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Update: Click here for the link to the podcast of 96.9 The Kat to hear Michael Waltrip respond to the ESPN issue and the Bowyer comment.
All was fine when ESPN left the air after the Sprint Cup Series race from Bristol. The network had worked hard to spread the coverage around and wound-up with a balanced telecast that worked well. Then, the post-race programming began.
At one point during the telecast, Casey Mears had been cleared by his spotter to move-up and unfortunately was not. The resulting accident left several cars out of the race and others damaged. ESPN played the spotter's audio, then had an interview with Mears where he explained the problem and also apologized to the teams involved.
Unfortunately, one poor production decision during the race has come back to cause the entire ESPN family of networks a black eye. Clint Bowyer's car was caught-up in the accident, and he unleashed his frustration on Michael Waltrip by saying he was the worst driver in NASCAR over his team radio.
Bowyer had no way of knowing what Mears had done. His comment came from anger and the situation as he perceived it at that moment. ESPN records all the team radios, and they chose to play-back Bowyer's comment although it was clearly ill-informed. That one decision has taken-on a life of its own.
If embarrassing Michael Waltrip was the goal, they certainly accomplished that. Bowyer's comment was replayed on NASCAR Now, ESPNEWS, SportsCenter and posted on the ESPN.com website in the race highlights. The announcers had lots of fun with it and no one took even one second to consider the fact that it was totally incorrect.
Across the night and into the next day, the slam of Waltrip was being replayed over-and-over again on the ESPN family of TV networks and websites with the announcers laughing and the Bowyer audio turned-up nice and loud.
Let's turn to the question of why? Michael Waltrip announces the Craftsman Truck Series races for SPEED. He is also a popular commercial spokesman for NAPA and other companies. He might be best-known for his TV role as a panelist on This Week in NASCAR, SPEED's Monday night hour review show. Waltrip has been a regular on SPEED for over a decade.
All these ESPN Networks, websites and producers made the decision to leave Bowyer saying "Michael Waltrip is the worst driver in NASCAR" in the highlights they used on the shows. Even on Sunday afternoon, this clip was still in rotation on ESPNEWS.
This is not about fans either liking or disliking Waltrip. It is not about the struggles of his team, or his performance in the Bristol Cup race. It is simply about ESPN making fun of Waltrip with an ill-informed comment and thinking that no one will raise a fuss. Well, here we are.
After a great four hour effort on Sunday night, how could no member of the NASCAR on ESPN team make a quick phone call to Bristol, CT and have this awkward comment removed from the highlight package? There was plenty of other great footage and a couple of fantastic closing laps.
If ESPN wants to be a player in NASCAR they have to be responsible for what happens after the event as well as what happens during it. It will be interesting to see what both Bowyer and Waltrip say about this issue by Monday night.
One can only ponder if ESPN would do this to Tom Brady or David Ortiz if they made an emotional statement that was immediately proven to be incorrect? Making fun of athletes on ESPN seems to be often reserved for NASCAR drivers.
What is your take on all this? Harmless fun or mean-spirited TV network?
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183 comments:
JD said ...
Harmless fun or mean-spirited TV network?
Leave it to ESPN to kick a man when he's down.
MEAN SPIRITED with NO MEANING.
I think MW will likely say that Bowyer and he have a difference of opinion on the wreck. I was disappointed, along with many fellow bloggers on this site, when ESPN chose to replay it during the race and we mentioned it here last night. But how can ESPN keep on playing it and replaying it. I'd love to hear what Bowyer has to say now.
Thank you so much JD for making more of a public issue of ESPN playing that audio.
I still can't believe ESPN even played it once during the race considering it was obviously an ill-informed comment from Bowyer AND it specifically contained a negative comment towards Michael Waltrip's sponsor.
I thought it was totally inexcusible to play it once, and it is classless to continue playing it.
ESPN has to realize the sponsors make the whole racing world go 'round and if they continue to intentionally upset sponsors they will start to lose some money of their own...
I understand Bowyer making a comment like that during the race - I've heard much worse on the scanners I monitor - but including a sponsor mention is unprofessional and unforgivable in my opinion.
Michael will probably take the high road and be nice about it. I remember Mikey quoted a few years back that he doesn't really pay attention to what is written/said about him in the media because half of the time it is positive and the other half is negative by the same writers/reporters.
If ESPN doesn't watch it, they might singlehandedly drive Nascar down the drain. The economy is tough and long time teams are losing sponsors. Look at Ganassi's teams. ESPN needs to cast Nascar and its' teams in a positive light because that is one less sport to cover if car counts go down drastically as teams start shutting down due to lack of funding.
I think that it is in extremely poor taste to play that all over the networks. Maybe a campaign of emails and letters needs to go to ABC/ESPN/Disney to talk to them about their sports networks coverage. Michael is a stand up guy and has had some mistakes but he takes his licks and keeps on ticking. He has shown what is like to go through hard times and still hold your head up high. He has done something so far that even Hendrick, Childress, Roush, and the like have not even done and that is start a new team with 3 cars in cup and 1 in Nationwide.
GO MIKEY AND MWR!!!!!!!!
Yes, I am a Mikey fan to the core. I will support him always.
Thank you, John, for writing this. Maybe it will get the attention of the powers that be and they will change their coverage. I highly doubt it because I never heard an apology regarding Tony Stewart and Joey Logano.
Uncalled for. Especially multiple times. NAPA has several ads during NASCAR and NHRA events on ESPN. Maybe it's time to spend that money on another channel.
I am also a big Mikey fan but know he is not for everbody.
HOWEVER, a driver can make any comment he wants to about others on scanners (and often does!!) but it was the whole mentioning of NAPA that bugged me. Say whatever you want in the heat of the moment. But to drag sponsors in this economically challenged time we live in (AND to which is hurting NASCAR) and it makes Bowyer's comment tasteless.
Kinda like when Jamie McMurray said he never worried about being out of the top 35 as it had never been a problem for him...he was rather arrogant and dismissive in his comment. HA! A couple weeks later, he fell out of the top 35, had a TWO WEEK break and did not sleep very well.
So suddenly, he knew what many drivers go through every week.
Perhaps it is financial security SPOILING CB to make such a comment.
EVEN WORSE for ESPeeN to play it all over...but typical sensationalism.
I don't care who the driver is, it's not good to drag a sponsor's name into it and CLEARLY, Mikey never STARTED the wreck but was a victim.
I have been losing interest in many RCR driver's...this one is done. But I still like Happy for the moment.
Totally mean-spirited for ESPN to continue playing that clip. It's not just because it's embarrassing for Michael but because it also makes Clint look like a jerk - maybe he really believes that about Michael or maybe he was just venting out of frustration about being caught up in that wreck. Someone at ESPN should have used better judgment regarding playing that clip in the first place let alone over and over.
One would think after all the comments over the past week on this and other blogs concerning Tim Brewer's unfortunate remarks over Magnetgate that ESPN would be more careful in allowing to be broadcast any further comments derogatory to a driver in the Nationwide or Sprint series, let alone distributing these new remarks throughout their many platforms!
Makes you wonder who is in charge and what's the agenda...
Maybe it's true....Nascar wants to build drama. and when you give up the audio control....this stuff is going to happen...pure & simple Bristol is road rage...ESPN...they seem to want to sell the sizzle..
Clint was angry (he's actually challenging for a position in the chase) unlike Mikey....& when you are trying to make a name for yourself & no one seems to care (re endorsements) you see a high profile driver making big bucks playing a "goober" who seems to run in the back more often than he should based upon his "profile" maybe the casting is true & that MW is just that as a racer also...
ESPN's usual lack of judgement.
Yes, what is the agenda here???
This is typical ESPN. ESPN is going to run out of drivers to interview if they don't stop alienating them and their fans. Tony is clearly unhappy with ESPN and both Mikey and Clint have reason to be also.
Maybe even worse, its lazy reporting that ESPN wouldn't dare to subject stick and ball fans to. Making fun of and embarrassing drivers as well as making up "news" stories leaves a bad taste in fans mouths. Its too bad that some of the good reporters like Marty Smith and Allen Bestwick are under the same umbrella as others who don't even deserve to be called "reporters."
It may be "just sports" but have some pride and integrity in what you do ESPN.
Replaying something from in race recordings when the driver has no idea about the real circumstances is wrong. Its the heat of the moment.
I think as far as ESPN motive -how about a 2fer embarrass Waltrip & non glamor driver Bowyer.
Anon 6:52PM,
I would invite you to post your thoughts about the subject we are discussing. This has nothing to do with MWR, the race performance or Waltrip's future plans.
JD
I do think it would be great if NAPA pulled all commercials from all ESPN networks...
ESPN deserves it for their shortsightedness.
It didn't matter that is was Waltrip. I think that if ESPN has audio or video of one driver slamming another, they will use it for all it's worth.
It's all about ratings and hits. And they are getting plenty of hit's off this. Not to mention we are talking about it.
Ask Tony Stewart. He'll tell you about it.:-)
I had no idea that the ESPN shows were replaying this clip and/or sound bite. Someone needs to talk to Clint so he can correct himself and apologize. Or, why didn't someone during these replays kindly mention that Clint was wrong? Oh, that's right, it's ESPN.
They manufacture drama.
I watched the race this morning and I felt that ESPN really made Clint look bad, at least as far as the race coverage was concerned. It doesn't do a young driver any good to be seen belittling a popular and accomplished veteran.
