Speed Announcer - David Hobbs

[Vezna31]

I don't know how many of you watch F1 racing, but David Hobbs made a very borderline politically incorrect comment tonight. As the 3 drivers were on the podium, he said that Lewis Hamilton was the darkest face that has ever been on the podium. When I heard it, my wife said "Holy S..., I can't believe he just said that on TV. What an ass!"

[Java Junky]

Maybe it might'a been insensitive Vez, but if it was a fact, then, as it doesn't sound like (I didn't witness it, I'm only goin' from your description) he was makin' any jabs at those of us with darker complexions, I don't get the upsetment. 'Could'a jus' been an attempt at pointin' out that it was about time. But, for the true poop on that you'd hafta ask Hobbs I guess.
Anyway, I don't read it as anything derogatory to anyone.
Mayhaps we're a little too programmed to sharply inhale n' throw our palms against our gapin' mouths?
N', of course, this is my personal opinion.
Be well.
Java

[Vezna31]

Originally Posted by Java Junky

Maybe it might'a been insensitive Vez, but if it was a fact, then, as it doesn't sound like (I didn't witness it, I'm only goin' from your description) he was makin' any jabs at those of us with darker complexions, I don't get the upsetment. 'Could'a jus' been an attempt at pointin' out that it was about time. But, for the true poop on that you'd hafta ask Hobbs I guess.
Anyway, I don't read it as anything derogatory to anyone.
Mayhaps we're a little too programmed to sharply inhale n' throw our palms against our gapin' mouths?
N', of course, this is my personal opinion.
Be well.
Java

There were a whole bunch of posts on Speed's forums about it last night. Most were saying he shoul have never worded it like that. But a few did come to his defense by saying that he was praising the young driver all during the race for his talents (which he was), so the remark was not meant to be racial. I like him as an announcer.

He didn't offend me personally, but you never want to see someone make dumb and innocent statement and have it twisted by the media to make it look bad and the guy lose his job.

[gomarlins3]

I had turned it off before the podium shots, but in today's world it would be viewed as a racist statement even if it is a FACT. It's just the way our society is. It is amazing to me how PC our society has become that the stating of a fact is considered racism, but there are BLATENTLY racist organizations that are allowed to continue on operating (I present the NAACP) and that is considered ok.

[Vezna31]

He may not have meant it the way it came out, but he certainly could have done a better job in his choice of words.

[Java Junky]

Anything can be twisted by the many forms of spin doctors currently in operation, into something that it was never meant to mean. All things pertinent to the situation have to be taken into account. From what you say Vez, he sounds like he was rooting for the individual throughout the race. That tells me volumes more than any twisted interpretation of his words ever will.
And a fact is a fact. Acknowledgement of fact as fact is known as truth. Denial of fact only translates to lies.
Maybe it could have been cleared by some committee and a team of lawyers before he said it, and at that point in time it would've had the sincerity and heartfelt well-wishing of dishwater.
It may've been awkwardly put, but my vote (strictly as just another outsider who cannot possibly attest to what his intent was) is with what I believe Hobbs was saying: it's about time.
Be well.
Java

[carguy123]

Yeah Monday morning quarterbacks can put all kinds of words in someone's mouth after the fact.

It was too late so I turned it off just after the finishe, but after listening to David Hobbs for years I feel sure that had to be an "out of context" quote and am sure that in the context of the complete conversation I am sure the "poor choice of words" made perfect sense with no racial slurs intended.

I too thought that it was unusual to find someone of his dark complexion in F1 and wondered where he'd trained/raced before.

It's simply a fact of life, there are very few dark complected people in the racing world as a whole. It's more upbringing and interests rather than anything racial. If your friends aren't into racing, odds are you won't be either. SOMEONE has to foster that interest and if you don't run with a crowd that has a racing bent then odds are you won't develop one. You definitely won't develop it by watching racing on TV, you have to have an easy opportunity to check it out and SCCA definitely isn't newbie friendly without a friend guide. Or at least it isn't in the Dallas/Fort Worth area.

[0002adnoh]

My favorite is one of the announcers at the indy F1 race called Hamilton "african american" what an ass