Sunday, July 9, 2017

Is The Ticket a Good Buy?


This site's good friend DA writes in a comment at the end of the last thread:

Say The Musers make 40%+ of the station revenue.  If Cumulus sold The Ticket and the 1310 signal, what would the investors by buying long term? Mike and Norm are at the end. Each of the Musers could move on quickly if Cumulus voids contracts and trying to bill equal to The Musers after if even one leaves becomes an issue. Plus, the off air staff costs and sales turnover is a constant radio issue.

That is a very interesting and valid point.  I would issue not so much a mild and respectful disagreement, as a perspective that shifts the assumptions somewhat.

DA's point applies broadly to any asset that depends on individual talent.  Think about a sports team.  It's worth more if it's talent is good and the talent is assured of sticking around for awhile.  What distinguishes the teams that are valuable year after year from those that have their ups and downs?    It's management -- the ability to keep the inventory of talent strong and fresh.  It's other things, too, but I'm focusing here on DA's point.  (NB:  The analogy is not perfect -- there are a limited number of Big Four sports teams to buy and sell, and so scarcity drives up the price irrespective of athletic or management talent.)

My view is that The Ticket is like those teams with lots of talent that is backed by strong and savvy management.   Think about it:  The individual talent of the hosts is undeniable.  But management -- invented, in the beginning, by Mike Rhyner and other founders -- is responsible for both permitting and encouraging the highly-personalized, draw-back-the-curtain type of talk that results in an identification between them and the listeners.  It combines this with strongly show-identifiable features (O-Deck, Homer Call, E-News, etc.), station promotions (GNO, Fight Night, etc.), and other lesser touches that make the station stand out.  The talent is the foundation, but management provides the framework and direction -- and sometimes the discipline -- in which it can succeed.

Even though the current hosts have all been around a long time, I would also suggest that a critical element of The Ticket's success is management's identification and strategic promotion of new talent.  New voices are added, some stick and fit in with the Ticket ethos, some don't.  Gradually, some get more exposure.  How does this fit with DA's point?  Consider his scenario of host departure for some reason.  Wouldn't most of us listen to Country Force over the competition if it got a slot?  Shake Joint? Cirque (when not on a frequent vacation; also, Cirque probably the least likely replacement as its hosts have other things to do)?  Not a Podcast has its partisans.  And wouldn't that keep The Ticket on top?  And valuable?

[Side note:  Unless there were a bankruptcy, I am doubtful that Cumulus would be able to unilaterally "void contracts."  But to DA's major point -- contacts certainly do expire and Cumulus could chose not to renew them.]

"I'll start the bidding at $700 -- but I only want David Mino."

Despite rumbles of it being near the end for Mike and Norm and even some younger hosts who want to do other things, I think both of those worthies, and even the younger voices, are going to be around for quite some time.  Got no concrete inside poop on this and DA may well be right that their days are numbered.  But it's just the feeling I get.  The P1 has been anticipating their exit for quite some time, but my sense is that this is just way, way too sweet for each of them, and Norm has some big fans in upper management.


Another point is that the a buyer of a business will take steps to avoid the very problems DA has identified.  It would make sure it had its main hosts under contract for a meaningful future period. It would also likely insist on noncompetes, for which it would pay the affected hosts extra as part of the deal.   And it would tie up key managers and executives in exactly the same way.

So if The Ticket were on the block, I think buyers with dollars would be lined up around it.

ThePlainsman1310@gmail.com
@Plainsman1310


78 comments:

  1. Currently I listen to the Musers and Bad Radio all day every day. Never listen to a minute of Norm and D, and will occasionally listen to bits and pieces of The Hardline. I would listen to 100% of The Shake Joint if it became a full-time show because I'm a Jake P1. But there's not another fill-in show that I would listen to if it went full-time. For me it wouldn't be about listening to them vs the competition; I'd just devote my ear listening time to podcasts or music instead.

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  2. Also, keep in mind Mike has said repeatedly that a stand-alone station can no longer make it on its own. The new owner would have to have very deep pockets (Mark Cuban) or be part of a larger broadcast group. The Entercom group is about to take over the CBS stations across the country. There may be huge changes coming to the D/FW airwaves even if Cumulus doesn't implode.

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  3. I am done being a Corby and HL defender. They apparently don't have a high enough WOnderlic to figure out that if Yu Darvish had the run support that almost any other picture in the league gets, he would have far more wins. They blame Yu when he loses 2 to 0 or 1 to 0. There anti-Yu takes are beyond stupid. The guy literally needs to pitch a shutout to have a chance to win.