JD. Why cant ESPN ever do anything right in your mind? They had a good broadcast but of course you have to go and find a negative that I believe is once again being blown out of proportion by you. Keep stirring the pot JD!
Calm down JD! No need for your ESPN gunning for Waltrip conspiracy theories! What Clint Bowyer said was comical and noteworthy, which is why ESPN repeatedly played his comments.
Anon 7:31pm:
How can you not view this as being a problem? Is it your opinion that ESPN should keep playing a clip of a driver comment that was shown to be completely incorrect?
If ESPN was doing anything good, JD would commend them for it. Just like he did for their entire broadcast last night.
But even ESPN, when they corrected their issues from Friday night, made a major mistake not just during the race, but all throughout the next day as well.
It's not just Clint Bowyer and Michael Waltrip who should have a beef with the network. Will the other drivers see and hear about this and want to say anything to ESPN at all?
wes,
I think that is part of the issue. It makes Bowyer look bad at a time when he has just made a big announcement and is working on a good season.
JD
I find it sad that ESPN close to play a frustrated driver’s rant out of context. Something FOX would no doubt have the class not to do.
The reality is Mikey is a better than average driver who happens to be a few years past his prime, where Clint is an above average drive who is in his prime. After all Bowyer, in his top notch RCR equipment, is struggling to snipe a championship against the nationwide only teams.
As for value to the sponsor, consider the source. MW is a sponsor’s dream, where Bowyer has the personality of a wet dog turd and a face to match. Marketability is a huge part of a sponsorship deal, and one of the reasons Mikey has enjoyed such a long career at the top level of racing.
I watched NN and caught the Bowyer comment replay plus the comments of Boris and Ryan. They did not bring up the Casey Mears not being cleared issue at all and I remember thinking they obviously didn't watch the race because DJ and AP certainly didn't see it that way and neither did Casey Mears and he was the car that caused the wreck. I stayed away from Nascar the rest of today and had no clue that it was all over ESPN. With what went on between Carl and Kyle you think they would have had something better to talk about. Many here think Mikey will let it go, I for one hope he doesn't. Yes he is in the twilight of his career and he is no Jimmie Johnson or Jeff Gordon but he has won more races than Clint and bringing up Napa is just wrong. The Napa reference is why I think Mikey should slam him back in the sideways subtle dig that Mikey can do so well. In a car to car fight, right now Clint would prob win except on the plate tracks but in a war of words Clint is in way over his head. This is the second week in the row that ESPN has put their foot in it and they are messing with dynamite first Tony and now Mikey, who's next Junior?
I think the comment made Bowyer look like an idiot (remember the dust up between him and Jeff Burton caught on camera?) and I doubt that anything he says will affect Mikey or NAPA in the least. It may serve only to reinforce people's opinions about Bowyer himself.
I did not see the announcers as being overly gleeful about the comment, but it seems to have gotten as much play as some other radio traffic bloopers in the past. Overall, I am not any more outraged by this incident than any of several others this year.
I agree that it was in poor taste to keep playing it, but between Tim Brewer's gaff and the insistance by an ESPNews host that KB was the one driving the 18 during magnetgate; inaccurate, instigative and poorly formed decisions seem to rule the day all over ESPN. Saturday's broadcast not withstanding.
Someone said in an early post that ESPN was wrecking NASCAR and I agree. It isn't just the telecasts themselves that make me feel like a redheaded stepchild.
Since I never turned on the PU channel today, this is the first I've heard of them replaying repeatedly Clint's comment. I think it's wrong on many levels, but not really suprised by it. Can't WAIT to hear MW's take on it Monday nite! For the record, I don't really care for Mikey or Clint.
Another thing that I thought of after I posted and due to being at church couldn't post was that I actually watched Nascar Now last night and I loved the comment that Boris said. Boris said that Clint ought to thank Casey and Mikey because it made Clint's car better and faster.
I was also talking to someone at church tonight and he said that he agrees that ESPN will make up stories or "news" on all the sports just to have something to cover. He sees it on the other sports than Nascar as he is into the other sports more. He will look at races occasionally.
Again, thanks, John, for this blog. Love it.
Personally I can't stand mikey since he went with those @#@$%@$ toyotas but I think your article is a joke. Come on now, so they played the clip. They've played clips like that in the past. I'm sure it has nothing at all to do with because he's on other networks. Quite frankly, he doesn't deserve the recognition, nor does the comment about him, that they're getting. He should just be left to fail along with his team and hopefully eventually toyota.
Definitely mean spirited.
I'm a Mikey fan but would say the same for any driver. Yes in the "moment" you don't know what really happened so you say your feelings at the time. Which is why some have had to retract later when they saw the tape since TV didn't show it for whatever reason when they were interviewing and why *many* drivers 50 million ways say "I haven't seen the tape yet" when ESPN tries to get them to throw someone under the bus without the driver having a true idea of what *did* happen.
I can't recall now if they showed Casey's interview I've already deleted everything. But without it people are only going to remember the soundbites. I recall in the B&M world that's what people would ask me about. They'd hear on the news a soundbite and that's that they remember they don't remember anything else.
One that comes to mind was 2K2 (?) when Todd was trying to make a Cup comeback. The grass at Charlotte was wet and he got his tire in there and that shot him up the track taking out a number of cars including all 3 RCR cars. I can't remember the exact wording, but Mr. Childress didn't mince words and he was clearly not happy. Mr. Childress said something about Todd needing to go back to driving school. And IIRC, that was the incident that NA$CAR stated that if he was involved in one more incident they'd pull his credentials to drive.
The people who heard that and asked me about it, the only thing they knew was that someone was not happy with a driver they had *no* idea what transpired to cause the accident. And this is how I fear people will react. They won't know what happened to cause the accident, all they'll know is that someone feels that Michael Waltrip is the worst driver in NA$CAR and NAPA is sponsoring him.
I'm watching VL right now and they played the clip and Kenny immediately jumped in saying the the comment needed to be broken down. 1 He exonerated Mikey 2 Exlained the spotter clearing issue and 3 it was just heat of the moment frustration by Clint especially with the chase. Much better when presented this way.
john 8:36PM,
So, what is the point of putting it in the highlights of the race?
This article is not about ESPN playing it back in the race, which was just a dumb decision.
It is about the Bristol, CT guys taking this one element and sticking it in every single thing they showed about the race.
This included the normally updated and thorough NASCAR Now.
Seen this done to NFL or MLB stars?
JD
I also didn't know that C. Bowyer's heat of the moment scanner traffic comment had been replayed several times. However, I don't see a conspiracy here. That was the original premise of the article wasn't it?
I think that it is simply ESPN following the same "journalistic" path they have followed with NASCAR coverage since they regained the broadcast rights last year. It was an emotional comment that, (apparently in the decision makers' minds), will "create" higher drama than just another wreck. This in turn supposedly gets more "eyes" tuning into ESPN, and helps them sell more and higher priced advertising.
In my opinion, it's as simple as that. I heard it when it happened. I heard one or more of the booth announcers disavow it as a hasty, emotional comment made from Clint's limited vision perspective. Apparently, "other heads" prevailed, and have decided to use it as a marketing ploy.
Was the comment harsh? Sure. Is Clint a mean spirited person under his for public consumption persona? Who knows? Who thought that "Cousin Carl" would become "The Carl" a few months ago? The fact is that the decision makers seem convinced that this drama sells.
Rich,
That ignores the fact is was incorrect. If a Red Sox player says something that is picked-up during an ESPN game and the announcers then find out he was incorrect and completely mistaken, do you expect that will be put in the national highlights of SportsCenter?
I never said the word conspiracy, you did. I raised the point as to why this inaccurate statement was included by sports TV professionals in video distributed across the nation and around the world?
JD
When I was watching the race, I immediately though about coming to this blog to post about how unfair ESPN running the comment was. Then when I saw it on NASCAR Now following the race, I felt it was just horrible. I was pleased to come here and see it was noticed by others and got a topic of its own.
To me the part that makes this such a LOW BLOW is not just that Bowyer cracked that Waltrip was the worst, but he went on to say (and this was replayed over and over) "I can't believe NAPA resigned him."
That dig at his sponsor - an advertiser during ESPN broadcasts
, no less - was so out of place in the corporate-friendly NASCAR that I think that was the part that really hurt -- it was the exclamation point on the "worst driver" comment.
I can't believe they played that last part over and over, too. Just awful.
Addendum:
To answer the original premise, I don't think that ESPN is out to get M. Waltrip per se. He just happens to be the deer that wandered into the gun sight. Any driver could have served the same purpose for ESPN. Unless of course it was a "no name back marker" that no one cared about, (in the opinion of the decision makers).
Re: JD @9:11 PM today:
Yeah, I agree that it was not Clint's finest moment. In my opinion, ESPN is just practicing their corporate philosophy, The Ends Justifies The Means". Clint, and Mikey are just the latest victims to serve their purposes.
To paraphrase the "kindly" Al Davis, "Just Sell Baby!"
J.D.,
The worst thing about ESPN repeating Bowyer's insulting inaccuracy is that low-to-mid-level fans who follow NASCAR casually and recognize the drivers' names will hear this slur and believe it. Because they are not as avid as we are, they likely don't read websites such as Daly Planet, and so they'll never find out it was a slur unless ESPN clears it up next week.
