Track Smack: Better than ever and worse than ever (cont'd)

Mark Aumann: I agree with the Talladega officials. It's hard to stand there and try to figure out who threw something. However, with closed-circuit cameras and recording devices, the odds of you getting a decent shot of the can-thrower go up.

Dave Rodman: Great points, guys. I figured banning personal containers would peeve people enough that they would turn in the jerks.

Send 'em home

David Caraviello applauds Talladega's attempts to put an end to unruly fan behavior that can be dangerous but definitely projects the sport in a bad light.

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David Caraviello: Mark is right. That's how the NFL and the NBA do it. Look at the videotape, analyze the seating chart, and hunt these idiots down.

Dave Rodman: But that's as bad an idea as our buddy Dave Despain had about inviting the National Guard to a race and then turning them into the Gestapo at the checkered flag.

Mark Aumann: No, increased police presence isn't going to make that big a difference. You're talking about a grandstand that's more than a quarter-of-a-mile long. You can't put enough cops there to catch everyone.

David Caraviello: They had increased police presence Sunday. They had armed deputies up there. It's not going to make a difference to a dude who's had too much Bud.

Mark Aumann: And most fans don't want to "get involved."

Dave Rodman: True -- but the more they could catch the better. And nor should fellow fans have to "play cop."

Mark Aumann: And I can see their point. Do you want to finger out a hoodlum, only to have his buddies meet your face with their fists?

Dave Rodman: Let the National Guard direct traffic and the uniforms arrest people for assault.

David Caraviello: I think the National Guard has bigger problems.

Dave Rodman: True. It wasn't my idea, anyway. But I'm just trying to figure out a way to get rid of a little more post-race traffic.

Mark Aumann: Unless the National Guard builds wider access roads, that ain't gonna help.

David Caraviello: Some of the e-mails I've received in the wake of this, from fans who have had awful experiences sitting next to drunks in the stands, are scary.

Dave Rodman: Considering the races I've sat in the stands, I'm mighty impressed anyone even goes to races. I guess I have lived a more sheltered life than I could have ever imagined.

David Caraviello: Scary thing, Dave, is it's like that everywhere now. NFL, NHL, you name it -- too many people think sporting-event attendance gives them a license to get drunk, curse up a storm and act up in public.

Mark Aumann: It's a growing problem in today's society. People just don't have as much respect for others as they once did.

Dave Rodman: Talladega should put its jail on wheels and tour it around to every track on the circuit.

David Caraviello: I think the fans were throwing beer bottles because their lanyards weren't as nice as those worn by people in the garage.

Dave Rodman: I definitely do need to get out of the house more. Just when I think the people milling around NASCAR races are totally clueless and self-centered, I realize it might be the same at any large sporting event. Probably is.

Mark Aumann: Well, most other sporting events don't allow you to bring your own missiles. They allow you to purchase beverages for an outrageous sum. And then they get the recycling profits, too.

Dave Rodman: I think they do let charitable organizations in to do the recycling. Too much time and money, otherwise.

Mark Aumann: I wonder if the accused at Talladega got special striped lanyards on Sunday?

Dave Rodman: You want an interesting exercise in physics? See how far you can toss a cup with liquid in it, without spilling any more of it than you have to -- since the weight of the liquid would be inversely proportional to the attainable distance.

David Caraviello: Huh?

Dave Rodman: Was that a scarecrow-esque comment, or what?

Mark Aumann: I think your thought process is inversely proportional to your common sense, but then again, I haven't thrown a cup of liquid in anger.

Dave Rodman: Me either. I was just trying to use my imagination. Now the contents, that's another thing. I saved the cup to get a refill.

David Caraviello: At least you haven't since that day in Tijuana in 1975, right, Mark? But we'll save that for another day.

The opinions expressed are solely of the participants.