"Take that Calgary Puck!" — SN960 and Calgary sports media discussion

[Northendzone]

^ totally. i have a bad habit of typing on my ipad and assuming that it knows what i am trying to say

[VladtheImpaler]

Originally Posted by Northendzone

Turned on the fan today and was greeted by some guy with rocks in his mouth making no sense.

We’re rintoil and surman pre-emptied by the smack off?

Well, there was some guy calling in as "Paul's dog" while I was driving home, so that could have been it. Seemed better than Rintoul/Surnam. I think I am ready to have Rome back with all due respect to the Canadian talent.

[GreenLantern2814]

There is a surreal quality to the Smack Off, that much is undeniable

[Strange Brew]

Originally Posted by VladtheImpaler

Well, there was some guy calling in as "Paul's dog" while I was driving home, so that could have been it. Seemed better than Rintoul/Surnam. I think I am ready to have Rome back with all due respect to the Canadian talent.

Rome can be awfully annoying but as a sports fan, at least his show is relevant.

Unfortunately it's hard to care what Rintoul/Surnam think about anything.

[VladtheImpaler]

Originally Posted by Strange Brew

Rome can be awfully annoying but as a sports fan, at least his show is relevant.

Unfortunately it's hard to care what Rintoul/Surnam think about anything.

The only decent part of R/S is when they have the ex-goalie (McKenna?) on. The rest is oatmeal...

[Fighting Banana Slug]

I guess I am not the demo they are shooting for, but the smack-off was the most inane, cringe inducing 5 minutes I could stand. Not informative and not entertaining.

I mean it was worse than Logan mumbling or Nault losing it. Just awful.

[Buff]

I despise the Smack off. I never saw any value in it for me.

I was never a fan of Jim Rome either. I have never been able to understand how he was so popular.

[rogermexico]

I know this isn't feasible for a lot of reasons, but I would listen to a condensed one-hour version of Rome's show that was only the interviews, with none of the Jim Rome stuff. Basically edit out two thirds of the runtime and give us Rome interviewing interesting subjects about sports. No clones, no texts, no Jim talking about himself.

[Sainters7]

Even back when I was a regular Rome listener, I found the Smackoff cringeworthy. Like I literally, visibly cringe while listening because I'm so embarrassed for the callers with their obvious, C rate Rome copycatting. I can't do it, always had to flip the station on those days. But it was definitely a nice surprise to hear Rome's voice again.

I actually really miss him, especially during football season. I'd take that over the current programming at that hour on 960 any day.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by rogermexico

I know this isn't feasible for a lot of reasons, but I would listen to a condensed one-hour version of Rome's show that was only the interviews, with none of the Jim Rome stuff. Basically edit out two thirds of the runtime and give us Rome interviewing interesting subjects about sports. No clones, no texts, no Jim talking about himself.

I find Rome to be a crappy interviewer.

Maybe that's just me.

[Weitz]

Originally Posted by Strange Brew

Rome can be awfully annoying but as a sports fan, at least his show is relevant.

Unfortunately it's hard to care what Rintoul/Surnam think about anything.

You mean you don't care with the simplest easy take you can have and both hosts always agree on the same point? And then talk about it for 10 minutes?

[rogermexico]

Originally Posted by undercoverbrother

I find Rome to be a crappy interviewer.

Maybe that's just me.

I used to appreciate the range of guests that he would bring on. I'm not a fan of his overall persona but find him best when he's not centre stage.

I like him more than, say, Joey Vendetta.

Although come to think of it, I really am not crazy about any of them.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by VladtheImpaler

Well, there was some guy calling in as "Paul's dog" while I was driving home, so that could have been it. Seemed better than Rintoul/Surnam. I think I am ready to have Rome back with all due respect to the Canadian talent.

I'm one of those posters that thinks Cassie Campbell gets unfairly criticized at times because she's female but I just don't think Surnam is very good. I don't doubt she has fine knowledge of hockey and other sports but there's an "it" factor you need to be good on the radio and IMO some of the RSN people have it such as Boomer, Rintoul, Steinberg, etc but I just don't think Surnam has it. She sounds forced and I find the show is better when that other guy (can't remember his name but he steps in at times) is on the air instead of her.

