ESPN loses a...well, a terrible one.

[BDC99]

Yep, he's my No. 1. And not just because of his open, seething hatred of everything Mizzou.

He's just terrible at what he does, in a professional broadcaster sense, and he really grates on my nerves.

I don't know if I've ever agreed more with a statement on this site. Gottlieb might be on my list of top 5 people I'd like to kick in the face.

Thirded. There are a few others on the mothership who I would rate ahead of him, including Cowherd. But can't stand watching/listening to Gottlieb.

Maybe I'm in the minority, but I've always thought sports talk radio is at its best when there are multiple people behind the mic and the listener feels as though he's listening to a thought-provoking conversation.

Kornheiser did it well with his merry gang (Andy Polley, Denis Horgan, Liz Clarke), though I've admittedly lost track of his show since its disappearance from XM.

I'm with you. I think I might be in the minority on this too, but I thought Kornheiser's show was tremendous radio. Some didn't like that they talked about topics other than sports, and others just don't like Kornheiser, but I think he's smart and funny. I love PTI, but I can only watch if it is him and Wilbon. That's the only combo that provides thought-provoking and entertaining conversation.

 

[playthrough]

Yep, he's my No. 1. And not just because of his open, seething hatred of everything Mizzou.

He's just terrible at what he does, in a professional broadcaster sense, and he really grates on my nerves.

I don't know if I've ever agreed more with a statement on this site. Gottlieb might be on my list of top 5 people I'd like to kick in the face.

Thirded. There are a few others on the mothership who I would rate ahead of him, including Cowherd. But can't stand watching/listening to Gottlieb.

Make it four. Gottlieb personifies the worst qualities of talk radio, in my opinion, because he uses the show as his solo pulpit to inflict his opinions on the listener. There's no nuance, no discussion, no thought, just knee-jerk reaction.

Maybe I'm in the minority, but I've always thought sports talk radio is at its best when there are multiple people behind the mic and the listener feels as though he's listening to a thought-provoking conversation.

Kornheiser did it well with his merry gang (Andy Polley, Denis Horgan, Liz Clarke), though I've admittedly lost track of his show since its disappearance from XM. The Olbermann-Patrick hour on ESPN Radio a few years ago was gold. Even the current reincarnation of Patrick's show somewhat approaches my standard for conversation, and I even felt better educated when I listened to Tirico and Van Pelt. The XM college sports guys work well in pairs, too, whether it's Mark Packer and Rick Neuheisel/Houston Nutt/Dan Hawkins/Randy Cross or Jack Arute and one of those ex-coaches.

But what I simply can't stand is one voice behind the mic preaching to me and firing off his unchecked opinions. That includes Cowherd, Gottlieb and their ilk.

To his credit, Cowherd will take the occasional phone call. Solo hosts who can take calls and have a dialogue can make good radio. A lot of local guys I used to listen to were like that.

 

[Beaker]

I find Cowherd practically unlistenable. He manages to annoyingly simultaneously contrarian and establishmentarian.

 

[LanceyHoward]

Van Pelt re-signed not that long ago. He's sticking around. But yeah, one of the conditions for being an ESPN affiliate is that you have to carry M&M in the morning. I'm not sure that's a winning formula anywhere. I also don't know how many stations ESPN actually owns. ABC has been working harder and harder to get out of the radio business, though I was surprised when Cumulus signed on to the CBS venture considering that company owns what used to be the ABC stations. All of these syndicates will probably have an easy job keeping the small markets, since you just have to barter out some ad time. But losing ground in the bigger markets will hurt. Almost no one goes live and local overnight, and losing that presence there has to be disconcerting. And if the Cumulus stations are in play, that'll give CBS a presence in a lot of mid and smaller markets, too. Most of the Cumulus stations are in that mold, which is evident by the way that company is run. (ie; ****ty)

I don't have time to look this up but I think ABC/ESPN sold almost all their stations. I know they sold WJLA in Washington along with a lot of stations.

And I agree that CBS can muscle their way into the overnight market but I don't see Gottlieb working at 3-6. While I like Gottlieb in studio I think a drive time talk show centered around college basketball doesn't work. I know Gottlieb will try to discuss other things but when I listen to him on ESPN (rarely) he is a lot less effective when discussing other sports. College basketball is to far behind football most places in popularity to serve as a drive time anchor.

 

[rmanfredi]

Just saw that Darren Rovell is "returning" to ESPN: http://espnmediazone.com/us/press-releases/2012/08/darren-rovell-returns-to-espn/

 

[Versatile]

Just saw that Darren Rovell is "returning" to ESPN: http://espnmediazone.com/us/press-releases/2012/08/darren-rovell-returns-to-espn/

Proving that there is a very real pompous-douchebag quota that must be met at all times for Bristol to operate.

 

[imjustagirl]

Just saw that Darren Rovell is "returning" to ESPN: http://espnmediazone.com/us/press-releases/2012/08/darren-rovell-returns-to-espn/

Proving that there is a very real pompous-douchebag quota that must be met at all times for Bristol to operate.

I wonder who replaced me in that quota.

 

[dixiehack]

Couldn't. That's why your keyboard is hanging from the rafters.

