Tuesday, July 2, 2013

It's Gordon Keith Week on MTC -- the Fun Continues!!


I don't know about you, but I have hardly been able to contain my delight at the festivities surrounding Gordon Keith Week on My Ticket Confession.  I'm working on a piece that will wrap things up in a few days, but in the meantime, I'm cutting and pasting a comment from Confessor birdie from about a month ago.  I thought it was really perceptive and, in fact, pieces of it mirror my own current feelings about Gordon.  It is also very well-written.  I reproduce it here because of its excellence and also because I'm not ready with any new material.  My thanks to birdie for his or her (I know, I know, 98% chance of birdie being a "his") anticipated approval:

As someone who was in his early twenties when The Ticket went on the air, I'd like to think that I grew up--in many senses of the term--with one Todd Gordon Keith.

My "relationship" with Gordo has been rocky. During the first handful of years of The Ticket, Gordon was my hero. To me he was the smartest and funniest guy in the room, hands down. Anyone who thought otherwise was either a fool or jealous of the man, or both. And I was certain that SNL or some other big time gig was just around the corner.

I used to record both The Musers and THL on cassettes each day. Almost solely for the sake of Gordon. (Back then he did a lot of bits for THL, some exclusively, like Microphone Johnson.) I see my early admiration for Gordo in many of the (mostly) younger commenters here at MTC who extol the greatness of Jake and a few others. Even though I might not always agree with those opinions, trust me, I get them. However, once I hit my early 30s things began to change.

Whether it was a case of getting older, a bit wiser, or due to the fact that I had returned to college seeking a graduate degree that required several intensive seminars in philosophy/logic and psychology, I don't know. But I do know that it was at this time I began to see some serious chinks in what heretofore I had thought to be golden armor. I started to notice how a lot of his humor was predicated on the tearing down, and at times the emotional destruction, of others. A tearing down that involved finding the weakest spot on the weakest individual who happens to be around. I also began to find his knowledge of certain topics lacking and his way of argumentation uncharitable, unfair, and at times fallacious.

In short: much of what made Gordo my hero I now saw in a negative light. I now saw more of a bully and pseudo-intellectual, and less a brilliant comedic mind who also has a more serious, intellectual side. Sure, I still loved the characters; I still laughed out loud at a lot of what Gordo would say; but now with reservation. When he would start to talk philosophy, psychology, and especially politics, I would get angry and/or turn the dial until the segment was over. It was barstool buzz talk trying to pass itself off as meaningful conversation.

Now entering into my early 40s, I have found a middle ground. But part of my finding a middle ground is due to Gordon himself appearing to have discovered some of his own inconsistencies and his inclination to treat others as a means to his comedic/egotistical ends. Gordo seems to have grown up over the last two years. I've no idea as to why. Natural maturation? Epiphany? Personal matters that opened his eyes? Who knows. The only times he bullies these days is when he's in an all-skate situation--e.g., a GNO or a Ticketstock roundtable or when he joins in on The Orphanage at the Greenville Ave St. Patty's Day Parade remote. Even then he is openly and immediately remorseful when he does pounce on some unwitting person, some innocent bystander.

We now get a Gordo who is, at least in my opinion, open and honest in relating his insecurities and regrets. In these admissions, he has touched on his tendency to attack the weak, the passive; he has also (and more often) spoke of his regrets; and there has been an owning up or two of seeing things through a rather narrow lens, while erroneously believing the lens to be wide. I've come to realize that for all of his faults, all of his contradictions, his life being off limits but others decidedly not, and all the rest, Gordo is a special talent; he is an honest seeker of what makes humans tick; he is a gifted mimic (no easy feat); he does have a wicked and quick wit; and while a bit too unbridled for its own good, a sound thinker.

In short, he is the guy I first "met" in 1994, only grown/growing up. While I don't have his skill set or gifts, when I reflect back, I too have grown up with him. Once I began to look at it in this way, I realized it was time to revisit my thoughts on the man and put them aright.

 
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Very very nice, birdie, just the kind of attitude I'm hoping to spread with this site.  And some really sound insights on Gordon.  My thanks for the time you took to contribute your thoughts to the site.
 
