The Fifth Hour: Sports with Coleman, Soft Landing

we thank you for subscribing. And this podcast, if you don't know by now, a spin off of the Overnight Show, The Ben Maller Show, and it is only available in the podcast format. You cannot get this on terrestrial radio.

As we are in the air everywhere thanks to the vast power of my heart, the global reach of podcasting, and every week, three podcasts the week and eight days a week, because four hours a night are not enough on the Overnight and you're going on to listen all weekend because on Saturday I will tell the story I

have never told before. I did something for the first time in my life last week and I did not talk about this on the radio show, so I'll talk about that tomorrow, but right now, we gotta get down to business. Because I love radio. You know that it's my job, it's my my life's passion. And I have

friends all over the country. I have made radio friends that work at different stations, and one of my good friends I talked about them quite a bit on the radio show anytime I bring up Baltimore is someone I refer to as Sports with Coleman. His name is Jerry Coleman. We've had him on the podcast before. I was on Jerry's radio show not that long ago. He had done

a night show in Baltimore. And the reason I wanted to have Jerry on this week is mainly just so I could talk to him, because we're friends and I have an excuse to talk to him on the podcast, but also the fact that he was part of a mass layoff at his radio station and a national radio layoff at a competing company. Not I heart, but a rival of my heart, and Jerry is one of the good radio guys. He's done it all. He's a really

a Swiss army knife. We used that term for people in sports, but in sports broadcasting, and Jerry is the guy that will do a little bit of this, a little bit of that, a little bit of everything. He's worked all over the clock. He had done a night show in Baltimore, He's done morning radio in that city. He has has been in Baltimore radio for over a decade, but he's worked over thirty years in the radio business.

And he got let go. He got the old pink slip from his radio station last week and he joins us now and Jerry, we have a saying in the radio business when you're giving the pink slip, when you're giving your walking papers, that you are on the beach. But you are literally and figuratively taking that to the next level, aren't you, Jerry correct? And as I speak to you now, I am on the beach, not far from Sarasta in Longboat Key, Florida, to be exact. So

I literally am and was on the beach today. I am grateful in one aspect and that there was some bloodshed from the company I worked at, and they did alert me before I went on vacation, so um, in other words, I would have found out in the middle of my vacation had they not told me which I think you know, it was a more humane way to approach and this does nothing though Jerry, and I feel terrible for you, but for my neurosis. And we've known

each other for for a number of years here. But one of my things is I hate taking vacation because when I was an intern in San Diego at the mighty six ninety in my head, I'm not sure this actually happened, but in my head, every time one of the hosts took a vacation, they never came back from vacation and they just they didn't say anything. And so so when I found out what happened to you, which was a terrible decision in my opinion, by the station

in Baltimore. But when I found that out, I was like, whoa, this is now. I can never take a vacation again. I was like, in my head, I'm like, well that's it. I can't, I can't go anywhere. But you you handle it very well. I give you credit, and I'm not sure how you're enjoying your vacation. Is it? Okay? You've been on it for a while as we're talking right now, and this airing on a Friday, So you've been in your tropical destination for a while. Are you able to compartmentalized, Jerry,

I am. Uh. Severance had a lot to do with that. The conversation at a time before leaving, I think had a lot to do with that. I'm glad I didn't get a phone call in the middle of this vacation letting me know what unfortunately happened to a lot of my colleagues around the country in multiple markets. So when they did tell me that that it was, they actually took me off and told me, you know, there's gonna be more to come on Tuesday, whenever, whatever day it

was that they did it. And I was like, okay, thank you for letting me know, and you know, kind of when I went in one ear and out the other, and then I realized, you know, okay, I was tipped off at a time and they did, you know, in

a way helped me out. I mean, the fact that you know, I found out before I went on vacation, um did put a little detriment on the vacation, but hasn't completely runned it all together because actually, now I'll extend it because is it's better than knowing I would say in the middle or then I mean, you get back and then you get the call and it's like, okay, I didn't need to come back so soon, So there is a benefit. I'm trying to be, you know, positive

in that aspect. I've been down this road before, bounce back before. We'll see what's down the road in the horizon. I assume there will be something I always has been. It could be a presumption, but already, you know, I received you know, correspondence from different people in different industries and not necessarily radio about different possible avenues. So we

