Dino Costa on his problems with Russo; wants SiriusXM to give him larger platform

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Part 2

“Why did you call Chris Russo a ‘Has been’ on his own show?” I said to Dino Costa. “Most people wouldn’t do that.”

“Well, you’re right,” Costa replied. “I’m not most people.”

You won’t get much argument on that point, especially from Russo. He is a regular target on the Dino Costa Show, which airs evenings from 7-11 p.m. on SiriusXM’s Mad Dog Radio.

Yes, it is Russo’s station, making Costa’s diatribes against him seem even more bizarre. It came to a peak of sorts a few weeks ago. Costa was irate that Russo didn’t defend him when a caller on Russo’s show labeled Costa as “a racist.”

The following day, Costa appeared on Russo’s show to air things out, but the conversation didn’t last long. Costa started by calling Russo a “has been,” and it deteriorated from there.

Costa’s volley insulted Russo’s fans, who called to demand that he get rid of him. Russo, though, replied with his standard stance. Despite what Costa might say about him, Russo thinks he is a talented host.

“He’s compelling,” said Russo many times on the air. By the way, Russo did not take me up on my invitation to discuss Costa and Mad Dog Radio.

There’s no denying Costa has been good for Russo’s and Mad Dog Radio’s business, attracting considerable attention for a non-prime time radio slot. Costa thinks he deserves a bigger and better platform. Perhaps even a The Dino Channel. Not surprisingly, he isn’t shy about talking about it.

“I’m not content to be under the Mad Dog umbrella for a much longer period of time,” Costa said. “I want to do my own thing.”

In part 2 of our interview, Costa discusses Russo and his future on SiriusXM.

How would you describe your relationship with Russo?

It’s a professional relationship. We do two different styles of radio. Chris does his show the way that is effective for him. I do a show that is effective for what I do. That’s where it begins and that’s where it ends. I don’t want to talk too much about Chris.

But you talk about Russo all the time.

I will say that Chris’ transition from local radio icon to a national sports host has not been as smooth as it could have been. Often times, I question his passion and commitment to do the show, considering the major investment SiriusXM made in him. All you have to do is listen to his show. So often, he’ll say he didn’t see this or that he didn’t know that.

A lot of times I’ll try to tweak him to try to light a fire underneath him. To try to get him to dig deeper to provide a show that is more compelling than it is.

He’s taken shots at me. Each one of us believes we bring certain value to the channel.

Do you want Russo to be more like you?

You can’t make somebody they’re not. I wouldn’t expect Chris to do my kind of show the same way he can’t expect me to do his kind of show.

Chris’ personality is not like my personality. Chris has an insatiable need to be liked. If you ask Chris that, he will agree that is a representative statement. I don’t care if I’m liked. I don’t care if you loathe me. I’m doing the show for my audience, but I’m not going to allow my audience to program my show. This is my show. These are my comments. I back it up and I’ll tell you why.

Do you ever regret what you say about Russo? Was calling him a “has been” a little harsh?

Mmm. I think it was appropriate at the time I said it. You’re right, I was upset.

He does not comprehend me. He doesn’t listen to my show. He only hears snippets. The one thing I can’t stand is that when Russo hears a 15-20 second(clip) and comes to the conclusion that this is what defines me. That this is all that I’m about. He has no concept of the range and depth that I have. Quite often, he takes the word of people who are whispering in his ear about me.

If you’ve got a question, call me. Or at least take the time to listen to the damn thing before you make a comment about it.

Where do you see your show going?

The time has come to feature me in a much larger role. I’m providing a product that needs to be exploited more. I need to be vaulted to the top of the SiriusXM food chain. Frankly, there’s not another sports talk personality on the channel that can reach the  listeners with the passion I have. I am big money waiting to be made by SiriusXM Radio.

Do you want an earlier time slot? More promotion. Your own channel?

Well, yes, all of those things.

(The evening hours) are not going to fit my lifestyle much longer. I have a family with two young children.

I had a SiriusXM executive tell me that I took a vast wasteland (with the evening hours) and created something that they never had before. I was happy to do it and prove myself. Clearly, I want to get to an earlier part of the day.

