What's WGR Thinking?

[Philip_Airtime]

So, I get in the car shortly after 9 this morning, wanting to hear Sabres talk on the day of the most pivotal game of the year. And what do I hear? Jeremy White doing the play-by-play of Howard Simon engaging in some sort of golf contest with a woman. Click! At least Bauerle was talking hockey on WBEN. Hello! McFly! Save the useless drivel for AFTER the playoffs. Maybe they were talking hockey for most of the morning. But I wasn't listening. When I did start listening, they were playing games. Remember how people use radio, guys. Five minutes here, 20 minutes there. You'd think I wouldn't have to point this out to radio professionals. You're the Sabres station. It's round three of the Stanley Cup hockey. Unless you're playing a national show, I expect to hear Sabres talk when tuning in.

 

[x13thfloorrand]

I believe they were giving away tickets to hockey game...But I got your back on this one..... Its only the 2nd time in six plus years that weve had a home conference final game.

 

[Radknowski]

So, I get in the car shortly after 9 this morning, wanting to hear Sabres talk on the day of the most pivotal game of the year. And what do I hear? Jeremy White doing the play-by-play of Howard Simon engaging in some sort of golf contest with a woman. Click! At least Bauerle was talking hockey on WBEN. Hello! McFly! Save the useless drivel for AFTER the playoffs.

Phil... don't we all know by now that WGR specializes in useless drivel? I was on my way to estimate a job, listening in the truck around the same time and heard a tease for the bit. Didn't get to hear the actual PBP, but earlier, I heard them talking hockey and Howard attempting to make sense of a Jeremy theory that made as much sense as the tollbooths on the Niagara Thruway.

Maybe they were talking hockey for most of the morning. But I wasn't listening. When I did start listening, they were playing games. Remember how people use radio, guys. Five minutes here, 20 minutes there. You'd think I wouldn't have to point this out to radio professionals. You're the Sabres station. It's round three of the Stanley Cup hockey. Unless you're playing a national show, I expect to hear Sabres talk when tuning in.

I may be in the minority but I think that WBEN and Baurle in particular should refrain from sports talk. It seems like WBEN encroaches on WGR's turf time and again in matters such as these, as if there aren't other local things for WBEN to discuss. If one of the talk stations in the cluster does Sports and the other talker is news-talk, the formats should be mutually exclusive. Bauerle fancies himself a hockey guru because he once won an MVP award at the Midget level back in the day. I'd prefer he stick to conspiracy theories and Hillary bashing... topics in which he has established some level of proficiency. [/Mike]

 

[Philip_Airtime]

I don't want to always be critical. So, I will praise WGR when it's deserving. Same time this morning -- shortly after 9:00 -- I get into the car. WGR was on from last night. This time, they were getting it right. Howard was talking with Scotty Bowman. Great interview. Great insight from the winningest coach in NHL history. In fact, he told me something I did not know -- that some of the old line NHL referees are not officiating in the conference finals because of Commissioner Bettman's promise to enforce the new rules. If WGR would do more of this and less of the other thing that I originally criticized them for, they'd be a much better radio station. Yes, I know promotions are important. But if this is the only ten minute period of the day I'm listening, you want to give me what I'm tuning in for -- hockey talk. And they did that today!