will see where that leads. But I was caught by a surprise, and you know, in fact, they never give you your last show on the radio, and I almost really had that on on my last day on which was a Thursday, and was let go via zoom on a Friday. And I had a feeling that morning that that was the case, and I probably had a feeling that Thursday night when I did my last show that

that was the case. But I wasn't gonna do anything to bern any bridges or rip anyone like that and go out in a ball of flames because I do want to work again. So I just took the high road and and did that be a social media and uh, let it go from there, because I think that's the best way to go about it. Uh, no grudges. I think I've been you know, I don't think it was right, Uh in terms of what I brought to the table, and in terms of sen only hosting, but covering teams,

doing sports updates. Um, there was just a variety of things that I did for the radio station over well over a decade, more close to thirteen years, just over twelve that you know, I thought sometimes were overrooked. And maybe this will be a blessing in disguise, we will see. But what a treat it was to be able to host your own show in your hometown, choose the guest list, have complete show control, excuse me of the as you say, sports talk, real estate, and really not have any micromanaging.

And that was the case until the Yam you know. I mean I've heard from all sorts of people within the company reminding me was not performance or rating to relate it, and it certainly wasn't. It was an unfortunate aspect of the business and where it is at times right now. Yeah, it's the business is not in a good place. We'll get to that. Well, we're getting into it now, but we'll talk more about it. So you had a premonition, you had a feeling that the end

was near, and I had something similarly. The only way you get a final show is if it's leaked in the New York Post or you're retiring, right, I was on the air years ago. For those that maybe haven't heard the story before that listened to this podcast, but Jerry knows the story. So back in oh nine there was a presidential election result, well the election was an OH eight, but the result was announced in oh nine or the the the changing of the guard, changing of

the president happened in oh nine. It is, I believe, the second term of Barack Obama. But at that time, the day before, I remember exactly the date. It was the day before. I think January twenty one is the date they change presidents. I believe it's sometimes, yeah, sometime in January, and uh yeah. Politically, we don't try to

avoid politics now on the podcast. We used to talk about politics, but I I was respected, I still respect the presidency, and I always liked watching the the ceremony from d C and so I it was the night before and I was planning on watching the ceremony we were doing the show, and there was a headline of

a bulletin that came. This is the early day as of Twitter, but there was a story from the New York Post that there were going to be mass uh mash mass casualties, layoffs whatever at the company that I was working for, that they were going to be announced like the next day, right. So I somebody had sent me the story actually via a text message, and one of my friends in the business, and I was right before the show was about to start, and and so I I, of course, being the schmuck that I am,

I sent the story. I forwarded it onto everyone else that was working on the show. And uh. And then about about ten fifteen minutes in the show, I get an email from one of the bosses. Now, no one ever emails me. And now you know, Jerry, you did nights. You know you don't. You do not get contacted after work hours like nine to five. That's a red flag if you do get contact. Yeah. Yeah, So I'm in

my head, I'm connecting the dots here. I'm like, okay, uh, let's see, I got somebody sent me a story from The New York Post saying the company I work for is gonna lay off and get rid of all these people. Uh. And then ten minutes fifteen minutes later, I get an email from my boss saying there's a mandatory meeting the next morning that I have to be at. And I said, well, you know, I'm not that bright, but I think I can connect the pieces here. I think we've got something.

And my my producer was losing his mind. He's like, oh my god, I'm gonna be He'd never been fired before, the never lost a job. He actually ended up running. He's an assistant program director at a radio station. Now they had we had an intern that had just started. He relocated. Kid from Boston had relocated, moved to l It was his first night working on my show. And oh goodness, he got he got he got. Kid moved all the way to l A for one night. Yeah. So, like,

what happened to your team? Jar? Are they still there? Are they? Have you talked to your your producer? I know? Oh yeah, no, well yeah, I mean yeah yeah. They all survived. And producers that I worked with over the years, and people that I helped out that such some very nice things on social d on you know, some of the things I passed along to him over the years.

