KennyBosak said:I'm just not ready to write Tom's radio epitaph yet.
If it's true that he and FM100 have parted ways, then I've got the biggest no-brainer since WHBQ hired Rick Dees.
WREC should RUN, not walk, to Tom's front door and offer him the morning host job.
His style would be a perfect fit, his consummate broadcast skills would be showcased, and it's a format he could thrive in for 15-20 years.
Not only that, he might just pull a few women into the WREC morning tent.
Plus, wouldn't that be more satisfying to Tom than playing the new Daughtry record?
The staff that WAS FM100 is gone. The station as Memphis once knew it, is GONE. It's very sad and too bad, it was fun listening to those guys over the years. You felt like they were good friends or even family. I can't listen to Ron now without Steve - and I certainly can't listen to afternoons with that screwball in there now. (God, I hope he is not their permanent replacement...but hell, it won't matter anyway). Goodbye FM100, you had a nice run. Thank you for some wonderful memories, great events, touching moments and good music. You will be missed.
KennyBosak said:Yes, they do have a morning host.
And the San Francisco 49ers had a quarterback before Joe Montana.
Charles Foster Kane said:Tom is a true gentleman, and a rightful legend. When I started to hear these rumblings, I was sickened. I don't pretend to know the details of what is REALLY going on with him. What I do know is he shouldn't be tampered with, as he appears to be now. I listened to what could be Tom's last FM 100 break. It was not the usual sign off this time. "Don't forget to hug your babies tonight, and Thank you. Thank you very much." Over "Sweet Escape" at around 6:48 pm Friday.
If his time at FM 100 is truly going to be over, it will be a crime against everything that's good. How can we not let this man say goodbye? If you are going to attempt to replace one of the most recognizable names in the business, do it with SOME class. When you list "mutual respect", as a company principle, shouldn't it be SOMEWHAT true?
How then, could Tom's departure be done correctly? That doesn't venture into whether it SHOULD be done. When someone devotes 28 years of their life, to something, and they did it really well, that should be celebrated at it's end. He should be allowed to say goodbye. That would be the ABSOLUTE least, that could be done.
Hunter S., and his quote about radio, is personified by treating people this way. No gold watch, no goodbye. Just an escort out of the building they've helped build, and a crappy parting gift check, if that. I truly hope this won't happen to him. Tom has paid a lot more dues than most of us, will ever see. He started that shift, when I was 4. He's probably forgotten more about the business, than at least I, will ever know about it. It sickens me to think that he will be in any way, disrespected in this.
I am not stupid. I know this is the norm, of this God awful business. Can't we make an exception in this case?
If this really is the end for him at 100, I am saddened. Very much so. Now that I have had the pleasure of meeting Tom since I made full time in Memphis, I can say, as a former competitor, he's without an equal. Memphis, and our industry will be a lot less of what it was, if he's gone. At least for me.
He never knew it, but I had his "Tom says Never, Never Give Up" bumper sticker. I was a big fan of his, when it was the best mix of the 80's and 90's, and I am no local, either. We met again recently, and he made it a point to take my kids on a tour of the "Company picnic". He treated my children better, than most of the in-laws do. Whatever stupid, competitive crap I said about him in years prior, haunted me again, when he did that. I couldn't have regretted anything more than I did, that day. He's a TRUE class act, that deserves MUCH, MUCH better than it looks like he'll get.
This move may look good on paper to somebody, but it really shouldn't. People do matter. When we, or anyone else forget that, we are the problem. When is it okay to tell someone, "They're too old" after 28 years of dedicated service? Just the thought of such a quote (true or untrue) makes me question what I am doing in this business. It should make anyone question it, shouldn't it? If this is made official, everyone who reads this board, should feel a very cold chill. God only knows what could happen next.
God bless you, Tom, wherever you may be.
CFKane
Mike Bratton said:Folks, there's a way to rightly praise Tom without kneecapping Craig Robbins.
isanybodythere said:I still don't get the Deberg/Montana analogy....what the hell is that?? Prestigaicomo doing talk would become obnoxious very quickly. You have to develope that style of radio over the years. Talking over intro's and into breaks is quite different than handling a talk show for 3 hours. Plus..if you're going to work for C.C. non ethnic talk...you damned well be a flaming conservative.
Tom will NOT be working on talk radio....ever. Book it. (by the way, Robbins does a pretty good job. The one thing I like is that he ballances the info and talk the way it should be done. you can't tell if he's a 'Lib' or 'Right winger'.)
littlebigradio said:isanybodythere said:I still don't get the Deberg/Montana analogy....what the hell is that?? Prestigaicomo doing talk would become obnoxious very quickly. You have to develope that style of radio over the years. Talking over intro's and into breaks is quite different than handling a talk show for 3 hours. Plus..if you're going to work for C.C. non ethnic talk...you damned well be a flaming conservative.
Tom will NOT be working on talk radio....ever. Book it. (by the way, Robbins does a pretty good job. The one thing I like is that he ballances the info and talk the way it should be done. you can't tell if he's a 'Lib' or 'Right winger'.)
....if you can't tell, he's doing a good job.
radiocheeseballs said:Amen "isanybodythere" about Tom Presti-cheese-imo talking over intro's and into breaks! That always annoyed me!... Even though I'm not a DJ, I always thought that was a big no-no in radio.
But I will say that Tom would be great as the voice of the Memphis Grizzlies. John Paul Stevenson was great but whoever they have now is lame. Tom would serve them well as their public address announcer. I know I always enjoyed it when he was P.A. announcer for Tiger football and basketball, as well as the Memphis Showboats!