When is it OK for radio transmissions to be used as story fodder? Credit: Autostock

Teams have some right to privacy on radio

I saw a chart once that gave ratings to every driver in NASCAR.

Not for their driving ability. For their use profanity over the radio.

	RYAN SMITHSON •   E-mail Ryan •   Opinion archive

For instance, I recall that the late Adam Petty was rated G. Ward Burton was rated R. Others were rated NC-17.

Like a lot of industry people, I awoke on Tuesday to find an e-mail from a group that calls itself the Family Policy Network, which actually took the time to file a complaint against FOX for accidentally broadcasting a profanity uttered by crew chief Kevin "Bono" Manion during the Food City 500 at Bristol.

It should never have become an issue for two reasons:

• To waste taxpayer money by having a government agency investigate something that clearly was an accident is irresponsible. The producers in the FOX trailer have decades of experience producing NASCAR broadcasts. It was a mistake. This group needs to find something better to do.

• FOX erred by even airing Manion's comments. Manion's driver, Martin Truex Jr., had just wrecked out of the race. What did they think he would say? "Gee, Martin, we'll be home early now?"

No. He did what any normal crew chief would do. He got angry and cursed.

There are a lot of journalists and broadcasters who think its perfectly fine to craft articles and shows around a team's radio communications, but I have always felt like a little bit of a voyeur in a private moment.

Teams should have the unequivocal right to say what they want on their frequencies without repercussion. It's a personal workspace that shouldn't be violated.

A good example of this occurred two weeks ago in Atlanta. Kurt Busch, Kevin Harvick and David Stremme went three-wide, and Busch lost the battle. He wasn't happy.

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Now, Busch may look non-threatening, but his radio language has more colors than a Monopoly board. He wasn't happy, and he vented against Harvick, his crew chief, Mr. Snuffleupagus, you name it.

And what happened? The media promptly picks up those words, and because Busch wasn't in the mood to comment after the race (a mistake on his part), it was crafted into some nice stories that didn't please Harvick very much.

That led to the whole tired Busch vs. Harvick mess at Bristol.

Look, I enjoy listening to a team's radio chatter as much as the next guy. But it is certainly not news when Truex's crew chief utters a curse word or when Busch rips Kevin Harvick over the radio.

Radio transmissions are an important part of fans' enjoyment. When its use is exploited, teams undoubtedly will come up with ways to be more careful. Already, teams have to broadcast disclaimers before they fire up their radios.

I hear the same language at other sporting events. Baseball. Basketball. And you'd be surprised to know how bad golfers can get.

At the same time, I don't see people in the stands at baseball games with surveillance equipment trying to ascertain what the manager is telling his pitcher during a pitching change. What they said is their own business.

I wish that respect sometimes translated over to NASCAR. If it did, busybodies like the Family Policy Network would stop wasting everyone's time.

The opinions expressed are solely of the writer.