I have already made clear my admiration for the talents of Ms. Patrick in another column, and Tim has actually softened his "Legendary" hard stance on the young lady because of that. Even Legends have a difficult time arguing with facts. I'll also skip the reference to beautiful mountain views, as it makes me immeasurably sad that I can no longer look out my kitchen or dining room windows and see Currahee Mountain rising to its heights in my back yard. Perhaps one day I'll share with my readers exactly how much I miss that mountain and how I plan to one day return to it with my little Buddy.
For now though, our discussion turns momentarily to College Football, which I do admit to watching and yes Tim, understanding, though I limit myself generally to games within the SEC (Southeastern Conference) and at that, usually only games involving my DAWGS (University of Georgia Bulldawgs) and the ROLLING CRIMSON TIDE of the University of Alabama. Others may get cursory glances, including the Clemson Tigers and the South Carolina Gamecocks, whom I believe were involved in the game mentioned by you in the Legendtorial.
Tim, first allow me to point out that you are talking football on the college level, and as such, you probably cannot fairly expect to have John Costas or the likes of John Madden broadcasting a local game in your area. Most commentators at the college level are amateur, just as are the players. Any comparison of them with a professional and highly paid crew from FOX or ESPN is impossible, and made more so because we are talking two very different sports.
"Pass Interference" is probably one of the most important calls in any football game at any level. As a comparison to a similarly important factor in auto racing, I would say that the rule's intent is the same as the NASCAR rule mandating the HANS device. Picture in your mind a wide receiver going out for a pass, either mid-distance or long. He runs full-tilt, turning only in time to reach for the ball and secure it to his body. Often, he has to leap from the ground into the air to accomplish that.
Pass interference refers to any intentional touching, tackling or tripping of the totally defenseless receiver. There is an even more serious penalty for a blind tackle on said receiver while in the air. That is considered the absolutely most vulnerable position to be in, which is why it is illegal to take advantage of a player at that time. Football is decidedly a contact sport my friend, but it is not intended to be a jousting match to the death. They have rules for player safety, just as we do in racing. Next time you see someone penalized for that infraction, give a thought to what the outcome could have been for the receiver in question and maybe you'll have a better understanding. Also, remember we are talking about college kids here. Like our rookie drivers, they are only learning the game at the moment and would like to live to pursue a professional career later on.
And now my friend, we come to the part about the TV announcers in NASCAR, and this is where I say, "We have some?" In 2001, the Daytona 500 ushered in the "New era" of broadcasting, while at the same time ushering out the life of the sport's greatest icon, Dale Earnhardt. Right from the start, FOX got it wrong, leaving the air for "News", while fans both at the track and at home were left without the only news they cared about. Dale's death would later prove to be the biggest blow the sport has seen to date; it was a death mourned around the world, in many different countries and many different languages... yet on that day, we had to wait for some two hours to hear Mike Helton choke out those four words, "We've lost Dale Earnhardt." On FOX? No; I do believe we heard it on ESPN Sports Center.
Everyone reading these words is well acquainted with the announcing crews of today from FOX, TNT and ESPN/ABC. Every week we hear and read complaints by the thousands about all manner of things fans find wrong. It is my studied opinion that fans can be wrong as well, and often are. Still, somewhere in that vast number of complaints, there are valid points being made and it would be nice if someone somewhere paid attention to them. Don't hold your breath. NASCAR is already having "discussions" with several TV networks concerning the contracts that don't come to an end until the final race of 2014. No sense waiting until the last minute.
No matter the outcome of those talks and the later negotiations, we will never be able to reclaim what once was, and boys and girls, sometimes what "was" is truly better than what shall be. Folks my age can remember when every rose that grew sent a divine fragrance into the air with every tiny breeze that kissed it. Alas, science, in search of a perfect bloom, has bred all of the scent from all but the vintage varieties now known as "antique roses."
Now then gentle readers, I'd like to resurrect some words from a column I wrote in 2006 in which I compared two races, one current to that time and another, chosen at random to be watched on a Sunday which had no race... the Bristol night race from 1997. Yes, it truly was a random draw. That's my story and I'm sticking to it! I would ask you to ignore the few mentions of FOX and NBC, which were the networks still broadcasting the majority of the races in 2006 and concentrate on the way I described the race I watched at Bristol from 1997.
