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Sunday, November 9, 2008

What the #*#&$$? Did they really just put Funniest Home Videos on instead of NASCAR?

As the season comes to an end, I’ve decided to be even more blunt than usual and pull no punches, so here goes.

First off, Sunday’s race at Phoenix was probably the least interesting NASCAR race I’ve seen all year, and that’s a bold statement considering there’s been at least a handful of really bad ones. I would have gotten more enjoyment staring blankly at a ceiling. It was so bad, the announcers were trying to invent nonexistent drama when Jimmie Johnson (gasp!) was delayed a couple seconds on pit road and lost one whole spot, which of course he promptly regained.

Second, I would tell you what I thought about the end of the race, but I can’t because ABC flipped a big middle finger Sunday night to all NASCAR fans who either don’t have cable or had recorded the race.

I’m sure it’s quite enjoyable to watch a full hour of dads getting hit in the testicles by their chiildren, but don’t you think you could have a waited an hour to do it?

The way the announcers put it, the network had "prior commitments," so the coverage of the end of the race had to switch over to ESPN2. Oddly enough, that doesn’t work for people who weren’t watching it live.

So for those of you who, like myself, who had things to take care of Sunday and couldn't watch live … sorry, no end of the race for you. But feel free to watch this funny cat run in the wall over and over. Ha ha, isn’t that funny?

Seriously, though, I have never seen a sport get as little respect from television stations making millions from it than NASCAR. Do you really think they would have cut to a bunch of crappy pet videos if the Dallas Cowboys and the Washington Redskins were heading to overtime?

It’s nothing new, it’s always been this way and probably always will. Yet I fail to understand their logic. Do the network powers that be not realize how many millions of people tune in to NASCAR and would not take kindly to missing the conclusion of the race? Do they not realize it’s the most popular spectator sport in America? It's not like they cut off a beach volleyball broadcast.

As I said above, the race was garbage and Johnson dominated and basically wrapped up the title unless he wrecks out early at Homestead and Edwards wins (not too likely, by the way). But that’s not the point. Even if it had been a great race, ABC still would have switched the coverage to ESPN2, leaving many fans unable to see the conclusion.

The point is that NASCAR fans don’t deserve to get dumped by the network so some hack can introduce nut-punching videos.

The season’s almost over, but I propose everyone does their best to make sure the network knows it screwed up. I, for one, will do my best to purposely avoid ABC shows as much as possible. If all NASCAR fans did this, and let the network know why they’re not watching, maybe next time they’ll leave the race on and wait an hour before flipping over to a video of some kid falling into a ditch.

8 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

I completely agree! I was recording but had caught up, left the room and the videos were on ... I thought?!?! I rewound a little to find they just up and moved it ... what a crock! Sorry for anyone who didn't catch the move or didn't have cable. Guess they figured the chase is already decided so who cares?!?

November 10, 2008 at 8:59 AM 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I couldn't agree more. The switch was so ludicrous, I can't understand how a network like ABC could justify it. I know it does not matter, but they will be getting a letter from me.

November 10, 2008 at 11:10 AM 
Blogger Sue said...

ABC sucks!!!!!! As far as I can remember, ABC has no other Major Sports shows except college football and maybe college basketball. Maybe the reason is because other pro. sports won't put up with their BS. Fox, CBS and NBC have Pro Football. I hope Nascar does something about all this mess that ESPU is doing.

November 10, 2008 at 1:02 PM 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Totally bizarre...If I had my way all races would be on Speed channel.

November 10, 2008 at 1:57 PM 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Indycar said. . .

I want to know what the ratings were for "America's Funniest Home Videos" that Sunday in Eastern and Central Time.

Were there more viewers for them than for a live Sprint Cup race?

Any comparisons in what ABC network was charging for commercials between the home video show and NSC @ PIR?

I'm asking!

November 10, 2008 at 4:52 PM 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

What were the Eastern and Central ratings for America's Funniest Hime Videos?

How does the ad charges compare?

November 10, 2008 at 4:54 PM 
Blogger Matt Myftiu said...

Glad to hear I'm not alone in my disgust. Unfortunately, despite the many strides that have been made by NASCAR over the past decade plus, it's still seen the stick-and-ball sports' little brother and disrespectd.

On a side note, I have been hearing the decision was not so much about the need to air "Funniest Home Videos", but more about the need to keep the schedule on track so the start time for the network's biggest hit "Desperate Housewives" wasn't disrupted.

So blame Eva Longoria and the girls ... they're apparently a much higher priority for ABC than NASCAR.

November 10, 2008 at 9:39 PM 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

i hate to say, but autoracing isnt as popular as we think, if it wasnt for cable (ect) less than 1/2the nascar season is on tv. the indy 500 and a few IRL.. thats it, what were talking about hear really isnt that new.. its allways (at best!) back page in magazines and papers (ect) your luckly if you can find ONE! racing magazine at (kroger) any market, its ALL stick n ball sports, even the top radio stations dont cover it, the 6:00 tv sports people never say anything nascar, they should be FIRED for not doing there job.. but then, whos saying anything?.... they didnt even say that lewis hamiltion became the 1st (and youngest) black driver to win the f1 championship, they talk about all the LOCAL stick n ball sports.. NEVER!!.. any local tracks, never flatrockspeedway, (.com) as upset as i was being cut off.. at least i didnt have to watch aflac, allstate, geico, INSULT ME, SPIT IN MY FACE, what makes them think nascar fans are retarted, brain dead, we SHOULDNT have to be thought of like this!.. IM SICK OF HAVING TO SIT THROU THIS.. its so DUMB, ups use to do this, (AS DID FEDEX) what did they mean. they want to run the truck?.. they NEVER!! heard of nascar trucks?... are they RETARTED?....

November 11, 2008 at 3:51 PM 

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