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.

........then you need to check this out!

Here's a hint....he will probably side with whomever can showcase "the human side of sports!"

The Fox Sports Bloggers Show

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/Fox_Sports_Bloggers_Show

MORE INFO TO COME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

.......then you need to check this out!!! 

 
 The "Fox Sports Bloggers Show"

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/Fox_Sports_Bloggers_Show

MORE INFO TO COME!!!

So I'm reading Lisa's blog on the Saban/Spurrier debate and it reminds me of the absolute passion I see in these blogs and in these discussions about college teams and college coaches. The things we debate about are the actual things (among millions of others) that Athletic Directors have to take into consideration when they hire a football coach.

There are some AD's out there doing a sweet job. Jeremy Foley at Florida brought in Meyer and Donovan and he has been rewarded for it. Mike Garrett is a big time AD at USC. Keeping Carroll (although I'm not sure how difficult it is) away from the NFL suitors and working in a fish bowl like LA is amazing. Frank Broyles at Arkansas is a legend. Dealing with the Mitch Mustain/Springdale High clique and hanging on to Houston Nutt when so many backers wanted him fired is incredible. Mal Moore at Alabama must have the patience of a saint and a stomach of iron. Any AD that can deal with the most insane Boosters and the most off the wall State Board of regents/Trustees is godlike. If this Saban thing works out, people will actually begin to believe Mal Moore is God.

So here it goes folks. Do you think you have what it takes to be an Athletic Director? Of course I realize none of us do but this could make for a fun and spirited debate.

Here's what I'd like to see;

1) Pick a school

2) Tell us who you would hire as the Head Coach and why.

3) If the coach you are choosing is an Offensive coach, pick a Defensive Coordinator or vice versa.

4) The only stipulation is that you can not choose the current coach /coordinator of the school you are the mythical AD for. You can choose NFL coaches if you'd like.

So for example:

I choose he University of Florida. I would choose Rich Rodriguez to be my Head Coach/OC and Greg Robinson (former DC at Texas and current Head Coach at Syracuse) to be my Defensive Coordinator.

So who would you choose Fox Sports Bloggers...........................................................................................

It's late and I want to go to sleep but after what I just witnessed in the Jazz - Warriors game (Jazz won, 127-117 in overtime)  I just want to fire off some thoughts about Derek Fisher.  What I witnessed tonight was a true portrait of courage and showed someone who has the heart of a champion and the character of an army.  This was a "Willis Reed" moment and something that will be discussed and remembered for a long time to come.

Just a quick recap for those that may not have seen the game and what happened.  Derek Fisher was excused from the team because his little girl has a rare form of eye cancer and she was having surgery this morning in New York.  According to the ABC affiliate in Salt lake City, she has a tumor behind here eye between her eye and her brain.  After the surgery, he, his wife and his daughter flew back to Salt Lake City.  When they landed, Fisher asked his wife is he could go to the game and she told him to go.  Little did Fisher know when he showed up in the third quarter that Deron Williams was in serious foul trouble and Dee Brown went out with what looked like a very serious neck injury.  So out of the locker room comes Fisher and the crowd just erupts.  Fisher comes on to play a crucial ten minutes, scores five points in overtime, nets three assists but most importantly he hit a huge three point shot, made a big stop on Baron Davis forcing a turnover and he provided such an emotional lift to his team.

After the game Fisher spoke about the rare form of cancer that his daughter had, his first public statements describing the illness.  He spoke of the importance of his family and his faith and at times looked like he was going to cry while Pam Oliver interviewed him but he held it together.  It was nice to see his former Warrior teammates come up and embrace him after the game and on the TNT post game show, Charles, Ernie and magic had nothing but good things to say about Derek.  God bless Derek Fisher and his family in their time of need.

The bottom line is this.  At a time when rotten, nasty, selfish and surly athletes seem to dominate the sports pages and our national discourse, it's such a refreshing breath of fresh air to see a genuinely good, humble, God fearing, family man have a night like tonight and provide inspiration to all of us that love sport.  As bloggers we spend so much time talking about Bonds and Clemens and Pacman and Moss and Schilling.  We dwell on shortcomings and failure.  We insult each others teams/colleges/conferences and as we are seeing right now on the Fox blogs, sometimes even each other.  Sometimes we go over the top (I know I have and I have an army of Notre Dame fans that will point that out to me) with what we say and what we write because we just don't really have something positive to write about.  I know I feel that way sometimes, I'm sure we all do.  That is why I will not forget anytime soon what I witnessed tonight.  That is why I've never felt this good writing my blog before.  I know my buddy steelerfan writes so eloquently about these types of things and does a much better job then I'm doing right now but if I may be so bold as to borrow a phrase from him...Derek Fisher, my friends, is a beautiful example of the human side of sports.