Jamie Morris on Harbaugh

From MVictors a link to Jamie Morris being interviewed on a Columbus station. He seems to be taking back a lot of the things he said about Harbaugh. And not really saying RR will still be here with a loss to OSU.

That is really surprising to me. I can't help but read it as him waffling because of the likelihood of Harbaugh coming here soon...

Ryan Ermanni on WDFN

As I have stated before, a sports radio host using "verse" when they mean "versus" is a MAJOR pet peeve of mine. Today WDFN mid-day host Ryan Ermanni was the culprit.

I sent him the following e-mail:

From: Mike Altese
To: ryane@clearchannel.com
Sent: Wed, October 28, 2009 10:53:19 AM
Subject: versus is not the plural of verse


C'mon Ryan, you work in sports for a living. When two teams play each other, please say "versus" not "verse". It is a real pet peeve of mine. I can't believe how many sports radio personalities make this mistake.

He read my e-mail on the air and said something along the lines of "Get a life, I'll say a lot worse things this is no big deal."

So I replied with:

From: Mike Altese
To: ryane@clearchannel.com
Sent: Wed, October 28, 2009 11:08:35 AM
Subject: Re: versus is not the plural of verse


thanks, you're right - radio off, now. Life gotten...

So I guess I'll either be listening to podcasts, Colin Blowhard or trying to listen to the ticket on the internet.
Edit - just got a response from my first e-mail - maybe I'll give him another chance...

sorry mike, when your talking for two straight hours there are a lot of mistakes that i make... if that's the worst one i had a good day


Ryan Ermanni
Host: Ermanni Middays
27675 Halsted
Farmington Hills, MI 48331
ryanermanni@clearchannel.com

Since I'm talking about sports radio, Stoney will be guest hosting for Sam Webb on WTKA the next two mornings, I wonder what that will be like without Wojo to offset some of his Stoneyisms...

Another S and S Poll question

What word best describes the quality of play in the Big Ten?
Parity
Crap

I am not going to answer that one because it is obviously Sharp's way to promote his anti-Big Ten-ism which is somewhat justified, but also overblown. My only comment is that a couple weeks ago he mentioned that the Big Ten is overrated. I think he believes, or wants to believe, that there are people who think the Big Ten is one of the best 2 or 3 conferences. Only an idiot would believe it. I think the Big Ten is probably a below the SEC, Big 12 and Pac 10 right now. They are probably slightly ahead of or maybe even with the ACC/Big East (they will always be the same thing to me). In other words, the Big Ten is a below average major conference. A couple good bowl years would change that perception.

As far as the question itself (no, I'm not going to answer it), I don't think the two possible answers are even related. Parity means the teams are at the same level AS EACH OTHER and Crap implies the league is worse than OTHER LEAGUES.

As far as Sharp and his general negativity about most things M and Big Ten, I've come to realize that his opinions are made to create controversy, make people hate him, etc. Generally, he is the sportwriter that cares about one thing....Championships. If M wins a MNC or a team in the Big Ten wins a MNC, then his opinion would change. He cares about nothing else. He all but said the Wings had a bad season last year. He said the M-MSU game meant nothing this season. etc etc. He only cares about winning it all. It is a horrible way to look at things when you are a sports writer. And it is a horrible way to keep emotional fans (like all of us) interested. If M goes 7-5 this year, anyone who says it was an unsuccessful season will not have much credibility, because I know better.

M fans and MSU fans on WDFN

Since I couldn't stand listening to Sam Webb during MSU week. I flipped over to WDFN and got to hear Sean Baligian take calls from M and MSU fans. It was very different. Obviously it is early in the week, but both sides were predicting losses for "their" team. Strange to hear people call in to point out the flaws in their team rather than the usual M women are ugly and MSU grads work at McDonalds...

M fans - no defense, Forcier's status, first road game...
MSU fans - poor decisions, poor defense, will find a way to lose...

