(And it has very little to do with NASCAR)
NASCAR’s famed Nextel Cup Championship goes to Jimmie Johnson of El Cajon, California! Homestead Raceway hosted the last contest of the year. It was a season that seemed charmed by an unearthly power! Tens of thousands of loyal fans were joined by thousands and thousands of new admirers to watch, hoot, and cheer for that cool-handed driver of the Lowe’s # 48 car.
One of those new fans was my friend, Rita Applegate. At the age of eighty-three, Rita was not actually the typical kind of fan NASCAR expects, or pursues. She learned about Cup races from her daughter, a true motorhead (racing fan) since the old “High-groove” Harry Gant days. They even saw a Cup race together at The California Speedway in Fontana in 2005. (That darn Greg Biffle in the #16 car won.)
By some divine coincidence, Jimmie’s grandmother, Barbara, belonged to the same church as Rita: Santa Sophia, in nearby Casa De Oro, a hilly suburb of San Diego, close to El Cajon. Rita and Barbara just hit it off wonderfully, and they also shared an exercise class. Soon Rita became a Jimmie Johnson fan. Suddenly, if Jimmie didn’t do well, Rita noticed. All the other drivers might just as well have spit on Rita’s floor, for they could do no right in her eyes. Poor Tony, poor Junior, and believe it or not poor Jeff Gordon, Jimmie’s teammate. Rita only rooted for Jimmie Johnson!
Jimmie and the 48 car did very well this year. (With Rita’s help.) He won ten races, including the last four before the season’s closer, which if you didn’t notice, was won by that darn Matt Kennseth in the #17 car. Jimmie married Chandra and gave her the year of his life as a driver. His twenty-six career wins make him the only driver in the modern era to win at least three times in each of his first five seasons. Jimmie always thanks his fans. He says they give him a lot of motivation.
In October this year, Rita was diagnosed with cancer. Two weeks ago, she fell and broke her hip. Ten days later, on Monday, she passed away. But, on Sunday, the day before, mother and daughter watched the Homestead race together from Rita’s hospital room. Jimmie finished seventh and clinched the Championship. It made Rita very happy. It probably was the last thing she ever saw, as the pain medication let her then sleep comfortably. But, Barbara and Rita’s darling Jimmie had won the championship! Rita knew! Of this, I am sure.
Rita Applegate, widow of Coe, is survived by her beloved daughter Denise, from Los Angeles, CA. Please, pray for them both!
I’m not the kind of guy to idolize, or even follow athletes much. But, I am a Mom fan, and I was a fan of Rita Applegate! Rita was a Jimmie Johnson fan. She was even a member of his fan club. (Rita didn’t like the hats!) Maybe, in some small way, perhaps Jimmie was one of Rita’s heroes.
For the distraction Mr. Johnson gave Rita and her Denise at the most critical times, I thank him from the bottom of my heart. Thanks Jimmie! Keep doin’ what you do! It gives more people joy, than you will ever know! You da man! For the thrills and hopes that he gave to Rita Applegate, I will always follow his career.
That’s why Jimmie Johnson is now my hero…for what he did for Rita!
Politics
Factzone: The truth about Kim Jong Il
Kim Jong Il, the leader of the free world, has decided to move on to more fertile grounds, leaving with us just the memories of 8-color rainbows, singing Korean women and couple of nuclear weapons. But who was this man whose next ambition would have been to get the next Nobel Peace prize? Here are just a few facts you should know about.
more
Top 5 Conspiracy Theories Related to John F. Kennedy's Assassination
26.Aug 2011
Since just after the assassination of John F. Kennedy, conspiracy theories abou...read
ISRAEL KEEPING GHADDAFI AFLOAT
10.Mar 2011
...read
Glen Beck Is NOT the Anti-Christ!
10.Mar 2011
Hurtful and fiery rhetoric is now media’s default setting! This slippery and m...read
Recipe for A REVOLUTION! (10 easy steps - try not to get burned!)
28.Feb 2011
Rebellion is cooking in the air. People are mad as hell, and not going to take...read
Opinion
World governments charged with criminal negligence (in response to Megaupload case)
EARTH (thecheers.org) - Federal authorities of the universe have charged the governments of all the countries in the world as well as the operators actually in power in these countries with operating a criminal enterprise, the Galaxy warriors announced Today.
more
The Great OSCARS 2011 – or so it would seem
5.Mar 2011
So, how exciting......a morning off, the Academy Awards. I wish I could say the...read
Top 7 Expensive Bordellos. Prostitution: Shakedown, Tier Down, and Priced Out
31.Jan 2011
According to a report of the Washington DC-based US Department of State, The Ph...read
The Great Secret and Reason for the JFK Assassination
11.Oct 2010
The great question is why the great secret? On June 4 1963, President Kennedy s...read
Don't Do it! The 3 Worst Times to Get Tattoos
4.Oct 2010
As a general rule, tattoos gotten after 2 am are a bad idea. But in a bigger pi...read
|
Travel
Travel Warning 13 September 2010 - DO NOT TRAVEL TO IRAN
13.Sep 2010
TRAVELWISE has been watching the situation in Iran for some months in relation ...read
more
TRAVELWISE TRAVEL ADVISORY 5th June 2010. DO NOT TRAVEL TO ISRAEL.
5.Jun 2010
Given the recent incident whereby the Israeli intelligence agency, Mossad, used...read
TRAVELWISE. 16 APRIL 2010. EUROPEAN TRAVEL ALTERNATIVES
16.Apr 2010
Travelwise issues the following advice in relation to cancelled flights to, fro...read
TRAVELWISE 6 APRIL 2010. AUSTRALIAN AIR TRAVEL. THE BEST WAYS TO TRAVEL BY AIR IN AUSTRALIA.
5.Apr 2010
Regular readers might have seen and read the various advisory and no-fly notice...read
TRAVELWISE 2 APRIL 2010. QANTAS.
2.Apr 2010
Some concerns have been raised in relation to some of the maintenance practices...read
No Payoff From the Playoffs
$16.50 will Get Anyone in the Hall Mr McGwire
Stupid Athlete Tricks
Think Big! Think the World's Largest International Trade Show
Top 9 cool laptop accessories for laptop geeks
Twittering: I'm not that interesting
Cheers
|
