rice, Mack, RailBird, Eddie Bussing, and Sandy.
See you next year.
Maybe.
A long time ago, I distributed a memo about proper conduct and behavior at the Indy 500 in general, and the world-famous J Stand in particular.
Hell…I even wear a T-shirt proclaiming those hallowed values!
Apparently, some folks did not get the memo.
There was an incident that you should know about.
Sitting next to my son and I in J Stand were a couple of older white guys…I’d say middle 50s or older…graying beards and both wearing Milwaukee Brewers hats.
During Taps, the flyover, the Invocation Prayer by the Most Right Reverend Archbishop of Canterbury O’Mara, and the military parade of heroes thing, the guy sitting next to Willie wouldn’t shut up.
I overheard parts of it, but Willie heard all of it, and I could tell Willie was shocked and hurt by what he was hearing.
The guy kept talking, and I paid closer attention.
He was saying things like, “This is all bullshit. Screw these military assholes, etc...”
They were also saying all kinds of racist bullshit about Mexicans, etc…and shaking their heads in disgust and contempt with the entire proceedings…Memorial Day Weekend…at the Indy 500!
I would have none of it!
I leaned over behind Willie and gave the guy a sharp poke on the shoulder and said loudly so that everyone around us could hear, “Look, pal. I’m not gonna sit here listen to your shit!”
He shut up, and, a few moments later, he offered his hand and stated he meant no offense. (a little late for that)
Then, I said, “Look…you have every right to voice your opinion, but there’s a time and a place for everything. This is neither the time nor the place.”
He then said, “Let’s just have a good race, OK?”
I agreed, and nothing else was said the remainder of our time in the stands.
I really wanted to knock this asshole’s teeth out, but I didn’t because of my inner-peace, love-of-my-fellow-man thing I got going on now.
I’m kinda like Gandhi, or Mandela, or something.
Sorta.
Plus, I was stone cold sober, and didn’t have a drink all day.
I suppose if I’d been liquored up, things would have been different.
Maybe.
This incident almost ruined my Race Day. Almost…
Anyhoo…thought you should know.
The race was fun and exciting.
Helio won his third Indy 500!
He cried a lot and climbed the fence again!
Congratulations Helio!
As a part-time sub-contract labor person for the Penske Organization, I bet this means I’ll get a bonus.
Or something.
Sorta.
I will not rehash the race for you. You can get that information from many sources.
Post-Race pit stop competitionAnyhoo….This concludes my blog type mess for the 2009 version of the Indy 500.
I hope you all have enjoyed it, but I have to go back to work now and make money for my needful family.
I’d like to thank some people and things for making my vacation possible and so enjoyable.
My thanks are not in order of importance, and if I forget somebody or something it’s not because I hate you or anything…it’s because I’m getting old and forgetful.
Thanks to my wife and family for your understanding and generosity.
Thanks also to TrackForum, Curt, Marc, Tommy, Glenn, Barb, Brie, RacingPortaJohn, Ziggy and his crew, Plymouth, Chrysler, Paul Tracy, Grover, Roach, New Castle Ale, Coors, Coca-Cola, Camp ‘N’ Brew, Kodak, Olympus, Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the Bronze Badge Program, Tony George, The Alley Cats, BlogSpot.com, ImageShack, Hewlitt Packard, Dell, Microsoft, Motorola, Ray-Bans, Pepsi-Cola, the Yellow Shirts, T13, Rev-ed, CuC, Reebok, Avia, Bayer Aspirin, Smith & Wesson, Coppertone Sports Sunscreen 50SPF, Rubbermaid, my beloved USMC and all other members of the US armed forces, members of Indiana law enforcement, gass, pdalbey, plec, lotuspoweredbyford, zenman, my boss Mike and all the guys at work for understanding and leaving the vacation schedule open, the convenient stores of Speedway, the kind soul who gave me his pit pass (Indy 500 karma is real), Trevor, Shane, Canon, Epson, Linksys, FaceBookPlant, Twatter, AOL, Yahoo!, Zazzle, INGO, all the folks at those private websites (you know who you are), the drivers and crews for Indy Lites and IndyCar for giving us a great show…your hard work and dedication is appreciated, anyone who has clicked and read my foolishness and gets it and knows what Indy means.
No thanks to the two commie jerkoffs in J Stand.
Dedicated to my dad, Rick Johnson.
Also to Uncle Dave, Lloyd Ruby, Larry Rice, Mack, RailBird, Eddie Bussing, and Sandy.
See you next year.
Maybe.
Hey Paul Johnson - I've been following you since 2006 and this post is by far the best, so much so that I needed to comment. Thanks for setting such a great example by telling those guys to shut the f--k up. Keep up the great work, and I look forward to your posts next year!
ReplyDeleteThank you for your kind words and for clicking and reading over the years.
ReplyDeleteHey... I found your site via INGO and really enjoy it. I feel like I am remotely connected to you somehow. I too attended Carl G. Fisher Elementary school (the old one) and I also knew and miss Eddie Bussing. Maybe we will cross paths someday, and can figure out the connection...
ReplyDeleteThanks for the blog, I enjoy it.