Saturday, September 29, 2007

All hail the potty-mouth police - NOT!

I don’t know if NASCAR will do anything to punish Tony Stewart for using an expletive that aired during a Saturday morning practice session from Kansas Speedway.

And, to be totally honest with you, I absolutely do not care. I know there will be people who get their knickers in a bunch over it. Plenty of folks sitting around me in the media center got all worked up, running to tattle to NASCAR after hearing about the four-letter word from their respective networks of nervous Nellys.

A couple of hours later, I saw a knot of about a dozen of them camped behind the NASCAR trailer, apparently waiting to see if some official was going to come out and say that Stewart would be drawn and quartered, or flogged in the courthouse square.

I know Dale Earnhardt Jr. got penalized 25 points three years ago when he used a four-letter word in a victory lane interview. And I know that earlier this year, Juan Pablo Montoya got in trouble for making a gesture toward a cameraman when he didn’t know the camera was being used to send out a live picture.

But I also understand that this whole thing has gotten so far out of hand it’s not even funny any more. What you have now are a bunch of people sitting around their TVs looking for things to call in about. It’s getting to be as bad as golf, where people with nothing better to do than research obscure rules decisions looking for a way to get somebody slapped with a two-shot penalty.

If a NASCAR driver is looking dead into a camera with a reporter standing alongside of him asking him questions, the driver should be smart enough to know that he’s being interviewed and that he should watch his mouth. I really don’t know if points penalties are appropriate for that, but that’s the standard that has been set.

Now, though, the potty-mouth police are trying to extend their jurisdiction. Let a driver say “hell” or “damn” during an interview and my email box fills up with people asking why that’s not worth 25 points, even though it never has been. There are also times when a driver or crew chief has no way of knowing what he’s saying is being broadcast, but some fans still think anything these competitors say should be punishable. I say…well…I say a word that would probably hack off those prigs.

You can argue that Stewart shouldn’t use words like the one he used Saturday morning at all, and that’s fine. But I don’t think you can argue that he should be responsible for figuring out when a camera that’s on him is going out live or not. I thought the penalty against Montoya earlier this year was a travesty, too, because it’s not up to the competitor to look for the little red light.

NASCAR doesn’t want its race broadcasts to be “R-rated,” and I understand that. By and large, its competitors get that. But that doesn’t mean they should be held responsible if a microphone picks up something the competitor said without fair warning that it was being broadcast.

What it comes down to these days is a silly little game of “gotcha.” I, for one, am just through playing it.

46 comments:

Anonymous said...

I agree with you 100%, but remember it was TS that said it and to be perfectly honest with you, I didn't know he said anything until the station apologized. I wonder how many others caught it. It just seems that the media dog him every weekend.

Anonymous said...

The thing that drives me crazy is people complaining about what they hear on the scanners. You are listening in on THEIR conversation. They are grown men in the heat of competition, so, yeah, they're probably going to use colorful language. If people don't like it. Don't listen to the scanner.

Anonymous said...

ESPN reporters stink, including Rusty Wallace . that CAT. I get so sick of hearing him call people 'cats' he needs to go back to Woodstock. Take some language classes.
Tony should not be fined. That reporter needs a tongue lashing.
99.9 % of the people did not hear it.

Anonymous said...

ESPN reporters stink, including Rusty Wallace . that CAT. I get so sick of hearing him call people 'cats' he needs to go back to Woodstock. Take some language classes.
Tony should not be fined. That reporter needs a tongue lashing.
99.9 % of the people did not hear it.

Anonymous said...

As a mother of two who does not cuss, the occasional expletive does not bother me nearly as much as some of the commercials that are played during the races. Ones for tv shows whose time slots are 9/10pm, but their advertising leave very little to the imagination and not to mention those cialis commercials! There are just some things I'm not ready to explain to my boys. Foul language is much easier to deal with!

Anonymous said...

Tony creates his own problems. He needs to learn to be smarter, think before he talks and be more professional. He could take lessons from Edwards, Burton, Johnson, Kenseth, Gordon and Labonte. Also, it is kind of funny that Gibbs was not comfortable having Budweiser as a sponsor, but having Tony drop "F" bombs and treat people disrespectful is okay. I judge people how they treat people more than how much money they have and how good of a driver they are.

