So many questions and so many suggestions. I'll get to as many as I can on the first two pages and to the rest of it later in the week.
A few random thoughts first. I'm intrigued by "the sky is falling" approach after our first crappy book in four years. Only a fool wouldn't strutinize such results, but I believe there always has been an attempt to make it better. We always are talking about it in production meetings... we talk to listeners about it at event broadcasts and on these boards. Nobody is overreacting on our show. We know we didn't get stupid overnight.
That doesn't mean some of your suggestions aren't 100 per cent accurate, however. Too singy. Too many obscure jersey numbers. Nobody has mentioned it, so I will: too much Sox/Cubs bets and subsequent tailgate talk. Too much irrelevant almanac stuff. Too much "who the producer is dating" stuff. Too many trips to the penalty box. Maybe too much golf conquests talk. I'm just spitballing recalling some of your posts. I'm sure I've missed a few.
Different things make different people roll their eyes and/or punch the button. We're trying to minimize them and "freshen it up." We will do better radio and we will put the title belt back on again.
Killer V is curious about ESPN/Disney effecting conservative changes.
The company has a high standard. It wants to avoid controversy. It requires its employees to comport themselves in a mature, dignified manner. I agree with those standards. Would I favor saying anything and everything that comes to our minds? Sure, but it doesn't work that way so I will abide by their guidelines and produce an entertaining show without things like toilet talk or name calling.
Hawkeye says I'm the only guy who can keep Harry in line.
Not sure why it;s that way. Maybe he's afraid of me and not the others. Sorry I was gone so long. I'm gone again August 13-17. Jurko also is gone. We try to sync up vacations. Jurk and I can coordinate usually, but Harry and his children sometimes have differing schedules. And don't think I haven't wondered if he absolutely plans to be there when we're not so he can unleash "Harry & Spike" Harry.
WDelaney ponders my no-compete clause.
I have to duck you and say, at this point on the calendar (and the next several) it is the last thought on my mind.
PeterPuck suggest "ESPN fatigue" and the network hurts itself with affiliations with uninteresting properties, such as the WNBA, AFL, etc.
Interesting thought. Television, regardless of operation, is incredibly protective of its properties. ESPN is no different than Fox or CBS or NBC. ESPN has more well-branded properties, such as SportsCenter, Baseball Tonight, etc., so it is perhaps more noticeable. Profit is extremely important to all businesses, not just broadcasting. Companies from all sects of business probably are willing to compromise some "product" to some degree, if they can profit, especially is the gain is significant.
Spaulding wonders who I would prefer to hear before us, soon to be a noon-to-2:00 shift.
My first thought is Jiggetts and North. The Monsters were an awesome show to precede Boers and me. Since that isn't possible and it will emanate from the East... I guess I'm intrigued by Steven A. Scott Van Pelt is a solid SportsCenter anchor and a terrific golf reporter, but I don't suppose that means anything as a Chicago radio show presence.
Oak Brook Joe asks which employee has hurt the radio station the most in the last couple years.
Maybe the employee we haven't had. Until recently, we didn't have an experienced promotions/marketing manager. That always frustrated me. A successful station needs a skilled promoter to handle the crap stuff, like t-shirt distribution, golf outing organization, etc., and the important stuff like cutting deals with airlines for trade, working with the sales dept. on advertising power lunches, etc. We hired some dude named Ron, who looks a little like Adam Delevitt about six weeks ago. I haven't been there enough to know much about the cat as of this date. Eager to see him go to work.
Frank Coztansa wants to go fishing in Canada (by proxy).
Best fish was my 16-year-old's 18 1/2 smallmouth, probably about five pounds. We released it, of course. Fishing wasn't great. A cold front moved through the week before and also met us, as did high winds and a hail storm. We did have three shore lunches with walleyes and brought home just shy of our walleye and northern limits. It was a great trip. Also saw a bear (not Tank Jonhson), several eagles (not Andy Reid or Brian Westbrook) and many deer.
