SPEED: Spencer out for good

[markgoodrich]

From Soup (PERHAPS THE BEST THING IN THIS PRESS RELEASE IS THE NAME OF THE GUY WHO IS IN CHARGE OF THE EXECRABLE COVERAGE; IF EVERYONE EMAILED HIM CONSTANTLY ((I can't find an email address for him))):

 

Beginning this weekend, Motorcycle Hall of Famer Scott Russell will take the role of lead motorcycle road racing analyst for SPEED. Russell replaces fellow Hall-of-Famer Freddie Spencer, whose multiple European scheduling conflicts led to the move.

 

"We are thrilled to have someone of Scott's caliber on the SPEED team and we appreciate Freddie's years of service to the network and look forward to working with him again in the future when schedules allow," said Rick Miner, SPEED SVP Production & Network Operations.

 

Russell, known as "Mr. Daytona" after winning the Daytona 200 five times, was the 1992 AMA Superbike champion and the 1993 World Superbike champion.

 

I'd like to know the real story behind Spencer's exit.

[David]

I don't know anything about the kind of job that the new guy will do, but the fact that Spencer won't be on there anymore is the best evidence I've seen in a long time that there is a God.

[russell_bynum]

I don't know anything about the kind of job that the new guy will do, but the fact that Spencer won't be on there anymore is the best evidence I've seen in a long time that there is a God.

 

So far, Scott Russell has been insanely boring. And at the last show that aired (last saturday...finally showing us the last Road Atl superbike race from a f***ing month ago) he babbled through the actual start of the race.

 

I'm hoping he gets better.

 

Then again, the coverage is so late to air that by the time it does air I really don't give a sh*t about the race anymore.

[Semper_Fi]

I don't know anything about the kind of job that the new guy will do, but the fact that Spencer won't be on there anymore is the best evidence I've seen in a long time that there is a God.

 

So far, Scott Russell has been insanely boring. And at the last show that aired (last saturday...finally showing us the last Road Atl superbike race from a f***ing month ago) he babbled through the actual start of the race.

 

I'm hoping he gets better.

 

Then again, the coverage is so late to air that by the time it does air I really don't give a sh*t about the race anymore.

 

So how do you feel about the commentary - was not able to get the jist by your comments!

[markgoodrich]

What annoys me even more than the blather of the blithering idiots is the constant covering of huge sections of the screen with graphics advertising other Speed programs, or simply the "whooshing" Speed logo into the middle of the screen for no apparent reason.

 

[russell_bynum]

I don't know anything about the kind of job that the new guy will do, but the fact that Spencer won't be on there anymore is the best evidence I've seen in a long time that there is a God.

 

So far, Scott Russell has been insanely boring. And at the last show that aired (last saturday...finally showing us the last Road Atl superbike race from a f***ing month ago) he babbled through the actual start of the race.

 

I'm hoping he gets better.

 

Then again, the coverage is so late to air that by the time it does air I really don't give a sh*t about the race anymore.

 

So how do you feel about the commentary - was not able to get the jist by your comments!

 

The commentary was actually better overall than we've seen in the last few years. But Mr. Daytona needs to learn when to commentate, when to go to the list of "filler" topics, and when to STFU. He's new to this, so maybe he'll get better.

 

The Aussie guy is pretty good, and Greg White is OK.

 

This is the only area in which things are trending better. First we got rid of Brian Drebber. Then we moved Ralph Shaheen off to the studio (I can fast forward through his yammering without missing any of the racing.) Now we've purged Freddie Spencer.

 

If Scott Russell figures it out, we could actually wind up with a decent team.

 

Of course...the dumbass schedule of the broadcast means it is sometimes a month or more before we actually see the race and by that time, who even cares?

[russell_bynum]

What annoys me even more than the blather of the blithering idiots is the constant covering of huge sections of the screen with graphics advertising other Speed programs, or simply the "whooshing" Speed logo into the middle of the screen for no apparent reason.

 

Yeah, don't get me started about that stuff.

 

Why don't they give us graphics showing how many laps are left, rather than just telling us what lap we're on? And how about timely info on splits between riders? They do that for WSBK, MotoGP, and Formula 1, so I know they know how to do it. Filling up the screen with ads for other shows pisses me off as well.

 

Overall, between the stupid once-a-week show, the cheater rules in Daytona Sportbike, the stupid boring rolling start that kills what used to be the best part of the race, the oppressive control over what the rider's say, completely decimating the supersport class, the way the rules changes were handled last year, and last year's various tech debacles, DMG has completely destroyed American Roadracing at a time when it needed help and support.

