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The NASCAR Awards Banquet...
Bring On The Dancing Poodles
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By Carol Bell
December 9, 2004
Anyone out there remember the old variety shows on early television? You know, like “The Ed Sullivan Show”? Occasionally they would have performers who worked with animals such as chimpanzees, or my personal favorite, dancing poodles complete with colorful tutus. While this may sound harsh, that’s just one of the images that kept coming to mind as I watched the awards banquet on Friday night.
From the very beginning I knew we were in trouble. A network such as Turner Broadcasting, who produces it’s own shows, should have been able to correct the out of sync sound much faster than they did. It took 20 minutes. But then I remembered that this wasn’t the first time I had seen this happen on TNT. It wasn’t too long ago that they had a similar problem; I just can’t remember what the show was.
As annoying as it was at first, before long I had the giggles and my imagination superimposed images of giant Godzilla like creatures trying to smash their way into the Waldorf Astoria while panicked people ran screaming for the exits and brave Japanese official types shouted silent orders, then took off running, only to be followed a split second later by those shouted orders. Considering the content of Bill Weber’s “monologue” however, Godzilla may have been a welcome respite.
As far the rest of the show goes, my advice to NASCAR is the same advice I muttered after seeing Kevin Costner’s “Wyatt Earp”. Edit, edit, edit.
The program would have been better served if they had chosen Jamie McMurray to host the entire show. He had the right idea when he continued to urge the teleprompter operator to “skip that”, “go on”, “no, I don’t want to say that”, and then just began shooting from the hip.
But no, NASCAR chose to spend the first half of the show patting themselves on the back while raining praise on Brian France -- for what they perceive to be a brilliant season. The time would have be better spent showcasing some of the non-racing awards that were given out earlier to truly deserving individuals such as Kyle and Pattie Petty, Tony Stewart and others for their amazing charitable contributions throughout the year.
And speaking of Brian France, did any one else get the impression that he’d rather be somewhere else? Anywhere else? Thankfully they didn’t have a lot of camera shots of Mr. France while he was sitting in the audience, but each time they did, I had flashbacks of Hillary Clinton’s behavior during the speech President Bush gave to Congress after September 11th. In Hillary’s case though, she was watching her presidential hopes being flushed down the proverbial toilet. Mr. France just looked like he was forced to attend his prom with his sister. Was there somewhere else he needed to be that evening? Sorry, folks, but not only was it embarrassing -- it was unprofessional as well.
As to the real reason we were all invited to share this wingding, the crowning of the new NASCAR Nextel Champion, the drivers, as usual, seemed completely out of their element. And they were, but that’s OK. They’re racecar drivers not Toastmasters.
Since we now actually have a NASCAR Nextel Champion, I will be more than happy to refer to Kurt Busch as such, although for the better part of the program, his posture suggested that he would soon be crowned king, rather than being crowned the current NASCAR champion. It was such a contrast to see this normally animated individual, in a stiff, almost royal persona, that it got a touch funny. I half expected that little backward hand wave that royals master when acknowledging the masses.
Many drivers attempted to use the on-stage awkwardness to their advantage, and for the most part succeeded. A few tripped and stumbled through their prepared speeches and team owners were probably making notes to themselves to enroll their drivers in public speaking classes before next season. And then there was Mark Martin.
Mark Martin should run for office. Any office. I’d vote for him in a New York minute, which is how long this telecast should have been. I’ll admit I’ve never been a huge fan of Mark’s, not because of his ability, which is extraordinary, but because he has always appeared so pessimistic and downtrodden that he throws me into an instant depression. But not Friday night. Sorry Kurt, but Friday night was Mark Martin’s night and we are all the better for it.
In his heartfelt, totally uplifting speech, he reminded us of what this sport once was. A driver that has come so close so many times, only to barely miss that brass ring, spoke eloquently about how thankful he was to be doing what he loves and not the least bit hesitant to extend that love to his family and team members. Leaning against the podium, completely relaxed, we saw a man speak without being scripted, who was comfortable in his own skin, and he made us wish he had captured that brass ring and become our ambassador for the year.
If the majority of the show had focused on the drivers, their accomplishments, their determination, and their sheer love of racing, it would have been a great tribute. Not only to NASCAR but to all the sponsors who helped put this sport in the limelight.
As it was, I kept waiting for the dancing poodles.
Discuss this and other racing matters in the Prodigys@Speed Forum
You can contact Carol at.. Insider Racing News
The NASCAR Awards Banquet...
