Schumacher's return glosses over F1 cracks

[Blue_Tires]

PARIS — That Michael Schumacher's comeback is generating such excitement shows how desperate Formula One is for a bit of good news.

In all the breathless headlines about the unexpected return of the sport's most successful driver, it is being conveniently forgotten that much of the era when Schumacher greedily gobbled up his record seven world championships was as boring as watching paint dry. Race, win, race, win, yawn.

That was especially true of 2002 and 2004, when Schumacher and his Ferrari sidekick Rubens Barrichello won 30 of the total of 35 races. It perhaps would have been simpler -- and undoubtedly better for global warming -- to have handed the trophies to Schumacher at the outset and not bother with those absurdly lopsided seasons.

Schumacher's crushing dominance, his minute attention to detail and his sober dedication were as tedious in their regularity as they were admirable. Astounding but not edge-of-your-seat entertainment.

When Schumacher finally called it a day in 2006, having rewritten just about every major F1 record there is, Fernando Alonso's reaction spoke for many.

"Things will be more equal now," the Spanish driver said.

Alonso also had the courage to say out loud what others wouldn't -- that Schumacher's occasionally underhand tactics, such as ramming into rival Jacques Villeneuve and disrupting qualifying at Monaco by parking his car on the track, would not be missed.

Said Alonso: "Michael is the man with the most sanctions and the most unsporting driver in the history of Formula One."

Three years and, more importantly, one global financial meltdown later and Schumacher is suddenly the new messiah.

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/motor/2009-12-31-3672838697_x.htm