Little E living up to the Name

Dale Earnhardt Jr. has been called "Little E" since he began racing. I didn't know until today just how much he would live up to that name. Amidst all of the pomp and circumstance that was Little E announcing today that he would drive for Hendrick Motorsports next season, the real story was lost. Earnhardt for years has been praised as the most popular driver in Nascar but has fallen short when it comes to measuring up against soon to be new teammates Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson. The thing that I find most interesting is that Dale Jr. , the face of Nascar, has chosen in the prime of his career to take a backseat on his new team. He will be the third wheel at Hendricks and seems completely content in that place. This is why I question the star power of Little E. Now I am not a major Nascar fan and I know that those who spend their Sunday afternoons glued to the TV following the nuances of the sport will tell you that Earnhardt has simply moved to a better, if not the best, team that can get him to a championship. Shouldn't a guy who is supposed to carry the superstar status though of Little E be able to take whatever situation he is in and compete for championships. I do not know the ends and outs of all that went on between DEI, Earnhardt and his stepmother but I do know that we have not seen an athlete with the star power of Earnhardt choose to back away from leadership, spotlight, and pressure that goes with being the man. In the NBA, Kevin Garnett has chosen to remain a Timberwolve even though there have been many opportunities for him to leave. Dan Marino went through the good and the bad that the NFL has to offer never tasting a championship and yet still never wanted to leave. Yet Dale Earnhardt Jr has chosen to step out of the number one spot to become number three at best and with that truly live up to the nickname of "Little E".