Talk Radio Egos and the Art of the Hang-Up: Middle School Takes, Adult Microphones

Ever tune into a sports talk show and wonder how these guys landed a job yelling into a mic with the emotional maturity of a cafeteria food fight? One minute they’re debating stats, the next they’re acting like they just lost their juice box at recess.

I like to catch a sports talk show podcast every know and then. The hosts have ego’s so big they need to use Vaseline to squeak through the door to get into the studio. If they disagree with a caller they have the ultimate power, they can disconnect the call and go on to the next caller. How do you get a gig like this? Here is a typical call in conversation:

Host: “Hello Bob from Quincy.”

Bob: “You guys don’t know what you’re talking about?”

Host: “Bob, can you be more specific? Give us some facts.”

Bob: “Why should I give you facts? You never use them. Your buddy, Zeke, for example, says the Sox pitching sucks. My middle school son says the same thing. I ask him why and he says, “It just does.” So I figure you guys are acting like middle schoolers.”

Host: “You hear that Zeke? Bob says we’re acting like middle schoolers?”

Zeke: “Don’t bother me I’m checking out Tik Tok and my Facebook page. Ask Bob if he’ll give my Facebook page a like.”

Bob: “I heard that. I wouldn’t give your Facebook page a like even if you were giving out free tickets to the Sox games.”

Host: “Bob, do you go to the Sox games?”

Bob: “Whay should I? Their pitiching sucks.”

Host: “Next caller.”