Troy Dog’s Shack: Rubbins Racin’

It’s late Thursday evening as I write this column. I’m listening to the hum of Sam and Bub Dog’s sound machines, the pelting of ice from this dumb storm, and the quiet breathing of Ginger Dog next to me. Side note: does your chick sleep so silently that you wonder if she’s still breathing? Just mine? 

I almost said screw it to writing a column this week. This ice storm locked us all down for a few days and I’ve been feeling like Jack Torrance sitting at his typewriter at the Overlook Hotel. 

“All work and no play makes T-Dog a dull boy.”

I didn’t have a topic for this column until ten minutes ago, but something’s been on my mind lately. 

We need to talk about all of us. The fans, riders, media, family, moms and dads, sisters and brothers in this awesome world of Supercross/Motocross. We need to take a step back and remember that we are all humans.   

When I see so many people arguing online over what moves are dirty and blowing hard racing out of proportion, well it drives me nuts. This sport is not for the faint of heart. If the racers want to get into it on the track after coming together, then let them. We don’t have a dog in the fight. You aren’t personally out there racing, so why are you getting so upset and analyzing the moves so much? You can be a fan of anyone you want to be, but you can’t control who gets taken out. Remember, just because Christian Craig or Alex Ray retweeted your tweet that one time it doesn’t make you their bro and they don’t care what you think about what they do on the track. They’re never going to consult your opinion, so just watch and enjoy your favorite rider. If they get taken out then you can be mad, but remember that person who you are arguing with online can’t fix the move that happened.

We live in a world now where everyone has an opinion and that opinion is “correct” and everyone else who thinks a different way is to be disliked. It seems that most people act this way. Whatever happened to differing opinions and still respecting one another? We need to get back to that way of thinking, before it’s too late. 

It’s been four rounds of amazing racing so far. Let’s keep enjoying it and bench racing online about it like we used to. Let’s remember how to respect one another and stop the name calling. What you have is an opinion and it doesn’t make you correct, so sit down and be humble.

We all love this sport so let’s just treat one another like family. That’s why this sport has always been cool.