I would love the challenge of being sent to the worst performing channel we have. I said, ‘Give me five hours and watch what I can do there.’ If it means my own channel, fine, put my name on it. And if it doesn’t have my name on it, but it gives me the ability to create something earlier in the day, fine. I’m willing to do all of that.

I don’t think we as a company take advantage of the enormous freedom that we have. I find this incredible. Beyond my show, the most risk-taking programs aren’t the three other shows we have during the day (on Mad Dog). The most risk-taking shows are the back-ups and guys who work on the weekend. They’re more prone to push the envelope and speak their mind and not worry about somebody getting angry at them.

Do you want to leave Mad Dog Radio?

They’ve been great to me here. I couldn’t be Dino Costa with their support, and it’s been overwhelming.

There is a Mad Dog brand, and I am not emblematic of the Mad Dog brand. Quite honestly, it might be better off for them to move me to another station. Chris has had to put up with entire shows where the theme of the show is me. He’s taking complaints. ‘How do you put up with this guy?’ I feel bad for him in a certain way.

I make it clear how hungry I am to do my own thing. My commentary is often tinged with a mindset that would tell anyone, including those at SiriusXM management, I’m not content to be under the Mad Dog umbrella for a much longer period of time. I want to do my thing.

So where do you see it all going for you in the future?

I’d love to do a TV show on a network like HBO. Do something like Bill Maher does from the sports angle. I think there’s a TV show out there for me.

I’m so bullish about what’s going on at SiriusXM. There is ceiling here so high that I don’t think we can see it yet. So I’d love to be there for the next 20 years. SiriusXM would be foolish not to look at my hunger, passion and drive and not give me a more prominent role.

I love SiriusXM. I want SiriusXM to love me a little bit more.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tiki Barber, Dana Jacobson get fresh starts as part of new morning team for CBS Sports Radio

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Time for fresh starts for Tiki Barber and Dana Jacobson.

Barber and Jacobson, along with Brandon Tierney, will be the morning drive team (6-9 a.m. ET) for the new CBS Sports Radio network, beginning Jan. 2.

After retiring from the Giants in 2006, Barber joined the Today Show as a contributor. His contract wasn’t renewed in 2010. Last year, he even considered a comeback to the NFL.

Jacobson, meanwhile, spent nearly a decade in various roles at ESPN before departing last year.

Now they will be together for the next stage of their broadcast careers.

Here’s the rundown on Tierney from CBS:

Brooklyn native Brandon Tierney makes a return to his hometown in joining CBS Sports Radio.  He currently hosts The Drive with Tierney and Bucher, broadcast weekdays in San Francisco on 95.7 The Game.  Prior to moving west, Tierney was a popular staple at 1050 ESPN Radio in New York City for nearly nine years.

In addition to his hosting duties at ESPN Radio, Tierney also anchored New York Knicks pre-game, half-time and post-game shows for three seasons and occasionally served as play-by-play announcer for the station’s Knicks broadcasts. His game experience also includes serving as lead analyst for St. John’s basketball for six seasons.

His broadcast career also includes experience in radio and television including the syndicated Sports Fan Radio Network, Sports Radio 1130 The Fan in Detroit, SportsNet New York’s (SNY) The WheelHouse, and Red Storm Report with St. John’s head coaches Steve Lavin and Norm Roberts. In addition, he was a frequent contributor to ESPN’s Outside the Lines.

 Tierney is a New York Emmy award-winner and was named to the first annual Heavy Hundred of Sports Talk by the editors of Talkers Magazine.  He was graduated from Marist College with a degree in journalism while also lettering in baseball.

And here’s the weekday lineup for CBS Sports Radio:

6:00-9:00AM: Tiki Barber, Brandon Tierney and Dana Jacobson

9:00AM-12:00Noon: John Feinstein

12:00Noon-3:00PM: Jim Rome

3:00-6:00PM: Doug Gottlieb

 

 

Q/A with Dino Costa: Mad Dog host says his show offers alternative to ‘homogenized garbage’ of sports talk radio

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First of two parts:

At one point during our interview, Dino Costa said, “I don’t want to sound braggadocious.”

