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Fox, NASCAR Blasted For S-Bomb During Race (Family advocates rev into attack mode)
WorldNetDaily ^ | March 29, 2006

Posted on 04/04/2006 6:52:44 AM PDT by Wolfie

Fox, NASCAR blasted for S-bomb during race
Family advocates rev into attack mode as car
called 'piece of s---' in broadcast

Family advocates are revving up against Fox Television and NASCAR after a driver's crew chief uttered the S-word during a nationally broadcast race Sunday.

The obscene word was aired during a car-to-crew conversation between driver Martin Truex, Jr. and his crew chief, Kevin Manion, at the Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway in Bristol, Tenn.

A frustrated Manion told his driver, "We missed the set-up today. It (the car) was a piece of s---."

Fox announcer Mike Joy offered an immediate on-air apology, stating, "We apologize for the language on the part of Martin Truex's crew chief, but the frustration is evident this late in the race when things happen."

A March 15 ruling by the FCC declared: "The 'S-word' is a vulgar excretory term so grossly offensive to members of the public that it amounts to a nuisance and is presumptively profane. Like the 'F-word,' it is one of the most offensive words in the English language, the broadcast of which is likely to shock the viewer and disturb the peace and quiet of the home."

Fox Sports spokesman Dan Bell told Cup Scene Daily, "We are very sorry that comment escaped our screening process. We take audio very seriously and make painstaking efforts to offer only the best. We will continue to evaluate our policy but as of now there is no delay in place during our live coverage."

Joe Glover, president of the Family Policy Network, has filed an official complaint with the Federal Communications Commisison, saying NASCAR has a problem with foul language.

"It seems that every now and then, a participant in a nationally televised race will violate the FCC's clear rules against uttering vulgar terms on daytime television and 'let one slip' on the air," he said. "On one hand, leaders of the sport want families to think they're against it. On the other hand, they don't seem to want it to stop. ... At some point, you have to wonder if NASCAR is really serious about establishing a family-friendly environment for their radio and television audiences."

In addition to Glover's group, the American Family Association is urging people to file a complaint with the FCC against the Fox network.

"Fox had been warned about allowing the S-word on the air," president Donald Wildmon says on the AFA's website. "The network could have used a delay and bleeped the profanity. But they chose not to. The network chose to air the segment live. Millions of viewers, including children, were offended by the crude profanity."

But there are some who think these family advocates are going overboard with their desire to protect citizens from broadcast obscenity. Among them is radio talk-show host Neal Boortz.

"What a joke. The American Family Association says that millions of viewers including children were offended by the crude profanity. That's horse squeeze," Boortz said.

"These people were watching a freaking NASCAR race, not 'Barney & Friends.' Any adult that was offended by [Truex's crew chief's] rather explicit description as to how his car was handling should just crawl under a bed somewhere and wait until Judgment Day. As for whatever children may have been watching, you can bet that this is a word they've heard a hundred times before, probably from their own parents in the context of ... 'Don't give me any more of your C-word, you little B-word, or I'll kick your little A-word so hard, you'll have to unbutton your shirt to take an S-word.'"

As WND previously reported last September, NASCAR fined stock-car racer Robby Gordon a total of $35,000 for bad driver behavior and using the S-word during a live television broadcast.

Gordon shocked some viewers by verbally exploding against fellow driver Michael Waltrip, calling him a "piece of s---" and heaving his helmet at him. The uncensored incidents were broadcast nationally by the TNT network.

"Everyone thinks Michael is a good guy. He is not the good guy like he acts like he is. Caution was out, and he wrecked me," Gordon said after an on-track altercation during the Sylvania 300 in Louden, N.H. "He's a piece of s---!"


TOPICS: Culture/Society; US: North Carolina; US: Tennessee
KEYWORDS: 7seconddelay; afa; boortz; danbell; donaldwildmon; essword; fcc; fec; filth; fox; foxsports; gordon; kevinmanion; martintruex; michaelwaltrip; mikejoy; nascar; nealboortz; profanity; robbygordon; sword; truex; waltrip
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To: Wolfie
I bet these poor innocent NASCAR fans were shocked to hear such language.


41 posted on 04/04/2006 7:28:05 AM PDT by Ditto
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To: SaveTheChief

"I would wager that most children have heard worse at school."

I would wager that most children have SAID worse at school.


42 posted on 04/04/2006 7:28:06 AM PDT by MineralMan (godless atheist)
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To: SaveTheChief

I heard the new FCC Chairman on the radio this morning. Says he's fixin' to open up a can of whoop-ass on the "indecent" broadcasters in this country. What, you were expecting just a little bit of a Nanny State?


43 posted on 04/04/2006 7:28:15 AM PDT by Wolfie
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To: SaveTheChief

Good points.


44 posted on 04/04/2006 7:29:12 AM PDT by TruthWillWin
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To: AppyPappy
NASCAR is rapidly trying to alienate the base.

"The base" likely uses more expletives in front of their little angels in a month than they'd hear on NASCAR in a decade.

45 posted on 04/04/2006 7:31:54 AM PDT by sinkspur (Things are about to happen that will answer all your questions and solve all your problems.)
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To: highball
More acceptable:

"This car is a bitch today!"

"This car is a whore today!"

46 posted on 04/04/2006 7:36:54 AM PDT by TexasCajun
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To: Wolfie
After the Earnhardt Jr. "S" word incident, all NASCAR broadcasts were to be run on a 5 second delay. Clearly the staff at FOX missed it and failed to bleep it out.

