Sunday, July 14, 2019
Re: Thoughts On Women's Soccer
Apparently, I'm not the only one who thinks this way. (Disclaimer: The video below contains some vulgar language..."let the (viewer) beware")
THIS is how it's done. GREAT JOB, and kudos, Coach!
Career Frustrations (or, Am I Already Hitting A Mid-Life Crisis?)
Greetings once again from the land of the living dead, aka Connecticut. Today, let's talk about jobs, and the struggle to succeed in one's chosen profession.
If you've been following me for a while, then you know that I love music, radio, and the media scene in general. Operating my small (Part 15, FCC authorized) radio station is an activity that I thoroughly enjoy, and which brings me a lot of happiness.
Nevertheless, the daily grind of broadcasting can be quite difficult to deal with. Obviously, radio is a very tough and competitive business. If you don't already have some radio experience, most prospective employees won't talk to you. Having applied for many a choice position, I have first-hand knowledge of this situation. Unless you really know your stuff (I think I do), it can be very challenging to even "get your foot in the door".
Allow me to describe the current state of southern Connecticut radio. I would love to be on the air at a decent-sized station, doing either music or a local political show. However, the current industry climate leaves me with almost no opportunity for this.
A non-political music show would fit splendidly on Bridgeport's WPKN. Alas, it seems that the political divide has reared its ugly head. The station is VERY left-leaning politically; so much so that, being a conservative (in terms of political beliefs), I can't get management to even pick up the phone for me (more on that later). As such, any possibility of doing a show on WPKN is out the window. "Diversity" and "free speech" my foot!
Fairfield University's WVOF would be another option for my programming. For a college radio station, "the Voice of Fairfield" has very good signal coverage. The problem here is in trying to contact station staff. It's usually pretty easy to contact someone with the university; for WVOF, not so much. Management doesn't seem to like to reply to e-mails, and good luck reaching a human on the station's staff through the phone. This makes any show development very much a losing battle.
What about other stations, do you ask? Don't even try to get anything started with Sacred Heart University's WSHU, as they don't seem to air local programming. Staples High School (in Westport) has an award-winning station in WWPT. Nevertheless, a show on this station is not possible either, since you must be a Staples student to be allowed on air. WGCH is an excellent small station out of Greenwich (and where my friend Rob Adams works). This notwithstanding, my chances of getting on the air at this station seem slim at best (although I'd appreciate any positive references you could make). Then there's WICC out of Bridgeport, which having a show on is (to coin a phrase) an "I don't think so" type of situation.
As you can see, opportunities regarding radio in Connecticut are quite few and far between. Realizing this, I have started to question whether I am cut out for the radio industry. As shocking as this may be, I am rapidly approaching my fortieth birthday. This September, I will turn thirty-eight years old. Perhaps I'm simply having an early version of a mid-life crisis, but a few questions are starting to pop up, such as:
If you've been following me for a while, then you know that I love music, radio, and the media scene in general. Operating my small (Part 15, FCC authorized) radio station is an activity that I thoroughly enjoy, and which brings me a lot of happiness.
Nevertheless, the daily grind of broadcasting can be quite difficult to deal with. Obviously, radio is a very tough and competitive business. If you don't already have some radio experience, most prospective employees won't talk to you. Having applied for many a choice position, I have first-hand knowledge of this situation. Unless you really know your stuff (I think I do), it can be very challenging to even "get your foot in the door".
Allow me to describe the current state of southern Connecticut radio. I would love to be on the air at a decent-sized station, doing either music or a local political show. However, the current industry climate leaves me with almost no opportunity for this.
A non-political music show would fit splendidly on Bridgeport's WPKN. Alas, it seems that the political divide has reared its ugly head. The station is VERY left-leaning politically; so much so that, being a conservative (in terms of political beliefs), I can't get management to even pick up the phone for me (more on that later). As such, any possibility of doing a show on WPKN is out the window. "Diversity" and "free speech" my foot!
Fairfield University's WVOF would be another option for my programming. For a college radio station, "the Voice of Fairfield" has very good signal coverage. The problem here is in trying to contact station staff. It's usually pretty easy to contact someone with the university; for WVOF, not so much. Management doesn't seem to like to reply to e-mails, and good luck reaching a human on the station's staff through the phone. This makes any show development very much a losing battle.
What about other stations, do you ask? Don't even try to get anything started with Sacred Heart University's WSHU, as they don't seem to air local programming. Staples High School (in Westport) has an award-winning station in WWPT. Nevertheless, a show on this station is not possible either, since you must be a Staples student to be allowed on air. WGCH is an excellent small station out of Greenwich (and where my friend Rob Adams works). This notwithstanding, my chances of getting on the air at this station seem slim at best (although I'd appreciate any positive references you could make). Then there's WICC out of Bridgeport, which having a show on is (to coin a phrase) an "I don't think so" type of situation.
As you can see, opportunities regarding radio in Connecticut are quite few and far between. Realizing this, I have started to question whether I am cut out for the radio industry. As shocking as this may be, I am rapidly approaching my fortieth birthday. This September, I will turn thirty-eight years old. Perhaps I'm simply having an early version of a mid-life crisis, but a few questions are starting to pop up, such as:
- Do I have my sights set too high, so to speak? Am I aiming for something that I can't hit?
- Is what I do good enough for a regular radio spot?
- Is it worth it to continue to pursue a job in broadcasting? Should I give up, and do something else? (This is the most important question of all)
These are questions that I haven't found the answer to as of yet. You would think that, after eighteen years of paying dues, someone would want to take a chance on me. Alas, that has not happened. So it is, seemingly, that I have a bit of thinking to do.
Over the next week or so, I'm going to carefully consider how I wish to move forward (not saying that I'm giving things up, just pondering). Right now, I have no idea what I'm going to do; to quote my father, I'll "cross that bridge when I get to it". Let the mid-life crisis commence!
