Mike Sciroy, you are a genius!

Had The Ticket on while working and Rhadigan and Bascik are filling in for Norm. They were talking about the NBA All-Star game and how the best part of the weekend is the skills contests on Saturday. Then ticker guy, Mike Sciroy (I'm guessing that's how you spell it), chimed in with the most genius idea ever.

Instead of aligning the teams by Eastern and Western conferences, you take it to the street.

-Let people vote players into an All-Star pool like they do now.
-Top two vote getters (Kobe and LeBron) would be the team captains
-After the Saturday night dunk contest, the two captain pick teams like street ball
-THEN you play the game on Sunday with the teams.

Tell me that wouldn't be genius.

So, pretend Big is LeBron and I'm Kobe, and use the comments to make our picks for us.

The Ticket might have met its match

They're in big trouble...

I was driving home yesterday and reached the same level of confusion you all did when I realized that Live 105 was no longer around because it had become 105.3 The Fan.

Best picture I could find..

That's right, DFW has a brand spanking new sports radio station, and this one threatens to legitimately challenge The Ticket for supremacy.

Let's look at the lineup

Mornings
The Jagger Show versus Dunham and Miller

Nah, I'm still going to listen to Dunham and Miller.

Mid Days
Kevin Scott and Greg Hill versus Norm Hitzges and BaD Radio

Well then, have Bob and Dan got some legit competition? I've always been a big K-Scott fan, and I heard him and Greg Hill on the radio yesterday, and they've already got a semi-funny rapport. By the way, seeing as Greg Hill referred to himself as "the Michael Jordan of Texas A&M" and K-Scott referred to himself as "the Jesus of Texas Tech", well sign me up. Bob and Dan had better bring the fire.

Afternoon Drive
Ben & Skin versus the Hardline

That's right. The Fan has taken the station's anchor team and is putting them against the Hardline. Quite frankly, the Hardline is going to lose a lot of listeners, me included. Ben and Skin are one of, if not my favorite, radio teams right now, and pitting them against the consistently "meh" Rhyner, Davidson and Balis team is going to drive a lot of station switches.

Nights
Pete Stein and Mike Rodriguez versus The Top 10 and Dan Patrick

I don't really care because I'm not listening. If I am, I'm more likely to go with Gamenight with Choppy and Greggo.

Contracts
The Cowboys and SMU are with The Ticket. Westwood One and The Longhorns are with The Fan. I should also mention that The Fan is owned by CBS Radio and has more than 10 times the broadcast capability (100K Watts versus 9K Watts) than the Ticket. The Cowboys might opt out of the Ticket contract this year and hop to the Fan which would be a HUGE coup in listenership.

I've said it before, the Ticket has gotten too comfortable in DFW and they've gotten a bit full of themselves and they haven't made the effort to really change and keep the broadcast fresh for the fans. I think with Ticket favorites like Ben and Skin and K-Scott leaving with spotlight positions, you've got familiar voices and a new offering that can be listened for a longer amount of time.


On a side note, I hope this forces ESPN to just quit the local shit and go with the national programming. I'm starting a personal vendetta against Randy Galloway. I hate that son of a bitch.

Another interesting observation. If you read Richie Whitt's blog at the Observer, he gives the coverage an objective, almost positive view. If you read Robert Wilonsky's blog at the Observer, he deadpans it as though it is just another flash in the pan version of the Ticket. Wilonsky is buddies with the Hardline guys. Whitt became persona non grata for providing coverage of the Greggo story when no one at the Ticket wanted him to...good times.

Power is the eye of.....week 1

As i did last year, I'm going to be bringing you the freshest, most original look around the NFL, a power ranking!

I know your life wouldn't be complete unless you knew for sure whether or not i thought the Cardinals are better than the Lions, so I bring you this, Big's NFL power rankings.

(i know its lame, but if I do anything well, its lame shit)

Top Dogs, gonna eat yo face and spit out your bones tier

1. Dallas Cowboys 1-0 - Of the 4 teams that looked truly bad ass this weekend, Dallas was the only one playing a good team from last year. For that, they get the number spot.

2. Pittsburgh Steelers 1-0 - They have a HELLUVA schedule, but if they play that well every week, this team could be tops in the AFC.

3. Philadelphia Eagles 1-0 - As a Cowboys fan I was really, REALLY hoping McNugget was done, looks like I was like that time in Mexico City where I picked up a really hot "female" hooker, and that's wrong.

4. Denver Broncos 1-0 - So who would have thought the kid from Vandy would be the smarter QB than the guys from USC and Texas? Hmmmm.

