Saturday, June 27, 2015

How We Know Cat Knows


Should I have prefaced the title of this piece with my occasional warning:  "LISTENING TOO HARD"?  Maybe.  Maybe. 

In his Ask Me Anything on My Ticket Confession, the Western Hemispherical Catman reported his opinion that The Hardline was like a stool (not that kind of stool) with three equal legs.

He took some heat for this.

Listeners hear the same evidence that he does.  It is plain that Corby has come to dominate the show, with the aid of Danny.  Not everyone finds this a problem.  While I join those who have wearied of The OverCorby, I also think he's a terrific broadcaster who is very entertaining when taken in the originally prescribed doses.  But yeah, Mike "Short Leg" Rhyner had begun to disappear on the Ticket anchor show he founded.  Come on, now.

Cat knows.

My evidence for this is circumstantial.

It centers on an ad that The Ticket ran for quite awhile.  After I made the observation I'm about to report, I had hoped to hear the ad again so I could get the quote exactly right, but I haven't heard it in awhile.

It's an ad for The Hardline, and at one point, Conrad says something like:

"And you'll get to hear a Texas Radio Hall of Famer -- or not."   (Accompanied, I am dimly recalling, by a sound effect.)

I don't know that Cat approves internal ad copy and final product, but I'm betting he does.

If so, with this phrase he's winking at the P1.

If you tune in to The Hardline, maybe you'll hear Mike, maybe you won't.

There's something else.

My schedule has really cut into my Hardline listening in recent weeks.  I tune in when I can, but recently my PM commute coincides with the waning minutes of the show.  But on those occasions when I'm able to listen to the meat of the presentation, I've heard something I haven't heard in a long time:

Mike.

Participating in interviews.  Conversing with Corby and Danny. Analyzing Ranger baseball.  Jumping in.  (Or is it "popping on" at this point?)

You all need to tell me -- am I imagining this?  Or has he picked up his game very noticeably in the last month or so?

*     *     *

One of the nice things about having a blog is that I can just dump my utterly unprovable guesses on an unsuspecting congregation.

Here is my theory about when Mike began to check out with greater frequency:

It was when he was introduced to the iPad.

*     *     *

QUICK HIT:  Pet peeve vindicated.

Mike Sirois chastised Mike "The Machine" Marshall today for calling the show "Cirque de Sirois."  The Machine was unfazed.  Made no difference to him.  

Sirois said that it was like George Dunham perpetually mispronouncing Norm's name as "Hitchges," and he sounded pretty disgusted about both.

*     *     *

A Confessor leaving a comment to the last thread noted that the incomparable Sturm and the coming-to-seem-indispensable Mike Sirois had put in an appearance on the Reddit page to clear something up.  He speculated that MTC may have lost some of its "cachet."  

I was flattered to think anyone ever thought it ever had much cachet, but there's probably something to that comment.

MTC will be six years old on Tuesday.  You are reading post number 711.  Hits and pageviews are stronger than ever.   Maybe we should have a party.



But unlike Reddit -- by the way, the guys that run that page do a terrific job and yes, as someone also observed on the last thread, they do appear to clean it up -- the topics here tend to be guided by the posts (although comments have very free reign).  And, this post aside, Your Plainsman hasn't had much original to say lately.

I'm hoping this will change.  It's a time of ferment at The Ticket.  Competition among stations is more vigorous.  The ratings on which broadcast decisions are based are equivocal and may well be faulty.  The JV 43-Man Squamish for attention is heating up.   Contracts will be running out.  Most will probably be renewed, but that day is coming when there will be an organic change in one or more of the shows. 

There's lots to think about, lots to write about.  I'll do my best to continue to find the time.

Thank you for your loyal patronage of My Ticket Confession.


