Building the Perfect "Sports Talk Radio" Beast

[TL24x7]

I just posted a blog called Sports Talk Radio is Blah, Blah, Blah.

That's not to be meant as a knock on the sports talkers, just the limited and redundant topics that seem to be stuck on replay here in B'more.

But it does make you take a closer look at the hosts and what they could do to make their gab sessions a bit more interesting. It forces the gabber to dig deep and be insightful.

So with that in mind, I'm wondering who you all think are the best in the business and why and while you're doing that, if you could build the perfect sports talk radio host what would he/she consist of?

Haynie's humility?

Cunningham's corniness?

Garceau's graciousness?

Bulldog's Bite?

Viviano's pop culture?

C'mon, inquiring minds want to know...

[GOTA]

SiriusXM NFL Radio is the only NFL talk worth listening to. Listen to them for 1 day and you realize just how little the local guys in any market actually know about the sport.

Still not enough local coverage for you? Then come here to Ravens 24x7. Combine this site with SiriusXM NFL Radio and you're completely covered.

[HoustonRaven]

For total sports, not just NFL, Baltimore could clone The Sports Junkies, it would be a monster success.

Their overall sports knowledge is almost encyclopedic and they mix in just enough off-topic info / humor it keeps the show fresh. I know some here have said they do not like it when they get off the sports topic. To each is own but the proof is in the ratings -- they have been killing it for almost 15 years now.

To this day, I still listen to them even though they are DC-centric. When they were on in Baltimore, they had great ratings and had it not been for that fat POS Station Manager, they'd still be on in Baltimore.

[ravensnhokies]

'Out on the road today, I saw Orioles sticker on a Cadillac. A little voice inside my head, said don't have hope, you can never have hope. I thought I knew what love was but what did i know. Those days are gone forever, I should just let them go..... After our Boys of Summer have lost...'


I said very early on that the Kenny & Vinny team is the best on radio. Vinny's front office insight is something no one offers on the local radio/TV media market. And Kenny is a good host. Easily, Vinny gets the best guests on their show b/c of his industry experience.

When Kenny & Vinny first got the Nighttime Football Show gig on 105.7, I laughed at what could that failed GM spout off on but I tuned in for curiosity sake. Well it turned out to be very good behind door information. I was the doubting Thomas just like Tony, but I'm a convert now.

[SouthSide]

Rob Long has been a favorite, local host for me. He even sounds like he is from Baltimore. Not being from here myself, he sounds just like my cousins who are from here.

But I always liked his content and the shows production. PLUS, while on 1370, it was the only show that I can reliably get in my car for my entire commute.

In the afternoon, I listen to Garceau(sp?)....but I think I only tolerate that show. There isn't anything better that I know of.

Oh, and Rob Long is the only local host (that I know of) that really talks NBA and NCAA ball (outside of the Terps). I don't watch a lot of NBA, but I keep up on NBA news.

[goodandfast]

'Out on the road today, I saw Orioles sticker on a Cadillac. A little voice inside my head, said don't have hope, you can never have hope. I thought I knew what love was but what did i know. Those days are gone forever, I should just let them go..... After our Boys of Summer have lost...'


I said very early on that the Kenny & Vinny team is the best on radio. Vinny's front office insight is something no one offers on the local radio/TV media market. And Kenny is a good host. Easily, Vinny gets the best guests on their show b/c of his industry experience.

When Kenny & Vinny first got the Nighttime Football Show gig on 105.7, I laughed at what could that failed GM spout off on but I tuned in for curiosity sake. Well it turned out to be very good behind door information. I was the doubting Thomas just like Tony, but I'm a convert now.

With all due respect, Vinnie Cerrato is a moron.

[ravensnhokies]

With all due respect, Vinnie Cerrato is a moron.

I first listened to him with that same preconceived bias also...But like Tony, he shockingly turned out to be very interesting and insightful. Oh well, to each his own..

[Jeremiah W]

I first listened to him with that same preconceived bias also...But like Tony, he shockingly turned out to be very interesting and insightful. Oh well, to each his own..

He has a bad laugh, but pretty good insight. KW does a solid job hosting, and together I htink they make a good team.

My favorite host has been Rob Long, and my favorite reporter was Jerry Coleman. Would not mind if they team up for an evening or 8-10 Am show on 105.7.

[TL24x7]

With all due respect, Vinnie Cerrato is a moron.

I'll admit I thought the same exact thing until one day, with nothing else to listen to I gave it some time. Once I got beyond the the cackling laugh and his limited knowledge of other sports, I accepted him for what he does bring and that is an executive's experience in the game I prefer most...the NFL.

