I’m not a big fan of NASCAR. I like making Danica Patrick jokes as much as the next guy, but my best racing memory is the time Dale Earnhardt, Sr., was on ‘King Of The Hill’, so I don’t write about it a lot. When we get a chance to talk to Ricky Stenhouse, Jr., I let Burnsy handle it.
That all being said, I had to share this clip of Dale Earnhardt, Jr., reading a letter to his 16-year old self from ‘CBS This Morning’. It’s a powerful, moving look at a guy who was born into privilege, forced to grow under one of the biggest, darkest shadows ever and brought to tears by the knowledge that he should’ve been a lot nicer to his Mom. He’s incredibly human here, and I’ll never be able to think of Dale Jr. as “the guy from commercials for products I’m not interested in” again.
Check out the video after the jump. Sorry for it being baby-sized, CBS doesn’t really operate for people our age.
I wish more athletes could open themselves up like that and speak honestly about confidence, failure and success, and spent a little less time speaking in platitudes. I think we’d be even more connected to sports than we already are.
[h/t From The Marbles]
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I now know who to cheer for in all future…NASCAR-ing? Is that how you say it?
I havent watched…. but does it mention his father being a dirty driver and nearly killing my favorite driver twice????
I’m trying to guess who your favorite driver is, but “the Intimidator nearly killed him twice” narrows it down to about 98% of the drivers out there.
I’m ruling out Joe Nemechek because he usually tried to kill himself.
Thanks for posting this, Brandon. I lost my dad this morning and never really had that “enlightening” talk with him, or frankly, myself. I feel strangely reassured.
Sorry for your loss, JP. Hope you can remember the good times and get through the sadness.
Sorry to hear that, JP.
As a father myself, let me tell you this — whatever was left unsaid, he already knew.
Thanks, guys. I appreciate it.
His has become a great guy, like his Dad and that is because of his Dad teaching him along the way what he Dad tought him.. So guys your Dads are right..