Deadspin: sports radio

Radio Jockeys Make Horrible Jockeys

Dashiell Bennett — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 17:45:09 EDT

Two sports talk hosts racing each other on real thoroughbred horses seemed like a brilliant radio stunt, until one of them ended up in the ICU with bleeding on the brain. Oops. [Sun-Times]

Dead Boater Jokes Are Not A Big Hit In Detroit

Dashiell Bennett — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 10:30:00 EST

I know the story of three football players drowning in the Gulf of Mexico seems like a comedic goldmine, but as Detroit radio host Mike Valenti learned, there is such a thing as too soon.

Valenti had to apologize on his WXYT-FM show yesterday, after he read a few tasteless Corey Smith jokes on the air. Smith, of course, is the Detroit Lion who is missing and presumed dead after his fishing boat capsized last weekend. Maybe you heard about that? Now, filling the air waves with wit and wisdom for several hours is a harder job than most people realize, but even a novice should know that you don't have to read every little thing that gets stuck in front of your face.

On Monday afternoon, Valenti read what the station calls "instant feedback" from listeners.

"I really don't even want to read this one," Valenti said.

"Yes, you do because you …" co-host Terry Foster said.

"No, but this one has been handed to … All right, I'm going to read this, but if you're sensitive to inappropriate stuff, I would probably turn the channel."

Yeah, nothing that follows that sentence is usually going to turn out well. Valenti said it was "the dumbest, most reprehensible decision I've made in my radio career" and that includes his 45-minute tear-stained rant about Michigan State's football incompetence. Yep, same guy. (That was 100% justified, btw.)

I'm not even going to repeat the joke here, but that's just because it wasn't funny. If you're going to risk your radio (or commenting) career on a silly one-liner, it better be a real zinger.

WXYT's Mike Valenti apologizes for Corey Smith comments [Detroit Free Press]
Pucker, Pucker, Pucker [Deadspin]

The Death Of Mike And The Mad Dog?

DAULERIO — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 15:00:24 EDT

Neil Best wrote a story suggesting that the dynamic sports talk radio duo of Mike Francesa and Chris "Mad Dog" Russo has reached a bitter end. Best relays that industry sources say that the on-air tensions between the two may have finally reached a breaking point and that, unless there is some miraculous change of heart by one of the two, they may already done their final show together. Francesa gave a terse "no comment" to the whole situation and Russo says he has no clue what's going on:

"That is news to me. I have not heard that...That is fascinating information. The only thing I can say is I am signed under contract for another year and a half. I don't think WFAN is going to let me out of that...I wish I had leverage like that."

Like 'em or hate 'em, Mike and The Mad Dog is still one of the most popular shows in radioland and has legions of fans who dig it when two Italian guys have a spirited back-and-forth about sportsy-oriented news. It appears, from the outside, that Francessa is just completely tired of Russo's stage-hogging and back-handed disrespect.

Sportswatch: A split decision? [Newsday]

For Those Who Can Handle Sports Radio

Leitch — Tue, 15 Aug 2006 13:15:48 EDT

As we believe we've mentioned before, we don't listen to sports radio. We feel like we spend enough time around sports pontificators as is; we really don't need funny noises and people with names like "The Fat Guy" or "Dr. RJ Frank Dawg" screaming into microphones to make our sports fan experience more profound.

That said, we don't drive a car; if we drove a car, we bet we'd be listening to (and being annoyed by) sports radio all the time. The folks at Boston Sports Media have been listening to a ton of sports radio and have put together a list of dos and don'ts toward being a better sports radio caller.

Compliment the hosts when you get on the air, even if you're loathe to do so. Say you're enjoying the show and that they're doing a great job, etc. Then, get into the topic you wish to discuss. When they try to distract you, keep your cool. Don't raise your voice too much; don't get agitated. Above all, don't insult them — that's the quickest way to get hung up on, which will then result in the hosts declaring victory while at the same time pretending you said something awful: "You can't say that on the radio, caller, you just can't." Remember they have the power of the seven-second delay. If they jump in and interrupt you, patiently wait and begin your point again, though you may need to rephrase it slightly.

Ugh. Yeah, we'd suggest just not calling into talk radio at all, actually.

How To Be A Better Sports Radio Caller [Boston Sports Media]

I Didn't Know That Baseball's Unwritten Rules Mentioned The Holocaust

mjdeadspin — Sat, 05 Aug 2006 15:40:44 EDT

There are people who love sports talk radio, and there are people who hate it. The following clip, from the always worthwhile Fire Joe Morgan will likely thrill both sides.

A caller to Yankee announcer Michael Kay's radio show took Kay to task for mentioning Chien-Ming Wang's in-progress perfect game during a broadcast. According to the caller, it's against "baseball etiquette" to do such a thing, but Kay vehemently disagrees. So vehemently, in fact, that the conversation then moves on to American slavery, putting "people in the ovens." And then he calls someone else stupid and infantile.

Idea that Announcer Can Jinx Perfect Game = Holocaust [Fire Joe Morgan]