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Rutledge Wood's presence has:
1. Drawn in gen-pop motorsports fans who may not know shit about SX, and
2. Started lots of discussion about how much of a douche he is by the core fans.
Both groups are watching Feld/NBC ads and buying the bullshit they're selling. Whatever they're paying this bro is probably worth it to them. Neither group gives AF about the actual enthusiasts, however.
Remember what Feld got started with:
Feld and NBC: Here's a mainstream guy with a large following in motorsports who can bring in new viewers.
Vital: No outsiders allowed.
I'm not sure a top down (growing the sport via pro racing) approach to growing the sport will ever work anyway...its a niche sport, that is only respected and appreciated by people that participate in it...so, I think the sport is more likely to grow via a bottom up approach...so if anyone REALLY wants to grow the sport...they'd be doing everything they can to get more non-riders to riding! Riding is fun! If most anyone will give it a chance, they'll fall in love with it...and then be more likely watch pro racing on TV, buy tickets to the races, etc.. To an "outsider" its viewed as an extreme sport...and they are no more likely to watch it on TV and think its realistic to give it a try, than someone is to watch a freestyle motocross event, and go out and get into freestyle-to an outsider, its a novelty sport not a participation sport.
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I’m pretty sure the majority of people don’t watch a show for the host, they watch it for it’s interesting content. No one is going to turn to supercross just to watch Rutledge babble on for a total of 2 minutes during the broadcast.
If Wood was supposed to draw people into the race how come he didn’t promote being on the show? How are his “fans” supposed to know that he’s on supercross if there’s no announcement, social media presence, etc. do you think his “fans” are going to pay 4.99 a month just to watch him for a quick second on a sport they have no interest in? I don’t think so.
THE most core no nonsense guy with a ton of knowledge talks with a guy who really wants to be accepted and can explain his way out of anything. Absolute opposites. So fun to listen to.
Fast forward to now and I just finally watched the clip on pulpmx and now I just think he's a tool.
He rambled more than that adorable aunt that you still love even though she just won't/can't stfu and let you get a breath in...except I don't love this guy.
And I'll go further than saying he's a tool and up that to arrogant prick.
Reasons:
After his rambling for so long any point he was trying to get across became lost, then he had the gall to cut DV off constantly, speak over the top and interrupt, when DV was trying to make short, direct statements that were easy to understand.
THEN...the final straw for me when he pretty much pulled the "Do you know who I am...no ones heard of you" card because of his Top Gear stint. That's when I thought nah fuck this guy.
As I said, I'd never heard of him...but I have heard of Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May.
One thing I have to know is how the heck did his parents get his name so bang on correct because he legit even looks like a "Rutledge Wood"...or maybe he changed his name....or maybe his name morphed him into the massive tool he is today.
On top of the 3 extra viewers he's bought into the sport I do appreciate the drama he has given us more
Cool story.
But not that guy.
Doesn't matter to me. There's two things I don't care at all about. Announcers and growing the sport. I like the sport the way it is and I barely notice the announcers. Just funny how Vital constantly asks how to grow the sport then shits all over anything that gets tried.
Case in point. This 1981 USGP piece by Sam Posey. Both the newbie and seasoned core can appreciate (even laugh at times), but there's a ton of good info for everyone (the masses). Of course, much easier in a production that's not live (airing months later), but you get the idea.
His part saying “the flaggers need to be shown because we respect what they do””the privateer 250 guy needs some airtime because it’s amazing what he does”
This participation trophy mentality is ridiculous
Ok I’m done bitching now
Pit Row
We were here 8 years ago: http://www.vitalmx.com/forums/Moto-Related,20/Who-the-F-is-Rutledge-Woo…
It's ok to not like someone and also not crucify them.
The guys posting here are the same guys that bitch about people being "too soft and how cancel culture ruins everything".
Time to look in the mirror. You're just like them, just with different things.
Doesn't mean that much to me, to mean that much to you.
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