The Fan 960

[Eddie Bronze]

I looked around and didn't see any threads on this, so hopefully I'm not starting a conversation that already happened, but I wanted to find out if anyone else heard what took place on the morning show this morning.

Randy Sportak from the Sun had a few unflattering things to say about this "Flames of our Lives" segment that they are running.

LAST RITES: Just when we thought nothing could be worse than the ICE animation series CBC played on Hockey Night in Canada, we get The Flames of our Lives on the Fan 960 morning show. Please stop before everyone tunes out. My favourite 13-year-old, a die-hard sports fan, now listens to Vibe 98.5 not for the music but because FAN 960's morning show "isn't funny."

I have to admit, I haven't heard the segment, so I have no idea, but if it's like 99% of the rest of the stuff they run, it's likely not too amusing.

Anyway, Richards said something about Dowbiggen coming on the air in the next segment and referred to him and The Herald as credible reporters, who do their job the the way they should. Richards has, in the past, shown that he has the thinest of thin skins. For a guy who works as a member of the "media" he sure lacks the professionalism needed to maintain any kind of credibility amongst listeners, if you ask me. Does anyone know about his past, like if he chose to leave or was run out? I wouldn't be surprised if it were the latter. He's very immature, and it shows whenever anyone has even the smallest thing to say about him that isn't flattering.

What I found to be most hypocritical though, is how he degrads Sportak (who I consider to be a decent journalist, especially considering the other options we have in this town) and how he pumps up Dowbiggen like he's some God. After the recent submissions by Dowbiggen right on the very radio station Richards works for, that he printed a false story about Bettman receiving a bonus for delivering a cap and then his leather jacket gift from Bob Goodenow, I find it hard to believe that Dowbiggen would even be asked to come back on the air, much less have the host try and swade the public perception in this town of that jackass by saying he is a good journalist. But then again, I've heard them in the past set up their plans together for the evening right on the air. Bumbuddy adventures aside, Richards singing Doh'boy's praises is almost enough to make me vomit after some of the recent events that have taken place.

The other thing I wanted to address is Dowbiggen himself and these two things 1. He works in Calgary. 2. He clearly supports "The Association". Is it just me, or does anyone else find it hard to find someone in this town who supports that side? You would think he would know better than to cry for a free marketplace, which we all know benefits bigger markets, when he works in one of those small market towns. It's like a slap in the face to general public around here, almost as if he's saying he's cheering to see Iginla and future stars of our team move on because they can make more money elsewhere. I really feel it's time the public takes this into their own hands and call for a review of this guys job. This lockout has unveiled a lot of things about a lot of people and I don't see anything that isn't ugly coming out about or from him.

[4X4]

Can you expand on the 'running out' thing you were saying? I don't really listen to Richards, not because I like or dislike him, just because his timeslot.

I did hear the Flames of our Lives last week, and frankly, I thought it was one of the stupidest things I'd heard in awhile. It was some lame story line about Gelinas hooking up with Kipper's girlfriend.

I really don't know why Richards thinks that hockey fans want their sport associated with scripetd soap opera storylines. Afterall, there is wrestling if you are in to that kind of thing.

Dowbiggen is a moron. I don't think he supports the players as much as he claims. He's just making sure the players don't hate him, because when this is over, he's gonna need some interviews.
I quit reading him after Joe Sports (whom I don't really care for either) went ape-sh*t on him for dissing him in his column. I don't remember the exact case, but it was along the lines of printing some third-party's anti-Joe rant in the Herald.
I remember agreeing with Joe that what was said was not appropriate for print.
If you are going to criticize, at least use your own pen.

But yeah, can you expand this Richards getting pushed out thing a little?

[JiriHrdina]

I believe Richards lost his job when the entire chain of Team radio stations went under. From what I know he wasn't "pushed out"

[Eddie Bronze]

4X4,

That wasn't a rhetorical question, sorry for the misunderstanding. I actually was asking if anyone knew anything about his past. I believe he was working in Toronto before he came here, but I have no idea which radio station.

Anyway, I'm just curious as to how things ended for him there because he's leaving me with the impression that it could possibly have been on not such great terms. He is an embarrassment to the profession, after all.

edit: Okay Jiri, thanks for the 411.

[V]

Oh man, I think Richards is hilarious! The soap opera thing might be gay, but apparently they've been getting good reviews from the public.

