Tim Tebow and My Mount Rushmore of Sportstalk Radio Hosts

Tim Tebow and the Mount Rushmore of Sportstalk

The buzz for the week in sports here in New York is the appearance of the Mets’ acquisition Tim Tebow at the Mets major league training camp and actually playing in spring training games. Tebow’s appearance has received guffaws, laughter and out right hysterics from “knowledgeable” baseball fans and talk show hosts.

I’m not sure why the establishment is so hellbent on ridiculing Tebow’s efforts to do anything, whether it is attempting a football comeback or in this case trying to play professional baseball. Then again, I think I know why and I will reveal it shortly. Tim Tebow did not hold a gun to anyone’s head and demand that he be given an exhorbant amount of money to compete at anything. In this case the Mets with their own volition offered to pay Tebow and extended a chance to try to make their program. What is wrong with that?

Many of his critics have lost all sense of objectivity and reason in this one particular case. Ironically especially in the world of sports talk radio, many hosts who never turn down any chance to make a buck either by going to tv, writing a stooped book that no one reads or mindless paid public appearances –their hands are always extended. Tim Tebow is accepting some things that are offered to him, he didn’t offer it to himself.

The issue from where I sit isn’t so much Tebow but the Christ within him that people just despise. Why else would there be so many detectors to someone who provides proms for teens with autism? When did professing one’s religion and more importantly living what he says become a bad thing? Oddly enough the Mets are the same organization that foolishly let a player walk away and termed him a Met negative merely because he stated an anti-gay marriage stance---when he was asked. Can you say Daniel Murphy?

ITEM 2 MY MOUNT RUSHMORE OF SPORTS TALK RADIO HOSTS

No one asked me but since we are wrapping up a most inactive February season in sports here are my thoughts on who should be considered Titans of Sportstalk Radio, in no particular order

--Art Rust Jr.- very opinionated and outspoken host on WABC in the late 70s Arthur George was a great listen because he listened- to the callers and often responded with a provocative but well-reasoned response. Colorful and entertaining what a novel idea

-John Sterling- by far the best sounding voice of Sportstalk over WMCA in the early to mid 70s. At times combative Jam Master Johnny evoked passion within himself and his listeners sometimes whether he wanted to or not. His work with the Yankees for the last 30 years at play by play is nowhere near as good which is kind of odd but true

-Bill Mazer-broke ground by hosting his night talker at restaurants or bars like Jimmy’s in the city. Extremely intelligent in a lot of areas the Maze was a good listen until the games passed him by

There is room for 2 more on my Mount Rushmore as I sit here today I’m not sure how soon or when those spots will be filled. I did contemplate Howard Cosell one of the biggest names in sports period but on the radio he rarely if ever interacted with live listeners.