A home for those who love almost everything about The Ticket (1310 AM, 96.7 FM, Dallas-Fort Worth), and who would like to discuss -- respectfully and fondly -- their thoughts on how (and whether) to eliminate the "almost."
I recognize this is a question that does not require an answer. Who cares what we call The Ticket, as long as we enjoy listening? That is a good question, and the answer is obvious – no one.
But The Ticket calls itself a sports station. Is it?
I ask myself this question in light of the mutual parting of the ways between the Mavericks and Donnie Nelson.
Both Mark Cuban and Donnie Nelson are on-air favorites of The Ticket guys. They’re on for interviews quite a bit.
That doesn’t necessarily mean anything.
And it also may not mean anything that The Ticket does not present itself as a sports-reporting station. It doesn’t break stories, and it doesn’t generally collect post-game tape for itself in any sport.
But think about it: The station has several Mavericks specialists, not to mention some United Center connections. It has Mavs management on the air a lot. It interviews Rick Gosselin every week. It does not broadcast Mavs games, so it’s not beholden to Mavs management. Is it surprising to anyone else that (to my knowledge – I don’t listen to every minute of every show) no one suggested that Donnie’s tenure was shaky? Suggesting that no one even knew about it, since, again, nothing bad was going to happen to the station if they broke a Mavs story.
This isn’t something I care a lot about. But I do wonder whether our heroes either hold out on us more than they should, or, frankly, don’t really have their thumb on the pulse of DFW sports.
And since the station is still the gold standard of great radio listening, perhaps we shouldn't really ask, or care.
I think several tier 1s are tied in. I think they know what is going on, and they have the pulse. I also think they have orders from the overlords to tamp it down. They get those interviews and all because they are #1, as stated in the last post. I think management wants to keep things down the middle and not ruffle feathers. Radio is a tough biz right now. It looks to me like people want to break stories, but are held back. Just my opinion
Scott: There are probably many factors involved, including the need to sell advertising and not actually cheese off the local sports teams. But whenever Adam Shefter scoops the Dallas Morning News and all the broadcast media on gigantic cowboy stories, I do ask myself if the days of shoe-leather reporting is over, whether it's all who owes what to whom and who is fearful of loss of access (which, of course, is not an unreasonable fear).
But, Scott, I will say this: If Tier 1 is tied in, I would think that they are clever enough to drop a hint now and then. Maybe do a segment on "has Donnie assembled a competitive team in the West" that focuses on his team-building. (Maybe they have -- I don't hear all the shows but I would think that this is Jake's meat.)
Having said this, I don't really mean to be critical. The lads are giving us the Campound, which is Big Fun. Caught Corby's testicle story this morning -- which explains that voice.
Are you asking if it is wrong that The Ticket calls itself a sports station even though it doesn't break sports stories? As a listener, I don't care.
I'm very confused by your references to United Center connections & Rick Gosselin when asking about the Mavs. Do you mean the the AAC? And Rick Gosselin covers the NFL.
Is there a lot of conflict of interest in sports media (and in any corporate media) over who they cover? Yes.
I also got a scolding from a reader who is apparently a Ticket insider who calls himself "Iron Cheffield." It says:
"Sorry to bug you, but I saw your blog post today. We have reporters gathering sound at nearly every single Cowboys, Mavs, Rangers, Stars, and local CFB game and most of their practices. Not to mention every PGA, NASCAR, and international soccer event. Just because the hosts don't often use their credentials to do actual reporting doesn't mean we don't have a team of guys and gal actually doing the work. I make that schedule every week. We are very much a sports news station. Thanks."
Thank YOU, Iron C, for that corrective. So I overstated the case. I am still puzzled why national reporters get the major developments, the good stuff, before local sportsters.
917, you should be confused about my reference to the United Center. Flashing back to my old Chicago days. Yes, I meant to say AAC.
The reference to Gosselin was a suggestion that The Ticket guys interview full-time sports reporters, but other than David Moore with Ranch Reports, almost no news comes out of them.
No, I'm not suggesting it's "wrong," necessarily. They talk sports; but they don't seem to know much more about what's going on with the teams than anyone who watches the games. And as I think I said -- no, we probably don't care, since we're being entertained.
So what's my point? My point is, after trying to gin up articles for over a dozen years or so about a station that has had very few changes over that time, I'm just tossing something out to think about.
On the roundtables over the last two days the Tier 1's have been saying "maybe we've given Mark a pass on some things." Cuban was always accessible and a willing interview. I think they went easy on him because they didn't want to risk pissing him off and losing access.
Again, I must thank Surly for his non-Surly advisory.
Is "Iron Cheffield" a sobriquet a devoted listener of the station should be expected to have known (other than from context)? Not surprising. As The Confessor has become accustomed to observing, I am not a Tier 0 Ticket expert. Just a guy who listens when he can, and probably misses a lot that the average P1 always misses.
I recognize this is a question that does not require an answer. Who cares what we call The Ticket, as long as we enjoy listening? That is a good question, and the answer is obvious – no one.