But the premonition came from the fact that my boss was also going on vacation and this person was like, no, I really would like to meet with you on Friday morning before we go away on vacation. I just think it's important we talked before you go away. And I had requested a meeting um weeks ago and left it

alone and didn't even follow up with it. And this was titled a catchup meeting, just catching up, and I swear to God, within thirty seconds I was I was done of within the zoom meeting and I said, wow, I you know, I thought you would do something like this face to face. And the person indicated something that

actually rang true, you know, and I'll give him. They said they didn't want to waste my time, had me drive all the way with gas prices lay there right now, I appreachd drive all the way in just to tell you you're terminated. So it was all done via zoom now, and the human resources person was all line as well and bing bang boom, and it was over. Well that is nice because they made us all drive in one Karen Kay, who you know who I worked with for a while. KK. I love KK because KK, you know

season professional radio woman. She also knew we were getting uh we were getting pole axed that day and she said, I'm not driving in. I'm not driving to get told I'm not working there anymore. And she didn't do it, and uh, I still I love the fact that she repelled at that at that particular moment. Well, the cool thing now and I didn't have this the last time I got Uh, I got whacked in the businesses that with social media now and I was gonna say, well,

send a message to your listeners. But you can keep track of a lot of your fans, your a via Twitter, which is another social media which has gotta be great that you know, whenever you get your next gig, wherever it is, whatever platform it happens to be, you can let people know. And for so long in our business, as you referenced, when you get let go, you don't get to say goodbye. They don't allow you to to have a final opportunity in in radio to say goodbye

to your to your listeners. And so you at least have a chance to connect with a lot of people via social media, as you said, people were reaching out to you. So that's gotta be nice that, you know, six months down the line, a year down line, whatever it is, you get your next job, hopefully sooner after your seference runs out. Whenever that is, uh, you can bring the bring the band back together, right, You've got

that going for you. That is definitely possible. And if I were to go to the podcast route, I don't know if that would interfere with some of the terms of the sefferance, so that could be something that I do. I'm not just gonna do it for the heck of it, just like you don't do it for the heck of it. I mean, we all like to here are voices and

all that. Frankly, after thirty two years on the radio and you know, worrying about your next job, after using your previous job, I decided, you know, I'm going to keep pursuing. I'm not giving up, but I'm also not going to jump right back in at the first thing

that's thrown my way. I'm going to enjoy some time off, regroup, hopefully have something by the time football season goes, because it's the very important time and that that was the downside is you know, I've been out covering the Ravens and I have to tell you, you know, the Oils have been nice in terms of some of the responses I've gotten, But Man of Baltimore Ravens a team that I know you'd like to pick on at times. And I have taken so many shots at this team, yet

they have rhino skin, as you like to say. Because I've heard from so many people in that organization, very high up, even you know, the PR department. Um, they still have invited me to come out to their practices, games and all that. Frankly, I appreciate that, but I told them I'm probably gonna be reluctant in doing that. If I'm not working, I don't see a reason to

be out there. But I appreciate the invite, being able to be around the team and all that, But after thirty some years, I just want to make it as part of a job and not just go out there and you know, play grab bass as you say, and you know, just be around the players and the coach and hear what they have to say. I can do that from a distance too, So yeah, probably not going to do that again until I'm actually gainfully employed. But very classy of them to do that, and the Orioles

are honoring my credential as well. I just kind of hurt, not as much as as the Ravens, but that just maybe a set of circumstances where the team has been on the road. But I do appreciate. You know, you got a chance, like you to be able to work in your home town where you were raised. You know, that's that's a dream come true. Yeah, no, it's great. And I do give the Ravens credit, even though I will continue to bash them that they uh, they at least handle things the right ways, as I have tried

to say to people who I know. For example, I ripped the Lakers all the time, and the Lakers have been still allow me out there if I want to go. I don't go as much anymore, uh, just because I don't know anybody in the in the the Beat report. I used to know all the Beat reporters back in the day, and everyone used to go out there, and I go out there and it's I don't know anybody as far you know, just about I have. There's only a few people I know. But the Lakers been okay.

But that's the thing, Jerry, like these teams, we play a role as the critic in the upper balcony and they're the ones that are rolling in money. And it's it's a nice marriage though it's okay. It's you don't have to be confrontational. And there's a lot of places and we know teams, Jerry that have have spat Louis at guys. Uh, the the Angels a great example, the Angel. You talk about the Angels, and I would say the equivalent of that is the NFL t down that that's

the closest of Baltimore. It can be very spiteful as well. Yeah, so that's good to hear about the the Raven. Are we gonna be able to continue to spar about Lamar Jackson. We've had a few text conversations, we've talked on the phone. We've sure. I mean everything, I think everything I've said and predicted is currently still true as we're speaking right now.

