Rusty Wallace, Journalist or Busybody?
By Sam Atwell
It has been an interesting weekend at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, off the track anyways. ESPN/ABC took over television broadcast duties for the rest of the season and it didn’t take long for the broadcast crew to make news of its own. Former driver and current race analyst, Rusty Wallace, picked up another job, spokesman for Roger Penske. Rusty came to the Brickyard and immediately began to straighten us all out on the announcement that Ryan Newman and Penske Racing made just over a week ago about the future. Newman and Penske announced that they would part ways for the future. Newman and Penske both said the parting was mutual. The announcement had been speculated for weeks and wasn’t a surprise.
As soon as Rusty “the journalist” got to Indiana he announced that Ryan Newman had been fired! Rusty said he used to work for Roger Penske, he talks with Roger Penske, he KNOWS Roger Penske and Rusty declared that Newman had been fired; Roger called him into the office and told him to basically “hit the road”.
Now if you remember back, Rusty and Ryan had a rocky relationship at Penske Racing. They didn’t share information; they didn’t talk and barely seemed like teammates. Shortly after Rusty straightened everything out, Newman told reporters that Wallace had no clue about what he was talking about. Newman reiterated that this was a mutual decision. So two points of view, from two guys who didn’t get along, no problem. Then just a short while later Roger Penske issued a statement saying, and I quote here:
”I have read Rusty’s comments and it is important for everyone to understand that I did not fire Ryan”
I guess Rusty and Roger aren’t as close as he thought. It also makes me wonder just how long ago he and Roger talked. Thanks Rusty for setting the record straight. Thanks for trying to be an insider, the guy with the inside scoop. Rusty, just in case ABC/ESPN didn’t tell you, when you want to report a news story, make some calls to the parties involved. Check your facts, confirm the facts with multiple sources, check your facts again, have a superior check the story for errors and then run with the story. If the story pans out then you did a great job, if it doesn’t then something went wrong in the process. Running with a story because you know someone or you think you know how they operate is just not enough. You were a great champion and a great racecar driver, as a journalist, you are a great racecar driver.
Tags: ABC, ESPN, Roger Penske, Rusty Wallace, Ryan Newman
July 28th, 2008 at 8:23 am
Rusty Wallace is a bitter racecar driver who still believes he was better than he was and robbed of more championships. I had been DREADING to switch to ESPN/ABC all season for the very reason that Crusty would be in the broadcast booth. I will say watching him make a fool of himself is entertaining and Dale Jarett did a GREAT job broadcasting!
July 28th, 2008 at 9:46 am
Jon,
I couldn’t agree more with your comments. My secret wish is that TNT could carry the rest of the season. Dale Jarrett is a highlight of the ESPN coverage.
Sam
July 28th, 2008 at 10:09 am
How do you know if Roger Penske was telling the truth? It is very common in sports for people to be evasive and untruthful when addressing such questions. It is also not uncommon to call a firing a “mutual decision.” Supposing Rusty was right - what would you expect Penske to say? “Yeah, I told you it was a mutual decision, but Rusty’s right. I fired Newman’s ass.” The bottom line is, could Newman drive for Penske next year if he wanted to, and I bet the answer is no.
July 28th, 2008 at 12:35 pm
I too had been dreading the switch to ESPN/ABC for the simple fact that id have to listen to Rusty Wallace. He was never as good as he thinks he is and his “analyst” job is just as bad. Sometimes you need to be told to go and do something, and at this point, he needs to leave tv and concentrate on his race team.
July 28th, 2008 at 1:41 pm
When will ESPN understand why it has to get rid of Rusty Wallace ASAP? This is yet another example of how bad Rusty is and that he doesn’t think before he opens his mouth. As a ‘TV talking head’ of sorts, it is up to him to report on the facts and not on supposition. For him to make a comment without any backup, is sheer lunacy and ESPN had better take care of this now before he shoots himself in the foot again - it was patently obvious that last year in the booth that Rusty was absolutely the wrong choice and ESPN recovered itself by getting him out of there - now ESPN had best rid themselves of this ‘loose canon’ and try to continue to improve their broadcasts. Rusty was a bad choice from the very beginning and I am sure that ESPN has finally realized that.
July 28th, 2008 at 4:52 pm
I love beer, I am retired now and love it even more. But in times past I quit drinking Miller Beer of any sort because of Rusty Wallace. After he finally left I am now drinking the beer I love most again. Rusty Wallace is a good driver and maybe a fair commentator. He just needs to learn when to shut up. He won’t. Never has, never will.
July 28th, 2008 at 5:52 pm
Paul,
I appreciate your comments. You do sometimes find in these situations that people aren’t being truthful but how do I know Roger Penske was telling the truth? Because both parties in the story (Newman & Penske) both are telling the same story. If Newman had been fired he wouldn’t be towing the company line. The whole tone of the comments Rusty made were full of arrogance, and I quote Rusty:
“I’ll clear this leaving thing up,” Wallace said. “He didn’t leave. Roger called Ryan up to his office and said, ‘I don’t need your services next year.’ Ryan didn’t come to him and say he’s leaving. You all need to write that. That’s exactly how it went down. Obviously, there was some bad blood there when that happened. I love Roger, so I’m going to help clear up the story for him.”0
Thanks for clearing it up Rusty.
July 28th, 2008 at 9:48 pm
Rusty is not a journalist and not an asset in the broadcast booth.
He was a pretty good driver, but is ruining his ‘legacy’ with his mouth.
July 28th, 2008 at 10:39 pm
I think the truth is Penske already knows Ryan is leaving and to save face made the announcement. Makes Penske look better and lets Ryan off the hook. Releases Ryan from the clause in his contract about talking with other teams and allows Ryan to make his announcement sooner than the contract would have allowed. What Rusty said was more about Rusty’s ego than the truth about Ryan.
July 30th, 2008 at 4:44 pm
Wow. What a time to remember what our Moms and Grandmothers always told us… If you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all…
August 10th, 2008 at 11:18 pm
Just watch them all, Rusty, Kenny, Mike, lol and that little brat on the insurance commercial, They all EGO talk from the @ss, Such losers and complainers.
June 23rd, 2009 at 8:24 am
I couldnt agree more. I am now subscribing to this blog.