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@Plainsman1310




20 comments:

  1. Excellent analysis! I, too, listened to Gordon from the beginning, and simultaneously cringed and laughed as he stepped on the gas when he should have applied the brake. I'm glad he mellowed out over the years, since I don't thing he could have maintained that intensity over the long haul.

    I think thoughtful and witty commentary is the right direction for him. The funny characters have run their course (how long has it been since he has created something genius like Ribby or Fake Jerry?), as has the shock jock antics. Now is the time for him to develop a more mature on-air persona, while still not taking himself or the world too seriously.

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  2. I appreciate that you found my gentle musings on a Muser worthy of an article, Plainsman. Thanks for the kind words.

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  3. I was once a devout P1, and I am admittedly now a marginal P3 at best. Gordon is one of the two main reasons for my delineation.
    I do enjoy some of the actual talent that he displays, the characters and some of his lighter topics. I find it a compete shutdown when he tries to espouse wisdom or knowledge about politics or the general mindset of man.
    The event that really turned me against Gordon in general was the Nestor event.
    Now, it is very clear that Nestor is a complete douchebag, of that there is no question. Gordon talked about Nestor for a couple of weeks before the final Super Bowl encounter. It was discussed on The Musers and The Hardline at length, how the Ticket had been told to stay away from him. The NFL had specifically told the boys to leave hime alone.
    But Gordon does, at times, have the social understanding of a 5 year old. So he heads for Nestor first chance he gets with microphone in hand. The reaction from Nestor was way over the top and uncalled for, but the boys were clearly warned and had previous dealings enough with Nestor to know that he was unhinged.
    My loss of total respect for Gordon was at this moment, when he went limp in the grip of Nestor and then played the victim. Even contemplating pressing charges?
    Now for all of the folks that love Gordon, and defend him like he is their Mother - understand I am not defending or condoning Nestor. He was very much in the wrong, and the NFL should have taken action against him. A ban from radio row for a few years would have been appropriate.

    My point is that the great Gordon knew he was unstable, he knew that the Tickets mere presence was enough to set the guy off. So when he got in Nestor's face and got the violent reaction that he got...well...you were warned. So when It happens deal with it like a man, own up to the fact that you 100% instigated the event, no matter how innocuous your intentions. Had you stayed away from him, like you were told to by the NFL - it would not have happened.


    Gordon got the mileage he wanted out of it, he got "radio gold", and played the victim when he was very much the instigator.
    Since this time I cannot view Gordon as anything but an irresponsible child. He will do anything for a laugh, but accepts no responsibility for the havoc he creates. this event and more than one attack on Norm comes to mind.

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  4. One bit from one guy several years ago shapes your continued view of an entire radio station? You must be impossible to please.

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  5. 1202, I take it you are unable to extrapolate the longer view from the short. You must be impossible to have a meaningful conversation with.

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  6. 1202, post hoc ergo propter hoc much? O logical fallacy! Bane of the would-be clever!

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  7. wow. i completely agree; being someone who just turned forty and a p1d1, this echoes my sentiments completely. bravo!

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  8. 1202:

    " Russ T. Nail said...
    I was once a devout P1, and I am admittedly now a marginal P3 at best. Gordon is one of the two main reasons for my delineation."

    Do you actually read what you comment on? Do you actually read your own comment and compare it to what you're commenting on? Apparently not:

    " Anonymous said...
    One bit from one guy several years ago shapes your continued view of an entire radio station? You must be impossible to please."

    Compare and contrast between what Russ T. Nail wrote and your shortsighted attempt at snark. Perhaps your would-be clever mind can discern the difference? Perhaps.

    You must be impossible to have a meaningful conversation with.

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  9. Thanks for reposting this and I have to say I agree.
    I enjoy Gordon more than I don't, and to be honest it's hard for me to be critical with just about any of the guys because I couldn't do what they do day in and day out. We might not like one or two bits Gordon does a week or whatever, but what if your work was broadcast to over 100k guys? You'd probably get ripped more than Gordo would.

