What is the best Dallas sports talk radio?

[xwalker]

The ticket is talking about a wrestling bear right now. How is that better than people calling in?

That was the story about Marinelli wrestling a Bear.

 

[erod]

The Ticket is guy talk. It's guys. Talking. Now, guys talk about sports. A lot. But they talk about other stuff too. So, you get other stuff too.

It is a sports heavy talk station that abhors "pure" talk radio, and frankly, with due cause. How many times can you hear call in questions like "who are your favorite 5 football players" and "should Pete Rose be in the hall of fame" kind of bilge.

I've listened to Dallas radio for decades now - the old days of 570, with Norm and Fish and Wally Lynn and Leon... and the first day of the Ticket with craphat Skip Bayless kicking things off. The old stations have all died, except The Ticket. It's guy talk. Which, listening in long stretches, is far superior to just sports talk. Because there is only so much to say about last nights game...

You must be a Day-Oner like me. I listened to all those shows, including Brad Sham way back in the day. Galloway was the king in those days.

The Ticket's magic is that their show hosts actually had history with each other. Even across show lines. Craig, George, Greggo, Gordon, and a few others had lived together in apartments and whatnot. Rhyner was a bit of a patriarch to them, but still knew them well. It wasn't a "corporate" firm that started the station, it was Rhyner, and he built the lineup accordingly with those guys.

Ironically, he got the "pros" to handle the big drive-time hours with Chuck Cooperstein, Skip Bayless, and those types. But it was the off-hour shows that won the hearts and minds.

It's in a crossroads now though. The Hardline is losing its way entirely. Rhyner seems pretty ready to hang it up, and Corby just can't carry the show at all, and he knows it. It's time for a shake-up of the lineups. I think Sturm should be moved to the afternoons with Rhyner, and let Corby and Dan take the midday.

I'm glad Gordon has stayed around, but it puzzles me. No doubt that guy could be the lead on Saturday Night Live tomorrow and have a film career on par with Will Ferrell. He's that brilliant. One of the greatest comedic minds in the country.

 

[xwalker]

That is the downfall, too much of that type of stuff. I know at times it can be ok, but they do it too much.
Shaving cream, razors, and yes, I hate their talk about their weekends, vacations, trips to the store. That's when I change stations.
Get to know their times, and it makes it much better

And what interests them, don't really interest everyone. Craig Miller talks about bicycling too much. I would think most people do not want to hear about this. I would rather have the callers at that point.

They have a segment...the biggest show coming to town....that's ok, I can understand that, but I can tune into the fan if I don't want to listen at that time. Sometimes it's ok. If you like going to concerts. You can get some info here. But if they talk brands of peanut butter...no thanks...

That was an interview with Marinelli and it was the story about him wrestling a bear.

 

[cowboyfan4lyfe]

Norm is highly informed and the most correct. I tune out of the Ticket the rest of the day.

I agree, Norm is at his best on the post game shows. I download 1310 The Ticket app just for that.

 

[erod]

I agree, Norm is at his best on the post game shows. I download 1310 The Ticket app just for that.

I disagree on Norm.

Sure, he's a committed pro, and a good listen. But he so often takes only contrarian views, much like a Peter King.

Norm is the guy that will rail on Dallas for signing Hardy, but if Philly signed him, he'd talk about how brilliant it was for the Eagles to get a guy that Dallas will have a hard time dealing with.

I've figured out his methods. But I still like him.

 

[speedkilz88]

I disagree on Norm.

Sure, he's a committed pro, and a good listen. But he so often takes only contrarian views, much like a Peter King.

Norm is the guy that will rail on Dallas for signing Hardy, but if Philly signed him, he'd talk about how brilliant it was for the Eagles to get a guy that Dallas will have a hard time dealing with.

I've figured out his methods. But I still like him.

I think Norm lost his mind several years ago. Was great at KLIF, and a couple years with the ticket.

