Dan, if you’re reading this (which I doubt you are) we need you.
OK, maybe not Dan per se, I doubt he’s too interested in becoming a member of the NASCAR press corps (though if he is…), but this sport could really use someone like him.
You’re probably asking yourself at this point, “what the heck are you talking about?” For those of you who aren’t avid listeners of Dan, i’ll explain.
The former ESPN Sportscenter anchor and current host of his own sports talk radio show, writer for Sports Illustrated and co-host of Football Night in America is arguably one of the most prominent sportscasters in the game.
Daily on the Dan Patrick Show you’ll find a guy not afraid to ask tough questions to the biggest names in the business and certainly not afraid to press them when they dodge those questions (when he’s not playing Mike Wallace, he, Pauly, Fritzy, Seton and McLovin are pretty entertaining too).
Dan recently had BCS Executive Director Bill Hancock on and he asked him why there wasn’t a playoff system. When Hancock waltzed around the questions Dan pressed him. Eventually he got an answer out of him.
NBA commissioner David Stern was a guest not long ago and Dan asked him about Tim Donaghy. He was able to respectfully press Stern on what is a very controversial issue and got Stern to move, if only slightly, off script.
My point with this is, Dan Patrick is able to do what few can do: conduct a good, but difficult interview and emerge with mutual respect intact. He’s able and unafraid to ask tough questions without pissing off the person he’s interviewing.
Now I know what you’re saying, “Journo, why don’t you fill this role?” Well, I’ll be frank with you, I’m no Dan Patrick and as much as I’d like to be I don’t think I ever will. That doesn’t mean someone else can’t fill this role.
I think the NASCAR press is severely lacking someone who is unafraid (there are a lot of people that fit into this category) AND able (not so much here) to conduct difficult interviews with NASCAR’s power players. Too often the sport’s reporters tip-toe around things or don’t press things so as not to effect their existing relationships (who wants to get locked out?).
We need someone who is not afraid to call out NASCAR when there’s a problem and force the issue when necessary (David Poole was about as close as we had to this). I guess what we need is a reporter who is a celebrity in their right and has the clout when necessary (they need to be untouchable). As talented as many of the members of the press corps are, we just don’t have anyone that fills this role right now.
So Dan, if you’re interested we’d welcome you with open arms (or at least I would).
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on Dec 11th, 2009 at 12:53 am
Mike Mulhern can ask tough questions, but he’s also known to print every bizarre rumor in the garage. If he could ever edit himself, he could fill the “David Poole void”.
on Dec 11th, 2009 at 8:36 am
No offense Journo, but that isn’t the question I have.
My question goes to the heart of why NASCAR needs (or should want) someone like Dan Patrick covering the sport.
Why does NASCAR need someone asking tough questions? Are there fans who are turning off because someone isn’t asking NASCAR the ‘tough’ questions? Are the competitors getting out of the business, losing interest or showing less enthusiasm? Are TV and sponsorship contracts down because there’s no Dan Patrick?
I agree that the current crop of TV personnel (pit reporters on up to the announcing crew) are more cheerleader than hard nosed reporter, and it would be nice if they could vary their shtick so I didn’t have to count the number of times I hear the exact same thing said over and over and over again.
My suggestion is, that given that NASCAR seems to shine when there’s a bit of a rivalry/hard feelings, it would be nice to have someone stoking the flames (for example, someone who would goad Tony Stewart into going on a bit more about Montoya, or push Hamlin even more about Kezelowski), and even better if NASCAR wasn’t so quick to clamp down on the tussling.
But playing instigator isn’t the role a Dan Patrick would fulfill.
And besides, Dan Patrick and Danica Patrick at the same time? Too confusing to my ears.
on Dec 11th, 2009 at 9:44 am
Jenna Fryer is a good NASCAR writer. And she can be tough on the establishment.
However, the best motorsports media man is SPEED’s Robin Miller. Anybody that can take a sucker punch from AJ Foyt and live to tell about it is alright in my book!
on Dec 11th, 2009 at 9:52 am
Ed Hinton tried to be tough once and as I recall NASCAR made life extremely difficult for him. You have to remember that dealing with NASCAR has been likened to dealing with the mob. They will kill your grandma if you don’t follow their rules. Big Bill and Bill Jr were notoriously tough on anyone who criticized the sport and they had the power to back up their wishes. Brian doesn’t have the following that his Dad and Grandpa had and may not be able to avoid future scandals that would have been supressed by the old regimes. No reporters I know of have the moxie to test this theory, however. Maybe Dan is the one.
on Dec 11th, 2009 at 10:29 am
Steve- I’m saying we need an instigator, Dan Patrick doesn’t instigate, but when things need to be asked we need someone there to do it, and to be able to get away with doing it.
JT- Jenna Fryer is definitely one of the best. More and more she’s working her way into this role.
on Dec 11th, 2009 at 11:10 am
I seriously doubt that Dan would waste his time with NASCAR. I’m sure he sees what they want in their sport, ( a bunch of sniveling suck up”yes men”) and it doesn’t include anyone who will ask those kind of questions. Robin Miller could have done this long ago, but he is too busy with the Indycar debacle. Could anyone imagine Robin getting in Brian’s head the way he does with Tony George? What a hoot that would be.
on Dec 11th, 2009 at 7:11 pm
It seems to me that Mulhern and Hinton are both excessively biased against NASCAR and are too interested in criticizing NASCAR to bother with being objective – but then I quit reading them months ago. Many in the NASCAR press corps would rather criticize NASCAR than take the opportunity in press conferences to ask intelligent questions – easier to criticize if you don’t have to worry about dealing with the facts.
on Dec 12th, 2009 at 10:01 am
It doesn’t really take a reporter, columnist, or sports talk radio show to ask the “relavant” questions to NASCAR and folks in all aspects of the sport. I for one look at the credentials and credibility of the individual asking the questions. It takes someone so familiar w/ the sport, but willing to ask relavant questions to relavant players w/o the risk of being denied access.
IMHO a driver, a crew chief, an owner and a official in the form of Dale Jarret, Larry McReynolds, Joe Gibbs and Larry Nelson would command my attention when asking a relavant question of anyone. Notice I said relavant? Reporting in NASCAR needs to inject more relavancy in reporting and less fluff. Feed the fans that fuel the sport w/ useful info and they will remain relavant and loyal in return.
All that being said, there are certain aspects of NASCAR that just don’t need to be open to public vote, questioning or ruling by committee. Just the fact that NASCAR is the only major sporting event that opens in prayer prior to the national anthem is reason alone to not question all aspects of this great sport and its rich american heritage..thank God!
on Dec 14th, 2009 at 8:58 am
NASCAR misses David Poole.
on Dec 14th, 2009 at 9:56 pm
Besides the late David Poole I think Dave Moody does a very good job at asking relevant questions and holding peoples feet to the fire when it’s called for.
on Dec 31st, 2009 at 4:09 am
No thanks. I’ll stick with the team of writers/reporters at http://www.racintoday.com