I'm hoping that Allen Bestwick, Dale Jarrett, Dr. Jerry, or Andy Petree will say something about it a couple of times during next week's race cast.
Pacific Time Zone Kenny - Alameda, California
JD,
how often in the transpiring of the Manny Ramirez trade did you see clips of him taking a leak behind the Green Monster or wearing the bluetooth in the outfield? ESPN has no problem going to the way back machine when it fits their agenda, but they made youtube pull the Chris Berman ranting and raving during breaks from Sportscenter.
Now on to this issue. You can't hold a driver responsible for what he says in the heat of the moment on the scanners like that. There needs to be some discretion. What if FOX aired the Earnhardt radio traffic when he hit the wall and died at Daytona, or Adam Petty, Irwin, any driver who died or was seriously injured? Thank God there was no in car camera for those instances. I know it's extreme, but is there a line?
I'm sure Bowyer and Mikey are going to have a pow wow and hug it out, but if I were RCR, I'd probably tell ESPN they were not welcome to use my team's transmissions. Personally, I think scanner traffic needs to be kept at the track and not broadcast to the TV audience. Kind of one of those perks of buying a ticket and being there in person. I don't recall FOX broadcasting the Daytona 2002 race where Dale Jr. was ripping Shawna Robinson up and down about how this so and so don't deserve to be on the track, or Terry Labonte dropping F bombs all race. Can't blame Bowyer, how was he to know his conversations would be on ESPN.
But the thing that cracks me up is we old school fans wax poetically about the good ole days of personality with our drivers and we get all in an uproar when they exhibit said personality. I think in many ways the internet has ruined NASCAR as badly as Brian France has.
Shame on ESPN. I heard the comments today, after having watched most of the race last night. It made me wonder if ESPN saw the same race I watched.
Admittedly, I'm a Michael fan. He's done a heck of a lot for Nascar and doesn't deserve to be trashed for this one.
Clint Bowyer is on WT tonight, may be the last call guy cause it's 950 and I haven't heard from him yet. Dave is hinting so I think he will bring it up.
I'm not so sure on this. Clint Bowyer has made stupid comments before and ESPN has played those over and over. I distinctly remember Bowyer saying that you could put a monkey in the 20 car and it would win---that comment was played over and over on ESPN, written about in USA Today and in various newspapers around the country. I think they just took a very stupid, and ill-advised comment, and ran with it. If Bowyer had said the same thing about Kyle Busch, they would have done the same thing.
Dave Despain did a good job of asking Bowyer about this and got the expected answer.
It was someone blowing off steam from being upset about what happened on the track. We have all seen it for years.
When asked if he would get called-out on Monday's TWIN episode, Bowyer said probably so. Nothing new but Despain did a good job of covering all the bases.
JD
People: Could it be that Bowyer's comment is based on more than the incident last night at Bristol?
ESPN is going to run out of drivers to interview if they don't stop alienating them and their fans.
Jessica: Don't worry about Michael. He is the Sen. Chuck Schumer of NASCAR: never met a microphone or a camera he didn't like!
No apology. Typical Bowyer.
Sounds like Richard isn't all that happy with him either - 4 RCR car, no points and a brand new team. Clint is going to have it rough next year.
Here's the real question: Will "This Week in NASCAR" pull the audio for their weekly scanner audio feature?
Personally, I think they should. The offense to Waltrip aside, it was a rare candid moment that showed the real emotion of the sport (even if misdirected). I suppose the TWIN team will not roll the audio under the argument that it will have already been shown elsewhere... but I hope they do show it, if for no other reason than to give Michael Waltrip the proper forum with which to reply. He deserves a rebuttal, even if he's too classy to probably say what he really feels about the 07.
I watched WT and was waiting to hear what Clint would say. He kind of tap danced around an apology to Mikey by saying he was speaking in the heat of the moment. Ok, fine. Now that he knows it wasn't Mikey's fault he should've said that he misspoke and took back what he said. Admitting that you're wrong garners respect. I don't care who you are.
Please forgive me if I'm repeating points that others have made. I'm working on the crazy hope that the dumbasses at ESPN might read this page, and I want to voice my opinion.
Love Mikey or hate him, he is a major personality in NASCAR for any number of reasons, not the least of which is that he is a driver and owner. And he deserves respect because of that.
Michael Waltrip may not be a Gordon, or a Stewart or a Busch, or even a Daryl Waltrip. But he's no seat filler. The man has won the Daytona 500 twice. There are a lot of guys who would give up multiple toes to be able to say that.
Boyer made a stupid comment in the heat of the moment. That's the kind of thing that will happen between drivers and one assumes that it all gets settled in some fashion or another rivately. Otherwise these guys would be mad at each other for ever.
ESPN is pathetic. There was no story there. Michael wasn't at fault. If he had caused the wreck and taken out some chase "bubble boys", that might have at least been something.
It shouldn't have been played in the race, given that they KNEW it wasn't Mikey's fault. And it shouldn't hve been played as part of the highlight packages. Because, as I said, there was no story there. Casey explained what the issue was, the video shows that Mikey did nothing wrong, and that should have been the extent of it.
This is just one more example of ESPN doing what is best for them and not what is best for the sport and it's presentation on TV. It's hard to believe I'm saying this, but TNT is looking better all the time. Give me sitcom promos over pathetic production, bad personnel choices, and idiot moves like this.
He made NO apology on WT just like "one of them heat of the moments we all say" but it was what it was.
Like others, what bothered me in this whole deal was BRINGING UP NAPA during the race and REPEATEDLY using that sponsor name as PART OF THE PUT DOWN.
To me, that's the issue here. Call everybody in the cars names or idiots in the heat of the moment.
BUT to use the sponsor name as PART of the slam, that's different in my book.
Oh, and if I remember...either late last season or early this season, CLINT started a huge wreck and was NEVER apologetic about it...NOR did he take any responsibility.
The more I see him interviewed, and now this, the 'stupider' he is..
Mikey is a big boy and can take care of himself.
It's the whole NAPA name dropping that EVERYBODY heard that bothers ME.
And THAT's the part that should bother all the drivers.
Sponsorships are so expensive...no 'car time' on tv during a race if you are not one of the chosen few.
Bad time to start knocking sponsors.
Otherwise, the boys in the heat of the moment can say whatever the hello they want.
ESPN is just as tasteless in NOT beeping out the NAPA name...Can't believe NASCAR hasn't been offended by THAT part of the entire scanner chatter.
I have NEVER heard a sponsor dissed on scanner audio on national tv. Maybe it happens all the time at the races but the words stay where they SHOULD..among the teams.
Is NOTHING private anymore?????
ESPN still doesn't get it. Since they got back into the NASCAR Sprint Cup broadcast business they continue to act arrogant and ignorant. After the Boyer comment was played during the race cast ESPN’s own commentators came to Waltrip’s defense and indicated he had no culpability in the accident, even going so far to point out that if Waltrip had tried to brake hard to avoid Mears he would have been run over from behind. And by replaying the Bowyer comment over and over they are telling us all over and over again that they have yet to realize that the joke is on them; ESPN just keeps reiterating how much they don’t get NASCAR.
This is one of many episodes in which ESPN demonstrates their lack of NASCAR acumen combined with their ongoing corporate policy of playing to the lowest common denominator. ESPN thinks while we all were able to see Mears-Waltrip replay from seven different angles that we (NASCAR fans) have no ability to whatsoever to form an intelligent opinion about it. Inflammatory comments get ratings, who cares if they are unsupported and inaccurate, we (the audience) aren’t smart enough to know any better. Nope we are all are just undereducated, beer swilling lemmings waiting to be told what to think by the Great Sports Broadcasting Giant. As ESPN pieces together inappropriate sound bites that support placing blame at the feet of the wrong driver, obviously ESPN thinks we are all a little too slow to know what actually happened. ESPN’s behavior is insulting to NASCAR fans and it is insulting to the entire NASCAR community.
The decision to air the Clint Bowyer radio transmission after it was already clear that the wreck wasn't Michael's fault was obviously very poor. Most knowledgable fans that have ever listened to a scanner are well aware that those types of things are said all the time in the heat of the moment. Clint is under a lot of pressure, got wrecked, and instantly vented because the last thing he saw was the 55. In most similar instances the spotter or someone watching on TV in the pits gets on the radio after hearing that and says something like "just so you know it was actually this other guy's fault". If Mike Dillon didn't do that I'm sure Clint has seen or been told by now that it wasn't Michael's fault and it's no big deal. It's just ridiculous that ESPN blew this out of proportion.
I certainly hope that only reached the air during the race broadcast on Saturday because of incompetence by non-NASCAR savvy production truck members and not as a result of a malicious attempt to create a storyline, "stir the pot", or flat out make one particular individual look bad.
The on-site production truck needs to be very careful picking and choosing what is "air worthy" because the tape editors that create those highlights back in Bristol, CT for Sportscenter, ESPNEWS, and NASCAR Now don't have a clue what is actually highlight worthy and will always light up for eye-catching things like that and include ridiculous stuff like Bowyer's comments about Waltrip or Dale Junior asking about the Redskins score at Talladega last fall that either make the sport or certain people in the sport look very bad.
Clint Bowyer's comment amused me because I mostly agree with his assessment (Waltrip isn't the worst driver but he is close). ESPN should not keep repeating this audio without clarifying that Waltrip was not the cause of the wreck.