But like RH said, to each his own...

[TL24x7]

My favorite host has been Rob Long, and my favorite reporter was Jerry Coleman. Would not mind if they team up for an evening or 8-10 Am show on 105.7.

Don't hold your breath on that team ever hooking up on 105.7 JW. Asomugha has a much better chance of playing for the Ravens...

[Jeremiah W]

Don't hold your breath on that team ever hooking up on 105.7 JW. Asomugha has a much better chance of playing for the Ravens...

Nice.

DeMeco Ryans has a better chance of being a better MLB than Ray Lewis...

Do they not get along or something? It seems like they made for some good debates while calling into each other's shows. Rob seems to have found a small rotational role at 105.7. I do not know what the odds are, but I would rather see the Ravens sign Nnamdi if only one or the other is going to happen.

[ravensnhokies]

I could see a situ where Yanda gets signed away from the Ravens right when FA starts. Nnamdi's signing is initial stalled b/c of the magnitude of it. Since the Ravens struck out on retaining Yanda, they put a full court press on Nnamdi.

You really don't know.... You think you know... but you don't know... And you never will.. ok

[Jeremiah W]

I could see a situ where Yanda gets signed away from the Ravens right when FA starts. Nnamdi's signing is initial stalled b/c of the magnitude of it. Since the Ravens struck out on retaining Yanda, they put a full court press on Nnamdi.

You really don't know.... You think you know... but you don't know... And you never will.. ok

The thing the gets me about all the speculation, is that it isjust speculation. I do not care if Oz holds a press conference and says, "no, we have no interest in signing this guy." There is no reason to believe he would tell the public what his true plans are, or even were after the fact.

I do not think they are lying about wanting to keep Yanda, or thinking that Nnamdi is a longshot, but doubt they even know how it will play out.

[Captain Silver]

Go to Miami, find a tranny that played touch football, get a mic, oh wait, we already had that beast.

[TL24x7]

Do they not get along or something? It seems like they made for some good debates while calling into each other's shows. Rob seems to have found a small rotational role at 105.7. I do not know what the odds are, but I would rather see the Ravens sign Nnamdi if only one or the other is going to happen.

Rob is a pro!

[RockGod]

Though I don't listen to much sports talk anymore because it's all really bad, the only guy I can stand to listen to is Qadry Ismail. He's funny at times he's not pompous, speaks clearly unlike the dimwit Hollinder that somehow bribed BAL into letting him talk over the air. And he doesn't have a big dumb sports guy laugh.

But whomever it is I only like one host, I can't stand listening to two or more people argue about who's the smartest one there. All I care about is the facts. Anything beyond that is wasted air time.

[PeterB58]

First: Know your sh*t. Nothing will get me to change the dial faster than someone that doesn't have the facts correct, nor care to do the required analysis to turn the facts into a meaningful conversation.

Second: Know your history. So much of Baltimore sports can be - and should be - jutaxposed against the bigger picture and events from the past. For instance: You will hear a lot of talk shows talk about how bad the Orioles are in developing talent, and how they used to be able to bring up player after player using "The Oriole Way." But I would love for someone to do a detailed analysis of how it all went downhill starting with EBW.

Third: Stick to the knitting. Stick to talking about Baltimore sports.

Fourth: Do your homework. Anybody can go on a radio and read news/blog stories or interview guests. I think the best sports talk show hosts are those that actually do their own reporting/investigative work.

In my opinion....

[Crean N Crimson]

105.7 should change their handle to:

105.7, Sports Radio for Novices

Rob Long and Ken Weinman are the only 2 people on Baltimore talk radio who seem to know what they are talking about, IMO.

Like Gota said, switch over to XM/Sirius and listen to sports talk on there for a few hours. You will cringe every time your car starts up and you accidently catch a segment of the Bert and Ernie show (Garceau and Kahn).

[BIGBALL]

Though I don't listen to much sports talk anymore because it's all really bad, the only guy I can stand to listen to is Qadry Ismail. He's funny at times he's not pompous, speaks clearly unlike the dimwit Hollinder that somehow bribed BAL into letting him talk over the air. And he doesn't have a big dumb sports guy laugh.

But whomever it is I only like one host, I can't stand listening to two or more people argue about who's the smartest one there. All I care about is the facts. Anything beyond that is wasted air time.

Wow - he is about the worst I have ever heard! Like they say - everyone is entitled to their opinion!

[Crean N Crimson]

WNST is comparable to 105.7, IMO. The good jockey's always leave for bigger and better things, which really waters down their product.