SPORTS TALK 790 MATT THOMAS MOCKS BIG SARGE

SPORTS TALK 790 MATT THOMAS MOCKS BIG SARGE 

By:  Lamont Mann

Today seen Big Sarge with a couple tweets towards Sports Talk 790, seems like there was beef.   When I say beef,   I mean differences.  Later, I received a Direct Message asking me what's going on with Sarge and Sports Talk 790.

I had no idea but a video was included of Big Sarge laying out a timeline of events. with Sports Talk 790.  WHOA!

I have disagreed with Sarge in the past but I am a Vet and know that Sarge moniker is military based.  I will not play with that at all.

If you do not know, Big Sarge is a Sports Media Free Agent.  He's independent, works around the city covering local sports in Houston.  If there's a major sporting event in Houston, he's on it.  The teams reference him by name.  Big Sarge is not employed with any of the big media outlets in Houston but he was affiliated with ND KALU at Sports Talk 790.

Sarge guest hosted with ND and Greg Kock at 790 for nearly 5 years, all good.  Today, he tweeted out a video clip about Sports Talk 790 blocking him.

As I watched the video, he said that he blocked Sports Talk 790 back in 2022 and I'm like "Ok Bro, you blocked them and all of their talent, why are you upset that they blocked you".

Here's where it gets crazy, Sarge played a clip of Matt Thomas calling him Big Fraud (not Sarge) and that's what made him block them.

Yes, it feels like a whole bunch of petty shit but the nerve of this cock with ears playing with a Vet's name.  Matt Thomas would probably run from his own fucking shadow.  This square ass probably do not even know what SARGE means or represent.  The only fraud is Matt Thomas.  I am glad that Big Sarge kept it professional and didn't go where he could have went.

Big Sarge is a United States Military Officer, show some respect instead of playing with his name.  

Don't get me wrong,  Sarge can say some wild shit I disagree with tomorrow.and I will be going at him but I am not going to play with his military service.

As far as Big Sarge, as I listened to the beginning of this clip, Sarge said, someone contacted him and told him to go check if 790 has him blocked.  (PAUSE) How in the fuck would a person know if someone on twitter blocked you unless they have knowledge of the account?

At the end of the day, I think it's all petty shit but I had a major problem with Matt Thomas calling Big Sarge, Big Fraud.

From the outside looking in, it appears, some at Sports Talk 790 did not like relationships ND Kalu established.

HOUSTON'S SPORTS RATINGS, THE TALLEST MIDGET

HOUSTON'S SPORTS RATINGS

Lamont Mann

Today I was driving home from work and listening to ESPN 97.5 Wheelhouse.  I am use to local shows pretty much going to commercial break at the same time but for some reason, when the Wheelhouse go to commercials, typically Sports Radio 610's The Drive with Stoerner and Hughley usually goes for about the minutes. It works out perfect for me because when I switch over to 610 and listen to them speak,  the Wheelhouse is coming back on air.

As I was listening to the Drive, Hughley made a comment about ratings in the 5 O'Oclock.  Hughley said Sports Radio 610  has the best ratings in the Morning, Mid Day and Afternoon Drive shows.   Although he is not lying but it's not the whole story.

In Houston Sports Radio right now, beating your chest about being Number 1 in ratings is like bragging about being the corn kernel in a pile of shit.

Currently,  sports radio ratings in Houston is straight trash homie.  Houston is the 6th largest media market, if you were to compare them to their peers in the various markets,   this city is a joke.  I have been in this city when all the stations were pulling 4s and 5s; now if you see a show pulling a 2, I'd be surprise.

The Sports Ratings in Houston right now is total crap and it's really nothing to beat your chest about.  I listen to all of the shows and I would enjoy it more if you are bragging more about being number one when the market is performing on a large media market level.  

From the numbers I see,  Houston looks like a small city.

HIP HOP SHOULD HAVE THEIR OWN HALL OF FAME

HIP HOP SHOULD HAVE THEIR OWN HALL OF FAME

I grew up loving Hip Hop.   My first album was The Fat Boys.  I like to think I'm a Hip Hop historian; actually I believe in another life I would have been an Hip Hop A&R.

It's noted that Hip Hop began in the Bronx with a party by DJ Kool Herc in 1973 (although that's debate) therefore it's the 50th anniversary.   Hip Hop is one of if not the biggest music generating genres currently.  With it being the 50th anniversary, multiple media outlets are acknowledging the milestone.  The Grammys honored Hip Hop with a tribute and Billboard Magazine dropped a top 50 all time best rappers list.