A few weeks ago on TWIN Michael Waltrip savagely ripped into David Gilliland accusing him of purposely taking out his driver, Michael McDowell, at Watkins Glen. He had the bully platform that evening and went on and on disparaging the driver of the 38 car. Steve Byrnes did nothing to stop the rant and did nothing to present a balanced view of the incident.
Waltrip vehemently launched an attack 24 hours after the race. By remaining silent Byrnes blessed this vicious character assassination of another driver. Bowyer's spur-of-the-moment comment, and ESPNs repeated usage of that comment, pales in comparison.
There's an old adage in advertising & public relations ... Any press is good press - no matter if it's good or bad press ... If it keeps my name in the news, it's all good ...
I'm a fan of Mikey and Bowyer ... I thought it was funny because it was the one of the two BIG drama points of the race ... Plus, Bowyer was so "straight faced" when he said (Yes, I know I didn't see his face, but he said it with no emotion) ...
ESPN will use the sound bite because it's a big thing as it involved Bowyer & his new teammate ... but it also bumped Bowyer into the Chase and Kasey Kahne out of the Chase ...
SPEED has been using the sound bite in "Victory Lane" as well as "Wind Tunnel" ... I don't remember if they used it on "SPEED Report" ... And, of course, they'll use it on "TWIN" and Mikey will have a comical & snarky comeback for Bowyer and he's well prepared for it (even though he'll prolly claim to not having watched it) ...
The sound bite is also FREE advertising & PR for NAPA itself ... They need more advertising since Ron Capps has been struggling this season in the NHRA ... Capps has only made it to the final round once and has yet to win an event this season ...
The whole thing is really no different than Kyle & Carl's responses to the late race bump & run ... IF you're in Carl's camp, it's the "Nudge & Run" ... IF you're in Kyle's camp, it's the "Run over me & run" ...
Bowyer admitted on "Wind Tunnel" that he probably shouldn't have said what he did and now it's coming back to bite him ... And after "TWIN" airs, the sound bite will have officially jumped the shark ...
At a minimum, you'd think that ESPN would try to interview Waltrip or get a statement from MWR as to their perspective on the issue. On the other side, didn't Casey and Mikey have a run-in during one of the night races earlier this year (Lowes?)? Last night's Victory Lane might have done justice to the Waltrip situation, but was probably the worst VL I've seen in a long time which is saying something.
Clint Boyer is entitled to his opinion concerning Waltrips racing abilities , an opinion shared by many other drivers and fans by the way . And as Waltrips peer , Clints' opinion carries far more weight than any fan or media type . Even if the crash was not in fact Waltrips fault , that still wouldn't negate Boyers critique .
There really isn't much point in bashing ESPN for using the quote ad nauseum . Why would anyone ever be surprised at how low the daily ESPN shows can sink to attract ratings ? You will stoop to using anything that gets a reaction if the best you have to work with is a continuous loop show called Sports Center .
Thank You JD for posting your thoughts,also Thanks for taking my e-mail about ESPN.
ESPN is wrong and they know it, all this crap produces ratings and that is the bottom line but hurting and slandering some one's name is WRONG,ESPN you reap what you sow!!!!!!!!!!!
It is amazing to me that a network can continue to carry a sport that it so obviously considers second-rate and stupid. That would be the only reason I can think of that they would continue to play Clint's audio AFTER they found out that he was mistaken. Clint's comment was made in the heat of the moment and based on what he thought was true at the time.
I'm no Mikey fan -- actually, I kinda of agree with Clint's comments, but I don't have ESPN's ability to play it over and over again, nor would I want to once it was found to be inaccurate. It's only my opinion.
ESPN has shown itself to want to be "sensational" and not worry about letting facts get in the way when it comes to reporting about NASCAR. As you said, JD, they don't do this when it pertains to other sports. I find it repugnant.
I think this is nothing new. Fox, TNT, and ESPN all take driver radio broadcasts out of context. If a driver says anything emotional during the race, that get's aired. The only difference is that ESPN is a sports only network so yes, anything controversial gets played over and over. Fox and TNT would do the same thing if they weren't showing "The Simpsons" and "Saving Grace" instead. You can bet if Barrack Obama says or does something controversial, CNN will play it over and over every hour - (what else are they going to show to fill up 24 hours a day?).
Besides, Michael Waltrip has been called a lot worse.
I thought the "Mr Ed" comment from Busch was more noteworthy.... "A horse is a horse, of course, of course,.....
JD said...
If a Red Sox player says something that is picked-up during an ESPN game and the announcers then find out he was incorrect and completely mistaken, do you expect that will be put in the national highlights of SportsCenter?
The reality is that wouldn't or couldn't happen. I may be alone in this opinion, but I don't think it's about Waltrip or Bowyer. It's about controversy and driving ratings.
NASCAR affords unusually wide access to the athletes, before, during and after the event. Other sports are always at arms length. NFL Films offers some up-close perspective, but that after the fact, closely edited, and usually months after the game.
Hmmmm, Clint whining about another driver, nothing new, Clint never apoligizing for putting his foot in his mouth, nothing new, Clint losing respect by many fans for his VERY personal attack on MW and NAPA, now that is classless.
Love him or dislike him, MW does alot for Nascar, and Nascar as a whole will he healthier if all their teams get sponsorship and are able to hang on.
Who will be around to watch if its just Henderick, RCR and Gibbs racing each other. Not I, and I just spent a whole lot of money going to the Bristol race and I will spend that money else where if the sport loses teams. These drivers need to support each other, and if they lose their temper during a race and you were in the wrong than sheesh say your sorry.
Mr. Daly
What ESPN has demonstrated is its inability to report CONTEXT. The fact is that, save perhaps Bob Ley, ESPN has not one single sports JOURNALIST (or news saavy editor for that matter) on its staff. Sportscenter is not sports news, nor are its vapid telepromptor reading automotrons anything but Patrick/Olberman wanna bees-tossing out cutsie little quips and "wink-wink, nudge-nudge" inside jokes rather than actually reporting sports stories and news.
This particular instance also reinforces the notion that inside of ESPN, there is no one who understands motorsport. To them, its reduced to a generalized bucket of either "Rolex wearing playboys" or "chicken and berr swilling hicks"
Do what I do. Turn them off
Bray Kroter
Enjoyed the race, enjoyed this article, and thought all the comments were insightful. But as usual with many articles, it's turned into a driver-bashing forum. I know this wasn't your intent.
I still believe that what is heard on the scanner shouldn't be used for broadcasting purposes - those are the drivers thoughts at the moment and I'm sure you could find many regrettable statements during the heat of battle by all the drivers...are we forgetting Kyle Petty's little slip at Sonoma last year?
Comments that never addressed the ESPN issue or the topic of using Bowyer's audio clip on the various ESPN TV networks and websites have been deleted.
Please feel free to re-post and include your TV-related commnents.
Thanks,
JD
Anon 10:22AM,
We do not call people stupid on this blog. If you would like to return and re-post you are welcome.
JD
My comment did address the TV issue, though you chose to remove it anyway because it disagreed with your opinion.
Should have ESPN censored Kyle Busch's Mr. Ed comment about Carl Edwards? That is demeaning as well.
Bowyer's comment was aired in context in terms of a wreck. You don't give the American people enough credit to critically analyze what was being said considering the situation. Everybody knows this was just a driver blowing off steam. It wasn't Tim Brewer, Dr. Jerry Punch, or Shannon Spake making the comment presenting it as a fact.
It was a driver that was involved in an incident on the track. This isn't any different than any other driver rant. People understand that some things said in the heat of the moment aren't necessarly all they are cracked up to be.
Anon 10:38AM,
Your original comment did not address the ESPN issue in any way.
Are you saying the Bowyer clip was used in context? How is that possible when even he said that he was not aware of what actually happened?
"Everybody knows this was just a driver blowing off steam?" Did you really say that?
This entire article is on this site because the SportsCenter, ESPNEWS and ESPN.com use of this clip did not put it in context at all. That is the point.
Unfortunately, even NASCAR Now did not take the time to put this clip in context. It made Bowyer look foolish and gave Waltrip a nice slam.
I appreciate your re-post, but find it not really speaking to the issue using the facts involved.
JD
The clip was right after showing the incident at hand? How much more context can you get?
I don't know if ESPN is gunning for MW or not, but Clints comment was a highlight of the race, it was funny, and as far as I'm concerned it was very accurate.
Let's run through this one more time. This is a TV and media blog and this article is about ESPN using the Bowyer audio clip.
We do not care if you like or dislike either driver. We do not tolerate name-calling or hate speech. The rules for posting are located on the right side of the main page where they have been since February of 2007.
Thousands of people have posted comments since that time with no problem.
If you want to comment on the drivers, please take your thoughts to a NASCAR fan website.
If you have a problem with the rules or another issue, just drop me a line at editor@thedalyplanet.tv and we will address it right away.
Thanks,
JD
Anon 10:48AM,
Did you watch the race? Bowyer thought Waltrip turned Mears when in fact Mears turned up after being cleared by his spotter.
It was totally out of context and completely incorrect. I don't understand what point you are trying to make.
JD
That was just Casey's personalty taking the blame on behalf of his team for an incident.
Plenty of other drivers would rightfully claim that Waltrip should have let off and given some space at that point early in the race.
