Alrighty then, a bit of information regarding this underground movement that was started up in 2005.
The ability of a 'Stopper' is in their capacity to be the final post in the vast majority of topics or to completely ruin the momentum of a topic and/or sporting person/horse/etc. Until recently, our numbers were scarce, testament to how difficult it is to become a 'Stopper', but over the last month a re-evaluation has taken place and the following foxsport bloggers have been given a place on the register;
photogr - his main skill lies in picking Jimmie Johnson for Cup races. Jimmie's performance at Dover (flat tyre), Pocono (crash) and, at the present moment, Sonoma (penalised and will start from the back of the field) have earnt photo this honour. He has since switched drivers for the Sonoma race having seen Jimmie's predicament...this has the potential to end up in tears on Sunday.
Dave_In_Indy - it takes a great amount of talent to be able to pick two drivers out of three who will run out of fuel, but that is exactly what Dave did last week for the Cup and Busch races. Another strong showing in the Formula 1 however may see his membership come under question from the other members.
williamwilman - Will is currently doing exactly what he needs to do since he is running the Trifecta competition; not leading it. His main ability lies in picking drivers who he believes are certainties to do well and they bomb out instead...expectations are that he will rig his competition so he ends up winning anyway ;)
volfan69 - this application was brought forward by other members. Picked Bobby Hamilton Jr in last weeks Busch race as part of her Trifecta and he got caught up in a crash. By dint of trailing the field in Will's Trifecta percentages, she gets a well-earned spot on the board.
14Falcons - Started off with a hiss and a roar by winning the Memorial Day Trifecta but has since stumbled into obscurity and found his seat at the table after picking Kenseth in last weeks Cup race...only for it to be the first race Matt hasn't finished on the lead lap.
Tezgm99 - the founder based on his ability on another messageboard where his record of being the final post on a thread topic was hovering around 90%, he therefore calls the shots on who gets in and who has to prove their worth before being accepted into this elite club. Any questions about his place as leader are met with the following names and races; Massa at the Canadian GP (got DQ'd), Rosberg at Indy (running in the top 6 with 5 laps to go...then his engine blew up), Newman at Michigan (qualified in the top 4...finished 37th having lost 3 laps early and managed to take out Kenseth, ruining Falcons day too) and Heidfeld at Indy (having said that both drivers starting with 'Nic' were driving well, both failed to finish the race).
To receive an invitation is all about fully recognising this special talent.
Notable Mentions:
JayJayDean - a stats guru through and through, JJD scours the history books any chance he gets in an attempt to gain a 'leg up' on the compeition in the Trifecta. He is the only multiple round winner so not all members agree with him being placed at the table, hence only provisional status has been granted. His pick of Robert Kubica at Montreal though was a spectacular move...nearly as spectacular as Robert's horror crash. Amazingly, Robert escaped with only a few bruises and a mild concussion.
Candystar - not part of the foxsports community but deserves a mention on here regardless. A feisty Canadian who loves nothing better than leaving Tez at awkward moments when instant messaging with him, she can only make the grade based on her ability to be the last poster on messageboards as she isn't a sports fan (likes horses though). At present, her record of achieving that isn't brilliant...but she is learning patience.
Don't I deserve a TINY bit of consideration for picking Kubica for the Canadian GP? I realize he didn't finish last, but he certainly had the worst twenty seconds or so since the trifecta began. :)
How uplifting it is to be recognized by one's peers. You have no idea how much this meant to me. Even now, my eyes are welling up.
People appreciate me, people really appreciate me.
I don't know what my particular stopper theme will be this week. Maybe it will be "running out of fuel" again, or maybe it will be hitting a deer on the course, or maybe it will be something weird. But I know I have a special talent. A talent for finding a common theme behind certain driver's - in diverse auto racing series - unexpected on-course failures. Most importantly, that talent is recognized by the people who matter to me.
Excuse me (turning away to avoid showing any more emotion) ...
Last edited by Dave_in_Indy on June 22nd at 6:21 PM.
AAAARRRRUUUUGG !!!At least I am consistent consistently when it comes to Jimmie boy. Can you believe it?? Now I pick him and he gets caught cheating (Gordo Too). No wonder the insiders tip from Lowes brochure says he will win...
Thanks for inducting me into the Stoppers Club.. I am honored, I think..
OH IGET IT TEZ this is like a comedy roast ha ha ha i would hate to think you have appointed your self a blog police trying to ticket this talented daias and dont mess with the silverback
you can't count on my stoppers. i only know that one of my three is going to be a stopper. i can't tell you which one. i am also working on a theory that can be the Unstopper. it's top secret though. i can be bought for a price, but it is currently unfinished due to insufficient field testing.
take jimmie johnson for example. now photo has dropped him like a hot potato. if dave-in-indy ends up taken my pick for the cup race then i'm going with jimmie. it's the perfect UNstopper.
2nd or 3rd. i couldn't remember. all i remember is thinking there is no way tery labonte is going to win this race. i was getting scared. nothing against terry, just couldn't believe it was happening.
Tez is a rare creature; an Australian who was living in New Zealand before moving to Canada. He's also a Civil Engineer who is hoping to spend his Monday to Friday sitting in front of a computer surfing the inter...uh, working hard for an Engineering Consultant or Contractor when he finds a job. His heart is torn between his two loves; F1 and NASCAR.
Due to his high interest in those, his blogs will likely focus on them with the occasional foray into sports that don't get much (if any) mention on this website. All blogs and/or comments will more than likely have his usual dollop of sarcasm and general Aussie spin on them.
Amazingly, he also managed to score 2 MiB nominations on consecutive days (August 5 & 6, 2007) after announcing he had been keeping track of them...he's considering hiding under his bed as a result.