Sunday, July 7, 2019
Thoughts On Women's Soccer
If you've been following the latest sports news, then you probably know that the US Women's Soccer team is in the World Cup. They are scheduled to play the Netherlands in the gold medal match later today.
On any other occasion, this patriotic American would be rooting hard for our ladies, and chanting "USA". However, I cannot bring myself to do that for this match; indeed, I almost hope that the Netherlands will win. Let me explain why this is.
In case you didn't get the memo, the national team's Megan Rapinoe has declared that, should the US team win, she would not be visiting "the fu***** White House" (it is an accepted custom for the president to invite championship teams to the residence). The midfielder (and national team CAPTAIN) has also said she will "probably never" salute/stand for the national anthem again. I'm sorry (well, actually not), but this is not a winning attitude, and it doesn't fly with me.
Let me break this down for you; I've always been of the opinion that, regardless of their political beliefs, athletes should show respect for the country that they represent. By refusing to stand for the flag and anthem, Ms. Rapinoe has shown a deep disrespect for the United States. Not only that, she is the captain of the national team; thus, she should exude leadership by example. Rapinoe has failed to do this.
Digressing for a moment, do you want to know why quarterback Colin Kaepernick can't find a job anywhere in professional football? The reason is not because of the color of his skin, or because he is being "blacklisted" (as he so often claims). It is because he is a disrespectful, snot-nosed punk of a person...and he doesn't have much game anyway. Kaepernick should consider himself damn lucky to have any sort of deal with Nike (burn their shoes anyway). Hey Colin, "put that in your pipe and smoke it"!
Anyways, back to the matter at hand. Myself, I've never coached any type of sports team. Nonetheless, if I was a coach, I would lay down the law. One of my simple rules would be, to quote the movie "Miracle", "the name on the front is more important than the name on the back". Simply put, if you want to play on my team, you will show respect. That means that when the anthem plays, you will STAND....OR YOU WILL SIT FOR THE ENTIRE GAME!
I don't care what your political beliefs are. I don't even care if we lose because you're not playing. Everyone, from the captain down to the most reserve bench players, will stand and respect the flag. If you're not willing to do that, then not only are you not worthy of being a team leader, you're not worthy of taking the same court, ice, or field as everyone else. I would even have a mind to dismiss you; if you're not going to have a winning attitude, perhaps the team would be better off without your services. I may take some flak for this, but that's the way it is, and that's the way it would be.
By allowing Megan Rapinoe to play today (along with apparent supporters Ali Krieger, Becky ("Sour-Face"?) Sauerbrunn, and Ashlyn Harris), the coach of the US team is sending a message that he (she?) will tolerate this disrespect, as long as the team wins. The coach doesn't care about leadership and attitude; all he/she cares about is "getting paid". This is something that I do not, and cannot, support. The Women's National Team should play their game with honor and dignity. If they aren't willing to do so (even though I hate to say this), then I guess it's "go Netherlands" for me. "Sad"!
On any other occasion, this patriotic American would be rooting hard for our ladies, and chanting "USA". However, I cannot bring myself to do that for this match; indeed, I almost hope that the Netherlands will win. Let me explain why this is.
In case you didn't get the memo, the national team's Megan Rapinoe has declared that, should the US team win, she would not be visiting "the fu***** White House" (it is an accepted custom for the president to invite championship teams to the residence). The midfielder (and national team CAPTAIN) has also said she will "probably never" salute/stand for the national anthem again. I'm sorry (well, actually not), but this is not a winning attitude, and it doesn't fly with me.
Let me break this down for you; I've always been of the opinion that, regardless of their political beliefs, athletes should show respect for the country that they represent. By refusing to stand for the flag and anthem, Ms. Rapinoe has shown a deep disrespect for the United States. Not only that, she is the captain of the national team; thus, she should exude leadership by example. Rapinoe has failed to do this.
Digressing for a moment, do you want to know why quarterback Colin Kaepernick can't find a job anywhere in professional football? The reason is not because of the color of his skin, or because he is being "blacklisted" (as he so often claims). It is because he is a disrespectful, snot-nosed punk of a person...and he doesn't have much game anyway. Kaepernick should consider himself damn lucky to have any sort of deal with Nike (burn their shoes anyway). Hey Colin, "put that in your pipe and smoke it"!
Anyways, back to the matter at hand. Myself, I've never coached any type of sports team. Nonetheless, if I was a coach, I would lay down the law. One of my simple rules would be, to quote the movie "Miracle", "the name on the front is more important than the name on the back". Simply put, if you want to play on my team, you will show respect. That means that when the anthem plays, you will STAND....OR YOU WILL SIT FOR THE ENTIRE GAME!
I don't care what your political beliefs are. I don't even care if we lose because you're not playing. Everyone, from the captain down to the most reserve bench players, will stand and respect the flag. If you're not willing to do that, then not only are you not worthy of being a team leader, you're not worthy of taking the same court, ice, or field as everyone else. I would even have a mind to dismiss you; if you're not going to have a winning attitude, perhaps the team would be better off without your services. I may take some flak for this, but that's the way it is, and that's the way it would be.
By allowing Megan Rapinoe to play today (along with apparent supporters Ali Krieger, Becky ("Sour-Face"?) Sauerbrunn, and Ashlyn Harris), the coach of the US team is sending a message that he (she?) will tolerate this disrespect, as long as the team wins. The coach doesn't care about leadership and attitude; all he/she cares about is "getting paid". This is something that I do not, and cannot, support. The Women's National Team should play their game with honor and dignity. If they aren't willing to do so (even though I hate to say this), then I guess it's "go Netherlands" for me. "Sad"!
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