I do not anticipate a contract coming. The guy is gonna make twenty three million dollars this year, and that's more he's made in any year in his entire life. If you were to say that then, uh, he would be set for life if you were to invest it the right way. But this is a guy that doesn't have an agent, plays in a town in Baltimore. We're the most popular player on the team right now, is

the kicker. I can't think of any other NFL market where that's the case with Justin Tucker has all the endorsements, he has a new contract. Um, he's already being called the goat, which I'm always uncomfortable with calling a player the greatest of all time, except maybe Tom Brady while they're still playing. But Lamar is us gonna go out and I think play football and gamble on himself, and he better hope he doesn't get hurt because it'll be

the most expensive injury in NFL history. And again, doesn't have any deals in terms of endorsements or anything outside of just playing football, because either he's stubborn or his mother's stubborn, or they're stubborn together. But not having an age and continues sir that what's it like being around Lamar? You've covered a few quarterbacks in your time in in radio.

What's the day to day like with Lamar Jackson? And well, some people think he has like this magical touch you know about him, and he's not a funny personality and everything. I wouldn't say he's great in terms of getting a lot of content because when you do listen to him talk, it's just very brief answers. But I mean just being

around him in terms of personality. Likes to crack jokes, you know, and also makes you realize how old you are been because he's in his young twenties, and you know, he reads the stuff he posts on social media, but it's very hard to relate to him as someone who's almost twice his age, if not a little bit further than that. So that's the difference between a lot of today's athletes and and the way I look at things,

it's like a totally different generation. Some of the stuff they post on social media, you know, is either above my pay grade or I just you know, it's a parallel universe, and the generation levide. At what point did that happen for you? It happens for everyone a little differently. But I I know from my time and I did the same job that you had early on. We were both radio stringers, radio reporters, so we were in locker

rooms quite often doing our thing. And and I'm trying to like, at what point when guys started retiring that I was around like every day. That was the first sign. But then when you saw players kids get to the big leagues, I was like, wait a minute, what what is going on here? And that happened. You know, obviously it takes twenty years or whatever, but at that point, I'm like, wow, this is well, there's prime, there's prime

examples everywhere. It's funny you mention that because Orlando Brown Jr. I covered SEUs his father when he was with the Ravens after he had left the Browns. He made all that money if you get hit the eye by the penalty flag and all that he was. He was a wild character. And then his son comes to the Ravens and is there for a cup of coffee before wanting more money trying to play left tackle. I mean you

mentioned Vladimir or Guerrero Senior. I was just talking with someone today about he was the worst ball hitter I've ever seen, and you know, now his kids playing and making more money than he is. So yeah, it does

make you feel kind of old. But also when you read some of these tweets and posts on social media, it's like I don't even understand, you know, when you read them aloud, especially on the radio, it's like, I understand, you only have a certain number of characters you can use, but sometimes it's like you're reading something from another world or another universe. So it's hard to decipher a lot of this. And then you try to ask for clarity

at a press conference and you don't get much there. So, yeah, that's a strange thing about social media and some of the language that's used on there and the lingo, and you know, you just have to try and figure it out for yourself or maybe speak to someone who's twenty years younger than you. You need a Dakota ring, Jerry. You've got to get one of those Dakota rings, and you have to on the fly be able to interpret and change words around to make them broadcast friendly. I

believe so. But now that you are, for the moment on the beach from your gig in Baltimore, and who knows, maybe you'll get another gig in Baltimore. But until that happens, will you now admit on the record on the Fifth Hour podcast here that the cal Ripken. Kevin Costner's story, the urban legend was legit that it actually happened that

the night the power went down at Camden Yards. That was because of an incident, a brew haha, a ker fluffle that took place between actor Kevin Costner and Cal Ripken. Right now that I know you were headed down that avenue is as I heard you say, well you finally admit you do realize on your own network years ago, didn't Kevin Costn call in at one point to your network?

