WHERE ARE THE FOOTBALL MINDS? - CRAIG SHELTON - SEPTEMBER 22, 2010

WHERE ARE THE FOOTBALL MINDS?


Written By: Craig Shelton
Date Posted: 09/22/2010

Recently a member of the print media contacted me in regard to the HMW poll determining the best sports talk host in Houston. During our exchange, we talked about the lack of solid football minds in Houston sports talk radio. I made the point that when you really look at it, there's only a couple guys around town that you can call up on the air and ask a "football" question and actually get a true "football" answer.

Well, when you think about it, for the most part what we have here around town hosting sports talk radio shows are moderators. Most of these gentlemen are capable of managing a show and giving a "fans" perspective aided by insider knowledge which may cause them to appear more knowledgeable than their listeners/callers. If you listen closely, that's really a smoke screen.

Folks, when you hear a host answer a caller's question and begin his answer with the fact that he spoke to said coach or player in question earlier in the week and then proceed to dance around the X&Os of your question as he "mutes" the caller and thanks him/her for the call. Of course the caller never got a pure "football" X&O answer to the question.

1560 THE GAME, MEETING OF THE MINDS?

John Harris of 1560 The Game's (KGOW) weekday drive time show (3p-7p) is a super football mind. The guy's brain is football talk on steroids and his show co-host Sean Pendergast is definitely no slouch. The two complement each other well and are always prepared to deliver solid information. (Ahhhhhhhh...the luxury of having an Ivy League pedigree)

Lance Zierlein also of 1560 The Game, doubles as a blogger of the Houston Chronicle (See "The Z Report") and may be the most accomplished football mind in the market. Lance comes from a football family having a father with college and NFL coaching experience. Lance has great contact sources (NFL) that share information with Lance. Historically speaking, Lance has always been benevolent with the listeners regarding his sharing that insider knowledge. Lance isn't a name dropper looking for an opportunity to put his contacts on display, instead he disseminates information as it pertains to a particular issue.

Ex-Houston Texan, Marcus Coleman, is an energetic, intelligent football mind that isn't used enough in my personal opinion. Coleman is a member of the 1560 The Game team as well that's obviously well versed in NFL and college football Xs & Os and Soccer as well.

SPORTS RADIO 610

Former Houston Texans defensive lineman ND Kalu, John McClain (Houston Chronicle), and Barry Warner are uniquely different in their approach, but all are trustworthy. Warner and McClain's contributions are primarily fueled by their long standing tenure in the business and their relationships with teams, players, coaches, management, etc.

Kalu's 12-year NFL career in the trenches gives him extensive experiences to draw from. Kalu has a great demeanor with the callers and is very pleasant in his delivery when he has to correct incorrect perceptions of callers and listeners.


I trust all three of these guys to offer solid opinions and information. It doesn't mean I fully agree with all their takes all the time but you can respect their minds for the game.




THERE'S NOT MUCH OUT THERE!

What's remaining is limited in regards to pure X&O football knowledge. Carl Dukes and Fred Faour of ESPN 97.5 The Ticket are guys you can trust as well as Adam Wexler of Sports Talk 790 (S/T 790). Charlie Pallilo of S/T 790 appears to be serviceable, but don't be fooled.

The Charlie Pallilos and Adam Wexlers of the world do a great job at retaining googled up statistics, but offer average in-game analysis of "the eye test" evaluations. Either guy could tell you a defensive lineman got penetration up the field, but neither is likely to tell you "why" said lineman was able to get up field. They're not likely to explain that a 6-5 offensive lineman wasn't able to keep a 6-2 undersized defensive lineman from getting penetration because his fat ass was too lazy to bend his knees and stay low to assure the leverage necessary to move a guy off the ball. My point is not to confuse guys that prep professionally and google fast as "football" minds.

COMMON SENSE?

There are some guys that may not break the game down well, but they have the common sense to use the most precious gift the football Gods gave us in "common sense". Ralph "The Godfather" Cooper of KCOH 1430 & Matt Thomas of Sports Talk 790 are two great examples of my point. Neither Ralph nor Matt pretend to be a football strategist. Instead, both choose to engage in good "common sense" football dialogue with their show listeners. Wow, what a concept folks, "common sense" football talk?

Most fans hear what's said on radio and they run with it as if its their very own original take on things. I've been very vocal in my belief that Houston as a whole is a fan base that's limited in their general sports knowledge.

I believe this is mainly due to the information source most fans get their information from. That source is the Houston sports media and the source is the root of all evil under this scenario. Too many uneducated football minds, in a football town, delivering the information to the fan base. Now, none of these guys will agree with me I'm sure, as I'm sure they all consider themselves credible football minds.

I'll say this, if what we have on air in Houston sports talk radio as hosts are quality football minds, well, why have John McClain and the ND Kalu's of the world on air?









Craig Shelton


HMW
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