Plus, do you really think that people actually think whatever a driver says in the heat of the moment is actually true? That is the context of the comment itself. In-car audio right after an incident, and that is how it was presented. Again, you don't give the American people enough respect to be able to critically analyze the comments.
Once again, the issue is not what was said out of context and in the heat of the moment, but that a major media outlet chose to place that comment on multiple platforms within its own empire thereby giving it a bigger life of its own.
The comment has been reported on several print media websites and has made its way to YouTube. Years from now, one will be able to access this insult to the exclusion of most other scanner/radio traffic from this race or multiple other races.
Very unfortunate decision on ESPN's part for the second week in a row...
Tom,
I am going to give it 48 hours and then track how viral it has become.
This is a new way of putting things in the media that are either untrue or are have potentially some partial value and letting them go global.
We have seen that with some of Newton's reports that percentage wise are probably going to be true, but are purposefully released early so they can go viral and have ESPN as the keyword.
It certainly is an interesting topic from the perspective of sports as nothing more than content to fill the 24 hour information void. Kind of a shame in a way.
JD
JD,
Don't know if you have Sirius or not but so far in the last 3 hours of off-and-on listening they have played that clip at least a dozen times. Several times they've played it as a bumper. The "Mr. Ed" comment has also been played several times.
The Sports Animal out of Knoxville Tennessee has Jerry Punch on for about an hour. I'm not sure which time slot but people call-in and talk NASCAR, and football. I did not hear the three in the booth blame Michael they saw everthing. Maybe someone could call Jerry today and ask him his perspective.
Here's the link:
http://gateway.andohs.net/player/?sid=2947&nid=2920
Not sure where to start. But have read all 89 previous comments.
Respect them all, but comments 88 and 89 ,I think sum it up. As of 1141am this date.
I wish/hope that MW takes the high road on this. The driver of the 07 can only wish he will ever have the popularity and career of the NAPA sponsored 55 and I hope NAPA realizes this. And am glad they sponsor the 55.
No, not a 55 fan. Just think it was wrong
Guys,
As I said originally...the conscious decision to air the clip on ESPN even though Mears had already been interviewed and explained the situation started the snowball rolling downhill.
Then, the decision to insert it in all of the Bristol Cup Highlights on the ESPN Networks and ESPN.com made sure anyone could get it and re-purpose it.
Taking the easy way out and using it despite the reality of both the Mears and Bowyer comments will help to tell the tale of who is providing entertainment and who is providing coverage of NASCAR as a sport.
JD
Hate to break it to you, though sports ARE entertainment. ESPN shows plenty of rants given by coaches and athletes of other sports, and shows them on SportsCenter. This is no different.
Welcome to 2008 - the YouTube /reality show years.
Wake up this is the norm. If you say something stupid it takes on a life of it's own on the media and/or internet. Ordinary people also find themselves unwilling internet/media stars when they do something stupid, so I have a hard time feeling sorry for the famous millionaires. Both Waltrip and Bowyer should be laughing all the way to the bank - their t-shirt sales and notoriety quotient just went up 3 points.
so, here's my problem with espn's use of this clip: they know it was bowyer in the heat of the moment (when regrettable statements are often made), they know that there is a third driver in the mix -- casey mears -- who said at the time that it was his fault, and they know that bowyer's perception of what happened (and thereby his comments at the time) was wrong. even so, they persisted in using the clip and that's what i feel espn did wrong: they KNEW it was sensationalistic and certainly video reel perfect but they also knew that bowyer's perception was flat-out wrong. so, instead of mistakenly airing his comment just once, during the race, they continued to push their agenda, making both drivers look foolish and possibly interfering in a driver/sponsor moment.
i am saddened and angry when something like this happens, something that was intended to be between a driver and his team, something that could have been left on the track but now becomes fodder for discussion. i don't know (or care) how bowyer may feel about waltrip now, after the fact. but i am once again disappointed by espn relentlessly pushing an agenda, an agenda that permits them to put what they know is wrong out on the air, across several of their programs.
in my opinion, when it comes to nascar, espn has no journalistic credibility as an organization. there may be individuals within espn who i generally believe but this is simply the latest in a string of espn taking a very low road instead of being preofessional in their coverage of our sport.
(and anon 10:57 am who said "That was just Casey's personalty taking the blame on behalf of his team for an incident." i remember mears throwing his spotter under the bus for clearing him and the little audio clip we heard post-wreck between casey and his spotter of "i wasn't clear." he manned up to it b/c he felt it happened and he didn't "take one for the team," he placed the blame of a missed call by his spotter, something we briefly commented on during the race, i recall.)
All ESPN care's about anymore is a bunch of
slobs sitting around a
table playing POKER.
real sports right..wrong
Bob, Fajardo Puerto Rico
red,
Why should ESPN be held up to a higher standard than other networks?
Is it really fair that every time Britany Spears farts someone is there to record it and then broadcast it? Was it really anybody's business that A-rod was seeing Madonna (which was reported on ESPN)? If the president stumbles as he gets off a helecopter do we all really need to see that?
I don't get it, are we upset only because this involved NASCAR stars or are we outraged that this is going on everywhere? Once the gennie has been released it's hard to put it back in the bottle.
For those of you coming over to TDP for the first time who wind-up getting your comment removed, please take a moment to read the rules on the front page.
This is a TV and media blog, so what we are talking about is ESPN choosing to use this clip. We welcome your comments about this issue.
If you are here to knock MW or Bowyer or another driver, you are at the wrong blog. Comments that do not include your views of the topic will be deleted.
We sure would like to hear what you think, this blog gets a lot of media folks reading it and your views carry a lot of weight.
Give it shot!
JD
Bray, I loved your comment -- especially about just turn them off. I realized after reading this that I hardly ever watch ESPN unless there is a race or football being shown, because of this sort of thing. I do think all of this will take on a life of its own because of the airplay it's getting -- heck, once more, its controversy and like sex, it sells. ESPN's "sports" coverage is really a joke -- it's really talk radio transported onto TV. I don't listen that much to talk radio for the same reason -- most of the talk show hosts are out for "shock" value, not good reporting
anon 12:19PM,
Don't you think that the difference between the two is that the coach rants are someone addressing an issue and losing their temper where this is simply a guy thinking one thing when the situation is something different.
What bugs me about all this is simply that it never should have made the air the first time after ESPN interviewed Mears. Once his explanation was out, ESPN made the decision to play this to embarrass Michael Waltrip on national TV.
What other reason could there be?
JD
anon 12:41 said (in part):
"I don't get it, are we upset only because this involved NASCAR stars or are we outraged that this is going on everywhere?"
i won't speak for anyone else but yes, i do get pissed off that this is the state of "journalism" and reporting across much of american society. it's the serious dumbing down of our culture and i detest it across all genres, sports included. i hold reporters and journalists to a high standard b/c i believe the role they occupy in our society to be important.
but i despise the "lowest common denominator" effect that pervades the media today. in my opinion, americans are intellectually lazy and the non-stop celebrity gossip and never-ending "reality" shows are working to lower that curiosity level even further. i believe we are becoming a nation of instant gratification idiots who believe whatever appears on tv or the internet without a second thought.
so, while my comments are focused on espn b/c this blog is a media blog relating to nascar, i hold that this mentality of reporting what someone clearly knows is mistaken in order to pander to the sensational cuts across all aspects of american media. much to the discredit of the media.
and never forget sturgoen's rule: 90% of everything is crap.
(stepping off the soapbox now, jd. but i was asked a valid question that merited an answer, i believe! and i hope my comments were general enough that no one here feels offended personally by what i wrote because there are, as always, exceptions and most of the folks who post here are just that: exceptions. thanks, anon, for making me clarify!)
whatever... i thought it was GOOD CONTENT. which is rare because most of the time you get bland commentary.
frankly... waltrip should have checked up so he wouldn't wreck his car. If you watch the footage boyer is on the inside/rear of waltrip and sees the whole thing. he had a front row seat and you say he was uninformed?
waltrip causes as many wrecks as any other driver in the circuit.. and he does it competing to qualify on points - not even for the win. i agree with boyer.
red,
Good answer. I agree. Unfortunately we can blame the media but all we really need to do is look in the mirror to see the problem. Perhaps not you (or I LOL) but yes the population has been taken over by vapid, instant-grtatifiaction, voyeuristic, idiots. Why does espn (and others) give us such tripe, because if they don't we watch a channel that does. Television is all about ratings and ratings are a reflection of us - how we spend our time and what catches our interest - so really, they cater to what we want.
The comments of the broadcast team immediately following the on-track incident were correct and appropriate in my view. However, Dale Jarrett's comments can't be taken at face value without noting his personal and financial relationships with Michael Waltrip in the recent past. Again, I believe they were correct and appropriate; but I would feel better if they were being offered by someone who did not have a conflict of interest.
This is hardly a new issue with ESPN or the other broadcast networks. It seems none of the networks are concerned about owners, drivers, etc. appearing to offer commentary when they have a personal stake in the issues being examined. It does bother me, and it makes me question their objectivity and their opinions. I would like to see all of the broadcast networks commit to eliminating or at least reducing these conflicts of interest.
