967 Reasons to Love The Ticket

This Monday I turned the radio on to 96.7 FM which previously was the home of WBAP News Radio and before that was some generic Country Music station.  I wasn't turning it on to listen to Rush Limbaugh, I turned it on to listen to my favorite radio station.  1310 The Ticket has branched out to FM radio (AGAIN).  I live in Aledo which is west of Fort Worth and I can rarely listen to 1310 AM The Ticket in my vehicle in the morning or in the evening clearly.  Power lines: I can't hear a thing.  Under a bridge: I can't hear a thing.  The Ticket hasn't been perfect and its still amazing they have stayed so popular with such an awful signal. I remember that buzz from as long as I could remember.  I lived in Grand Prairie when I was kid and I never remember it being crystal clear.  There was always a little buzz.  For people who didn't regularly listen to it, its extremely annoying, for those who were regular P1's, this is just the way it is.

So I turned to 96.7 FM and Listened to the Musers and I thought I was in a dream.  I listen to The Ticket regularly streaming online but there is something different listening to them on FM.  Its an indescribable thing.  The traffic reports and the Ticket Tickers were even great to listen to.  The Ticket just became a larger player in the DFW radio and will be able to reach a lot more listeners, especially listeners who don't venture off to the AM dial.  Bob Sturm briefly spoke about this being targeted to the younger listeners, I agree.  I'm 26 and I can tell you, my age and younger don't even understand why AM radio exist.  Its for old effs listening to conservative news radio.

Hopefully The Ticket recognizes how much money they opened themselves up to.  Now instead of only advertising for the great Dallas area, now they will be able to branch out further west into my area.  I know The Ticket is awesome, now my neighbors need to recognize.  The Ticket was big before 96.7 FM and now they will become even BIGGER.  105.3 The Fan has to be a little worried (more than usual).   Will you be listening?

Peace Out Nolan...This is JD's Team Now

I'm a self proclaimed "Saber Idiot" and that means I'm not real great calculating advanced stats nor want to.  I'm not a nerd but I have an immense respect for sabermetrics.   Anything that makes the game that I love better, I'm all for it.  This divide between Nolan and JD has started New School vs. Old School.  RBI vs.  WAR.  AVG vs OBP.  This is my life.  This "feud" is awkward to me but it also has shown me a different side of Nolan Ryan.

Nolan Ryan was a childhood hero of mine.  There are great men, and then there was Nolan Ryan.  He was the best Texas Ranger to ever put a uniform on, and he was at the end of his career.  He made the Rangers half way legitimate. He was a bad ass player and the man was from the great state of TEXAS.  There couldn't of been a better marriage. Nolan was brought in to be the President of the team, he was technically in charge of business aspects of the ball club.  The upgrades around the ball park were Nolan Ryan's doing. He should be commended because I believe they really enhanced the experience at the ballpark (especially for people who really don't enjoy baseball).  

Ryan then bought the team and saved everyone from the Hicks era.  We all had such optimism.  That was in 2010.  The team was formed by JD and his staff and Nolan was still in charge of the business side of the Rangers.  Nolan after the 2010 World Series seemed to be more involved in player personnel. It was pretty prevalent during the offseason he was pushing hard to get Cliff Lee (unsuccessfully I remind you) and he apparently had some input in acquiring Adrian Beltre (which he should be credited with along with JD). Great! Nolan also deserves a lot of credit for extending the pitchers and making them push through when before they were treating pitchers with kid gloves.  I wanted to see the starters go longer to save the bullpen.  

After that, what has Nolan done?  I think his contributions have been highly overrated by the public. Nolan Ryan was not in charge of scouting and he did not have any input in drafting players.  Jon Daniels was your man.  The Teixeria trade.  Hamilton Trade.  And many other signings.  Yes he had a little learning curve.  We remember the Adam Eaton/Akinori Otsuka trade which sent Chris Young and Adrian Gonzalez.  Name me a GM that hasn't made a questionable move.  But for those 2010 and 2011 teams, that was JD's baby.  You want to talk about the last two years and call that a complete disaster, I would absolutely disagree.   

