Another interesting article....

[Jeff]

If you want to live in anonimity, go to a motorcycle road race in the US.

No Sh1t there Dave!  If MJ does show up at the club level, it might draw some attraction!  That would be pretty good IMHO...

[Super Dave]

But, WILL anyone make a big deal?

Honestly, at this stage of the game, I'm leaving for Daytona on Monday.  I'm sure that the potential rider for the team (whoever you think it might be) might be doing FUSA next week.  And wouldn't you expect a press release from the team or a sponsor that is working with the team?

Certainly, it should be a big deal.

Hey, remember that MJ was supposed to be buying the Milwaukee Bucks many months back...You think that the track day and some good times with friends tempered him from buying the Bucks and he though that doing something with motorcycles was now more important to him?

Do you think the rest of the American Sports Media will take notice of his interest?

Do you think that motorcycle road racing in America is ready for proper scrutiny by the "non-motorcyle media"?  That one's easy...No...motorcycle road racing will be like a bad joke to them.

[motomadness]

Well, I was looking on the AMA's US Superbike web site where they list competition numbers and found the following information.  

#123 MONTEZ STEWART  MATTESON, IL Jordan Brand / Alpinestars / Parts Unlimited / Gatorade / Gemini Technology Systems

The funny thing is, this was posted back in October (that's what the date on the link says).  Man are we some observant people.  Anyway, just another log to add to the fire. Tez has a Supersport and a Superstock license.


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Back to the article:

Personally, I think that article is in poor taste.  It is obviously a ploy to draw people out that know information.  I say this because in both articles Dean Adams (DA) insults both MJ and Tez by calling Tez an amateur.  There's nothing wrong with being an amateur, but it's almost like DA is trying to make it seem like MJ and Tez can't put a top professional privateer effort together if that's what they chose to do.  As racers in the MW regions we all know Tez has talent, he's one of the best we have.  Now he has an opportunity to run with the big boys with an obviously incredible sponsor and I think we should support them however we can.  Tez is not a CMRA, WERA or WSMC racer.  He's a CCS racer, one of our own.  When the AMA race hits your area, go out and support him and his team.  Wear some CCS paraphenalia too.

[Lowe119]

Another Article:



http://www.gazettextra.com/jordan021904.asp

[StumpysWife]

I say this because in both articles Dean Adams (DA) insults both MJ and Tez by calling Tez an amateur.  There's nothing wrong with being an amateur, but it almost like DA is trying to make it seem like MJ and Tez can't put a top professional privateer effort together if that's what they chose to do.

Thank you for stating exactly what I was thinking.  Just because MJ is willing to bring a new face into the lineup makes Tez an amateur?  Please.

All I can figure is this is the new term for true privateer versus Jason Pridmore the Privateer/Valvoline Emgo Privateers.  Who knows.

We'll be there cheering for Tez with bells on.  You can count on it.    

Heather

[K3 Chris Onwiler]

I've teamed and traveled with Tez, Reese, Arvin, Ike, Sean and of course my awesome best friend Dave Vaughn.  I've seen how sometimes things are just suddenly different when they show up at a place, and let's face it, it's because they're black.  Truth be told, things were a bit edgy at first when Reese and Tez started with CCS, but I knew my way around and introduced them to the right people.  In no time they were part of the track family.
I expect that Tez and MJ will find similar problems in AMA at first, but Tez is such an incredible guy to talk to and MJ is MJ.  Eventually it will be all right.
Predjudice sucks, but these guys break it down just by being too awesome to not count among your friends.  This can be nothing but good for our sport, and by bringing down barriers, good for the world in general.
Can you imagine Tez's first podium intervue? ;D

[Dawn]

Can you imagine Tez's first podium intervue? ;D

LOL!!!

 ;D

[motomadness]

I just want to be there and get sprayed with champagne.  I know the following sounds bad, but please keep the sexual replies to a minimum (K3). Last year, at Mid-Ohio, I tried to purposefully get in the way to get sprayed and all I got was an erand drop of it from somewhere in the vicinity of the podium.  I didn't even notice it at first.  I just happened to look down at my shirt. Ahh well.

I should really remove this note, because it is full of barbs all pointed right at me. Let me quit will I am going.

[motomadness]

Nate,

That's cool.  It just caught me off guard that their list was four months old and the media is just now getting a hold of things.  

Just a few more days, and we'll see what happening. ;D

[Super Dave]

Predjudice?

Stevie Patterson was black.  He was with Team Valvoline for years.  Before most of you guys ever were road racing, I suspect.

Predjudice?

The only predjudice at an AMA National...being too slow.  

I don't think Tez will be "too slow", but he has a huge learning curve.  Let me state that again....HUGE!

Podium?  No.  I don't see it happening.  I know he's motivated, I know he's been working hard...even talked to him.  If he could get a bike into the top ten...that would be outstandng.  The bike being the best it can won't cut it.  Still has to be ridden to it's fullest.  Practically all the tracks are new.  Again, it's a huge learning curve.  Unless you've experienced it first hand, it's hard to explain.

[motomadness]

Been thinking about what Super Dave has been saying and I think I am beginning to understand it.  With MJ's involvement the sport will get some attention, which is good.  However, MJ himself is not racing in the AMA, nor is he qualified to be, no matter how much money he has, although we know if he wanted to he could apply himself and make something happen.  What I am trying to say is that Tez will make the team what it is, not MJ.  I see MJ's role as a provider of resources, it up to Tez to go out there and perform to make their program shine.

Tez, if you see this, I know many of us are rooting for you man.

[Super Dave]

I certainly think that it's an opportunity that the rider never had, and could never provide himself.

MJ's involvement may server to legitimize the sport in the eyes of some...bring it into some kind of main stream.  But that would, again, require that the teams themselves be professional, which we know some aren't.

It would require that the organization conduct itself in a manner that is condusive to an equal playing field that is fair to all under the rules structure.

Certainly, MJ has the opportunity, given his experience with real sports organizations that make money, to build a program that is more professional than other programs.  Almost have to as general, industry, and motorcycling public scrutiny will be "available".  

I hope for the best, and I can see where it will be something cool for motorcycle road racing.