As far as ESPN repeatedly using Boyer's remarks made in the heat of the moment, it's what I would now expect of ESPN. I don't watch stick and ball sports and really hadn't watched the network much since RPM2nite went off the air. With ESPN's return to NASCAR, I saw a new and different ESPN than the one I remembered. The entire network seems to be trying to appeal to the teenage male with the attention span of a fruit fly. I have also been amazed at the endless self-promotion of the network and its on-air staff. It now appears that the sporting event exists only to glorify the network itself. ESPN's continuing use of the Boyer remark has no effect on my perception of the incident, Boyer, Waltrip, NAPA or anyone else except ESPN itself. The "new to me" ESPN can be counted on take the low road in any effort to stir up controversy.
I yearn for the good old days when ESPN covered NASCAR. The race was the real show, and the ESPN announcers were there only to help describe the race and explain strategies. The drivers and crews were the real stars, not the network.
Michigan fan
One thing we love about Nascar is how close we are able to be brought into the "happenings" of it and basically how unlimited our access is. ESPN did the right thing and continues to strive and improve each week. We as fans want to get as close to the action as possible. Hell, how many of you would sit inside that racecar in a passenger seat during the race if possible? I know I would haha. We go to the racetracks and get infield passes if possible. We have scanners...they rent them at the track...we want to hear what is going on and who is saying what. Its like nothing else in sports. You cant hear football coaches on the sidelines talking to the offensive coordinator but if we could we would. You can even listen to what Nascar is saying or MRN during commercial breaks cracking jokes constantly. Personally, I want to hear this stuff and I want ESPN, FOX, TNT or whoever it may be providing me with this because I tune in. I want to hear what people think in the heat of the moment, not after they have had time to cool off and sugar coat it. Its entertaining, its drama and it creates a great story. Lets not sit hear and bash the broadcaster for bringing us up close and PERSONAL. Keep up the good work!
-JG
"Don't you think that the difference between the two is that the coach rants are someone addressing an issue and losing their temper where this is simply a guy thinking one thing when the situation is something different."
I honestly don't think its any different. Considering what Bowyer said, one wreck would not have made Waltrip the worst driver in NASCAR. That takes dozens of races to build that sort of resume and reputation. Obviously, Bowyer has thought that for some time now, and let it out in a tirade. Whether Waltrip really caused the wreck or not is irrelevant. One single incident would not have changed his opinion that drastically.
well said, JG.
and just for the record, is it ESPN's job to "advance the sport?" as so many have said? ESPN's duty is to broadcast the race while providing as much access and information as possible. how many of you would have LOVED to have heard carl and kyle's radio banter during the incident after the checkered? it's no different than using clint's radio comms......
I like listening to the drivers radio chatter because it gives me more insight into what's going on with each team and driver but I cringe every time I hear one of them rip into one of their fellow competitors. I don't need to hear them insulting each other whether it's what they truly believe or whether they're just speaking in the heat of the moment. It seems like some say whatever comes to mind and then just excuse it away as being caught up in emotion and thinking that they were only speaking to their team when in reality they are all well aware that anything they say over their radios can be heard by fans, the media, Nascar and yes, could be played on ESPN or another media outlet like this clip was.
Someone said many comments ago said that Clint's comment didn't need to be put in any kind of context because everyone knows that drivers don't always mean what they say over their radios - that's just not the case. There are many fans right now who are taking Clint's comment about Michael not as the opinion that it was in the context of a driver speaking out of frustration instead as a factual statement by a someone who knew what he was talking about when in reality Clint didn't have all the fact regarding the cause of the wreck. In addition, in some people's minds I think the comment gains more validity the more it gets repeated on ESPN (or Sirius or elsewhere)and the more they hear it the less inclined they are to dismiss it as an emotional outburst.
Unfortunately all the controversy this is generating will probably encourage ESPN to play more audio clips like this, not less.
I was surprised that they aired the Bowyer audio. The production staff knew he didn't have the right take and they also knew that he was not only dissing a driver, but a sponsor as well. It seems to me that it probably hurts Bowyer more than Waltrip. Not that it's ESPN's job to protect the drivers or the sponsors, but it seems mean. When they had the facts and the driver didn't and he was making an idiot of himself as well as talking about a sponsor. It was in poor taste at the least to air it during the broadcast and even worse to continue to air it.
Amen JG well put & Michigan fan too.
At first I thought ESPN was out to make both drivers look stupid. However, its truly a sad ratings/webhit ploy. I doubt ESPN will have this pulled off the You tube circut because they don't like it.
This is probably why my ESPN viewing has gone down sharply, along with other networks. I'm not the "reality" show, poker game type. ESPN has been stooping to the lowest common denominator for a while now. Most networks have.
I too was saddened by how much ESPN had changed, but I guess this is whats called "progress"
Does anyone happend to remember that little dust up in Richmond, where Casey's spotter also cleared him. That was the race that Mikey got parked, since he lost his cool.
That being said, I can't believe ESPN did that either, especially bringing up NAPA. Overlooking the rest, why bite the hand that feeds you. NAPA spends a ton of money in the sport, not just on Mikey. The NAPA field summary, etc.
Stupid move on their part, I just hope the fans and NAPA let ESPN know.
Does anyone happend to remember that little dust up in Richmond, where Casey's spotter also cleared him. That was the race that Mikey got parked, since he lost his cool.
That being said, I can't believe ESPN did that either, especially bringing up NAPA. Overlooking the rest, why bite the hand that feeds you. NAPA spends a ton of money in the sport, not just on Mikey. The NAPA field summary, etc.
Stupid move on their part, I just hope the fans and NAPA let ESPN know.
again, the issue isn't whether we, as fans, should continue to have inside access to team communications. it isn't about nascar letting us get closer to the sport than say, the nfl or mlb, do.
it's about espn continuing to use an audio clip that was sensational in its content even after espn knew that the driver comment was based on an incorrect perception. using it once during the broadcast was a "maybe" for me. continuing its use when espn knew without a doubt that bowyer's view of the wreck was flat out wrong? that moves from "reporting" into "hype" in a very big way.
to jd's orginal question: are they gunning for waltrip? nope. they're just too hooked on being edgy insiders who can bring fans the "real nascar." problem this time is that the premise of the quote was incorrect and that made continuing to use it to drive hits and viewers just wrong.
Just another day on the Daly Planet blog. Just like Bill O'Reilly shuts off peoples microphones when he disagrees, the posts critical of the Waltrips or SPEED get removed here as well.
Anon 2:59PM,
See all those other posts above?
Know what they have in common?
They addressed the topic that we are discussing.
20 months of TDP and you are still having problems. Hmmm..
JD
Anonymous said...
To anon @ 9:40pm
Just for the sake of accuracy, there WAS an in-car camera in Earnhardt's car when he crashed at Daytona.
JD I am anon @9:40. Why the heck did my rebuttal to this post get removed? Seems to me you're getting a little trigger happy on this topic and if the letters ESPN are not on it, you'll zap it.
I'll post again and get zapped again probably, but my point was the car camera was NOT an in car camera, but rather a roof camera, thus the hood flapping in the wind. I was replying to someone who took exception to my comment last night in regard to discretion that a network shows during situaions on the race track, whether it's interviewing a driver immediately after he gets out of the car after a wreck, or infield care center, or in this case radio traffic that in the exact moment these guys say something like that, they're in the heat of the moment and not thinking of the PC drill. Bottom line Bowyer mouthed off, as ALL drivers do when all they're thinking is that their conversations are between them, the spotter and the crew. When you're running those speeds and the adrenaline is pumping, you're not thinking oh crap the fans with TrackPass or Sirius or guys in the stands are listening. Again when Dale Junior is calling Shawna Robinson a no talent (woman) that doesn't deserve to be on the track, that wasn't splashed on FOX or ESPN.
I understand this is your blog and all that, but please try to take the comments in context.
Did you or would you have taken Speed to task when they broadcast the Kurt Busch-Jimmy Spencer chatter "the decrepit old has been" comments that got back to Spencer and got Busch a broken nose?
I don't think ESPN is "Gunning for Michael Waltrip". I think they see this as just another Bristol highlight, an example of how the place gets tempers going.
In the pre-race they showed a montage of several incidents of driver tempers, including one in which Ward Burton was shown saying he wished he had something with which to shoot Dale Jr. Does anyone here even remember the on-track incident that caused that? Could Ward have been mistaken in placing blame directly on Jr.? Sure he could have, but does it matter?
This soundbite from Clint, will be added to the mix and we will probably hear it again next spring. It's how Bristol is promoted.
And for those who were looking for an apology from Clint, remember the remark was made to his crew, not in front of a microphone and camera. In fact, that remark was fairly tame compared to what I've heard over the scanner, right or wrong. JMO.
So why should Waltrip be immune to having the ESPN/ABC News treatment done to him they have done it to everyone else? Being the first at the scene to get to a driver climbing out of a smoking trashed race car to utter those ever popular words "how did that make you feel". He should get over it and move on and work on getting his race team better vs worrying about what someone said about him over a race radio or the network that aired it. Consider the source and if he ever has anything else relevant to say about racing don't say it on ESPN or give them any kind of exclusive interview those are his recourses.
Okay, John, time to hit the delete button again. Some people just never get it - or they're just out to try your patience....
As for my opinion, for whatever it's worth, I don't watch ESPN except when they show a race. Don't particularly like their coverage of NASCAR either, but for a short time, there is no alternative.
Keep up your good columns - we love them!
