Of radio, football and baseball players coming back

First, a confession.

Then, a comment.

(Yeah, maybe a bit unfair but it’s what we do here, isn’t it?)

Anyway, it’s not very often that I spend a lot of time listening to all-sports radio; I’d rather have music as white noise or a car companion and, besides, I don’t seem to have an awful lot of idle time.

So, having said that …

I heard it was the 20th anniversary this week of The Fan or whatever they’re calling it now and, you know, in some way it’s become a rather integral part of the sports landscape here in Toronto and wherever it might be that people listen it.

Kind of got me thinking about what all-sports radio should be and whether The Fan is there and whether it truly serves the public and the listeners.

And I’d say, yeah, for the most part.

(Oh, another aside and point of full disclosure: Yes, I do a bit of work there, some paid, some unpaid, some to help friends out, some because I actually enjoy it)

What you want, and deserve, from all-sports radio is to be entertained and informed. You want good hosts with insight and personality and the ability to break news if it’s possible. What you don’t want are screamers who rant and rave for no other reason than to make their name, you don’t want people who are confrontational simply because it’s fun to be confrontational. It’s easy to sit back and rip all the time, to me it’s a sign of absolute laziness.

I think The Fan has that kind of staff now, it’s taken some time to weed out pretenders but, from what I’ve heard, the three key shows – the morning drive, the afternoon, the early-evening drive – provide that.

Now, I also fear that too often still the programming is dictated by callers and while I understand the need to engage the public and give them a chance to get on the air, I think you can over-do it quite easily. No one except Bill In Burlington or Sam In Scarborough or Dave On A Car Phone On The 401 cares a whit what they think; the fewer hours dedicated to taking calls from anonymous fans, the better. If I get in the car and I’m flipping through the dial and hear that it’s Caller Hour, the station immediately gets changed.

I’ve been in more than a few cities with all-sports radio and have listened to my fair share of the ESPNs out there; I can say this without reservation:

For the most part, The Fan is as good as anything out there; the station’s come a long way in two decades and spawned some extraordinary talent.

Toronto’s lucky to have it. If all-sports radio is your cup of tea.

-

So it’s Roger Waters’ birthday and I’m hearing “Money” on Q107 when I’m typing this early in the morning (it’s the only radio station I listen to with any regularity and I’d put Kim Mitchell among the best DJs anywhere because of the ease and clarity with which he explains all things music) and I’m thinking, sure, that’s a nice little ditty but it’s not nearly the Pink Floyd song I want to hear.

And since Comfortably Numb should be the phrase on my business card if I had one …

-

Mail?

I’m thinking two questions all of yesterday isn’t going to cut it, folks.

Help a fellow out, would you?

Click. Write. Say hello. Deepest, darkest secrets (Optional). Send.

Much appreciated.

-

No, I didn’t watch the NFL opener last night, it was evaluation night for kids who might be Mighty Red Tigers next year and we were out checking out the throwing, catching and fielding abilities of a couple of dozen teens.

So, what’d I miss?

Oh, I see my man Not Grace Kelly is off to a rousing 0-1 start.

Tee-hee.

Wish I could mock more but I’d probably have taken the home team, too.

Not sure if we’ll have any of last season’s give-and-take off those weakly picks, with a real NBA season coming time is going to be an issue.

Maybe we can do a little something in the regular Monday morning fare on a more casual basis.

Oh, wait!

There are going to be under-employed pucks scribblers, maybe one of them can be pressed into action.

Boss? Whaddya think?

-

So I see JP Arencibia’s coming back, Hobbs Lawrie looks like he might be close and the TOD are going to give Romero some extra days between starts.

All good things, except the last one perhaps.

I would imagine if you were a professional baseball player who’d been hurt like the catcher and the third baseman, the last thing you’d want is to be shut down for the last month or so of the season. For no other reason than to get back into the feel of the game, to maybe finish strong, to get used to seeing major league pitching again, I bet you’d be itching to get in as many games as possible even in a season that’s been circling the toilet bowl for at least a month.

Now, I can see resting regulars every now and then to see what the September callups have (and no, that’s not tanking, is it?) but the two injured players need to get more work than they’d usually get in the final month of the season so they can end the year, hopefully, with some good feelings.

Romero?

I’m not sure what extra rest is going to do to help him. I kind of agree with his point made in Zorro’s piece today; the last thing I’d want if I was him would be to sit around a day or two more between starts wondering what kind of stuff, if any, I’d have when I get back out there.

I think everyone’s agreed it’s not a physical, injury issue with him; it’s location and perhaps a crisis of confidence that’s been brewing for a long time. I think they should trot him out on his regular rest for the remainder of the season in the hopes that as quickly as his good stuff disappeared it can come back again.

But that’s just me.

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Comments

[Sam]

Morning Doug: Fantasy question: If you were GM and had to draft, who would be your pick? Divac Or Sabonis?
Malon or KG?
J. Kidd or Stockton?
LBJ or Pippen?
Kobe or D Wade?

Blogger's note: This is a one-time thing, I don't do fantasy:
Sabonis, KG, Stockton, LBJ, Kobe.
And I'm out

[Sam]

Thank you for your quick reply.

