I'm watching NASCAR Nation on Speed, and two things have occurred to me:
1. The addition of women into motorsports broadcasting strikes me as making as much sense as planting me in Julia Child's world. While I might be able to be a decent cook, I would look out of place the entire time and my presence would indicate some sort of ulterior motive. I would say that it's similar with this latest effort in the absolute equality-of-results drive. Lawrence Summers has gotten a little mangled by this, apparently. At any rate, Jeanne Zelasko was tolerable (barely) because she had already proven her chops as a sports reporter on baseball and other things.1
I miss the good old days of Jack Arute, Chris Economaki, and men like that in the broadcast booth. Oh, for the better time when Darrell Waltrip was dominating the track and not embarrassing himself on air. Chris Myers, go back to ESPN.
2. Whoever is doing the in-studio presentation---perhaps Courtney George---needs to button her shirt. Call wardrobe and have her redone, thank you. Lose the chintzy necklace.
Jesus God Almighty, Janice Dean just did a weather report. My God, she's been hit with the FNC Ugly Stick a few times. I used to like hearing Janice in the early hours of Imus in the Morning, but I wouldn't begrudge her a career move. After all, working with the I-man can't always be the most fun thing in the world. How one restrains from garroting Sid Rosenberg is always beyond me.
God, I regret the mainstreaming of Winston Cup racing. Note to the Speed Channel: I won't be watching your NASCAR Nation again.
1 Admittedly, having Melissa Stark or other women roaming the sidelines at a football always seemed out of place. Since she's a UVA alum, Miss Stark would be better deployed in a sun dress with mixed drink in hand, floppy hat on head, at some blue blood-and-bow tie function somewhere in Central Virginia.
Posted by Country Pundit at February 24, 2005 08:10 PM