Very disappointed in ESPN for showing the audio over and over again. Very disappointed in Clint Bowyer too. It's sad to think anybody would want to insult or embarrass someone for doing what he loves to do. What happened to proper manners and having some couth, they should be ashamed of themselves. Michael Waltrip has done a lot for NASCAR, unfortunately some have forgotten. Michael Waltrip and his sponsor NAPA deserve an apology from both ESPN and Mr. Bowyer.
If it wasn't for Mr. Waltrip, this 73 yr old lady wouldn't be a fan. Thank you Michael. And thank you. Mr.Daly for letting us speak our mind on your blog.
Anon 3:20PM,
Your original post was removed because of the Earnhardt reference.
I would remind you again, the point we are trying to make is that Mears had apologized and ESPN had actually played-back his spotter clearing him before the wreck.
Only then did they decide to play back a recorded clip from Bowyer that they knew was ill-informed.
What was the purpose?
JD
I think it's great that it was put in the open, regardless of the context. Statistically speaking, Michael Waltrip is one of the worst drivers in Nascar and has been for years. Just like big brother Darrel did, he has long over stayed his welcome in Nascar. Pack it in boys, make room for some of the young talen that needs a ride.
here here...and the purpose JD was to create controversy. By the looks of this blog, they couldnt have done a better job.
Go to the column to click on the link for Waltrip responding to the ESPN issue and the Bowyer comment on 96.9 The Kat on Monday.
Thanks to the TDP reader who provided the link.
Thanks for all the good comments on this issue.
JD
Anon 4:28PM,
Your comment makes no sense from start to finish.
The entire issue is that it was never put in context by any of the ESPN folks once the race was over.
That is the reason for this post.
If you hate Waltrip, that's fine. Fortunately, his ride, his company and young drivers have nothing to do with it. I get accused of hating him all the time.
Just like Anon 4:36PM who could not even address the issue and just had to take a cheap shot at me. What a waste of typing.
Do you think over 125 comments on a Monday means this is a non-issue? I think some of the comments above address your concerns about that very directly.
JD
Naturally JD It would be you to back Mikey since that is your weekly job to push MW and the Monday show.
I am sure that there are alot more drivers out there that feel the same as Clint does.
Michael has always been a problem on the track. He shouldn't even be out there. But in the sake of providing comical entertainment for the New Nascar and creating more of a circus than a race, Nascar and writers like yourself keep pushing it.
That could be the reason that Nascar is undergoing a drop in ratings.
Keep pushing and proping up your boy if that is what your paid to do, but please ,He is No Race driver.
Anon 5:33PM,
Again your comment reflects your inability to speak to the issue everyone else is talking about.
Yelling at me is the easy way out of dealing with the topic at hand.
ESPN just used the audio clip again on the Monday version of NASCAR Now with no additional explanation.
By the way, was it you that said my job here was to hate on MW just last week?
I have a tough time keeping all my personal agendas straight.
TWIN is at 8PM on SPEED.
JD
Of course it's ESPN wanting to stir things up. They're orgasmic about "we now have a rivalry!!" so they'll take anything OUT OF context to do this as well.
What if MW had really done something stupid; would ESPN have played the Bowyer comment then? I'd say "yes" because (at least in NASCAR) ESPN thinks conflict enhances competition.
Juxtapose this with the "mic'd up" segments that ESPN uses in the NFL. IMO, they use the incredibly tamest, lamest comments. Even after 90 minutes of possible soundbites, they would never let the mic'd player look or appear bad, or the NFL would be all over ESPN like stink.
I guess NASCAR doesn't slam their foot down like the NFL or MLB when it's obvious they were making MW look silly.
Anon 14:59, I've watched O'Reilly for the past 7 years and have seen him cut the mic twice.
Now, back to the Boyer comment. I watched ESPN's "First Take" this morning. Dana Jacobsen asked Boris Said about Clint's comment. ESPN is obviously trying to stir the pot even when they know Clint was misinformed when he made the statement.
Mary
Wow you would think people would figure out how to post on a blog by this point... So my opinion on the topic at hand:
I agree with MW that all drivers say things in the heat of the moment so he can't be terribly upset at Bowyer about that, but ESPN was out of line to stir up the pot so much afterward.
Mean-spirited!! I just watched nascar now and not only did they play it again, they added another comment from the radio chatter (I think it was the crew chief) that said MW was a "dumba**". Then the roundtable said there should be some give and take at that point in the race.
I think that many people are trying to shoot down MWR. Look at roush and his comments with the anti-roll bar.....then you find out he's courting UPS for sponsorhsip.
In addition to my previous post:
It's the sponsors that drive the sport, especially when the economy is as tough as it is right now. When ESPN basically throws a sponsor under the bus like that, those kinds of things can lead to sponsors leaving the sport, lowering car counts, leading ESPN to screw themselves over as they struggle to televise a full field of cars.
I want to be clear here. I think ESPN did, and is doing, absolutely the right thing. Whatever that bonehead Boyer spouted in the heat of battle is fair game.
I'm all for close to the action uncensored unfettered passion. Give me the unvarnished truth, regardless of circumstances. Damn the editors, mollycoddlers, and excuse makers.
I love all this debate .. and I bet both ESPN and Waltrip do to.
Boyer, on the other hand, should be man enough to shoot back a shot of Jack Daniels, and cough up an apology to Waltrip for being SOA (Stupid On Air).
Yes, you may put your comments on this post about the Monday roundtable edition of NASCAR Now using Bowyer's audio in the edited highlights section of the show.
Bestwick and panel avoided the issue entirely.
Please keep the focus on the TV issue, not MW or Bowyer. It could be any two drivers we are talking about.
Do not include the Shannon Spake and Junior issue, we will include that in a post tonight at 9PM addressing the Monday TV shows.
Thank you again for all the good comments, lots of email from NASCAR media folks who had no clue those feelings and thoughts were out there among the fans.
Must have something to do with no ads on this site. Can't accuse us of trying to drive up the numbers.
JD
I agree with Anon 6:01 PM here. Boyer is too cute by half at the best of times. He either screwed up and should apologize or he should stick to his guns. If he really thinks MW is the worst driver in Nascar, let him re-confirm that opinion and live by those words. Nothing wrong with that.
Thanks for the link to Mikey's response today. ESPN will continue with their current agenda and I'll continue skipping all their programming except for the race itself.
ESPN has to screen scanners to remove profanity -- so someone had to listen to that before it was released to the public.
It was in very poor taste the first time, but the fact that no one at ESPN pulled it later and rebroadcast it in their highlights all night was just RUDE AND UNPROFESSIONAL to both Michael and Clint.
Mmmm, so many deleted comments, must be a lot of people who agree with Clint Bowyer. I like him and that he speaks his mind.Along with the monkey comment, which was aimed at Toyota, which is DW's employer, he really has given me a reason to chuckle. Say what you really think, RIGHT!! The trouble is DW and Michael have more access to microphones and poor Clint will have to understand he will be the recipient of many subtle digs from now on. I was somewhat surprised ESPN played that piece, but if we really want for drivers to be themselves, we got what we wanted. Like it or not, emotion that many people say has been missing, is back thanks to Clint. I am becoming more of a Bowyer fan every day.
That was a super link to the radio and Mikey's response. Can't wait to hear him on TWIN tonight should be fun!
You know , there is another possibility here . Maybe Boyer NEVER thought that Waltrip caused the wreck . Maybe Boyer was simply giving his opinion regarding something that happened one turn earlier . Or maybe he was just giving his opinion and it happened to coincide with the wreck . Or maybe Boyer just thinks Waltrip can't drive a race car . Any of those are true , then Boyer would really have nothing to apologize for . That would explain why he hasn't changed his mind after seeing the replays .
NAPA remains a dominant player in the elite NASCAR Sprint Cup series through team sponsorships, media buys and promotions carrying the NAPA name, brand and message to millions of brand-loyal fans throughout the entire season.
(from the NAPA website)
It was pointed out this afternoon to me by a good friend in the media business, who was amazed that ESPN would keep repeating the unedited Boyer clip despite the fact that NAPA is a repeat buyer of advertising on not only ESPN's channels, but also on ABC and at Disney. He did say that sometimes Production doesn't talk to Sales, but he is incredulous that the comment's use hasn't been stopped by now.
Seriously, advertising dollar is never easy to come by and to deliberately p**s off a buyer just doesn't make sense! It's one thing to edit the comment so that only the first sentence is heard, but someone should have had the foresight, after the first airing, to protect the buyer. Who is in charge in Bristol, CT?
Tom in Dayton.
I TOTALLY agree with your sentiments.
JD thanks for the audio to Michael. I am surprised HE did not bring up dragging NAPA's name down.
Definitely mean-spirited. I can't help but wonder if someone at ESPN heard Mikey's comment during the truck race (about how he hates watching a race from inside the trailer-maybe a little jab at ESPN?) and this is an attempt to 'get back' at him. If so, it's too bad that they sunk to such a level.
Mikey is old school and well loved by thousands of fans. ESPN must not realize that since they were disrespectful of Mikey, they did the same thing to his fans.
Anon 6:12PM,
What do deleted comments have to do with agreeing with Bowyer? He has already said it was a heat of the moment comment and Mears has explained exactly what happened.
The deleted comments were from readers who continue to bash Waltrip and miss the entire point of the post. This could be any driver. The point is why was it done by a professional TV outlet like ESPN and even repeated on the Monday version of NASCAR Now?