I’m thinking, he doesn’t want to sound braggadocious? This is a guy who has been telling me for the better part of an hour that he is the best thing going on sports talk radio. And the vast of bulk of programming in the format, he says, is a bunch of “homogenized garbage.”

Then again, listeners of The Dino Costa Radio Show wouldn’t be surprised.

His evening show on the Mad Dog Radio channel on SiriusXM (7-11 p.m. ET) is the sports talk version of UFC: Anything goes. Supremely confident and “fearless,” Costa has a strong opinion about everything and anything, and that includes slamming the guy whose nickname is the title of the station, Chris Russo.

Recently, Costa called Russo “a has been.” And that was on Russo’s show.

Costa, 48, has had a curious life and career. He didn’t even break into the business until he was 33. It is all well-documented in a piece by Michael Hastings in Men’s Journal. Hastings has a great description of Costa’s style:

Costa makes Colin Cowherd or Skip Bayless, two of ESPN’S best-known Angry Male alphas, seem mild and  reasonable. Compared with them, Costa is more like a militia leader broadcasting direct from Ruby Ridge under siege, an army of liberals blasting away from the other side of the barbed wire.

The fact that Men’s Journal did a story on an evening sports talk host on satellite radio shows the impact Costa is having in the market since he joined Mad Dog in 2009. And since it hasn’t come easy for him, and since he wants a much bigger slice of the pie, if not the whole thing, he feels compelled to blow his horn as if it were an air raid siren.

Drawing the inevitable sports radio comparsions to Rush Limbaugh (“a huge compliment”), Costa can be extremely polarizing and hardly is for everyone. But despite all of Costa’s personal slams, even Russo concedes “he’s a helluva host.”

Here’s Part 1 of my Q/A with Costa in which he takes apart the sports talk radio industry.

How would you explain your show to people who haven’t heard it before?

I can answer in a way that talks about the industry of sports talk radio. On balance, all sports talk radio sounds exactly the same. There is a status quo that underwhelms me. It’s homogenized garbage that deals with the lowest common denominator. The predictability is frightening. The same subject, same comments every day. It stays in the same lane and drones on and on.

I’m amazed at people who think this is good sports talk radio. I find most people involved in the format are completely bankrupt from a creative point of view.

You look at the people they are bringing in for (the new CBS and NBC Sports Radio Networks). There isn’t a compelling 3-4 hour block in there. It’s all the same. If I didn’t know any better, I’d think there is some kind of conspiracy out there.

I heard you once devote the bulk of your show ripping Jim Rome. He’s wildly successful in sports talk radio. Why would you have issues with him?

Jim got in on the ground floor when sports talk radio was starting to flourish. His show is highly overproduced. There is a significant amount of authenticity that is lacking. I find his show to be scripted and then he turns it over to a bunch of callers he calls “clones.” How is this compelling radio? It’s the same stuff every day.

What about Mike and Mike at ESPN Radio? They do big numbers.

I have great respect for them, but that is an incredibly over produced show. It’s broken up into segments, and they have 10-11 guests, most of them the same people from ESPN. It’s the same stuff over and over again. They never say anything controversial. They stay within the politically correct line.

There’s just a lack of courage in this business. Everything is a carbon copy. What I do is distinctly different from the status quo.

OK what do you do? Let’s gets back to the original question of how would you describe your show?

I present a completely different look and feel to sports talk radio that is absent anywhere else. The show is unique in that it attracts more than the hardcore sports fan. I’ve had people tell me, ‘I don’t listen to sports radio, but I listen to your show.’ That’s the biggest compliment I can get.

My show transcends the craft of sports talk radio. I resonate with people. It doesn’t matter if you love or hate what I say, the bottom line, people listen to me. The show is impossible to ignore.

SiriusXM provides a forum for the most liberated kind of sports talk. There’s no calibrator. Nothing is taboo. As a talk show host, I find it incredibly liberating.

It’s about two hours before your show. What is on the agenda for tonight?

I don’t know. It’s completely organic. I have some thoughts that I want to discuss in my mind, but it is a stream of conscious kind of show. This is a national show. In order to do it properly, I read up to 100 newspapers per day. I’m constantly taking notes.

