Archive for February, 2008
Here I go with my yearly blog about how great baseball is, and what a great product the Marlins put on every season. I’ve written something similar to this for the last three years, but it doesn’t really seem to work because it’s not like I’ve been able to make a big impact in Florida Marlins attendance. (Gonna be strange calling them The Miami Marlins in a few years, but the truth is they ALWAYS should have been called The Miami Marlins.)
Everyone likes to beat on the Marlins, but the truth of the matter is that they put on a great entertainment product. I’ll grant you that I probably see the Marlins differently now that I have a son that’s almost 4 years old, and who loves to go to baseball games. But, I really do look forward to this time of year because there aren’t many more fun things than taking your son to a baseball game. I know it sounds like a Hallmark card, but it’s true. I love heading out to the stadium with my son (and wife!) and watching the Marlins play.
I’m torn about the new stadium, though. I’m happy that they got it because that will ensure that we’ll have a baseball team down here for many years to come. The location kills me though, because I live in Boca and I really don’t enjoy the drive up and back to where that stadium will be. But, I’m sure the new stadium is going to be beautiful and well worth the ride.
Anyway… I digress. What I really wanted to write about was that baseball season is almost here and you should get excited about it. I think the Marlins have done a pretty good job bringing us entertaining baseball within the parameters that they have to work in. Do I wish they had Boston’s payroll? Of course. But do they wish they had Boston’s attendance? Of course they do. But both sides have to work with whatever hand they’ve been dealt.
None of it takes away the experience of going to a major league game. Baseball season is here, and if you haven’t gone to see a Marlins game in a while, you should do so. (By the way, if you think I wrote this because 790 airs the Marlins games now, you’re wrong. I’ve been writing something similar to this at the start of every season.)
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Other blog notes… Have you checked out all the new products at www.horsemuffins.com? Lots of great new stuff for Dan LeBatard Show fans. Everything from Wanny McStahce’s shirts… to Talk To My Ass shirts… to Hochamania merchandise! Take a look at all the new items at www.horsemuffins.com.
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More blog notes… I’m not ashamed to admit that American Idol is pretty damn good this year. Don’t know who my early favorite is yet, but I’ll keep you posted. On the reality TV tip… I’m a failure when it comes to this season of Big Brother. I only saw the first episode and I haven’t seen any of it since then. Guess I’m not gonna watch this season. I suck.
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Final blog note… What’s with all the Zaslow bashing? I understand you don’t think Zaslow knows sports. Gotcha. Your point is made. Find something new to rail about. It’s boring.
February 25th, 2008
I’ll start by giving you a little peek into my life this weekend… My wife and son were both extremely sick with the flu and/or colds. So my big plans for the long weekend were basically scrapped. (Not that we really had any great plans, but I know that I wouldn’t have spent the entire weekend watching TV… which is exactly what I ended up doing.) I started to get sick too, so when I tell you that I spent the ENTIRE weekend watching TV, I’m not kidding.
So, Saturday night, instead of being at the Kimbo fight, I hunkered down to watch the NBA All Star Skills competition. Since my wife and child were both sleeping, I was watching alone… But that didn’t stop me from feverishly texting Dan LeBatard and our producer Mike Ryan about what was going on in the skills competition. Dan has made fun of me all weekend long, saying (among other things) that I put the “turd” in Saturday night.
He has continued to make fun of me all weekend because of how excited I got by the Slam Dunk competition. I refuse to be ashamed. The Slam Dunk competition this year was the most entertaining one I think I can ever remember. Gerald Green blowing out a candle on a cupcake on top of the rim? I went crazy! Dwight Howard donning a Superman cape? I went bananas! Every time something happened during the dunk competition I was texting Dan with glee… and he was mortified that I was spending my Saturday night at home watching TV while he was at the Kimbo Slice fight.
Is that something to be embarrassed about? Is there something wrong with getting true enjoyment out of the NBA Skills Competition? I’m not even too ashamed to admit that I TiVo’d the entire dunk contest and watched it again Sunday morning. It was fun. Listening to Kenny Smith’s reactions to the dunks were great… Watching the NBA superstars reactions were priceless… Call me a dork, but I truly enjoyed my Saturday night in front of TNT.
But it gets worse…
On Sunday I actually watched the entire last 2 hours of The Daytona 500. That’s right. I plopped myself down to watch a Nascar race, when I’ve NEVER watched one in my entire life. NEVER. And here’s the amazing part… I was entertained. It was fun to watch. Fox does an incredible job with camera angles and in-car sounds, and it makes the entire race a pleasure to watch. I still didn’t understand most of it. All I really remember is that a guy named Newman won… but I must tell you, I won’t be so quick to dismiss Nascar any longer.
My 3 year old son was watching with me, so obviously we were rooting for the car covered in M&Ms. (I think a guy named Busch drives that car.)
So, there you have it. My dorky weekend in front of the television, watching things that many people consider dumb. But not me! I represent the dumbing down of America, and I’m proud of it! Long live the NBA All Star Weekend! Long live Jason Kapono! Long live The Daytona 500! Long live a guy named Newman!
