Listening to talk radio is a big part of my life. At least 6 or 7 hours a day. I started listening to talk radio when I moved New Orleans, which was when I got my first job working 9 to 5. And I also had a 30 minute drive to work. But I also got tired listening to the FM radio DJs. They deliver what I think is a very quick down and dirty form of information in the morning. And I guess I felt if I was going to invest time into something I wanted something more of it than that. So I started listening to NPR (National Public Radio). And I believe that they do a great job of delivering a quality show that covers current events as well as other stories you might not hear else where on the radio. So I listened to that on the way to work and back home …which is usually comprised of two shows; Morning Edition, and All Things Considered.
Then a couple months in to working I was working a little later every night, so I had to find a new show. And thankfully NPR had Marketplace. And I will have to say that to this day it is still one of my favorite radio shows on the air. It goes over basic financial news of each day. And the host (Kai Ryssdal) does a great job of keeping the tempo of the show…and I think that is a big part of what I listen for in a radio show, besides content. I really do wish that this show was longer or in a better time slot.
Then when I moved from New Orleans to Atlanta, I didn’t listen to NPR as much, and I think part of that has to do with a phase that I am going through with radio…trying to find a new intro into the day. But I have been listening more to sports radio, and I have to say that if it weren’t for the content of the show, I am not sure I would be listening as much. Because here I am sacrificing talent for content. I am currently listening to 680 the Fan. And the morning show is called “The Rude Awakening.” It is hosted by two guys, and one of them I can not stand, Perry thinks very highly of himself and might as well think that he is an etiquette coach for some of these guys that he talks about each day. But like I said I want up-to-date sports information.
When I get to work I listen to “The Tony Kornheiser Show,” and that was great, up there with Marketplace…I really mean it. He does a great morning show and that is the best of both worlds; sports and current events. He also does a bit when he is coming back from a commercial that he plays a different song, and talks about it. Only problem is that he is not on all year long and his show is only two hours long.
I guess that would bring me to the real reason I was writing this entry which is that Dan Patrick is leaving ESPN, and is another show I would listen to during the day. And the think I like about Dan is that he has great guests. Charles Barkley is one of my favorites, and I wish that Charles would have his own show! But Dan would also have good content, that was up-to-date, and with a great delivery. I just hope that he does get another job doing radio so that I can listen to him during the work day. It would be great if he got a spot in the same time slot at Colin Cowherd. Because I am so tired of listening to him…I was listening to him regularly but stopped due to his I don’t know what, but I just couldn’t listen to his show any more.
And then on the way home, I have been listening to mainly music, because most of the crazy FM DJs are off the air. But if I listening to talk radio I am listening to Sean Hannity, or this guy named Dave Ramsey. Niether one I really enjoy listening to, but sometimes more Hannity more than Ramsey are talking about something that is interesting and worth listening to. Dave Ramsey is more like a Dear Abby column mixed with financial issues. I mean sometimes I just shake my head with his show, I mean people are calling this guy to ask questions that they already have the answer to, just to hear him agree. I mean I could do that, which is why I very rarely listen to his show.
But I guess the moral of the story is maybe I should go back to NPR, I really don’t feel like I have invested my time wisely with these other shows. (I am more upset with the drive home, than I am with the AM guys) And I guess I am a little upset with the way that these guys deliver these shows, almost like Howard Stern would his show. And I really hope that Sports Radio does not have a bunch of Shock Jocks all over the radio, and we do begin to see more of the Dan Patrick delivery. Good Luck Dan!
