Earlier today I was informed that yours truly was a brief topic of conversation on WFAN’s Boomer & Carton show. I wish I was listening live, but was unavailable during the segment. I have enclosed the audio from WFAN’s website.

I want to thank the guys for coming to the site. To hear Boomer Esiason call NYBD “a good place to go” is humbling. With that said, let me address a few things from this segment.

First, I do not hate Craig Carton. The word “hate” is very strong and misused in this scenario. I have gone on record saying that I have problems with some of Carton’s actions during the show. First, he spends way too much time name dropping (aka jock sniffing). Just because you have an athlete’s number doesn’t mean you are buddies with them. I have numerous athletes’ numbers and I wouldn’t say any of them are friends. Maybe one I would call one an acquaintance, but that is even a strong word. He has ambushed people on the air (Tino Martinez, Jennifer Capriati), and often overshadows his strong interviewing skills with childish humor. There are times Carton can be downright funny (Mad Dog imitation, Jerry Manuel), but only when it goes with the flow. Unfortunately, his thirst to be the next Howard Stern forces him to concentrate more on bringing attention to himself throughout the broadcast. The B&C show is not about entertaining you, it’s about furthering his career. Not knowing anything about Chris Young shows you that he doesn’t spend enough time preparing for his job. Of course, he will remind you that he is on Spike TV, a show so bad that I don’t believe Noah’s Arcade would even be proud to sponsor it.

Next, B&C’s producer Al Dukes said that “half my blog” is dedicated to hating Carton. False. This site is, first and foremost, dedicated to my thoughts on New York baseball. As I say during my intro it’s my personal 24/7/365 digest of my opinions on New York baseball. Its unaffiliated and my own brand. Since I love radio and part of my brand is critiquing local broadcasters and how they are serving me. Remember, I am a customer. These reviews get a great response and come from a WFAN stakeholder (me).

Later in the segment I was mocked as they called me “Bobby Silva.”  Carton continued to say that he didn’t know who I was which is patently false. This isn’t the first time he has addressed me as he called me “Mike Saliva” on air during the summer, wrote this email to me back in 2008, and lifted audio, without citation, from my site when I appeared on an internet radio show with Mia Harris after she left the station. When reaching out to both Craig Carton and Mark Chernoff the response was silence. Why bother? I am a lowly “blogger in my Mom’s basement,” another shot that someone said Craig took at me today. Meanwhile I have probably built a stronger brand than some of the hosts on that station.

I have been doing this since 2007 while juggling a full time job, house, marriage, and family responsibilities. No, I don’t have a media background, but I believe my experience in sales gives me the skills necessary to create an interesting product. I often wake up at 5 AM to do work on the site since I have other responsibilities. Never has this passion interfered with my ability to work full time, or interact with my friends and family.

My contributors include a MILB writer, an author, and someone whose work has been featured on SNY, the New York Times, ESPN, and the New York Observer. What is a better way to break into the business? Write for a popular website like mine, or produce the overnight show at WFAN? From what I hear about how WFAN management treats them, and pays them, I think the choice is clear. I encourage more journalism majors to create your own brand, sell your own advertising, and reject the exploitation of Corporate America media. Make them come to you- they will eventually- don’t go to them and sell your soul. Get a real job while you do it to pay the bills. Change is coming and you will be better prepared than any of the old media guard. Even producer/actor Ed Burns is shunning the big companies and producing his projects independently.

What will come of NYBD? I don’t know. I would love to have my type of show on a WFAN or ESPN radio, and have will gladly come in for an interview with any program director. However, my ideas, work, and time don’t come cheap. Dealing with me would require a foray into a new type of radio. One that incorporates different type of guests, and with more educated opinion.

The economy isn’t primed to make independent media a full time job. I know I would be even further along if it were, but at the very least I made some side money, and most important, great friends.

I will gladly discuss this, or any other issues, with Carton live on the air. I have sent him an email with my information. I will await your call because, yes Carton, you know who I am.

Mike Silva is a freelance writer and radio host since March of 2007. This website is his own personal "digest" of New York Baseball He's also hosts NYBD Radio on Blog Talk Radio and 1240 AM WGBB. Check out his sports media commentary at www.sportsmediawatchdog.com. Check out his official website, www.mikesilvamedia.com

Mike Silva

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Tags: Boomer & Carton, Boomer Esiason, Craig Carton, WFAN