The best part is he doesn't take sports or himself to seriously. He can make you laugh a bunch of times after a really ****ty (insert Minnesota sports team that always breaks your heart) here.

 

His bits are legendary.

 

Paul Allen is the one I have to take in small doses. Just not my cup of tea. power trip is solid, and I never listen to Barriero for some reason so i have no opinion on him.

A Common Man rant about the Twins/Vikings is classic...

 

My all-time favorite bits of his are the preposterous statement tournament, and Halloween costumes.... Especially after a bad Twins season, the Halloween costume bit is comedy gold.

 

Much like you, I don't seek the 9 to noon program on KFAN. Too much sports sports sports... PAs life is just sports.

Couldn't disagree more. The local media is very mediocre on traditional sources sans Russo and Bernidino. Have you listened to radio in other cities? I'm guessing not much.

 

Danny B. is not respected by most I know. Any friends who listen to him listen for guests or because there is nothing else on. They've had very little competition, and when they have it's mainly ex KFAN employees. His knowledge is very limited besides Hoosier basketball and Bears football. He's a bully plain and simple. His shows not an act, have you ever met him? Mrs. B is very nice though.

What markets would you say do it better than Minneapolis?

 

It's certainly not down here in Austin, TX.... Where they spew nothing but vomit inducing hot Texas football takes 365 days a year.

 

I don't even acknowledge the butt-hats in the morning as a real thing.

 

I get up at 4:30.  I need irreverence in the morning.

Personally, I think Russo does a very good job diving into topics, but as a writer, he's a hack; maybe not on the level of Souhan, but a hack nonetheless. LEN is entertaining, but unless you're talking about restaurants in Fort Myers, he doesn't dive in as deeply as Russo. 

 

Whenever I want to know what's going on with the Twins, I come to TD first, then Berardino.

 

What markets would you say do it better than Minneapolis?

It's certainly not down here in Austin, TX.... Where they spew nothing but vomit inducing hot Texas football takes 365 days a year.

 

And San Antonio is no better. All they talk about here is the Cowboys, aside from the occasional Spurs chatter during playoff time.

The problem with Charch is his fantasy football takes are pretty weak IMO, especially with as much data that is currently available to the masses.

 

I like his video game stuff though.

What markets would you say do it better than Minneapolis?

 

It's certainly not down here in Austin, TX.... Where they spew nothing but vomit inducing hot Texas football takes 365 days a year.

Dallas: the ticket is the greatest sports station ever...and I HATE all Dallas teams. But they are amazing from top to bottom on that station.

 

Dallas: the ticket is the greatest sports station ever...and I HATE all Dallas teams. But they are amazing from top to bottom on that station.

Hate is such a strong word... ;-)

Really? Maybe it's a generational thing, he talks video games, fantasy football, and pop culture pretty in tune with my interests. That might color my opinion.

 

What don't you like?

Video games, fantasy football, and pop culture.

 

Video games, fantasy football, and pop culture.

had to see that answer coming :-)

Let's turn this discussion into some positive. Who are your favorite Twins beat writers (Rank them if you want)? Who are your favorite columnists? Who are your favorite sports radio personalities, particularly as it relates to baseball knowledge and discussion? And finally, who are your favorite Twitter follows among Twins writers?

my favorite beat writer is Berardino, mostly Twitter.

 

I come here for depth coverage, analysis and comradery.

 

I get a lot of my discussion outside of print from Gleeman and the Geek and the Sportiv.

 

I find Randballstu really funny.

 

 

What markets would you say do it better than Minneapolis?

It's certainly not down here in Austin, TX.... Where they spew nothing but vomit inducing hot Texas football takes 365 days a year.

 

Off the top of my head, Chicago, St. Louis, and Dallas. 

Moderator note -- let's not speculate about other posters' political leanings.

I get up at 4:30. I need irreverence in the morning.

I also get up at 4:30. I need coffee. And jazz.

 

I bet LaVelle likes jazz. Makes him okay in my book.

Edited December 10, 20169 yr by Craig Arko

 

Video games, fantasy football, and pop culture.

 

Heh, fair enough.  I like a little bit of that in my listening diet as well.  Barreiro fills in on a lot of the other non-sports stuff.

 

But I can see why you don't like them.

 

I get up at 4:30.  I need irreverence in the morning.

