Stars und Sternchen! » it makes you a better

INDIANAPOLIS -- While his team struggled with setup and speed, Scott Dixon has flown under the radar during preparations for the Indianapolis 500. Its exactly how he wants it. Its how he has tried to be his entire career. "I like to live simply," Dixon said. As such, one of the most decorated drivers of the last decade goes grossly underappreciated for his accomplishments. Hes the Jimmie Johnson of IndyCar, the driver tearing through the record books with his eye on the top names in series history. Dixons 33 career victories rank seventh all-time, and three more wins would leapfrog him past Al Unser Jr. and Bobby Unser into fourth place. The only drivers who rank higher than Dixon in victories right now have the last name Andretti, Foyt and Unser. Since joining Chip Ganassi Racing in 2002 while the team still raced in the now-defunct CHAMP Car Series, Dixon has won at least one race in every season except two. He has an Indianapolis 500 win on his resume, and his three IndyCar championships -- spread out in 2003, 2008 and 2013 -- show a consistency and longevity thats hard to match. At just 33 years old, he conceivably has almost another decade of racing ahead of him. But hes worked in the shadow of some huge personalities and some of open-wheel racings biggest stars. When Dario Franchitti joined the Ganassi organization in 2009, Dixon watched his famous teammate reel off three consecutive championships and two Indy 500 wins. In that same span, Dixon finished second in the championship once, third three times, and finished second to Franchitti in the 2012 Indy 500. Living in Franchittis shadow never bothered him. "I preferred that, actually," said Dixon, who will start Sundays Indy 500 in 11th, in the fourth row. "When I come out of the truck and everyone is standing around waiting, they all chased after Dario and I could just get on the scooter and ride off and get to work. Ive never had any problem not having the spotlight on me." Franchitti is on the sidelines now, forced into retirement last November from injuries suffered in a crash at Houston a month earlier. The imposing 1-2 attack of the two red Target cars has been broken up. It means Dixon finally has the team to himself, but he doesnt view it that way -- he maintains its always been owner Chip Ganassis team -- and the laid-back New Zealander isnt seeking any fame. Its a shame, because hes earned the attention. "Hes achieved so much, hes one of the most successful of all time, but a lot of people dont know that," said reigning Indianapolis 500 winner Tony Kanaan, a fan favourite and Franchittis replacement this year in the Ganassi organization. "He just does his job. Is he more famous than me? Not really. But were not talking about that. Its not what his goal is. Hes doing exactly what he wants to do." Dixon excels at striving for more and putting in the work toward continuing to improve his race craft. "He doesnt stop learning. He doesnt allow what hes just done to be the high point in his life, in his career. He only uses that as a springboard for the next day," said Mike Hull, Ganassis managing director and the strategist atop Dixons pit stand. "We just do not stop learning together, and he represents us. I wish we could clone him, to be honest about it, moving forward because hes the kind of person you need driving your race cars." In his 13th season with Ganassi, Dixon is easily the longest tenured driver in organization history. The team owner says the longevity is because Dixon "doesnt seem to carry much baggage with him." For an owner who dislikes drama or having to massage egos and manage personalities, Dixon is his easy child. As for where Dixon ranks among the all-time greats, Ganassi doesnt want to be part of the conversation. "Were obviously very proud to have Scott," Ganassi said. "When you talk about legacies ... that will be something someday for you in the media to talk about. I dont think its our position in the race team to talk about that. We certainly think his name deserves to be up there as well." Air Max Belgique Pas Cher . Louis and Ryan Kesler have demanded to be traded. Air Max Belgique . Louis Blues, having added Ryan Miller and Steve Ott from Buffalo, remain the No. http://www.airmaxpascher.be/ . The Toronto Argonauts signed the veteran linebacker to a three-year deal Tuesday, hours after the start of CFL free agency. Air Max a Vendre En Belgique . Make the extra pass, take care of the ball, play defence and get more out of his bench. Grossiste Air Max Belgique . Bozak and Clarkson suffered the injuries in pre-training camp workouts, according to Carlyle, who said they made "small amounts of improvement" from Friday to Saturday. After the players were deemed less than 100 per cent by doctors after Thursdays medical testing, the Leafs held them out of on-ice testing and are being cautious.TORONTO - Grant Fuhr partied like a rock star, or a Stanley Cup-winning NHL superstar during the prime of his career.His drug use led to a suspension and plenty of unwanted attention. Yet almost 30 years later the former Edmonton Oilers goaltender has no regrets and expressed that sentiment in his new book, Grant Fuhr: The Story of a Hockey Legend.Im 100 per cent comfortable with my life now, Fuhr told The Canadian Press on Thursday. Thats probably one of the best things about it is to have to sit back and go through it, you understand if youre comfortable with life or not.And Im OK with everything thats happened. Yeah, some of its bad, but at the same time it makes you a better person.The Spruce Grove, Alta., native wrote this book along with former Calgary neighbour Bruce Dowbiggin. Its structured as a series of 10 key games from the Hall of Famers career, with Dowbiggin essentially narrating and Fuhr dropping in his reflections now and then.Along with the on-ice success, which there was plenty of, the book touches on Fuhrs substance abuse and racial