That brings us to the vast difference in actual race coverage between the two races and the two networks broadcasting that coverage. Friends, there really is no fair comparison…it was like being in two different worlds. Delivering the commentary on the Bristol race was Bob Jenkins, a consummate and extremely professional sports broadcaster that has covered many forms of racing throughout his stellar career.
Along with Jenkins in the broadcast booth, as most of you will remember, were two past Champions of the Cup Series, Ned Jarrett and Benny Parsons. When Jarrett entered the world of broadcasting, he came to it with a background of training from the Dale Carnegie School of public speaking; he was more than a Cup Champion, he was a perfectionist. To my knowledge, Benny Parsons claimed no such training, but was a knowledgeable race driver, with information to add to the description of the races.
Did she say “Description?” Yes, she did! I saw something on Sunday I’d almost forgotten over the past six years with FOX and NBC. During that Bristol race, almost all of the commentary was led by the camera, which constantly panned the racetrack and paused when the camera found something interesting to watch. Then, the commentators would discuss what or who was on camera and describe what they were seeing. Not once during the entire race did I hear any of the three refer to “What I would have done” or “The way I used to do it.”
Here, we had not one but two past Champions, neither of whom presumed to tell the drivers in the race how to do their job. The conversation that came from that booth was about the race and nothing but the race. It was led by the true professional broadcaster, Jenkins, and highlighted by commentaries from Jarrett and Parsons. In truth, this crew blended in so well that the viewer was almost unaware that there were broadcasters present. They accomplished their appointed purpose, which was to heighten the enjoyment of the race for the viewers at home, and that’s all they did.
And now if I might, I'll return to Tim's comments on another consummate broadcaster in his own right, Ken Squier. Like Tim, I have heard Ken at his best and know him to be among the best, right there on a par with the great Chris Economaki from Speed Sport News and broadcaster extraordinaire. At a time close to the changing of the guard in NASCAR broadcasting, something happened with Ken. His thinking capacity seemed to have lowered considerably and noticeably. He made on-air mistakes that were in no way characteristic of the great man that Tim and I remember so well.
Nothing was ever mentioned as to a cause, but I know that this fan feared the worst. However, we have seen Ken in recent years doing announcing and commentaries in conjunction with the NASCAR Hall of Fame among other things, and he seems to be just fine. I truly do hope that is the case. Perhaps a good rest was all that was needed to gather faculties and return to better health.
On this point, I know that the Legend will agree with me. Almost every man either of us has mentioned has come from a time when there was no television. These gentlemen all cut their teeth and built their broadcasting careers in a medium known as radio, back in the days before it became a music only facility. Because radio had no pictures, only sound, those that succeeded in it learned to paint what Tim described as "Word pictures." Tim, I thought I was the only one in the world to use that term. Did you borrow it from me when I wasn't looking?
Still, it's a good term and a very accurate one. Any good sportscaster, no matter the sport, could bring it into view for the listener with words alone. They knew the value of description and honed it to a fine art, all for the benefit of the listening fans. When that newfangled box with a picture in it came along, they continued to use their powers of description because they knew nothing else. Indeed, an audience of circa 1950, listening to today's announcers breaking into the action constantly with their own little agendas, would have been booed off the stage by that crowd familiar yet with Vaudeville. In short, they would have been given "the hook."
Tim, with the exception of the football lesson and my tongue in cheek remarks about getting in or out of a racecar, I have to admit that this turned into something far more like a Tireside Chat than a he said/she said deal as I feared it might in the beginning. You and I somehow manage to agree on things, though my version tends to be a bit calmer in most cases. Not that I am always calm. You know certain things can make me more tense than an E string on a violin, such as anyone disrespecting Smokey Yunick...
Now I know why you guys high-jack each other's segments on the Tuesday night show... because it's FUN!
Be well gentle readers, and remember to keep smiling. It looks so good on you!
~PattyKay
Email: nas3car@etcmail.com
Twitter: @MamaPKL
If you've enjoyed your visit so far, we invite you to check out the Stock Car RacersReunion site by clicking here. By simply creating a log-in you will have access to over 100,000 vintage racing photos and thousands of articles, stories and conversations, some with legendary participants whose names you will recognize. As part of our racing family, you are free to enjoy the Chat Room and all Forums will be open for discussing your passion for racing with others of like mind. RacersReunion truly is where legends and fans unite.
