Originally Posted by EventServices
When I was announcing a race in Lake Placid (1990), I made a comment as I was calling the Cat 4s to the line. Something like "hold on tight, hide the children, here come the Cat 4s!"
One guy came up and yelled at me for an hour about how rude I was to say that.
It was meant to be funny. He obviously didn't see it that way. Made quite a scene about it.
I never used that line again.
Even if unintended, stuff like that can come across as condescending. I recall when I was a 5 and racing the Kelly Cup/Bikejam crit in baltimore, which is a NRC event. The announcer, who does alot of big races said something in his microphone to the effect of, "jeez, half you guys have your #s pinned on wrong" then laughed like what a bunch of morons. I found it condescending then and still do now. I stuck around that day to watch the pros race, and remember seeing at least 2 with #s on upside down, but I dont remember announcer dude saying anyone had their #s pinned on wrong.