Moparts
A petition to ESPN (step one taken)
Posted By: dthemi
A petition to ESPN (step one taken) - 02/10/09 08:49 PM
I have strong feelings concerning the content of ESPN's NHRA coverage with down time content, show focus, and personalities chosen to host the show, namely Paul Page.
I would like to gather comments from members to send to ESPN in hopes of making the show more palatable to actual race fans.
My suggestions are to first replace Paul Page as commentator. Cease personal interest stories that are not directly related to racing, and spend that air time on the technology of racing to include in depth looks at the cars as a whole, maintenance, parts, performance, and driver/crew duties. In my estimation ESPN's depiction of NHRA events are a combination of clown/circus atmosphere with interjections of untimely placed stories of racing deaths, and deaths occurring outside the sport. The unrelated topic of Ashley Forces wedding, including photos, an interview with John Force about her wedding, his weight, and numerous other unrelated topics are just a sample of wasted air time in my opinion. During that interview he mentioned new injectors developed by Force racing, and that topic was never addressed for sake of wedding information.
I enjoy watching John Force and crew race and have my entire life, so my comments are not focused on Force racing, but rather the continued waste of time on off topic show material and content.
The drunken dance party like atmosphere ESPN likes to portrays NHRA events to be, detracts from the highly technical, and serious nature of the sport and also falsely portrays and assumes it's fans to be so dull witted and uninterested in the sport itself that unrelated, and uninteresting stories are suitable filler for down time content.
If you have time, or interest please post your comments
Posted By: ChrisJohnston669
Re: A petition to ESPN (yes or no) - 02/10/09 08:54 PM
I wish on the off time they would interview some professional sportsman racers such as Flecther. He is a hoot! But that would never happen! Paul Page has been a pain to listen to ever since he started. I feel bad for Mike Dunn!!!!! I'm down with getting rid of Paul Page!!!
Posted By: bigdad
Re: A petition to ESPN (yes or no) - 02/10/09 09:03 PM
I think everyone will agree with your outlook but, doubtful ESPN cares what we think now, if the people that sponsor the program was contacted and told these things, they might have a different feeling about it
Never know, since Castrol is a big advertiser it might even be in the fine print that they have to visit with force , etc
Bring back TNN !
Posted By: wyoming
Re: A petition to ESPN (yes or no) - 02/10/09 09:57 PM
I don't think Paul page is that bad, I think he understands that Dunn makes the show, as far as sportsman racers and not have life interest stories, I could agree with you, but i think you have to look at who they are trying to attract, not really you or me, heck we are racers and fans, they are looking for new fans. The show is geared a lot more to gathering new fans than to giving tech info to hard core fans.
Posted By: Cab_Burge
Re: A petition to ESPN (yes or no) - 02/10/09 10:07 PM
Careful on your comments, it may be deemed political, huh Eric. I hope everyone does contact ESPN, a CBS subsiditary I beleive, and the advertisers to out Paul Page and get the program focused back on racing, the technology and the participants, not some feel good warm and fuzzy subjects like weddings
ESPN has had several better commentators than Paul Page and the other old F--t, time to bring in some (younger)knowleable and entertaining commentators
Posted By: MegaDart
Re: A petition to ESPN (yes or no) - 02/10/09 10:29 PM
Quote:
a CBS subsiditary I beleive
ESPN is an ABC subsidiary.
I don't care too much about what they do, all I watch is Prostock with the sound OFF. 
Posted By: whiskeyrunner
Re: A petition to ESPN (yes or no) - 02/10/09 10:32 PM
i like bret kepner...lets bring him back!
Posted By: ChrisJohnston669
Re: A petition to ESPN (yes or no) - 02/10/09 10:36 PM
Quote:
i like bret kepner...lets bring him back!
I second this motion! Bret Kepner is the man!! I wouldn't mind bob frey either!
Posted By: Bill_LBSR
Re: A petition to ESPN (yes or no) - 02/10/09 10:42 PM
I probably won't watch that much this year. Since its switched to the countdown, it basically makes the beginning of the season worthless. Dave Connelly proved that last year. I would be happy if they would stop doing interviews with fuel drivers while Pro Stock is going on in the background. And you are right, the personal interest stories have been getting old for awhile. Nothing against the Force family, I've liked John force for years, but every broadcast seems to revolve around them.
