Farewell to The FAN

[HahnSolo]

Lefty Specialist wrote: The question will be- will the FAN become a complete Yankee cheer squad, where no dissent is tolerated? If so, the Schmooze is doomed. They'll just re-run Francesa to fill the time.

Though I've grown weary of them all, Boomer/Carton, Benigno/Roberts are all Mets fans.

[Guest d'Kong76]

batmagadanleadoff wrote:

Rahger Clemens is in George Steinbrenner's BOX!!

[stevejrogers]

HahnSolo wrote: Lefty Specialist wrote: The question will be- will the FAN become a complete Yankee cheer squad, where no dissent is tolerated? If so, the Schmooze is doomed. They'll just re-run Francesa to fill the time. Though I've grown weary of them all, Boomer/Carton, Benigno/Roberts are all Mets fans.

Agreed. They belong to that category that feeds into the "lovable losers/little brother syndrome" stereotype that gets old fast when having a serious baseball discussion.

Even if the points are valid, it makes no sense when it comes with a "the Yankees do it better/this is how its always been with this franchise" mentality.

Oddly, the former seems to be prevalent only when it comes to baseball fandom. I've never once heard Jet fans bemoan about why their franchise can't be like the Giants, or the Nets/Islanders/Devils fans complain about what their franchises do as compared to the more popular in the market Knicks/Rangers.

[Edgy MD]

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: Edgy MD wrote: It is doubtless that the Mets will find a broadcast partner. How much is there on the radio that anybody listens to any more? There's political partisanship, religious paritsanship, and baseball. There's a little thing called KLASSIK RAWK, thank you.

Everyone in the world has found a nu outlet for their music jones except the old and the stoned.

[Ceetar]

Edgy MD wrote: Edgy MD wrote: It is doubtless that the Mets will find a broadcast partner. How much is there on the radio that anybody listens to any more? There's political partisanship, religious paritsanship, and baseball. There's a little thing called KLASSIK RAWK, thank you. Everyone in the world has found a nu outlet for their music jones except the old and the stoned.

like karaoke townie bars.

[Frayed Knot]

What will happen to "The Schmoozer" and his die hard callers?

The question will be- will the FAN become a complete Yankee cheer squad, where no dissent is tolerated? If so, the Schmooze is doomed. They'll just re-run Francesa to fill the time.

The Yanquis aren't taking over ownership of the station here folks, they're signing a contract to have FAN carry their games on the airwaves. The other 20 hours a day (not to mention the 200 or so days when there isn't live baseball) it's going to be the same station it always was (for better or worse).
It's not going to become a Yanqui station anymore than it ever was a Met station.

[Guest d'Kong76]

I'm envisioning once they infest it will get worse. Got rings?

[dgwphotography]

We can always pray for the miracle that the Yankees are about to embark on a period of futility rivaled by the 65-74 yankees, and that Mets are on the upswing. Thereby giving the FANdroids a great big shitburger to eat.

[Frayed Knot]

I never quite understood why it mattered to folks whether the hosts on that station were Mets fans or not.
Being one doesn't stop Benigno from being a dope; it doesn't stop Tony Paige overnight from being really misinformed; and NOT being a fan hardly stops Francesa from pretending he and Sugarpants are bestest buddies or that he personally discovered Matt Harvey.

[Lefty Specialist]

Well, WCBS became a huge Yankee-rooting station, popping Yankee tidbits in there as 'news'.

"Our top story this morning is that Mark Teixiera is out for the season...let's go to our reporters for fan reaction. Oh, and that Syria business, we'll get to it after traffic and weather together."

[Frayed Knot]

btw, what are WABC's (770) plans for the future now that it looks like some of their conservative yakkers (Limbaugh & Hannity) are jumping to WOR starting next year?
Could that be a 50K watt clear channel outlet looking for programming?

[Edgy MD]

I'd hate to see the the Mets bumping up against Rush, but I'm long since over FAN. I realize that this is supposed to be a prime example of the Wilpons ruining everything but I couldn't give two shits. WFAN is awful. Doubly so with Doris dead and their highest profile personality being a sleepwalking blowhard.

