Is Watching Your Temper Worth Winning A Title, Tony?

(Originally published on Jan. 9, 2008)

In my initial blog entry, I recalled seeing a kid at Home Depot in one of those carts resembling Tony Stewart's car, and how his tantrum was fitting considering Stewart's often uneven temper.
I'm not even sure that Stewart himself would disagree. Here's his own take on how he acts when in the spotlight, according to a recent ESPN.com story.
"While I'm there [at the track], I'm busy, I'm working. I'm not worried about signing autographs. I'm not worried about smiling or stopping to pose for pictures or shaking hands and all that. I'm not there to run for office."
But no matter how he behaves, there are many who support him unconditionally. My light attempt at humor was met with response teeming with vitriol.
"In the new world of "corporate' NASCAR, Stewart is the last of the real racers. If you had a clue about racing you would know that. Wish we had more like him."
"At least Tony has a personality and isn't a STEPFORD driver like Jimmie [Johnson]."
Apparently his supporters have no trouble enduring rough treatment. Some of Stewart's fans are such masochists that they should hold off on getting that new No. 20 sweatshirt and settle for a whip and studded collar.
But he has to calm it down in 2008. Not for his image, which he couldn't care less about. And certainly not for his fan base, who love him as a bad guy, just like fans who cheered for "Nature Boy" Ric Flair and got excited when he chose to either ignore or belittle them with comments such as "My shoes cost more than your house."
It's all about performance. Even with Joe Gibbs being back in the mix, it's hard to imagine a Stewart-Kyle Busch-Denny Hamlin combo not turning into NASCAR's version of Cops. J.D. Gibbs and his pop would star as the sheriff's deputies dispatched to the double-wide for the 14th time to quell the lovers' (drivers') triangle that has further regressed thanks to two bottles of Wild Irish Rose and a Poulin Weed Eater.
This is one tough trio to handle. Busch's dustups are as well-documented as older brother Kurt's, and Hamlin already got into it last year with Stewart, as well as Kyle Petty.
But Kyle Busch is only 22, and despite being 27, Hamlin is still only going into his third full year at NASCAR's top level. Stewart is a 36-year-old two-time Cup champion. In theory, he's the one who is supposed to have a calming effect on his younger charges.
Now, some may be looking forward to battles between teammates that have a little more vinegar than the Johnson-Jeff Gordon mutual appreciation society confab that was last year's Chase for the Championship. But especially with the wildcard of Toyota entering the mix, who's to say that the Gibbs Racing contingent can contend for the title if it has any excessive drama to deal with? "Teammates" Rusty Wallace and Ryan Newman grew to hate each other while driving for Roger Penske, who is still looking for his first Cup championship.
A kinder, gentler Stewart wouldn't be about appeasing guys like me at the track. It may be the key to another title. And wouldn't that be a good enough reason to put the black hat aside for a while?