There are people in this world with legit gifts and talents. Reggie Jackson is one of them. Among the greatest baseball players of his generation and certainly among the greatest clutch performers in post season MLB play, the guy was a huge star in the 1970s and 1980s. He was also and continues to be into cars. This must have made him seem like a natural fit to be the host of the Wide World of Sports NHRA Winternationals broadcast. Like many things in life, it sure looked a whole lot better on paper than it did when he actually got to the track.
Outside of making a quarter mile rip in a Mercury Capri, not a whole lot else went right for Jackson in this show and that is saying something because it was an edited program that aired weeks after the event. Names like Tom Oswald, descriptions of things that are rooted in an alternative reality, and the kind of weird faked excitement that you just can’t look away from, this was not the most shining moment for the slugger.
You have to watch this show to keep track of all the blunders and mistakes. Also realize that it is about 17 minutes of stuff and it is this jam packed. We’re going to have five hours of television LIVE from Pomona this year and if we keep the count to 1/1oth of this thing we’ll be golden. Pay close attention to the “1947” footage from Riverside, a track that opened in the middle 1950s.
There a spot where the sound drops out here but you need to stick around. When the top fuel final gets run and Jackson says, “FINALLY we get to take a look at those jet cars….”. It is the perfect ending to a perfect show.
Wow Mr. ” MAKE ANNOUNCING GREAT AGAIN”… pretty tough on an Ex-Yankee. Could it be a little Red Sox jealousy? It’s tough watching the WS from the sidlines. Just busting….the best for you when the NHRA starts up. WE’LL ALL BE WATCHING!!!! 🙂
I remember watching that when it aired thinking that the original Diamond P broadcast was much, much better.
Sure glad that Murph Littlefield was OK.
He was just there to scout out all those COPO cars he’d buy later
Good luck with your debut Brian! I’m sure it’ll go much better than his.