Forum: HoseHeads Sprint Car General Forum (go)
Moderators: dirtonly  /  dmantx  /  hosehead

Will Ray Charles be on the flag stand again tonight at Knoxville?

You may think of him that way but he is one of the BEST starters/flagman around..

jerk

Just what you might expect from one with only 27 post.  He or she is still a baby.

Best flag guys in the country. Clark retires in Couple weeks weeks don't be a douche bag. Opps too late

It's times like this the moderator or website master (Jeff) needs to expose the individual making the racist comments, inquiring minds would like to know who this moron is.....

It was a rude post but was it the color of the man or his inability to see to make the comparison. It may have nothing to do with race. Probably was but we cant just toss the race card everytime.

There is probably a law preventing exposing someone's real name but what about a block from posting for obvious nonsense?

Even though I may not know you, I 
care what most of you think!

Hey douche bag i talked to ray and his guys they will be in the north campground about midnight signing autographs feel free to come get your tshirt signed

Doug wasn’t flagging during the 360 nationals it was his son Justin

By no means where my remarks racially intended.  The point I was trying to make is that a lot of questionable calls went unseen by the flag man on qualifying nights.  That’s it. If Justin or Doug found this to be Offensive, I apologize 

Questionable calls occur on any given night at any given race track. Pointing it out here the way you did, comparing the Clarks to a blind man, only shows your a class A dick and probably “your driver” was on the lesser end of the questionable (according to you) call. Slowly back away from the keyboard, take your meds, and lay down for a spell. When ya wake up, just enjoy the races. 

So if he just apologized and you call him an asshole, what does that make you? In all sports, at all levels, referees, umpires and officials are generally not well liked. How many times have you heard "are you blind ref!"? This is no different. Probably the most regrettable part was calling him Ray Charles because he is black and that kind of looked bad. But honestly the only other blind people I can think of that are well known are Stevie Wonder and Helen Keller so that would not have been any better. Anyway, chill out and don't be a dick to someone that was apologizing, it makes you look like a petty fool.

I’m sorry you feel that way. As a person who dons an officials hat from time to time, albeit not at the track, though I did have an official capacity for several years in my younger days, I’ll stick up for the officials most of the time, unless clearly in the wrong , mainly because 1, without them you wouldn’t have a show 2, they only get mention when folks think they have screwed up 3, most folks hat em.  I’ll stick up for Clark’s simply because they are the best. Can I be petty from time to time....certainly. A fool from time to time, same answer.  Guess him comparing them to Ray Charles was a compliment now that I think of it since Ray Charles was liked by nearly everyone, was talented as all get out, and had some awesome tunes and a remarkable voice which allowed him to be way more successful than any of us keyboard jockeys...myself included. So to the original poster, I apologize and please carry on. (That’s a serious apology to the original poster, laced with just a hint of sarcasm since I couldn’t help myself). 

You can't win as an official, that's for sure! I always thought that Doug Clark and now Justin do a really good job. Being a flagman is a tough job and they make it look easy. 

All in all this may have been the most civil thread I've ever seen on hoseheads. We all apologized, we all agree Ray Charles is awesome, and we all agree that the Clark's are great! Sorry if I came off rude but if you're in Knoxville this week I'll buy you a beer at the dingus 

A few retracted threats,  a little sarcasm,  almost to the end of page one and almost still on topic. Yup this might be a special thread..

Seriously I doubt Doug Clark makes all those decisions alone. I suspect there are spotters and eyes in the sky to help. Unfortunately for him he is the only one in our eye sight so he gets all the guff. Fortunately for him he is the only guy in our eye sight so he gets all the credit.

Even though I may not know you, I 
care what most of you think!

Since Doug Clark was one of the few black guys in a crowd of thousands, I don't think its unreasonable for people to think your comments were biased, despite your denials

I hope your apology is sincere....

You could have just said, "I think Doug Clark made some bad calls"

This song, & specifically Ray's version, should be The National Anthem: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5yaetvTj5DE

How many starts got called back tonight with no penalty whatsoever to the offending party. That’s what needs to change, send them back a row when they do it. 

I'm sorry I probably shouldn't say anything but how is his statement a racial statement?  I read and thought it was pretty obvious he was making a reference to Doug Clark making a bad call (since Ray Charles is blind).  If he compared a famous blind white man (none who I can think of right now) to a white flagman would anybody take that as being racist?  Don't get me wrong, I hate that racism exists and I hate that there are people who are racist, I hate racism completely.  Would it have been a racist statement if the flagman was white and still being compared to Ray Charles?

I'm sorry to tell the few people who think this is racist but I will say it anyway.  Doug Clark is an African American (if that's still politically correct to say) flagman, that's a fact.  The more important fact is he is a very well respected and probably the most famous flagman in dirt racing.  Obviously the color of his skin has nothing to do with him being a damn good flagman.  He's good if not great at his job.  Again I hate racism completely but this is a stretch.