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Sunday, Nov. 27, 2011 | 4:47 p.m.
Maybe it was the transmission failure at Homestead. Maybe it was the fact that his crew chief is leaving. Maybe his neon yellow firesuit was a little too tight. Whatever the reason, Kurt Busch, in a moment of frustration, has once again strayed from his public relations script by giving us another obscenity-laced tantrum.
I'm sure you've read the stories and viewed the YouTube video (see below) of Kurt's eruption that was directed at ESPN's Jerry Punch. Busch's cussing tirade wasn't something a TV network would have aired unedited, but when a fan recorded the tantrum and posted it on YouTube, the raw version was exposed to the world.
Busch got caught with his pants down and once again we learned that his persona in front of the cameras is a highly sanitized version of the real Kurt Busch. Other drivers should take notice that a fan with a cellphone can report on your actions without the filter of an editor.
But the more important message is that the public relations blitz by both brothers is just spin and, unfortunately, doesn't represent any real change in behavior. I would not say this if the Busch brothers' outbursts were rare and exhibited only under extreme circumstances. Anyone can have a bad day and act out of character. But the Busch boys show a consistent pattern of behavior that NASCAR seems to be unwilling to accept any longer. And, in Kyle's situation, it is behavior that a sponsor is no longer willing to tolerate.
Kurt lashes out
Kyle and Kurt are too talented to continue to let their personalities, instead of their performance, define who they are as athletes. But the Busch brothers are who they are and it's possible that we'll ever see them truly change.
Nice call by Dr. Punch to call off the interview...he knew it would not put Kurt in a good light.
Whether or not Na$car will tolerate the Tantrum Bros., their respective sponsors will not. Mars took their M&M's logo off of Kyle's car for the last two races of the season. After Kurt's latest foul mouthed tirade, Pennzoil took the extraordinary step of issuing a press release denouncing their driver. Both sponsors are sending strong messages to the owners that you either control these two or our dollars walk...
Let the BuschBros become independents. Penske & JGR can sell them the parts and BuschCo can schmooze/loose their own sponsorship dramas.
As for tirades, no other sport allows such insistence on lack of privacy during crucial moments as NASCAR. No press is amongst the inner NFL sidelines before and during the games to NASCAR's extent. Adrenaline flows and so do profanities ; except for Tim Tebow, I imagine. It's moronic to expect anything but "M" rated during a such intense experiences.
Bush wasn't ready for an interview, his season just ended badly and it cost him and the failure took cash out of his teams pockets. Maybe a little common sense might have avoided the situation. Maybe, Punch could have talked to Bush first and asked him if he could talk to him in a few minutes after he has had a chance to cool off. I might have said or done worse if you just walked up and stuck a camera and a microphone in my face.
That aside; My, my we are sensitive these days. All those offended have likely never spent any time with a construction crew, similar occupations or our military, especially on a flight deck or with a Marine unit. Sounded like a normal and anticipated reaction considering the circumstances. Family oriented is one thing but NASCAR is sponsor whipped and thin skinned, and that's another.
Who cares if Bush has a tantrum, let him. Cut the tirade from the final film piece, hold the interview till later or use something else to fill in. Half the time those on track interviews are unintelligible anyway due to the noise. It's not like the network can't pick and choose what to air and what not to.
So now we fine team members because they hurt the presses feelings or don't give them what they want on their schedule? Don't show up in my face for an interview when it's not wanted, you'll hear and see much worse. Better off to stay away until the subject cools down and then use a little smooths to get what you want.