It was suggested by a couple of persons whose opinions I halfway respect there was something decidedly unjust about using the death of Cory Lidle as an excuse to take a shot at Mike Francesca and Chris Russo.
So with that in mind, I’ll try to elaborate for a change.
Obviously, the Doofus Twins had nothing to do with Lidle’s passing, and I have no substantial complaints with their coverage of yesterday’s plane crash (though I’ll agree with David Roth their insistence that last night’s NLCS Game One be postponed — irrespective of the weather — was typically hysterical).
My problem is with the way Lidle was treated on Monday, in particular Russo’s manufactured outrage over the pitcher claiming he was “trying to enjoy a day in New York City.”
The tri-state area’s biggest SF Giants fan argued that members of the Yankees should be in hiding after their disgraceful showing against Detroit, and “Yankee fans aren’t enjoying their day.”
I’ll remember this unlistenable exchange the next time I see the likes of Barry Zito or Rick Peterson talking about “putting things in perspective.” I mean, yeah, an individual’s life or death is far more important than a ballgame — or a bullshit, faux controversy that could’ve easily been explained away by either Lidle fessing up to a poor choice of words, or a rational radio host simply saying as much after reading the quotes about the Tigers being “more ready to play”.
Nobody in this mix can have it both ways. If you really believe that Lidle’s exit “puts things in perspective”, what sort of perspective allows Lidle to be so poorly treated on the radio for having the temerity to say, in his own haphazard way, that Detroit was the better team?
And make no mistake — Francesca and Russo are hardly the only persons with egg on their face. Yack radio, the competing newspapers, countless blogs (present company included) micro analyze the low-watt musings of Lidle and his peers to the point where any dopey public statement is grounds for lynching.
Holding the media (nuevo bloggy and old school inky) accountable is a nice exercise for self-righteous cranks like yours truly, but also ignores the simple truth that such irrational obsessions are what fuel the sports media biz, if not all entertainment and consumer activity. Really putting things in perspective would mean blowing off the baseball playoffs and putting an equal amount of time and energy into helping someone else. Actually recognizing “what’s really important in life” would probably mean pulling the plug on WFAN, BBTN and a big percentage of what you’ve got bookmarked.
You first!
The whole conept of what Francesca and Russo do is outdated and flawed by nature. They have to fill up all those hours of programming and most people would be bored if all they did is talk about batting averages and golf. Nothing that Lidle said was even remotely controversial, yet they felt they had to say something. But I don’t see what his death had to do with their comments about Lidle’s comments about Torre and the Tigers. Yeah, they crucified him for it, so what? The plane crash was a different story on a different day and I’m not so sure why bloggers (or anyone) feels like they have some type of moral high-ground over these two bozos for doing the schtick they do everyday. The blog-o-sphere has made it impossible to read or watch anything on the news without needing to walk on eggshells and being ashamed for having a difference of opinion. Bloggers are some of the most narrow-minded people on earth, and it gets worse with every hit they get on the stat counter. Egg on their faces? Why? If they criticize Barry Zito for hanging a curve and he winds up having an aneurism two days later, should they be ashamed of that too? If they had at least mad fun of his plane-flying the day before he crashed into that building…that would at least make be ironic or worthy of some shame on their part!!! BUT THEY CHASTISED THE GUY FOR MAKING COMMENTS THAT THEY DISAGREED WITH…WHICH WAS PEGGED TO JOE TORRE’S UNCERTAIN FUTURE. WHY THE HELL WOULD ANYONE THINK THEY LOOK ANY MORE RIDICULOUS THAN THEY USUALLY DO IN LIGHT OF THE PLANE ACCIDENT?
?!?!?!?!?
first of all, I’ll cede the moral high ground. I’ve got no claim to it.
Busting on Barry Zito for hanging a curve makes way more sense to me than tearing Cory Lidle to shreads for his shortcomings as a cogent orator.
As far as F&R looking ridiculous, I think they made morons of themselves on Monday irrespective of the plane crash. And in Russo’s case, previously, too, when he went after Lidle for having the gall to critique Chris’ untouchable idol, the Sultan Of Surly.
I’m suggesting that you shouldn’t need to wait until a guy is scraped off the side of a building before treating him with a modicum of respect. If that’s a little too boo fucking hoo for your tastes, I apologize. I mean, I’ll snap out of it in about 30 minutes. But I’ve heard the phrase “putting things in perspective” about 300 times in the last 18 hours (admittedly, not so much from Mike and Chris) and I suspect the trappings of yack radio and bloggery make such a thing improbable. And as I said earlier, if any of us really gave a hoot about something of greater importance, we’d not be listening to WFAN. Or reading this blog, most probably.
