The Fines, The Moves, And What’s Right

Jim McCoy

The coffers of the governing body got a little richer that day. Three participants in the sport added $75,000 to the kitty for what were deemed to be disparaging remarks.

Their names? Rick Adelman, Nate Mc Millan and Glenn Rivers. Rivers is better known to fans as “Doc.” This isn’t NASCAR. These three were NBA coaches fined $25,000 each for criticizing officials during the 2009 playoffs.

Competitors in other sports have paid similar penalties. New York Jets coach Rex Ryan cut a check for 50 large for flipping the bird to some fans. Heck, Milwaukee Bucks guard Brandon Jennings got fined for using Twitter! Heck, the president of the Minnesota Timberwolves NBA team was fined $50,000 for talking about how newly acquired forward Michael Beasley “used to smoke a lot of dope.” Why? See if this sounds familiar: because the NBA wants to break free of this image of their players being a bunch of hop-headed boys from the hood. Put another way, Commissioner David Stern wants to “protect the brand.”

My point? It is not incongruent for league leadership to come down on its players and coaches for saying or doing things that hurt its reputation or tear its image down. You, the hardcore, and/or longtime fan may see a NASCAR rife with problems, not the least of which is the sport’s integrity. But let me let you in on a little secret: the average person out there has no clue there’s ANYTHING wrong with today’s NASCAR…unless some driver gets on ESPN and barks about mystery debris cautions and crappy racing on Sports Center.

Here’s the problem, unique to NASCAR, that the others don’t have. With the NBA, the NFL, Major League Baseball and the other sports, you know WHAT the infraction was, and WHO said it. Here we are, guessing that it may have been Denny Hamlin’s remarks about phantom debris cautions, it may have been Kyle Busch with one of his many outrageous statements. Others are speculating Jeff Gordon, and there are a number of criticisms that even Dale Earnhardt, Jr. has levied against the car and the racing. Who was it? What was it? I don’t know!

If its somebody suggesting that NASCAR is akin to professional wrestling with manufactured results to create drama, if its someone basically suggesting the sport is a joke, I say fine away! I can tell you if I make disparaging remarks about my employer, I expect to be fired. Or maybe a better parallel is this: if I go around telling my associates and outsiders that radio is a dying medium, or something to that effect, I expect that maybe have a negative impact on my employment. Why should NASCAR be any different?

But, here’s the problem. Only a few people really know. All this does is further incense disgruntled fans who already think of NASCAR as something less than a benevolent dictatorship. When it comes to these matters, NASCAR leadership is its own worst enemy, because this kind of stuff happens time and time again.

People will always disagree. That happens with ANYTHING. On the other hand, I think most reasonable NASCAR fans are big boys and girls, and they CAN handle the truth.

AMBROSE AND LABONTE FIRM UP 2011 PLANS

If it all plays out like we’ve been told, Marcos Ambrose will be driving the “9” car for Richard Petty Motorsports and Bobby Labonte, NASCAR’s 2010 version of the “Travelling Man” will take over the “47” at JTG Daugherty.

On first glance, it looks like a win-win. Ambrose has a long and mutually beneficial history the with Blue Ovals, and with his Australian ethnicity, makes a uniquely marketable driver. We know that’s going to be one of the challenges facing RPM. Ambrose may not be a pretty boy, but he’s got the accent, a certain “Crocodile Dundee” appeal, and he’s got a take no prisoners attitude behind the wheel, all while wearing that perma grin we’ve all come to know and love. It should open up some doors sponsorship-wise, if there’s any money to be had.

Labonte has had one foot in the career grave and the other in start and park land for 2010. If Mark Martin can still get it done at 51, Labonte certainly can at 46. From this observer’s perspective, it give him the best ride he’s had since his Joe Gibbs days, or at least puts him in equipment on a par (or a little better) with what he had at Petty Enterprises. Labonte himself possesses a marketable pedigree with the right sponsor, and heck, what they’ve got now should work just fine.

WHAT’S RIGHT

The outcome of the last two races reminded me of what I like about NASCAR. Two of its better men- David Reutimann and Jamie McMurray- won races, while driving for teams that are certainly not thought of as being NASCAR super teams like Hendrick, Gibbs or Roush- though this is far from Chi Ganassi’s first rodeo.

It’s great to see some of the sport’s “lesser lights” shine. I also love Jamie Mac’s reaction. He’d like to make the Chase, but if he doesn’t? Hey, he went out and won two of NASCAR’s biggest races of the year. Isn’t that what it’s really all about? Playing to win the game?

It’s refreshing, and I hope these two, and others like them, win more races. It does some good to wash away the stain of those who sandbag it, points racing for the Chase, and wintessing their grace helps us forget for a moment the knuckleheads on whom glory is squandered.

Posted on a month ago

3 Comments

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  a month ago

  
  

  IpModerator said:

  Great column Jim!
  
  I agree with many of your points on NASCAR's 'secret fines' and what's gone on in the NBA was a great analogy.
  
  Many fans, myself included at times, forget that NASCAR is a business, and as such does need to protect their brand.
  
  As you said, if anyone of us called out or employers we would soon learn about lines ... chiefly among these would be unemployment lines.
  
  NASCAR looks on it's teams as independent contractors, but still, you don't knock the house you play in.

  
  
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  a month ago

  
  

  LuvJr-88 said:

  Jim, that was a very interesting article to read! I too wonder why NASCAR has to be so secretive as to exactly WHO they fined for making disparaging remarks! If they only knew the disparaging remarks us FAN'S make about NASCAR and the way they handle thing's, they'd be amazed...I guess. Then again, maybe not! What happened to just good ole Racin without all of the politically correct mess? Yes, I know this is 2010 and we have to change with the times, but come on NASCAR, let us FAN'S know what's going on and with who and stop hiding behind those big fancy door's in Daytona! Who paid for all that fancy stuff? Hmm...US FAN'S! OK, I'm done, and...this is just my, a fan's point of view! Now, let's go Racin at Pocono! - S -

  
  
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  a month ago

  
  

  Mustang5 said:

  Very interesting points indeed....
  
  At least they were only fined, because depending on the infractions or the appearance to insight disgruntlement against the organization, could lead to suspension or down-right being barred from racing within the organization. That's exactly how Bill Snr or Bill Jr. would have handled such individuals...
  
  Everyone complains that the sport is some sort of dictatorship, and the NFL, NBA, and MBL aren't? Who are you kiddin! Any business, no matter what its about is run that way...so wake up and get over it people!
  
  Tired of everyone bashing Brian France for doing or not doing things to appease every nit picky thing of the media and fans, and here he's done something and he has his reasons.
  
  NASCAR is what it is, love it or leave it!