Have the season's been disappointing? Of course they have.  Disaster.  There are a lot of teams in the league that would love to be this "BAD".  Its not that long ago we were out by late July, early August.  All I want for my team is to do one thing...COMPETE.  The Rangers have for the last four years have been in hunt.  I'm not going to be the entitled fan who is disappointed if my team doesn't go deep in the playoffs or win the World Series.  Its stupid.  Not everyone can go.  Is Jon Daniels perfect? No way.  But he has shown to he can build World Series caliber teams and I believe with a few additions, we have one with this current team.   

So Jon Daniels has been branded the man who drove Nolan Ryan out of town.  I'm gonna leave you with this, Nolan wanted the control of team and the owners didn't believe Nolan was the future and that Jon Daniels was.  Jon Daniels has the 1 year, 5 year plans.  He is the man who knows the guys on the farm that will be developed for future. JD has also had great success internationally.  Yu Darvish will not be the last Japanese import and Leonys Martin won't be the last Cuban import.  JD has built this team to be successful for many years to come.  

Before I wrap this up I want to address a really interesting debate I've had with sports media legend Chuck Cooperstein (on twitter, Its not like he and Randy Galloway come over on the weekends).  He has had a problem with the way Jon Daniels has treated Ron Washington.  That JD should just acquire the players and let Ron take care of the rest. I completely disagree.  Wash has to be accountable like anyone else and also should learn & progress. There some techniques in baseball that were used years ago that still work today and there are some that don't.  Wash is so great with dealing with a clubhouse and I think he really motivates his very rich ball players to play to their full ability.  But in one very important aspect I believe Wash has done a very poor job of game management. (I also believe that was a combination of bad advice from Jackie Moore, but that's a post for another day)  JD put together a team and has the right to want those players be utilized to their full potential and correctly.  Bunting Elvis the amount of times Wash did was unacceptable. Trusting aging or regressing players. Bullpen decisions.  Wash will make mistakes and I won't sit here on my couch criticizing him.  One thing we can question is his philosophy. Can that be changed? I doubt it but I guess anything is possible. 

Texas Rangers and their fans should feel good about the future of their team.  This team isn't going to be in the ALCS every year. They might not make the playoffs.  But they will compete, and thats all you can ask of your team.  They will in late September have a chance to be a playoff team.  Big time free agents, they will have a chance.  Big time player that is available before the trade deadline, they will have a chance.  Instead of sellers, they are buyers.  For as long as I could remember, that's all I've wanted.  If you want your Rangers to win or hell attend the World Series, you are going to be disappointed a lot.  If you enjoy the ride and enjoy the success, you will still be disappointed but you will have a sense of pride for your team like I do.  JUST COMPETE! 

In Defense of The Fan

Gavin, Jeff C and Chris Arnold the "G-Bag Nation"

Anyone who knows me or has read anything I've wrote on here, knows I'm a P1 and I listen to the Ticket way too much.  I wake up in the morning with my phone blaring Gordo and the Musers and I'm constantly trying to check in during the day with BaD Radio.  I've been listener of The Hardline longer than I can really remember.  I love the Ticket and that love will never leave.  Now my enemy of the last 4 years has not been the originator and the ultimate imitator "105.3 The Fan".  From the moment I heard them I knew this could not last, and if you think about it, it hasn't.  I don't really wanna go over the history of The Fan but I will say "stability" isn't their forte.

I do not want this be me just kicking The Fan in the nuts the entire post (and I could) but I actually want this to be a positive post about this station I've had so many issues with.  The Fan is something I think I've secretly rooted for.  I want sports radio to be successful in the DFW area.  It doesn't have to be one or the other.  I can have multiple shows that I enjoy.

Right now in my opinion, The Fan is about as good as its ever been (I know that's a low bar).  Morning show really hasn't changed but I think they have adjusted a lot.  Overall is probably my least favorite show of the three, but it has its moments.  RJ Choppy is very knowledgeable about sports and I think he is fairly interesting.  Shan is someone I have trouble with but he really has toned it down (on the radio, not on twitter. Not that I would really know since he blocked me) lately and has offered some insight.  I wanna say that I haven't completely hated Troy Hughes (producer? yuk monkey?). I think he is pretty funny, I think some of his "bits" need help but quick punch lines, I think he is pretty good. 

