Quick note of thanks...
 

I'll merge this with the 'Have to listen to ATR' thread, but just wanted to thank everybody for the delightfully polite and intelligent conversation there all day long. With the ongoing potential for vitriole and stupidity on the particular topic, (and with my own silly blow up with Davidowitz Wednesday as the backdrop), I have marveled all day how civil and respectful everyone has been with each other.

I'm particularly proud of how everyone treats their fellow DTers on a uniform basis anyway, but thought today was a shining moment. I'll also thank those that have stood up for me elsewhere on the internet today, particularly in places where seething hate and vengefulness seem to reign freely.

With appreciation..
Steve

I was just about to challenge everyone, who posted negatively over the Paulik report site, to a fight at Carolina BBQ opening day of Saratoga to defend DT's honor. I take it from your genial words you would not be in favor of this.












Just kidding of course. Keep up the great work.

I don't know why the threads can't always be like this. There is never a reason for insults or name-calling. If a person disagrees with someone, they should simply say, "I disagree with you and here is why....".

Consider the cowardly personal attacks as indications that you are doing something right. Those who are firing arrows at you from behind the safety of their keyboards are largely motivated by jealously of your success and the level of influence you wield in this sport.

Steve,
I got your back till the end. If you need a bodyguard for Toga this summer, I am your man.

:tro:

God willing I will be at the Spa this summer too .

All for one and one for all .
:tro:

Steve:

Hang in there. You're due! :$::$::$::$::

Amanda Duckworth agrees with you too,Steve.http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/hor...nda&id=5295105

:tro:

I read the comments underneath her column bashing Amanda's credibility

The Zenyatta Protection League is fierce. They don't let anyone post anything that questions Zenyatta without bashing the poster's credibility.

C'mon the guy who tried to steal the table cloth was almost beaten. No worries ever.

Who is this Kasept guy anyway?:p;)

Wow, I'm out of commission for a couple days and sounds like things went nuts. Gonna have to go back and listen to Wed's show. I hope everybody hugged it out in the end. I get the massive love for Zenyatta. Even if she couldn't run a lick, she's honestly a supermodel when it comes to good looks and that's some serious star quality just standing there, nevermind when she runs. God doesn't usually give with both hands, but she got the talent and the beauty. She's magic. I've said it before, I'll say it again. I don't want to get to the end of her career and find I didn't appreciate it while it was in action because I was too caught up in some silly rivalry. Gotta take it all in when great horses do their thing. Enjoy it while it's here.

One of the things I do love about ATR and DT is that even though we can all get defensive, things are always geared around making the sport better and improving things for the people and horses involved. We get passionate because there's something worth caring this much about. Not everybody has that in their lives. We're pretty lucky.

Steve,

This sport is so compelling because the followers of it tend to be of a higher capacity, and the odds are fueled by differences of opinion that we all get to continuously test. There is so much data and information available to try to form that opinion, and we get paid best when our correct opinion is contrarian. I know I am drawn to the puzzle of figuring out who will win.

Having just listened to the Davidowitz interview on the replay, I'm surprised you could hold out as long as you did. I like Davidowitz and he's a brilliant race analyst, much like yourself Steve, but for the life of me I couldn't follow the raw emotion supporting his superlatives regarding Zenyatta. I would have blew up with a shorter fuse.

As to your other point, there are a lot of classy people on this site, and I think most try to be respectful. Aside from the "Politics and Society" forum, where we all let it get a little raw and I think that is appropriate there, I would have been surprised if people started throwing bombs regarding the Davidowitz interview and the polarizing issue of Zenyatta's rank among prominent horses.

One positive note: Since it was not available on satellite radio, it kept me from driving off the road while listening... :D

Joe

:tro:

All you need is a Willie Stargell "We are family" loop in the background when DT comes back on live air.

:tro:

Bite this Byk!












;)