Off Topic : 101 ESPN and their Lack of STL Sports Knowledge

[callitwhatyouwant]

I know that the listener base is a wide spectrum but given that the city of STL only has MLB/NHL/MLS, shouldn't their crews be knowledgeable on their sports? I am out of market and I listen to the station thru the app. It's kind of my "connection to where I grew up." I actually thought about posting this 2 weeks ago because it was half embarrassing, but another instance happened so it's a worthy post. They have multiple guys throughout the day that actually don't follow the teams of STL and are asked to go multiple hours a day producing a show.

In the morning hour show Kilcoyne, quite literally embarrasses himself on the daily. He must be going to bed by 7PM because he has no knowledge of what happened the night before for the team. He is the one that sparked this. A couple weeks ago he questioned why Parayko doesn't have any goals because he is getting lots of opportunities on the Power Play. Kirbs had to tell him that he doesn't play on the PP. In the afternoon show, their producer admits that he doesn't watch hockey and he's a big NBA fan. Not a problem in itself. It's actually helpful that you can some outside knowledge as it is a total sports radio show. But, and this is a huge BUT, shouldn't you have some knowledge of the sports teams in the city you are covering? You are putting together the show, you should have some lean on what people are wanting to listen to. The closing show is the only one that has some semblance of balance. I get this is the "prime time show" because its the drive home from work show. But AGAIN, you have hosts that don't watch sports outside of their field with the team. They do a good job of covering for each other. So I can forgive this, but does STL really have that void of talent or fervent hunger that they don't have people who at the very least watch the sports teams that they are supposed to be covering?

It is very clear in every segment throughout the day that you have at least 1 person talking for multiple hours that did not watch the Blues game or the Cardinals game or the Soccer game from the night before. The only excuse should be when these sports overlap. Does anyone agree? Maybe this is a dumb topic. But it's infuriating to listen to people interviewing good guests to be so unprepared that they ask season long, heck career long questions, and not know that the lifetime Blue, Colton Parayko, doesn't play on the power play.

[Corban84]

Completely agree. It's really hard to listen to at any point in the day.

I would really be interested in a knowledgeable soccer perspective, guessing we will never get that in St Louis.

[BleedingBleu]

I know that the listener base is a wide spectrum but given that the city of STL only has MLB/NHL/MLS, shouldn't their crews be knowledgeable on their sports? I am out of market and I listen to the station thru the app. It's kind of my "connection to where I grew up." I actually thought about posting this 2 weeks ago because it was half embarrassing, but another instance happened so it's a worthy post. They have multiple guys throughout the day that actually don't follow the teams of STL and are asked to go multiple hours a day producing a show.

In the morning hour show Kilcoyne, quite literally embarrasses himself on the daily. He must be going to bed by 7PM because he has no knowledge of what happened the night before for the team. He is the one that sparked this. A couple weeks ago he questioned why Parayko doesn't have any goals because he is getting lots of opportunities on the Power Play. Kirbs had to tell him that he doesn't play on the PP. In the afternoon show, their producer admits that he doesn't watch hockey and he's a big NBA fan. Not a problem in itself. It's actually helpful that you can some outside knowledge as it is a total sports radio show. But, and this is a huge BUT, shouldn't you have some knowledge of the sports teams in the city you are covering? You are putting together the show, you should have some lean on what people are wanting to listen to. The closing show is the only one that has some semblance of balance. I get this is the "prime time show" because its the drive home from work show. But AGAIN, you have hosts that don't watch sports outside of their field with the team. They do a good job of covering for each other. So I can forgive this, but does STL really have that void of talent or fervent hunger that they don't have people who at the very least watch the sports teams that they are supposed to be covering?

It is very clear in every segment throughout the day that you have at least 1 person talking for multiple hours that did not watch the Blues game or the Cardinals game or the Soccer game from the night before. The only excuse should be when these sports overlap. Does anyone agree? Maybe this is a dumb topic. But it's infuriating to listen to people interviewing good guests to be so unprepared that they ask season long, heck career long questions, and not know that the lifetime Blue, Colton Parayko, doesn't play on the power play.

It’s ESPN, they don’t care about leagues they don’t have a contract to broadcast; which amazingly aligns with St Louis. MLS is w/Apple, they split time w/TBS for NHL Broadcasts, and I think they just ended their Sunday Night MLB Broadcasting Rights.

It’s all NFL, NBA, NY Jets, LeBron, and panels of the most obnoxious people on TV. So, the fact 101ESPN has a bunch of Football & NBA hacks doesn’t shock me.

[BalotelliMassive]

Martin has never been a sports nerd - he's just a guy that could read off of the teleprompter with a little wit added in.