Now some changes have occurred recently, Elf & Slater were axed and the G-Bag Nation who were occupying the late night slot were moved to 10-2.  Also they added on Mike Bacsik, who I really love to listen to. I'm glad to see Mike get another shot.   Gavin is Gavin and sometimes I think he is just trying to be controversial.  He is an acquired taste.  Chris Arnold is pretty meh in my opinion, very nice guy but I just don't know what he bring to the table.  I'm not going to get into his plagiarism offense but I just don't think he adds anything real significant to the show or the area.   Jeff Cavanaugh (producer/Yuk Monkey) is loud, douche-like and most likely smells like bong water and booze, and I think the shining light of the station.  I use to bag on this dude pretty bad, I finally got to know the guy and I have a lot of respect for the guy.  Very funny dude and I really relate to his sports outlook.  Gbag was not too long ago one of my least favorite shows, I don't listen much but it isn't horrible. But don't call me a G-Bag soldier cause I think that part is pretty stupid. I can admit I still don't understand the name.  Oh well keep it up.

Last but not least, Ben & Skin.....I have the utmost respect and admiration for those two guys.  Those guys could fill in at The Ticket tomorrow and no one would blink. They are funny guys who mix in with great HSOs.  Ben is prone to the knee jerk and a little sensitive (I've been blocked on twitter numerous times by Ben)
but I really enjoy him talking baseball and football.  Skin is one of my heroes.  He is new school and forward thinking.  He is a good dude and someone I truly respect in sports radio.  Kevin Turner who has joined the fold, he is a funny dude.  Will the mainstream understand him?  Only time will tell. Ben & Skin might not find success at The Fan, a station that is notorious for having a quick trigger. But I believe they are delivering the kind of sports radio I enjoy and most people would enjoy if they actually gave it a try.
(Some would want me to comment on the night time show "K&C Masterpiece", I really haven't listened much and the amount I have, is uninspiring. JUST MY OPINION)

For those who don't know I reside in the small town of Aledo just west of Fort Worth and I got word that the G-Bag Nation was doing a live remote near by.  I took my lunch break and headed over to see the boys.  It was a gas station and they were set up outside.  I got something to eat and then headed over to meet Jeff Cavanaugh, I guess out of those guys, he one I don't have run ins with.  Cool guy.  Then right next to him was the Great Mike Bacsik.  Very nice guy.  Chris Arnold then saw me and said "Brad Calhoun, love your stuff man" and then shook my hand.  Then came my meet up with Gavin who I've had numerous run ins with.  He shook my hand and said "Hey Brad" with that recognizable voice.  I told him it was nice to finally meet and I'm glad we there was zero awkwardness.  Gavin is who he is, but in person he didn't come off abrasive or confrontational.  We talked about some sports stuff and just shot the S.  All in all it was a very pleasant experience and kind of interesting to see the people who came to see them.  I thought it was actually smart of The Fan to do a remote there.  Sometimes they alienate the west side of the metroplex, I appreciate it because it sucks to hear all the remotes on the east side.

Will The Fan succeed? Who knows, but I will say that throughout the short history of this station, they are at their peak (OF COURSE IN MY OPINION).   The reason for this post was a text I received from my friend Jacob about The Fan having an edge on The Ticket in one category: Connecting with their listeners.   The Fan host have always kept themselves out in the public.  I talk to RJ Choppy, Skin, Gavin Dawson and Jeff Cavanaugh on regular basis.  And I know that doesn't really make them any better at radio but I know some people enjoy this interaction.  I've talked to Dan Mcdowell, Mike Sirois and even the great Mike Rhyner but at times most of them aren't available.  I know they have lives and aren't required to talk to S-heads like me.  Accessibility won't win the game but its a nice tool.  Listen don't think I'm jumping of The Ticket ship because I'm far from it.  The Ticket is still a go to.  But maybe one day, we could see a little more competitive sports radio.  Competition only makes things better.