Because they drew a better rating than an NBA game that was on ABC at the same time… an NBA game featuring Kobe Bryant and LeBron James, no less. Rain beat the NBA’s rating by 39% and the Bay Hill Invitational by 18%. I guess the athleticism of Kobe Bryant can’t compare to the athleticism of a big fucking engine.
It just makes me concerned for the future. A live race outdrawing an NBA game makes me sad for the future… a fucking rain delay, though? If they had to race in the rain, that would be one thing. What do they show during a rain delay, though? Replays of very special left turns from years past? Barbeque tips from guys with Rusty Wallace’s signature tatooed on their shoulder? Jeff Foxworthy stand-up?
I just don’t know what’s going to happen to television. I fear a day when there’s auto racing on all three networks every weekend. It’s out of control. People are watching NASCAR rain delays and Larry the Cable Guy movies. I don’t know what to do.
Doug Says:
March 24th, 2006 at 1:55 pm
You can’t deny the ratings, but is it just me, or do you not know anybody who actually watches NASCAR. As many people as there are that love this stuff, I don’t know more then 3. Of course, I don’t know too many who actually sit down and watch NBA games either. The more or less follow the season on via ESPN highlights.
So really, I don’t know what my point was, but I don’t know anybody who watches NASCAR. Discuss.
Pacifist Viking Says:
March 24th, 2006 at 2:09 pm
I can think of two people I’ve met in my life who watch NASCAR and actually mentioned it.
But millions of southerners can’t be wrong, can they?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Civil_War
Insomniac Says:
March 24th, 2006 at 2:47 pm
I was at a Hooters in Arizona two weeks ago, and this guy requested that one of the tvs be turned from the basketball conference tournaments to the Speed channel. I couldn’t believe it. Of course I couldn’t say anything because one thing you don’t want to do is get between a guy wearing a motocross tshirt and his chance to watch anything on a racetrack. Besides, there were still plenty of other tvs to watch. Oh and boobs too.
lopey Says:
March 24th, 2006 at 3:03 pm
Once, I happened across a Nascar race while it was on rain delay. I got to watch fat ass Tony Stewart try to play wiffle ball with a bunch of other white fat asses.
I died inside that day.
djej1 Says:
March 24th, 2006 at 3:07 pm
One of the things that yoiu have to consider is that the NCAA Tournament was also on at that time and I know a number of people who are both NBA fans and college basketball fans that have not been watching much NBA because of the Tournament. That could partially explain the reason for the lower NBA Ratings
Josh Says:
March 24th, 2006 at 3:19 pm
I don’t know anybody who watches NASCAR, but then again, I don’t know anybody who has a favorite NBA team.
VTHokie01 Says:
March 24th, 2006 at 3:41 pm
It goes hand in hand with the pseudo-right wing neoconservative belief systems spreading like wildfire and being advocated by most of the media, but especially Fox, NBC, CNN and MSNBC.
The only place to get a true look at every side is either public radio or public television.
“Derr, I like to watch cars go in circles,” almost equates with “Derr, I don’t know who Bin Laden is, but at least we ‘freed’ Iraq.”
Derr, I believe in ’small government,’ tax cuts for the rich and increased deficits. Derr, liberals hate America, derr. Derr, I’ve never served in the armed forces, but I’m the first person in line to buy those stupid goddamned bow magnets, derr. Derr, we’re winning the war on terrorism, derr.
Mr. Bojangles Says:
March 24th, 2006 at 4:46 pm
I’m sorry, what does “pseudo-right wing neoconservative belief systems” mean? Do you use the same bullshit add-ons when you talk about the “ultraliberal hyperpolitically-correct the-government-knows-best quasi-environmentalists”? See how stupid it sounds to add a bunch of words that don’t mean anything just to make a point which really didn’t make sense in the context of the blog post, anyway?
And last I checked, the magnets and terrorist propaganda are not divided by the political lines. For every gun-racked redneck racist stereotype cheering on the Iraqi war, you could counter with an SUV-driving Kerry-votin’ soccer mom stereotype with a magnet on her driver side door. It’s ignorance, and cheering on one side of the same tarnished coin doesn’t make you any wiser.
Rusty Says:
March 24th, 2006 at 5:05 pm
Guess what, there are intelligent NASCAR fans. I am one of them. Hell, I paid money to join a NASCAR fanatsy team. This is the first time I’ve played fantasy sports in my life.
And, just so you know, I am a liberal, college educated Democrat from New England. Sorry to ruin your stereotype. I admit NASCAR is kind of dumb, but going to a race is spectacular and it’s a great sport to watch in the NFL offseason. Frankly, Arena Football is for morons.