Yeah, maybe they land some place with a weak signal, but we'll see.

[Frayed Knot]

Edgy MD wrote: I'd hate to see the the Mets bumping up against Rush,.

But they wouldn't be bumping up against Rush, he's apparently leaving ABC as is Hannity (although I have no idea what's causing this sudden conservative side shake-up).
Now those were daytime hours (Noon - 6PM I believe) and most of NYM time is 6:30 - 10:30 - but I'm sure that's just another syndicated right-wing yapper (Levin? ... Savage?) who may or may not be following Limbaugh & Hannity out the door and, even if not, could easily be bumped whenever there's a NYM game and plugged in whenever not. That happened for years when the Yanx were on that frequency and as long as Met radio listeners get a full pre & post in addition to getting first priority at game time (don't want to go searching for a "sister station" whenever the station decides that something else is more important) then why should I care what comes prior to them or after?

[Edgy MD]

I know they wouldn't under that scenario. I'm just commenting in general.

[Vic Sage]

Edgy MD wrote: I'd hate to see the the Mets bumping up against Rush, but I'm long since over FAN. I realize that this is supposed to be a prime example of the Wilpons ruining everything but I couldn't give two shits. WFAN is awful. Doubly so with Doris dead and their highest profile personality being a sleepwalking blowhard. Yeah, maybe they land some place with a weak signal, but we'll see.

Mostly this, but i don't miss Doris. Her phlegmy breathing made me queasy.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Edgy MD wrote: WFAN is awful.

That says it all. On the day the 2013 season ends, I'm removing 660 AM from the preset in my car radio.

[Frayed Knot]

Mushnick in the NY Post today mentions both WABC and WOR as being under consideration while calling ESPN's affiliate a longshot on account of the many conflicts that would exist (they do MLB national radiocasts, plus NFL, NBA, and probably college everything).

[Benjamin Grimm]

I'm rooting for WABC. They could broadcast the games between Dan Ingram and Johnny Donovan.

[dgwphotography]

Benjamin Grimm wrote: I'm rooting for WABC. They could broadcast the games between Dan Ingram and Johnny Donovan.

I find myself rooting for WABC for their signal...

[batmagadanleadoff]

Vic Sage wrote: Edgy MD wrote: I'd hate to see the the Mets bumping up against Rush, but I'm long since over FAN. I realize that this is supposed to be a prime example of the Wilpons ruining everything but I couldn't give two shits. WFAN is awful. Doubly so with Doris dead and their highest profile personality being a sleepwalking blowhard. Yeah, maybe they land some place with a weak signal, but we'll see. Mostly this, but i don't miss Doris. Her phlegmy breathing made me queasy.

Cumulatively, I doubt I listened to more than two or three hours of non-Mets themed programming on WFAN in my entire lifetime. If Mike Francesca is supposed to be the arrogant blowhard that everyone knows him to be (and Francesca is) why would anyone listen to his show?

[Ceetar]

batmagadanleadoff wrote: Vic Sage wrote: Edgy MD wrote: I'd hate to see the the Mets bumping up against Rush, but I'm long since over FAN. I realize that this is supposed to be a prime example of the Wilpons ruining everything but I couldn't give two shits. WFAN is awful. Doubly so with Doris dead and their highest profile personality being a sleepwalking blowhard. Yeah, maybe they land some place with a weak signal, but we'll see. Mostly this, but i don't miss Doris. Her phlegmy breathing made me queasy. Cumulatively, I doubt I listened to more than two or three hours of non-Mets themed programming on WFAN in my entire lifetime. If Mike Francesca is supposed to be the arrogant blowhard that everyone knows him to be (and Francesca is) why would anyone listen to his show?

You don't think the "Two guys yelling at each other" format was something the media stations pulled out of thin air do you? Dissent gets page views/hits/ratings* (I don't believe for a second that the current way we evaluate television and radio are a very meaningful measure of attention to the brand. It's simply a metric used to sell to advertisers) Fans are generally passionate people, passion breeds interest, and being able to agree or dissent with someone yelling about their own opinion speaks to that passion.

