Comments on: Aren’t The Playoffs Great? http://www.thenascarinsiders.com/2008/09/25/arent-the-playoffs-great/ A blog by insiders for outsiders Tue, 16 Mar 2010 13:54:23 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Links for Friday 9/26 | Auto Racing Driver http://www.thenascarinsiders.com/2008/09/25/arent-the-playoffs-great/comment-page-1/#comment-3995 Links for Friday 9/26 | Auto Racing Driver Thu, 27 Nov 2008 07:10:15 +0000 http://www.thenascarinsiders.com/?p=194#comment-3995 [...] NASCAR Insiders talk about what the Chase for the Cup has done to the sport. I have to agree with them. I was worried what the Chase would do to the sport, however, it seems [...] [...] NASCAR Insiders talk about what the Chase for the Cup has done to the sport. I have to agree with them. I was worried what the Chase would do to the sport, however, it seems [...]

]]> By: Don Good http://www.thenascarinsiders.com/2008/09/25/arent-the-playoffs-great/comment-page-1/#comment-2360 Don Good Tue, 30 Sep 2008 21:27:53 +0000 http://www.thenascarinsiders.com/?p=194#comment-2360 When I first heard of the Chase idea, my thought was something along the lines of "If they had a stupid idea contest, this wouldn't be good enough to get in the competition." Yes, other sports do it. Yes, it works for them. But what makes sense in one sport doesn't always make sense in another. For example, if a basketball hits the line, it's out of bounds. However, if a tennis ball hits the line, it's in. These totally opposite out-of-bounds rules make sense within the context of their respective sports. NASCAR isn't the NFL or any other sport. I'm a realist, the Chase is here and almost certainly to stay. However, my initial position has not changed - I still don't like think it's a good idea. When I first heard of the Chase idea, my thought was something along the lines of “If they had a stupid idea contest, this wouldn’t be good enough to get in the competition.” Yes, other sports do it. Yes, it works for them. But what makes sense in one sport doesn’t always make sense in another. For example, if a basketball hits the line, it’s out of bounds. However, if a tennis ball hits the line, it’s in. These totally opposite out-of-bounds rules make sense within the context of their respective sports. NASCAR isn’t the NFL or any other sport. I’m a realist, the Chase is here and almost certainly to stay. However, my initial position has not changed – I still don’t like think it’s a good idea.

]]> By: Phil http://www.thenascarinsiders.com/2008/09/25/arent-the-playoffs-great/comment-page-1/#comment-2335 Phil Sat, 27 Sep 2008 01:47:14 +0000 http://www.thenascarinsiders.com/?p=194#comment-2335 I did not like the Chase when it was announced and still don't today. I understand the need to create late season excitement and not have the championship all but decided with several races left in the year. However, the Chase format seems so contrived to create artifical excitement. Unlike other sports, it's much harded to totally control your destiny in NASCAR. Flat tires, freak equipment failures, or a bonehead move by another driver can ruin your chances of a championship in a short 10 race "playoff". I'd much rather see a return to the old format with some modification to the point system. Perhaps increase the difference in points between finishing positions. By making a win say 300 points, 2nd place 250, 3rd 225, etc a driver still has the potential to make up a lot of points late in the season. I did not like the Chase when it was announced and still don’t today. I understand the need to create late season excitement and not have the championship all but decided with several races left in the year. However, the Chase format seems so contrived to create artifical excitement. Unlike other sports, it’s much harded to totally control your destiny in NASCAR. Flat tires, freak equipment failures, or a bonehead move by another driver can ruin your chances of a championship in a short 10 race “playoff”. I’d much rather see a return to the old format with some modification to the point system. Perhaps increase the difference in points between finishing positions. By making a win say 300 points, 2nd place 250, 3rd 225, etc a driver still has the potential to make up a lot of points late in the season.

]]> By: Village Idiot Intern http://www.thenascarinsiders.com/2008/09/25/arent-the-playoffs-great/comment-page-1/#comment-2334 Village Idiot Intern Sat, 27 Sep 2008 01:45:12 +0000 http://www.thenascarinsiders.com/?p=194#comment-2334 I see a good way to up the excitement level in the chase. Make the outcome more unpredictable. We recognize that to be in the chase requires excellence in performance throughout the year. So anyone in the chase at the end of the year has proven themselves to date. However, the excitement level is not high enough. To raise the excitement level further, the chase should be five races in length and the points reset should extend to the top twenty drivers in the points standing. Extra points for wins should be five. Extra points for poles should be three. I'll agree, these are negotiable points amounts and I would love to be in on the debate. Oh, the top twenty for the points reset should be debated too, but I believe it should be more than twelve. Points demerits should be issued at the reset for any fines, suspensions or other relevent penalties incurred though the year much as poles and wins should be rewarded. There must be other ideas to increase the pressure on the drivers and the tension in the air for the fans. Chime in and let it be heard. I see a good way to up the excitement level in the chase. Make the outcome more unpredictable. We recognize that to be in the chase requires excellence in performance throughout the year. So anyone in the chase at the end of the year has proven themselves to date. However, the excitement level is not high enough. To raise the excitement level further, the chase should be five races in length and the points reset should extend to the top twenty drivers in the points standing. Extra points for wins should be five. Extra points for poles should be three. I’ll agree, these are negotiable points amounts and I would love to be in on the debate. Oh, the top twenty for the points reset should be debated too, but I believe it should be more than twelve. Points demerits should be issued at the reset for any fines, suspensions or other relevent penalties incurred though the year much as poles and wins should be rewarded. There must be other ideas to increase the pressure on the drivers and the tension in the air for the fans. Chime in and let it be heard.

