Radio Daze...

So apparently I was talked about on the radio.

I'm a little confused/entertained by the whole situation.

I somehow managed to ruffle the feathers of drive-time host Sid Rosenberg (not pictured).
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Here's what happened.

On August 9th I wrote the following on my facebook page (I love that facebook timestamps): "my biggest beef with sportstalk radio is the following: self-important hosts evaluate athletes as human beings based on whether they appear on their shows or not... If they have no access they happily rip the athletes, if they appear on the show, they are "great guys" and "my good friend"... it's pathetic jock-sniffing... and worst of all, a boring listen."

I was referring to no one in specific.

I didn't mention anyone by name.

It was a general commentary about the culture of playing grab-ass with athletes, and the me-me-me-ism that pervades not just the athletes themselves, but that has seeped to the purveyors of information about said athletes.
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Furthermore, I am not facebook friends with Sid Rosenberg.

I don't have anything against him.

In fact, I met him once at the "Touchdown Club" and he was a very nice guy.

I didn't comment on his show and I wish him well.
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Given that I didn't mention him by name and we're not facebook friends, I was surprised that I happened upon this little jewel on the interwebs from Sid's blog on wqam.com (I don't mind giving a plug) the day after my post:

"Sid starts the show and the entire first segment talking about the shots that were taken at him on facebook by Dukie Lang. Sid keeps reiterating that he is always going to talk about himself because it is the Sid Rosenberg Show. Sid admits that he is very immature and doesn’t handle criticism very well."
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I'm impressed that 1. he found my comments (though we have 35 mutual friends)

2. That my comments were worthy of "the entire first segment."

With all due respect to myself, who the hell am I?

I'm basically, David on a mobile.

The only difference is, on the web, you can't hang up on me.

What did Andy Warhol say about publicity?

Back In The Booth...

The Miami Dolphins quietly made their best off-season move today.

"Mad Dog" Jim Mandich (not pictured) will be back in the broadcast booth to call games in 2010.

Put simply, he represents everything that is right with the franchise, with football, with radio, and with South Florida.
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There's been a tremendous void on the air since Mad Dog became ill earlier in the year and decided to end his daily show.

Obviously, as someone who worked on his show for 8 years or so, I had a personal interest in Mad Dog's show.

But that's not what his return to the air is about.
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I've missed him most as a listener.

He offers a sense of perspective and fun that is unmatched by anyone in the market.

He's been in our town for over 40 years and his keen insight is lost in a wave of juvenile pretenders.
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Nobody knows the Miami Dolphins like Mad Dog.

He's been there through every up and down.

He was on the field during the perfect season.

He was in the booth for the Marino-era.

His contacts have contacts.

And most importantly, he truly loves everything that the Miami Dolphins were and can be.
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Mad Dog is best known for his phrase "ALRIGHT MIAMI."

It's something that he screams in moments of pure joy.

But, when you have someone who knows so much about the team, when he yells that, you know, it's truly "ALRIIIIGHT."
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Football is a game that's about passion and dedication.

He doesn't make a show about it, but nobody is more prepared for a game than Mad Dog.

Even though on the surface, he's a homer, he's really not.

He can be critical.

He can say that the offense stinks right now, or the defense needs blitz more, because he really knows.

When he does criticize the team, you know that it's coming from a place of love and that all he wants is for the team to ultimately succeed.
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On top of all that, the man is battling cancer.

But, as he always says, no whining, no complaining.

During my 8 years of writing for him, no matter what was happening in my life, I would always send him a show.

Never missed a day.

He once told me, "You line up and play."

That's the bottom line.

I've taken that lesson to heart and he continues to embody it.

When the season starts, Mad Dog is lining up and playing.

We're all better for it.

I'll be listening.