Posted By: dartman366
Re: A petition to ESPN (yes or no) - 02/10/09 10:55 PM
I say boot Paul and send him packing, back to where he came from and put someone with Mike Dunn that has knowledge of the sport,,and let's get off the subject of family and personal matter's and back to the sport at hand, more tech and driver interview's plus more sportsmen info would be just great with me.
Posted By: Neil
Re: A petition to ESPN (yes or no) - 02/10/09 10:55 PM
Years ago people screamed at ESPN for the terrible coverage they were giving the AMA MX racing series. Eventually they chose not to renew the contract and away it went. This was stupid on their part. The supercross series routinely sells out the football stadiums they race in. Far more people attend MX races than woman's basketball for example. I see ESPN slowly dropping all the motorsports coverage and going back to the lame ball and stick sports.
My advice to anybody who wants to send ESPN comments please keep it constructive.
Posted By: cgall
Re: A petition to ESPN (yes or no) - 02/10/09 11:04 PM
Paul Page and Marty Reid before him are both full-time employees of ESPN, quite often you will see them doing motorcycle jumping or bobsled racing events in the off hours. When Paul is not on the road, he is in the office like any other employee. Mike Dunn is only paid to work the drag racing events. They would never bring in another guy to replace a full-time staffer.
As far as the content of the program, they certainly have drifted far away from racing technology and strategy, it is now a show about the Force family, ridiculous comedy segments, and relentless interviews with the same 8 or 9 racers.
I still watch the shows, but there is no comparison with the old Diamond-P productions.
Posted By: dthemi
Re: A petition to ESPN (yes or no) - 02/10/09 11:16 PM
I didn't realize Page was a staffer, too bad. Maybe he could do end of track interviews, or rake the sand box. It's insulting having to listen to him for sake of his staff position. To me it shows a lack of regard for their audience when they must know how bad and uninformed he is.
Also about them trying to draw a new crowd, people who like racing, watch racing, and people who like weddings, and interviews with curly from the globe trotters should watch the view. I don't think you can make someone like anything. The only proven thing that will make someone (men) watch something they don't like is T+A, and I assure you that will work with young men (new crowd) as well as the rest of us.
Posted By: TheBlackCar
Re: A petition to ESPN (yes or no) - 02/10/09 11:23 PM
I agree that PP is not the best choice. I thought the "filler" material last year was interesting- when they gave cost figures, team budget info, etc...
As far as hardcore tech info(ie interesting to racers), I doubt we will ever see it. If you look closely at the sport, it is just a bunch of "marketable personalities" that team owners have spent a great deal of time and money teaching them to drive these cars. Long gone are the days where a racer paid his dues and moved up on his own. I'm willing to bet quite a few of the new generation "pros" couldn't set their own timing if they had to.
Posted By: TheBlackCar
Re: A petition to ESPN (yes or no) - 02/10/09 11:30 PM
Posted By: ChrisJohnston669
Re: A petition to ESPN (yes or no) - 02/10/09 11:33 PM
Quote:
Oh,and a bit of constructive critism....[Edited by Moparts - Keep it clean] is that theme song about? Give the hot chick a gig tossin t-shirts or somethin, cuz she can't sing and the song is stupid. Maybe it was a cost-cutting effort, but not a good decision....
I think its better then that rap crap last year. that was just plain obnoxious.
I liked Marty Reid better then Paul Page....by far.
Posted By: MR_P_BODY
Re: A petition to ESPN (yes or no) - 02/10/09 11:48 PM
I think its better then that rap crap last year. that was just plain obnoxious.
I liked Marty Reid better then Paul Page....by far.
.... also they should teach Dunn to open up
his vocabulary to more words than ABSOLUTELY... I get feed
up hearing him say that 50 - 60 times a show
Posted By: SCDaytona
Re: A petition to ESPN (yes or no) - 02/10/09 11:50 PM
Quote:
Quote:
a CBS subsiditary I beleive
ESPN is an ABC subsidiary.
I don't care too much about what they do, all I watch is Prostock with the sound OFF.
ESPN is not a subsidiary of ABC as both are owned by Disney.
Posted By: GoDartGo
Re: A petition to ESPN (yes or no) - 02/10/09 11:56 PM
Quote:
or rake the sand box.
