Dallas Blog

Steal from Channel 8's old Let Me Speak To the Manager and The Ticket's old Ask the Hard Line and what do you get?

A Tuesday variably recurring time-waster featuring a bunch of people asking questions and one poor schmuck doing all the answering.

Q: Who do you consider the most knowledgeable sports personalities in town?

   A: Hmm. I think Randy Galloway probably has the best personal info on players, coaches and owners. I think Norm Hitzges has the best statistical perspectives. But if I got to sit down with one person and pick their brain for an hour, it'd be Brad Sham. He is wise.

Q: How long does it take you to write an average blog item? Is it research or just off the top of your head?

   A: Obviously I try to provide a mix of each. If you can't tell them apart then I absolutely suck.

Q: You're always posting photos of hot girls on Sportatorium. Are you married? Does your wife care? Is she hot? If so, post a photo.

   A: Married since 2002. Let's just say the wife is a very understanding woman. And, in your case, a very camera-shy woman.

Steal from Channel 8's old Let Me Speak To the Manger Manager and The Ticket's old Ask the Hard Line and what do you get?

A Tuesday time-waster featuring a bunch of people asking questions and one poor schmuck doing all the answering.

Q: Do you like salad?

   A: Only when it's tossed.

Q: Are you gay?

   A: Yes, extremely happy. Beyond content. Quickly approach giddy. Can't you tell?

Q: Is it Dirk No-VIT-ski or No-WIT-ski?

   A: no-WIT-ski.

Q: What was the decision-making process behind The Ticket's Plus-1 tryouts?

   A: After being underwhelmed by myself and the other candidates, I suspect The Ticket looked at the steady ratings and the substantial financial savings and merely promoted Corby. I do know that at one point a dude named Bob Sturm was seriously considered for Hammer's old seat.

Back when I was just a punk - okay a younger punk - there was this show on Channel 8. Best I can remember, it came on Saturday nights at 6:30 and featured station manager Mike Shapiro answering viewers' questions about programming choices, etc. It was decades ahead of its time in yanking back the curtain.

It was called, I think, Let Me Speak to the Manager. As a boy already fixated on delivering the news in some form, I was riveted.

Then when I was an older punk - okay, just a couple years ago - there was this show on The Ticket. Best I can remember, it came on sporadically and featured hosts Mike Rhyner and Greg Williams answering listeners' questions about everything from professional content to personal preferences. It broke ground in whispering the answers to taboo radio questions.

It was called, I'm damn certain, Ask the Hardline. As a P1 consumed not with just what's done but how it's done, I was riveted.

So here we are. With a borrowed stolen idea for a new feature that may flop or fly. That all depends on you.

During my fleeting 1-year anniversary bash I received lots of suggestions, feedback and questions. So now I'll do some honest-to-goodness answering

That's the format. Short, simple and potentially sweet. One week you ask; the next week I'll answer.

Got it?