Dowbiggen is a tard, but I don't understand the love-in the the Fan has with this guy. Rob Kerr seems scared to death to criticize anything that Dowbiggen says, even though it's painfully obvious that Kerr doesn't agree with Dohboy.

[RougeUnderoos]

Originally posted by Dominicwasalreadytaken@Feb 7 2005, 09:43 PM
Rob Kerr seems scared to death to criticize anything that Dowbiggen says, even though it's painfully obvious that Kerr doesn't agree with Dohboy.

That's the way to do it IMO. Maybe not be "scared to death", which I don't really see, but he acts like a person. He disagrees with lots of people and he makes it quite obvious but he doesn't act like an ***hole when doing so, unlike a lot of other media personalities who make it part of their schtick to belittle people, take potshots or act like some know-it-all blowhard just because he's on the radio.

[Mean Mr. Mustard]

Mike Richards isn't funny, I question whether he knows his sports (very rarely does he have a take at all, nevermind a solid damn straight I agree with that). He seems like the guy in high school that would swear in class when others were having a discussion just in order to get a rise out of people, and unfortunatly for him the people listening to the Fan are a) not in high school, and b) have the option of tuning into CJay 92 (not that I recomend this) to get their fix of an idiot making an ass out of himself and being crude to get a rise out of others.

I truely challenge someone to listen to his show (seems to be a challenge in itself) and pick out some solid sports takes that he makes... I tried listening and he doesn't do it that often. I would much rather listen to Bruce Kenyon (Q107) in the morning who has a good voice, and is funny without being a dumbass.

[JiriHrdina]

^^^

Richards imitation of Steve Armitage cracks me up. But Steve Armitage himself cracks me up so that's proabably the big reason why.

[moon]

I find Richards funny but often find him getting sports facts totally wrong and do question some of sports knowledge. I enjoy listening to him, although I rarely listen to the whole show at that time of day.

[V]

Do you listen to Richards for the sports? I sure don't. I'm not ready for hard-hitting comentary first thing in the morning.

No, the guy doesn't seem to know a thing about sports. But that's not why I listen to him.

[rockstar]

I don't listen to Mike Richards very much at all, because I usually tune into theFan just for hockey/baseball games, but is he the guy who has that 2 minute segment?

IF he is, I think he's terrible. Last week some time, he was going on and on about the ABA and how such a large expansion would of course be a bad idea. Fine, he's right. But then he goes on to make fun of the Tijuana team and say basketball should not be played professionally there. Fine. Then this sh*t starts spewing out of his mouth about how the cheerleaders are all crackwhores etc. etc., and how the star player was some 4'11" guy named Pedro Gonzalez or something. He was trying his damndest to be funny, but all that came out of his couth was this racist, unfunny, obnoxious B.S. that has no place on a sports radio station.

All this, assuming I'm talking about the same guy. Anyone else hear this?

[V]

Yeah, that's the guy, but I kinda found it funny. Sorry if that offends anyone on here.

Mike is anything but politically correct.

[rockstar]

Originally posted by Dominicwasalreadytaken@Feb 7 2005, 11:56 PM
Yeah, that's the guy, but I kinda found it funny. Sorry if that offends anyone on here.

Mike is anything but politically correct.

I know, I don't think there's anything wrong with being politically incorrect (frankly, I hate PC culture). And I personally was not offended or anything.

I just thought it was the most useless, stupid waste of 2 minutes. There's plenty else he coulda done with that segment than go on like some Jim Rome-esque tangeant about the cheerleaders wanting to "hook up" with the players after the game. I mean, he would not shut up!

[CaramonLS]

I've heard the "flames of our lives" and it was one of the funniest segments they've done, especially the one with Peter Mahr. I was cracking up so bad, and I'll be the first to admit I'm very picky with my humour.

Yeah Richards doesn't know his sports too well, but thats definately not why I listen to him. The Hienz Ward thing w/ him crying and piano music playing was classic.

[lucid]

I don't really care for Mike Richards either, nor do I find him particularly funny at all.

Although I do find the "Flames of our Lives" to be funny (yet incredibly stupid at the same time).

Interesting to see that there's mixed response when it comes to Richards. Though I'm not the target audience for the programming, and that would probably explain to a large extent my dislike.