[David in Oakville]

Morning Doug,

Here I am thinking we are about to be treated to some deep dark secret from your life's closet and the confession is "you don't listen to sports radio much". Pretty sure most irregulars knew this and who could blame you for wanting to step outside your job in your spare time. As someone who does listen to sports radio during my 15 - 20 minute commute I would have to agree with your assessment, mostly. But, there are times that I find the evening drive hosts a little too fawning with some of the guests (especially Bryan and Brian) and hyper critical of others. I prefer the CBC in the morning to the two "know it alls" currently on at the FAN. I miss Landry & Stellick. Their discussions with Sam Mitchell usually had me in tears from laughing so hard.
+
Seeing as you are not one to toot your own horn, then I will... I always enjoy hearing you on the radio when you are called upon for a roundtable or Raptor's insight
+
And since we are talking about sports radio and personalities, I think that Dan Shulman, Stephen Brunt and Elliotte Friedman are definitely worth listening too. Brunt tells some of the best stories and Dan & Elliotte consistently manage to say something insightful.
+
I have been listening to Blue Jays radio broadcasts since 1981 and I think the Jays have been blessed with some of the best in the business. Alan Ashby is another guy whose insight never fails to elevate whatever discussion he is brought into.

[Eric-in-NS]

What I find unsettling about the decision to put Romero on a lengthier rotation is that he (apparently, judging by what he said in a tv interview) wasn't given a reason for it.

[james]

It's been a struggle to find something to enjoy about the back half of the Jays season, but it certainly is fun to watch 41-year-old Darren Oliver work over major league hitters.

[Tabber]

If Romero can't figure out a reason, maybe he shoud look at his 12 losses in a row, and his ERA during that streak. Seems pretty obvious from here.

[D-Mac Ottawa]

It's great that Big Cat got a camp invite, but I hope they keep that last spot on the roster open for more flexibility. I think Jamaal could offer a lot more to the organization from a coaching or office spot than he could in uniform once the season opens.
Ricky R? I don't know, the guy's a write-off for this season. Might be better off taking the time he needs to get things straightened out between his ears rather than between his battery mates and coaches, then get a fresh start in spring training. Meanwhile, a couple more certified starting pitchers will put the proper competitive heat on him, instead of the weird heat he's been so busy manufacturing for himself.
Cheers. Go T Ross! This should be one fun training camp!

[sam]

As someone who works in radio, and tunes into the fan frequently, I know its an expensive format to execute. The Fan has a pretty solid line up of personalities through out the day.
There's nothing better than listening to Jerry and Alan call a Jays game. I grew up listening to Tom Cheek and was lucky enough to meet him and see his World Series Ring. There are folks who wax poetically about the legends of baseball play by play. Names like Vin Scully, and Ernie Harwell. I think Tom Cheek deserves to be mentioned in the same company. For a lot of years he was the Toronto Blue Jays to many listeners across the country.

[doug]

good pick with Comfortably Numb , I really don't have a fav tune as I like so many but that has to be one of the best tunes ever written, and Gilmours performance always astounds me....I agree about Kim Mitchell, I love not only his knowledge and passion for music but just how he presents himself, doesn't take it all to seriously, i use to like John Derringer but for whatever reasons he seems to want to make his political viewpoints not only known but he sometimes sermonizes, he's lost his roots he needs to take a page from Kim Mitchell....listening to the Q I always tend to perk up when these 3 artists are on as their not the main players there like AC/DC Stones Beatles Hendrix etc.....Billy Idol (he just gets you going), Peter Gabriel love all his stuff and first and foremost Supertramp and Kim Mitchell is a big fan of them as well.... and talk radio never listen to it....Romero they said last night had his last effective start on 7 days rest, now 9 so if he has a good start what does that mean??..our so-called number one guy pitches every 7,8,9, days?, absurd, I wonder more and more about Farrell and AA...oh well it is what it is, and Bill Clinton gave a humdinger of a speech last night, that dude would still be president if their weren't term limits in the States...ok cheers..

[doug]

you know I am as guilty as the next person...but I was just watching CBC news and a injustice has been done...we talk b-ball here and pretend to know this and that, but did anyone on this blog know or does anyone know who has the mens dream team in the para-olympics...it is Canada and they are playing in the gold medal game on Saturday and the LeBron James of para-Olympic b-ball is a Canadian his name Patrick Anderson...all b-ball fans have been negligent, we need to not only give them there due but cheer them on, and this man was a 9 year old kid who lost his legs by a drunk driver....let's give them their press and their due....cheers...

Blogger's note: It's funny, was just going to type this for the morning stuff and probably still will. Sent a note out to PBWA members yesterday and part of it was wishing them a happy off-season. Got this back from a good friend and PBWA member in Britain who volunteered at the Olympic basketball venues and is doing the same at the Paralympics:

"Off-season? I'm still in the tribune (dressed still in purple) at the "NGA". That Patrick ANDERSON (CAN) is pretty impressive."

[Dave, posting from an iPhone on the 401]

Hey Doug, before you take my name in vain can you please explain how the personal views expressed on a Caller Hour are any different from the posts by your Irregulars?

And don't even get me started on the IGBT....

Blogger's note: Irregulars are smarter. By far. :)