ReplyDeleteBut The Ticket calls itself a sports station. Is it?
I ask myself this question in light of the mutual parting of the ways between the Mavericks and Donnie Nelson.
Both Mark Cuban and Donnie Nelson are on-air favorites of The Ticket guys. They’re on for interviews quite a bit.
That doesn’t necessarily mean anything.
And it also may not mean anything that The Ticket does not present itself as a sports-reporting station. It doesn’t break stories, and it doesn’t generally collect post-game tape for itself in any sport.
But think about it: The station has several Mavericks specialists, not to mention some United Center connections. It has Mavs management on the air a lot. It interviews Rick Gosselin every week. It does not broadcast Mavs games, so it’s not beholden to Mavs management. Is it surprising to anyone else that (to my knowledge – I don’t listen to every minute of every show) no one suggested that Donnie’s tenure was shaky? Suggesting that no one even knew about it, since, again, nothing bad was going to happen to the station if they broke a Mavs story.
This isn’t something I care a lot about. But I do wonder whether our heroes either hold out on us more than they should, or, frankly, don’t really have their thumb on the pulse of DFW sports.
And since the station is still the gold standard of great radio listening, perhaps we shouldn't really ask, or care.
I think several tier 1s are tied in. I think they know what is going on, and they have the pulse. I also think they have orders from the overlords to tamp it down. They get those interviews and all because they are #1, as stated in the last post. I think management wants to keep things down the middle and not ruffle feathers. Radio is a tough biz right now. It looks to me like people want to break stories, but are held back. Just my opinion
ReplyDeleteScott: There are probably many factors involved, including the need to sell advertising and not actually cheese off the local sports teams. But whenever Adam Shefter scoops the Dallas Morning News and all the broadcast media on gigantic cowboy stories, I do ask myself if the days of shoe-leather reporting is over, whether it's all who owes what to whom and who is fearful of loss of access (which, of course, is not an unreasonable fear).
ReplyDeleteBut, Scott, I will say this: If Tier 1 is tied in, I would think that they are clever enough to drop a hint now and then. Maybe do a segment on "has Donnie assembled a competitive team in the West" that focuses on his team-building. (Maybe they have -- I don't hear all the shows but I would think that this is Jake's meat.)
Having said this, I don't really mean to be critical. The lads are giving us the Campound, which is Big Fun. Caught Corby's testicle story this morning -- which explains that voice.
Are you asking if it is wrong that The Ticket calls itself a sports station even though it doesn't break sports stories? As a listener, I don't care.
ReplyDeleteI'm very confused by your references to United Center connections & Rick Gosselin when asking about the Mavs. Do you mean the the AAC? And Rick Gosselin covers the NFL.
Is there a lot of conflict of interest in sports media (and in any corporate media) over who they cover? Yes.
I also got a scolding from a reader who is apparently a Ticket insider who calls himself "Iron Cheffield." It says:
ReplyDelete"Sorry to bug you, but I saw your blog post today. We have reporters gathering sound at nearly every single Cowboys, Mavs, Rangers, Stars, and local CFB game and most of their practices. Not to mention every PGA, NASCAR, and international soccer event. Just because the hosts don't often use their credentials to do actual reporting doesn't mean we don't have a team of guys and gal actually doing the work. I make that schedule every week. We are very much a sports news station. Thanks."
Thank YOU, Iron C, for that corrective. So I overstated the case. I am still puzzled why national reporters get the major developments, the good stuff, before local sportsters.
Although perhaps I'm wrong about that, too.
917, you should be confused about my reference to the United Center. Flashing back to my old Chicago days. Yes, I meant to say AAC.
ReplyDeleteThe reference to Gosselin was a suggestion that The Ticket guys interview full-time sports reporters, but other than David Moore with Ranch Reports, almost no news comes out of them.
No, I'm not suggesting it's "wrong," necessarily. They talk sports; but they don't seem to know much more about what's going on with the teams than anyone who watches the games. And as I think I said -- no, we probably don't care, since we're being entertained.
So what's my point? My point is, after trying to gin up articles for over a dozen years or so about a station that has had very few changes over that time, I'm just tossing something out to think about.
Iron Cheffield is Sean Bass
ReplyDeleteOn the roundtables over the last two days the Tier 1's have been saying "maybe we've given Mark a pass on some things." Cuban was always accessible and a willing interview. I think they went easy on him because they didn't want to risk pissing him off and losing access.
ReplyDeleteAgain, I must thank Surly for his non-Surly advisory.
ReplyDeleteIs "Iron Cheffield" a sobriquet a devoted listener of the station should be expected to have known (other than from context)? Not surprising. As The Confessor has become accustomed to observing, I am not a Tier 0 Ticket expert. Just a guy who listens when he can, and probably misses a lot that the average P1 always misses.
In any event, thank you to The Surly One.
It's his twitter name
ReplyDeleteNational guys scoop local guys because it's all about agents.
ReplyDeleteNew post up. It's a fun one.
ReplyDelete