CSNbbs

It think it may be time for WXSM to drop their morning show move it to 1-3 p.m. prior to Meade.

I say this because Don Helman has got to be overextended doing 23 hours of sports talk. Furthermore, ESPN's "Mike and Mike" morning show will appeal to far more listeners than Dan Patrick, who gives Bill Meade the lead-in of a daily interview with Keith Olbermann.

Is there anyone who could possibly be a less comfortable fit than Keith Olbermann for the Tri-Cities? Even the Two Live Stews would at least draw in a young demographic (and talk enough basketball for Meade to have another comfortable lead-in).

But the main thing here is the guests that they have on the air. Gerald Sensabaugh was on the other day and it was almost a painful listen with three interviewers almost stepping over each other to ask him questions. It sounded more like a press conference than anything else.

Sensabaugh did say something to the effect that Peyton Manning was the greatest QB of all time- which they failed to pick up on.

But the main thing here is the morning show is so desperate to fill four hours of programming they continue to interview flaks or administrative officials that have no right to be on the air and are given absolutely no questions of relevance.

Case in point- Jo Ann Paty was on last week. She's the head of the Pirate Club.

So where were the questions asking her why the Pirate Club couldn't do any better than raise $127,000 for football from 1998-2003? Where were the questions on how fundraising was coming and if people were more apt to give to a new baseball park or basketball arena? Where were the questions wondering why we can fund a $2 million golf center but can't seem to get money for any spectator sport? Where were the questions asking if basketball fundraising was increasing off a conference title- and if not- why not? Where were the questions asking what it would take for ETSU to become a true Division I athletic entity financially?

Nope. Instead they talked about- well- I'm not sure what they talked about- just that Paty couldn't have been more patronizing of her interviewers if she had reached through the microphone and pinched them on the cheek.

"We like to have good relationships with our media!" she said.

Provided, apparently, they are good little shills.

I realize Helman is in a difficult situation. The ETSU broadcasting contract is being negotiated, he doesn't want to lose his gig as the No. 2 announcer, and again, he's spread thin.

But if you're not going to ask Paty the questions that need to be asked- why have her on at all?

Or at the very least- say before she's on "Out of a conflict of interest with my relationship at ETSU I am taking myself out of this interview and leaving it to my co-host?"

They've been on less than two months. Give it some time, besides, you don't hold the romanticized image that corporate radio is "about the programming" do you? I would expect them to continue the status quo as long as it sells.
Also, keep in mind here, who else are they going to bring on? It's not like Pacman's attorney lives in Bristol, or Phil Fulmer can just drive over for a chat. I will say that in my recent travels I'd like to see them do more of what John Kincaid does on his local show in Atlanta with Buck Belue, which I think it's heading that way, it just needs some time to grow.

Lover- No. Helman comes has been in the market for 17 years, has been doing a talk show for years, and actually championed himself as "objective" during the ensuing days of the football vote- despite the fact he's ETSU's No. 2 announcer.

You cannot excuse his line of questioning and allowing himself to be patronized by Jo Ann Paty. This is Journalism 101.

As far as content- There are five professional baseball franchises, King, ETSU, Tusculum, Milligan, Virginia Intermont and Emory and Henry, a NASCAR track (which should provide you with literally a national slate of NASCAR guests- they settle for the track flak), and countless high schools.

That is a limitless supply of coaches and athletes before even getting into the Titans (so PacMan's Attorney isn't in Bristol? You can't call him up wherever he is and talk to him?), Vols (Citadel is a network affiliate and generally colleges make their high profile figures like Fulmer, Pearl, Summitt available at least once a year. Instead of that, however, there's always Trey down at the Johnson City Press, announcers, players, etc.), Braves, national issues, local topics that stay around forever (Will ETSU bring back football? Will King start a program? Would the Tri-Cities support other minor league sports? Where should a new arena be built? Can you be a Vols fan and ETSU fan in good concience?), Predators, etc.

Like I said, give it time to grow. Yes Don has been here since the Cavemen, we know this (I wonder if he has Geico btw), but seriously, it will take time to get the show where it is. Yes there are a load of local topics to be discussed, but getting people on there to do it seems to be an issue. I would like to see them hype the App. League a little more, but let's be honest, these stations are going to talk about what sells first, what they like second, and third comes in topics of local interest.

