I'm rummaging through old draft posts that never got posted. Here's one from 2014. Kind of a give-up at this point, I know, but the more I thought about it, the more I was interested in the answer. Let us hear from you if you were in that club or know anything much about it.
To make up for its brevity, I offer two reds.
Thanks.
-- Plainsman
* * *
Were you or anyone you know a member of the Highland Park High School Ticket Club? If so, let us hear from you about those heady days. The Hardline talks about the Club once in awhile, and Corby did today. One of its alumni runs a website that was the key to raising the money necessary to enable the Foo Fighters to play the small venue in Virginia where Corby had attended the show. I'd like to hear more.
Oh, all right, all right, here's one more for this crummy post:
Rhyner's countdown is over: https://www.centraltrack.com/exclusive-why-mike-rhyner-is-joining-the-athletic/
ReplyDeleteHe also had an article on the Athletic that he was waiting out a non-compete clause with Cumulus. He just decided not to fight it.
Saw that on reddit, as well. My reaction: yawn.
ReplyDeleteNow, if he goes full on Galloway-I-Don't-Give-A-Shit-What-Anyone-Thinks-Or-How-Off-Limits-A-Story-Is-I'm-Going-To-Talk-About-It-Because-I-Can-And-I-Will, then sign me the f*** up and sign me the f*** up right this second. But if it's going to be Dylan record reviews, fluff pieces for his local yokel band buddies, and Captain Obvious not so HSOs on the Rangers or Mavs, yeah, I'll pass.
And if the latest piece on him by the DMN (doc related) is any indication, I've zilcho interest. Prove me wrong, OGW. I'd love you to do so.
ReplyDeleteKinda have to agree with 3:17, if it's just observational stuff from OGW on various topics, I'll pass. Still, we'll wait and see.
ReplyDeleteListened to his first episode this morning. It was great to hear his voice, but it was not a great first listen. His producer that he talks to is really terrible. Zero chemistry. I know it takes awhile to build that, but I don't see it with this guy. Would love for him to partner up with someone that won't kiss his butt and jab him a little. That's when Mike is at his funniest and best.
ReplyDeleteAnyone have audio of today's NaD? Specifically the segment where Norm discusses what's wrong with the Rangers?
ReplyDeleteIf so, it would be much appreciated, pal.
Norm's take on the Rangers was on the top 10: https://castbox.fm/episode/Norm-and-D-Invasion--Should-The-Rangers-Flush-This-Season--id1225881-id300303620
ReplyDeleteWarning on the Norm audio: It sounds like he's got remnants of his Mac & Cheese in his mouth as he is talking. He sounds like he's running out of breath while at the same time he needs to off load about a quart of saliva. Not Texas Radio Hall of Fame worthy.
ReplyDeleteI listened to some of NaD this morning. Norm started out rough and a little whispery but got stronger as he went along. I was concerned about him at first, but after awhile he seemed to get his rhythm going and the sound got closer to classic Norm.
ReplyDeleteOverall, however, his voice was noticeably weaker and the emotional pitch considerably subdued from the segments I caught.
Hope he's OK and, if not, then on the mend.
What happened to the other two reds?
ReplyDeleteI still see three.
ReplyDeleteNot a bold statement to claim rhyner will not be cutting a podcast deal with Spotify before he joins a 3br apartment in the sky.
ReplyDeleteSometimes it takes a couple seconds for reds 2 and 3 to pop on, but be patient.
ReplyDeleteI leave this page open in a browser tab 24/7 and they have yet to load for me. I like me some fetching redheads!
ReplyDeleteAha - seems to be related to my employer's VPN. I get @2 and @3 instantly on my phone using the cell data network.
ReplyDelete--signed, 3:29 above.
You know, if only there was a way to search for hot red headed women on the web ... if only ...
ReplyDeletePersonally, I like the curation that P-Man provides.
ReplyDelete1030 am. Hold. Onto. Your. Butts.
ReplyDeleteHappening. Now. Time. Moved. Up.
