The general consensus seems to be that Jimmie Johnson is going to win the 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series title. But there is still one more race to be run. And unless the powers-that-be already have the Homestead script written up(and some will argue that they do), this deal isn’t done yet.
Now, you can call Johnson bullet-proof, Superman, automatic, invincible, or whatever else catches your fancy(I know of a website that has all the superlatives you could possibly want for Jimmie). But remember, eventually, one’s luck has to run out. No matter how (insert your superlative here) they may be(except in scripted plays and movies).
I want you to take a stroll into the old NASCAR vault with me. Back to a time where the sport was not controlled by one team. The year was 2005. The venue: Homestead-Miami Speedway. Tony Stewart is the points leader, and one Jimmie Johnson is trying to overtake him to win his first championship.
Johnson is doing what he needs to do. He’s in position. He might do it. This may finally be the year he wins. And then, the unthinkable happens.
Before I show you the video, I want to leave you with a warning. Beware: This could happen to anybody, at any time:
Video: The Unthinkable
And with that, his run at the championship was over.
I know Johnson and crew are going to go into Homestead and be “careful” and “cautious” and “won’t take any chances”. But tires blow out. Things break. And Mark Martin is the kind of guy who will jump on you if it does.
One more thing. I want you to think for a moment about how, when teams and athletes believe that they have something wrapped up before the event even begins, bad things happen to them.
Examples? How about the 1998 Minnesota Vikings when they got beat in the NFC Championship game by the Atlanta Falcons. Or the 2004 New York Yankees, when they got beat in the ALCS in 7 games by their arch-rival Boston Red Sox. Look at the 2005 USC Trojans when they got beat in the Rose Bowl by the Texas Longhorns in the final minute. Or even the 2007 New England Patriots. Everyone knows how that one ended: 18-1.
I know Johnson and crew have not come out and said that the title is theirs. But I want to remind you of Johnson’s quote during his press conference on Saturday when asked about his crash at Texas:
“I don’t believe lightning can strike twice.”
At least, he hopes it can’t. But remember Homestead 2005, and know that lightning has a tendency to strike in Florida. Jimmie Johnson has not won the title just yet.
FanSided
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