I could go an hour without taking calls. I don’t have many guests. I get emails from people saying, ‘Stop with the guests. We want to hear what you have to say.’ I’m a different beast. I’m way outside the box.

If your show and presentation is so unique, why has it taken you this long to get on this stage? You’ve had several stops along the way.

Good question. In terms of style and format, there’s been a great reluctance by upper management to embrace somebody as opinionated and irreverent as I can be. I’ve talked to many people in the industry about this question. One person, who I respect, told me, ‘With your show, you put people at risk in upper management.’

Programmers aren’t intelligent. Oh, they’re intelligent in selecting people who won’t have people complaining about them. They make the same predictable hires, and it’s all so vanilla.

You take a wildcard like me, you’ve got to be willing to let the phone ring or field the complaints.

You had to try out for your show on Mad Dog and weren’t even hired initially. Again if you’re so good, why didn’t you get hired right away?

That was a big mistake on their part. I give (program director Steve Torre) a lot of credit. He recognized that I could be something big. I’m going to be the best hire SiriusXM ever made.

You did meet with NBC. How did that go?

I (also) met with ESPN three times. The fit at NBC wasn’t a good one. It would have been a truncated relationship.

When I met with NBC, I asked, ‘What are you going to do that is different to distinguish yourself from ESPN and CBS? Is adding Dan Patrick going to be your big move?’

They said they needed people who are representative of their brand. What does that mean? Does that I mean I can’t criticize the commissioner of the NFL? They told me I would have to reposition my commentary within the guidelines of acceptable criticism. I couldn’t do that. I refuse to let some kingmaker try to define me. I’d have to castrate my show to provide them with the same corporate radio I often complain about.

How do you envision your future?

I do want a bigger platform that allows me to become the dominant voice in sports talk radio in America from a national standpoint. I think it’s possible.

Part 2: Costa discusses his relationship and criticism of Chris Russo and his desire for a dramatically increased role at SiriusXM. Perhaps even a Dino station.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sunday books: Grueling life of football player at West Point; author Q/A

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Army is 2-9 this year. That would count as a losing season, right?

But if you read Joe Drape’s new book, Soldiers First: Duty, Honor, Country & Football at West Point, losing is the last word you’d apply to the cadets. The New York Times reporter spent the 2011 season getting the inside story of Army football, and what the cadets have to do through to play the game.

As Drape writes, a grueling three-hour practice can feel like a respite compared to the academic and physical demands the cadets face at West Point. And as he concludes at the end of the book, there’s still only one game that matters for Army: Navy.

Here’s my Q/A with Drape.

What was your motivation for writing the book?

My son, Jack, gave me the idea one night while we were watching the
Notre Dame-Army game. I’m an Irish fan – I had an uncle who taught
there and my oldest brother graduated from Notre Dame. But as soon as
Jack saw the pregame show about Army with the cadets marching in and
soldiers parachuting in with the game balls he was sold. His favorite
toys were those little green Army men and he said, “Let’s go see the good guys, Dad.” I’m a Southern Methodist University graduates and saw
what the best football team money could buy looked like. I also had
covered my share of college football scandals. So I guess I was
looking to restore my faith in college athletics.

How much time did you spend at West Point and how much access did you get to coaches/players?

I spent a full year up there and truly had the run of the place. I was
able to go to classes, see them at their summer training missions, see
them in barracks and attend the ceremonies like Reception Day and
Branch night. I knew very little about the United States Military
Academy and needed and wanted to take my time understanding how it
worked.

I wanted to see what the Cadets were up against. I also wanted
everyone to get used to seeing me so they’d open up. Football-wise, I
was at practice and meetings as well as in the locker rooms and
sidelines during games. It was really a learning experience for me.

What stood out most for you in writing this book?

How much stress the cadets are under and how much is expected of them. They take 24 credit hours of an Ivy caliber education each semester. They are training as soldiers every minute of every day year round. They truly are America’s best and brightest. No one gets a break and that includes the athletes.

They are held to the same standard as their 4,000 fellow cadets and
you really can’t say that about any other college football team. The
easiest thing a varsity Cadet does is play football.