 

[YankeeFan]

Mushnick:

ESPN and ESPN Radio last week lost hoops specialist Doug Gottlieb to the new CBS Sports Radio Network, a real loss in that Gottlieb, though under-utilized and under-cultivated by ESPN, knew — and was unafraid to speak — his stuff.

For all the mock drafts and bracketology ESPN pushes, no one within the network could more succinctly or expertly evaluate talent and the overall college scene — schedules, coaches, strategies — than Gottlieb.

He also has guts. He doesn’t pander to big-time college coaches — even when they’re on the air with him. Armed with facts, he once traded verbal punches with Jim Boeheim, who clearly was unaccustomed to anything but fanny-kissing from TV and radio guys and gals.
ESPN, we’re told, wanted to keep Gottlieb, but in addition to offering more money, CBS will allow him to work from California, where his family lives. With the right partner, he would make a good drive-time host.

http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/more_sports/tiny_problem_X8yBvNkiBFaYqzJV0Yk4eK#ixzz22gmY4YCc

 

[Evil Bastard (aka Chris_L)]

I know I probably shouldn't mention this but I once sent ESPN a letter begging them to make Stewart Scott wear a monocle on-air. Can't stand Scott and since he has a glass eye - him wearing glasses on-air is just messing with us. I though if ESPN made him wear a monocle it would humble him a bit.

Plus it just makes me chuckle to picture Stewart Scott wearing a monocle.

 

[Chef2]

I know I probably shouldn't mention this but I once sent ESPN a letter begging them to make Stewart Scott wear a monocle on-air. Can't stand Scott and since he has a glass eye - him wearing glasses on-air is just messing with us. I though if ESPN made him wear a monocle it would humble him a bit.

Plus it just makes me chuckle to picture Stewart Scott wearing a monocle.

Just make him wear a patch.

 

[rmanfredi]

Or a muzzle.

 

[TigerVols]

Despite having started this thread, I'm actually somewhat of an ESPN fanboi (could be because I have happy memories of working there...) but damn, the anchor talent they have these days is Market 100-level. Or worse. Sarah Walsh anchoring the prime-time SC and fumbling her first two lines? And if it's not her, its a poorly seasoned rookie with good ol' six-toes. Or worse -- more no-names, screaming.

No wonder CBS and NBC and Comcast are ramping up to compete.

 

[Chef2]

SportsCenter is bordering on unwatchable.

They need to dump open the checkbook for Kilby.

 

[Bubbler]

SportsCenter has been unwatchable since the Clinton administration.

Fixed.

 

[Chef2]

SportsCenter has been unwatchable since they pissed off Olbermann so bad and losing Kilborn to CBS.

Fixed.

Fixed again.

 

[Versatile]

SportsCenter has been unwatchable since they pissed off Olbermann so bad and lost Kilborn to CBS.

Fixed.

Fixed again.

Fixed for grammar.

 

[BDC99]

I know I probably shouldn't mention this but I once sent ESPN a letter begging them to make Stewart Scott wear a monocle on-air. Can't stand Scott and since he has a glass eye - him wearing glasses on-air is just messing with us. I though if ESPN made him wear a monocle it would humble him a bit.

Plus it just makes me chuckle to picture Stewart Scott wearing a monocle.

Yeah, probably should have kept that to yourself. Stuart is among the most unwatchable things on the air at ESPN, but no no need to make fun of his eye injury. Though I admit it can be distracting, so maybe I should have kept this to myself too. Hmmm.

I haven't been an ESPN fanboi for several years, but I have tried to continue to watch because I enjoy sports. It has become a caricature of itself. It's almost like they're messing with us at this point with all the Tebow birthday crap earlier this week and the Jets camp sit-in and Tebow running shirtless in the rain. They also revamped First Take, and it might be even worse than before. Makes me want to start getting back into the gym during the day before work. Almost.

 

[TigerVols]

It's possible that they buy another station - there's been talk for some time that the LA market is over saturated with Spanish-language stations and that at least one might be going to English language at some point. I would still suspect that JACK would stay around just because it's so cheap to produce that it's almost pure profit (even if the numbers aren't as great as some other local stations).

But the LA market also is saturated with sports talk. I live in the IE, and get KLAC (Rome and FSR), KSPN (local/ESPN), KLAA (****ty local/ESPN); XPRS 1090 (San Diego local/ESPN); 1360 San Diego (don't know call letters or programming outside of Rome and some local) and 1600 SD (another ESPN).

Is there a need for another?

Word on the street is that KFWB AM980 is the new CBS Sports Radio station in LA.

 

[MileHigh]

It's possible that they buy another station - there's been talk for some time that the LA market is over saturated with Spanish-language stations and that at least one might be going to English language at some point. I would still suspect that JACK would stay around just because it's so cheap to produce that it's almost pure profit (even if the numbers aren't as great as some other local stations).

But the LA market also is saturated with sports talk. I live in the IE, and get KLAC (Rome and FSR), KSPN (local/ESPN), KLAA (****ty local/ESPN); XPRS 1090 (San Diego local/ESPN); 1360 San Diego (don't know call letters or programming outside of Rome and some local) and 1600 SD (another ESPN).

Is there a need for another?

Word on the street is that KFWB AM980 is the new CBS Sports Radio station in LA.

No more giving them 22 minutes and they'll give you the world?