It’s Bernie’s World, We Just Live In It

Ecclestone on a collision between Alonso and Hamilton:

“It would generate a lot of publicity. Imagine if that happened on the last lap of the last race, then the guy that was leading at the time, points-wise, would be the winner. So it would be a controversial end to the championship.”*

What was that line from The Usual Suspects? The greatest trick the devil ever played was convincing the world he didn’t exist?

We’re looking in you general direction Bernie.

*And oh yeah, it’s the only way Ferrari could get back in it.

Japan Grand Prix Thoughts

As I write this there are 8 laps left in a very rainy race at Fuji. Why it’s still running is open for interpretation (FIA hoping Lewis will spin out and give Kimi a chance to catch him. Yeah, I really am this tired of the FIA being completely in the bag for Ferrari.) but it appears it will run to completion. At any rate Lewis Hamilton has run a masterful race, overcoming contact to dominate the race building a 14 second lead in an absolute downpour. Kimi is running 3rd, Massa languishes in 8th, and Alonso is out of the race with a destroyed car; so Lewis is in excellent shape to come out of this race with a healthy increase in his points lead.

Also healthy is his new contract a reported 5 year $110 million contract to stay at McLaren. Which is great news for him, McLaren is the only team he’s ever wanted to run for; and also gives McLaren long term stability. Regardless of what happens with Alonso McLaren has assured itself that it will have the services of a world champion caliber driver.

Kimi and Kovalainen just had an amazing finish, run in near zero visibility that can’t be missed. If you didn’t see it live find a repeat it’s that amazing.

Alonso Says He’ll Stay at McLaren Next Year

Fresh off throwing a season long hissy fit over not being given number one status, accusing the team of supporting Lewis over him, and finally trying to extort Ron Dennis into benching Lewis for the rest of the season to give him a clear shot at the title Alonso is now saying he will return next year. This brings a few questions to mind. First, does McLaren really want him back? If Hamilton can compete for the title, do you really need Alonso and all his baggage?

Second, why would he want to come back? Other then the money that is. Things aren’t really going to be any different next year, Hamilton will still be there with a season under his belt. A season that he performed remarkably on tracks he’d never seen before and without the drama the drama of Alonso. Alonso will never be the clear number one at McLaren as long as Hamilton is there, if anything the odds of Hamilton getting the subtle pushes from the team Alonso has accused him of is more likely to happen as time goes by. Alonso is in his prime, Hamilton is just started and they’re neck and neck. That really has to eat at Alonso.

But it comes down to what I wrote about a few months ago; Alonso has nowhere to really go. Ferrari and BMW are locked in, Renault has an open seat but may not be willing to buy out Alonso’s contract. So Alonso is faced the choice of not racing (something he claims to have pondered in the past) or trying to make the best of it at McLaren. How that goes may be the most entertaining thing about the ‘08 season.

Things I’ve Come to Accept

Holly is the most talented person I know (on the internet).  I envy that she can take the nonsensical ravings of lunatic minds and turn them into pure genius.  Sadly the best I can do is to read them and laugh along with every one else.

Really Late Movie Review: Man of the Year

So I somehow ended up watching Man of the Year yesterday (DSL wasn’t working, I think I’ve said enough about my feelings re: Verizon already) and felt the urge to write about it.  Not to defend the movie; while the first part is an ok political comedy the second section is a shitty political thriller.  No, I felt urged to do what is these days unthinkable; to defend Robin Williams.

Somewhere along the line Robin Williams has become a caricature, when we think of him all that comes to mind is an overly emoted Patch Adams meets Mork.  And in some movies this is true.  But not Man of the Year, while very few parts of this film felt right, his portrayal seemed subdued and as close to realistic as the idea of Robin Williams winning a presidential election could be.  Barry Levinson is to blame for this piece of shit movie; but for once Robin Williams might have been the best thing about it. *

*After Laura Linney.