THAT"S FUNNY
I think Mike Dunn and Nitwit Bazmore would be fun to watch. 
I turned it on right at the wedding pictures,
shut it off and got back on the computer.
Posted By: Thumperdart
Re: A petition to ESPN (yes or no) - 02/11/09 12:00 AM
I couldn`t agree w/you more. Paul jacks up et`s and mph a lot and poor Mike and what he has to tolerate for a pay check. Mike know more about drag racing than Paul could ever learn in his lifetime and I could care less about these racers personal life.....If it gets rained out then show us another past race or highlights or as stated, some of the LESSER fortunate racers. It`s become a circus act and bring back the 1320 and keep camera cranes and such out of the way in case of an accident.
Posted By: Dads426
Re: A petition to ESPN (yes or no) - 02/11/09 12:04 AM
Paul Page is an Indy-car type of guy. He knew little about drag racing when he started and his commentaries were full of inaccuracies. I also don't care for his comments half the time. Bob Frye (sp?) does a super job with the Sportsman commentaries (when ESPN finds time to air it between the Poker tournaments
). I say put him in there with Mike Dunn. I like Mike's comments because he was in a car and can speak intelligently about them. Just my
Posted By: GoDartGo
Re: A petition to ESPN (yes or no) - 02/11/09 12:08 AM
ya know, now that I think about it, if ESPN is trying to attract ANY new viewers, Paul Page doesn't work for any demographic.
Posted By: Lil Demon
Re: A petition to ESPN (yes or no) - 02/11/09 12:51 AM
I too thought the filler was a joke - I mean, John Force's cat?!?! Come on........... I think they should put Scelzi on the payroll to do pit interviews with the sportsman racers and bring back Scelzi Says. Then, I think they should have some pre-made 10 minute segments on legends of the sport from way back when - Prudhomme, McEwen, McCulloch, Dunn (Jim), Jungle Jim/Pam, Big Daddy, Shirley, Sox & Martin, Landy, Jenkins, etc.
That would make the filler most interesting and Scelzi with a microphone and camera crew is always interesting.
Posted By: smokinwoody
Re: A petition to ESPN (yes or no) - 02/11/09 12:57 AM
Quote:
I think its better then that rap crap last year. that was just plain obnoxious.
I liked Marty Reid better then Paul Page....by far.
.... also they should teach Dunn to open up
his vocabulary to more words than ABSOLUTELY... I get feed
up hearing him say that 50 - 60 times a show
ABSOLUTELY
Posted By: fourgearsavoy
Re: A petition to ESPN (yes or no) - 02/11/09 01:07 AM
Quote:
I think everyone will agree with your outlook but, doubtful ESPN cares what we think now, if the people that sponsor the program was contacted and told these things, they might have a different feeling about it
Never know, since Castrol is a big advertiser it might even be in the fine print that they have to visit with force , etc
Bring back TNN !
Bring back TNN !!!
The networks think they need to add drama to racing They have ruined NASCAR with all the pre-race crap and they have been steadily trying to ruin drag racing as well.
Racing doesn't need any extra drama! Even non racers enjoy the technical aspect that TNN used to explore with some exceptional production and interesting commentators that I didn't want to strangle.Lets just get back to the grass roots of what makes this sport great,the fans and the cars.
Gus 
Posted By: Sixpak
Re: A petition to ESPN (yes or no) - 02/11/09 01:08 AM
The closest thing we have in this sport to the Great Steve Evans is Bret Kepner - that man flat out knows his stuff, inside and out. When Steve used to do an interview with the likes of Force and the rest of them, they knew they couldn't shuck and jive their way out of his questions 'cause most of them came up in the sport when Steve was a track operator and such. Get someone with those chops back in the booth, and pair him up with Mike Dunn doing the interviews in the pits, and you just might see a little bit of that old Evans - McClelland magic again.
Posted By: slantzilla
Re: A petition to ESPN (yes or no) - 02/11/09 01:12 AM
Maybe they could get Dean Skuza to team up with Dunn.
Posted By: RAT PATROL
Re: A petition to ESPN (yes or no) - 02/11/09 01:17 AM
Not into celebrities, somebody call me when the Hemi Challenge is on, but right now I'm cleaning up a mess in DC.
