Notes Etc.

By Keith Ott

 

Note from Brian France to Brian France: Extra large Christmas presents to be sent to the Vickers Household. (Without Vickers assistance at Talladega, Jimmie Johnson gets the championship before the race even starts in Homestead. Second to Twenty Fourth is 79pts + 63 point lead = 142pts. Johnson would just have to turn the key since 143 is the most points a driver can make up in a single race. Actually, that mathematically eliminates everyone but Kenseth. How’s that for an exciting Chase finish?)
 

Note from NBC Producer to Graphics department: I want bigger, better, flashier graphics next week. I’m still seeing cars on the track. (One of my thoughts on graphics is that just because you can do something doesn’t always mean you should. When you add “Through the field” to the scroll it takes up a hunk of TV space. I even catch myself trying to look behind it to see what the car they’re talking about actually looks like. BTW, have they ever actually finished one all the way through the field? I’m calling this graphic deluge “Monday Night Football Syndrome” because nobody obsesses on graphics like MNF. )

Note from Director to camera people: You will cover Johnson and the leader. If Johnson is the leader go to plan B and just cover the leader. I’m still seeing way too many other cars on the track. (I swear I walked away and came back a few times and the coverage was consistently Harvick/Johnson. Other cars almost had to wreck to get a mention. Maybe, I’m exaggerating a bit but it wouldn’t hurt to sweep the field a little more.)
 

Overall I thought Phoenix was a decent show. Of course, It didn’t hurt that my guy won. If Johnson loses the title it won’t be because of Johnson. He showed “Big Picture” thinking when he decided a try for the win was too risky. I even thought the commentary from the booth was pretty good. And, I don’t care what you say, “I like Weber.” He doesn’t know everything (We have the other guys for that) and he gets excited and says stupid things at times. He’s become the “comic relief” for the broadcast. I Thank the lord that he never says, “Boogity.”

 

Your turn.