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Saturday, May 29, 2010, 01:07 AM
He has a lot going for him. He's glib, knowledgeable and witty, and sometimes he's even insightful. He has the connections and the inside line on what's happening in the immediate world of NASCAR. He's worked hard to get where he is and in most cases he's the 'go to guy' for the inquiring minds that comprise his nationwide daily call-in audience. I often wonder how he does what he does and the ease with which he fields calls from individuals who sometime say things that would test the patience of a saint.
He says he doesn't expect the callers to agree with him and he always respects their standpoint even if they go against his but today (Tuesday, May 25th at 2:15 PM) he exhibited something that was in conflict with what he professes and petulance doesn't look good on him no matter how he tries to spin it.
It all began when a caller said he was concerned about the 'health' of NASCAR, based upon his understanding of this year's lowered TV ratings and the empty seats he saw at the recent Dover race. Moody tried to explain that even though there were a lot of empty seats, the numbers there would actually fill a Super Bowl, or so many NBA games or so many MLB stadiums. The caller went on to ask if Moody was aware that Jimmie Johnson's sponsor, Lowe's, was the only sponsor that has not jumped to another car or driver in the last three years. Once again, Moody tried to explain that Jeff Gordon still had DuPont. I agree that the caller was wrong; he wasn't listening and uncompromisingly convinced he was right. Even so, Moody made a fool out of him, saying indignantly 'You're right, NASCAR is in trouble and Lowe's is the only sponsor with the same car and driver for the past three years', much like a yammering child. The caller eventually hung up, much to the surprise or perhaps even to the delight of that MRN commentator. If Moody was surprised he shouldn't have been. After all who would ever dare to do that to the 'Godfather', the one who holds the key to the truths as defined by Moody himself?
For all his positive traits, Moody was boorish and out of line today, although he'
d probably just chalk it up to a caller who was in need of some form of reality update. Even the exalted need a reality update of how they come across to others from time to time and this is his.