]]> By: Jay Pees http://www.thenascarinsiders.com/2008/09/25/arent-the-playoffs-great/comment-page-1/#comment-2331 Jay Pees Fri, 26 Sep 2008 19:31:04 +0000 http://www.thenascarinsiders.com/?p=194#comment-2331 Q: Aren't the playoffs great? A: NO This isn't a stick and ball sport. Our teams play every single team every single week. We don't need a contrived system to make it great. Remember the points race of 1992? 1979? 1981? 82? 85? All exciting as can be. Biff could run away with this one but if it were done the right way, everybody would be watching to see if Kyle could get it back together. Would have been fun. Q: Aren’t the playoffs great?
A: NO

This isn’t a stick and ball sport. Our teams play every single team every single week. We don’t need a contrived system to make it great. Remember the points race of 1992? 1979? 1981? 82? 85? All exciting as can be. Biff could run away with this one but if it were done the right way, everybody would be watching to see if Kyle could get it back together. Would have been fun.

]]> By: DK http://www.thenascarinsiders.com/2008/09/25/arent-the-playoffs-great/comment-page-1/#comment-2330 DK Fri, 26 Sep 2008 18:41:47 +0000 http://www.thenascarinsiders.com/?p=194#comment-2330 The Giants were a 14-6 Wild Card team but still a playoff team none the less. In NASCAR we have the possibility that a non playoff team that could prevent a playoff team from winning the title. That cannot happen in the NFL or any other sport for that matter. More than once in the history of the chase has a non playoff team ruined the chances of a playoff team. I don't think the NFL let Miami play in the playoffs last year, but you could easily have a team in NASCAR that sits about 40th in points ruin a season due to this strange playoff they call the chase. The Giants were a 14-6 Wild Card team but still a playoff team none the less. In NASCAR we have the possibility that a non playoff team that could prevent a playoff team from winning the title. That cannot happen in the NFL or any other sport for that matter. More than once in the history of the chase has a non playoff team ruined the chances of a playoff team.

I don’t think the NFL let Miami play in the playoffs last year, but you could easily have a team in NASCAR that sits about 40th in points ruin a season due to this strange playoff they call the chase.

]]> By: Keith http://www.thenascarinsiders.com/2008/09/25/arent-the-playoffs-great/comment-page-1/#comment-2329 Keith Fri, 26 Sep 2008 16:02:52 +0000 http://www.thenascarinsiders.com/?p=194#comment-2329 In other sports you can't play all your competition at the same time like you can in Na$car so playoffs make sense for them. In other sports you can’t play all your competition at the same time like you can in Na$car so playoffs make sense for them.

]]> By: Links for Friday 9/26 http://www.thenascarinsiders.com/2008/09/25/arent-the-playoffs-great/comment-page-1/#comment-2328 Links for Friday 9/26 Fri, 26 Sep 2008 14:59:56 +0000 http://www.thenascarinsiders.com/?p=194#comment-2328 [...] NASCAR Insiders talk about what the Chase for the Cup has done to the sport. I have to agree with them. I was worried what the Chase would do to the sport, however, it seems [...] [...] NASCAR Insiders talk about what the Chase for the Cup has done to the sport. I have to agree with them. I was worried what the Chase would do to the sport, however, it seems [...]

]]> By: David http://www.thenascarinsiders.com/2008/09/25/arent-the-playoffs-great/comment-page-1/#comment-2325 David Fri, 26 Sep 2008 14:45:18 +0000 http://www.thenascarinsiders.com/?p=194#comment-2325 The Chase is awesome! But I still thing some tweaks could be made. For instance, qualifying can and should be rewarded. This is a race in it self. Let’s reward those who consistently qualify well. One more thing…..I am not a big fan of the 12 contender format. I thought 10 were better. But at the end of the day the cream always rise to the top! GO GORDON!!!!! The Chase is awesome! But I still thing some tweaks could be made. For instance, qualifying can and should be rewarded. This is a race in it self. Let’s reward those who consistently qualify well. One more thing…..I am not a big fan of the 12 contender format. I thought 10 were better. But at the end of the day the cream always rise to the top! GO GORDON!!!!!

]]> By: Bobby http://www.thenascarinsiders.com/2008/09/25/arent-the-playoffs-great/comment-page-1/#comment-2324 Bobby Fri, 26 Sep 2008 13:07:34 +0000 http://www.thenascarinsiders.com/?p=194#comment-2324 I think Big Bill is spinning in his grave. Brian France is running the sport straight into the ground. The new car,, the "debris" cautions, The man changed the Bud Shootout, what the hell??!!. Finally, the chase. The dumbest move in the history of NASCAR. Congrats Brian France, now we know why your dad held control so long, he knew you would ruin the sport he loved. It really didn't take you very long to do it either. I think Big Bill is spinning in his grave. Brian France is running the sport straight into the ground. The new car,, the “debris” cautions, The man changed the Bud Shootout, what the hell??!!. Finally, the chase. The dumbest move in the history of NASCAR. Congrats Brian France, now we know why your dad held control so long, he knew you would ruin the sport he loved. It really didn’t take you very long to do it either.

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