55 comments:

  1. I think there has definitely been more Mike as of late. I've noticed it over the past month. I have even heard Mike get on Corby for trying to butt-in and take over a Mike led segment. I know I've heard on at least two occasions Mike say to Corby, "Hold on and let me finish." I believe Danny and Mike are both conscious of "Over Corby," and make attempts to reel him in. I'm a fan of The Snake but he can dominate the show when not corralled.

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  2. I think Mike is making his presence known in the sportsy segments, particularly Ranger talk as that is his forte. But IMO he is still AWOL on the pop culture segments (for lack of a better term) where "apolitical" Corby takes over with his "apolitical" filibusters on the events of the day. Going back to the OU frat boy incident, I think Mike treads lightly into the waters of personal opinion on those events of the day because he doesn't want to jeopardize gigs for his little twist combos.

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  3. Is Mike more engaged or less engaged? For the moment, more. For the moment. This has become a pattern over the past year or so. Prior to that, and post HL Proper, it wasn't a question, Mike wasn't engaged. Oh yes, the pattern. The pattern consists of Mike caring only when music or some sort of TMZ shit or a degenerate cable channel series involving every taboo in the book is in play. Other than that, nada. Then "something" happens (i.e.,ratings books that can't be ignored/CTO directives/uh, pride and self-esteem/whatever) and at that point anywhere from 2 to 5 weeks, Mike is engaged. Lately, Mike's been engaged. It means nothing. It also means nothing when he's less engaged. He's playing out the string. If Cumulus is dumb enough to give him another contract for anything other than the mid-range of his pay scale, they're dumber than even I thought--and that's pretty fucking dumb. Mike doesn't give a rip. He's reveling in it. He's getting to be a 20something in his mid 60s. And getting paid handsomely to do it. Very handsomely. Specially when you add in the endorsement dough. Mike's neither "making himself known" on segments he's interested in, nor is he "upping his game" in order to reestablish his position as head of THL. He's doing whatever the hell pleases him at the moment because he's in a bona fide "win-win" situation with his career. Barring spewing some un-PC words on-air, the man is gold, he's "in," he's "won the race."

    He knows exactly what he's doing. The Rhyner/Wolf of the halcyon days will never return. He was radio greatness. He was your leader. He was the guy you wanted to be your bud. Donzo. Over. Not coming back. Yeah, you'll get bits and pieces of Rhyner/Wolf; one can't totally eradicate all of one's personality. But on the whole you have a man entering into old age in the midst of one helluva extended midlife crisis. He even speaks like a 22 year old now. Didn't used to be that way. Actually, the man used to be quite eloquent. Now he has trouble beginning, much less finishing, a sentence. Yeah, watch another life of The Boss meets Dylan meets Neil Young while watching Steely Dan fire drummers as Jack White offers his insights on the "sitch" DVDs, Mike. Brain meet mush.

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  4. the breeze is backJune 29, 2015 at 1:32 PM

    Agreed, harsh. There is some truth to it, but there's also a lot that's pure vitriol. Especially the last sentiment. It's The Ticket, not Firing Line. Nor is it a hard core sports station. Frankly, I'm not sure what it is many of you THL sucks, Corby is evil and dumb, Mike doesn't care crowd wants The Ticket to be. Yes, Mike and many of the rest have changed over the years. Thank goodness for it. I suppose most of you have too. I hope so. I hope we're not the same idiot we were 20 years ago...at least not AS idiotic.

    Give them a break. Or quit listening. Having a beef, a criticism with a segment, a trend, etc., is fine. But all this barstool psychoanalysis, imputation of motives, and conjecture about the very core of people you don't actually know Jack squat about is out of control.

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    Replies
    1. Wayyyy too many syllables in that last paragraph dude

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  5. @ the breeze is back

    Are you aware of what you said?

    "But all this barstool psychoanalysis, imputation of motives, and conjecture about the very core of people you don't actually know Jack squat about is out of control."

    Who else could we say this about?

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  6. Ref my response to the breeze is back.

    I was referring to certain Ticket hosts, not the poster.

