Let me get straight to the point folks. I'm starting an internet based radio show called the "Fox Sports Bloggers Show." The show will debut next Thursday, May 24, at 12:00 AM (I like to think of it as midnight on Wednesday. Please don't get confused) I am sorry about the late time but the folks at BlogTalkRadio.com will not let us schedule an earlier show until we have three or four shows under our belt. Let me tell you what I'm doing and why I'm doing it.

The angle for the show is that I want an internet radio show spotlighting and profiling Fox Sports Blogs and Bloggers. I've been to the blogs on other sites and I honestly believe we have the best sports bloggers out there. I've been through the programming guide and there isn't anyone else doing anything close to what I want to do.

Social media is fast becoming the cultural phenomenon of our generation . Blogging, social networking and video sharing are, according to BTR, "changing the face of the print and television industries." A network devoted to the development of social radio seems to be the next step and I really think BlogTalkRadio will be at the forefront of that movement. I don't think BlogTalkRadio is going to replace the conventional blog but I think BlogTalkRadio is a platform that extends the blog.

The conventional blog has limits. The blog does not allow for real-time interaction between the blogger and his or her readers or even with other bloggers. BlogTalkRadio extends the blog to allow such live interaction, as well as allow users to generate and consume content in audio format as well as in written format. As for why I'm doing it, I have a few reasons. First of all, I think it would be fun. I blog for enjoyment and I think this would be a fun extension of that. Secondly, I think bloggers are passionate sports fans and I think this is the next logical outlet for the passion. Lastly, as much as I love writing my blog, speaking and oral communication is a bit more in my wheel house. I spent four years in college doing sports broadcasts on our campus TV station with my roommate JW Stewart (from ESPN News). I hosted a radio show just outside of Chicago back in the mid 90's and most recently I spent a year doing the radio broadcasts for Stetson University's D-1 Basketball team. I stopped doing it when I began working on my PhD and I miss live radio and this gives me a chance to get back to doing something I love.

The First Show

There are a lot of sports talk shows out there, both in the terrestrial realm and on the internet, but nothing quite like this. I don't know of another show done by a blogger, with fellow bloggers, for bloggers and about what the bloggers write about and even a little about the bloggers themselves. This project though doesn't get off the ground without getting other bloggers involved. That's why I've secured three great bloggers for the first show:

Lisa4USC

Reverend Rhythm

1steelerfan1

While I have a lot of love for a lot of bloggers out there, I think the three of them are three of the most well known, well loved and well respected bloggers in the Fox Sports Blogging community. I listen to Colin Cowherd quite a bit and he always discusses what "moves the dial" when it comes to talk radio. The three them definitely move the dial. They are frequent holders of the "BOTD" and they receive a large number of responses on their blogs. They are fresh, opinionated, passionate and above all else, they know your sports. My long term vision is to get a lot of bloggers involved as guests, listeners who call in or IM the show or even as folks who may want to take over the reigns of the show for a night (I really do view the show as a collective project and not just my project which is why I named the show "The Fox Bloggers radio Show" and not "The Frank Irizarry show") so if you are interested in being a guest on subsequent shows, let me know.

I would like to stress that this show is not affiliated with Fox Sports and not endorsed by Fox Sports. The opinions on these shows are those of the bloggers and not of Fox Sports.