tensions that arose when he started playing in the United States. Dowbiggin didnt shy away from mentioning Fuhrs cocaine use, and thats fine with the 52-year-old who wants readers to realize life is about making mistakes and still being successful.You dont have to be perfect, Fuhr said. I would look great in a halo, but its never going to happen.The book unearthed a quote from Wayne Gretzky: To be able to play at the level he played at for all those years (while on drugs) is a surprise.Looking back on it, Fuhr doesnt believe drugs hurt his performance.The hardest part of goaltending is to stay focused, Fuhr said. So the fact that you get a mental break away from the game is almost refreshing.For me at that time, the most comfortable place to be was on the ice. Thats where I was happiest. It probably made me a little more focused than most.The summer of 1986 is one of the turning points in Fuhrs life. It followed Steve Smiths own goal against the Flames but of more importance to Fuhr, thats also when he lost his father, making for a terrible off-season.Hockey and life had changed, but at the same time I found a way to get away from it, Fuhr said. Probably not the right way, but at the same time it made life (bearable).I was never a good student but I learned everything through life. So had I did it a different way, could things have turned out a little different? Yeah they probably couldve. But at the same time I wouldnt have the same life experiences.Fuhr said there was nothing in the book that was difficult to re-live. Now, 23-plus years after his suspension, 21 years after being refused admission into a Buffalo-area country club because of his race and 11 years being inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame, he has a better grasp on life and his career accomplishments.While Fuhr doesnt see race as something people should be defined by, he also better understands tthe historical significance he had on the NHL.ddddddddddddWhen youre playing you never really think of it, youre just playing and enjoying the game and you never really have to worry or think about it, whereas now I get a chance to look back at it, Fuhr said. You can see different kids at different times and such, and you realize that it has more prevalence now than it ever did.Fuhr also may have had an impact on the way the league and Players Association deal with drug use. In 1990, then-president John Ziegler suspended Fuhr for a full season for conduct dishonourable and against the welfare of the league.In the book, Fuhr writes, The biggest misconception about that period of time is that the substance problem was still ongoing — but by the time it finally hit the paper it had been two years over and long stopped, over and done.His suspension was eventually reduced, but nowadays the league handles similar situations with more of an eye toward helping players. Fuhr said that was the best part of his punishment in retrospect, that current players dont have to deal with the same heavy hand.Its like night and day now because the NHL now will help players, where when I got suspended it was about punishment, Fuhr said. It wasnt about rehabilitating players or helping them get better in life, it was about punishing them. I think the NHL has gone leaps and bounds in getting better at that where theyve got programs in place now and they actually will help players, and theyll help players before they get themselves in trouble.Fuhr got himself in and out of trouble and along the way managed to win 403 career regular-season games for the Oilers, Toronto Maple Leafs, Buffalo Sabres, Los Angeles Kings, St. Louis Blues and Flames. He was in net for four Cups and has five championship rings because he was part of the 1989-90 Oilers team that Bill Ranford led to the title.As he signed books that filled the table in front of him, Fuhr wore his 1988 Cup ring on his right hand. He rotates them but has one on all the time.The only one that stays is the Hall of Fame ring and I actually wear it on a chain around my neck, Fuhr said. I think its the pinnacle of what you accomplish as a player, to get into the Hall of Fame.So its the one constant that I keep. Yeah you could wear all five, but that might be just a little gaudy. I always wear one.Those rings — and now the book — help remind Fuhr of what he has done in hockey but hadnt really thought about much.When you hit 50 you get to a certain point where you get to reflect on life a little bit, Fuhr said. Im gaining on the top of the hill, I dont think Im there yet because I plan on living to 100.The best part of it is I realize how comfortable I am in life, more than anything. Thats what the book gave me, the opportunity to figure out is that lifes pretty good. Actually I didnt think it was that bad before, but I know now its pretty good.---Follow @SWhyno on Twitter Cheap Throwback Baseball Detroit Tigers Jerseys Cheap Throwback Baseball Colorado Rockies Jerseys Cheap Throwback Baseball Houston Astros Jerseys Cheap Throwback Baseball Kansas City Royals Jerseys Cheap Throwback Baseball Los Angeles Angels Jerseys Cheap Throwback Baseball Los Angeles Dodgers Jerseys Cheap Throwback Baseball Miami Marlins Jerseys Cheap Throwback Baseball Milwaukee Brewers Jerseys Cheap Throwback Baseball Minnesota Twins Jerseys Cheap Throwback Baseball New York Mets Jerseys Cheap Throwback Baseball New York Yankees Jerseys Cheap Throwback Baseball Oakland Athletics Jerseys Cheap Throwback Baseball Philadelphia Phillies Jerseys Cheap Throwback Baseball Pittsburgh Pirates Jerseys Cheap Throwback Baseball San Diego Padres Jerseys Cheap Throwback Baseball San Francisco Giants Jerseys Cheap Throwback Baseball Seattle Mariners Jerseys Cheap Throwback Baseball St. Louis Cardinals Jerseys Cheap Throwback Baseball Tampa Bay Rays Jerseys Cheap Throwback Baseball Texas Rangers Jerseys Cheap Throwback Baseball Toronto Blue Jays Jerseys Cheap Throwback Baseball Washington Nationals Jerseys ' ' '