I'm pretty sure, ye, more than sure. He called in after one of your hosts and I don't know if it was you or someone else repeated that ridiculous story, and he called in to defend it. Uh No, I will not concede that. Having been there at the ballpark that night, I just think that's posterous. I saw the guy before the game. I don't believe he left the ballpark to go home to beat up Kevin Costner. No,

I'm just not he didn't go home. Jerry the way, and I the reason I buy the story he walked in on him as part of the not not hold us all right? So I eat after that happened, it might even be the night of, but I think it was the night after. It was the night I was they were playing. Yeah, it was. It was a big say and the Mariners had a great team and they were they were a sexy team at that time. That's

how long ago this was. The Orioles actually were considered a model franchise still, although they had kind of gonne down a little bit. And so I was covering the Dodgers though, So I'm I'm on the West coast and a buddy of mine comes up to me says, You're not gonna believe what happened in Baltimore. And he says, I just got off the phone with uh, you know person X will Say, who happens to be somewhat connected to the ownership in Baltimore, who said, hey, this is

what he gave you, the whole story. It was like right away, the story was right there, and and then you know, I was like okay, and people's of course denied it. But that thing had amazing legs. But the story was Ripkin was he had Costner staying at his house and and they were golfing or whatever, and then he had to go to the ballpark and on his

way to the ballpark. He had forgotten something that he needed and he came back to the house and he walked in and he saw Kevin Costner doing something that most people who are in in cal Ripkins situation would not appreciate. And uh, and then it was on and there was like a little sparring match that took place there. But again, I recall seeing them and maybe even speaking with them before the game that day. No indication there

was power out in that blocked area at Camden. You know, the massive conspiracy we're talking about here is you know, I mean multiple levels that would have to go. And again I just well know, yeah, the conspiracy is that the Orioles somebody made a phone call to the power company there or in Baltimore and they shut the power out. Has got the cord that happened since as they had they had a power outage, there hasn't Now, there was There was a power outage when a train hit a

power generator one time. I do remember that. That was the only other time the power was out in fact at any I know we had the Super Bowl thing where they lost power of the Ravens and I was there in New Orleans yeah, but and that was only half the stadium by the way, It wasn't like we were in the dark and I couldn't see the person next to me. That was a bit exaggerated, But nonetheless

it wasn't good enough to play football for a while. Yeah, yeah, but but I'm trying to think, like, how many other times had they had to cancel the game completely because the power went out? Uh? And probably in the history of the yard that's a great question. That might be the outlier there. They didn't they didn't play, they didn't play it. They didn't play a fanless game in the middle of riots going on around town. But yeah, that was I don't think that's uh, I don't think that's

been repeated. And so no, I do understand your skepticism then, but well, not only have you know off to wait for the movie or documentary to come out on that places, well everyone and everyone's gonna have to die before that happens. But but do you think Kevin Popsker would play himself in that movie? Hey, if the checks big enough, man Ti Tao is playing. He's in a documentary about being catfish at Notre Dame back in the day. So how much. Do you think he's getting paid? Man, I will add that.

I will add that cow has remarried. Ah, there you go, adding on. But this was years later, years later, water unto the bridge. Okay, all right, I maintained. I am convinced. I buy it hook line and sinker, just like I buy that the Patrick Ewing NBA Draft lottery was fixed for the Knicks, and they still didn't win the championship even with being given Ewing because they froze the envelope, the frozen on the Yeah, you're still going with that theory.

I'm trying to think what other theories out there are still being perpetuated till this day. Oh, there's great. I believe. I believe a lot of Michael Jordan's was suspended from the NBA for gambling. Gambling. He then played minor league baseball in Birmingham, Alabama. Would also like to let you know, Jerry, I got a Birmingham Baron's hat added to my collection. I collect b hats and the old the one Jordan war the old Birmingham Baron's hat from back in the day.

But but I believe that Jordan was suspended, but they didn't want to. They didn't want to shame him publicly, so David Stern and the NBA hierarchy got together and they came up with this fugazi minor league baseball thing. So I buy that one. I buy the ripping one, the ewing one. What other great sports conspiracies have there been here? I'm trying to think now, I'm really racking my brain to think of just again outrageous conspiracy ease in the Annals of Sports. You know, that's why they said,

Um Jordan's father was killed as payback. That was also part of it. Um when when he lost his father very strangely in that situation. Yes, uh yeah, Now, anything that's happened with Tiger Woods I don't believe as accurate from the uh incident outside his driveway in Orlando with his What was that was that it was a holiday night. I don't know. Yes, I was on the air and oh, like I still remember a call I took the night that happened. Of course, I I went insane to the

membrane with wall the wall. I never do four hours on the same topic if I can avoid it. But it was Thanksgiving. It was we Thanksgiving weekend, and I know there was football, but I just kept going back to Tiger Woods, and he got chased and there was a car accident and all that stuff. I believe all that because that happened again to him where he was under the influence and couldn't drive his car. And I

do believe, I do believe he wasn't. You know, I don't think he was a thousand percent sober when he drove off a cliff and in southern California either no, no, no, I they found a bottle of pills like that were fell out of the car on that Tiger has been able to to dodge a lot of a lot of trouble. But I I remember ranting about that, and I had a caller who said, why are you talking about this? Nobody cares, nobody believes t MZ. This didn't happen, you know.