Posted By: plasticfantastic
Re: A petition to ESPN (yes or no) - 02/11/09 01:17 AM
what do you think of IHRA coverage in comparison to NHRA's?
I dont think NHRA is that bad, Paul Page isnt that bad to me... I dont notice the Absolutely or other catch phrases... (I do hate the "air to spare" term thats used.)
I agree with less personal stories, maybe once ina while or something? but every show? no.
More technical would be nice, get John Medlin or someone to explain things, back when Fox started showing NASCAR, I watched and I really enjoyed when a pit stop happened, and a change was made to the car, they would show with a computer sim, what they were talking about, and it made me appreciate what was happening becuase I understood it better.
Show more racing, they had down time, and yet the Mustang CJ's where making thier debuts, so why nothing on that?
Posted By: 5537SG
Re: A petition to ESPN (yes or no) - 02/11/09 01:22 AM
Im pretty sure ESPN has received enough hate mail regarding Page. They arent listening, and neither is NHRA who pays ESPN to cover their fiasco.
My suggestion is to just not turn it on anymore. It started going downhill real fast with the "Countdown" and when it became a "show" rather than a broadcast.
I quit watching it completely last year, and I didnt miss a thing. Check the results online, and get on with your day.
I could be much more harsh, but Im trying to be nice.
Posted By: dthemi
Re: A petition to ESPN (yes or no) - 02/11/09 01:28 AM
Quote:
Im pretty sure ESPN has received enough hate mail regarding Page. They arent listening, and neither is NHRA who pays ESPN to cover their fiasco.
My suggestion is to just not turn it on anymore. It started going downhill real fast with the "Countdown" and when it became a "show" rather than a broadcast.
I quit watching it completely last year, and I didnt miss a thing. Check the results online, and get on with your day.
I could be much more harsh, but Im trying to be nice.
A show rather than a broadcast is a great way to say what I feel. I hate to just get the results and really like watching the race without all the "show". I'm concerned that people just clicking off will kill the pro level of the sport.
Posted By: Billet426
Re: A petition to ESPN (yes or no) - 02/11/09 01:38 AM
For me to even start to breakdown their coverage...would be a short book.
They do so many things wrong that there really is nothing a couple of fixes would fix.
The whole theme is insulting to anybody that has raced even one time in their life.
If they think that a non racer will watch because of the bs and not for the racing its self...its just stupid.
When you are telling the story of a event..any event you have to get in there and get dirty. Speak the lingo..actually Know what is going on..and report it. Just the facts leave the bs behind. Then IF it is a event that is worth watching people will watch.
The best motorsports coverage used to be Formula 1. Then along came Hamilton and they cant get their lips off of his rear long enough to talk.
The best now is World SuperBike. If you are not into motorcycles then this is lost on you..but that team coverage is just unreal. When they get fired up and start screaming towards the end of the race it is not fake, and they have you screaming with them.
Posted By: 5537SG
Re: A petition to ESPN (yes or no) - 02/11/09 01:39 AM
You are 100% correct. I hate to give up (its not something that I do easily) on the enjoyment I used to get watching the races, but I tend to think they just gave up on me.
When the "show" became the Force Family Fantastic Fan Extravanganza, it went so far over the top it was making me ill. I mean, sure Id like to blast a load on Ashleys back like the rest of us, but if I wanted pretty faces I would seek the appropriate sources. I want to see races, with racers. Sure GA's wife is pretty and who doesnt like to watch her bounce, but how about showing me the cars? How about showing me some tech instead of Laurie Force who looks like she crawled out of a coffin?
I wasnt left with a sport to watch anymore. I complained but nobody listened. Now I just check things out from a distance.
still trying to be nice
Posted By: 2QUICK4U
Re: A petition to ESPN (yes or no) - 02/11/09 01:54 AM
Posted By: 10 o to go
Re: A petition to ESPN (yes or no) - 02/11/09 02:06 AM
Quote:
Quote:
i like bret kepner...lets bring him back!
I second this motion! Bret Kepner is the man!! I wouldn't mind bob frey either!
He is the man the myth the legend in his mind stats out the wahzoo.He was with them Brets got his own agenda at (GIR) OAS ,SCSS ,heads up racing street cars really busy on tuesdays.