The only MSU action I've seen this year was the first half against Montana State and much of the ND game. Hopefully the Montana State game doesn't apply. Against ND, I didn't think MSU looked bad. They seem to have a better offense than last year. Other than the last horrible decision (similar to what we've seen Forcier make with more frequency lately) the QBs seem to be a big improvement over Hoyer.

I'm not ready to make my prediction, but I can't imagine M could keep MSU from scoring similar points to ND and Indiana.

radio, cfrc, and the D

You were right on about Jeff DeFran - he seems like he has no idea things have changed since 2005 none-the-less 1987. It might be time to recreate the SE MI radio bracket on Bracketsmackdown.

Either the CFRC has been updated since you posted or I'm missing something - because my view shows the BigTen 3rd above the ACC - although they have the same mean of 46.57.

I'm willing to buy into the M won't face better receivers - but that doesn't excuse the DL/LBs being handled easily by the ND OLine. These next two weeks will hopefully allow some depth to be created. I think Cissoko needs to be the short side corner, let Warren cover the field side.

Ira Weintraub is a horrible homer

I never really thought much of Andy Evans on WTKA, but his replacement, Ira Weintraub, is awful. He's on right now with BrianGoBlog talking about Mouton's punch. He's salivating as they're reviewing ND players who have done things and not been suspended in the past.

Regarding Mouton: It looks like a punch to me - I think he needs some type of punishment - and if you can't suspend someone for all/part of the EMU game, when can you?

It does not look good with everything else that has happened. The wins were putting the "scandals" in the background, this is an opportunity to shine. I know LC didn't suspend Mathews after he kicked the Oregon player. I know Butler was punished after his punch @ ND last year. If for nothing other than public relations - Mouton needs to get some sort of punishment. Even handling by saying "it is an internal matter..." is much better than "I didn't see any punch"

Ira and Sam Webb were arguing that since the coaches watch their own film, RR may not have seen the punch. Fine, but he has to know about it now. time to act.

local talent back on wdfn?

I've read that WDFN is going back to local talent. Sean Baligian and Tom Kowlaski in the mornings and Shep and Sharp in the afternoons. It will be good to have another option. I won't have to listen to Sam Webb and not Andy Evans every day. And i'll have an option for the non-JUB portion of the afternoon big show.

ESPN radio and Michigan's "troubles"

Colin Blowhard has apparently been told of the Feagin situation. He went on a 5 minute rant about M needed to get things figured out, softening it with, "I think they will."
Other examples he added were the recent article about walk-ons looking to help the program (I didn't read it - because I don't believe the premise of walk-ons getting much/any playing time - I'm talking to you REYES!)
Then a caller added how MSU "dominated" Michigan in in-state recruiting this year. I'm not a recruitnik but I know M cannot return to prominence by recruiting mostly players form Michigan. They've always lost some recruiting battles to MSU - my mom always said it was because those kids couldn't get in, I'll choose to believe it - and they'll continue to do that. If they can win a few Ohio kids from OSU and a few PA kids from PSU and a few FL, TX and CA kids I think they're better off. Even so, from what little I do follow, you could make a case that M has verbals from the top QB, RB and WR in Michigan for next year.
This is what bothers me about what has happened lately. The national media only reads the headlines or the juicy stuff. Anything that has a hint of negativity is picked up nationally and piled on.
There are things that have happened on RRs watch that I am not too happy with. But I don't think he's moving in the wrong direction. I think improved QB play would have made a .500 or better season last year. If either of the freshman can play as they're touted this year or more likely next year this program could be going places...

worst play-by-play combination ever

Since Dan Dickerson is apparently only doing home games since he blew out his knees, that leaves Jim Price as the primary play-by-play voice of the Tigers on the road. His primary color man (who also does 2 innings of play-by-play) is John Keating from FSD.

These guys are horrible. Price is barely acceptable as a color guy, but he cannot carry pbp. Then when Keating does his 2 innings, it seems like Price may have been the best announcer ever.

