The problem with the Twin Cities sports scene...
In my opinion, the #1 problem with the local sports media in this area, is quite simply, the lack of divergent voices in its coverage.
There is a near monoply of the TV, radio, and newsprint slots for sports opinion.
You'd think in a metro area of 2.5 million people, we'd have more than a handful of sports analysts sharing their opinions with us.
You'd think you would have dominant TV people, and independent radio personalities, and cantankerous newspapermen (and women); but here, it's all the same people.
Think about it: Sid Hartman, newsprint, radio, TV show; Pat Reusse, newsprint, radio, TV; Bob Sansevere, newsprint, radio, TV; etc., etc.
I think you get the point.
The way to get a radio sports commentary job, is to have a sportswriters job. The way to get a TV gig, is to have a newspaper column and a radio career.
It is monolithic nepotism...kind of (I didn't even say Chad Hartman.)
It seems like the only people to penetrate this closed court has been P.A. and Dubay. But when did they break in, ten years ago?
I do like the latest bright light at the Strib: Jim Souhan, he's a knowledgeable & easy read, unlike his predecessor, the "nattering nabob of negativity:" Dan Barriero.
This is the biggest mystery of all to me.
Now, of all the sports media condridictions that we have, KFAN's Barriero drive-time show has got to be the biggest. It just baffles me.
They claim to be a sports station, but the Barriero show is anything but.
It's one of their flagship programs, and yet, they never seem to be talking about sports.
If they were a true "all sports show" on my commute home, I'd be a captive listener, but unfortunately, this is not the case.
So, I listen to a political show instead, and when they go to a commercial, I'll pop over to KFAN and check it out (sometimes they do have a good guest.)
But what do I get? Barriero pontificating on politics. It's bad enough that he barely knows anything sports, outside of basketball, but he's completely clueless about politics.
I remember one conversation he had, where he, a newly appointed political "expert," didn't even know who the Speaker of the House was.
That was an instant channel changer.
So to all the sports editors, program directors, and station managers, I am available; and if not me, somebody new.
Anybody new.
posted by commonsense2 | 3:54 PM
3 Comments:
Check out my post on Twinsterritory.com on Reusse.
will do.
Thanks for your take of Barrieros show. I want to hear sports when I am driving in my car, not because I am a rube, but rather because I am a father of two, work 2 jobs and sometimes I just want to hear something fun to talk about which is sports. Barriero seems arrogantly above it all-it seems beneath him and inconvenient when he has to talk about sports. Yet that is what the channel advertises. Yes on occasion he does have an interesting guest, but is there not enought going on in the world of sports that everyday could be a new topic and a new guest on his show., no it seems simply too much for Barriero to actually spend an entire program about sports. It is okay to deviate once in a while to another topic, but some of his topics are absolutely boring-such as people driving and talking on their cell phones- he finds mundane topics like this and when I hear him talking about these things I automatically click him off. A few years ago when the Yankees were playing the A's in the playoffs and Derek Jeter made the incredible play at home plate to get a runner out and save a close victory I was listening the next day to his program and he could not remember the name of the Yankees shortstop-you know why? Because he does no research except on those things that intereset him-HOw Can you not know the Yankees shortstop? Oh and since I am on a roll -why so negative all the time? Constant sarcastic remarks about the vikings , gophers, twins! Just today he was talking about the Gopher football program and bemoaning the fact the havent been to the Rose Bowl in over forty years and was making comparisons to purdue, wisconsin, etc. Can you say on-campus stadium Dan? All those other programs have made significant improvements to their facilities to be able to recruit athletes! The Gophers are the only D-1 school that plays in the States pro-football stadium-the only one!! A few years ago the Gophers went to Ohio St. and beat the Buckeyes for the first time in many years on the road-yet Barrieros comment was " Well what have they done for 20 years!" True comment- If the Gophers were to win the big ten title this year it would be because(come on Dan -what is the proper response) thats right - it was a down year in the Big Ten- that would be what he would say. Take the local sports scene Twins, vikes, wild, wolves,- college sports- football, b-ball, other sports -wrestling-2 time ncaa champs gophers, high school sports- that is enough material right there to keep a person busy, but yet Dan ignores almost all of it. Go be a cosmopolitan talk show host somewhere else- I want a sports channel- not a variety channel.
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