[Bob Tanner]

Well, the new season is officially kicked off. I know this because Frontstretch's Matt McLaughlin is giving us some insightful subjects to ponder. Such as:
Matt McLaughlin's Thinkin' Out Loud: Daytona 500
Matt McLaughlin · Monday February 16, 2009


In a Nutshell: For better or worse, the 2009 Cup season is out of the gates. Let’s see how this nag is going to run down the stretch.

On Junior

What in blazes was Dale Earnhardt, Jr. thinking when he used up the No. 83 as a chew toy on lap 125? Even Junior’s most devoted fans have got to admit that amounted to an on-track mugging. Sure, Earnhardt was frustrated after a second unforced error in the pits — but taking out half the field was uncalled for. On Saturday, Jason Leffler was penalized five laps for a similar case of brain fade, but NASCAR swallowed its whistle on Sunday. Listening to Junior’s comments during the rain delay, it would seem he feels there’s one set of rules for the other 42 drivers and another set for him. Supposedly, Earnhardt radioed his team saying that, “If Vickers wants to meet me in the garage to get his ass beat, I’m willing.”

On Daytona

With all the billions of dollars being thrown around to fix crumbling infrastructure as part of the stimulus package, Brian France pulled some “political strings” to get Daytona repaved in three years. The condition of the track is simply embarrassing nowadays with all those bumps and cracks. They call the Daytona 500 stock car racing’s Super Bowl, but the NFL doesn’t play their big game on a field of dead grass pock-marked with gopher holes. And when they do repave Daytona, this would be a perfect time to reduce the banking so the series could dump the pile-up plates forever.

On Fox

Countless words were written this offseason about the dark financial clouds hanging over the future of NASCAR this season. Well, FOX found an interesting way to address the issue — basically ignoring it. More rodents, less news… that’s how you do an interminable pre-race show!

With a baseline as low as they’ve set up over the last eight years, the optimists amongst us felt that maybe this year, FOX would somehow improve an unpalatable product. No such luck, I’m afraid. They’ve bought back everything old time fans hate about their coverage: the Hollywood Hotel, DW’s Boogity, Boogity, Boogity, and that annoying “Let’s Go Raisin Boys” ditty. This year, they’ve added the animated Digger segment. Maybe I’m just getting old and cranky, but I’m thinking this might be the worst waste of resources ever in sports broadcasting. Let’s see… we’ve gone from a gimmicky camera angle, to an unnecessary animated mascot for that camera, to a named mascot, to a five minute TV show (which I’m sure they hope is a chance to sell plush toys and other souvenirs). So, if you see an adult in a Digger T-Shirt, contact your nearest lifeguard and have them removed from the gene pool.

On Hendrick and Stewart

With NASCAR’s four team per owner limit kicking in at the end of this season, I thought Rick Hendrick and Tony Stewart would be a bit more circumspect about the incestuous relationship between their two teams… I guess not. Hendrick was all but soul-kissing Stewart after Tony’s win in Saturday’s Nationwide Series event.

Yep Old Matt continues to say what many of we old time fans feel. For the entire article (and it's a pretty good one) go to: ( The Frontstretch: Matt McLaughlin's Thinkin' Out Loud: Daytona 500 by Matt McLaughlin -- Monday February 16, 2009 )

[Quality88]

Awesome..... that was great.

[Phils20]

Another excellent piece from Matt. I like it!

[LSC9901]

I love what he has to say about FOX. Those jokers are just destroying any credibility they may have ever had at one time. I don't see Jeff Hammond as an announcer but I believe he would be better than Mr X-Tree and Dim Wit.

[Bob Tanner]

Originally Posted by LSC9901

I love what he has to say about FOX. Those jokers are just destroying any credibility they may have ever had at one time. I don't see Jeff Hammond as an announcer but I believe he would be better than Mr X-Tree and Dim Wit.

This silly Digger thing has got to be a new low in sports announcing. I fully expect FOX to trot out the Tele Tubbies for some sort of in-depth race analysis for the "race fans" still in diapers, before the season is over.

Geeez! What age group are they pandering to now, the prepubescent group?

[BringBackWilkesboro]

Originally Posted by Bob Tanner

This silly Digger thing has got to be a new low in sports announcing. I fully expect FOX to trot out the Tele Tubbies for some sort of in-depth race analysis for the "race fans" still in diapers, before the season is over.

Geeez! What age group are they pandering to now, the prepubescent group?

You're absolutley right. It blows my mind how a professional sports brodcasting network like Fox Sports could let something like this reach such an unhealthy level. I could deal with just a silly little graphic for a camera angle, but then to name it, and then create a cartoon mini series and peddle merchandise makes Fox seem about as legitimate a corporation as Kramerica Industries (anyone? )

And also, I thought Darrell was gonna give up the boogity business? I'm pretty sure that vote he had told him no.

[Quality88]

Originally Posted by BringBackWilkesboro

You're absolutley right. It blows my mind how a professional sports brodcasting network like Fox Sports could let something like this reach such an unhealthy level. I could deal with just a silly little graphic for a camera angle, but then to name it, and then create a cartoon mini series and peddle merchandise makes Fox seem about as legitimate a corporation as Kramerica Industries (anyone? )

And also, I thought Darrell was gonna give up the boogity business? I'm pretty sure that vote he had told him no.

Kramerica... classic, and appropriate.

I can live with Boogity after seein the Digger thing... notice I say live with not like.

[DOF_power]

Originally Posted by Bob Tanner

This silly Digger thing has got to be a new low in sports announcing. I fully expect FOX to trot out the Tele Tubbies for some sort of in-depth race analysis for the "race fans" still in diapers, before the season is over.

Geeez! What age group are they pandering to now, the prepubescent group?

I don't know, even some 5 year olds find the Digger annoying.
Please FOX, get your act together.

[Bob Tanner]

Originally Posted by DOF_power

I don't know, even some 5 year olds find the Digger annoying.
Please FOX, get your act together.

I think FOX looks at it as giving the wrestling fans and the tots who watch Saturday morning cartoons something to interest them on Sunday afternoons.

It's pandering to the lowest common denominator.

[Phils20]

And here is Matts follow up. Oh man, the 88 crowd, and Digger fans, won't be pleased with this one either!

The Frontstretch: Matt McLaughlin Mouths Off: Of Rodents, Late Sunday Afternoons, The Crown Prince's Temper Tantrum, Cabbages, And Kings by Matt McLaughlin -- Thursday February 19, 2009

[LSC9901]

Great article but there is nothing there that we as fans right here haven't already said. That isn't meant to discount the article at all. More than anything it means that it isn't just the view of a couple of racing fans out in cyberspace somewhere.

It would be real nice if someone who really cared would read it and act upon it.

[Phils20]

Very true. I had other motives for the post besides providing the educated fans here with something new...

[simple simon]

is this a relation of Mike ?

[Phils20]

No, he is a different one!

[BigdaddyQH]

This is a very good article. I know a guy who is going to the race with several of his friends on Sunday. They are going to try and start a "Get Rid of Digger" campaign. Normally, you would expect them to get thrown out of the track, but these guys have taken all kinds of precautions including taking a lawyer, a peace officer, and a camera. I'l let you know what happens on Monday.