TNT to begin coverage with tribute to Bill France Jr.

When I was growing up sports casting was in my blood, or at least in my dreams. My brother was the athlete. I was a baseball player, sort of. All glove. No stick. That got me only so far in Little League.

When I accepted the fact I would never be a player, I knew covering sports was the next best thing. I tell people today, I was a lousy athlete, so I had to figure out another way to get into everything for free. I've fooled 'em so far.

• NASCAR on TNT

One thing I was always fascinated by was the behind-the-scenes dance that goes on in all types of media. When I speak to groups across the country, people usually want to know how television really works. How does it all come together and seem so smooth on the air? I use this analogy: broadcasting a live event is a lot like Thanksgiving dinner; the dining room is beautiful, the table perfect, the food looks terrific but, whatever you do, don't peak in the kitchen. Get the picture?

The past couple of days my office looks like the kitchen instead of the dining room, and for good reason. Our TNT crew hits the air this weekend for the first event of our Summer Six Pack, or whatever Jeff and Tara are calling it. We have six races. They are six good races. They are six important races. Would I like to be doing 26 races? Sure. But I love life with TNT and I hope you will enjoy our Summer Showdown, or whatever. Anyway, where was I? Oh yeah.

We have some of the most talented behind-the-scenes people I have ever had the pleasure of working with. I tell the groups I speak to that the people they don't see do all the work, Wally and I just take all the credit. Both statements are true. People with intimidating names like Sponge, TK, Coach, The Doctor, Girlie, Matty Mo, Johnny O., D.O., D.B., Red, El Hefe and some people, quite honestly, I barely know, have spent months preparing for these six races.

For our team, we are doing the Daytona 500 six times, it is that important to us. I love to rehearse. I dislike meetings. Lately, I think we have been rehearsing our meetings. Arrrrrgh! Stay with me here, I will get to a point ... eventually.

Anyway, these folks have done a marvelous job preparing features, building graphics, laying out formats; we have a new set ... none of this is bragging, just facts. You get to be the final judge on how well we have done. We were all set to go. I knew what my column would be, I had my week planned; I travel Wednesday night to Pocono, a half-day earlier than normal just to make sure US Airways doesn't take me to Phoenix instead of Philadelphia. Of course, my luggage won't arrive until Saturday.

Then Monday afternoon came, and we found out our sport had lost its leader. The next 19 hours were a blur of e-mails and telephone calls. Formats were ripped-up, I mean deleted, and re-written, then deleted and re-written again.

On Tuesday morning we had a conference call before our conference call just to make sure our conference call would go properly. Hey, I couldn't make this stuff up. It all worked out. Naturally, we changed the focus of our pre-race reporting to the story of Bill France Jr. I hope you get a chance to tune in. I think you will be enlightened with what you see and hear. By the time this column is posted, you undoubtedly will have read many tributes to Mr. France, so I will not go too in-depth on that subject.

I have spent many recent hours scripting some of our on-air tributes to Mr. France and I will let those speak for my feelings. I can tell you two quick stories about Mr. France, however.

Back when we were doing a nightly show on another network, I did a "state of the sport" story. It touched on the length of races, the long season, the fact that a 43-car field didn't mean 43 good cars were in the field. It was at a time when NASCAR had a lot going for it but, in my opinion, needed some tweaking. The story aired and created some discussion.

That weekend I was at the track, outside the NASCAR rig looking at some information posted on the door when a firm grip was placed on my arm. Without turning around, I was certain it was Dale Earnhardt. It was a strong grip, and Earnhardt had a reputation for that kind of thing. I cannot tell you how many times I would be doing a live interview with him, his arm around my shoulder, only so he could drop that arm and pinch you so hard you wanted to jump out of the track.

But you couldn't do that, live TV and all, so you took the pain while Earnhardt would just smile behind those sunglasses. Anyway, I was wondering what he wanted this time when I heard this very distinctive voice say, "I saw your story this week." I turned around to be face-to-face with Bill France Jr.

I knew what was next without having to ask. If he had liked it, there wouldn't be any need for conversation, so naturally I asked for his opinion.

"You were wrong about a lot of that stuff," Mr. France said.

"You mean I made some factual errors, I had some statistics wrong? We double-check that stuff pretty good," I pleaded.

"No, all that stuff was OK, but your opinion on what's going on in the sport is wrong," Mr. France retorted.

Pause.

"How could my opinion be wrong? It's what I think. I have to be able to say what I think," I said.

"I didn't say you couldn't say it. I'm just telling you that your opinion is different from mine and I think you're wrong. But I liked the way you said it," Mr. France said.

He shook my hand and I'm sure he must have walked away because I couldn't move.

I remember one time, but I cannot remember where or when, he said, "Call me Bill." Yes sir, Mr. France.

There was one other conversation I had with Mr. France just a couple of years ago. I consider the conversation private and personal but it was on a very professional level. Again, it was broadcasting related and highly inspirational. I don't think I should tell you what he said, but I was flattered. I have never forgotten it. It was a side of Mr. France not many people got to see.

We had big plans for this week to begin our Summer Hoedown. (It's really called the Summer Series). But they can wait. We'll still get everything in, well, almost everything.

We have a new pre-race show this year, called NASCAR LIVE. At least that's what it is called now, and it leads up to the Countdown to Green. It is going to give you more of an opportunity to share some time with the stars of the sport, past and present. And we'll have a few minutes for a roundtable discussion or two. Nothing like The View, though. Not that I ever watch The View or know anything about it.

There is a segment called the Pride of NASCAR that allows us to visit with drivers that have been out of the sport awhile. Kyle Petty talked with David Pearson and, of course, The King, Richard Petty. Marty Snider talked with Junior Johnson and I had the pleasure to spend an afternoon with Ned Jarrett. There will be others, too.

I know I have rambled through this column like Kyle trying to qualify at Sonoma, a lot of heart, but all over the track. I just wanted to try and give you the sense of all the work going on behind-the-scenes leading up to the race at Pocono on Sunday. You really can't call it work; it truly is a passion, for all of us. And it will be an honor to salute the memory of Bill France Jr.

Well, I would like to go on but there is still a lot to do. I'll see you on the tube Sunday. Does that smell like something is burning in the kitchen?

The opinions expressed are solely of the writer.