 

[Zordon]

The Ticket is the best station in Dallas. The Fan is for clowns. ESPN hasn't been the same since Galloway retired even though I like Timmy Mac.

Let me reiterate, The Fan is an amateur clown station.

 

[speedkilz88]

The Ticket is the best station in Dallas. The Fan is for clowns. ESPN hasn't been the same since Galloway retired even though I like Timmy Mac.

Let me reiterate, The Fan is an amateur clown station.

Timmy Mac? Talk about clowns.

 

[YosemiteSam]

He's the only host that actually talks sports for the entire broadcast!

That chick magnet can't talk chicks.

 

[erod]

Timmy Mac? Talk about clowns.

Agreed. That dude adds nothing. He thinks he's a tough guy, and likes to take on coaches. Just your typical hanger-on media clown.

 

[jterrell]

Not a great slate of stations to be sure.

FAN is the best for it's Cowboys/Mavs access. And it's often pretty bad

ESPN was once my hope but it has been truly awful.

The Ticket has fallen off a cliff. Like a lot of rich athletes that got paid and got bored. Ownership and mgmt changes have taken their toll.
The Musers are interested in pretty much everything but sports. Unless you are over 40 and bitter there is no way you can listen to them.
Norm is a life-long sports guy but he relies on very dated people for his takes.

As the Cowboys get going it will help all the stations. Enough Cowboys content and availability that even the talent-less can put together a decent show.

Ben and Skin are probably my current favorite listen. They will get goofy and can have some aggravating takes at times but they know the local scene very well and do truly love sports. GBag nation is very similar to Ben and Skin.

 

[jazzcat22]

Not a great slate of stations to be sure.

FAN is the best for it's Cowboys/Mavs access. And it's often pretty bad

ESPN was once my hope but it has been truly awful.

The Ticket has fallen off a cliff. Like a lot of rich athletes that got paid and got bored. Ownership and mgmt changes have taken their toll.
The Musers are interested in pretty much everything but sports. Unless you are over 40 and bitter there is no way you can listen to them.
Norm is a life-long sports guy but he relies on very dated people for his takes.

As the Cowboys get going it will help all the stations. Enough Cowboys content and availability that even the talent-less can put together a decent show.

Ben and Skin are probably my current favorite listen. They will get goofy and can have some aggravating takes at times but they know the local scene very well and do truly love sports. GBag nation is very similar to Ben and Skin.

Ever since Clearwire Communications bought the ticket, it has went down hill. If they still even own them. But since then they have not been the same.

 

[jterrell]

Ever since Clearwire Communications bought the ticket, it has went down hill. If they still even own them. But since then they have not been the same.

as in many things battles amongst mega-corps is terrible for quality and only good for profits.

The Ticket was pretty special back in the day but that has been a long time now.

 

[jterrell]

Ever since Clearwire Communications bought the ticket, it has went down hill. If they still even own them. But since then they have not been the same.

When The Ticket lost the Cowboys as flagship instead of returning to pre-flagship quality it basically nose-dived.
The bitterness was evident and ear assaulting.
Also the Ticket has done nothing this decade to create new blood.
Which is crazy because virtually all the talent everywhere was Ticket-related at one point.

All the hosts are older and quickly aging so the commentary is following suit.
They are quickly becoming the masters of the 45-69 male demographic.

Losing the Cowboys though is probably the single biggest watershed moment though ownership obliviously had a lot to do with it.

Were I the The Ticket I'd be looking to hire a younger host to pair with Sturm and set Dan free to join The FAN.
Jamie Kelly is an intriguing slightly younger sports host who has lots of local ties and would do well with someone like Sturm.

Norm has gotta retire eventually. That slot needs to go to someone tearing up another large market.
DFW is a top 5 market and should flex it's hiring muscle.

 

[xwalker]

You must be a Day-Oner like me. I listened to all those shows, including Brad Sham way back in the day. Galloway was the king in those days.