In the real world, irrational exhuberance does not fuel all consumer activity. Housing, Food, clothing, school care and a host of other consumer activity- school (my grad school, my child’s daycare) and housing alone include nearly 50% of my takehome salary. No, the problem that you’ve correctly identified GC is that the irrationality of sports talk ragio really is irrational. And it really is negative.
If 9/11 forever killed Seinfeld Internet IPO irony, then this should kill the spors junkies. I spend a lot of time with people in show business and the worst are those who confuse what they do with an active career or public pursuit. Last week I heard the voice of the little mermaid make the mistake of saying that NOAA was the National Ocean Association that “tried to raise awareness about the oceans” when in fact it directly influences how our fishing industry (where people are out on real boats killing real fish that real people eat) operates and under what laws. Raising awareness is complete bullcrap. Talking on the radio is similarly not the job of an adult who wants to contribute to society. Outside the media, real lives take place and yes, it’s not a subjective issue. If radio would stop, food would still get to the table. when e. coli spoiled the spinach children died.
And that’s the issue. I cannot imagine a bigger imbecile than someone who cares about all sports from boxing to football. That person is someone without the intellect to make dicriminatory choices in their life. They are the people for whom Top 40 radio was invented, playing you both Three Days Grace and Beyonce. Now, That’s What I Call an inability to reason.
While no fan of GG Allin could ever believe that by listening to something one would become that thing. But I ask anyone who listens to Mike and the Mad Dog every day, in your life…
How’s that working for ya? Got a better job? Communicate better with spouse and kids? Feel better about yourself and your country? Man, Habitat for Humanity is calling Dude. Set up a benefit show for someone. hire some teenagers’ band to open for a big artist. hire and train interns. Mentor. Hire interns to work on that Mentors project.
This incident shows not just the futility of sports radio, but its uselessness.
Don
WHY THE HELL WOULD ANYONE THINK THEY LOOK ANY MORE RIDICULOUS THAN THEY USUALLY DO IN LIGHT OF THE PLANE ACCIDENT?
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Because the possibility that the pilot was being reckless or had a disregard for his own life is one of the possibilities being investigated by the NTSA and that is directly related to his mental state and the, albeit slight, possibility of suicide-by-plane.
Don
Don,
thank you. Perhaps I should’ve written that irrational exhuberence fuels much of what we spend our disposable incomes on. Though that said, some of the expenses you’ve described are entirely optional (grad school, having kids, etc.)
“I cannot imagine a bigger imbecile than someone who cares about all sports from boxing to football. That person is someone without the intellect to make dicriminatory choices in their life. They are the people for whom Top 40 radio was invented, playing you both Three Days Grace and Beyonce. Now, That’s What I Call an inability to reason.”
I can easily imagine a bigger imbecile. For instance, someone who feels very comfortable passing value judgement on others based on something as trivial as what-they’re-into. I mean, sure, it does sorta sound to me like a mythical person who is into every sport might be lacking discretionary skills, but if they turn out to have a cooler record collection than you, does that make them less of an idiot?
I couldn’t name you a single Three Days Grace song, nor do I know the first thing about figure skating. But I will presume that one or both of the above have their charms (well, figure skating at least), and persons who are into ’em might have other qualities to offer, too.
No one listens to Mike & The Mad Dog every day, Don. They take most weekends off.
If you did indeed listen to Mike & Chris, you might be better qualified to make a statement like “this incident shows not just the futility of sports radio, buts its uselessness.” But such a declaration would do a tremendous disservice to those who strive to elevate the medium.
Other than Steve Somers, I have no idea who these men or women are. But I’ll bet there’s a couple.
Don, I was referring to Mike/Maddog, not Lidle and the pilot. I thought that was pretty clear.
If you did indeed listen to Mike & Chris, you might be better qualified to make a statement like “this incident shows not just the futility of sports radio, buts its uselessness.â€
Oh, snap!
But such a declaration would do a tremendous disservice to those who strive to elevate the medium. Other than Steve Somers, I have no idea who these men or women are. But I’ll bet there’s a couple.
I guess you don’t consider JT the Brick to be all that awesome (?) Oh, and you forgot Ted Sarandis on EEI.
re : The Brickface. I’d rather go hottubbing with Chet Coppock. And I’d rather play in traffic than that.
re : Ted Nation. Though I wasn’t a fan, I have no desire to drag him or his political candidacy (http://www.tednation.us/ted_sarandis_news.htm) into this discussion.
Wow, I had no idea he was running for office. Must be some interesting times in Woburn.