The Billboard Top 50 Best Rappers list is the catalyst of this article.  That list was fucked up and disrespectful. I really would like to know who wrote that article.

It's time for Hip Hop to stand on it's own two feet and divorce this shit about trying to be included and recognized by other genres.

This brings us to the issue of Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame.  As stated before,  Hip Hop is 50 years old and is very profitable.  Every year when the Rock and Roll HOF inductees are announce, we patiently await to hear the Hip Hop artist to be announce.  It's total bullshit when Hip Hop has more than enough artist in 50 years to at least put in 3-5  artists in a year.

I believe it's time for Hip Hop to make a clean break and do their own Hall of Fame.  I personally. believe, being judged by your own peers is greater than latching on to the Rock and Roll Hall of fame.  I mean it would be one thing if it was a music Hall of fame inclusive of all genres but the Rock & Roll HOF clearly tells me it's an inherent bias.   

It kills me that we want to infiltrate other's shit instead of creating our own.  It's almost like blacks and hispanics want validation from folks who clearly don't want to fuck with them.

Lamont Mann

The Eric Bieniemy’s of Houston Sports Talk Radio

The Eric Bieniemy’s of Houston Sports Talk Radio 

Eric Bieniemy is the former Kansas City Chief’s offensive coordinator who was recently hired as the Washington Commander’s Offensive Coordinator. People who are versed in the NFL know it’s abnormal for lateral moves. Typically, you do not see a coach leave an organization in a position for the same position in another organization.

It’s believed, Eric made this move because he was under the umbrella of Andy Reid and Andy was really running the offense. During this dynastic run of the Kansas City Chiefs, fans assumed that Eric should be in line for head coaching job. Eric has interviewed multiple times for head coaching jobs but never landed. There are many speculations of why Eric is not a head coach but we do not know. As fans, we are left with, why!

Eric’s situation made me think about Houston Sports Talk. Why are some of these social media personalities are not in a full-time roll and they seem to have more information than on air personalities. Some of these people I am about to mention either write for publications, blog, podcast or even guest show on radio shows.

I know some of these folks’ situation, I still wonder why they are not on air in Houston.

• Jayson Braddock
• My late friend Craig Shelton
• Mannifresh
• Jermaine
• Big Sarge
• Stephanie Stradley
• Texans Cap
• Brandon Scott

I am not trying to shit on current on-air hosts but it’s bizarre seeing all of the same guys being recycled in Houston Sports talk. These are the same on-air personalities who crush professional sport's hiring practices.

I know for a fact the people I listed have other obligations that would prevent them from doing radio but I also know there are others who wants to eat.

Craig is deceased, Mannifresh, that’s a throw up, Jermaine would definitely love to be on-air, Stephanie is an attorney, I am sure Jayson wouldn’t mind returning to radio. I am not too familiar with Texans Cap set up but the radio uses him as a resource and most definitely Brandon Scott would love to be in radio, that’s his craft.

I am left wondering “why are these people not on air”.

Personally I believe, Sarge, Brandon and Jermaine. should be on the air but unfortunately, they did not play in the NBA, NFL or MLB. It's not even that I agree with them because sometimes I truly don't but I see the grind.

Lamont Mann

The WheelHouse or 610's House?

 Written By: LM

If you do not know Cody Stoots, Jake Asman, and Brad Kellner (The WheelHouse) replaced The Blitz then you are not a local radiohead.  When ESPN975 announced they were going in a new directions with the station,  The WheelHouse was the definition.

The Rundown

After the show was announced, I said I would give them at least 4-5 weeks before giving an analysis.  It has damn near been 2 months, so here we are.

A few of my friends were turned off by the name of the show and I can understand because I don't like c cheesy sport show names especially the ones related to sports; i thought the Blitz was corny.

If you are a sports nerd/junky, this is the show for you.  Jake, Brad and Cody are all sports. Shit,  of the 12 segments of their three hour show, 12 segments are all sports; there's no stuff.  They give the Astros and Texans (who are live right now) much attention and I don't see that stopping when the Rockets spring into action next week.

If you are a person who loves other stuff mixed with your sports, this is not the show for you.  Their segments are dominated by a Local/National sport's topic and they will throw in some banter within but all of their segments appear to be defined by sports like Sports Radio 610.

What I will say about the WheelHouse that's not Sports Radio 610 , they do not repeat topics every hour.  In other words if you listen to SR610, you only need to listen to 3-4 segments and they will repeat the same ole shit, these guys typically have 9-10 different topics during a show.  It's a good thing and a bad thing.  Good, because ole heads like me don't want to hear the same shit; Bad because topics are not allowed to breath once you have moved on to another topic.  Let me explain,  TWH can get into a heated topic for a segment that will have the lines, Twitch, Text Messages buzzing but now they have moved on to another topic and the feedback falls flat at that point.

