So after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy declined a U.S. offer to evacuate, saying he needed bullets more than a bus ride out, a NASCAR legend has stepped in and stepped up.
Hall of Fame car owner Richard Childress has pledged a million rounds of ammo to Ukrainian fighters. You need a seven-page non-binding resolution supporting the Ukrainians with words and well-wishes? Go to Washington. You need bullets, call NASCAR people.
Man, if they ask for Skoal Bandits, we're going to need Jeff Bezos' yacht to get it all there.
One million bullets. That's enough to shoot everyone in Hamilton County almost three times. Heck, that's enough to last a long weekend in Chicago, people.
Naturally, that's not the only sports-related individual or organization taking a stand against Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
NASCAR's sister sport - international figure skating - also is putting its blades down. (And yes, NASCAR and figure skating are a lot alike. First, Will Ferrell was in movies about both. Second, each has a relatively small but over-the-top passionate fan base. Finally, each at times has felt more rigged than a poker game with three fellas with a city in their nickname. "Yeah, I'll call you Tulsa Tom, whatcha got? Full house, again. Dang.")
The International Skating Union has banned all Russian and Belarusian competitors, which assuredly will lead to a sequin backlog back in Moscow and Minsk.
Heck, the always-corrupt FIFA has banned Russia from the 2022 World Cup, which truly has to be a slap in the face for Putin since he's apparently the one person who can cause FIFA to act with nobility. Of course, Russia soccer officials will appeal the ruling, which will make for a very interesting opening statement.
Even the International Judo Federation is kicking in, as it stripped Putin of his honorary presidency of that group. And yes, I also wonder who made Putin the honorary president of judo? The Cobra Kai sensei maybe?
Super. Ukraine can use all the support it can get.
But less than a month from the close of the disastrous Winter Olympics, why are sports leagues now motivated against Russia's evil advances and war-mongering but were whistling Disney tunes and looking the other way for decades over China's violations of human rights?
Heck, there is even a report out there that China asked Russia to delay its invasion until after the Olympics' comical conclusion. China has said that report is fake news, and to be honest, this side of sweet and sour chicken and NBA flirting, China is a world-renowned expert on fake news.
Businesses are quick to decry Putin's aggression. The war is filling the evening news with violence and appears to be the closet case for a consensus in this country with the exception of Mary Ann over Ginger and M.J. is better than LeBron.
But major companies or international organizations are not as worried about standing up for what's right as much as they want credit for standing up for what the majority of people think is right. And in turn, the credit that comes with a popular stance of principle.
China has for years been doing a lot of the same stuff Russia is; it's just doing it in the shadows, on smaller scales and off the 6 o'clock news.
But man, wait till FIFA gets involved. That will get China back in line, right?
(Still, here's betting China wants no part of the full-scale force that NASCAR nation could bring.)
Contact Jay Greeson at jgreeson@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6273. Follow him on Twitter @jgreesontfp.