WGR can be "great radio" but it can also be maddening. I know I mentioned this in the past, but given this thread, it's important to reiterate. On big sports days, WGR hosts need to be on point at all times. Case in point. I didn't get out of work until 6:30 Monday evening. I put on WGR to catch up on the big development of the day -- the firing of the Bills coaching staff. What I got was an inane bit on mimes. Now, perhaps Schopp and the Bulldog believe they've covered the nut in their first three hours on the air. But I can't emphasize enough how they need to keep in mind the way people use radio. This was taught in Radio 101. A new audience is always tuning in. There's tremendous turnover. You need to be talking sports when that listener tunes in.
I'll admit I have a problem when sports stations engage in lifestyles talk. I tune in a sports station to hear sports, not talk about American Idol or some other lifestyles topic. Now, in the dog days of May and June (especially when the Sabres aren't in the playoffs), I'll give them a break. But on big sports days like Monday the message from the PD should be stay focused and stay on topic. I think the mime bit was somehow related to sports, but it was so lame, I couldn't hit the button fast enough.
That said, this morning was an example of WGR at its best with the weekly Roby Radio hour. It was 60 minutes (minus commercials) of informed analysis from Roby and good probing questions from Howard. Even Jeremy contributed solid content. This is the way sports radio should be at all times. Leave the lifestyles and comedy to Shredd and Ragan. WGR should do what it does best and that is to always be focusing laser-like on the top sports story of the day.