Robby Gordon Won’t Race Women

Racecar driver Robby Gordon refuses to race against newcomer Danica Patrick claiming that her petite size gives her an unfair advantage. Gordon, whose weight is variously reported from 180 to 205 pounds, whines that Patrick, at 100 pounds, has a one mile per hour gain over him. Wisely, the Indy Racing League dismissed Gordon’s complaint stating: “It’s no issue at all…”

Clearly, Gordon’s issue is not Patrick’s weight, but her gender. Gordon has never balked at racing against Indy winner Dan Wheldon who weighs in at 157 pounds. According to Gordon’s pseudo-physics, Wheldon, weighting 48 pounds less than Gordon, would have a half a mile per hour lead over his pudgy competitor.

If weight were the issue, the solution is simple; add weight to each car so that all cars with their drivers are of equal weight. But Gordon has not suggested that that all weight differences be eliminated nor has he refused to race against any driver that weighs less than he does. Showing a lack of sports(wo)manship that exposes his chauvinistic attitude he has only refused to race against Patrick – that is, he will not risk losing to a woman.

From Slate.com

"Impatience"
By Rachel Hadas

Late in the month, late afternoon,
en route or waiting for the train,
spring barely peeking through mild rain:
what does this impatience mean?

Scarlet eruptions on the skin.
We're poised: when will the war begin?
I crane to hear the starting gun.
What does this impatience mean?

Wait for the other shoe to drop.
What now is green will soon be ripe;
what's ripening began as green,
so what does this impatience mean?

Is the best position for the hurt
of life in time to stay alert
or try to sleep to ease the strain,
the rash, the spring, the war, the rain,

oh what does this impatience mean?


Rachel Hadas is board of governors professor of English at Rutgers
University and the author of many books of poetry, essays, and translations.
Two books are forthcoming next year: The River of Forgetfulness (poems)
and Classics (essays).