FAN INTERACTION

I am not sure what's going on with local radio, but some of them seem to be afraid of Twitter and they primarily rely on callers and text messages.  Yes, you are not in 2007, I said text messages.  Text message is a medium where Personalities can pick and choose what shit they want to acknowledge on air and it's usually some bullshit where fans agree with them or some ignorant crap they can blast.  Twitter is a medium where people can see both parties interact therefore you you get context, grammar, tone etc but these guys don't fuck with Twitter like that.

I like the show but I don't think they care about knowing their fanbase, it appears they much rather crack jokes amongst each other.  We are in the meat of sports now but it will be very interesting to see how this is going play out from May-August.

INTERVIEWS

In terms of the caliber of interviews these dudes are pulling, they are the champs.  I believe they miss on some question with the people they have on but they have them on.  In two months, TWH has probably knocked down five WTF interviews.

FINAL THOUGHTS

It's a good show but I think they are too sports. It's like Sports Radio 610 on meth.  Certain shows/personalities can pull it off like Charlie Pallilo and Patrick Creighton but some can't.  All three of the guys are very cool, Jake is the Point Guard, Cody is the Houston Area Historian, and Brad is the Wild Frat Boy.  What really fucks me up with TWH, I rarely hear them say 713.780.3776.

No, I am not trying to recreate the BLITZ or no other Nostalgia show but I hope they reevaluate some shits.  It's cool to borrow elements from SR610 but also realize a lot of people don't like that SR610 shit.

Jack Easterby is living in Local Media head's Rent Free, fans do not care

 Written By: LM

I believe Jack Easterby is banging a couple of these media guy's wives because they have it in for him.

Pretty much after Bill O'Brien got fired, it appears, the local media needs another whoopen boy and that guy is Easterby,   Easterby was involved in a few questionable personnel decisions with the biggest being DeAndre Hopkins.  O'Brien got fired and naturally people assumed Easterby was right behind him.

Long story short, Easterby didn't get fired  and he was a part of the Nick Caserio's ( Texans General Manager)  hiring.   In between all of this, Sports Illustrated lobbed two hit pieces on Easterby, Former Texans Wide Receiver Andre Blasted Easterby by name and he's still standing.  Everyone in media thought it was no way he could still remain in power after Andre Johnson blasted him but he still remained.  

The Local Media's disdain for Easterby kind of reminds of the movie 300, when the tall black Fruity Persian Leader kept getting defeated by 300.

The Local Media damn near cried when they seen Jack Easterby was in the Texan's War Room during draft night.

HERE'S THE DEAL 

I do not believe the local media really has a clue about what Texan Fans think.  Outside of a few rabid fans,  most Texans fans DGAF about Jack Easterby.  That's the local media with the same corny jokes on their shows and acting like Jack Easterby is the boogey man.  Legit some of the jokers have an irrational fear of Easterby like some Blacks in 2021 with the KKK, he's their Boogey Man.

If you are in Local Media and still believing fans gives a fuck about Jack Easterby, you are doing lazy radio.   I would think most logical fans are thinking, we have had an exodus of quality players and not worrying about a guy like Easterby.

The Jack Easterby topic is foolish at best.   When Sports Illustrated put out those hit pieces, I got sucked up in that bullshit but really,  I don't care about Jack Easterby or any mention of him.  It's corny goofball Local Media shit trying to be the smartest guy in the room.

Kawhi Leonard is normal, the media are the weird ones

Written by: LM

Currently, we are in the thick of NBA Free Agency.  Players are picking and choosing their teams.  They are chasing money like most of would be doing.

Disclaimer, I am not completely up to speed on the NBA but I know enough to follow the game.  I use to the follow the NBA hard but in the last five years, I let it go.

Since the NBA Finals, the talk is about where certain free agents would land.  During this period, I've heard many in the media voice how weird, odd, and "out there"  Kawhi Leonard is.

It peaked my enterest, is the dude a flat earther, tree hugger, smoking dope in a hotel lobby playing Madden or is he bouncing around in baby diapers screaming mommy.  I decided to research Kawhi and one of the only things I could find was an abnormal laugh.

It appears, since Kawhi laughs funny, drove an older vehicle as a professional athlete,  and decided to keep his mouth close, he's an odd person.

If you ask me, the media are the weirdos, their appetite for a story has made them look at a normal person as odd.   The media only wants a story and they want it now and if it does not happen on their timeline, it's time to ridicule.

