Radio talk show hosts come and go. Some leave the air before they should, while others remain on air even though their shows become flat. New York's WFAN recently saw the breakup of Mike and the Mad Dog after nineteen years. The two were entertaining in part because you never knew what ridiculous comment they'd say at any given moment. They belittled all of their callers, felt that their view on sports was the only view that mattered, and they often conducted embarrassing interviews that must have been intended to anger the guests. Many may feel that their ratings were good because of their personalities. Fact is: most people listened to their show to hear what stupid comment they'd say next, and to hear just how much they'd ridicule their callers. Then again, their call-screeners must have purposely allowed the dumb fans to get through for fear that true sports fans would expose their lack of sports sense. You'd have heard a more intelligent sports conversation at your local bar....or bowling alley for that matter. And unfortunately, because of Mike and the Mad Dog's ratings success, sports talk shows across the country began emulating their show. Every station has that one guy who thinks he should be Mr. Controversy. Are fans not tired of that yet? There is another sports show that sports talk shows should be trying to emulate. There is still one duo which provides a quality radio talk show day in and day out. They are Mike and Mike In the Morning...and nobody does it better.

Listening to Mike and Mike is like listening to two average joes talking sports...but the difference is that they actually know what they're talking about...and without belittling their audience, without claiming to be the "gurus" of sports, and without angering their guests. There is a reason that Mike and Mike have been on air for nine years (and counting) and are on ESPN2 for four hours a day generating advertising revenue. It is because they are very good at what they do.

So, what makes Mike and Mike so good? For starters, Mike Golic is a former athlete and Mike Greenberg is an ESPN anchor. That gives them instant credibility. Not many successful sports show hosts are former NFL players like Golic or have a long tenure at the ESPN sports desk like "Greenie". Often times, a kid with "connections" gets a radio gig just out of college regardless of sports knowledge. That is not the case with Mike and Mike. The two know their sports. They often rib themselves and each other in a good natured way. What a refreshing change compared to the talk show hosts who think they and their sports views are "the final word". in collaboration with their producers, Liam Chapman and Curt "Joaquin" Kaplan, the show has humor and creativity rarely heard on the airwaves today. What can be better than listening to a knowledgeable sports show that is both informative and entertaining? They have top notch guests appear on their show. And even though many who appear are also ESPN employees, you can bet that most of those guests wouldn't appear on the show if they didn't like the hosts. And when they do have athletes as guests, they are respectful, often keeping it loose and fun. If they do ask controversial questions of a guest, they still do it with respect and allow the guest to get his/her point across. This is a refreshing change compared to many at ESPN (such as Dana Jacobson of First Take), who look to cause controversy with their guests in order to grab cheap headlines.

But perhaps the best compliment I can pay to Mike and Mike is that I consider them to be friends. No, I don't know either of them personally, but I enjoy spending as much time with them as I do some of my friends. And ask yourself this question: Of all the radio personalities on the air today, which would you feel most comfortable having to your house for dinner? Sure, that may be a silly analogy, but think about it. Would you feel comfortable having Don Imus, or Rush Limbaugh, or Colin Cowherd, or Mad Dog Russo or Jim Rome to your home for dinner? Perhaps you would, but I wouldn't. I get the feeling that Imus would never smile, Limbaugh would want to be sure I'm not a liberal, Cowherd would brag about himself, Russo would call my kids idiots, and Rome would criticize my wife's cooking. I'm not saying these talk show hosts are not good at what they do. Jim Rome puts on a quality show... but Mike and Mike do it better. I'd have no reservations about having Mike and Mike at my home for dinner while talking sports, or anything else. And that makes them friends.

And so, best said by Carly Simon...Nobody does it better...makes me feel sad for the rest.



Court Adjourned!