ReplyDeleteMy God the redheads are incredible
ReplyDeleteNorm has bladder cancer
ReplyDeleteI was afraid of something like that with Norm. Hopefully they caught it early enough and he will recover. My grandmother died of bladder cancer that spread to her liver and kidneys. Hopefully the surgeon is correct and Norm's cancer hasn't spread.
ReplyDeletePowerful segment. Very emotional. Listening to Julie speak about her experience was powerful. She's such a great addition to the station.
ReplyDeleteGood luck Norm.
Hopefully Gordon will go easy but I wouldn't hold my breath.
When that segment gets posted somewhere, please post the link. My schedule has been difficult and even the Top Ten is unlikely. Many thanks.
ReplyDeleteBest wishes to Norm, his loved ones, and the Ticket family.
I bet Gordon will be one of Norm's rocks during this.
ReplyDeleteThank God the prognosis is positive.
Norman, we all love and appreciate ya, pal. You're going to beat this. And we're going to listen to for years to come.
Gordon's tweet.
ReplyDeletehttps://twitter.com/gordonkeith/status/1299003731858665473
Well, I held. onto. my. butt. and, guess what? Bad news for Norm, but it sounds treatable. So, in essence, nothing has really changed in the short term as Norm will continue to work. So, Aug. 27, 10:30 is basically a hysterical teenage girl. Good to know.
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ReplyDelete"We are scared $HITLESS of being cancelled!"
ReplyDeleteGrumpy Troll back? That sure is a lot of deleted comments in a row. Lemme guess, someone got stupid political and someone responded with equal stupid political.
ReplyDeleteIt was not all of equal stupidity, and some not stupid-in-fact, but it was all of equal unsuitability to this site. I didn't understand the 830 comment but it appeared it might actually have had something to do with The Ticket, so I left it.
ReplyDeleteI don't really like deleting comments.
830 was about the Stars. Nothing to do with The Ticket.
ReplyDeleteSounds like it applies to the Stars AND the Ticket. But thanks any way K.
ReplyDeleteSitting in my car eating my Golden Chic snack meal and listening to some of The Hardline. After hearing E-News, two words..."still empty"!
ReplyDeleteYeah I heard part of E-News yesterday. It was clearly another case of skimming the headline and not reading ANY of the story when he was talking about the Fresh Prince show. Every story I've seen on it was maybe 2-3 paragraphs. He can't put in the effort to read that much?
ReplyDeleteThat answer would obviously be: no.
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ReplyDeleteI'm not shutting down comments or this site just yet.
ReplyDeleteI will say that I caught The Hardline's latest installment of its blackface discussion and punched out.
I'm having continued problems with the stream on The Ticket's site and app. I'm away from the signal a lot these days and it's the only way I can hear the station. So despite my efforts, my listening remains spotty. Sorry I'm not up on all the news and controversies.
You're using the SportsDay app? I've been using it for 7 years and never had a problem, unless the stream itself was having a problem.
ReplyDeleteSurly, thanks for the inquiry. I may have the wrong app -- I thought the Ticket app WAS the SportsDay app, but if there's a distinction I need to get the SportsDay App. Feeling dumb since The Ticket flogged the SportsDay app for months.
ReplyDeletePM The Ticket app and the SportsDay App are not the same app.
ReplyDeleteSportsDay app is outstanding. The 1 hour buffer will change your ticket listening life.
ReplyDeleteLike I was telling Surly, I'm embarrassed that I didn't know the SportsDay App -- which is apparently entirely Ticket-centric, despite the generic name -- was not the same as The Ticket station app.
ReplyDeleteI checked it out today and you're all right -- much better, no hiccups to date. Many thanks for the corrections.
Now, if it could only improve the content.
We talked about SportsDay vs “The Ticket” app in the comments a month ago! Get with it PMan!
