DANICA PATRICK: Athlete, Business Professional or . . . Pin-Up Icon?

The first time I saw or heard of the name Danica Patrick, I had just come into the living room a few years back and my family was irregularly gathered around the TV watching The Indy 500 . . . . . And we are not (or should I say WERE not) racing fans at all! When I asked what the big deal was, they told me that a woman was leading the Indy 500! I don’t know what happened to me but from that point on (probably with a few million other people), I IMMEDIATELY BECAME A “DANICA” FAN !!! . . . And of course, by following her in the next few weeks . . . BECAME an IRL Racing Fan! I began to be familiar with all of Danica’s other competitors on the circuit and before I knew it, I had A SIXTEENTH-SCALE MODEL OF DANICA’S RACE CAR (when she was Letterman Racing and their major sponser was Argent) SIGNED BY DANICA HERSELF SITTING IN MY LIVING ROOM AS MY PRIZE POSESSION !!! HOWEVER, as time went on, I realized that I was a fan of Danica’s for a lot of COMPLETELY DIFFERENT REASONS other than just her Racing. You See, I myself was always (and still) one that loved “the underdog” . . . the one that “bucked” the system . . . The one that “went against the grain” and just plain OVERCAME ALL THE PLAYERS AND ALL THE SUPPORTERS FOR THAT TEAM CALLED “THE ODDS”! This, in part, because my own life has been very much the same way (and that’s, as we say, “another Hub, another time”). It was when I saw a film of Danica just “blazing” past her fellow racers at the age of ten that I felt SO PROUD of her (all these years later). AND by the way, those fellow racers were ALL BOYS which, as you can guess, used to tease her for even being there . . . Let alone RACE THEM? My immediate feeling was “YES, IN YOUR FACE”! Not because they were boys, but because I naturally have a disrespect for anyone who doesn’t respect and show courtesy to their fellow (or sister) competitor, co-worker . . . And so on. Another reason I was proud of her was that, after her Strong Showing at Indy in her rookie season, IRL (Indy Racing League) MERCHANDISE SALES TRIPLED with Danica’s Merchandise responsible for about 67% of that and the rest of the league making up the remaining 33%! Unforgiving, “The Odds Team” and all it’s supporters (mostly surrogate from another team called, “it’s a man’s sport and a man’s world”) shot another missile Danica’s way in the form of a question . . . “But, can she win?”. You have to understand, Danica (and people of the like) has to take these “shots” and still be Professional, Polite, Polished, Proper and Prepared … Always! Is it any wonder her last initial is P? Anyhow, Danica was just that, taking shot after shot, displaying no negative verbal superlatives to the public and her fans (many of whom are young women, not to mention the waves of men). One day (about the end of March 2008) I thought to myself, She has been so good through all of this (even through some HORRIFIC crashes that would make any man OR woman cringe) . . . Someday, God has just GOT to reward her. For everything she’s gone through, for her efforts on the racetrack and something that would FINALLY be in the form of her own “Nuclear Blast” fired as a DIRECT HIT to the other side who she took all those negativity “hits” from until now. Literally, about three weeks later, under cloudy skies and intense conditions, She Got That Long Awaited “Reward”! On April 20th, 2008, Danica Patrick BECAME THE FIRST WOMAN EVER TO WIN AN INDY CAR SERIES (or IRL) RACE !!! I Just Can’t Tell You How Proud I Was (am) of Her! It was surreal to see her atop the podium (with a trophy almost as tall as she is) with two men in second and third in a what is suppost to be “man’s” sport (they were good sportsmen though). She had achieved The Second of her Three Big Dreams for herself (first of course becoming a Professional Indy Car Driver and the second to Win A Major Race and become the first Woman in History to do so). All that’s left is just to do a little thing called “Winning The Indy 500”! . . . And you know, I have no doubt that SHE WILL Someday! However, to me, there is one more thing that Danica can do that leaves all the other drivers (no disrespect intended) in the dust. She is a Beautiful Woman. I don’t know of any other “SportsPerson” who has accomplished what she has . . . In a so-called “man’s” sport (which she has now changed) . . . and look like a Supermodel ALONG the Supermodels in a Supermodel Project . . . Like The Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue 2009 !!!
HOWEVER, all that being said, I will say this . . . Danica is a Beautiful Soul and A Beautiful Woman. Yes, I admire her for what she has accomplished on AND off the track. However, I admire her most for WHO SHE IS. SHE IS A BEAUTIFUL AND KIND WOMAN WHO RUNS WITH THE RACING TITANS (that travel even faster than the top Nascar Champions!), RISKING HER LIFE EACH TIME SHE DOES (just like the men) WHILE KEEPING HER PROFESSIONAL MANNERS IN CHECK . . . A WOMAN WHO NEVER STRAYED (regardless of incredible negativity forced upon her) FROM HER DREAM ALL THE WAY FROM THE TIME SHE WAS A CHILD UNTIL NOW, THUS, PROVING THE PRACTICE OF CONSISTENCE AND PERSISTENCE ARE KEY ELEMENTS TO SUCCESS (to Women and Men alike). The funny thing is, usually, it’s a college professor or a professional at the end of his or her career that MIGHT be able to teach you these things . . . If you are indeed one of the few. HOWEVER, THIS TEACHER (already of many lessons) JUST HAPPENS TO BE A BEAUTIFUL WOMAN THAT APPEARS IN THE ANNUAL Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition . . . AND MORE THAN ONCE !!!  Now, with a hand in the Two Top Motor Racing Sports in the world (Indy Car AND Nascar), all I can say is ...

“You Go Girl! . . . . . Keep Going! . . . . . And When You Do Go, GO FAST !!!

We Love You Danica!