Posted By: Keith Richards
Re: A petition to ESPN (yes or no) - 02/11/09 02:29 AM
I say replace PP with Alan Reinhardt, that being said I take what we get for what it is. You can turn on the tv any day of the week and see some channel espn, speed etc talking about Nascar which I cannot stand. Just goes to show how popular it is. Doesn't NHRA pay to have there races televised?
Posted By: Quicktree
Re: A petition to ESPN (yes or no) - 02/11/09 02:36 AM
it's all about a show now, Page sucks big time. typical dog and pony show following in nascars foot steps. they have really ruined racing trying to make a show out of it. fining drivers for saying this or that making everything politcally correct. all the cars the same.
Posted By: 70blackfish
Re: A petition to ESPN (yes or no) - 02/11/09 03:12 AM
DThemi your on to something, you nailed it. I was think the same thing about the wedding and the cat, johns weight. the new song,
stinks, trying to make larry and the sarge talk smack.
and if Womens Basketball is on before a race LOOKOUT, thats important stuff!!!!
espn needs to know
Posted By: kingdust
Re: A petition to ESPN (yes or no) - 02/11/09 03:38 AM
paul page is a retard, and the whole coverage sucks! i like mike dunn. he should get out of the booth and go back to racing. i am only really interested in prostock and pro stock bike and it really pisses me off when they do a 3 hour show and 2.5 hrs is all fuel cars. and some one else said it to, they always do interviews when pro stockers are running. F---IN BULLS--T! And your right on about the super bike coverage and moto GP its awsome. Valentino rossi rules!
Posted By: camdog440
Re: A petition to ESPN (yes or no) - 02/11/09 03:56 AM
I think that when it comes down to it, it's all about the mighty dollar. They can sell personalities and drama to the masses better than they can sell racing, competition, and fast cars to true drag racing enthusiasts.
I liked it better when you really didn't know the personalities, you knew the big names because they were good and not because of the sponsor on the car. As a kid I remember going to see 64 Funny Cars and still remember some of the names like Ed the "Ace", Don the "Snake", Jungle Jim, Gene the "Snowman", the Mongoose McEwen, Raymond Beadle and the Blue Max car. The cars were the "personalities" and the names on the side were cool characters... and not just advertisements.
I could really do without knowing what big babies Warren Johnson or Tony Stewart are. Although it does give me somebody to route against.
Posted By: StealthWedge67
Re: A petition to ESPN (yes or no) - 02/11/09 05:15 AM
Quote:
I don't think Paul page is that bad, I think he understands that Dunn makes the show, as far as sportsman racers and not have life interest stories, I could agree with you, but i think you have to look at who they are trying to attract, not really you or me, heck we are racers and fans, they are looking for new fans. The show is geared a lot more to gathering new fans than to giving tech info to hard core fans.
We're going to watch no matter what, and they know that. They could have a couple of monkeys commentating, and we'd still be there.... They're trying to make it entertaining to the fringe race fan. And really, this is good. The broader the base of interest in drag racing, the more sponsers are willing to pump their money into the sport and advertising.
Posted By: dthemi
Re: A petition to ESPN (yes or no) - 02/11/09 05:46 AM
point taken, but I don't think they're gaining more new than losing old. I could see your point better if the show had some
clear direction or even some focus. As it is now I can't imagine a person interested in cats, weddings, basketball, weight loss, untimely death, and racing all at the same time. I think the ship has lost its rudder in the storm and no one has bothered to check the compass, or fix the rudder.
As for us still watching it no matter, my feelings have gone from can't wait to see it, to I might record it and skim through it later. Providing of course it hasn't been put off for tee ball, ping pong, or curling.
Posted By: TS3303
Re: A petition to ESPN (yes or no) - 02/11/09 06:06 AM
Quote:
I think everyone will agree with your outlook but, doubtful ESPN cares what we think now, if the people that sponsor the program was contacted and told these things, they might have a different feeling about it
Never know, since Castrol is a big advertiser it might even be in the fine print that they have to visit with force , etc
Bring back TNN !
The sponsor of the show is NHRA. They pay ESPN to broadcast it and have to sell the ad spots themselves from what I understand. That is also the reason it gets bumped by other sports, ESPN owns those rights and sells the ad time so they look out for themselves first.
Oh and I agree the broadcast stinks. Did anyone notice the NASCAR commercial with GNR music during the broadcast, now thats a ad!