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  4. I agree with all your points DA and Plainsman...the only thing I'll throw out there as a monkey wrench is that The Ticket appears to be an extreme outlier in the radio world.

    1.) Hosts do not appear to be chasing money, they're definitely not hurting but I definitely think they're leaving money on the table to work at The Ticket.
    2.) The Ticket has a rabid fanbase that is the envy of the radio world
    3.) It's existed in its current form for 17 years now and has been around for longer.

    If Cumulus implodes, the new owners may value corporate policy over whatever is working at the ticket. Maybe they don't run original programming on the weekend, maybe they don't have a spot for middle management, maybe they syndicate 10-3.

    Hopefully, though, the ticket is safe for awhile, I think anyone who wants to change it would be a major dingus to do so, the thing will be stocked for awhile if they can keep the JV around for awhile....The Shakejoint rivals anything the Fan has to offer, or any other station I've heard in my travels.

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  5. Anonymous 10:27, you can apparently add George to your list after hearing him this morning. He said he has no numbers to back it up, but he thinks Yu "isn't a winner." Junior said to pay him anything to keep him here. Jub heard Junior and Sean throw out number after number, but he was just, "Yeah, I know all that...but still." I wanted to punch my radio.

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  6. Re: Yu Talk, I love the Musers but they roll out the same tired Yu segment after every single one of his starts. It's become a punch-out for me. I get it, George, you don't think Yu is worth $30 million per year.

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  7. I became a big Yu fan when he faced C.J.Wilson for the first time. Yu knew what it meant to the fans and after a really long rain delay came out to the mound pointing at the Angels bullpen laughing and wondering where C.J. was. He could have easily skipped the rest of the game also but he didn't. So much for not caring about the team. Pay the man his money.

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  8. it's all starting to happen

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  9. So: That may be the most tautological tautology I've ever heard.

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  10. boo, if it's about saving money, maybe go syndicate from 10-3, and have BaD from 3-7 drive. Then maybe be give Shake Joint a 7-10 gig.

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  11. slinky: If you syndicate from 10-3 are you not giving up five hours of valuable live and local ad time to sell? True, you would still get some local drop in's but the majority of the ad space would be national ads that pay the syndicators.

    If it's about saving money, you cut out the trips to the Super Bowl, training camps, GNO, Fight Night, and all other station promotions. You also low-ball talent or outright release them at the end of contracts. See Mark Davis at WBAP and the destruction of KSFO in San Franciso.

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  12. Great points, Gopher. If anyone thinks The Ticket would \could never be touched, much less dismantled, because of its success, let what took place at KSFO be a cautionary taste of warning for you.

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  13. Gopher, I believe the trips to training camps, GNO, etc are paid for by sponsors.

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  14. Welp, I'm sure glad I had the AM frequency available in my car this morning, because the FM signal was so weak I couldn't make out much that the Musers were saying. I'm specifically talking about 7:00-8:00 on my commute up the tollway from south Arlington to Las Colinas. Your mileage may vary, but from where I was, the Little One was getting drowned out by static and possibly another station.
    Note to other commenters: I am aware that there is a smartphone app I could have listened to. But that would have required me pulling over during my commute. Typically, the signal is just fine. Not sure why it was to awful today.

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  15. Second James. The FM signal has been iffy the past day or so, and especially today. Like James, I enjoyed the warm tones of 1310 AM The Ticket as I drove to work. It sounds to me like it's (1) weak, and (2) getting "interference," or whatever the proper term is, from the HD signal. You'll hear the main signal cut out, then hear the last second or two over again as the shadow signal kicks in. And the two signals are not of equivalent sound quality.

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  16. Speaking of the AM signal, a ghost of the Ticket's past is no more. The tower for 1700AM has been taken down. In the days before the FM signal was acquired, 1700 was a godsend to those of us here in Big Sky Country.

    Typical weather related problems with the FM signal this morning. I was hearing mexican music depending on which direction I was traveling.

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  17. Gopher, is that the tower that was in the Sherman/Dennison area?

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  18. @slinky @gopher

    I totally agree, what I was getting at with my rambling is that I imagine it costs alot to run the ticket (it probably also makes alot of money), so if there is a takeover its not unreasonable that our precious ticket gets on the s-list in a hurry...I can see the boardroom convo now "Here at XYZ broadcasting we like to foster a lean mentality, we operate as a startup", which in my mind would be broadcasting speak for putting an ipod on shuffle and connecting the aux cord.