I was struck about the Cadets’ mindset, especially how they were
disappointed about the U.S. pulling out of Iraq. What does that say
about them?

I was struck by it as well. It says a couple of things – that they know what their destination is and are committed to getting there: becoming Lieutenants in the Army and leading men into battle. It also says that they remain 18 to 22 year old kids who feel immortal.

How gut-wrenching was the Navy game?

Ask players at either academy and they will tell you that they play a one game season. Army & Navy can both come in 0-10, but their success will be judged by who gets to “Sing Second” – the moment when the victors gather in front of their fellow cadets or middies and sing the alma mater joyously in victory. Army hadn’t done so in 10 years, and they came close last time.

Would you want your son to go to Army?

I would be the proudest father in the world if Jack went to West Point, and at the same time, I’d be the most petrified. And I know that is the way every parent of a cadet fields – pride in their son or daughter’s commitment and fear knowing that the odds are overwhelming their going to experience combat. Ninety West Point grads have died in the war against terrorism since 9/11.

Lisa Olson wins AWSM pioneer award

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A big honor for the Sporting News on AOL columnist.

From the AWSM newsletter:

“I had no idea and was obviously incredibly, incredibly honored,” said Olson, who was coping with the after-effects of colossal storm Sandy when notified. “I emailed (my mom) to tell her not that I didn’t have power or anything, but to tell her I won the Pioneer Award.”

“Few people in the world have resumes as illustrious and international as the one Lisa Olson has compiled over the course of her career,” said Stef Loh, AWSM president. “Lisa started her career at a time when sports media was a very different, much less welcoming environment for women, and her longevity in the industry and body of work is testament to the impact she’s had in the field of sports journalism. As all our past winners have done, she paved the way for women in sports, and for that, we say thank you. The sports world would be a different place without her.”

Of course, for all the stories and columns that she has written, Olson always will be remembered for the harrassment incident in the New England Patriots locker room in 1990, which became a major national story.

“Lisa’s body of work speaks for itself,” said one AWSM member who nominated her, “and her battle for access in the locker room to cover the Patriots forced the … NFL to make changes. Her life changed because of what she had to go through. Mary Garber has been honored with APSE’s highest lifetime achievement, the Red Smith Award. I can’t think of another print/web journalist who would be deserving of being honored with an award named after Mary Garber.”

 

Saturday flashback: Perspective on Ohio State-Michigan from Keith Jackson

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As a child of the Midwest growing up in the 1970s, there only was one game that mattered: Ohio State-Michigan. Woody vs. Bo.

Both men are long gone, but their impact remains. To put you in the mood for college football’s best rivalry (Sorry, Alabama-Auburn), here’s a classic opening from Keith Jackson for the 100th game in the series in 2003.

Notre Dame generates biggest ratings on NBC since 2005

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When Notre Dame wins, the networks win.

ABC should be in a for huge rating Saturday night with Notre Dame’s big game against USC. The network already scored with Irish games at Oklahoma and Boston College.

Meanwhile, NBC is singing the praises of Brian Kelly. From the network:

NBC Sports’ coverage of Notre Dame Football concluded this past Saturday, culminating with the network scoring its most-watched season in seven years and the university ranking No. 1 in the nation.

The Fighting Irish, who rank No. 1 in the BCS, and are one win away (at USC this weekend) from competing in the BCS Championship Game, averaged 4.4 million viewers and a 2.8 household rating for its seven games on NBC, up 69% and 67%, respectively, versus last year (2.6 million viewers and a 1.7 household rating). The 4.4 million average viewers this year is the best for Notre Dame Football on NBC since 2005 (5.2 million), while the 2.8 rating is the best since 2006 (3.0).

Notre Dame’s Sept. 22 primetime win, 13-6, against rival Michigan was the most-watched and highest-rated game of the year on NBC (6.4 million viewers and a 4.0 household rating), followed closely by Notre Dame’s triple-overtime, 29-26, victory over Pittsburgh on Nov. 3 (6.1 million viewers and a 3.8 household rating).