Posted By: 2QUICK4U
Re: A petition to ESPN (yes or no) - 02/11/09 07:09 AM
maybe they should do like nascar,bring in former,retired racers to do the show and do the comintery.there are alot of racers out there that are out of work,and would be fun to watch them get totally into race and talk about how much they miss and tell people what its like to drive one of these monsters.i think mike dunn really needs some one that is at his level and has the back ground to back it up.
Posted By: MegaDart
Re: A petition to ESPN (yes or no) - 02/11/09 11:23 AM
Quote:
ESPN is not a subsidiary of ABC as both are owned by Disney
my bad, I new they were in bed together and it was not cbs. Do the ESPN boys still play hockey during the week? I used to love stick time with those guys, lots of good players including John Saunders! He is a lot bigger in person then on camera!
Posted By: SCDaytona
Re: A petition to ESPN (yes or no) - 02/11/09 12:57 PM
One of my guys does, but I am not sure of all who are involved.
Posted By: Bill_LBSR
Re: A petition to ESPN (yes or no) - 02/11/09 03:41 PM
Quote:
We're going to watch no matter what
Not really, I probably won't watch much this year if at all. Other people I know stopped watching once the countdown BS started.
Posted By: theclutcher
Re: A petition to ESPN (yes or no) - 02/11/09 04:19 PM
There are more reasons not to watch it vs the number of to.
In fact, so much BS, better for me to not waste
my time or annoy myself with the moronic crap spoken by page. So I dont watch, poor sponsors.
They could do a 1/2 hr pro stock only show and draw more attention from the likes of us.
Maybe someone will start a weekly show about prostock only, on off week talk tech to us little people and on race week broadcast from track and pits.
Bet the sponsors of a show like that would get visibility.
Posted By: Mr. Dodge
Re: A petition to ESPN (yes or no) - 02/11/09 07:15 PM
Quote:
Paul Page and Marty Reid before him are both full-time employees of ESPN, quite often you will see them doing motorcycle jumping or bobsled racing events in the off hours. When Paul is not on the road, he is in the office like any other employee. Mike Dunn is only paid to work the drag racing events. They would never bring in another guy to replace a full-time staffer.
As far as the content of the program, they certainly have drifted far away from racing technology and strategy, it is now a show about the Force family, ridiculous comedy segments, and relentless interviews with the same 8 or 9 racers.
I still watch the shows, but there is no comparison with the old Diamond-P productions and Army Armstrong .
Posted By: B1Fish540
Re: A petition to ESPN (yes or no) - 02/11/09 07:21 PM
Quote:
Quote:
We're going to watch no matter what
Not really, I probably won't watch much this year if at all. Other people I know stopped watching once the countdown BS started.
I've decided I am just gonna build up my collection of Drag DVDs and when ever i need a "fix" i will pop one in. I can keep track of AJs progress right here. The only drag racing I would watch on TV is the Nopi events cause the babes are so f***ing hot! LOL
I will say this, the photographic coverge on ESPN can be amazing. However, i cant get a real sense of whats going on because they blab right up to when the tree starts flashing. The only time they shut up is for the 4 or 5 seconds that the run lasts. Then they go to commecial every other minute..OMG it sucks.
Posted By: chris3
Re: A petition to ESPN (yes or no) - 02/11/09 09:04 PM
I certainly agree the first race of the season is off to a rocky start. Very little money, no race and no sponsor tv time. The sponsors of ESPN were probably not happy about it either. I know everyones feeling for John Force; however, he had to be the show. If you taped the show Sunday night go back and look at it, there is no one in the stands, very few on the starting line and the few glimpses you got of the pit area only the "Pro Cars" were left; therefore, no one else to interview. From what I understand the spectators who did return yesterday got to see mostly bye runs or no run in the Sportsman Classes.
I know it's not as good as it can be and I know it's not like NASCAR, but we do get to see some drag racing on TV. I agree with what someone else said, too many complaints and they will just pull the plug and replace it with more basketball or baseball.