Anonymous said...

I agree with you about the whole thing being rediculous. He shouldn't say those things but the person who is recording is also responsible for having the mike on when it should have been off unless he asked the driver for a interview. He shouldn't be snuck up on from behind. It seems that's all ESPN is good for. Their reporters and announcers stink including RW. Do away with ESPN and bring back DW Larry Mac and Jeff Hammond permanently all year long. They know what their talking about. I laugh every week when these so called experts can't pronounce names or give incorrect info. Send ESPN announcers back to school

stricklinfan82 said...

That was uncalled for for Tony Stewart to drop an F-Bomb on a camera man for having the "audacity" to point his camera towards him while covering practice. I'm glad that the incident happened on live TV and I hope he gets a 25 penalty for it and loses the championship by less than 25 points because of it. What possible defense is there for doing what he did? Is he going to tell the world that ESPN's camera man shouldn't have provoked him by committing the ultimate sin of pointing his camera towards one of the drivers in the garage area during practice? How dare he! I can't wait to hear how Tony's fans will defend him on this one and find some way to blame this incident on the media too. I know, it's never Tony's fault. He's always the victim, everyone's out to get him, and he never does anything without being provoked. Right......

He has all the talent in the world and is probably the 2nd best driver in the sport, but that doesn't change the fact that he's the biggest a$$ in the sport, pun intended.

Anonymous said...

Stricklinfan, take a deep breath and read David's blog again. Did TS know he was live? If he didn't, I say shame on ESPN, They sure didn't do much to help their contentuous relationship with him. If TS knew he was live, I say shame on him, if he gets dinged 25 points and loses the Chase by less than 25..........
I agree about the ESPN announcers, yucko. My favorite announcer comment so far, came from Rusty W. He said he would pick Montoya to win Watkins Glenn because the COT had a rear wing, and Montoya was used to racing cars with wings??????????? Huh???!!! Hey ESPN, lemme have a chance to announce, I know I can make more sense than that. Heck, I'll even stay in a Holiday Inn Express if you want.

Unknown said...

These guys should not be held liable for every word they say in their communications with their crew or in the pit. Yes, if a reporter is there with a camera and microphone it's one thing, but it's unrealistic to expect these guys to act like the Sunday School picnic all the time. Personally I try real hard to keep cursing to a minimum, but it still comes out. They're human. It happens. Someone needs to find something better to do with their time.

I do have to add, that Rusty comment about Montoya at the Glen killed me. I really cannot stand him in the booth. Maybe DJ will retire and take his place, his commentary is a lot more interesting and applicable.

Anonymous said...

All of this ESPN bashing cracks me up... It wasn't that long ago, all of the same things were being said about FOX, i.e.,'between all the commercials, a race broke out', 'can't stand to listen to the announcers, hitting the mute button and turning on the radio', etc.
And what does Chris Myers know about racing, he can't get the names right, and the Hollywood Hotel reminded everyone of the WWF with all the showboating and Jeff Hammond wearing his shirts a size too small. DW's boogity, boogity,etc. and his constant reference to HIS racing feats, had people again hitting the mute button. And his singing (you picked a fine time to leave me loose wheel)put everyone over the top. And poor Larry Mac's high pitch voice and use of the English language drove people crazy and it was suggested he also take some classes. I'm thinking only Mike Joy escaped the critics. Although I believe Tony Stewart also had a feud going with all of the guys in the booth about something that was said him. And, NOW we want them back . . .Hmmm...

Anonymous said...

David, you are 100% right with this one. If one of the "clean" drivers (Edwards, Gordon, Johnson, etc.) had been overheard saying a 4-letter word, nothing would have been said. But let Tony do something, his haters are all over him. For example, he was blamed by many for Denny Hamlin's prima donna attitude last week. Give Stewart a break. He's human like everyone else.

safemike1 said...

This is only one part of Nascar that is going astray. No driver can give and honest opinion anymore without worrying about a find and being docked points. Nascar wants only the squeaky clean corporate image. And they are getting just what they asked for. But, at the same time, they are getting fewer people in the stands, and each week the TV ratings are down from the year before.