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  19. Plainsman:
    Yes. It was the tower about four miles west of Van Alstyne on FM 121. It may have had a Gunter address.

    The tower is down but the transmitter building is still there. Odd.

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  20. Enjoyed Mike and Corby's interview with Don Merideth's son on a project he is doing on the 60's Cowboys. One of the best things I have heard from them in quite some time.

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  21. Jake just did a segment on the future of sports media while filling in for Corby on the Hardline. They teased the segment earlier in the show by Jake telling Mike he wants his opinion on it since he's been around the business for a long time. Mike must have fallen asleep during the segment, because he barely spoke a word. Jake kept trying to get him involved, but he added absolutely nothing. I couldn't believe what I was hearing. The old gray wolf either didn't care about the segment at all or he was busy preparing for his next segment, which was about a rock show. Yeah, shocking I know.

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  22. 6:02. I noticed the SAME thing. There was an uncomfortable amount of silence. He finally chimed in at the end and sounded a little aggravated.

    It was a better time before Petty Theft and Bird Dogs and voicing their political/social opinions as often. But they've made their $$ and IMO do their shows more for each other now rather than the P1. They are all quick to tell you via social media "if you don't like it...change the channel". I believe the start of it was when MR stated "we don't owe the P1 a THING". Maybe...just maybe they haven't changed...but the P1 has.

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  23. Did everyone hear last Friday when Mike totally tuned out the 3:30 segment where Corby told a story about running into someone he knew in Colorado randomly? Mike was completely silent after Corby revealed it was Junes Miller he ran into, so Corby said asked Mike, "You're not impressed with that? Randomly seeing someone like that?"

    Mike: "Who'd you see?"

    Turns out Mike was looking at pictures of himself playing guitar with Petty Theft.

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  24. Regarding the future of sports media segment, I heard the awkwardness as well. I felt very bad for Jake because that segment was clearly meant for Mike to expound upon more due to his years in the industry. But he pretty much laid out on him and showed complete disinterest. Jake is a pro so he did his best to get through it but I could hear the struggle in his voice due to a complete lack of participation by Mike. It infuriated me. Jake was there to help fill in and that is the treatment he gets? I used to defend Mike no matter what. But his recent treatment of Machine and David Mino combined with his lay out on Jake, I am done with the guy. I would much rather have the JV step up in his place because at least they care and give effort. Unacceptable.

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  25. Sitting here loving thl without corby. Lmao at the bear butt crack story

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  26. Sitting here loving thl without corby. Lmao at the bear butt crack story

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  27. I'm not sure I can stand one more "thumb-up" comment from, Mike R. The most grade-school-ishis "s" I've ever heard on the radio. Just about done with Hard Line. Hasn't been worth a dang since Greggo left.

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  28. When you're closer to 70 than 60, consistently hang out with and seek the approval of people closer to your daughter's age than your own, and constantly talk about thumbing up, foojs, hainjs, popping' ts, and promoting one of several tribute bands you front ...you might have a problem.

    He used to be my leader. That was long long ago.

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  29. What did I miss between Mike & Mino? I have noticed in the Hardline open that Mike doesn't do the "suh dude" to Mino when introducing him like he used to.

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  30. Never mind.....found it on the last post

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  31. Substituting Jake for Corby makes THL listenable again. It's like addition by subtraction by addition.

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  32. I agree with every objection made here about the stuff Corby does, and his and Danny's "Watching You" segment the other day was particularly misguided. That said, I find that his pros outweigh his cons, and find him to be an entertaining listen most days.

    My afternoon drive-time preferences, in order:

    1. Hardline with Greggo
    2. Hardline without Greggo.
    3. Cowlishaw and whoever else he has on there.
    4. A pile of silverware dropped down three flights of aluminum stairs.
    5. The Fan

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  33. James…I agree with your consensus but I think for long-term succession planning, we miss the point. I saw some Confessors up-thread mentioning that with the ultimate departure of Norm and Rhynes, there would be the potential that BaD move into evening drive time. While I have not sampled much of what else the D/FW sport talk landscape has to offer, I do believe that BaD would still lead other sports talk out there. There was even the shocking thought that mid-days would be filled with syndicated shows.

    What is missed here is that Norm and Donnie benefit greatly from following the Musers. Dunham and Miller are no doubt the flag ship in this fleet. I wouldn’t be as likely to tune back into BaD if NaD were a total tuneout. If you put a black hole in between the drive-times, BaD would take a massive hit. It’s a simple matter of there wasn’t enough for me to tune out at noon but not enough for me to tune in at 3:00.