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  7. "Now he has trouble beginning, much less finishing, a sentence."

    He's always stumbled over his words. The "eight dar" incident was so long ago that Blockbuster still existed.

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  8. Plainsman. 2:55 am here. I didn't mean to come off so harsh. But I did, and I'm embarrassed by it. It's your blog, but if you wouldn't mind, I'd appreciate it, very much, if you deleted my comment. If not, I understand.

    Thanks for hearing me out, either way.

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  9. Been a p1 since the late 90's. I can completely understand the over corby criticisms, but the "mike has checked out" talk as of the past few years is baffling to me. He may not offer the piping hot hso's the hardline was once known for as much these days, but he's still very much on point and engaged 99% of the time, IMO.

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  10. Wow, Sean Bass' fake bigfoot is an epic fail.

    I'm personally glad that Mike doesn't brow beat everyone with political and social views like Corby and Danny do. I don't listen to the Ticket for a sermon or for Rush like HSOs, but when Corby and his sidekick start spewing uninformed, half baked political or social views it is an immediate punch out for me. The way they act like anyone who doesn't agree with their worldview is an idiot or bigot reminds me of an 18 year old with no debate skills or life experience. At least Gordo, as pseudo-progressive as he is, will admit there could be validity to an opposing viewpoint. He will usually at least discuss the other side. Of course I imagine Gordo actually reads up on issues instead of just reading headlines and shooting from the hip.

    I have no problem with Mike. I actually enjoy him as much as I always have. Has he changed, sure, but who hasn't.

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  11. I would like to wish this site a happy sixth birfday.

    Thanks to all Confessors for checking in and popping on.

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  12. If I had to bet on whether Danny has ever made a disparaging or inflammatory remark about someone that he would not have made in that person's presence, I know which way I am betting.

    But thanks for the sermon anyway, Danny. It killed a segment and made us all feel better about ourselves.

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  13. I punched out about 3 minutes into Danny's story yesterday. And if anyone would like to know how Danny has used offensive language....please read this piece from 2007.... http://www.dallasobserver.com/news/a-day-later-more-questions-than-answers-7107592

    But really....I don't care that he used that language. I don't care that those lake guys were telling racist jokes. This is their right. Want to fly a flag of some sort? Go for it! And this is why THL sucks now-because many of us would not want to hang out with these preachy hypocrites.

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  14. Loving "Boom! In the house". Mike and Donnie w/ the machine and TC are great. Really fun enthusiastic show.

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  15. @June 30, 2015 at 8:30 AM
    Even in the segment, Danny did the impression of the "Don't you think that is some information we would have liked to know" in a black accent. I'll never believe that someone from Knox City never participated in racial, sexist, or homophobic jokes with their buddies at some point. I doubt Corby or Danny would bash Christianity like they love to do in the presence of a pastor or priest, and we could go on all day about how many groups are targeted on a daily basis by the little Ticket. I have no problem with the razor's edge the Ticket walks until they get on their soapbox.

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  16. Happy birthday, Pman and your excellent site! Six years. Who'd a thunk a batch of comments by some dude who kept referring to Greggo as HeeHoo would lead to the greatness of MTC. Here's to six plus more years!

    Thanks for doing whatcha do, Pman, and chase that money.

    P.S. Agree that Mike has changed, but still cares. Also agree that I prefer not to hear Corby and Danny espouse their socio-political views in such a "soft"-totalitarian manner. But such is life lived in a bubble.

    P.S.S. Right there with you, Breeze.

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  17. An interesting FiveThirtyEight article on ratings, especially after what Cat had to say.

    http://fivethirtyeight.com/features/did-nielsen-kill-the-radio-star/

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  18. H/T to Ready1Take1 at the reddit site:

    Interesting....

    http://www.journalism.org/2015/04/29/audio-fact-sheet/

    DA, what say you, friend?

