TUning Out

First things first. As long as the University of Tulsa keeps racking up victories, we'll keep giving them props right here. Lose a game and take a seat at the back of the bus. Deal?

Another game; another demolition of the opposition. Tulsa's quarterback David Johnson is rewriting the TU record books in real-time. Six more touchdowns puts him on pace to throw approximately 837 this year. Give or take a few.

This weekend the Golden Hurricane entertains a team. Honestly, that's about all I can muster up for this foe. Anything more would be uncivilized.

Kickoff commences this Saturday at 6pm. Do not expect this to be the ABC or ESPN game of the week. Don't even expect this to be the city of Tulsa's game of the week.

Dey-Ja-Voo

The city council officially approved a trust that will allow the Drillers to move downtown. A move that was forecasted years ago. The finale to a story running harder and longer than the Energizer bunny.

"The Drillers are very pleased that this vote makes a downtown ballpark a reality," said Lamson. "We look forward to being a part of the exciting revitalization of downtown by providing fun, family entertainment."

Yes, we agree. Now please wake us when the stadium design is finalized or ground is broken.

Coincidentally

My last column arrived at local businesses on Wednesday. I briefly mentioned listening to sports talk radio.

He or she (the picker hides behind a caricature) is Tulsa's version of the latest crazy. Drive-by-media. No accountability while taking cheap (albeit easy) shots at all things sports related in Tulsa. Most cities have the same type of columnist. Most cities have the onions to slap a name and face to the column or blog.

The ironic part isn't that he or she decided to regurgitate an idea I printed the day before. Any fan with a sports IQ higher than their blood alcohol level could point out the assorted flaws. The ironic part is many of the congested airwaves are filled by employees of his or her paper.

Let's set the record straight. We shall protect the innocent (or thin-skinned) and withhold actual station or personality names. Similar to TV shows who interview the shadowed-out guy with a wig on and voice modulator.

Entertaining radio programs lean on a shtick. Most of the guys doing radio here allow their egos to overshadow the content. Some have day jobs so perhaps they cannot put forth the effort to properly plan out a show. Then again, maybe that's the producers' fault anyway.

Comedy gold is a host; let's call him Stinkler, calling out radio blowhards. You see, this is ironic because he moonlights as a blowhard. Pot meet kettle. Office cube meet gray.

Broadcasting from car dealerships or donut shops or Aunt Bea's tasty cornbread shack is demeaning. Cash grab? Absolutely. Understand radio needs advertising to survive but keep the lame car commercials on television--where I can hit the mute button.

Putin is angry. Not the Russian emperor, the guy who's name is being protected. Railing against people without power, whining about a hard day's work, openly complaining about pay in radio; wah-wah. Should we send a bottle and blankey to the station?

Playing the antagonist role on radio is a sure-fire way to entice callers. Throwing out a devil's advocate point of view is almost required. But teenage bitch sessions are either feeble attempts at contrived controversy or signs of a simplistic thought process.

Change can be good. A drop in gas prices would be nice. Fiscal responsibility on Wall Street is welcomed. Tuning in and hearing a different sub-host on the radio every day is confusing. It turns into a choppy mess.

Instead of ushering these "named" guys into the studio once or twice a week, let them have a daily or weekly segment to spew their thoughts or ideas. Keep continuity in the "booth."

Imagine NBC broadcasting Sunday Night Football with Al Michaels and a random sports figure from week to week? What if Fox 23 put Chera Kimiko behind the desk on Monday only. Let's say Fox 23 had a brain hemorrhage and placed me behind the desk on Tuesday. Which day would you tune into?

We're all professionals here. I may not agree with the nose picker's blind-sided attacks but I do agree with one of his points.

Let's remove the straw from Coach Stoops rear. Fans cheer teams. Yeah! But isn't it the media's responsibility to bring balance to the force? Can't they challenge the callers or e-mailers to use their gray matter just a bit?

Maybe we should combine the two stations and call them Sooner Studio featuring Bob and Stoops. Honestly, I haven't seen or heard partisanship like this since the DNC and RNC.

Now excuse me while I try to figure what the 2008 Tour of Gymnastics Superstars means when they say "the majority of the women's team."

Just level with us cryptic PR reps. Will the two wunderkinds and the gal who fell a lot be present? Is it too much to ask for fair and balanced disclosure? Nevermind.