Paid Fighting: Another Non-Contact Sport Goes Ringside As NASCAR Drivers Duke It Out

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A sports buff, I am not. All of those uniform clad men running around with pumped up egos just waiting to erupt like a volcano on some heavily populated island. But isn't there a specific degree of maturity that fans and observers can expect from these highly paid "athletes?"

An AP news article explains a physical altercation between two disgruntled NASCAR drivers last week during practice. Carl Edwards, driving the 99 car and Kevin Harvick, the 29 car, were captured on film in Harvick's pit stall arguing and when it got heated, it got physical (see the AP ringside photos of the fight).

The two NASCAR stars argued during Thursday's practice when Edwards confronted Harvick in his garage stall at Lowe's Motor Speedway. The photographs, obtained Saturday by The Associated Press, show the two drivers clutching each other as their conversation grew heated.

In the five different frames, Edwards is shown grabbing Harvick by the throat, and Harvick pushing him off him and onto the hood of Harvick's car.

Witness accounts said the two argued, Harvick turned to walk away from Edwards, and Edwards grabbed his shoulder to turn him back around. Witnesses said Harvick responded by shoving Edwards onto the car, and crew members rushing in to separate the two.

Carl Edwards is currently ranked in the top 3 for drivers in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and is number 4 in points. Harvick is ranked #10 for drivers and #6 in points. As the stats show, they are greats in their particular sport so what causes these two multi-million dollar a year cash earners to throw down? According to a report on NASCAR.COM, it was a case of not letting something go that had happened in the past:

They two drivers were involved in a fracas Thursday that stemmed from comments Harvick made following last weekend's event at Talladega Superspeedway, where Edwards sparked an accident that took out several other cars

Race greats like Earnhardt Jr. and Gordon earned over $30 Million US last year and with Harvick cashing in at $11 Million US, you would think that the cost of an ego might not be worth it. Still, NASCAR officials have not penalized the two drivers for what Harvick was quoted in the article as saying as him and his crew "just protected our turf," and that Harvick "could give two sh---s about Carl Edwards."

So it stands to reason, why not leave the fighting to the professionals? Could either of these guys have stood a round with featherweight MMA's number one fighter, Urijah Faber? Probably not. Could it be that the inflated egos of athletes have them believing they are invincible?

Look at Adam "Pacman" Jones of the Dallas Cowboys who allegedly got into a fight this past weekend with a hotel security guard that caused damage to the hotel property. Police had to be called out and yet no charges and no police report filed. Despite Pacman's history of suspension for legal issues that involve, you guessed it, fighting, he is back in the game and part of the "single most valuable sports franchise on the planet." So this guy gets paid to have a puffed ego that someone else can cover up all because he can throw a ball.

It is simply overwhelming from a financial standpoint that adoring fans, if you want to call them adoring, pay $100 US plus for a ticket to watch their favourite team or driver do his thing, all the while padding the pockets of owners and players.

For on the track or on field incidents, maybe they incur fines or suspensions from the game. A slap on the wrist. I mean, without these so-called greats, there would be no game, right? They get to sit in their homes all the while sulking over what they have done? Doubtful. Maybe tack onto the fines several rounds of fighting with their equivalent MMA weight fighter? Now that might bring in some substantial revenue and possibly teach them a lesson. But then, there is possibility of injury and injury to a star is just bad news.

Lets leave the professional fighting to the professionals like Hockey players. Now that is a sport. And as far as NASCAR goes, remember the story back in August where Edwards and another driver were suspended for their actions on the track? There seems to be a consistent pattern associated with a name and it all points to being a hot head for sure.