Is Jimmy Spencer dissing the Earnhardts really Imus like?

Well apparently, they don't call Jimmy Spencer - Mister Excitement - for nothing.

I gotta admit, I missed this deal on Sunday and the first that I really heard about it was when I got the fast lap questions for this week's ON PIT ROW, Tuesday morning.  If you too have been living in an Earnhardt free zone, Shawn Courchesne has a recap...

Spencer’s explosion went like this.

• “The thing is that Teresa Earnhardt gave Dale Jr his opportunity to race. She's the one that told Dale, her husband, Senior, let's give him a shot. Uh, Kelly Earnhardt Elledge, I, I'm shocked she kept her middle name. I mean you're married, you know, why keep Earnhardt? I think her ego is so big, I think she's backing Teresa and [DEI president Max Siegel] in corners. She's not a good negotiator. I think she, if she worked for anybody else they'd probably fire her. But because she's working for Dale Jr. and it's her sister, I think that she's using ego to control this direction. And I think that Dale needs to be careful about that, because that Dale if he makes the decision to leave DEI, there's a lot of true Dale Earnhardt Sr. fans that will lose respect for Dale Jr. That's the one thing that Dale Sr, I don't think Dale Jr. needs to leave the organization. I think there's more to it. I think Max Siegel is a heck of a negotiator, but the thing is I don't like what Kelly is doing, putting them in corners."

I have read this several times.  Here's my two bits.

1. It reads stupid.  I can't clearly tell what point Jimmy was trying to make.  Maybe he's preparing to write his masters thesis for his agent's degree.  Grade - fail.
2. Jimmy did work with senior, I believe.  He may actually have some insight into the start of Junior's career that is not public knowledge.  But he has no credibility to reveal this news and no corroboration.  He was acting as a journalist and he should remain, use shackles and muzzles if needed, a color man.
3. Professional race drivers - or any pro athlete for that matter - should not comment on how fans will respond to a situation, like reaction to Junior leaving DEI.  Driver/athletes are not fans.  They don't think the way fans think.

4. The whole statement was pretty thoughtless and has the potential to stoke up the fires of any number of individuals with or without chips on their shoulders, within the NASCAR community and without.

I did get a chance to see and hear Don Imus' statements.  I am not a social commentator and I won't pretend to be one.  Imus was everything that Jimmy was with the added qualities of viciousness and arrogance.

Speed might go either way on this. They could fire Spencer or give him the proverbial second chance.  My guess is, if they like his work generally, he stays.  If his bosses are not ratings happy, this gives them an out.

With Imus there was only one decision to make. And they did.

Picture credit - Orlando Sentinal

Comments

[steve]

Jimmy Spencer was a liability on the racetrack and he has been able to continue that in the broadcast boot. Few athletes are able to transform from their playing days to their 2nd career as effortlessly as Mr. Excitement. I like my boobs on women--not as sports analysts. Thank you!

[Vroom!]

Insert foot in mouth...that's Spencer's way. One day he'll go over the top...

[Clance' McClannahan]

I did hear Imus statements and Jimmy came no where near making the bigoted, racial. misogynistic verbal vomit that spewed from Imus's mouth.
I agree Jimmy was harsh with his words and way out of line. An apology was needed, which he did.
I enjoy Jimmy's lack of holding back what he thinks or feels, whether I agree with him or not. His approach lacks the posturing and guardedness that has so permeated the spot recently. He continues to deliver with a fresh, controversial style. He ain't called Mr. Excitement for nuthin'.

[racefan57]

sometimes it's like he's grasping... or maybe gasping!!