The 2012 season is the first since 2005 in which three Notre Dame home games averaged at least 5.0 million viewers (Michigan – 6.4 million; Pittsburgh – 6.1 million; Stanford – 5.1 million). Last season there were zero such games.

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Problem solving: Sports editors to meet with NCAA over coverage issues

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It hasn’t been an easy year for a reporter covering college football in the Pac 12. The USC beat writer for the Los Angeles Daily News was banned from practice and had a game credential revoked for reporting on a player injury.

The Seattle Times has had run-ins with Washington and Washington State.

ASPE President Gerry Ahern said he wants to address these issues and more with the NCAA. In a post on the ASPE site, he said:

“There have been a lot of brushfires this year that are new, and these issues will continue to happen unless we as sports editors and sports management step up,” said Ahern, who is director of news content for USA Today Sports Media Group. “They want to control the information at universities not just for traffic, but as competitors. “We have to ensure as best we can the access that our reporters need to do their jobs.”

Seattle Times sports editor Don Shelton talked about his paper’s difficulties with Washington.

Shelton said his paper is dealing with similar issues in his department’s coverage of the University of Washington and Washington State, both of which only have a few practices a week, for only a few hours at a time, and have strict policies preventing reporting on strategy or injuries.

“You get certain players on certain days, and if they invite the right person, you might get the player you want, but it’s hard to plan stories out in advance,” he said.

Additionally, “if someone gets taken off the field in an ambulance, you can’t report it, which basically forces a reporter to break a rule to do his job.”

His newspaper also ran into problems with its live game coverage, and the Seattle Times often found itself at odds with the Husky media department.

“We started doing live chats almost every day at noon and had beat reporters do it, and the University of Washington liked it, so they did it themselves then stopped the Seattle Times, [saying] it infringed on broadcasting rights,” Shelton said. “It’s not a partnership at all; it’s definitely an antagonistic relationship.”

It’s a good move for Ahern and APSE to meet with NCAA officials about these issues. However, I’m not sure how much will be accomplished since unlike the NFL, the NCAA doesn’t dictate media policies for schools and conferences. But it still should be good to have the discussion.

 

Rich Eisen special on NFL Network: Mixing celebrities and NFL; Who knew Rainn Wilson was a Seattle fan?

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Football and celebrities. Quite a concept.

Rich Eisen mines that territory regularly on his weekly podcasts. It gave him a great excuse to hang out with Olivia Munn for a show over the summer.

Eisen will do a TV version Friday on the NFL Network. Alas no Olivia Munn, but he will have Hank Azaria reviewing the history of the NFL as Jim Brockmire.

Here are the details:

NFL Network will air The Rich Eisen Thanksgiving Special on Friday, November 23 at 10:00 PM ET, featuring conversations with some of the biggest names in the world of sports and entertainment. Eisen, host of the Emmy-nominated NFL GameDay Morning pregame show and NFL Thursday Night Football, will delve into a variety of pop-culture subjects in a robust, spontaneous dialog with his guests.

Over one hour, The Rich Eisen Thanksgiving Special will expand beyond the prism of the NFL as it welcomes in some of Hollywood’s most notable names from both television and movies:

  • Actor and Philadelphia Eagles fan, Bradley Cooper – The Hangover I and II, and currently starring in Silver Linings Playbook
  • Actor, comedian, and Atlanta  Falcons fan Chris Tucker – Rush Hour, Friday, and currently starring in Silver Linings Playbook
  • Actor and Seattle Seahawks fan Rainn  Wilson – best known as Dwight Schrute from the TV series The Office
  • Actor and New England Patriots fan John Slattery – best known as Roger Sterling from the TV series Mad Men, and currently starring in In Our Nature
  • Actor and Kansas City Chiefs fan Eric Stonestreet – best known as Cameron Tucker from the TV series Modern Family
  • Actor Hank Azaria – will review history of the NFL on Thanksgiving as the one and only Legend in the Booth Jim Brockmire

 The televised podcast will also feature prominent guests from the NFL:

  • Hall-of-Famer quarterback and current Denver Broncos Executive Vice      President of Football Operations John Elway
  • The NFL’s current leading rusher, Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson