NASCAR- last throes?
If you care at all about NASCAR read this (link will expire next Wednesday). Doesn't look too good for them. Maybe they should race, uh, real cars? I'm just sayin'...
April 20, 2006
April 09, 2006
NBC and NASCAR
April 05, 2006
NBC and NASCAR
Glenn highlights some snarkiness:
UPDATE: Hmm. A couple of readers say that this is NBC's last year of sharing in NASCAR broadcasts, after which the consortium will be to Fox, ABC, and ESPN. Is NBC trying to give NASCAR a goodbye kiss? Apparently, its coverage was poorly received: "Ratings for NBC's coverage, like those for Fox's, have consistently increased throughout the six-year contract. But NBC has often gotten a tepid or worse response from many die-hard racing fans, some of whom have complained that the network appeared to lack passion for the sport. . . . The network didn't believe the package was as valuable as what NASCAR was asking for it. When the new deal was announced in December, published reports said the agreement was for a total of $4.5-billion, or 61 percent higher than the previous deal signed in 2000." More here.
And reader Eric Hall offers a new assignment: "Dateline NBC ought to take some Christian-looking people to Riyadh and see how things work out. Don't forget the bikini-clad sister."
ANOTHER UPDATE: Reader Betsy Gorisch emails:
My husband and I are serious NASCAR fans, and for a number of years now we have been underwhelmed by NBC's coverage of the latter half of the season. We've always thought that they cover the races as though they imagine that only a bunch of dimwits could really care about watching. Perhaps their single most annoying feature is something they call "going through the field." This feature consists of having a reporter discuss what's happening with each car, one by one, while the race is going on--what's up with the tires, what the team leader thinks about the gas mileage, and so forth--and meanwhile ignoring the race! It's insulting to anyone who actually wants to see the RACE. My favorite analogy for this tiresome exercise is to think of watching the bottom of the 7th inning of a World Series game, and the announcer cuts to a sequential close-up of each player while saying things like, "Well Bob, the right fielder is having trouble getting his cleats to hold the turf and the webbing on his mitt is too loose. His cup is tight, and he's going to have to do something about that before the next inning. Now let's move over the the center fielder." And so forth--and meanwhile the game is going on but you can't see what's happening. No one would put up with something similar in any other sport.
This latest hidden camera exercise seems like a clueless PC parting shot at a sport NBC has never understood anyway. No real race fan likes the NBC portion of the season, and the Dateline guys are simply confirming what a lot of us have been pretty sure of all along--the whole network is contemptuous of its audience. It's no surprise that they would assume the stands are packed with a bunch of lousy bigots. Good riddance to them, that's what we say.
With NBC's financial woes, this kind of an attitude on the part of viewers seems like a bad thing. And in response to McErlain's question above, it's not so much what the NASCAR people will think, but what potential future sports partners will think.
Perfect. I've always thought that NBC seriously dissed NASCAR and us fans with every broadcast; Benny Parsons et al are the most clueless sports broadcasters in history. That NBC is willing to pull a stunt like this is not at all surprising- there's a reason that the only time I ever turn to that channel here is to watch a race- and afterward it gets changed immediately.
January 28, 2006
NASCAR, where are you going?
Is it just me, or does the real NASCAR officially die at the beginning of the 2007 season? I'm not against Japanese companies or any other flavor of vehicle- hell, my wife drives a Sonata and it's a great car- but I guess I'm a little old-school about my racin'. When I see a Camry sitting in victory circle at Daytona that should just about do it for me. Call me a redneck, call me a throwback, but it's just wrong. And, I don't think I'm alone.
See here and here for what others are thinking... (these links wil expire next Wednesday)
November 21, 2005
Rousch Sucks
I'm not sure anyone else cares, but I do, so here goes. From Autoextremist-
As everyone knows by now, Kurt Busch was taken into custody Friday night by the Maricopa County (Ariz.) Sheriff’s Department on suspicion of drunken driving. According to police, Busch was verbally abusive to the officer who stopped him and declined to take a field sobriety test. He was then transported to the track where officers attempted to test him for alcohol, but a machine used on the test "malfunctioned," according to police. It's important to emphasize again that Kurt Busch was not charged with drunk driving, but he was charged with criminal reckless driving and released, with a December 22 court date assigned. It was distressing to see the hue and cry and hand-wringing that went on by virtually everyone within shouting distance of a media notebook or microphone about this matter. But hands down, by far the most disappointing behavior was demonstrated by Roush Racing. Not only was Busch suspended for the last two races of the season, he was vilified by his team owners in a stunning display of classless behavior from a heretofore classy organization. Geoff Smith, President of Roush Racing was quoted as saying, "It’s the last straw for Roush Racing. We’re officially retiring as Kurt Busch’s apologists, effective today." What was the point of that comment, exactly? The last time we checked, you're innocent until proven guilty in this country - and the Maricopa County Sheriff's Department is not exactly a bastion of credibility even on a good day, so needless to say we're skeptical of any charges that may be brought against Busch (and we predict the matter will be reduced to a much lesser offense before the court date). It's obvious to us that the Roush organization is still smarting from the fact that Kurt Busch sought greener pastures with Roger Penske - after they "made" him the driver he is today. Did Busch "owe" Roush Racing permanent, lifetime fealty? We doubt if that wording was in his contract. And though Kurt may be difficult to deal with at times and not a "go along to get along" kind of guy, for the Roush organization to play judge and jury by implication in this matter is completely ridiculous. We expected more of Jack Roush and his organization - and you can bet that if Busch were still going to be driving for Roush in '06, their reaction would have been totally different.
This is totally clueless and classless. I know Busch is not exactly everyone's cup of tea, and he was already leaving the team, but for chrissake he was in 'THE CHASE'!