This is going to read to some as holier than thou, but it’s really holier than I’ve been. I’m not telling you what to do, after all. I’m just telling you what’s on my mind.
I was driving to a business meeting tonight listening to a radio station when I was overcome by the urge to swear at the host for behaving in what I deemed was, well, an ungentlemanly fashion. It wasn’t the first host, time nor even station that has roused that quick, biting anger in me, but I’m trying to make it the last. I decided at that moment to be done with it.
Honestly, it took a lot of energy not to pop it back on before I arrived at my destination. Habits are hard to break and decent topical radio is hard-to-find. There aren’t a lot of choices in talk, especially given my picky nature when it comes to the music that interrupts the voice on the microphone, but I did it.
I love talk radio, but I don’t love the place to where some have let it devolve. It goes the same for television. Why do we listen to and watch the things that we dislike? For all the complaining we do about the stubborn “my way or the highway” attitude of our government or a certain team owner, why do we let people with that same attitude dictate the tone of our sports fandom or community perception?
So here are my new vows: if there’s a radio or television show with an unbridled, consistent, negative and deconstructive tone, I’m done with it. If there’s a radio or television show that interacts with the customer (caller/viewer/reader) as if they’re wasting their time or an idiotic fool, I’m done with that, too.
I’m not saying this is what everyone needs to do and this isn’t a case of “if you don’t have something nice to say…” because that’s ridiculous. Criticism is part of life and part of good conversation and discussion. I’m not even saying I’m not or won’t be employed by a place with co-workers who fit the aforementioned descriptions. What I am saying is that it’s very easy to get into a bad place and I don’t need that coming close to influencing my daily goings-on.
This isn’t to start a comment war where folks bash specific people for what they do. In fact, please don’t. We can be above that. Perhaps this approach will stop my new program(s) from ever reaching super popular status. Maybe that’s why my shows haven’t worked in the past. I can handle that.
I’m not a great person. In fact, I’m got more improving to do now than at many other points in my life. I’m a horror with the way my jaw and vocabulary come unhinged when I’m in a locker room or certain company, and my temper isn’t the best. What I am, however, is committed to entertaining in a positive manner and treating others the way I want to be treated.
Honestly, if the only purpose this post serves is to go public and hold my feet to the “be a good dude” fire, it’ll work for me. In a sense, maybe I need to put pressure on myself to perform.
My friend Chris “The Bulldog” Parker paraphrased the way to play sports as “Work hard, have fun.” It works for life. I’m pretty sure I’ve got the working hard thing down and I have a lot more fun when I’m happy.
Email: nick@fcbuffalo.org
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You’ve always kept me tentertained. keep it up my man
This is a great post, I truly wish more people in the entertainment business would consider this approach. Nothing good comes from negativity. I recently have made a pledge to myself & on my blog to choose happy & remain positive. Life throws you some curve balls & some days just seem to suck. For me it’s a matter of not letting those days drag me down. Several times already I have had to remind myself choose happy & remain positive & for now it seems to working.
Good luck in whatever course your life takes in the future, having the right attitude can go a long towards your overall success.
very well put mr. mendola. I live in illinois (go cubs) and listen to internet radio in the car or at home to be able to catch buffalo sports. I can only get one station and I find myself getting so frustrated at one individual that I can no longer listen to the program. sports talk is suppose to be fun and entertaining and “at the same time” informative. people on the air need to realize this and also realize that buffalo is a 2 sport market that take place at the same time, so topics are going to be beaten to a pulp. we are not chicago, ny, bos, or even la (thank God) where they have more than the 4 main sports…diversify your knowledge of said sports if you are a radio host, be knowledgeable about the sport not just our team. I feel for you…wish I coulda got your show where I am. keep up the good work
Name names! Nick, you are the best thing going in the local media and there are lots of us excited to see what you next move is.
It’s unavoidable. I try to ignore ESPN, but I’m not going to just stop watching live sports. I try to ignore Cowherd and Schopp, but I listen to Rome and want sports updates which aren’t available anywhere else. I keep watching women’s tennis, then stuff like the Cincy final happens which is commonplace. And some jerks run their mouth about our 6th President.
I’ve accepted that I dislike nearly everyone and they’re wrong about everything.
I love the idea.
But, you do get callers with takes that aren’t the most intelligent in nature.
So what do we do when we get a caller that hasn’t even been paying attention or is making a point that appears to have taken no thought whatsoever?
That’s fair, but it’s also conceited to imagine someone’s been listening to the show for all X hours. Whatever though… if the customers keep coming back, they enjoy something about the product. I’m just here to say I’m bailing.
ive already done this with TV cable news completely. i ignore all of it. its all about who can say the most outlandish shit to get the most ratings. its EXACTLY like watching the WWF (or WWE if you still watch like me) i really hated it when you were on WECK and a Laura Ingram commercial would come on during your show. i would always turn on a CD in my car, because i refuse to listen to that…whats a good word to call her….i think ill go with “FUCKING RETARD” this time…and then miss half the next part of your show because of it.
anywho…miss you on the air. people at work totally thought i was weird for going out in my car on my lunch break and driving to McD’s parking lot and listening to your show with the windows down. (its the only parking lot within 5 miles of the Galleria Mall with a Tree to get under)
<3
Nick,
Here in Holland, NY, I could barely, barely, tune you in on WECK. Out here there are radios in every garage, barn, and tractor – lonely places where we need solid positive Buffalo talk. Buffalo is bigger that WECK’s signal was. It’s the city/symbol that most identify strongly with from here to Jamestown. It’s a shame WECKs signal practically stopped in East Aurora. I knew I shouldn’t but I turned it it 550 today, and ended up in the abyss that you described. I knew my feelings would be crapped on, but I did it anyway. To your point, you were really the only full alternative, counting NPR as a half. I can’t do WGR though, so the silence, or music, if I remember to charge my IPod. I’m sure you have a notion of the sort of weird sacred dialogue that you had/have with listeners/readers and you respect that (and like soccer). To reminisce, On good signal days, I could hear Bill’s show, your’s, Brad’s, and it was talk heaven for – was it less than a year?! Man that was good! Keep up the good work and positive attitude, and thanks for the good signal days. Hope you get a huge signal boost ASAP. Will be following anyway. Thank you sincerely.
SVR,
Thank you, sincerely. Believe me, I’m working on some cool things. Actually, I’d like to say they are done but unable to be announced — but never count peppers until they’ve bloomed. I really truly felt like we were doing something special or at least relatively unique. Then again, I suppose there’s a reason there’s only one true independent terrestrial station in the U.S.
Thanks for sticking around. And I don’t begrudge people for listening to the type of show I’m advocating they avoid. I just want to eliminate them from my life.
Nick