Sarcastro Says:
March 24th, 2006 at 5:07 pm
So…the cable guy is the health inspector? Is this in addition to his duties as cable guy? Or is he no longer the cable guy? Then way is he Larry the Cable Guy?
This is all too heady for me.
Sarcastro Says:
March 24th, 2006 at 5:15 pm
Arena Football is for morons? What? Nothing in the world compares to the thrill of the the AFL. Hits that send players into the stands, fireworks, narrow goal posts….Ron Jawarski!!!
And just so everybody knows, I’m a college educated scientologist from New Mexico. I fought in Vietnam, Korea and the First Gulf war, receiving three purple hearts and one golden scrotum. Sorry to blow your simple minds and your crude stereotypes.
For the record everything that I don’t enjoy is for morons.
Bud Says:
March 25th, 2006 at 12:30 am
I am a moron.
I enjoy it.
Hurrah!
Andy Says:
March 25th, 2006 at 12:34 am
I know a lot of people who watch NASCAR, most of whom suck royally. In fact, I’m hard-pressed to think of one that doesn’t. Hokie is right: they’re all horribly uninformed and apathetic, but it regrettably doesn’t stop them from voting, always for Republicans. I also know a lot of people who watch the NBA. They generally don’t suck quite as much.
The weird thing is that even though I know all these people, I don’t really have any friends, which is the main reason I comment on weblogs.
carson Says:
March 25th, 2006 at 10:19 am
you are a moron. learn about something before you bash it.
VTHokie01 Says:
March 25th, 2006 at 5:05 pm
Senor Bojangles -
the pseudo part means exactly that - the neocons and their insanely misguided national defense strategy of premption have created the exact opposite of their intended effect. So by pseudo I’m trying to suggest that although these people might believe that they are doing the right thing by destroying Saddam’s Iraq to create an even worse version, and lowering taxes on the rich and corporations only to increase the US debt by about 300 billion, what they’re actually doing is the opposite of what a true right winger would want. John McCain said earlier this year or last year that he remembered a time when republicans were fiscally conservative, but that’s not the case anymore.
So, if you didn’t get that on the first go round, my bad. Maybe the hyphen through you off.
pseudo-right wing neoconservative Says:
March 25th, 2006 at 6:19 pm
I love NASCAR!
Mr. Bojangles Says:
March 27th, 2006 at 10:49 am
So by pseudo, you mean “I have no idea what pseudo means, but check out the current administration’s latest fuck-ups”. Our so-called “neocons” have been following the same bloated policies for 25 years; the only difference between the two parties in terms of spending is which corporations or special interest groups made the right contributions to get them there, and which branch of government reaps the benefits of our taxes, whether it be the signature tremendous military waste Repubs use to filter their money down (the defense contracts you pseudo-mentioned), or the democrats’ constant push to take more money for programs that are “for the good of the people” - you know, since we don’t how to help ourselves - so give us your money and we’ll make the world a better place, one lobbyist at a time.
But fuck all that, my original point was - Bill O’Reilly and Rush Limbaugh use retarded, outdated labels to describe Democrats, simply to incite people and encourage the “us vs them” sports team mentality, so people just cheer on their political parties like they’re fucking fans, without ever trying to delve into the ‘heady issues’ like the Patriot Act. You’re doing the same on the opposite side, and to be lumped into a camp with O’Reilly - well, let’s just say I’d rather be a NASCAR fan than compared to Bill O’Reilly.
(And the topic comes full circle.)
Sarcastro Says:
March 27th, 2006 at 11:29 am
So…..Larry is still the Cable Guy, but also a neohealth inspector?
Mullet Says:
March 27th, 2006 at 11:39 am
No, a psuedo-neohealth inspector.
and he likes NASCAR
Tim Johnson Says:
March 28th, 2006 at 11:21 pm
I can’t imagine why anyone would ever watch an NBA game. Even golf is better than the NBA.
nascar rocks Says:
December 18th, 2006 at 10:16 pm
u guys need to face it nascar is a growing sport and u cant do anything about it. People are getting tired of trodishanal sports. Nascar will eventualy rule the air space of nfl and nba and all of that shit. Poeple like the smell of fresh burning rubber and the sound of those motors reving up. Poeple are getting tired of slow guys that take starouds run up and down a field and b ball court. poeple like action they like speed so nfl and the nba and all of those sports will be a thang of the passed in about 10 to 20 years so fase the facts. Only real men like the smell of burning rubber and the sound of pure row power screeming by at 200 mph or greater.
barb Says:
December 21st, 2006 at 1:40 pm
they are talking about this alot over at thenascar forum and the people are right nascar is a growing and thriving sport, embrace it, learn it if you don’t know it, and simply try to enjoy it