The Ticket's magic is that their show hosts actually had history with each other. Even across show lines. Craig, George, Greggo, Gordon, and a few others had lived together in apartments and whatnot. Rhyner was a bit of a patriarch to them, but still knew them well. It wasn't a "corporate" firm that started the station, it was Rhyner, and he built the lineup accordingly with those guys.

Ironically, he got the "pros" to handle the big drive-time hours with Chuck Cooperstein, Skip Bayless, and those types. But it was the off-hour shows that won the hearts and minds.

It's in a crossroads now though. The Hardline is losing its way entirely. Rhyner seems pretty ready to hang it up, and Corby just can't carry the show at all, and he knows it. It's time for a shake-up of the lineups. I think Sturm should be moved to the afternoons with Rhyner, and let Corby and Dan take the midday.

I'm glad Gordon has stayed around, but it puzzles me. No doubt that guy could be the lead on Saturday Night Live tomorrow and have a film career on par with Will Ferrell. He's that brilliant. One of the greatest comedic minds in the country.

Good post.

It is sad to see the ticket fading to obscurity. They need some new blood. They seem to be following Rhyner's lead of just being out of energy.

Gordo does seem like an SNL type talent; although, he did host a TV show with Cuban one time and it was terrible. I wonder if he has ever tried stand-up.

Sturm for sports and Gordo for comedy are the only ones that would get much interest from other radio stations in terms of getting hired.

 

[peplaw06]

It's not like The Fan and ESPN have a ton of young talents ready to take the reigns. Bob, Dan, Donovan, and Corby are good young-ish talents. Jake is going to be good too when he is a featured talent. He and Machine can break down some basketball. Jake's kind of like a mini-Bob.

 

[erod]

Good post.

It is sad to see the ticket fading to obscurity. They need some new blood. They seem to be following Rhyner's lead of just being out of energy.

Gordo does seem like an SNL type talent; although, he did host a TV show with Cuban one time and it was terrible. I wonder if he has ever tried stand-up.

Sturm for sports and Gordo for comedy are the only ones that would get much interest from other radio stations in terms of getting hired.

If you never saw Gordon's interview with Gwyneth Paltrow, it's hilarious. All of his interviews are fascinating, if not uncomfortable. It's intentional of course. All are on Youtube. Emma Stone is funny, too.

 

[Zordon]

Timmy Mac? Talk about clowns.

Timmy Mac is a good reporter. He knows the insider info regarding the Cowboys and Mavs. He's also not scared to ask tough questions. I like him.

 

[Zordon]

@erod @jterrell @Venger I'm not a day 1 but I listen to the ticket everyday.

When would you say the station started falling off and what year was it at it's peak? I think Greggo leaving really hurt the Hardline.

Also where did Galloway work before ESPN radio?

 

[erod]

@erod @jterrell @Venger i'm not a day 1 but I listen to the ticket everyday.

When would you say the station started falling off and was it at it's peak? Also where was Galloway before ESPN radio?

Galloway was at WBAP for a long, long time. Greggo worked for him, and it was Galloway that nicknamed him "Hammer."

And the demise of The Ticket is greatly exaggerated. They still destroy the others in the ratings. It's not even a contest. The Fan is kept afloat because they have the Cowboys games, and The Ticket now runs ESPN radio, which has a lot of money behind it. ESPN has gained a little footing since the management at The Ticket took over. Galloway left because he didn't want to work for the station that kicked his behind off the pedestal.

The Ticket just needs a refreshening, not a makeover. The Hardline still wins the ratings, but not with as much authority as before. I could see another show pulled over from ESPN when Rhyner decides to hang it up. Corby will be in limbo, and he'll have to settle in with another show or leave altogether. I don't get the feeling that he's particularly beloved among the other shows.

What killed the Hardline is when Greggo left. His drug dependency issues with pain killers did him in. It was an odd but fascinating mix with him and Rhyner before he spun out of control. He's unrecognizable now, although he's still on Twitter.