Sports talk radio is harder than it appears
I used to think my friends doing sports talk radio had the easiest gigs in the world. But I was wrong. Sure, it's easy to talk for a few hours, but to be truly entertaining, it's very difficult.
I just finished doing two 9-12 shows on ESPN with Marc Silverman. Today, Spike Manton joined us. And I felt spent after both shows, part of which may have been due to the fact I had to wake up at 6:30 to make the 7:45 pre-show meetings.
I used to think the radio guys had it easy because their days were over when the show ended, unlike beat writers who have to stay on top of their teams 24/7. But the good radio personalities don't stop working when the show's over. They're able to analyze and be entertaining, which is harder than it sounds.
And if you're not up up to speed on a subject that comes up during the show, it becomes painfully obvious. You can bluff only so much.
It's a tough job, and the fact your job security may be tied to your ratings increases the pressure. I like being able to edit my words before they're published. It's a safe feeling, even on deadline.
I felt pretty self-conscious after Tuesday's show, but I thought today's show went really well, and Spike made a difference. And Silverman's always on top of his game.
It's probably not a bad idea for writers like myself to try out what they critique just to get a different perspective.
Comments
If being on talk radio is as difficult as you think, maybe that explains why so many hosts---especially those at night on WSCR---are so bad!
Posted by: Miguel | February 23, 2006 07:10 PM
MAN! Tough job! Act like a goof! The goofier the better. Have zero knowledge and sound like an idiot. Get millions! If Mike North can host a show, a monkey could do it.
Posted by: Ron | February 24, 2006 08:47 AM
Echo...Ron
Mike North is a complete idiot, if he can do a show, anyone can.
Posted by: Jim Curry | February 24, 2006 12:57 PM
ro mo, part of the problem you experienced was being on, ESPN, the worldwide leader in losers! jump over to the score where your contemporaries, mully, brian are amongst the likes of boers and bernstein. people w/ high i.q.'s and a sense of humor to boot.
later
Posted by: jd | February 24, 2006 06:14 PM
NOTHING is as bad as the Score on Saturday mornings. Dave Baum...I thought he retired about 20 years ago. The Wally Phillips wannabe talking about sports at...what is he about 75? He spends hours interupting the co-host and whining. He is the utmost whining....well, you get the picture.
Posted by: Larry | February 25, 2006 08:01 AM
I completely agree that Mike North is a goofy, little-or-no-knowledge idiot.
I now live in Seattle, so I don't know if Mike North is still doing solo, but I thought that had to be one of the stupidest production moves ever. He was in a near-perfect situation long ago when he was one of the "Monsters of the Midday" with Dan Jiggetts." It was almost like an Abbott and Costello routine. They balanced each other in an entertaining way. His following solo act exposed him as nothing but a living, breathing, almost completely negative caricature of himself--of no use, and even nauseating--to anyone with a brain. Moreover, he was testament that you don't have to work hard to be successful on sports radio.
Is he still solo?
Posted by: Ed Jerabek | February 25, 2006 10:30 AM
You did fine Ro-Mo... And I think it is harder than most people assume.
Then again, you picked the wrong month to make chicken salad out of chicken feces in the sportsworld.
And OF COURSE it was easier when Spike Manton was there. After all, he MADE Harry Teinowitz and Steve Dahl. ;)
Posted by: The Gridiron Assassin | February 25, 2006 11:20 AM
I am disappointed in Anne M. She now seems to revel in the childish, innuendo-filled ravings of Mike North(and everyone on his show)How does he stay on the air? I listen to other stations when he is on.
Posted by: Dale | February 25, 2006 12:43 PM
From what i have heard. All you have to do on sports talk radio is call half of your audience idoits that dont agree with you,and insult fans and sports celebrities and before you know it the next shift is about to start.....Yeah thats real tough.
Posted by: Derrick | February 27, 2006 03:45 AM
What is Steve Stone doing? He was the BEST baseball color commentator ever.
Posted by: Dr. Louis J. Karmel | February 27, 2006 08:24 AM
I actually applied to both stations for a shot at my own show.I always felt they turned me down because I was too smart and would not go down to the level of the hosts there is now... Reading these posts I can see I am not the only one who would be turned down.
Posted by: Dave | February 27, 2006 08:38 PM
To be a host of a radio show is easy. Take a topic, put a negative spin on it, make yourself to be an expert of it and poof, there's your show. That's how it's done at WSCR. That's why their doing so well. While at WMVP with the McNeil and the rest, they work at their show being good.
Posted by: Chicagoman | February 28, 2006 01:01 AM