It was really nice to hear Rome today. Was like unexpectedly running into an old friend.

[Weitz]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

I'm one of those posters that thinks Cassie Campbell gets unfairly criticized at times because she's female but I just don't think Surnam is very good. I don't doubt she has fine knowledge of hockey and other sports but there's an "it" factor you need to be good on the radio and IMO some of the RSN people have it such as Boomer, Rintoul, Steinberg, etc but I just don't think Surnam has it. She sounds forced and I find the show is better when that other guy (can't remember his name but he steps in at times) is on the air instead of her.

It was really nice to hear Rome today. Was like unexpectedly running into an old friend.

I agree, but I honestly think Rintoul doesn't either. Can't stand him.

[CliffFletcher]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

I don't doubt she has fine knowledge of hockey and other sports but there's an "it" factor you need to be good on the radio…

An issue with a lot people on the radio these days is they don’t have radio voices. Strong, clear, emphasis in the right place. Broadcasting programs used to include speech and vocal classes, and even with training a lot of students could not cut it. In the last six or seven years, having a ‘broadcasting’ voice seems to have been discarded as a job qualification. Maybe the decline in the industry means employers can’t be choosey. Or maybe audience expectations have changed and it’s not important anymore. But there has definitely been a decline.

[CactusJack]

I actually didn’t mind the Rintoul show when it first started but once they added Surman I couldn’t listen anymore. I tried for several weeks but she just had nothing to offer on her own and seemed like she always had be dragged into the conversation, even then it was usually just an agreement and a giggle. It ruined the whole pace of the show and became unbearable to listen to. Her addition combined with the release of their own talent in the spring who I actually really enjoyed listening to had me tuning to other stations for the first time in years. My radio was glued to 960 all day at work for about 15 years but I actually haven’t even tuned back in for the morning or afternoon shows in a couple months either.

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

I'm one of those posters that thinks Cassie Campbell gets unfairly criticized at times because she's female but I just don't think Surnam is very good. I don't doubt she has fine knowledge of hockey and other sports but there's an "it" factor you need to be good on the radio and IMO some of the RSN people have it such as Boomer, Rintoul, Steinberg, etc but I just don't think Surnam has it. She sounds forced and I find the show is better when that other guy (can't remember his name but he steps in at times) is on the air instead of her.

It was really nice to hear Rome today. Was like unexpectedly running into an old friend.

I think what most people miss (and this isn't a criticism, but a point that stands apart), is that adding Cassie Campbell or Surnam is to reach out to someone other than young males. So in a non-passive-aggressive way, it doesn't really matter too much what we think about them

[GreenLantern2814]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

It was really nice to hear Rome today. Was like unexpectedly running into an old friend.

That’s how I would describe it too - as soon as I heard them mix Kawhi’s laugh with Kawhi dunking on that poor guy from the Jazz, I felt like I was home.

I used to be able to internally measure the three hours between 10-1 to the minute if I caught one segment of the show.

Later, Rome reacted to an MLB Network segment of Pedro Martinez talking about sticky stuff and how he’d prepare the balls.

“If I’m starting, I dictate how I want my balls rubbed down.”

You won’t get that from Rich Eisen.

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

An issue with a lot people on the radio these days is they don’t have radio voices. Strong, clear, emphasis in the right place. Broadcasting programs used to include speech and vocal classes, and even with training a lot of students could not cut it. In the last six or seven years, having a ‘broadcasting’ voice seems to have been discarded as a job qualification. Maybe the decline in the industry means employers can’t be choosey. Or maybe audience expectations have changed and it’s not important anymore. But there has definitely been a decline.

You're totally right. Although, I think it's definitely the gutting of the industry and paying next to nothing that has eroded excellent radio voices more than a lack of emphasis on it. We're just entering an era where being on TV and radio on most stations/networks is for people willing to work for less, not for the top talent.

The top talent will be working regular jobs in other industries, going forward.

[Northendzone]

So what is the deal, was this a rare appearance by Rome? Or is it a regular thing now?