ReplyDeleteSo the August ratings came out and The Musers came in second. Per Peter Welpton (who does have a Ticket dog in the hunt), this time there are no Richie Whitt/FAN playing semantics games with the interpretation, The FAN straight up beat them. Interesting, for sure. I wonder if Hubriz, I mean, Junez will Tweet about this one? Especially wonder if he'll smugly, arrogantly Tweet how their consistent socio-political talk has no bearing on the numbers, how dominant they are, and how they don't need anyone that jumps ship, anyways.
ReplyDeleteUgh, CONSTANT not consistent. DAMN iPad!
ReplyDelete526 Surly: I'm sure you're correct, although I think it was a lot longer ago than a month, but back then (1) I wasn't stream-intensive and (2) the Ticket website player was doing a good job for me on the phone and through Android auto when I needed a non-radio listen, so I didn't pay a lot of attention to comments on the stream. Once in a very long while I'd do a "hey, how's the stream doing" post for my readers who were having stream problems. But I myself didn't have much interest in it.
ReplyDeleteBut of course, it is always good advice to urge me to get with it. These days I am more without it.
Check the comments of the last post! LESS than one month ago (technically)!!!
ReplyDeleteAh, my fine faithful Surly-man, you forget: I'm neglecting this site!
ReplyDeleteAnother advantage of the SportsDay app: You get access to DMN sports section (SportsDay) stories that otherwise are behind the pay wall.
ReplyDeleteRegarding the ratings. I don't know that in my 40+ years of listening to the radio in DFW that I've ever listened to a station that didn't claim they were the number one station in the metroplex. The Zoo, The Eagle and Q102 each used to claim to be the number 1 rock station in DFW all at the same time. Clearly only one of them was correct, I believe it was Q102 but that's a long time ago. Most people didn't have any idea of the actual ratings back then so it was pretty easy to make such claims back then. Even in the era of ratings being much more accessible I've heard stations claim to be number one when they are not. The Fan used to claim to be the number 1 DFW sports station quite often when they weren't. Given that history I don't expect the Ticket or any other station to start claiming their actual position in the ratings.
ReplyDeleteI'm also not sure why anyone cares about it. When I started listening to the Ticket they weren't number 1. Going back to the old days I was loyal Zoo listener up until the day they went off the air. The ratings didn't matter to me, I liked the music and the DJs on the Zoo more than those at the Eagle or Q102. That's the case, for me, with the Ticket. I enjoy it more than most of the shows on the Fan. I don't listen to 3-7 like I used to listen to the Hardline back in the halcyon days but I don't turn the dial to the other end either. The Ticket is going to decline in the ratings and some day it will go through a format change and or a major staff turnover. I survived the Zoo going off at a time when that was much more traumatic to my teenage life, I'll survive the Ticket going away assuming I'm still above ground when that happens.
@KDF
ReplyDeleteI think the reason anyone cares about the ratings in the current environment is that Craig Miller has gone on the air and gone on his Twitter account and boasted about their ratings to listeners who have been critical of their recent political and social content. Basically, "take that - the ratings tell the tale!"
He has not done that this week.
Isn't Craig kind of the appointed guy to float out the ratings stats? The Musers are the most listened to show, and he's the guy that does it. I don't think it's an agenda for him, but something that is asked of him (i.e. part of his job). If he didn't tout the station's dominance who would? Catlin? Nobody else on air has the kind of gravitas that 'the one true Muser' has (not since Rhyner left anyway).
ReplyDeleteCraig and George are the old timers there now (been there the longest).
@LowKeyFadedBro you are exactly right. Craig has, in a lot of ways, replaced Rhyner as the spokesman for the station, and I think the reason he (and the others like Bob and Donnie on Twitter) promote and defend their ratings is because the only person in town who reports them is Ritchie Whitt, and he never includes the stream, which is where the Tickets gets half their audience. So, I don't blame the Ticket or any of the hosts for wanting to get the real story out there.
ReplyDeleteYes, Junior always announces the ratings and he does it during the Friday scattershooting segment. He did not do that today. Make of it what you will.