Kawhi is not odd; he seems like a regular guy to me.  The media vultures are the weird ones.  All of our lives, we've learned not to make fast decisions, way out your options or get some outside opinions but now that has changed.

The media does not give a mother fuck about Kawhi well being, they just need a summer story to talk about.   Take as long as you need Kawhi.

Houston Sports Talk Radio, What's HOT, What's NOT

Written by: LM

As an expert radio listener, I feel inclined to let the masses know what's hot and what's not.  Old media heads refer to Mid June as the "Dog days of summer".  It's really not if you are not lazy and actually prepare and not rely on stories to fall into your lap.

There are a few shows I am feeling right now and there are a few shows I listen to out of habit.

HOT

The Bench 97.5 7-9 -  John Granato, Lance Zierlein and Del are doing their thing. they like to have fun.  It's zoo radio, lots of voices talking over each other but they keep it fun.  At times their show annoys me because they will go off on tangents and it feels like the old school 1560 Secret Society shit. 

In The Loop Sports Radio 610 10a-2p -  For as much as I hate the constant Texans rhetoric, Landry Locker has made John Lopez more tolerable.  Like The Bench, John and Landry keeps it fun. I clearly see the chemistry and I can argue, they should be the Morning Show.  They are very interactive with their audience via text, phones, not so much Social Media.

The Blitz 97.5 4p-7p -  Hands Down, the best Houston Sports Show IMO.   If there's is not anything going on locally, they will not force feed a make believe Houston angle.  They will go National or maybe entertainment or List Radio.  For all of you about to hit me on List Radio, I have no problem with List Radio if its done in moderation. List Radio is when a show carries a time slot with "Who's the best or etc" and it will get people to regurgitate the same old shit we've heard a million times.  It's a place for it but not everyday.

The Sports RV Show Sports Talk 790 10-12 Saturdays -  I have been listening to Ross Villarreal for a few years on the weekends. He's fun with a lot of wild ass callers on the weekend.  Currently, he may be the most interactive show in Houston.   Ross, conducts his show from a fan perspective, he will debate you and he will tap out, if he's wrong.  Ross is capitalizing on the fact he's one of the few Houston personalities on-air during the weekend which is a whole other blog within itself.

What's NOT

Mad Radio Sports Radio 610 6a-10 -  Without going all in, it's a time slot accustomed to hearing morning radio at 6am.  As soon as 7am hits, I switch to the Bench.  Mad Radio is intellectually nice but it comes off as so formulated.  Everything about that show feels scripted and driven by the Texans content.


Above, are the shows I listen to the most.  I listen to most local shows in Houston but these are the shows I currently listen to the most

Does Local Sport Media Serves a Purpose?

Written By:  LM

There was a time in Houston Sports we got our news from local personalities in print, television and radio.  Now, it seems we are receiving most of our our information from National Media.

If you don't know me, I hate National Media. I believe National Media are working from bullet points and  prompters, depending on the format.

I have not written for a while but after the Houston Rockets and Texans "off season", I had to.

Over the last month or so, the Texans and Rockets have commanded lots of attention for the wrong reasons.   I will not get into the intricacies but the Texans and the Rockets have been involved in turmoil.

Texans

The Texans fired their GM in the hopes of hiring a New England Patriot's guy, it didn't happen.   Fuck all of that, I was more annoyed by who was reporting it.   I am hearing Albert Breer, Adam Schefter and a few other national folks.   Our local media will immediately come behind them and "confirm" their reports.

Rockets

There are so many reports about the Rockets, I am not even sure where to start.  Between the head coach and owner on different terms, Morey saying every one is available for trade, Morey saying he will not trade CP3, and James Harden/CP3 beef. Our local media will go into "battle mode" defending the Rockets or they will blast Rockets depending on what station they are on.

As I have observed all of this, I couldn't help but think, our local media has let us down.  Houston Sports Media has been reduced to "confirming national reputable journalist work" or debating national personalities work.  It upsets me because there was a time in this market, Houston broke Houston news.  Houston use to quickly debunk a lot of bullshit.

There a few local personalities who attend practice and events on the regular but there are a lot more who sit back on their ass and formulate opinions from people out of New York, Boston and Los Angeles talking about HOUSTON.

It appears, a lot of Houston Media is not really paying attention to the teams and relying on National Media for show prep.

It makes no sense to me, Houston personalities cannot cultivate those same relationships that the National Media has?  I've seen it done.

Pre Social Media,  John McClain broke everything Texans. Post Social Media Pat Starr debunked or explained most Texans Rumors . Maybe just maybe some you need to get off your ass and go follow the local teams instead of waiting on National News.