The Maybe I Should have played my starters a little more in the Pre Season tier.

5. San Diego Chargers 0-1 - You put together Norv Turner + Playing Rust+ people coming off injury = Loss.

The We are supposed to be good, but we looked kinda bad, but we still won tier.

6. New York Giants 1-0 - Team looked real good at first, then most of their drives started stalling out at the end of the game. Kinda like my sex life.

7. New England Patriots 1-0 - My roommate called the Brady injury before it happened. He's also predicting that Steve DeBerg will come out of retirement to lead the Pats to a superbowl. He's a mexican. (roommate, not DeBerg)

8. New Orleans Saints 1-0 - So they didn't look bad, per say, but I expected more from a city who father sea hates right now. If nothing else to tell that aquaman mother fucker to shove his trident up his ass.

The "I'm good a swear, look i got win" tier.

9. Chicago Bears 1-0 - Get ready for lots of 16-13 games, as they seam to be ready to play good D, run the shit out of the ball, and then pray they don't have to use NeckBeard at all.

10. New York Jets 1-0 - J E T S JETS JETS FAVRE!

11. Buffalo Bills 1-0 - So when if the Bills move to Toronto, can they change their name to the Lone Rangers? That's funny. Toronto and the Lone Rangers!

The "uhh you guys lost?" tier

12. Indianapolis Colts 0-1 So Eli lead his team to win on opening night, while Peyton played Sunday night and lost to the bears. What is this, Bizzaro World?

13. Jacksonville Jaguars 0-1 To all you people who said "David Garrard is the most consistent passer in the game." Suck it.

The "If we played this game 10 times, it would be 5-5" tier.

14. Green Bay Packers 1-0 The same week that Carl Badlander told me to listen to a new Alter Bridge song, who are the same people from Creed minus Scott Stapp, is the same week Aaron Rodgers gets his first win as Packer QB. coincidence? I think not.

15. Minnesota Vikings 0-1 - Did I forget just how terrible Travis Jackson is when I picked Minn to win the div? I guess I did. He is terrible. If Chris Simms were on this team, that's at least 4 more wins.

The "look we got a win, we're still relevant for another week" tier.

16. Carolina Panthers 1-0 - Pulled on out their back side. Think people wear "Jesus is my DelHOME boy" shirts in Carolina?

17. Tennessee Titans 1-0 - So the story from this game is that Jeff Fisher, Titians coach, had to coax Vince Young to go back in the game, because his feelings were hurt, because the fans were booing him, because he was sucking. Lets see, Rickey Williams, Cedric Benson, Vince Young, what do all these guys have in common? (brows going to kick my ass)

The "get used to this the rest of the year" tier

18. Tampa Bay Buccaneers 0-1 - Did they play bad? No, but they didn't play all that well either. Get used to it.

19. Cleveland Browns 0-1 - Are they as bad as the looked vs. a good Dallas team? No, but they play what I like to call the GonnaSiphaHerpleAids schedule. So, Get used to it.

20. Arizona Cardinals 1-0 - When you are an average team, but you play in a div with STL, SF, and Seattle, your going to get some wins despite your average talent. So, Get used to it.

The "Maybe a Rookie QB aint such a bad thing" tier.

21. Atlanta Falcons 1-0 - I don't think anyone will remember this that didn't go to Bonham Middle School in Temple Texas, but we had this speaker one day, his name was Tony Syyks, and he was a cop. But not just a cop, A rapping cop from the "hood." His songs were such greatness as "I'm a homeboy who became a cop" and "why fight when you can dance." I really wish I was making this up. Anyway, during one of his "songs" he said the line "I'm Toney Syyks, syyks, Syyks" and traild off syyks like it was an echo. Back around to the Falcons, everytime I hear Matt Ryans' name, I think of Ryan standing there going "I'm Matty Ice, Ice, Ice" just like the homeboy who became a cop. Don't know why, but it makes me giggle.

22. Baltimore Ravens 1-0 How bad do you feel for Troy Smith? He was the golden boy at OSU till he blew ass in that championship game vs Florida, and then he fell to the third round, and as soon as he gets his shot at starting, he goes down due to injury. No worries right, the guy who is starting till he gets healthy is a rookie, so they we most deff welcome him back and at least give him shot when he's right with ball, right? Well, Joe Flacco may never sit on the bench this year. Sorry for ya, Troy.

the "bitch, you better get better or I'm going to look like a dumb ass" tier.

23. Washington Redskins 0-1 Jason Campbell, 7 years post high school, 6 different Offensive Coordinators. Is this another way the man is trying to keep the brotha down?