[90%angel]

Scott Russell actually makes me miss Freddie!

 

Again, would like to see Gregg and the Aussie guy call the race, Freddie do the interviews (at that, he's actually decent; I once saw him get Pedrobot to smile!), and let me have Sheheen's job.

 

(Of course, only if they fix that POS show...broadcast the races on Sunday when they actually happen (or Tuesday at the latest), then make that AMA Primetime show more like Greg's Garage was; racer interviews, bike reviews, race highlights, etc.)

[Bill_Walker]

Why is it they can find retired football players who can actually speak well covering live events, but they can't find retired motorcycle racers who can do the same? All props to Freddie and Scot on the racetrack, and to Freddie at his school, for that matter, but on the air, fuggedaboudit.

[90%angel]

Yup. No disrespect to either of them as riders, and they're probably darn fun to hang out with...BUT call the race! Don't blabber about nothing when racing is happening! I'll cut Scott some slack though; he's new at it.

[Bullett]

Turn----it---off.

 

 

There, its fixed now.

[BanjoBoy]

I don't know anything about the kind of job that the new guy will do, but the fact that Spencer won't be on there anymore is the best evidence I've seen in a long time that there is a God.

Amen to that brother! I liked Kevin Schwantz, but Dave Sadowski was my favorite commentator. He was quite knowledgeable and perceptive as to what was going on. He seemed to see and point out interesting little tidbits I would have missed otherwise. And he was totally in to it. (not just drawing a paycheck.)

[markgoodrich]

http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2009/May/090506factoriesgone.htm

 

[90%angel]

Turn----it---off.

 

Ugh. You sound just like Russell - whenever there is nit-picking about a show (that only I watch; if he watched it, he might have stuff to say too as evidenced by this thread!...funny how that is) anyway, if ever there is nitpicking, he says "you know, the TV has an off button!"

 

Just because I have a little gripe with the announcing team doesn't mean I want to not watch the race at all, although, with the way they're going (not just the announcing team (that's actually minor), but all the other dumb changes), that's about what they're going to get. Russell doesn't really watch any more. I'm not sure the fans tuning out was really what Speed/DMG wanted with the changes. I suppose I might be more contstructive launching my complaints at them than here, but this is a BMW forum, and that's what we do...we b!tch...or did you not notice the "Things that Bug Me" thread? This is "Things that Bug Me - Race Edition"

[stubble!]

I have not yet watched anything with Scott Russell (way behind), but I will gladly say how grateful I am when I see Greg White is not doing a race. He's best in the pits, he doesn't grate too badly there.

 

[CoarsegoldKid]

Turn----it---off.

 

...

Just because I have a little gripe with the announcing team doesn't mean I want to not watch the race at all, although, with the way they're going (not just the announcing team (that's actually minor), but all the other dumb changes), that's about what they're going to get. Russell doesn't really watch any more.

 

I agree that I want to see the race coverage, on the same weekend of course. I want to see it without goofy banter. I hope Russell gets better, someone should coach him for goodness sake. I watched the last POST race coverage with the sound off and I did a pretty good job of announcing it to friends not familiar to MC racing if I do say so myself.

[Kathy R]

Turn----it---off.

 

 

There, its fixed now.

 

[bmwk100]

Why is it they can find retired football players who can actually speak well covering live events, but they can't find retired motorcycle racers who can do the same? All props to Freddie and Scot on the racetrack, and to Freddie at his school, for that matter, but on the air, fuggedaboudit.

 

Football players at least visited Universities for four years and learned a few words. Most of these motorcycle riders probably went straight from high school to racing.

 

Like I always said, being a professional rider/football player does not qualify you to be an orator or coach. They are two different professions.

[markgoodrich]

I watched the Barber stuff last night on Speed. The play by play was a very tiny bit better, although the two were still blathering away as great lead changes took place, and/or graphics were in the way. I don't want to spoil the outcomes of the races, but I will say Jamie Hacking's incredible save was the most interesting thing I've seen in AMA racing in years. That sequence should become a part of every high school physics class lecture on what a "gyroscope" is.

[g_frey]

At the University of Missouri one or two football players told me that some of the "stars" rarely attended class, took tests, or actually worked at the summer jobs they had. From my own classes with football stars I must admit that they rarely showed up for class after the first day or two. Yet they graduated.