 

I don't mind irreverence, I just like it to be smart and funny.  Those guys tend to annoy me more than amuse me.  

 

Now that I think about it, I always enjoy hearing him on the radio. 

 

...which is good, because he's one of, like, three people allowed to talk about baseball over the airwaves in this market. 

I agree with you.  He is very good on the radio, but he does not publish enough for me.  I want lots to chew on - Berardino.  I want LaVelle's opinions, insights, thoughts.  He's paid to be with them, but also to write. 

 

I don't mind irreverence, I just like it to be smart and funny.  Those guys tend to annoy me more than amuse me.  

 

I think they're smarter than the program they run.  But yeah, I listen for sex, fat, and fart jokes. 

 

I get why people would despise it.  It's still better than listening to a middle aged white multi millionaire without a high school education talk about how bad he has it and how wrong you about everything in life any day of the week.

 

I think they're smarter than the program they run.  But yeah, I listen for sex, fat, and fart jokes. 

 

I get why people would despise it.  It's still better than listening to a middle aged white multi millionaire without a high school education talk about how bad he has it and how wrong you about everything in life any day of the week.

I've been out of the market for a bit now, who are you referring to?

 

I tended to pod the parts of Barreiro I'd miss in the morning when I was still up that way.

Personally, I think Russo does a very good job diving into topics, but as a writer, he's a hack; maybe not on the level of Souhan, but a hack nonetheless. LEN is entertaining, but unless you're talking about restaurants in Fort Myers, he doesn't dive in as deeply as Russo.

 

Whenever I want to know what's going on with the Twins, I come to TD first, then Berardino.

Can you elaborate on why you think Russo is a hack?

I understand its a subjective thing, but I can't understand this opinion.

 

I've been out of the market for a bit now, who are you referring to?

 

I tended to pod the parts of Barreiro I'd miss in the morning when I was still up that way.

 

KQ - Tom Bernard

 

KQ - Tom Bernard

 

Ah, yeah, I never got the appeal there.

Since we are going far afield here....

I think Cory Provus is a fantastic play by play man. I also love Scott Korzenowski on Sunday mornings.

I just read through this thread and I found the KFAN commentary/opinions interesting. Personal opinion is still worth it's weight in gold because in the end... it's all that matters... however I have to ask this question and then follow it with an answer. 

 

Q: If you looked at the ratings for every single rated radio market (around 300 total)... Do you know how many markets have a Sports Talk Radio format #1 in the 6 plus demo? (6 Plus is everyone 6 years and older, Male and Female). 

 

A: 1

 

KFAN is #1 with a 8.9 share n October and a 8.5 share in the month of November. To put this in deserved perspective... The crew at KFAN have managed to take what is widely considered to be a niche format with narrow audience appeal and grow the audience to critical mass.

 

Sports Formats are rarely in the top 5 in male demos even if you narrow them down to say 25-54 Male...  let alone the persons demo that include female because most people are simply not sports nuts like we are. 

 

The job done by Gregg Swedberg... Chad Abbott and the entire air staff (present and past) is without question unprecedented and extraordinary. 

 

These facts don't make any of your opinions less or more valid since personal opinion is always king... but I hope everyone reads this post because not many have access to these ratings and are therefore unaware of the accomplishments of this special radio station. 

 

 

KFAN's rise over the last couple of years has been very impressive. They should be the blueprint for how Talk Sports Radio should be.... There's still plenty of sports talk radio shows around the country that take themselves way too seriously, and don't discuss any non-sports related topics. 

It seems like most people on this thread are listeners of KFAN. Does anyone listen to 1500 ESPN?  

 

KFAN's rise over the last couple of years has been very impressive. They should be the blueprint for how Talk Sports Radio should be.... There's still plenty of sports talk radio shows around the country that take themselves way too seriously, and don't discuss any non-sports related topics. 

It seems like most people on this thread are listeners of KFAN. Does anyone listen to 1500 ESPN?  

 

I listen to Mackey and Judd.  Because I have already made my feelings known about the 9-12 option on KFAN.

I pretty much stopped listening to all sports talk ....either too infantile and not funny (for me, YMMV of course as humor does), or too serious.

 

I find Mike and Mike to be about the right combo for me.....but even then, I barely listen any more.