It was a radio communication between driver and crew and how did they know at that particular moment FOX would decide to air their transmissions. You cannot blame Truex's crew chief for this one or DEI. The fault lies with FOX alone.

IMHO, let bygones be bygones and get over it. I am sure that one little "S" word did not cause that much damage to anyone.

47 posted on 04/04/2006 7:37:34 AM PDT by Jersey Republican Biker Chick (Cleverly disguised as a responsible adult.)
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To: Wolfie
Try going to any mall and not be offended by cute little teenagers spewing filth as normal conversation.
48 posted on 04/04/2006 7:39:57 AM PDT by TexasCajun
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To: Jersey Republican Biker Chick

I heard one of the letters to the FCC on a radio show. Apparently some guy's little kid was "traumatized" by the word.


49 posted on 04/04/2006 7:41:54 AM PDT by Wolfie
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To: lovecraft

"As long as Gordon doesn't have a wardrobe malfunction..."

...and effing U2's effing Bono was effing unavailable for effing comment, that mothereffer...


50 posted on 04/04/2006 7:41:56 AM PDT by RedRightReturn (Even a broken clock is right twice a day...)
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To: Quilla
BTW, I watched the entire race and did not hear the reported comment by Truex's crew chief.

I did. Also heard Mike Joy apologize to the viewers. Yawn. I'm surprised anyone caught it give how often Fox goes to commercials, misses restarts, plasters the screen with graphics, and otherwise fails to cover the race.

Personally, I think a bit of colorful language and post-race scuffling between drivers livens up what has become a bore to watch.

51 posted on 04/04/2006 7:42:58 AM PDT by Wolfstar (You can't tell me it all ends in a slow ride in a hearse...No, this can't be all there is...)
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To: zert_28
Fox is to blame for broadcasting the radio transmission live instead of taping the conversation and then editing out the swear words.

Exactly!! Fox knows the risk of broadcasting live team conversions.

Of the dozen yellow flags, I bet Fox missed half or more restarts.

That said, I still like Fox's Nascar coverage over the other networks.

52 posted on 04/04/2006 7:45:40 AM PDT by TexasCajun
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To: Wolfie

IMO Jeff Gordon is a little baby C-word, he cries when anyone does to him what he does to others. Stuart is almost as bad. What ticks me off about NASCAR is they wont allow a good can of Whoop-ass to be opened in the pits when its appropriate and that leads to more dents on the track. When a man deliberately spins out an opponent or runs him clean off the track and into the grass, that is ass-whooping time. Gordon and Stuart seem to believe thats their right and no one is allowed to retaliate. Cry babies the both of them.


53 posted on 04/04/2006 7:48:21 AM PDT by sgtbono2002
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To: Wolfie

Pro golfer last week on the PGA tour had the cameras on him live when he hit his 2nd shot from the fairway, he put it off the course and let go with an S and F tirade, tossed his club, etc. Kinda funny, the announcers I think were stunned the camera crew didn't switch away.

No problem there I guess. Makes it look like more shakedown for NASCAR. They are easy pickings since caving to Rainbow and NAACraP


54 posted on 04/04/2006 7:48:21 AM PDT by RedBloodedAmerican
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To: AppyPappy
NASCAR is rapidly trying to alienate the base.

Yeah right! You can see me and about 200,000 other alienated base members in the stands Sunday at Texas Motor Speedway!

55 posted on 04/04/2006 7:50:59 AM PDT by TexasCajun
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To: OldFriend
Sometimes it's more about Fox than the content.

They sure sell the Sh&* out of advertising time and make damn sure they get all the spots aired.

56 posted on 04/04/2006 7:53:22 AM PDT by TexasCajun
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To: Wolfie
Oh please, by using the word "Traumatized" he has just proved he looking for "FREE MONEY" via some type of lawsuit.

People like this are the scourge of society. They are of the mindset that believes "Why should I work when I can sue someone frivolously and get money.".

People like that make me sick. I am sure all kids have heard and said worse at school. I was driving past some elementary school students walking home some time ago, and the use of the "F" word was quite prevalent.

57 posted on 04/04/2006 7:53:40 AM PDT by Jersey Republican Biker Chick (Cleverly disguised as a responsible adult.)
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To: Wolfie
"Joe Glover, president of the Family Policy Network, has filed an official complaint with the Federal Communications Commission, saying NASCAR has a problem with foul language."

Hmmm... I guess the Family Policy Network has never been to a Duke basketball game, huh? You wanna see somebody who has a problem with foul language?

58 posted on 04/04/2006 7:54:44 AM PDT by Hatteras
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To: Wolfie

Fortunately, he didn't whip-out a cartoon picture of Muhammad with a cowpie on his head.


59 posted on 04/04/2006 7:55:04 AM PDT by budwiesest (The law of the jungle has yet to be overturned.)
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To: Wolfie

I guess I wonder where we draw the line between the 'slip' and the unacceptable. One such word in a broadcast? Five? Fifty? How do we prevent broadcasts from increasingly becoming cursefests if it isn't immediately and strongly responded to? What current social ills in America may have been treated early on with such a response? AFA considers such things.

How much dog doo would be acceptable in your coffee? A spec? A pinch? A teaspoon?

Principle is at work in this issue.

And there's a difference between taking a child to such an event and the TV race coverage.


60 posted on 04/04/2006 8:04:41 AM PDT by polymuser (Losing, like flooding, brings rats to the surface.)
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