It is just not that much fun to watch Nascar anymore. It won't be long, and even I will stop watching any of the races.

Anonymous said...

Here's something to try for all you fans that hate the announcers. Turn on the TV, turn the volume all the way down, turn the radio on, and listen to PRN.

stricklinfan82 said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
stricklinfan82 said...

blooze,

There's a difference between not knowing you're on camera and knowing you're on camera and assuming you're not live. If Tony had dropped an F-bomb while leaning in and talking to Robby Gordon that would have been fine, because the camera would have been eavesdropping on a private conversation. When TV airs live team radio and an expletive goes on the air, that's fine too because again that's eavesdropping and no one knows when they're on the air and when they aren't.

There's a difference between those incidents and the Montoya and Stewart incidents. Montoya saw a camera in his face and flipped it off. Tony Stewart saw a camera in his face, walked up to the camera man and yelled at him to "get the F--- out of his face". Drivers should have a responsibility to know when they are looking directly at a camera that there's a chance they are on the air live. Neither of these last two incidents were eavesdropping causing unfortunate slips to go out on the air. Both drivers knew they were on camera and chose to do something inappropriate because they assumed they weren't on live. There was no accidental slip in those incidents. For that reason I put the Stewart and Montoya incidents in the same category as the Dale Jr. Talladega victory lane slip. Yes Dale was talking into a microphone put what's the difference between dropping an S-bomb into a microphone and flipping off a camera or yelling an F-Bomb into the camera? Every driver has a responsibility when they're talking into a microphone or looking directly into a camera to know that they shouldn't do something obscene because it could be going over the air live.

Anonymous said...

Mr. Poole, I totally agree with you. people who live in glass houses should not throw boulders. Most of us use "wrong" language at sometime. when i see any of the drivers or crew walk across the water, then i will expect them to not be human. until then, LIGHTEN UP TV PEOPLE.

Anonymous said...

Stricklinfan,
OK, I see your point, but do you have any idea how many cameras those guys have in their faces over the course of a race weekend? Now, out of the bazillion times cameras are in their faces, how many times are the cameras actually a live feed? Maybe 3 or 4 at the most? You can't have these guys walking around all weekend on eggshells, because they are afraid some one might get a tape of them saying a bad word. The great accessability of the drivers to the fans would come come to screeching a halt quicker than a DEI engine at Indy. The drivers just wouldn't be available for anything except NASCAR mandated press conferences. Seeing how tight the points race is going into the last 8 races, and TS knowing how important each point is, I don't think he would just give NASCAR 25 points back for the honor of cussing out an ESPN cameraman, even if he did deserve it. Yeah, I think the media should shoulder some of the blame for this incident if you really want to blame some one. Not just ESPN, but the media in general. They tend to state that their intrusiveness is their right to freedom of the press. Well, along with freedom, comes an even greater responsibility not to do anything that may encroach upon the rights of others. On a side note: Back in the day, I loved listening to DW sing during a caution, while he was driving!!!

Anonymous said...

If it would have been any of the other guys (Gordon, Labonte, Johnson, Martin), they would have been fined and received a point penalty. Nascar just does not know how to manage TS. He controls them.

Anonymous said...

They just said on Speed Channel's "Race Day", there will be NO penalty. NASCAR said no penalty because it was not done during an interview. No more details mentioned.

Anonymous said...

wtf? How about a good 'ol ....

seven

second

delay

(oh, I guess that would mean more expense for the networks).

These guys are there to race. Let 'em race with all the passion it requires.

Anonymous said...

The media doesn't have a "right" to just put a live camera on someone. I would consider it a privilege. Before sticking a camera in someones face and broadcasting live, try asking the driver (whether it's Tony Stewart or Tony Raines) if you could have a moment of their time. Problem solved. And how about the network using a tape delay? After Stewart wrecked on Sunday, he was visibly upset on his in-car camera, and declined an interview after being released from the care center. Kudos to that reporter for having the foresight to ask first.

stricklinfan82 said...