    My question is what happens to Corby in all this? What other pairing works for him? Do you think it’s Jake? I think with the confidence gained from a promotion to Tier 1, Jakes would make Corby look foolish and Corby would not have that. He would call Corby out on the stuff we all wish Mike would do.

    Where does Donnie go? I assume that they would do Sirois a solid but does that throw anyone’s skirt up? Maybe it’s the Shake Joint? Country Force? The Little One is suffering what most stations are. Talent is not going into radio. The numbers support that it is a dying medium. That’s on top of how tough it was to break into a decent paying job in its heyday.

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  34. ellislives: my comment was more about what I will turn the knob to right now, saying that Corby doesn't drive me away from the Little One on my way home. I didn't mean to prognosticate on what the future holds.

    Without putting a lot of thought into it, I'd say that if THL were to get replaced, my preference would be BAD, and I think it would do well.

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  35. TC did a nice job producing Jake and Dan's show today....


    What's that? Machine was producing? Strange. TC spent the whole show flapping his gums. It's mind blowing nobody has told him to back off the throttle on the chime-ins. He does it WAY more than any other ticker guy, and today he was on more than the producer.

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  36. Tc was great today. His chiming in during non sports related segments was not too intrusive and he let the game come to him for the most part.

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  37. Shots fired. More tension today by rhyner quickly dismissing any input led by Mike Marshall during WTDS. It certainly doesn't appear to be a bit and rhines clearly does not give an F.

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  38. Other than the stock price dropping, is there something to make people here speculate about the national feed during the day? The ratings are through the roof even for shows like THL who don't prepare/care. Not a radio insider or follower just curious what makes you think this.

    I would really selfishly like to see Bob leave the Ticket or at least the show. He bring so much to the conversation and gets bogged down by the show he is on. On various broadcast he is on makes me wish he did it more. I enjoy his sports knowledge and insights he brings. Not just bogging down or being a antagonist. A Jake and Bob show for my sports brain would be an instant listen from day 1

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  39. 3:16. You are dead on!! I was thinking the same thing. TC feels very comfortable on BaD to chime in at will. Just because you have a mic in front of you...

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  40. "A pile of silverware dropped down three flights of aluminum stairs."

    I'm submitting this to the Pulitzer committee.

    James, keep an eye on your mailbox.

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  41. Anonymous vs. Anonymous fights on MTC are better than Mayweather/McGregor promos.

    I hate Fight Night, but a series with y'all may cause even me to fly in.



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  42. I had no idea what 824 was talking about or to whom he was referring, but no matter -- he's gonzo.

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  43. I sincerely hope everything is OK with Justin Montemayor. His extended absence has me concerned and if it is a health issue I really hope he recovers soon.

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  44. Might be on vacay. Even the JV gets em.

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  45. Wasn't at he a pool tournament or something last week? Or was that a bit?

    Justin stops by here once in awhile for a cup of coffee, so perhaps if he sees the Confessors' concern he'll drop us a line.

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  46. Kick Around just referred to him playing in a pro pool tourney.

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  47. Bits ahoy.

    Sports Day's favorite DFW broadcaster tournament comes down to Gordon Keith v. Eric Nadel.

    I wonder who's going to win . . .

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  48. The billiards tour talk is definitely a bit. I'm surprised anyone still falls for that stuff.

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  49. Insufficient, CP1. What's the bit?

    First I've heard of it.

    I admit Justin participating in a billiards contest seemed a little odd, but nothing about it said "bit" to me, unless it's a frequent reported placeholder for "vacation," and I'd never heard it before. And they wouldn't be doing a bit if Justin were unwell.

    Actually . . . they might.

    But CP1 is required to fill us benighted listeners in on what makes that "definitely a bit."

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  50. I agree with our Plainsman. All the bits I've heard about time off revolve around sex changes or gastrointestinal issues. It seems like a far fetched story to have received legs especially among his Tier 4 brethren.

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  51. ellislives: Thanks for the support.

    But please do not use the phrase "to have received legs" with respect to Justin's absence.

    I know, I know.

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  52. Justin was supposed to be doing morning tickers all this week but Ty was in this morning. Don't know if they mentioned anything

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  53. That is alarming.

    Whatever the reason for his absence, My Ticket Confession wishes Justin the best and a speedy return.

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  54. You're better than that.

    We're better than that.

    Stop trying to to get a leg up on the competition by stooping to these heights.

