You may recall the journal I posted a while ago, about the guy whom I knew did/does not approve of Dale Jr. (because I had a Junior desktop on the school comp and heard him saying things...It was in the journal). Anyhow, other then maybe wincing every time I saw him, I thought that he'd perhaps forgotton about it, or decided to agree to disagree or something.
Nope. At least it doesn't appear that way.
I was sitting in my ACE (sort of a job preperation class thing) taking notes and everything. I have two classes with this one teacher, and the guy. Occasionally the teacher will make a joking or nice comment or something about a student, and today he said something along the lines of, "Kelsey usually types pretty fast." Seeing as I more or less mute during class, every started enquiring as to who I was (I've been in class all year!). So, like I'm a new student or something, they say hi very enthusiastically, and I say hi, too. Then this guy, who sits at the end of my row, says loudly, "She's a Dale Earnhardt, Jr. fan". Of course, most of the people in class/school don't watch it, so they're all like, "Who?". So he repeats it, but of course they're still confused.
That's ok, right? Well, as soon as the class asks, "who?" or "What?" again, he says, "That's ok, he's not that good anyway." And not in a nice way, if that's possible.

I. Am. Not. Kidding.

I would like to tell you that I came up with some smart-ass retort to put him in his place, but really it took me by surprise. My face got very, very hot, and I've spent much of the day trying not to cry (did I mention that he said it at a fairly decen volume) Because really? Is his hatred or whatever so bad that he has to pick on this girl just so he feels right? Now, since I didn't say anything, maybe he thinks he can walk all over me. The only soulution I can think of is to wear my gear lound n' proud, and hope he tries to pick a fight again. Of course, I don't know if I'll be able to say anything if that happens, but you know, if he does I like to say, "Why don't you grow a pair and pick on someone your own size?" Whether I'll have such an oppertunity, or even be able to get the words out, is probably somehwhat questionable.

Know what, why the frick does it matter? Even if he's not that good (and anyone who really takes a look at Junior's record must at least admit that he's pretty decent at it) does that mean that they can't have fans? That you must be a great driver to have fans, loyal fans? Who came up with such a bloody-awful idea?
Junior may not be the best. Let's face it, he's had a God-awful season (although I'm going to be annoying a say that, with all the parts failures he's had, it's not exactly his fault. Some things yes; those, no), and he doesn't have the equivalent of a Sprint Cup, but who the hell cares? Yes, I'm upset by this season. Yes, I want him to win as much as Jimmie and Tony and Mark do now. Yes, I really, really want him to win a championship. Sometimes I question him. But he's still my favorite, and it's not anyone's business to dispute it. Have you heard of a little something called the first amendment? Hey, even if I don't like a driver, I don't think I'd go up to that person's face and tell them that they're not very good, let alone in a classroom.
So yes, it has upset me more then a little bit.

Am I taking this too hard, or making this bigger then it needs to be? Really, I'm socially challenged, so I really have no idea how to tell what is serious from what might be a joke.