Bring On The Dancing Poodles
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
By Carol Bell
December 9, 2004
Anyone out there remember the old variety shows on early television? You know, like “The Ed Sullivan Show”? Occasionally they would have performers who worked with animals such as chimpanzees, or my personal favorite, dancing poodles complete with colorful tutus. While this may sound harsh, that’s just one of the images that kept coming to mind as I watched the awards banquet on Friday night.
From the very beginning I knew we were in trouble. A network such as Turner Broadcasting, who produces it’s own shows, should have been able to correct the out of sync sound much faster than they did. It took 20 minutes. But then I remembered that this wasn’t the first time I had seen this happen on TNT. It wasn’t too long ago that they had a similar problem; I just can’t remember what the show was.
As annoying as it was at first, before long I had the giggles and my imagination superimposed images of giant Godzilla like creatures trying to smash their way into the Waldorf Astoria while panicked people ran screaming for the exits and brave Japanese official types shouted silent orders, then took off running, only to be followed a split second later by those shouted orders. Considering the content of Bill Weber’s “monologue” however, Godzilla may have been a welcome respite.
As far the rest of the show goes, my advice to NASCAR is the same advice I muttered after seeing Kevin Costner’s “Wyatt Earp”. Edit, edit, edit.
The program would have been better served if they had chosen Jamie McMurray to host the entire show. He had the right idea when he continued to urge the teleprompter operator to “skip that”, “go on”, “no, I don’t want to say that”, and then just began shooting from the hip.
But no, NASCAR chose to spend the first half of the show patting themselves on the back while raining praise on Brian France -- for what they perceive to be a brilliant season. The time would have be better spent showcasing some of the non-racing awards that were given out earlier to truly deserving individuals such as Kyle and Pattie Petty, Tony Stewart and others for their amazing charitable contributions throughout the year.
And speaking of Brian France, did any one else get the impression that he’d rather be somewhere else? Anywhere else? Thankfully they didn’t have a lot of camera shots of Mr. France while he was sitting in the audience, but each time they did, I had flashbacks of Hillary Clinton’s behavior during the speech President Bush gave to Congress after September 11th. In Hillary’s case though, she was watching her presidential hopes being flushed down the proverbial toilet. Mr. France just looked like he was forced to attend his prom with his sister. Was there somewhere else he needed to be that evening? Sorry, folks, but not only was it embarrassing -- it was unprofessional as well.
As to the real reason we were all invited to share this wingding, the crowning of the new NASCAR Nextel Champion, the drivers, as usual, seemed completely out of their element. And they were, but that’s OK. They’re racecar drivers not Toastmasters.
Since we now actually have a NASCAR Nextel Champion, I will be more than happy to refer to Kurt Busch as such, although for the better part of the program, his posture suggested that he would soon be crowned king, rather than being crowned the current NASCAR champion. It was such a contrast to see this normally animated individual, in a stiff, almost royal persona, that it got a touch funny. I half expected that little backward hand wave that royals master when acknowledging the masses.
Many drivers attempted to use the on-stage awkwardness to their advantage, and for the most part succeeded. A few tripped and stumbled through their prepared speeches and team owners were probably making notes to themselves to enroll their drivers in public speaking classes before next season. And then there was Mark Martin.
Mark Martin should run for office. Any office. I’d vote for him in a New York minute, which is how long this telecast should have been. I’ll admit I’ve never been a huge fan of Mark’s, not because of his ability, which is extraordinary, but because he has always appeared so pessimistic and downtrodden that he throws me into an instant depression. But not Friday night. Sorry Kurt, but Friday night was Mark Martin’s night and we are all the better for it.
In his heartfelt, totally uplifting speech, he reminded us of what this sport once was. A driver that has come so close so many times, only to barely miss that brass ring, spoke eloquently about how thankful he was to be doing what he loves and not the least bit hesitant to extend that love to his family and team members. Leaning against the podium, completely relaxed, we saw a man speak without being scripted, who was comfortable in his own skin, and he made us wish he had captured that brass ring and become our ambassador for the year.
If the majority of the show had focused on the drivers, their accomplishments, their determination, and their sheer love of racing, it would have been a great tribute. Not only to NASCAR but to all the sponsors who helped put this sport in the limelight.
As it was, I kept waiting for the dancing poodles.
Discuss this and other racing matters in the Prodigys@Speed Forum
You can contact Carol at.. Insider Racing News