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  55. At the beginning of Not a Podcast filling in for the Hardline, Mike Marshall reported that Justin is indeed hospitalized. I gathered from his remarks that he is not in mortal peril and will be back "in a couple weeks." He invited listeners to send Justin a tweet.

    He said his two favorite things to watch while laid up are professional billiards and "Fast & Furious" movies.

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  56. @ anon 1:am July 14.....I don't see the "problem" with anyone that enjoys doing what they like. After you turn 65, are you supposed to say "Well, I guess it's time to slide the guitar under the bed and get the rockin chair out!"? Rhyner doesn't try to be something he's not. Hey, if it helps keep you young, you're health is good, and you're not bothering anybody...I say go for it! I've always been a fan of Rhynes, and that won't change; I just can't tolerate Corby any longer. But at least he didn't go the route of that douchebag Richie Whit...Ed Hardy, Affliction, and True Religion jeans!

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  57. Slinky, perfectly legit viewpoint.

    Question: Do you believe that Mike R is as engaged with the show as he ever was? If not, do you think his outside projects have anything to do with that? If not, why do you think he checks out so much (if you think he does)?

    If you are tempted to answer "because Corby hogs everything," that's fine, a lot of people might say that. But that suggests the next question: Why does Mike R, who is senior to the whole darned station and an operational bigfoot, allow that to happen?

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  58. I had no hard evidence that it was definitely a bit. I just thought it was obvious from the way they were talking about it that they weren't serious about him being gone because of a pool tournament. I also thought that if Monty actually was embarking on an extended vacation to compete in a pool tournament, we would have heard something about it before he left, this being a sports station and all.

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  59. Actually Shaggy's comment also triggers a vague recollection of some talk when Justin first went out about Ty being suddenly called into action, but I couldn't pinpoint the day or time. It was nearly two weeks ago. If it were a planned vacation then nobody would have been suddenly called in.

    Thoughts and prayers. I'm a big Monty fan, I think as a host he's a notch or two above Machine and both of Country Force (and Seabass for that matter). I'd like to hear a Jake and Justin pairing for a weekend show.

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  60. Someone want to explain the legs thing to me? I don't know much about Justin other than he had cancer as a teenager.

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  61. He had to have his leg amputated as part of beating cancer.

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  62. Big Jake fan. Love the guy. But I'm Calling BS on him and his fellow students being called into the gym to watch the not guilty oj Simpson verdict. He mentioned this on the 1:30 news. I just don't buy it at all.

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  63. Did anybody else hear "Intential Grounding" sub in for THL today?!? It was terrible! Actually had the city manager on for TWO segments (I guess because the first was so riveting!) to talk about budgets and Chief of Police applicants. WTH?!? Now I know why I never ever listened to their typical wed nite show. I understand they don't do this very often however, there was no flow, people talking over each other (TC was great for that) and then uncomfortable radio silence. DM had nothing to add. One time when they came back from RW commented that people on social media weren't happy to hear them in this slot. Why oh why wouldn't Cat put in the JV to get some work/experience in?? I thought they were doing just fine the past couple of days with the different JV/tier 1 subs (Donovan).

    Agree with the Justin fans. Hope he's back soon. Miss that dude! He's funny, self deprecating and Knowledgeable AND i have no clue to his politics.

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  64. 220, I believe Jake. At my workplace, a TV was set up in a large meeting room and the whole workforce showed up to watch the verdict. I don't know if you are old enough to remember, but it was a gigantic event. The following is from the Business Insider:

    "Long-distance telephone calls dropped by 58%

    "Electric consumption surged as Americans turned on their televisions

    "Water usage decreased because people were reluctant to go to the bathroom and miss the verdict

    "Trading volume dropped 41% on the New York Stock Exchange

    "Government meetings were delayed

    "Press conferences were postponed

    "The president left the Oval Office to watch the verdict with his staff

    "Supreme Court justices hearing a case arranged to have notes passed to them alerting them of the verdict

    "Productivity plummeted in many workplaces around the country, costing about $480 million in lost output

    "Even students were watching the verdict during school hours. Business Insider's Senior News Editor Erin Fuchs said her classmates remember televisions being wheeled into the lunchroom and classrooms of her high school in Georgia so that they wouldn't miss out. Deputy Editor Julie Zeveloff remembers the same thing happening in her elementary school in New Jersey."