24. Seattle Seahawks 0-1 - Ohh wayyy we had to take our carter jet, with leather seats, personal chief, and striper pole in the back all the way to New York. How can you expect us to play across 3 time zones? Pussys.

25. Houston Texans 0-1 - They did a whole big thing on Mario Williams during one of the pre game shows, and how he'll be the difference against a porous Pitt o-line. Yea, not so much.

26. Miami Dolphins 0-1 - I will say this, they looked much, much better than they did last year, but they don't have any big talent over there. And can they please stop with the baseball/football stadiums? I used to think this was cool, but now it just bothers me. Ohh and your check for letting Favre win on opening day should be in the mail from CBS any day now.

27. Cincinnati Bengals 0-1 - I'm giving this team one more week, but if they play like they did this week, hello last place. This team looked putrid. Like vomit after a night of sushi and guennis beer.

the "i just crapped my pants" tier.

28. Kansas City Chiefs 0-1 - You knocked out Tom Brady, held the Pats to 17, and still lost. That's like getting a girl drunk after a nice dinner, and having her pass out on you while she's starting to felace you.

29. San Francisco 49ers 0-1 - Frank Gore and your crazy knees, Patches O'Hoolahan and your crazy arm, Patrick Willis and your crazy tackling. You guys are cute. Shitty, But Cute.

30. St. Louis Rams 0-1 - So you have one of the best RB's in the league and you give it to him like twice. That's some sound ass thinking. That's like have 3 testicles and then removing one because your too bad ass.

31. Detroit Lions 0-1 Lost. To. Atlanta.

32. Oakland Raiders 0-1 - Do they have promise? Yes, Will they win a game this year? Maybe. Is Al Davis just waiting on the new HeMan movie so he can play the antagonist? God I hope so.

So there's week one. Hope you have fun reading it. If not, all complaints can be sent to tom1310@prodigy.net.

Quick note to all P1's out there...

For any Ticket listener who has any ongoing intrigue or interest in the story of Greg "the Hammer" Williams and his departure from the station, take a look at Richie Witt's article in the Dallas Observer.

Story Link

So, what determines who can say what in the public domain?

If you haven't heard what Don Imus said on his radio program, here's a quick breakdown:

Warner Wolf (no comment on stupidity of that moniker) was discussion our very own Pacman (screw you, pal, you're never losing that name). He was going over his arrest record and Imus asked what color he was. When Wolf told Imus Jones was black, Imus said "there you go. Now we know."

Naturally, this raised a shit storm in the media. Imus followed up the next day by saying he was being sarcastic and that people should be outraged for blacks being arrested for no reason.

Pacman responded by saying it was obvious Imus hates black people and that Pacman would "pray for him".

Ok, did I miss something here?

Does Pacman Jones, let alone half of the media, listen to half of the shit that gets said on the radio here in town?

Are you meaning to tell me the gents on The Ticket don't say that level of humor if not worse? Short of dropping the n-bomb, the jokes that The Ticket tells are much worse than anything Imus has said.

Yes, they work under an umbrella of parody and direct sarcasm. However, are you going to tell me that the people who listen to The Ticket are smart enough to make the difference between jokes and reality?

Look, I've never listened to Don Imus. Frankly, I'm surprised the guy is alive. He looks older than Hubie Brown and Dick Stockton put together.

If radio stations like The Ticket are protected by the first amendment for making the commentary they make, and people like TMZ or Perez Hilton (a site/person I'm still not sure exists or not) can operate under that flag, why should Don Imus be crucified for anything he's said so far?

Hasn't Pacman Jones earned the privelege to be the butt end of all jokes?

The most important question of all? IF ALL I WANT IS THE MOTHER FUCKING SCORES FROM LAST NIGHT'S BASEBALL GAMES, WHY IN THE HELL IS ROBERT FLORES TAKING THE TIME ON SPORTSCENTER GOING OVER A NON-CONTROVERSY?

If people want to hear their own voice, find a topic or happening that is worth the energy. I'll give you a topic: Mike Meyers nor Adam Sandler hasn't been funny since about 2001, yet they still make more money than Bear does....and Bear just bought a brand new Kia. How's that fair?

Chiming in on the Ticket

So, brown posted a post(redundant) yesterday about if the Ticket has jumped the shark or not. He brought up some very valid points the best of witch is this.

Like he said, I do work in radio here in Dallas, albeit far from the sports talk genre, but its a place that I would like to end up someday. Never the less, here is my take.

