Since I listen to a great deal of talk radio throughout the day I tend to give myself permission to comment on this site about the performance of the station and/or host. Normally I am less than impressed with the quality of the product blasted through the airwaves. The typical talk radio host is either obnoxious (Craig Carton), pompous (Mike Francesa), uneducated about the topic (list goes on), or boring (Tony Paige). This probably will not change in the near future as long as the same unimaginative corporate hacks run radio stations. With that being said, there is one show you are missing that might very well be the best two hours of radio in New York: The Brandon Tierney Show.

Normally ESPN would be behind WFAN in garnering any kind of praise for New York sports talk. I have nothing against the station, as a matter of fact, I owe them a debt of gratitude. Back in 2004 I participated in a mentor program that was supported by Mike Thompson who was the old program director at ESPN. I was able to go to Penn Plaza and work right from the studios with Frank Bruno, who produce the Curtis and Kuby show. That is where I learned some of the basics of speaking on the radio. I even have my own ESPN mock update somewhere to prove it.

My issue with ESPN has been that the national nature of their brand makes it hard to connect with the New York sports fan. If I am ticked after a bad Jerry Manuel managerial move I don’t want to hear Michael Cooper break down the Lakers and Nuggets. You can’t blame ESPN, that is their business, but in order to succeed in New York you need a show that connects with the New York fan. With the Brandon Tierney show you have the antithesis of all that is wrong with radio. His two hour show combined what radio should be: opinion, good guests, and intelligent dialogue with other sports fans. The best part- he is one of us! A New York kid that grew up agonizing over the Knicks and Yankees and not just another sterilized voice from Syracuse University.

Brandon opened up his show talking about the Mets and provided an educated and fact based opinion on the group. His comparison of Isiah Thomas and Omar Minaya was actually quite clever and inspired this blog post. He had two solid guests (Jon Rothstein and Rick Barnes) and didn’t over do the calls. Here is the kicker, he treated, even the ignorant callers, with respect! The best part about the show is that it flowed from topic to topic. There was no beating Joba to the bullpen, Mets injuries, or the US Open to death. He kept me interested for two hours. That is not easy to accomplish in modern radio.

If there was a template for how I would want my show, or any radio product, to be produced and executed, the Brandon Tierney Show is just that. Despite my criticisms I know the limitations with my reach, product, and guest list. Obviously my scatching comments about radio management will neaver allow me the opportunity to be the next Joe Benigno. Regardless, I continue to try to grow an independent baseball show and make it as mainstream as possible. However, I do believe as a listener, that I deserve a better quality product from WFAN and ESPN. Obviously the New York sports talk radio monopoly doesn’t seem to care. Thankfully, someone at ESPN has stepped up and given the listeners a product that you can enjoy. The Brandon Tierney Show: what sports talk should be.

Tags: Brandon Tierney, ESPN, New York Knicks, New York Mets, New York Yankees