Posted By: dthemi
Re: A petition to ESPN (yes or no) - 02/12/09 01:19 AM
I hear what you're saying, but I don't think they'll just pull the plug. They make too much money broadcasting the events to let it go, and ratings mean everything to a network. My intension is to find the right person to politely complain to, and pass along the feelings of at least some of their long term audience. Hopefully they'll respond in some small way to make the show more interesting and focused. I appreciate the fact that as car guys our tastes may be a little different than some of the viewers, but my ability to judge the quality of coverage on any sport is fair and even my wife has commented on how silly the show is now, so I feel I'm being fair in my assessment of the job ESPN is currently doing.
Please keep the comments coming, good, bad, or indifferent. Thanks guys, I will find the right guy to send to. As for what happens from there, who knows. I just love the sport, and watching it has always been something to look forward to, and I don't want it going in the tank if I can do something about it. It may be in vain, but at least I'll know I did something.
Posted By: B1Fish540
Re: A petition to ESPN (yes or no) - 02/12/09 09:06 PM
Darren, i dont think your quest is at all Quixotic. I believe, we, the "Enthusiasts" are the engine that drives the sport. And, IMHO, they (ESPN) should be willing to cater to our interests a little more. Thats all we ask. Keep pushing us away and and soon all interest in their "show" will atrophy.
Posted By: dthemi
Re: A petition to ESPN (yes or no) - 02/13/09 03:30 PM
I sent an email this morning to ESPN requesting contact information to lodge our concerns as fans. I will continue to pursue them in hopes of having some impact on the coverage.
It would be a great help to have as many comments, both good and bad to forward to them. If you have feelings on the matter PLEASE post them here, and I'll get someone to look at them eventually. I would like to see the coverage reflect the true nature, atmosphere, and intensity, of the sport. Nothing more, and certainly nothing less.
Posted By: Streetwize
Re: A petition to ESPN (yes or no) - 02/13/09 08:59 PM
My son plays ball with a boy whose Dad works for the production company in Charlotte responsible for ESPN Motorsports coverage.
FWIW....regarding Paul Page....he said when Page was selected NONE of the staff broadcasters wanted the NHRA job including Page himself.
apparently Drag Racing is considered a Sideshow Act as far as the Charlotte based (deep in the Heart of Nascar) production company is concerned....I think they used to be (or may still be) called RPM motorsports.
That's where you should petition
Also, fwiw, when you have otherwise "dead-Air" during the rainout of ANY Sports event...it's pretty dull....the TV equivalent of "pick a card, any card!" stalling for time. Think how the Advertisers feel!!
Posted By: mprrlz
Re: A petition to ESPN (yes or no) - 02/14/09 01:28 AM
k, here are my comments.
I don't know where to start.
That is what I feel like every time I watch this so called coverage of NHRA racing.
1.I can live with Paul Page, as long as they stop having a freaking commercial every 7 minutes, and yes I kept track one time.
NO COMMERCIALS
2.Show more drag racing and talk about drag racing, not John Force and his f***** family. I was starting to like Force and then he had his wonderful TV show and now he is NHRA. Last time I checked, there are other sponsors that spend as much as Castrol does but you hardly ever see their cars.
NO MORE FORCE (please retire)
3.More sportsman coverage. Enough said...
MORE SPORTSMAN COVERAGE
4.Instead of taking the stupid Countdown idea from NASCAR, should have taken their coverage ideas. That is where the need of more drag racers on the show would come into play.
NHRA EXECUTIVES SUCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I can keep going and going about this and the sport in general, but just like the economy and corporate america, it isn't going to change.
Cory
Posted By: dthemi
Re: A petition to ESPN (yes or no) - 02/14/09 01:44 AM
Quote:
My son plays ball with a boy whose Dad works for the production company in Charlotte responsible for ESPN Motorsports coverage.
FWIW....regarding Paul Page....he said when Page was selected NONE of the staff broadcasters wanted the NHRA job including Page himself.
apparently Drag Racing is considered a Sideshow Act as far as the Charlotte based (deep in the Heart of Nascar) production company is concerned....I think they used to be (or may still be) called RPM motorsports.
That's where you should petition
Also, fwiw, when you have otherwise "dead-Air" during the rainout of ANY Sports event...it's pretty dull....the TV equivalent of "pick a card, any card!" stalling for time. Think how the Advertisers feel!!
I'll send the same info to them and thanks.