It's it's that It's just like when I ripped Rafael Palmero back in the day after he the day after I mentioned this the other day on the on the radio show, but he had gotten his three thousand hit. It was like a Friday night in Seattle, and I remember that I was listening to your show and covering the team and I was there when he did his to not probably one of the and I feel comfortable

in saying this on your podcast. When it comes to intellect, I would say Rafael Palmerro still rates is probably one of the top five dumbest athletes I've ever had to cover in terms of responses and quotes and even trying to lie. I mean, he was terrible at that. Yeah, he got he got burned. But I came on the next next afternoon. I was doing like a fill in shift on the in the afternoon, and I I said, well, how do we know that Palmero is this is a

legitimate thing, this this is a clean thing. And uh, people from your neck of the woods there, Jerry from from the state of Maryland called up and they had the traditional accent going and they were like, yes, you know, this is why you're doing weekend radio. You know, you know there's there's nothing Palmero. No, he's not cheating all this stuff. And then shortly thereafter we know what happened.

I couldn't believe it, because you know, we were led to believe that the steroid player was you know, all bulked up and had the back act and all. He didn't fit the characteristics. But then it made sense and then uh, I remember mcguel Tahada being involved saying that, you know, he spiked the shot of his and both of those guys became pariahs around the organization and we're never really back. Rafael palm Arrow has never been invited

back for anything. So they just celebrated the thirty year anniversary of Camden Yards and his name was never mentioned. Not that he had well he did. I mean he had some milestone moments in that ballpark. He's one of the few players they hit five hundred home runs and three thousand hits, but you know, no one really talks about that because he's a cheater. Yeah. Well, and that's the future of Fernando Tatis Jr. Like the Padre fans will be okay with him as long as he hits,

but everyone else it's gonna be vicious. Well that's again, that's that's one of those like you know, we have our fun with Kyler Murray and you look at towns like that. I guess it's gonna be hard for me to work in towns, certain towns if I start making fun of him. But you know, there are towns that have never won a championship, and it's just hard to imagine that when you've been fortunate to be around teams that have won championships, you know you should never take

that for granted. I mean, I been able to cover two super Bowls. Your rams are just coming off winning a super Bowl at home. You look at towns like Cleveland and San Diego and Arizona and Buffalo, and they've been waiting their entire lives. Yeah, no, it is. It is true. But the the thing I have noticed from doing the Overnight Show over the years is the tribalism is next level in certain towns. It's why Houston, Phoenix, Uh, Cleveland. I've had many battles. Heck, even in your old neck

of the woods there in Baltimore where you live. Oh, they circle the wagons, they circle the wagon. I ripped, I made some I made some jokes about ray Lewis actually the last that Super Bowl against the forty Niners, and guys were very upset with me. Is threatening me. I just thought of another conspiracy theory, though I had forgotten. A few minutes ago. In Sports Game six of the

Western Conference Finals in like twenty years ago, Lakers and Kings. Yes, that and that was Now Tim Donnie, I do not believe he actually worked the game, but Tim Donnie, he claimed that was that was a fixed job to keep Sacramento out, to keep Sacramento from going to the championship round. Yeah, yeah, so I I buy that one. I buy that one another. David S. Stern Special, I guess so you got too out his plate right now? Yeah, And and what's they

what do they say? Pirates, dead men, tell no tales. Right, he's not here, he can't be here to defend himself. So you know, yeah, there's there's there's nothing going on. He's he's moved on. He's he's checked out there. And that's the way that goes. So uh as far as the radio stuff, getting back to the radio business and the radio said, we've been in the business a long time, Jerry, I love radio. You know. Now it's a lot of

podcasting and radio. They've been able to companies have been able to figure out that, you know, not only is it the live show, but you can listen whenever you want on demand, like on podcasts like this, which is really good, and you know, you don't have to just listen when the show is on live you can listen

anytime you want. But I would I would love to see the the great epiphany in the radio business because unfortunately, a lot of the decisions that are made at the upper management level are not in the best interests of radio. And I've got a threat of needle here, Jerry, as you know, but uh, you know, there's just things that could be made that are better for the listener, better for the people that work in the business, and I don't know what it's gonna take to get back to that.