ReplyDeleteExcept this time The Musers were beat across the board, including stream. Hence, Silent Junez. The ratings have been trending this way for the mornings for quite some time now. Despite Richie Whitt's (and at times, The FAN's) cherry-picked interpretation of the numbers, what once seemed impossible, was then thought an anomaly, which became an interesting trend, has now become a reality. Let's see how long it lasts. If The Musers get back on top next book and Junez mouths off about it, well, I think that says a lot about him -- and none of it good.
ReplyDeleteAnon 7:57 "that says a lot about him, and none of it good" LOL Jeez dude, settle down. Those guys have been on top of the ratings in the mornings for 26 years! I think they're allowed a few misses. You must have been one of those who booed Dirk in his last year or two when he missed a shot. "Dirk sure held up that O'Brien trophy proudly when they won in 2011, but I didn't see him celebrating after that airball three pointer now!"
ReplyDeleteI think if you are Ticket management (or Cumulus) football season can't come fast enough.
ReplyDelete828, you obviously don't understand my comment. I'm in no way talking about "missing" anything. Your misunderstanding also lead you to lay a big fat nothing burger of an analogy.
ReplyDeleteSorry, little buddy, you best try the kiddie pool. You're drowning in the shallows.
Anon 1033: If SWA was the #1 airline for 6 years in a row, and they have commercials promoting that they are #1, and then AA moves to #1 and SWA falls to #5, are you saying you still want SWA to promote the fact that they have fallen to #5? What kind of world do you live in? Sounds like you have some other issues, because you are just way too bitter over this. Personally, I don't care about the ratings, I just listen to whatever I like to listen to.
ReplyDeleteNo. Your analogy is a non sequitur as regards my comment. My comment, and it seems that I need to spell it out here, is that Junez has, without fail, and for many years, taken to the airwaves and social media (mostly Twitter) to boast/gloat about the ratings. I use the latter term (gloat) because over the last year or so his (rightful) boasting has turned into something else. It's one thing to say "we won the ratings, thank you P1s"; it's another to not only let the world know you're number one, but also to say all those who say we aren't are liars and all who say they no longer listen because of __, well, who cares, obviously what we do is gold"; and on top of that, get into a Twitter battle of sorts with a hack local "sports" writer who also moonlighted as a prepper huckster. Then. When the trends that told you things were going a different direction finally and without qualification come true (ratings, i.e., in 2nd), you, after years of unfailing ratings reports and a year plus of "telling people how it is" decide to go silent. . . .sorry, but that's sorry and it says something sorry about you. Especially when you go out of your way to position yourself as the "Spock of The Ticket." A rigorously logical fellow who "believes in science," "follows the evidence," and comports his thoughts and therefore utterances to the reality on the ground. And that's what Junez has done. Moreover, Junez is not management (regardless of his long ago claim of interim p.d.), is not in sales, is not in advertizing, and is the only on-air staff member that has consistently, for years, announced ratings (and up until The FAN/Richie Whitt began chirping did so in a gentlepersonly manner).
ReplyDeleteIt's not bitterness. It's holding someone to the standards they publicly set for themselves. Mostly, though, as a longtime listener I find the ratings interesting. I find them especially interesting when a now decades long juggernaut like The Musers are seriously (at least for the present) challenged. I'm glad you like to listen. Obviously, I do too--else I wouldn't KNOW about MTC, much less take the time to comment. But posing this type of question and/or comment(s) is what MTC is about. It would serve no purpose if we all posted "I love The Ticket" comments. We (sans the trolls, and even they might, as well) ALL love The Ticket here. The whole "bitter" and "issues" line is utter bulsh and shows you have nothing to say. You like to listen, I like to listen. Fan (no pun intended) tastic. If you disagree with my comment, fine. Respond and I'll respond in kind. But make an attempt at understanding what is being said and address it accordingly. Otherwise, listen to The Ticket and enjoy but don't waste my time.
Does this clear things up for you?