As for no one wanting the job, I can't imagine NHRA paying a production company who considers them a side show, and Paul Page being the only one desperate enough to host the show. Let them post that job up at half salary and I bet there would be a number of guy's like Dunn lined up around the block. Page has little knowledge of the sport, or at least it appears that way, and is just plain annoying because of it. If RPM, ESPN, doesn't care about the quality of the show, and it's known in their circle NHRA should fire them. With 500 plus channels all hungry for programing, I KNOW for a fact there's better out there. Thanks for the comments!
Posted By: slippery440
Re: A petition to ESPN (yes or no) - 02/14/09 02:00 AM
There are many out of work drivers that would be a better choice. I really doubt this will help or change anything.
NHRA is on the road to doom.Can't wait until they go to Englishtown and find very little done to make it safer.
Posted By: dthemi
Re: A petition to ESPN (yes or no) - 02/14/09 02:02 AM
That would be tragic, but I'm sure they'll make it the focus of the show thinking people want more death info as entertainment.
Posted By: moparacer
Re: A petition to ESPN (yes or no) - 02/14/09 02:07 AM
Page is just a filler. I dont get all the animosity directed at him. With a DVR I FF through all the drama and 45 minutes dedicated to the Force battalion. So I miss alot of it, but hes not that bad.....
Like to see some of you grab a mic and turn the cameras on and make it through 1 segment without them having to cut away to a commercial as Dunn laughs his @%# off.....
Posted By: Streetwize
Re: A petition to ESPN (yes or no) - 02/14/09 02:53 AM
I can't stand that bald headed (rhymes with) swoosh-rag on Pinks but I guess when your the producer you get to act like an A-H&le
Posted By: dthemi
Re: A petition to ESPN (yes or no) - 02/14/09 04:24 AM
He's just the wrong guy for the job, and terribly uninformed. Wrong names, times, facts and so on. About being able to make it through a segment, that's my point. There's no need for most of the blabber.
Would you guys rather see a segment on a technical issue related to the car, or what we get now. There are countless shows on television now that are just tech stuff. How it's made, modern marvels, how stuff works, and so on. These shows all have good ratings, and I'd bet most of us watch them. I wish they would add that dimension to the show. You could walk up to any crew chief and ask him to blab about anything, and it would be interesting and real feeling. Setup, contrived unrelated BS smells like a sit com to me. IF they want to capture the feel of the event they need to shoot that stuff, and stop trying to be unnecessarily creative. The race can, and has sold it's self in the past.
Please keep'm coming guys. It may be in vain, but I won't stop trying to contact them until someone at least acknowledges what we're saying.
Posted By: wyoming
Re: A petition to ESPN (yes or no) - 02/14/09 05:26 AM
FYI, here's alink to a short write up Paul Page did about Mike Dunn, read it, see if you still feel exactly the same
http://paulpage.tv/blog/?p=30
Posted By: dthemi
Re: A petition to ESPN (yes or no) - 02/14/09 06:27 AM
Quote:
FYI, here's alink to a short write up Paul Page did about Mike Dunn, read it, see if you still feel exactly the same
http://paulpage.tv/blog/?p=30
Read it and thanks. I'm glad Page respects Dunn,and that Dunn and he get along so well, but he's still the wrong guy for the job. The fact that he knows he's the fall guy for Dunn makes it more apparent to me. It's not an issue to me of it sounding cruel because Page is poorly suited for the job, just a point that the show would be much better with someone of Dunn's caliber. NHRA in my opinion has no need for an admitted "setup guy". That stuff is for the tonight show, and sit coms. I would prefer to either hear more from Dunn, or an intelligent, insightful exchange between Dunn and another like him.
It's not the end of the world to me if Page stays, just knock off the shtick. I really want, like most I think, for them to get back to racing related stuff since that's what they're sent to cover. As for it being a tough gig, well it's the pinnacle of the sport, it should be, and deserves the very best.
Posted By: quickd100
Re: A petition to ESPN (yes or no) - 02/14/09 10:56 AM
Bozo the Clown would be more interesting than Paul Page. I think Sukuza and Dunn would make a great team and I agree, a few interviews or stories on the Sportsman racers would be fantastic. Dave
Posted By: Anonymous
Re: A petition to ESPN (yes or no) - 02/14/09 02:54 PM
I hate what has happened on espn the babbling and stupid interviews drive me nuts.I used to tape every race that i could, now i just change the channel or go to bed.