Helman has been given 17 years to ask responsible questions of ETSU athletic administration.

How much longer do we need to wait?

He's hosted a daily guest driven morning show for less than three months. Keep in mind it's the Tri-Cities, not a big city.

I'm thinking that WJCW wont return as the Bucs flagship station because Bartow's contract wasn't extended....

You're giving me oranges when I'm giving you apples.

I've even defended Helman for being spread thin- in the same vein that you are when you say he's only had this morning show for two months.

What I won't defend is if you're going to have on Jo Ann Paty to let her control the interview and to not ask the tough questions.

He's not a kid out of college learning his way. He's 17 years in the market. He's hosted a talk show on the weekends and been the Sportsline pinch-hitter for years.

And I don't buy this "things in a small town are different." I don't believe the fact Johnson City is smaller than New York City is any excuse for poor journalism.

Why wouldn't you ask Paty about the failures of raising money to save football in the early part of the decade? Why wouldn't you ask why the Football Foundation can raise $300,000 for a non-existant program in a matter of months and you can't raise 3/8th of that total in five years with an existing program?

Your answer is "Because even though he's been on the air for 17 years, he's still not an accomplished interviewer."

I don't buy that.

I think we know the real answer. It's that ETSU would tap Citadel on the shoulder if he did, tell them they won't put figures on the air with Helman, and he's no longer the No. 2 announcer, either.

(By the way, on a personal note ETSU has done this to me not once but twice- but my employer lay down for them and let them get away with it)

You know what you do at Citadel then? You tell ETSU you're only giving us Jo Ann Paty in the first place, that it is beneath contempt that Helman after all of his loyal service would be treated in such a manner, that you will not hire another announcer nor broadcast any other announcer on your airwaves for ETSU women's basketball, and we will broadcast your request to the masses and make you look horrible at a time when you can't afford that.

And what can ETSU do then? They have to play ball with Citadel or else they cut their nose off to spite their face.

Somebody doesn't have any guts. And whoever it is, we've let them get away with this for far too long.

What are you saying, Fan1?

Are you actually stating corporate suits haven't told the people at Radio Center to limit sports on WJCW?

That would be false.

Are you saying the lack of Bartow's extension is an irrelevancy in recruiting?

If so, then why can ETSU only attract backups at Mott Community College?

By the way, maybe you'd like to explain to us why Bristol Broadcasting wouldn't be receptive to having Electric 99 be the Bucs flagship.

Makes a lot of sense. Bucs go to an FM with a younger demographic and the music also fits in with basketball to a certain degree.

Their signal can be heard clearly throughout the Tri-Cities and even in Memorial Center.

So why not?

Buccaneerlover Wrote:He's hosted a daily guest driven morning show for less than three months. Keep in mind it's the Tri-Cities, not a big city.

The last stats I saw (and they are somewhat dated) TRI was the number 92 media market in the nation.

PittsburghBucs Wrote:What are you saying, Fan1?

Are you actually stating corporate suits haven't told the people at Radio Center to limit sports on WJCW?

That would be false.

Are you saying the lack of Bartow's extension is an irrelevancy in recruiting?

If so, then why can ETSU only attract backups at Mott Community College?

By the way, maybe you'd like to explain to us why Bristol Broadcasting wouldn't be receptive to having Electric 99 be the Bucs flagship.

Makes a lot of sense. Bucs go to an FM with a younger demographic and the music also fits in with basketball to a certain degree.

Their signal can be heard clearly throughout the Tri-Cities and even in Memorial Center.

So why not?

Actually I'm just making fun of you.

I've been reluctant to post for a while, but I have taken a look at ETSU sports coverage across the area when there was a football team compared to now. Once football was cut, what happened? One paper basically dropped off and said we'll run the our sister paper's' men's basketball stories. One does mostly basketball, with an occasional feature every now and then on other sports. One does men's basketball and the occasional baseball and women's basketball game, but will run some briefs. One does men's basketball only.

