Tuesday, May 02, 2006

On Danica's Demise

Well I'm at work today watching Cold Pizza on ESPN2, a show that I genuinely enjoy on a fairly regular basis. One of today's guests was female Indy Car driver Danica Patrick. As you may know, 24-year old Danica is one of only a few women who have raced in the Indy 500, and she is the only one who can say that she led for at least 1 lap (she led 19 to be exact).

While I know nothing about racing (nor do I really care), I was about to tune out the conversation when suddenly something caught my attention. Apparently Mrs. Patrick has her own book out now where she discusses her rise to stardom, what it's like being a woman in a "man's sport", etc. Writer's apparently showed interest in Danica soon after last year's race, and desired to help her write this "autobiography".

While I have no problems with Danica Patrick the person, I do have problems with this whole book ordeal. She hasn't accomplished anything worthy of a book deal. I mean she raced well at Indy last year, but she didn't win. She hasn't won anything, as a matter of fact. And she is not the first woman to race at Indy; there have been others before her.

Her career has just started; so why does a 24 year-old race car driver get a book deal? I'll tell you why: because she is an attractive woman. Let's just be honest here...would she be getting all this attention had it not been for her looks? I doubt it. I'm not trying to take away from her talent, but her looks, not her driving, have made her successful so far in her young career.

Remember a few years ago when a young girl named Sarah Fischer raced at the Indy 500? It was a "big deal", but all the buzz dies away after the race. Why? She just wasn't as attractive as Danica Patrick. Indy was only the beginning for Danica. Next came TV commericals for motor oil, photo shoots for magazines, countless TV appearances, and now a book deal.

I've written about this topic before, but I felt the need to address it again. Like I said, I have nothing against Danica. My only beef is with the media's exploitation of people (specifically those considered attractive by the general public) just to make a buck. During the interview, even Danica herself questioned why she had a book, saying something to the effect of "I don't really know why they wanted to write about my life. I guess they see something interesting about my life that I don't know about. But I guess now I can say I'm an author". You're right Danica, they do see something. They see $$$$$$.

My point here is this: is it really that big of a deal that she has an autobiography at age 24? Not really. But think about this: even some of the most prominent people in American history didn't write books until much later in life. Bill Clinton. Malcolm X. Martin Luther King Jr. Has Danica really accomplished what these people have? No, she led 19 laps at the Indy 500.

My greatest fear is that overexposure will catch up to her. I would like to see her succeed as a racer, I think that would be fantastic. But the media can wear you down and hinder your career. It would be a shame if that happened to such a promising and talented young person as Danica Patrick.

posted by Wes @ 3:16 PM

5 Comments:

At 5/02/2006 04:09:00 PM, Blogger Jon Canler said...

I agree....As soon as you asked why she got a book deal, my first thought was looks. I hate the media. They are lame, money hungry, and care not for people.
I'm done. Thanks for helping me waste time before my final.

 
At 5/02/2006 09:27:00 PM, Blogger JTapp said...

This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

 
At 5/02/2006 09:29:00 PM, Blogger JTapp said...

Ease off of Danica, everyone has a book these days. Geez, Sebastian Telfair had a book, and SI cover, and a documentary movie about his life at the age of 19!

Danica did better than any other IRL rookie in the last 10 years. She grabbed the pole position in qualifying a few times, and finished in the top 5 several times. She really is a good driver and getting better.

Her story is also interesting because of all the ways that the IRL is just designed for men. I mean the comissioner made really off-color sexist comments about her, and then when he called to apologize he ended up just saying the same things again. That's what I find interesting.

It's a made-for-Disney story. It's better than Telfair's, or Kato Kaelin's or some other poser's story.

 
At 5/04/2006 05:15:00 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

that's what i like to see! my husband giving a girl some credit! good job, dear!

 
At 5/06/2006 09:01:00 AM, Blogger Justin said...

I do like the "D. Patrick" sportscenter promotion...it was quite funny!!

 

Post a Comment

<< Home