[aslord]

They only have 1 listener. And if you would turn it off, that would be zero.

[Backesdraft]

I think if you listened to McKernans old show, TMA, that also had Doug Vaughn on it, you probably like this show because it’s a little bit of a similar vibe (honestly, with a little more sports). If you liked Karrakers shows then you probably do hate this new morning show.

I can get both sides of that argument.

Actually though, I will say that I think the sports knowledge is pretty vast. Certainly they aren’t experts in everything, but I like that they can be comical about it all as well.

Just my 0.02.

[DawgDad]

I'm in Atlanta (not MO) metro area. I don't go out of my way to pick up 101, and I don't listen to the local ESPN station much, either. They are basically (1) preachers, telling listeners what they should think, and (2) hawks for the gambling industry. Not interested in either. I do like Rivers, though.

[somni]

I stream 101 while I work. Just to keep up with STL sports.

TMA sucks...and sucks bad. What a waste of air.
At least BK and Ferrario discuss sports and have thoughts.

[callitwhatyouwant]

I think if you listened to McKernans old show, TMA, that also had Doug Vaughn on it, you probably like this show because it’s a little bit of a similar vibe (honestly, with a little more sports). If you liked Karrakers shows then you probably do hate this new morning show.

I can get both sides of that argument.

Actually though, I will say that I think the sports knowledge is pretty vast. Certainly they aren’t experts in everything, but I like that they can be comical about it all as well.

Just my 0.02.

I'm not doubting the general level of sports knowledge. I'm also not discounting that it's good to have a variety of people on the show and sometimes that includes an old head who provides history that you would have a hard time reproducing because you can't just read up on some of that stuff.

What I am questioning is the baseline expectation you should have for your market and the guests you bring on. I don't think it's too much to ask as someone who is passionate about sports, that the person that is getting paid to get insider knowledge of the teams I watch and they are supposed to cover, to watch the games. You don't have to actually know what is going on. I think that's a little overblown as they aren't analysts. They are there to provide information. BUT, you have guys who are making stuff up that skews the way the conversation goes. You have guys who are openly saying they don't watch because they don't like hockey. (BAFFLING TO ME THAT YOU CAN COVER STL SPORTS AND ADMIT THAT) And then you have the least egregious but I can respect, they are indifferent but at least they are watching.

Again, I know it's not some high paying job. I get that the platform is even dated. But, if your job was to be an accountant, and you said you hate numbers, I don't think you would have that job very long.

[the miracle]

Half of the sports content on that station is now focused through the lens of gambling. And since I have no interest in gambling, I've come to accept that the content just isn't for me anymore.

[Backesdraft]

I think if you listened to McKernans old show, TMA, that also had Doug Vaughn on it, you probably like this show because it’s a little bit of a similar vibe (honestly, with a little more sports). If you liked Karrakers shows then you probably do hate this new morning show.

I can get both sides of that argument.

Actually though, I will say that I think the sports knowledge is pretty vast. Certainly they aren’t experts in everything, but I like that they can be comical about it all as well.

Just my 0.02.

I'm not doubting the general level of sports knowledge. I'm also not discounting that it's good to have a variety of people on the show and sometimes that includes an old head who provides history that you would have a hard time reproducing because you can't just read up on some of that stuff.

What I am questioning is the baseline expectation you should have for your market and the guests you bring on. I don't think it's too much to ask as someone who is passionate about sports, that the person that is getting paid to get insider knowledge of the teams I watch and they are supposed to cover, to watch the games. You don't have to actually know what is going on. I think that's a little overblown as they aren't analysts. They are there to provide information. BUT, you have guys who are making stuff up that skews the way the conversation goes. You have guys who are openly saying they don't watch because they don't like hockey. (BAFFLING TO ME THAT YOU CAN COVER STL SPORTS AND ADMIT THAT) And then you have the least egregious but I can respect, they are indifferent but at least they are watching.

Again, I know it's not some high paying job. I get that the platform is even dated. But, if your job was to be an accountant, and you said you hate numbers, I don't think you would have that job very long.

Well said, and I agree. To a certain extent, the people behind TMA (for better or worse, right or wrong) seem to think them admitting things like not watching this game or that game or being totally unaware of a certain sport entirely is part of the charm. I don’t agree with that myself, so your point there is well taken.

Admittedly, I run hot and cold with TMA. When there are real stories to discuss (i.e. the Arenado trade or the Rams settlement money or Cards attendance issues, etc) I really do like their insights. I could take or leave the other nonsense.

[BluesBirdsBuds]

Stopped listening years ago

We have a biased fantasy land sports show sandwiched between two wanna be comedy shows