Now... when there was football, you could make the case that every paper, at least, did a small something with bylines on nearly every sport at ETSU. The Press is the only paper that still does cover the minor sports some and do its notebook. There's people at the school that love the A-Sun. There's people that do not. There's media members that love it. The majority do not. When ETSU was in the SoCon, many were able to cover road games. Many miss going to App and Furman, Charleston and Chattanooga.

Then, some on here have wondered why some papers haven't been willing to blast the administration, so forth. Did any of you think that maybe it's because the majority of sportswriters in this area know that whatever they wrote wouldn't make a difference on CAMPUS? Sure the community would love it. The Tri-Cities community loved Trey's story. People in Cocke and Hamblen County liked Butler's story. But as much as some of you would disagree with me, having seen things on both sides of the circle I know it wouldn't make a difference one way or another.

I'm a guy who wrote three letters to the East Tennessean in support of football and questioning and correcting some of the things they had written. NONE of my letters were published. I left three remarks on the online addition, none were published -- and I'm a Sports Editor in the area.

What does that tell you? It told me a lot of things. As much as I wanted to write something, I sat back and thought. Sure we cater to the community. We want to do what the community wants. But ETSU Athletics isn't just about the community, it's about the students. And sadly, the actions of the students and a paper I contributed to for a year (back in the Stansbury-era) told me everything I needed to know.

On a personal note, I enjoy reading everyone's commentaries and discussions. I know others in the area that do too. People know about this board and people do read it. This will be my first and only post. Everyone take care.

according to radioandrecords.com there are 455,600 people in the Tri-Cities market which is good enough for market 101 out of 299. Based on the pay and the quality of SOME of the radio/tv programming in the tri, it's def. not big market, not when there are sellers and programming directors serving as DJ's as essentially EVERY radio station, not when the news director at the number one TV station in the market doubles as the 6pm news anchor and the sports guy anchors news on another station they own. I'll give it to WJCW/Citadel, they actually are trying to run a good operation out in Gray, putting out a decent product, not the latest leash law live shot from Clinchport town council meeting or half assed story that leads off "When a stoplight turns red in Virginia, motorists must now stop." (Yes, that was really a story one night, I spit my drink out laughing).

Now all this being said, all this comes down to one thing, THE TRI-CITIES MEDIA DOES NOT CARE ABOUT THE PRODUCT, or atleast the bosses don't. They care about how much money the Steve Grindstaffs of the world are going to spend in advertising for the next month, that's all. Last week I was in Chattanooga, and according to the numbers a smaller market than the Tri, yet the media people are not only paid better, they actually cover REAL EVENTS, objectively, and Pitt, for 17 years it's been the same thing in sports media here, give him time. Don will be objective and remember it could be worse, they could be doing remotes from the Kingsport flower show or the Dobyns-Bennett car wash sponsored by the paint shop!

101 of 299 (and those are radio markets- there are approximately 75 less TV markets- and what constitutes a TV market and a radio market is another story entirely) is close enough for me to say the Tri-Cities is in the Top third of media markets.

Now- WesMan- I know approximately what you're saying. I'm also not sure that you're wrong.

The thing is- a continued public outcry can produce change. I know that ETSU is oblivious to many things. You tend to get misinformation all the time.

I do my part on here. I do the best I can. And it seems it is having enough of an effect that who knows what the future can bring.

I would agree. If people kept writing things in the newspapers and publishing articles questioning what's actually going on over there, it would put pressure on them to change (or retire). I'm sure that's the whole reason the football task force was formed in the first place - to bring things to a student vote which would in turn settle the issue and take it (the blood) off their hands. The media pressure continued and they wanted people to stop talking about it.

I think if the newspapers consistently reported the financial numbers and it was made into a big deal, it would BE a big deal. Look at any other type of media article. Silly stuff that many of us wonder why is even printed (or televised) as news is all over the media and made into a big deal because the media makes it that way. Through all of this, I've seen how truly influential the media can be. And if your readers want to read about it, what more reason do you need? They continually shove things at us we aren't interested in reading, sensationalizing stories to attract readers. You have a ready made story right in front of you people would be talking about all over the area. (And something that would right a great number of wrongs). I think the media needs to continue to keep it front and center.