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  19. I'm liking the 10AM dry-dock tandem of Donnie and Sirois. And, the morning show hasn't been bad the last two days either. The 5:30am "throw-away" segment was a pretty good argument today. The 8:40 bit yesterday with Bigfoot was a stretch, but you have to start somewhere. Makes you appreciate how hard it is for Gordo to do that almost every day for the past 20 years.

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  20. Happy birthday to the old MTC.

    @ Anon some comments up who wants his comment deleted:
    it doesn't matter because like all of the other Anon's who post here, you all seem like the same person to me so there's no need to feel embarrassed. ..we don't know who you are.

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  21. Once again, Corby pontificates without thinking through what he is saying. On a station that is a week out from Summer Bash, on a show that has featured Disgruntled Bikini Girls, Corby rails against TV beauty pageants for sexualizing women.

    But props to Corby for fighting through the shingles and showing up for work. My wife had shingles and she could barely move for a couple of days.

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  22. @rockarolla,

    Digital radio and for the most part podcasting still cannot be monetized, thus there still is the problem for terrestrial radio. Those P1s here with other states in the handle, are difficult for the local radio stations to identify advertisers because they are in so many different areas. Then there still is the fact that listeners will continue to access digital radio at an earlier and earlier age, which is still detrimental to the terrestrial radio.

    Even Mike Francessa talked about digital monetization in his haughty way in a Talkers convention recently.

    https://jasonbarrett13.wordpress.com/2014/07/16/mike-francesas-keynote-address/

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  23. I'm for the most part enjoying the morning-mid-morning lineup. TSJ is good, but I wish people would tap the brakes a bit when it comes to anointing Jake as the weekday host in-waiting. He often yells his points across in a "I'm right, you're not-Dylan the argumentative teen" manner. He also has a tendency to get wound up and speak as fast as he possibly can. Case in point was this morning's phoner with Eddie Sefko. You could barely understand what he was saying. He was so excited to get his thoughts out that he began to run words into each other. Jake is obviously talented and smart. He also has much to work on where hosting and presentation are concerned. I'm not sure if IJB helps or hurts him. You'd think the former, but I don't know. Sean, on the other hand, is much more measured and controlled. Even his case of "I gotta be right-itis" has been muted. Perhaps that's because Jake's affliction is so over the top, perhaps it's due to maturing, who knows? All in all, I'm not sure if they're the best pairing-for either of them. But when the show is "on" it's very listenable. However it's still a work in progress and not ready for primetime. Not just yet, at least. This experience, hopefully, will go a ways in fixing that.

    Donnie and Sirois are a nice fit. I would definitely listen to them instead of Norm, if Norm should retire. Donnie's personality shines with Sirois. He's more open. Ditto Sirois. He gets to voice his HSOs without fear.

    I like Corby and Danny, but yes, this week of righteousness and indignation has been a bit too much to swallow. They work with Ticket Chicks, for the love of Pete. How many times over the years has Danny donned a "black" voice? Far too many to count. The list of "insensitivities" by either of those two would exceed the character-limit of the com-box. Suffice it to say that Danny and Corby should clean their own houses before shaming others in such a public and extended manner. That's not to say they shouldn't have and/or voice their opinions; but they ought to remember their own indiscretions and follies, and perhaps temper their enthusiasm in their "it feels so good to be in the right/on the right side of history" proclamations.

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  24. Well put, 653. Well put all the way around.

    Really digging BIT. Like 653 said, Donnie is just flat out killing it. Sirois the same. I think Cat found something with that duo. Machine's hit a sweet spot with his role too.

    Seriously loving me some Ticket After Hours programming. Last night's NBA trade talk was rocking. Keep it coming, Cat.

    My only bitch is about the music show on Sundays. I've never listened to it because I don't care for that sort of music. But those promos are enough to make me not want to, even if I did like that kind of music. All the hashtag crap and the wry NPR voice is such a turn off. The guy sounds like that jack ass who does the new McDonald's campaign. The one hawking the new sirloin burgers. Bad touch. He comes off as very throttle worthy.