February 19th, 2008
I’ve been involved in radio since I went to The
University of Miami from 1987-1991. I was a DJ on
WVUM, the campus radio station… When I worked at the
UM radio station I got to interview everyone from
Uncle Luke to Professor Griff (from Public Enemy.) It
was exciting… it was fulfilling…
Then when I graduated UM I worked on air jobs from
Belle Glade to West Palm Beach. I emceed club nights
at Cruzan Liquor Stand in West Palm when I was a DJ
for Star 95.5. I used to take home girls because of
my crappy celebrity… I have fond memories of that
time.
I have been involved in radio for 20 years, and
nothing has felt as good as the “1972 Perfection Pep
Rally” that we held last week at the KFC in honor of
the ‘72 Dolphins and Jim Mandich. That was magic
radio. That was the pinnacle of my career. I don’t
know if I’ll ever do anything in radio that will top
what we pulled off at the KFC.
Look at the pictures of the event at the front of our
website… www.790theticket.com. See video of the
event on the Dan LeBatard “extras” page… Relive the
full audio of the entire show at
http://www.790theticket.com/showaudioarchive.php?show=Dan+Le+Batard+Full+Show
To bring together dozens of listeners for the world’s
crappiest pep rally was an honor. To hold a pep rally
for Miami Dolphins legend Jim Mandich inside a KFC was
brilliant. To honor a man that wasn’t even there was
inspired. (Apparently Mandich decided to broadcast
from the Keys that day… Don’t know if he did it to
escape the pep rally or if it was planned in advance.)
All I can say is if you missed the Pep Rally, shame on
you. If you missed out on radio history, shame on
you. This was one of those events that brought a city
together. This is one of those events that families
will talk about for years to come. This was one of
those events that we could easily duplicate every
week, and probably will.
Long live Mandich! Long live the ‘72 Dolphins! Long live Colonel Sanders!
February 11th, 2008
A very enjoyable Superbowl this year! I watched the game with my 75 year old father and my 3 1/2 year old son, and couldn’t have enjoyed it more. Three generations of Hochmans sitting in front of the TV watching the game… with my wife in the kitchen making little cocktail franks! A perfect setting to watch a really entertaining game. I’ve watched many a Superbowl with my dad, and now this is the second one I’ve been able to watch with my Dad and son… (Last year’s was even a little more special, since we grew up in Chicago and the Bears were playing.)
I enjoyed the pregame… I think Fox does the best pregame show in the business. Always enjoy seeing Frank Caliendo on national TV… I’m glad Chris Collinsworth is no longer part of the Fox pregame, because he was extremely annoying. I do miss James Brown as the host, though.
You know I’m an American Idol fan, so I stood at attention when Idol alum Jordin Sparks sang the national anthem. Big props to Idol on that… but Ryan Seacrest as the “red carpet” host? Get out of here. Ryan Seacrest has NO business being involved in the Superbowl at any level. Leave him on Idol… let him do his thing… and keep him off my sporting events.
The halftime show was excellent. I’m not a huge Tom Petty fan and was not excited at all for the halftime show. I actually planned to change channels during Petty, but he was really good. Freaking looking guy- but talented. He sang four songs and had the crowd really into it. I’m giving the halftime show an A+, because I can’t remember being that entertained by a Superbowl halftime show in recent memory. Prince was Ok last year… Before that Janet Jackson/Justin Timberlake was annoying… The Rolling Stones were weathered… Paul McCartney was boring… I wouldn’t be adverse to going old school and letting the halftime show be the Famu marching band. Now that would be some entertainment.
As for the commercials… I LOVED the D Wade-Charles Barkley commercial. Thought it was hysterical. I also like the “Rocky” inspired commercial for Budweiser featuring the Clydesdale and the dalmation. (I’ve always had a soft spot for Rocky in my heart.) Speaking of heart… the careerbuilder.com commercial that featured an actual heart jumping out of a lady’s chest was just plain creepy. Didn’t like that. And there was one commercial for salesgenie.com that I found insensitive and insulting to Asian people. It was with Panda bears speaking in really “over the top” Chinese dialects. I can’t believe in this politically correct society that the network actually allowed that to air.
Then there was the game itself. Brilliant! I had so many prop bets going on the game it was hard to keep track. A few of my good props: the first TD would be scored by a playing wearing a jersey under the number 43 1/2- winner! Eli Manning under 24 total completions- winner! Eli Manning over 225 yards passing- winner! Lawrence Maroney under 86 yards rushing- winner! First score of the game would be something other than a touchdown- winner! There will be no defensive or special teams touchdowns- winner! But I had plenty of losers too… including… First TD will be scored by Kevin Boss- loser! Randy Moss over 5 1/2 receptions- loser! Both teams will kick field goals longer than 32 yards- loser! There will be a touchdown scored over 48 yards- loser! Total points in the game over 73- loser! And the list goes on and on. Suffice it to say, I had more losers than winners.
Well, football season is over. I always get a little sad when football season comes to an end. I enjoy NFL football like no other sport… So now I’ll start gearing up for next season… And I’m making my Tampa Superbowl plans now. Can’t wait for a Bears-Dolphins Superbowl in Tampa.
February 5th, 2008