    My only criticism/suggestion for Musers would be to work blue a little later in the day. Sucks that I can't listen to Muse in the News most of the time during the school year because Gordo's talking about fetishes and sexuality between 7:20-7:35am when my boys are in the car.

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  10. While you are talking about Gordon, let's all enjoy a bit of Musers Ticket history:

    The Musers (w/ and interview from Junior) on 11-1-2000 playing basketball with Mark Cuban in an unfinished American Airlines Center

    tinyurl.com/kpem9nv

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  11. Thanks, Cash! And stay hard!

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  12. This might mean something big, or not. Whatever the case, it is definitely worth paying attention to.

    DA, your thoughts, sir...

    http://www.allaccess.com/net-news/archive/story/119986/cumulus-spins-off-dallas-area-fm

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  13. BBQ: THANKS for this urgent news.

    Here is a comment from radioInsight:

    "The station currently rebroadcasts Sports '1310 The Ticket' KTCK to the northern suburbs of the Dallas/Fort Worth market.

    The sale price will come in two parts. At closing of this sale, Cumulus will receive $100. Whitley will then turn around and resell the station at which point Cumulus will receive all proceeds from that sale minus all expenses incurred in the operation of the station and from marketing and reselling the station.

    William Whitley, the owner of Whitley Media, is a broker with Media Services Group. KTDK is a Class C3 operating with 6.2kW at 192 meters.

    INSTANT INSIGHT: With Cumulus being at the ownership limit in Dallas and the way this sale is being structured it makes us wonder if they needed to quickly divest their worst signal in the market in order to make room for the acquisition of another."

    This is either real bad news (incredibly scruddy Ticket aggregate signal gets even scruddier, unless there's some arrangement to keep broadcasting on 104.1 -- at this writing Ticket still on 104.1) or real good news (Cumulus gloms some other, better, signal and puts The Ticket on it).

    Your Plainsman spends a fair amount of time on 104.1 so this is of extreme interest to this site.

    Yes, if our radio guru DA has any poop on this, we respectfully request that he dump it here forthwith.

    Thanks, and stand by.

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  14. I can't imagine Bob and Dan re-upping if this sale meant something even remotely bad for The Ticket.

    BUT.

    Here's a half-baked thought.......

    Remember during the Dan and Mike hug/exchange when Dan implied that regardless of what happens they might be all back together sooner than later? Well, hello CBS taking over The Ticket....... Anyone? Anyone?


    Nutz? Hell, even Deez-Nutz? Yeah, maybe. Maybe not.


    @birdie Great stuff.
    @Cash Great link. Happy b-day!
    @12:02 Anon Roasted.
    @12:26, 29, and 34 who schooled 12:02 Remind me not to get into it with you.
    @Russ Nice thoughts.
    @Pman Happy anniversary!

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  15. Can I nutkick Corby while we debate Gordo?

    "Do I need to be paying attention to what is going on in Egypt?" C.Davidson of THL

    Just because you become a parent is no reason to stop reading. Or being aware of the world around you. Oh wait, you didn't give a damn about the world around you before so why start now?

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  16. I was all set to be down on Funeral Corby, but if he had to say anything at all about it I think he handled it just about right. So props for that.

    But he's not off the hook.

    Once again, he treads into unfamiliar waters with his dismissal of Dobie Gillis. How many complete episodes do you suppose he has ever watched? I suspect his knowledge of Dobie Gillis extends to knowing that Bob Denver was in it, so he compares it to Gilligan's Island.

    Well, for it's era - a pretty good little sitcom. Pretty good little sitcom. IMO, of course.

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  17. Well Ryhner lost me with his "Maynerd is a top 5 sitcom character"! Dobie was a little before my time but have seen several late, late nite episodes. It comes on opposite Beverly Hill Billies. Give me the Beverly Hill Billies anyday. Something tells me I wouldn't qualify for Corby's Mensa crowd he was talking about.

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  18. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ggoo37zWWHM

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  19. Wow, Awesome link, Gibby. Anyone think Mike would dress up in a tux and play the role of Jim Knox these days? Didn't think so.

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