Randy Bernard is IndyCar’s new CEO. Others have weighed in on the hire far more eloquently than I could, and I tend to defer to their learned opinions on such things. So should you. So should that cowboy pictured to the left, who looks so sad. But back to Bernard.
All I know is that at the time of his hire, he was a complete IndyCar outsider who’d never once seen an IndyCar race (MADNESS!) and that he built the Professional Bull Riding empire out of shrewd grit & broken ribs. Well say no more — I think I’ve heard quite enough. I think we’re ready for a decision. Judges?
Yep. That’s a 9.42 on the Störtebeker-Ganassi Scale. Savvy hire, Mr. Belskus. Savvy indeed. It’s a new era for IndyCar, and anyone not on board with this might get their skull thumped. (I’m just kidding. You WILL get your skull thumped. Chin up, cowboy.)
By pressdog, February 2, 2010 @ 12:43 pm
Dear Mr. Bernard. The Silent Pagoda serves a large audience and generates incredible ROI. Sincerely, R. Hobbson, Esq.
By P Daddy, February 2, 2010 @ 1:00 pm
“Today’s Indycar race has been brought to you by Wrangler, after a hard day of being a metrosexual sometimes you just need to throw on a pair of Wrangler jeans to make you feel like a man again”.
By BP, February 2, 2010 @ 1:15 pm
Sounds like someone around here, who hadn’t seen much of any IndyCar racing, and wound up fully emersed (though not Snake Pit-style. Yet.) in IndyCar racing.
Mr. Hobbson, I believe you can serve as Mr. Bernard’s guide to getting up to speed.
By Jason Mcveigh, February 2, 2010 @ 1:25 pm
MR Bernard, the similarities between your previous job and your new one will be many. Like bull riding, indycar invites competitors from all over the world to come and try to control powerful, fast moving things and show who has the balls big enough to do so. Like bull riding, Indycar contains elements of excitement and danger and although you probably dealt with many gruff, hard as nails Texans, indycar has THE gruff, hard as nails Texan in AJ Foyt. As for our beloved Silent Pagoda, well, think of that and Mr Roy Hobbson as our rodeo clown, a welcome distraction from the harsh realities of a sometimes scary world. Its as essential to us as the clowns were to you in your last job. You’ll do well Mr Bernard, go kick ass!
By pressdog, February 2, 2010 @ 2:02 pm
Jason,
Hobbson –> Rodeo Clown. Genius.
By Larry Phelps, February 2, 2010 @ 2:41 pm
I know nothing of this guy and he might be the greatest thing since these little diddies were dreamed up.
http://www.nuffy.net/cool/articles/totally-crazy-japanese-inventions.html
This is the equivalent to Saab announcing it was hiring the guy that designed the Pontiac Fiero to spice up their creative team. This just has a death rattle vibe to it.
By Coz, February 2, 2010 @ 4:37 pm
We can hope for the best, and maybe the bean counters made the right hire. I admire them for realizing that they weren’t up to the task. As I said before, TG did things from a fan’s perspective, and that’s what makes Indy what it is.
I hope this new guy, Randy, can do the same. But let us remember, that the last twenty years brought us econimic times in the sporting industry that created a climate wherein Women’s Basketball has been thrust upon us, and for politically cowardly reasons, continues to hang around like a moose pie in the Pagoda. Or, for those who coudn’t follow that psycho-babble, like myself: basically, even a blind squirrel finds a nut every now and then. The expansion of sports programming on TV, cable, sports radio, etc., between 1992 and 2007, has allowed a lot of crap to make it, and a lot of good stuff to get better. Except, of course, the IRL.
Best wishes, Randy. But don’t go jacking me around with ridiculous high prices, or I’ll start sneaking in with 6-8 people in the back of a van, hidden from sight, and pay for only 2. And don’t think I won’t, pal: ’cause I am Indy.
By Carrie, February 2, 2010 @ 5:52 pm
Oh, if only our drivers wore tight-ass jeans like the bull riders. Nothing like looking at a rodeo butt in tight jeans… except touching one.
By Brian, February 2, 2010 @ 10:51 pm
Anyone thiink the NAPCAR, tin-top, taxicab fans are a weeeeeee bit jealous that our new fearless leader comes from a company called PBR?
And Coz, the sacred tradition of sneaking folks into IMS in everything from the back of a van to the folds in A.J. Foyt’s back fat is alive and well. My kids have spent more time at the Speedway in the last five years than The George Sisters COMBINED, and never paid a dime.
By izod9, February 3, 2010 @ 1:13 pm
I’ve always been suspicious of anyone with a name of “Randy”. Did he pick up that alias in High School? He may fit right in with Pagodians.
By SSNET, February 3, 2010 @ 3:47 pm
Perhaps this new CEO will actually CARE about the FANS of this sport, and settle the DTV/Comcast pissing contest, so we can actually WATCH the races.
But, I doubt it, so it’s F1 and Moto GP for me.
By Neon18, February 3, 2010 @ 5:26 pm
Larry-boy,
SAAB was just bought by spyker-cars…as in the squadron and the 2nd place podium formula-one car.
http://www.spykercars.nl/?pag=1
SAAB-Spyker could be a great example for aero-dynamic design, BTW.