And I feel like there's a lot of money that could be made for everyone involved in the business if better decisions were made. And uh, I'm I'm hopeful, but not not hopeful anytime soon that will get to that point. But the leadership it really needs to kind of rethink things in this business because you compare it to some of the other entertainment industries and I feel like we're the caboose in the back and it shouldn't be that way, Jerry. My opinion should not be that way. I'm a radio purist.

I love I agree with you. I agree with you. I think, you know, it's an outdated concept in a lot of ways. And you have worked different shifts, just like I have. And you know I've done morning Drive, I've done afternoon Drive, but on in the evenings, when you're on after about six or seven pm East Coast time at night, you know, management isn't usually listening their home with their families, either eating dinner or out to dinner or watching TV. And sometimes you're a forgotten person.

And I made the decision and was a conscious front elite point drive because I did not want to be waking up at three in the morning, uh, for the rest of my life. But by doing that, I you know, forgot a lot of money and a lot of a lot in terms of moving and time shifts and realizing that, you know, a lot of times when my show ended, I do maybe one of two or three people in the building left, you know, the radio, the r the sister stations within the within the corporation, we're all just

you know, music oriented, just running, you know, automatically. So I was the only live voice on the air until I signed off. And you know, that got to be a little I wouldn't say, you know, bothersome, but just depressing and that you know, there was no one around and speak to and I was used to that for a while, but then I got you saw st of

the fact of just being left alone. And I was one of the advantages is, you know, with the shift you have, but when you come into the radio station, you have people around you that you can have conversations with during the break and it's nice to have that, or you know, have some people floating around the building besides the people that are just cleaning up the building. Yeah, well I don't even see that. I don't even see the people cleaning up the building. They're done by by

the time. No, no, no. And it's the funniest thing. And you know, I've gone back to the main studio about half the time, and uh and I just it it fastests I walk in there and there's no one. I mean, the only people there are the people on on the show, you know who who. You know, Eddie has to be there because of some technical stuff, and Roberto has to be there and because of their jobs they have to be there. But it was it really It's crazy because it used to be back in the olders,

there were people coming and going all the time. It was like a a be a bee hive, you know, it's a lot of activity going on, but but not anymore. Just I've taken enough of your time. I know you're on vacation. I appreciate you hanging out with us and keep me posted. Obviously we're friends, so you're gonna let me know what happens. And hopefully you can get a gig somewhere in Baltimore. But if not, somebody's gonna get a great broadcast or whether it's podcasting me. I hope

we don't lose you in in radio. I hope you continue on in radio. But if you just go to a podcast, I hope you make a killing on that. And uh, and thanks for If I were a betting man, Yeah, if I were a betting man, and I bet that I'd eventually be on the radio and crack the mic on the radio again. When that happens, nobody knows, including me, including the person who probably may hire me next. We will see. But you know, the gambling industry is really

opening up. One day it will reach your state and the state I'm in in Florida, and then I really think it will take off. So you know, I'm looking forward to doing some things that involve that. Uh. I enjoy that as much as you do. And you know, I mean, the podcasting world has its advantages, as you know, because you control what you get to say there. You

don't really have big brother watching over you. And you can wrap it up right now with me if you wanted to, or we could go another seventeen minutes, but I know we're not going to do no exactly. That's a great thing. Like radio, I do. I do four hours a night. You did, uh, you know, I don't know how long. What is your show? Three hours? Three or four hours? Something like that? You did did a lot,

depending depending on if there was a game. Yeah, it was usually four, but there was a game, we'd have a pregame show, so it'll be three. Yeah. So I'm like, okay, podcast most this podcast, these things are like thirty thirty five minutes. When I go too long, my boss to say no, no, no. A podcast helps to be about thirty minutes. Don't go too much longer than thirty minutes because that's all that's all they want, so correct. Yeah, all right, Well we'll get out on that. Jerry, thank

you and good luck. We'll talk to you next time. Thanks, but thanks for having me in to be able to follow Brent Musburger is one of the great honors of my career. Just one week after the great brient Musburger Um, thanks for having me, Ben, and you know I'll be listening and we'll be in touch well. And Musburger was on vacation and you're on vacation, so we have you have that in common. Again, a parallel universe, but I appreciate the comparison.