Sunday night, the Sprint Cup race from Phoenix ran a little late because of two red flags during the race. These weren't long delays, maybe less than an hour, but holy smokes, with the big money deals that sought to make NASCAR big time by putting most of the CUP races on over-the-air television with all the races from Daytona to Dover on Fox and then from Richmond through the end on ABC, NASCAR was now stepping up to the highest level though it seems a little curious that from June through August when racing fever would be the hottest, all races are on cable with six on TNT then the rest including the Brickyard on ESPN.
For decades, television viewers watching Fox or CBS from September to December might have to wait a while before they can watch their precious "Simpsons" or "Sixty Minutes" because an NFL game was running late -- even if it's one in a remote market that just happens to be one of the late games. However, given a similar reality for NASCAR, ABC elected to bump the next to last NASCAR race of the season in the East and Central time zones for their most important prime time program material, "America's Funniest Home Videos!" "America's Funniest Home Videos" bumped for THAT?!?!?
Okay, for yours truly, it was no big deal to punch the remote control and let the race continue, but still, it's a real slap in the face. What about the fans who only have access to over-the-air television. Not all communities are wired for cable including lots of southeastern rural locations the heartland of NASCAR's fan base. Some people just can't afford the $50 a month for cable or Direct TV. This was the big reason for moving from ESPN and the other cable networks in the first place, more fan access, no pay TV for Cup racing. Somehow, that "America's Funniest Home Videos" which has always seemed like low budget filler for the big network would be the all important prime time show makes this most insulting.
The NFL had its day of reckoning, well actually it was the old AFL before it became completely integrated with the big boys, when NBC cut the end of a thrilling game with 65 seconds left on the clock, the New York Jets lead the Oakland Raiders 32-29. The network brass wanted their prime time show to start on time thus football fans missed Oakland score two touchdowns in the final seconds to win 42-32. What was the important program that bumped this instant NFL classic, "Heidi." Yes, the sappy, drippy movie "Heidi" had to start on time.
That game would forever go down in football history as the "Heidi Bowl" and has become part of the folklore vocabulary of all sports when television coverage compromises a sports broadcast to where Heidi could even become a verb as to say "NASCAR got "Heidied" by ABC.
Well, Heidi-HO!!!! Here we go. As if fast cutaways with no post race winner's circle interviews isn't bad enough. It's the price you pay for big media these days.
Lots of NASCAR fans believe coverage has not been the same since the good old days with Bob Jenkins, the late Benny Parsons, and Ned Jarrett in the booth and Dr. Jerry Punch as the lead pit reporter. ESPN had it right back then. Do we really need all the gimmicks and extra layers of manpower? Ironically, some of the most insightful coverage of all comes from ex UNC Tarheel and NBA star, Brad Dougherty, the one broadcast team member many fans question for his purpose in the line-up. This fan appreciates his contributions as he goes from the nuts and bolts to the big picture level with more insight than even some of the most seasoned and entertaining veterans of NASCAR coverage.
NASCAR has some work to do with the networks before old DW gives his "boggity-boggity-boggity" for the 2009 Daytona 500. For starters, Fox could get rid of that god awful "Let's Go Racing Boys" theme music while "Last Man Standing" deserves the scrap heap too -- more pitiful products of "big" media.
One more race to go, the Jimmie Johnson coronation in Homestead. Heido-HO!!!!
No comments:
Post a Comment