Sports and Money - Part 1

                This series isn’t just about money and sports, but that is something that pisses me off.  We’ll get to it.  First let’s talk about the magic talking box where FDR and Sky Captain live.

                I like sports.  I really like sports talk radio.  Generally speaking, it’s some of the best talk radio out there.  Some of the smartest guys in the country are sports announcers, and, if they’re ugly, they work in radio.  The TV guys are intelligent, too:

Bob Costas---smart guy---he’s about 4’8”, but still, a very insightful, intelligent midget

Keith Olbermann---smart guy---obnoxious as hell in his burning desire to constantly prove to us just how smart he is---but still, smart guy

Charles Barkley---usually the ex-athlete sports announcers get an IQ pass, but Sir Charles is actually a very smart guy and in a relatable, funny, down-to-Earth way.  He’s so damn likeable that, when he threatens to run for governor of his home state of Alabama, I briefly consider taking up residency there, just to be able to put a bumper sticker on my car that says, “Don’t Blame Me, I Voted Charles Barkley.”

                Most radio personalities, in sports, but not only in sports, are localized celebrities.  If you live in the greater Kansas City area, you hear that guy’s voice every time you drive home from work, but, if you live anywhere else, you’ve never heard of that guy.  That’s one of the great things about radio.  Despite satellites, celebrity worship culture, and the fact that it’s impossible to get away from Rush Limbaugh no matter how far you travel, radio’s still great.  It even has its own pirates. 

                On the whole, I think that sports radio has gotten better lately.  Part of the proof is that the local sports radio is much, much better than the national versions.  The Sirius, or whatever the other worldwide satellite radio is called, is pretty bad.  I’ve tried to listen.  I’ve given it a chance.  But national sports radio inherently destroys one of the best aspects of sports.  It’s harder to root, root, root for the home team if those idiots won’t quit talking about all those other teams.  Even in the era of free agency, sports loyalty is sacrosanct.  Even in a time when geographic fan mobility is greater than ever, you stay loyal to your team. 

               As a personal example, last week I had a good conversation with a guy about the future of the Philadelphia Phillies…in a park in Charleston…and I haven’t lived around Philly for almost thirty years.  I could tell that he was a die-hard Phillies fan.  He had that distinct no-nonsense regional accent.  He was half drunk.  And we both knew that our team is in for a few years of rebuilding before they get anywhere near good again.  That guy could’ve been a decent color man on a radio station broadcasting to the greater “brotherly love” area, but his heavy regional accent would prevent him from getting a gig on ESPN.  And he’s from Philly, so he wouldn’t have waited five seconds before he told ESPN where they could shove their bullshit rejection while smashing a gooey cheesesteak dripping with oil in their faces. 

                Radio is great.  Sports radio is even better.

               <Photo courtesy of WNJC 1360 AM in Philly.>