Anon 1:40 am : the fact that you are posting at 1:40am may tell us something. You come across as a very bitter, axe-to-grind, passive aggressive person. You can't control what Craig says, and it frustrates you, so you issue passive aggressive lines like, "He BETTER say something, or else it will tell us a lot about him." And, when another poster disagrees with you, you try the passive aggressive "ok little buddy" lines, which, again, show your frustration in not being able to control the narrative. The two examples given (Dirk and the airlines) are not apples to oranges, they are apples to apples, and you have made no rational argument against them. Just my observation. I'll continue to enjoy the Ticket, no matter the ratings. I'll listen to Scattershooting and enjoy the notes and the stories and the jokes, and not get so worked up that Craig didn't mention the ratings thatI have to post a bunch online about how he "needs" to address it.
ReplyDelete140 You are sadly mistaken if you think Junior decides if he's going to talk about the ratings or not. That is a decision that is made by Cat, or Dan Bennett, or even higher. Junior never used to mention the ratings until Whitt started posting the partial numbers a few years ago. Management (or sales) decided they needed to get the real numbers out to the public, so they had Junior (on the most high-profile show) tell their side of the story, because nobody else was.
ReplyDeleteTrust me, in the media, no news anchor, reporter, or talk show host has the authority to discuss station business like that on their own. Can you imagine how pissed Ticket sales, and the CTO's would be if Junior went on the air and said, "Hey everyone, the morning show is now 8th in the ratings!" How would that help their business in any way? Junior would be reprimanded, or worse, for that if he openly discussed negative station business like that, and there is no way Cat, or Bennett, would ever want him to promote falling ratings!
If you are angry at Junior, you are angry at the messenger, guaranteed. Your anger should be at Cat, or higher. They are the puppet masters. Junior is just a puppet.
1244, you are high and have lost all credibility. "Trust you." Bah. Again, you don't understand what I'm saying so please (and I say this with all due respect) shut up. Stop it. You're embarrassing yourself. If you think Cat or anyone else instructs a host to Tweet about ratings you are a moron. If the "CTO" issued from on high that on air talent were to discuss ratings, then ALL THE SHOWS WOULD. But guess what, dingle butt? THEY DON'T.
ReplyDeleteStop it. Stop now. Ugh. I'm sure you're a great person and all that. But be quiet on this particular.
I only listen for Gordon.
ReplyDeleteWhether or not Junior is told to discuss the ratings, when he mentioned the ratings in July it came with a little Church Lady superior dance in the end zone. Not completely over the top, but enough that "in your face" was the message sent.
ReplyDeleteThere's still opportunity for them to mention it, but if it wasn't part of last week's scattershooting it's probably not going to happen.
Simmer down, everyone. New post will be up shortly. Should take some of those down, but don't have the energy to figure out which side of my subjective line in the sand each falls on.
ReplyDeleteJust simmer down, how's about it?
Here are the facts:
ReplyDelete- Junior has seemingly embraced "social change" and isn't afraid to talk about his feelings of support for the social justice movement in sports and society
- Some of the listeners are ok with his outspoken stance on these issues
- some of the listeners are telling him to "shut up and dribble"
- some listeners are indifferent
- ratings are down a bit
- there may be a cause and effect on declining ratings associated with Junior's stance
- ratings decline might not be related to Junior's takes as there are a lot of variables
- The Something to Know podcast commercial is stuck on permaloop on the stream and likely driving all listeners insane. Yes I too want to learn to count to infinity.
Junior has already explained the "wonky" ratings by saying wuhan is keeping people sleeping later or staying at home...thus reducing the drive time listening audience.
ReplyDeleteMethinks not.
Will miss the Plainsman work here....if indeed he does throw in the towel. I first started listening to the TKT back in 93 when one of my reps I was riding with was listening to a station with a host called JubJub.?
ReplyDeleteHowever, like the Plainsman..I have been listening less and less. I grew up with one of the Tier 1's and now he is now 100% WOKE...he was not that way just a year ago. I really don't care..but interesting how some are changing.
I do like the HangZone/ BadRadio 2.0 better and the Hardline..well without Greggo and Grey Wolf...it is no longer that.
Stay hard Mr. Plainsman and my guess you will still scan the Sports Radio Horizon..just not a often.