My sisters have lived here in Dallas since the early 90's with their husbands. When we would pack the car up and come to Dallas to see them, I remember that listening to the Sports Brothers as soon as we reached the city. It was sports on the radio, and even at an early age I loved it. My earliest memory of Dallas sports talk is when Derrick Harper came back to the Mav's after his stint in New York, and when we finally got the signal they were talking about how much Harper would help the Mav's with his return. I thought they were talking about Alvin Harper from the Cowboys and was confused.

When I moved up here for college in the summer of 2000, one of the things I was most excited about was listening to the Ticket, an all sports radio station that was much more that just sports. Hell one show on the weekend even talked about wrestling.

What made the Ticket so great was that it was all about the normal fans. The guys who liked to joke around and poke fun at stuff, talk about movies and music, and all and all just have fun. Every single one of the Ticket Hosts, with the exception on Norm, who had just started, were people that didn't intimidate you, they didn't seem like bigger than life people that most radio "stars" come off as. I was sure that if I saw any of those guys out at a bar, I could sit down, buy them a beer, and not feel intimidated.

The reason for this is they were just as new working in this format as we were listening to it. We were growing together. Hearing storeys of the original compound where Craig, Gordo and Corby lived for awhile in an apartment gave them even more of an appealing aspect. As the Ticket listeners grew, so did the Ticket. What was once a let's try anything approach, like moving Corby from Bad Radio to the Hardline, Gordo from the Hardline to the Musers, or even the Musers to morning drive, has now been set in stone for the past 6 or 7 years. Its the same format, that we all love, but what kept them on edge and fresh is starting to turn people away for the opposite reason.

Have they jumped the shark? No. They just don't have anybody to push them.

In radio there is an unwritten rule about how to run a station. Find your demo, and exploit it. If you can get a firm grasp on the Demo(a group of people, like guys 25-50), then your almost untouchable. Take a look at these examples.

Sports - The Ticket
Top 40 - KISS
Talk - WBAP
County - 99.5 wolf
Alternative - 102.1 edge or 97.1 eagle
Classic rock - 93.3 Bone
Urban - 104.5

Now for the past 2 or 3 years the top rated over all stations looked like this with each moving a few spots up or down but pretty much where they are at

K104 (urban)
KISS (top 40)
WBAP (news talk)
KLUV (oldies)
2 Spanish stations.(Spanish)

Those are the top guys. The Ticket is on the next level due to the fact that pretty much only guys listen to the station. The only non Spanish station that is on top that even has competition is the Urban station. 97.9 the beat has taken away from K104 many many share points and knocked them out of first, which they were for about 2 years straight.

I know I'm starting to ramble. But here is my point. When you have competition leads to a better product, but less money in the ratings. Right now, the Ticket has no competition, and they are making a quite a bit of money, so why change a good thing right? The problem lies with when will your audience find your bit tired. And it will happen. If they want to stay on top, they will have to shake some things up.

When will competition happen? When Greggo goes to ESPN during drive time. That's when things will get interesting.

Has The Ticket Jumped the Shark?

First, as a disclaimer, I love The Ticket

Second, Uwe Blog had a similar post and it inspired this while listening to BaD Radio waste time making fun of Sean Bass.

I've been a P1 for a long time now, and I pretty much have the station on at all times, much to female passengers' chagrin. (Then again, they're tied up in the trunk, it's not like they can hear anything...gotta get some by any means necessary)

That being said, I think that the hosts and the station in general, in their own words, "let their shtick get tired"

It's always been about funny bits and being "the common man", but that was usually mixed in with some kind of actual sports discussions.

Now?

The Musers are more focused on becoming the Gordon Keith show.

Norm is the other extreme where he's breaking down the Colorado Rockies minor league system to dig up potential prospect trades for Millwood

BaD radio spends too much time either being the Grubes show or catering to a group of forum posters (that's right, a sorry blog writer is calling out even sorrier forum people)

The Hardline has pretty much become "let's hate on everything becuase it's not as good as us" (That only works on this blog, buddy)

Most of you who listen are probably thinking that's the same way it's always been.

That's true, and the only reason it has worked is because there is zero competition. ESPN radio?? Really?

Mike and Mike...morning drive should wake me up not put me to sleep.

Colin Cowherd is the only thing worse than Floyd and Engel, so they went with it.

The Michael Irvin show is terrible. It has such potential given the connections that Irvin has and the guests he can get, but it's just unlistenable.

The Hardline could roll out nothing but fart drops and Danny shitting on music and it's more entertaining than Galloway.

When you've got no competition, there's no pressure to improve your product.

How long until a radio station hits the law of diminishing returns?

I'm not sure...after all, I still listen and will continue to do so.

Big's a radio man in this city, maybe he'll have his thoughts.