“The biggest pet peeve, honestly–I don’t think anything is a close second–is when they have someone with a degree of power and authority on their show, and they make the conscious decision to kiss ass.” – Dave Zirin

Really excited for today’s Podcast About Sports Radio.  My guest is longtime columnist and SiriusXM Sports Radio host Dave Zirin.

I actually stumbled onto Dave just a couple of years ago after watching him spar on ESPN’s Outside The Lines with a couple of other well-respected sports writers and talkers.  I must have been the very last guy to find out who he was.

Oh, and on that day on Outside The Lines, I think I disagreed with nearly everything he said. However, I can’t even remember the topic of his appearance, which goes to show you that I didn’t really care whether he was right or wrong.  I just found his approach to sports interesting.

Since then, I’ve been following Dave’s work and I find his approach to sports topics very appealing.

As many people who have worked with me will tell you, I am far more interested in the psychology of sports (Dave calls it the “politics” of sports, which might be more accurate).  Don’t get me wrong, I’m interested in the X’s and O’s and “how” it happened.  But I’m far more interested in “why” it happened.  What might the people involved had been thinking.  What are they thinking now after the result of their actions?  What are the social repercussions? Dave goes even deeper. I love it.

Dave talks about his New York childhood and where his love of sports began and brings us to the present as well, including the evolution of the ever-polarizing Mike Francesa.

Check out more of the show notes below to get a feel for what you will hear in this edition of The PASR.

I hope you enjoy and, as always, leave a comment to get out anything that this podcast had you thinking along the way.

INSIDE THIS EPISODE…

• Dave talks about how he got the bug for sports radio, listening to WFAN.
• Dave describes his weekly show, “Edge of Sports: Where Sports And Politics Collide.”
• Dave talks about the one topic that came to mind where everyone on the show was just the hottest.
• Dave, a writer by trade, shares his story about how he first made the trek over to radio and the thrill it gave him.
• Dave talks about how he curses writing, but loves the permanence of it, compared to radio.
• Dave ponders who is great at sports talk radio today.
• Dave talks about his annoyance with hosts that bow at the altar of interviewees with power and authority.
• “If you really want to know if you have chains on, try to move.”
• Dave wants sports radio hosts to look at it more as an “act of public good.”
• Dave explains the appeal of Mike Francesa.

LINKS AND RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE…

FROM THE GUEST:

• Dave’s Twitter: @EdgeOfSports
• Dave’s website: edgeofsports.com

FROM ZACH:

• GoDaddy: I’m a proud user of GoDaddy and it’s ease of use and low cost are one of the main reasons I like it. What if I could offer you your own website address and hosting for just ONE DOLLAR A MONTH? GET IT HERE RIGHT NOW.  Go to aboutsportsradio.com/getgodaddy.
  (Disclaimer: I do get a small commission if you purchase through this link.  I only promote products that I have used and think my audience will benefit from.  There’s no extra cost to you, but it does help keep this labor of love alive if you purchase through my link. Thanks for doing it.)

THANKS FOR LISTENING!

Thanks for joining me again this week. Have something you’d like to share with me or Dave? Leave a note in the comment section below!

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