Why can't they convince Ernie Harwell to come out of retirement and fill in? I'd take Pat Caputo and Dennis Fithian.

I like being able to hear the Tigers at work, I just wish I could hear the White Sox announcers instead.

Damon "the Dog" Perry

I don't think there was a Mad Dog. But he was the Dog.

radio dudes

The people you didn't know (italics is for you) were probably early wdfn guys that you may have missed while in the armed forces.
Ike Griffin was their first evening host - after Stoney and Parker. A big MSU shrill. Damon Perry was a big deal guy they hired away from somewhere else to take over for Mega. He was horrible and didn't stay long.
Keith Gave was their first morning host - he was the hockey writer forthe freep. He was pretty good.
Chuck Swerski came to WJR with a big Chicago sports reputation. The Detroit crowd never seemed to take to him. DFN used to have great ads against him and his "I love Chicago"..
Henson had a favorable draw. I was sad to lose Baligian in the 2nd round. And Wojo vs. Fithian could have been a final match.

SE Michigan sports radio bracket

Here's my latest bracket smackdown creation. SE Michigan sports talk radio hosts.

http://www.bracketsmackdown.com/#/1384/

I had about 40 names to cut down to the 32 to begin with. I'm not sure I spent enough time with the seeding. I tried to go with who I thought was more "popular" area wide. Obviously the seeding then was very subjective. Stoney was the overall #1 seed, then just a sine wave throughout the 4 "regions" so essentially Ben Holden is the 32 seed.

cause and effect

I'm stuck listening to Colin Cowherd (Blowhard) on espn radio. Two days in a row he has made statements as fact that I would argue need a little more investigation.
Yesterday - you can anticipate the number of wins for a college football team based on the #of starts the offensive linemen have coming into the season. He sighted examples of USC, Oklahoma, Alabama etc as having OL with >65 starts coming into the season. Some disappointing teams like Missouri (I don't remember the others) had inexperience OLs and that explains their relatively poor seasons. He was using this to say that Notre Dame will win 10+ games this year because they have 80+ starts in their OL. Hello Mr. Blowhard welcome to anecdotal evidence. I have no data to back it up but I would guess one could state an equal number of teams that had relatively few OL starts that were winners and teams with many OL starts that weren't. I'm not saying that OL experience isn't important, but there a many other things especially in college, that determine the teams ultimate record. ND might win 10 games because they have a pretty easy schedule. OSU could have a totally new line and I would still pick them to win the BigTen this season. USC might have complete turnover but I'm guessing they're going to have a chance to win the Pac10...
Today it is - good teams trade down in the draft, bad teams trade up. In the last X years the Patriots, Steelers, Giants etc have traded down and the Lions, Bengals and Raiders have traded up. Well guess what the Patriots, Steelers and Giants are good teams and likely don't to take a chance with as many rookies, where as the bad teams need a lot of help and might try to jump up to get someone they think they really need. You don't think the Lions want to trade down? No one wants to give them anything of "value". No one wants a top 5 pick this year...

NPR and more

I'm not sophisticated enough to listen to NPR. I get the Cartalk guys and Wait Wait, Don't Tell Me as podcasts and listen to them as I walk in to work - but that's about all I can handle.

I don't understand callers and hosts on WTKA rooting for MSU to lose. I guess for me my rooting interests beyond Michigan are not tied to whether they're Michigan's big rival or not. I was tired of hearing how the Big East and ACC were so much better than the Big1T1en. I didn't have a problem rooting for the Spartans over Louisville, UConn or UNC.

I don't like the argument that - "well you know they wouldn't be pulling for M if the situation was reversed..." Who cares? I don't care if my rivals pull for me - maybe it is even better that they don't. I could argue that being able to root for the Spartans is because I don't consider them a threat. I have a greater dislike for teams from ESPNs-conferences-of-love than I do for MSU or OSU. If that means Jamie Morris, Mike Taylor or an MGoIdiot think I'm not a true M fan so be it.