Denisdman asks about something already answered, but adds that Waddle, like Salisbury before him, is an "uncommitted" co-worker of mine.
Disagree. Salisbury didn't even live here. Salisbury likely was just looking for some quick cash. Waddle left an established show, albeit in evenings, to come here. I think we all can live with him doing one show a week from somewhere else, can't we? Now if he's asleep at the switch on Bears stuff because he's watching his beloved Bengals or a bunch of other things, that's a different story. Regardless, Waddle and Silverman are light years ahead of their predecessors already and I'm listening to the station a lot more.
Shultzyy asks about our college football expert.
Any suggestions? I liked Danielson on the Big 10, but we went CBS/SEC on us last year. You wanna hear Musberger every Thursday or Friday? I wish college football were bigger. Illinois being a doormat hurts that... and this likely will be a rebuilding year in South Bend.
Darren in Tinley: John Clayton? Yes... Wednesdays again is the request. As for the hardest "Mr. Mom" thing I did while in penalty box.... I loved all of it. I always have enjoyed grocery stopping, probably because I remember not having much in the fridge during the Ball State years. I love grilling and enjoy entertaining. The most challenging thing was when Sheri and I took the boys to our favorite local hamburger joint. Patrick got upset when he ate a smokin' hot french fry. He's such a loving, harmless child and when I see him well up and try to hold it back because he hurts and he knows it's his own fault, it rips my heart out. Bad enough he's imprisoned by autism, one of the few things he ever asks for in this world is the food he likes. I overreacted and dropped a bomb at in front of the others, which embarrassed me. I took him for a short walk and he got over it. We had a great night. Patrick is one of the best things that's ever happened to me. I'm learning from him.
Happy Hour Jason says "if you're gonna let the chips fall where they may, can we expect more suspensions?"
I sure hope not, HHJ. I think we all understand just how conscious we have to be regarding language, tone, offendability, etc. I can't make any promises, other than this one: I'll try hard not to put myself in that position. Would I bet on myself? Maybe only a place-and-show wager. I'm gonna try hard. Again.
FavreFan86 queries about my Walter Payton fallout.
Short answer: it was over his unwillingness to sign autographs at Score functions when he was on the payroll there. We did discuss it over the hone and reached some resolve, but I never saw Walter again. He got sick right afterward. I regret that, but I take heart in knowing Walt would go out to one of his antique cars (when he was withering away to nothing) to listen to Jiggetts and me to get his mind off his imminent death). He'd come in fired up. Connie told Jiggetts that at Walt's wake. I have no memory of ever having an issue with Connie Payton, as one of the posters suggested. We always have been friendly. Eddie Payton, Walter's brother, was a bit dickish at one of the golf outings (after Walter was gone) and I have given him a trimmin' a few times since. Maybe that was the confusion.
Spinnin' Bucket wants more on my Joakim Noah aversion.
I'm laughing, too, Nas. Yeah, lemme break down the game of the former Gator. Here's what I know: I hate the fist pumps and waving his arms and the facial expressions. Don't like the histrionics. Don't like how light he is. If he's willing to work hard in the gym, maybe he'll be a contributor, but I'm not knocked out.
The Wind Sock asks what I'll do after the radio thing is done.
I enjoy writing and I often have thought I'd be a decent senior level English teacher/JV football coach. I do not have a teaching certificate os of yet, however. I like taking care of people, too. Shopping. Cooking. Yard work. Having a choice "to work or not to work?" is an interesting concept. I enjoy fishing, golfing, travelling. Maybe I'll write about those.
Beardown remembers when I once said if I didn't agree with a suspension, I would quit.
Yeah, I said that. You cats don't miss much, do you? Sometimes maturity requires us to not be so full of machismo and realize others rely on you. And by the way, because of my company's stance on content and my increased level of understanding of it, I now have to admit the suspension was deserved.
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