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<< Previous   of   Next >>   ADVERTISEMENT   CONTACT THE HERALD Report scores and results to 425-339-3470 or 1-866-6-SCORES (Call after 4:30 p.m.) E-mail information including items for Tuesday's Communities Sports Roundup and Thursday's Outdoor Calendar, to sports@heraldnet.com Kevin Brown, Sports Editor kbrown@heraldnet.com   Published: Friday, July 3, 2009 McNulty: Earnhardt most overrated athlete in sports By Ray McNulty Scrips Howard News Services There's nothing wrong with rooting for losers. Sometimes, they're lovable. Like the 1962 New York Mets. Or the 1976 Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Or the Chicago Cubs for most of the past century. But that's because they were expected to lose. Dale Earnhardt Jr. isn't. He's supposed to be a NASCAR star, the face of his sport, a rightful and fitting heir to a proud stock-car legacy. He's supposed to be racing royalty, the son of a seven-time champion. He's supposed to win. And he doesn't. Despite being among NASCAR's most well-funded and best-equipped drivers throughout his 10 seasons on the Winston-Nextel-Sprint Cup circuit -- despite enjoying the unabashed support of the vast majority of the crowds at every track, especially since his father's tragic death on the final lap of the 2001 Daytona 500 -- Junior has finished too many races as an also-ran. True, he has won 17 Cup races. But he has taken the checkered flag only three times in the past five years. And his more recent results have been downright dismal. Did you know that Junior takes a 39-race winless streak into Saturday night's Coke Zero 400 at Daytona? His last trip to Victory Lane was 13 months ago at Michigan, where he broke a 76-race drought. His previous triumph came in the 2006 Crown Royal 400 at Richmond. It's not until you add up those numbers, however, that you realize just how far back into the pack he has fallen: Junior has won only once in his past 115 starts, dating back to May 2006. Yet, because of his name, because of the undying devotion of his father's legion of fans, because of NASCAR's marketing genius, Junior remains the sport's most recognizable and beloved driver -- and by an overwhelming margin. In fact, Junior was voted NASCAR's most popular driver for the sixth consecutive year in 2008. And, given his lofty Q-rating, there's no reason to believe his reign will end any time soon. He is to NASCAR what Tiger Woods is to golf, what Roger Federer is to tennis, what Kobe Bryant is to basketball. Without the wins. Without the championships. Maybe, without the talent. Let's face it: If Junior can't win with Hendrick Motorsports, where teammates Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon have combined to claim seven of the past 14 Cup championships, it's not a reach to wonder whether he can win anywhere. And if he can't? That Junior is NASCAR's most overrated driver is a given. His fame, fan base and reputation far exceed his performance. At age 34, in his 10th Cup season, he still makes rookie mistakes and seems to have an excuse for every mishap, every wreck and every loss. He's not nearly the driver his father was. And while that comparison might be unfair, this one isn't: He's not nearly the driver his teammates are. He's not even one of the 10 best drivers on the circuit. He is, instead, the most overrated athlete in sports today. Football has Terrell Owens. Soccer has David Beckham, Golf has Michelle Wie. Open-wheel racing has Danica Patrick. NASCAR has Junior. All of them have been over-hyped in recent years, but only Junior owns the biggest name on his sport's marquee. His father's name. And that name still matters more than his performance, his results, his inability to win races and championships. Junior still has the most fans, still gets the loudest cheers, still stirs emotions and raises hopes. He'll be the crowd favorite again Saturday night. And that's OK. There's nothing wrong with rooting for losers -- as long as you don't expect them to win. Ray McNulty is a columnist for Scripps Treasure Coast Newspapers. This column reflects his opinion. He can be reached at ray.mcnulty@scripps.com. READER COMMENTS Be the first to comment. You must be a registered user and verify your e-mail address to post comments to blogs or articles on HeraldNet. To register, click here. To read other terms and conditions, click here. Log out

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