JD
JD Thanks for the audio link. Clint is allowed to say anything he wants about anybody on his radio, his quote was that he tends to use that button as a popoff valve and I don't have a problem with that, I think most of the drivers do. How many of us say things about others drivers just going down the highway and if I could share that opinion I would. The issue is ESPN sharing it with the world, not explaining the incorrect snap to judgement and more importantly leaving in NAPA, it's just stupid and I hope ESPN is getting a call threating to pull ad time, it will have a much bigger effect than Mikey speaking up for Napa. TWIN should be great and I can't believe NN brought it up again, Hello AB what were you thinking.
Wow JD the pot is stired and a Big Thank You,I am a MWR fan,the comment by Bower itself is no biggie but the ESPN replaying the crap over and over and continuing today into Nascar Now is absurd,The roundtable totally avoided the situation,maybe ESPN has read this Blog I know drivers DO read the The Daly Planet!!!!!!
ESPN can and does make mean spitired comments about athletes all the time. Get over it and go to the skin store and buy some in Extra-Thick. They're only saying what most are thinking. That aside, I can't wait for Waltrip to get out racing and hopefully stay away from microphones. Can't stand the guy at all.
JD can we please stop the MW bashing - it has no purpose here and it definetly off-topic. You would think that those bashing Waltrip has some sort of an agenda.
Very well said. I just happened to catch a recap of the race on ESPN this morning and was SHOCKED to hear how they were twisting it to make fun of Michael. I am a Waltrip fan, but even if I wasn't, I don't think that is right at all. Unless it's for a race, I don't think I will be turning on ESPN again for a long time.
Steve Byrnes called out ESPN on TWIN saying that on NASCAR on Fox they discuss audio clips during commercial breaks. Having been to races at Dover (Spring) I can confirm this.
I do not believe ESPN does this.
"Must have something to do with no ads on this site."
------------------------------
You've been running ads here for a month. Do you think we're so stupid that you can make a blatantly false statement and we don't notice?
Yes, past ads were for charity events, but they're still ads and I suspect you get compensation when a reader clicks on them. The Sadler/Kahne Barn Party is NOT a charity event; the ticket prices (up to $250) in part go to pay for Blake Shelton performing. So you're just running this specific promo for free?
You started running ads and never commented on it. Nothing wrong with that. But we noticed so don't say you don't have ads on the site. Come on!
JD
Wow. What a hot topic.
Sorry to see you have been so busy.
Thanks again for letting us vent !!
ESPN would have been OK if they had juxtaposed Boyer's radio transmission with Mears' radio transmition. It would have placed it in CONTEXT.
Maybe they could have gone as far as to question Boyer's thoughts on his new teammate.
I commend Mears for stepping up and admitting what played out on the video.
Shame on ESPN for stepping into the mud with the likes of other media outlets (not including the National Inquirer - as of late they are to ones you can actaully trust).
Jeff
Michigan (State)
A concerted effort to disparage Michael Waltrip? To suggest a company as big as ESPN would even care to coordinate a campaign against MW is absurd. As you should know, the producer of SportsCenter is not the producer of ESPNews, etc. I work in the TV remote sports business and have never encountered an edict from ESPN or any other network, suggested or otherwise, to bias coverage against anyone. Bowyer's comments were strong and therefor worthy of coverage. After reading your articles the last two years,
I find hard to beleive you would think the people at ESPN are that savvy. Didn't you cover NASCAR for ESPN the first time around, but not this time? Maybe you are the one with an axe to grind.
For anon at 8:43 and anyone else who is confused, Michael has four Cup wins, two of which are Daytona 500 wins, and eleven Nationwide wins. Those may not be stats that compare to Jeff Gordon or Tony Stewart but it's completely ridiculous to speak of a driver who has won multiple races as lacking in skill. Contrary to what some believe racing and especially racing in Cup as Michael has been doing for nearly 25 years isn't easy. Which imo, is why Michael deserved more respect from Clint and ESPN. I can't imagine ESPN doing this to a veteran driver like Mark Martin, it shouldn't be okay to do to Michael - or any other driver - even if he's not won as much as some others.
I didn't realize until they said it tonight on TWiN that Fox and Speed review driver audio and discuss it before they air it - I hope ESPN follows suit.
Clint called Dave Despain on Sunday evening and apologized profusely for what he had said about Michael. He was very embarassed and said that he could not see that Casey had hit him.
It was just one of those 'heat of the battle' things.
Marybeth
Anonymous said...
Steve Byrnes called out ESPN on TWIN saying that on NASCAR on Fox they discuss audio clips during commercial breaks. Having been to races at Dover (Spring) I can confirm this.
I do not believe ESPN does this.
August 25, 2008 8:54 PM
Just for the record ESPN definitely did discuss the Bowyer comments during the commercial break immediately before airing the soundbite for the world to hear. I DVR'ed the Carl Edwards Hotpass Channel and they happened to stay on the air on his channel instead of running the commercials during that ESPN break because Hermie Sadler was in the middle of an interview.
Here's that exchange (you can only hear the audio that goes out over the air on Hotpass, not the truck talking in their ears as well like you can listening to a scanner at the track):
(the Bowyer soundbite is played for the booth to hear, again before it came on the air for the first time following the break)
DJ: "I don't know wha..."
Andy: "Michael could have given him that much. He could have given him that much."
DJ: "You back out of the gas going down the straightaway wide open you're gonna get run into from behind. You can't just back out of the throttle all of a sudden. He heard his man talking. His spotter told him he was clear, he obviously was not clear."
Andy: "No he wasn't. I agree with you."
Dr. Punch: "I don't know how you can blame Michael for that quite honestly. That's my opinion. When the driver that got hit didn't blame him...."
Andy: "Nah, he didn't."
Dr. Punch: "DJ, I guess you gotta blindly trust that spotter huh? Or do you or don't you?"
DJ: "Yeah..."
Andy: (laughing) "He's not gonna trust him now."
DJ: "When you're going like that, yeah... I always told mine don't tell me unless you absolutely know and...."
Andy: "Man look at that!" (Presumably some kind of replay)
(End of booth chatter on that subject)
I thought Steve and the guys did an excellent job on twin, both calling out espn but in a graceful fashion; and allowing Mikey to be himself.
Very much appreciate them talking about the use of incar audio by the networks. I hope their destinction between not using it at all, and using it with discression and input from drivers is understood by the suits.
Ok JD. WHAT thing with Shannon and Jr. Inquiering minds want to know and it is PAST nine o'clock. taps foot.
Hey folks, thanks for the great comments on this issue.
There is a new column up about the two Monday NASCAR TV shows for your comments.
Thanks again,
JD
rich,
No one suggested the Accounts Payable Department was out to get Michael Waltrip. What you missed in your comment was that what Bowyer said was wrong, was recorded and then was played-back late very deliberately. Why?
Come back when you can deal with that one.
Anon 8:54PM,
My charity logos are there to help and were requested by email. There has never been a penny that has changed hands on this website. Nice try.
Anyone who had a comment deleted, please feel free to email me about it at editor@thedalyplanet.tv anytime.
Thanks,
JD
ESPN SUCKS!!! All they want to do is cause a controversy between two drivers whenever they get a chance to, so they can hype it up for weeks to come. ESPN thinks that EVERY NASCAR fan is a drunk redneck that wants wrecks and fights on every lap of a race, they have NO CLUE what a NASCAR fan really is.
ESPN, I bet there's more drunken rednecks at ANY NFL game on ANY Sunday!!! It seems to me that NASCAR gets the "low road" from ESPN because it is a mainly WHITE sport, it other words REVERSE discrimination!!!
I am a huge Waltrip fan and i feel so bad for him right now.
ESPN lost alot of my respect as did NASCAR announcers.
If this was Dale Jr instead of Mikey would it still be funny? no everyone would baby Jr and stick up for the guy.
Mikey has a world of talent and because Clint is spoiled with great equipment he thinks he can put down other drivers.
Waltrip works 10 times harder than any other driver in the garage,but i guess to ESPN,the announcers,and Bowyer Mikey is a joke and so is everything he does.
This has been a sad weekend for Mikey fans and NASCAR,so ESPN go cover your overplayed chase crap and i hope NAPA can find a lawsuit somewhere in this mess and sue!
Jason
So, I'm reading this morning's newspaper (sports section, natch), and there, in bold letters is "Quote of the Week." What is it? Bowyer slamming Waltrip and wondering why Napa resigned.
Trickledown effect is still being felt three days later and in a local newspaper. Bet ESPN loves it.
Me, I'm getting angry. With ESPN.
Rich- I am convinced that ESPN does have a hit list - but I'm not sure that M Waltrip is on it. I have never heard the ESPN announcers ever quote the statistics for dropped passes except for Terrell Owens. A Redskins fan.
Sometimes the good things just get gooder....
"Bristol TV Ratings down: ESPN's live coverage of the Sprint Cup Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway earned a 3.5 household coverage rating, down from a 4.1 for last year's telecast on ESPN. Viewers were 4,996,647, down 13% from 5,735,433 in 2007. Coverage of the NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Bristol on ESPN earned a 1.4 household coverage rating, down from a 1.5 for last year's race that aired on ESPN2. Viewers were 1,748,983, down 12% from 1,993,590 in 2007.(ESPN),"
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