|
First time poster, long time periodic lurker. What happened to Redacted? Thanks for your questions. Now, some answers:
1. I have no idea where radio will be in 10 years. I consider myself in the content business and my primary form of distribution is audio. I think live and local will always have a place and value. People will always want to turn on something after a big event and feel like they are getting the most to the minute reaction and opinion on Chicago sports. So that means brands like The Score should be viable for a long time we’ll just have to constantly adapt and evolve. We podcast every show but need to figure out a better way to monetize our digital content for example.
2. The first time I smoked was the first weekend my freshman year of college. I had always passed in high school despite plenty of opportunity but I had probably 10 drinks and we were at an off campus party at my freshman year buddies older sisters house who was every attractive and they had a 8 foot pvc (spelling?) piping bong. I didn’t wanna seem out of place so I stepped right up and whoa boy... I called my cousin and told him I smoked and “didn’t have any joints. He said it’s ok one of your friends probably has one you can get in on and I said no, I couldn’t feel my shoulders, elbows, or knees. Ya know, joints.”
3. My good Kevin Kietzman story is my old station never beat him in afternoon drive for a full ratings book ever. Until my show beat him my last 6.
4. I don’t consider Mac my radio “teacher” though I definitely learn/learned things from him. He was my first favorite radio host and I called him a few times for advice over the years. I learned things like not fearing conflict, share your personal life, and have fun on the air from LISTENING to Mac but he didn’t actively teach me those things. The guys I went to college with we helped each other navigate the business more than anyone when we were starting out. Nick Wright and I talk on the phone once a week to this day and he’s one of my best friends in the world and stood in my wedding. Andrew Fillipponni (afternoons in pittsburgh) and Mike Meltser (mornings in Houston) are the other two. I was a sophomore, they were juniors, and Nick was a senior. More than any class doing shows, talking, texting with those guys is how I formed my radio sensibilities.
As for hogging the mic during interviews I wouldn’t agree with that characterization. Sometimes depending on the guest or topic one of us is more passionate about it or has extra questions that person gets more mic time but I think Mac and I communicate with each other fairly well during interviews.
5. I 100% agree we should be going after bigger non sports guests. It was talked about in 2018, it’s going to be a bigger goal in 2019. I loved our segment on the sopranos anniversary with Alan Sepinwall for example and we’re in touch with Brian Koppleman who wrote Rounders and Billions to hopefully join us in March. Also hoping to have Tom Segura on ahead of his Chicago theatre shows so I like how we’re starting the year off.
6. I have no interest in posting my salary here or anywhere but let’s just say I’m “rolling out of bed for less than 350k” but the vast majority of people, much less 32 year olds, would be very happy and comfortable where I’m at.
7. I’ve folded pocket kings once in my life and I was right but it was off a read at the table. Using your scenario as the only info I’m snap calling. God I miss poker so much. Anyone see Negreanu lay down the nut straight to a pot sized bet and the guy had a boat last month seemingly with ease? The game is being played at a higher level than I could’ve ever dreamed of achieving.
8. I would like to do more remotes anywhere. We should be out more but it’s also out of our hands. Another goal for 2019.
9. Season 5 of The Wire doesn’t need defending because even the worst of that show is drastically better than 95% of the television ever created. That said, it is the worst season of the show but maybe not for the reasons you think. David Simon the creator has addressed this. HBO didn’t guarantee a renew of the show ever ahead of time so they always had to fight for the next season. Season 5 was only budgeted for 10 episodes instead of the full 12 or 13 so some of the characters and storylines (particularly at the newspaper) couldn’t be fully developed. Templeton is a prime example. Furthermore, while the serial killer plot wasn’t my favorite either The Wire is about what could conceivably happen in the real world but the show is obviously fiction. It’s about the argument. So Simon who was a crime reporter for 20 years and Ed Burns who was a homicide detective for 20 years in the Baltimore PD made the argument that there were enough flaws in the system (the whole show is about the failed systems in a city and how they connect and get us to where are) that the scenario was/is plausible. And I believe them.
10. One thing that’s surprised me about the station since I’ve started... wow. Peoria Matt is a great texter and poster. If you’ve followed me or the station in the last 2 years you know it’s been way more than one thing. I would also say Mitch told me when I got hired that it’s “a tough clubhouse to crack” but it was way tougher than I expected.
11. As far as Chicago sports stories I’d love to see even though it’s all relatively meaningless is a Cubs/Sox WS and the Bears having the undisputed best quarterback in the league. How amazing would it be to go on a 12-15 year run with one guy and just know you had a shot at the super bowl every year?
12. I have vices like anyone in that I drink, gamble, smoke, but I don’t do any to a point that I think is particularly destructive. I’m a long shot to end up in rehab and am forever grateful it seems like I’ve been blessed with the gene to be able to keep any potentially destructive behavior in moderation.
Thanks for the questions. Feel free to send a few more. I’ll also add this observation... sometimes we get hammered for not sticking to sports. I’ve noticed this board which started as a sports talk radio message board evolved and often the most hotly debated topics have nothing to do with sports radio and you have threads on food, movies, music, politics, current events, and general nonsense (salute for Mac). Why can this sports radio message board expand and adapt with the times to cast a wider net but your local sports talk radio station can’t do the same?
|
Login
Register
FAQ
Search