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  25. Mark is a great guy give him a chance. He's not nearly as pretentious as he sounds.

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  26. I don't get to listen on the weekend as much, though I try to make it for the KickAround whenever I can because I am a soccer fan and enjoy the dedication to the sport. That being said, I don't get to listen to the Shake Joint much, most of what I know about it is from this site. So, my opinion was a little low going in, but I enjoyed it. And they capped their week off with a great interview with Banny.

    And BITH continues to impress every time they come on. While I really like Norm, would love to see Donnie and Mike get a permanent opportunity, though I think it might get old if they do it for more than two hours a day every day.

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  27. BTW - not a fan of Rotten Radio. I understand why they do it, but I would almost rather have generic national sports talk than that jumbled mess that seems to always be 75% Musers.

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  28. I have really enjoyed this past week. The Reddit site has actually had an interesting discussion about Norm's place on the station. It makes me glad there are others who defend him, but I understand why he is not a favorite. Though I have been critical of Jake, I thought he and Sean did a great job filling in for the Musers. I would continue to listen to the Ticket is this was the full time line up. Still punched out on THL.

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  29. Loving the impromptu, on their day off, Mavs talk. This is The Ticket at its best. Atta boy, Machine and co.!

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  30. Awesome! Another "Cool Concert Venues I Get to Go To" segment!

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  31. They take time out of their day off to do some killer radio...even have Cuban on.... But some of you will never be satisfied. Nothing they do is ever good enough. Always something to bitch about. No wonder Cray Trey called this place a cesspool or something along those lines.

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  32. Hi

    First I agree with the last that noone will ever be happy. I listen to the shows I like and tune out to those I don't. Norm wears me out so I switch to Pandora/ESPN/fan same for the Hardline. Simple enough and I don't have to be pissed all day. I get this is a place to talk about The Ticket, but some people here are the definition of insanity. How do you tolerate your job each day.....the best way to get change is hit them in the wallet. Stop listening and if others feel the same eventually things will change. If the never do you won't now because you stopped listening.


    On a positive note... does anyone know if the Kickaround does a podcast? I get to listen to the show sometimes but want to hear it again or shows I missed.
    I will hang up and listen.

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  33. Dear Fahy,

    Stop using the verbal crutch "like" before every other word. It makes you sound like a teenager.

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  34. Well I guess I won't be listening to the Hardline shift next week. Rhadigan and Dave Lane all week? I'll pass.

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  35. Rhads and Davey aren't terrible. At least they aren't any worse than Rhads with anyone at all. Davey will lay back and issue shocking/inappropriate comments while Rhads yells everything, so there is a lot of e-brake potential.

    The Cuban segments yesterday were gold and it was awesome of everyone to stop what they were doing to go up to the station and broadcast on their day off. I'm glad I was able to catch some of it.

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  36. I see nothing wrong with criticizing a show that was once great and has lost its way by pointing out where I think the presentation suffers. Silence is tacit approval. Or surrender.

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  37. It's the gratuitousness of it all, 117. Anytime Corby says anything, it seems like someone leaves a negative comment. It's getting to be the same way for Mike and Danny. At some point, if these personalities rub a you (or anyone) the wrong way to such a degree, what's the use of complaining?, just stop listening. If you read Cat's AMA answers, then you know that THL ain't changing. Not one damn bit is it changing. Agree or disagree with Cat, you're only peeing on your own leg if you persist in moaning over everything THL says/its presentation. I too wish it would go back to the way it used to be. It isn't. THL took its Howard Stern path, and so too did I--that is, I stopped listening. Like a lot of P1s I know, my Ticket listening day ends as soon as the nuke goes off at the end of WTDS. If I can, I'll catch the Top Ten and any After Hours programming. Other than that, WTDS is where I turn the dial. I suggest to all of you who can't stop complaining about THL to try it. You might find that it suits you. Life's hard enough. To constantly piss and moan about something that supposedly brings you pleasure, or at the very least is a nice distraction, seems like a lot of self-inflicted pain.

