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Chick Ludwig covers the Cincinnati Bengals. He also writes about his other passions: college football, basketball and golf.Home > Blogs > Chick Ludwig At Large > Archives > 2008 > December > 09 > Entry
Chickster learns tough radio lesson: ‘Beatings will continue until morale improves’
CHICK & ‘SKIP’
SORT OF LIKE
CHAD & MARVIN
“Patience, my man, patience.”
That’s what WONE-AM sports-talk-show-host Mark “The Skipper” Schlemmer keeps tellin’ me …
… As smoke spews from my ears.
I was in-studio with “The Skipper” on Tuesday night for his “Sports Talk 980” show from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Our special guest was Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Chad Ocho Cinco, who stayed the entire hour and a half on the telephone from The ‘Nati.
Producer extraordinaire James “Big Play” Bengel announced we had taken 26 calls. By our count, that’s fairly spectacular.
One, and only one, caller got to me.
I forget the name of the cat and the city from where the dude dialed, but he pontificated for anywhere from 2-3 minutes before he finally muscled the question out of his mouth and let it roll off his tongue.
With all five phone lines jammed with folks eager to speak with Chadly, I was rather anxious for this guy to speak up or forever hold his peace…and face the executioner’s hot button of ejection and rejection.
All I could think about were the poor folks on hold, rollin’ their eyes while this guy listened to himself drone on like a broken record.
Other than that little episode, and a glitch in the phone system that caused a slight interruption, I thought everything went well.
“The Skipper” didn’t have to tie me down or beat me over the head with a baseball bat. Although he came awfully close to wanting to.
Here’s what stopped him:
I delivered Chad … and … the price was right.
The soda was nice. Next time, bring coffee, cream and sugar.
Schlemmer has a great show, and it shows with his growing audience.
As for The Chickster, I know why I was just a slight bit edgy.
Every Tuesday at 4 p.m. when I’m leaving The Miamisburg War Room for the WONE studio — or is it “stud-e-o?” — the Bengals announce a transaction.
Just let me try walking out the door, and the tele rings with a move. This time, it was the acquisition of former Colts and Vikings safety Mike Doss. Hey, I’ll give the Bengals credit. At least they’re trying to keep a sinking ship afloat.
I just wish they’d make their moves a little bit earlier in the day.
OH … AND ONE OTHER THING …
I’m getting killed on Cincinnati radio for my question to Marvin Lewis about his philosophy on teams tanking games in order to get a higher draft pick.
Bengals don’t need to tank. They’ll get a top-5 pick by playing at their highest level.
At any rate, I appreciate “Touchdown Tim’s” E-mail from Middletown:
“Hey, Chick, congratulations. I saw where you ruffled a few feathers with Marvin Lewis. Good for you. It’s time people start asking tough questions to an organization who got a free stadium and still act like they are doing us a favor by letting us be a fan of their team.”
‘preciate it, Tim. Thanks for having my back. I look at it this way. At least print media studs & studettes give the radio czars somethin’ to talk about.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z04r_tlWdRs
Permalink | Comments (3) | Post your comment | Categories: Radio/TV
Comments
By photoman
December 10, 2008 12:12 AM | Link to this
Our Chickster wrote, “I’m getting killed on Cincinnati radio for my question to Marvin Lewis about his philosophy on teams tanking games in order to get a higher draft pick”. ML seemed to show a level of self-control towards you on camera, as he heard you ask that question. As for me, I don’t like to use the word “shocked”, but I felt a surrealistic moment in time as I heard Chick ask that question.By Chick Ludwig
December 10, 2008 7:55 AM | Link to this
Photoman: From my seat—front row, right corner—it was surreal. Wish you could’ve been there.By ha
December 10, 2008 12:49 PM | Link to this
I don’t know Chick, I’m listening to the podcast and my favorite caller so far was “Dick” the older fellow who informed Chad that there were a lot of Bengals fans around here. Good times.