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  65. 2:20, I believe you just got swatted out to half court

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  66. I can tell you exactly where I was when verdict was read. I was at the Galleria mall, standing in the television section of Macy's. There were two young black gentleman standing next to me watching as well. When the verdict was read, they high-fived and one of them screamed "Buss a move O.J.!!" They laughed and walked off. As for Wilonsky, yeah, I listened to it too. I'll admit...maybe a little drawn out. But nobody has a better pulse on what goes on in this city. That's his specialty, and really enjoy his articles.

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  67. Is there a beef between Hollywood and David Mino? Have noticed that Mike no longer introduces Mino during the show open. Have also noticed him taking shots at him during WTDS. Is this another person in Mike's crosshairs that will soon be run off?

    That The Wolf had mellowed a bit.

    Stay hard.

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  68. Thought The Wolf had mellowed a bit.

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  69. F, we've been speculating on this and his apparent issues with Mike Marshall for awhile now. I thought maybe a Deep Ticket Informant might drop me a line, but I haven't heard anything.

    Mike has always taken shots at board guys with their fingers on the drop buttons, but in the past it has always seemed like a bit. This has kind of a different flavor.

    If I get wind of anything I'll advise.

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  70. Rhyner needs to be put on the ice sheet and pushed away from shore. It's time.

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  71. Hey, Slinky, anon 1am-7/14 here. There's nothing wrong with playing music, in any form, at any age. If you read the entirety of my comment (which, by basing your entire comment around one aspect of mine, I have to think you didn't), you'd see that I laid out a dossier of sorts by which I came to my conclusion. Whether you agree with it or not, I don't care, but if you're going to address it, please, at least speak to the whole of it, and not cherry pick.

    In fairness, perhaps I should've been more specific as regards the music part. By that, I was referring to Rhyner being called out by his coworkers for looking at photos of himself playing rather than paying attention to the show. Rhyner, for the umpteenth time in the past few years, was caught yet again having no idea what was being discussed on-air due to being distracted by his hobby. That was the point of the music portion of my comment. It tied into the rest of my thoughts and therefore the overall claim of the comment.

    Said claim is as follows (and it counters the gist your response, as well): I've been listening to The Hardline since they were on mid-mornings (think Norm and D and the BaD slots combined). The Rhyner I grew up with--from my mid 20s--was not the guy I hear nowadays. That Rhyner had no qualms remarking on a woman's looks (good and bad), but he also never talked liked a high school kid about hand/foot jobs, vigorous and sustained attention given to breasts, and attempt to speak the lingo of people half (and more than half) his age/act like the older guy who asks you not to call him "Mr." but instead his first name (you know, to relate..."I'm not old, I'm young like you"). In short, Rhyner IS trying to be something he's not. Sadly, I think he's now become it. As a result, he's boring and rarely meaningfully engaged or engaging (though when he is, he's the absolute best). Sorry, but in my book that's not staying young; that's one helluva protracted midlife-crisis, one that's extended into senior citizenship. This isn't the Rhyner I knew for so many years. This isn't the Rhyner who, along with Greggo, laid out and were audibly put off by Corby and Danny's "Rhnyer's talking penis" bit. Nowadays, he's not only likely to join it, but to start it. If you think that sort of thing is the stuff of an old timer staying young and want to atta boy it, as Guy Sports would say: "it's your bus and you're the driver." For me, there's a marked difference between aging youthfully and acting a fool.

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  72. To add on: Let me be clear, Rhyner used to be my leader. When that guy would say something, everyone paid attention. Why? Because you knew he'd thought long and hard about it (that's what she said). He used to be one not to suffer fools. Could he be brusque on occasion, sure, but nine times out of ten his assessment of the object of his mild animus was dead on. I miss the hell outta that Rhyner. I still love the guy, but that doesn't mean I have to like much of his on-air devolution. But yes, I still listen. What else worth a crap is on during hours between 3 and 7pm? Not a damn thing. Look, if I didn't care, I wouldn't cry.

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  73. Wooo....take a breath there cowboy...

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  74. It's a combox, Keith Jones, and they exist in order to express opinions--regardless of the length, thoughtfulness, or snarkiness of the opinion.

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  75. Great one, Shaggy. You're, a, brilliant. Yeah, that's The Ticket.

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  76. Agree with Anon 2:42. Greggo deserved to go, but it changed the way Ryhner operates. The other two middle age guys just don't do it. The Musers and BAD are highly functioning machines. I'll listen to THL every once in awhile, but for the same reason as Anon - nothing else out there.

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  77. Anyone remember the last time the 8:40 bit was funny?

    Another reason to dislike Jack Kemp is he actually thinks Ernest is funny.

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