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  38. @6:27

    Kinda like complaining about what people post here, isn't it?

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  39. @12:14
    Until the ratio between posts bitching about THL or TC and bitching about the bitchers begins to even out, your point doesn't hold much weight. It might be a nice "gotcha" line, but it's not very substantive. At least not at this point.

    I think Bruce and Owen are doing a bang up job on the Stars Sunday Power Hour or whatever it's called. The Kick Around gets better every week. Looking forward to their EPL preview show on August 8. The weekends in general are really beginning to come into form. Though I'm not yet sold on The Orphanage's replacement. There needs to be some continuity to it before it can grow. While I like Fahy's Top Ten work, as a host he has far to go. As 11:24 said, his overuse of "like" dilutes and distracts from what he's saying. And to finish, I think Machine needs a bigger presence. Jake is obviously the station golden boy, but for my money, Machine is far more objective and willing to rethink an issue/opinion in light of changing circumstances and evidence. Jake, on the other hand, get far too dug in and wedded to a particular narrative. But don't get me wrong, Jake is a part of the future, and a bright part of the future at that.

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  40. Sure glad The Musers are back, that was a long 2 weeks. Didn't listen to more than an hour of the replacements across the entire 2-week stretch.

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  41. Mike Sirois, the Machine and TC. I didn't realize the Ticket had a new show called the Beat Down. I know dry dock lends itself to some odd pairings but I've decided to check out the Fan for the first time. Thanks a lot Obama.

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  42. Way too much soccer today. Way too much!

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  43. The women's team wins the World Cup yesterday, the mens team plays a meaningful game in Frisco tomorrow. It's one day of soccer being discussed on each show. Easy, Turbo. Easy.

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  44. Does anyone have a link to junior's recap of France? Missed it and don't see it on sports day. Thanks!

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  45. I actually enjoyed Rhads and Davey yesterday. Went in expecting to punch out pretty quickly, but I rode it out. Not terrible. Now I am preparing myself mentally to jab sharp sticks in my eyes during the Tom Grieve Show.

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  46. http://www.chirbit.com/SportsGreek/ Will have the entire show but looks to be a few days behind

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  47. Here's the Junior story: http://chirb.it/D2tr6A

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  48. The Musers just did a NASCAR/confederate flag segment. I didn't agree with everything they said, but I never felt like I was being lectured to.

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  49. @8:24Anon

    I was pretty uncomfortable listening to Jub during that segment. It seemed like he was either a) forced to defend a stance that he didn't agree with or b) is one of the "Southern Pride/Southern Heritage" people himself. He was stammering over his words and didn't really have any convincing arguments that defended his position.

    On another topic - One of the bad things about the Hardline being on vacation this week? We will have to listen to Corby "over-Corby" about soccer several times NEXT week. Just when you thought that all the soccer stuff was done....

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  50. Well, except for when at the end, Junior decided to shout about 4 times in a row how this is happening and there's nothing you can do about it, so deal with it. Other than that, yeah, agreed, 824.

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  51. Jake utterance during the final segment of Bad radio today: "would this be the worst thing that has ever happened to the franchise?" (Re: Jordan back to Clips)

    Dallas Mavericks: Home of 11–71/13-69 back to back, Quinn Buckner, Jim Cleamons, Roy Tarpley certain HOF career flameout, Kiki Vandeweghe, bill Garnet/Randy White/Doug Smith, universal recognition as the worst pro sports franchise of the 1990s…

    Is Jake really the best that the JV has to offer?

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  52. It's called being 30 going on 22 and having no sense or knowledge of history. We are the history, we are the era that we've waited for...or something like that.

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  53. and now George AND Craig and callers are all agreeing it was the darkest day in Mavs history.

    So there's that.

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