I don't expect drivers to be walking on eggshells all weekend because they're afraid a curse word uttered in casual conversation with another driver will get picked up by a random microphone. No one should be penalized for something like that.

All I expect is for drivers to use common sense and not do something blatant like curse into a microphone during an interview or curse directly into / flip off a camera.

I don't think that's too much to ask. If you have problems controlling yourself and have to walk around on eggshells because you're afraid you might "slip" and do something like flip off a camera, you have major issues.

Anonymous said...

Hey, I'm not a star but I know that when I leave my house the cameras are rolling. You never know who has camera.Just look around and of course Smile..

Anonymous said...

Stick a microphone and a camera in a driver's face anytime and beware. If it is just an interview (not after an accident), drivers, etc. know how to behave. If it is after an accident, perhaps there should be a 'calm down' period before speaking. Personally, I am fine with it. I have said worse when cut off drivng down 85. To add to the scanner comment: we are given the privilege of listening in on their conversations (and Nascar is listening too). Not that many years ago, much worse was heard via scanner. If you don't want your children to hear, don't let them listen. They have 'radio broadcast only' headsets. I'm sick of all the tippy-toeing around. It has all become corporate horsepoop. (I cleaned that up for you).

Anonymous said...

enough of the big brother stuff.. already...

Anonymous said...

I'm not a huge fan of ESPN's coverage this year either. I really thought Rusty would do a good job in the booth, but boy was I wrong.

With that said, the idea proposed by anonymous that you turn down the volume and put on PRN made me throw up in my mouth a little. ESPN could NEVER do as horrible a job as Mark Garrow, Doug Rice, and the PRN gang, as they take "suck" to unimaginable levels. They just sit there and babble on endlessly about racing, when the folks who have tuned in are really hoping to hear about THE RACE. The radio broadcasts are, withoug question, the one area where ISC (MRN) just clobbers Speedway Motorsports (PRN). Lots of MRN reporters have successfully moved from radio to TV. Has there even been one PRN personality who successfully made the leap? I'm not aware of one, if they did.

Anonymous said...

What is sad is that what Tony said during practice got more media attention than the fact that Johnson crashed his primary car in Happy Hour. The bigger story should have been the fact that Johnson... the pole sitter, a Chase driver & defending NASCAR champion... crashed his car and was going to have to start Sunday's race from the back of the field.

Why is it that the NASCAR media has to focus on such trivial matters like what Tony said in practice? Is the racing not exciting enough to cover?

RedInABlueState said...

I for one, as a TS fan, am glad he has passion and emotion. I get so tired of the scripted, politically correct drivel that comes out of Jimmie Johnson's mouth ANY time and Jeff Gordon's most of the time.

It wouldn't surprise me to start seeing NFL sideline directional microphones (you know, those clear satellite dish-looking things) in the garage area to try to catch somebody dropping the F-bomb. The FCC should penalize that reporter and cameraman. That was a clear violation of privacy.

Monkeesfan said...

anonymous #28, is the racing not exciting enough to cover? No, it isn't - therein lies the real problem.

Anonymous said...

cable networks are not obligated to comply with the FCC as far as deleting foul words. As, one, anonymous, mother said above, "They can see worse in the commercials." BTW, I'm proud of her. She'd rather explain a bad word to her children, than just pointing fingers...that's parenting.

NASCAR's foolish penalties and non-calls have done nothing but put the focus on NASCAR itself. Not the racing, mind you, but the administrators of the sport. This is their 10 race superbowl, and lame as I think it is, we should be talking racing. Not whether Tony has potty mouth.

Anonymous said...

Oh please. Theese are athletes plying their trade. They are on edge and at the height of human concentration. Something makes them upset and they use "colorful metaphors". The difference between racers and say, football players, is the drivers every action is on camera and wiresd for sound. If they apllied the same scrutiny to the NFL, the entire league would be on suspension.
Lighten up people. They are words.

Anonymous said...

happens all the time on TV....just recently they posted a video on youtube with Shaq cursing on ESPN...i'm sure you will find TS's video on there as well

Anonymous said...

OH! But he committed a mortal sin! He must be punished! LOl j/k

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