Francesa's there now mainly because of inertia, and listeners listen for the same way. The intelligence level when Russo was still there wasn't much higher, but the back and forth helped. the dissension, even if it was tepider than modern day shows, fueled a little more deep thought, if only to disagree.

But people driving to the game, tailgating outside, or just generally working in a construction site or communal job area like to hear sports talk. It's the ultimate water cooler discussion and WFAN greases the wheels of social interaction, gives you something to talk about.

The only real difference now of course will be hosts will be able to live-discuss Mets games instead of Yankees games.

[batmagadanleadoff]

Ceetar wrote: batmagadanleadoff wrote: Vic Sage wrote: Edgy MD wrote: I'd hate to see the the Mets bumping up against Rush, but I'm long since over FAN. I realize that this is supposed to be a prime example of the Wilpons ruining everything but I couldn't give two shits. WFAN is awful. Doubly so with Doris dead and their highest profile personality being a sleepwalking blowhard. Yeah, maybe they land some place with a weak signal, but we'll see. Mostly this, but i don't miss Doris. Her phlegmy breathing made me queasy. Cumulatively, I doubt I listened to more than two or three hours of non-Mets themed programming on WFAN in my entire lifetime. If Mike Francesca is supposed to be the arrogant blowhard that everyone knows him to be (and Francesca is) why would anyone listen to his show? You don't think the "Two guys yelling at each other" format was something the media stations pulled out of thin air do you?

I don't even care because it's irrelevant to my listening interests. To me, that show was a waste of time -- it's listening to a bunch of morons pontificating on things that they're clueless about. It's one less great movie I'd otherwise never get to see, or one more great book I'd never get to read.

[G-Fafif]

Benjamin Grimm wrote: I'm rooting for WABC. They could broadcast the games between Dan Ingram and Johnny Donovan.

Howard Cosell would be tough to bring back for the pre- and postgame shows, but Ralph Branca's technically still available to co-host.

[Ceetar]

batmagadanleadoff wrote: I don't even care because it's irrelevant to my listening interests. To me, that show was a waste of time -- it's listening to a bunch of morons pontificating on things that they're clueless about. It's one less great movie I'd otherwise never get to see, or one more great book I'd never get to read.

Well yeah, but I don't think most people are listening at times when they could be otherwise entertained. At least, not as many and not as much anymore.

[G-Fafif]

Y'all do yourself a favor and remember to tune in 10-15 minutes before first pitch the rest of the way. Each WFAN broadcast opens with a montage not of the usual array of recent highlights but a handful of classic calls. Today it was Gary Thorne with Darryl's HR off the Big O roof, Bob Murphy with Cone's 19th K and Gary Cohen with the Grand Slam Single. Yesterday it was Murph and Carter's 300th, Cohen and Hundley's 41st and Cohen with the 2000 pennant-clincher.

Love when somebody cares enough to do stuff like this.

[HahnSolo]

G-Fafif wrote: Love when somebody cares enough to do stuff like this.

The Immortal one earning his nickname.

[Frayed Knot]

Y'all do yourself a favor and remember to tune in 10-15 minutes before first pitch the rest of the way. Each WFAN broadcast opens with a montage not of the usual array of recent highlights but a handful of classic calls.

So when I first read this bit about WFAN and classic calls, I'm thinking: you mean like classic phone calls?
- Like maybe some vintage racist rants via 'Eli from Westchester'?
- Or the best of 'Doris from Rego Park' coughing fits followed by; 'Thank you for your time and courtesy' ?
- Or maybe some of the always popular; 'why doesn't Phillips trade Rey Ordonez for Manny Ramirez?'

[Ceetar]

Sometimes if I remember and I'm in front of the computer I record some of them.

Some examples. First one is a Subway Series recap. Apologizes for inflicting Wayne Hagin on you.

http://www.ceetar.com/sounds/metsextra2.wav

http://www.ceetar.com/sounds/metsextra3.wav

[Ceetar]

http://www.ceetar.com/sounds/beltrangrandslamclip.wav

"How do you like that?!"

[Ceetar]

This is a good intro call from last year. Windows 7+ no longer has sound recorder so you have to scroll to 5:45 to find the beginning.

http://www.ceetar.com/sounds/metsextra2_052412.wma