"The RBR Reading Room: Finebaum Said"

[Chechem]

OMG.  Appropriate?

Click here for link

Paul Finebaum may be one of the most vilified figures in Alabama sports media but he also boasts one of the largest audiences. Coach Saban doesn't sit down and chat amiably with the man on-air at SEC Media Days because he's got a few minutes to blow the breeze. A Finebaum interview reaches a lot of people and a few words on his show carries a message an awful long way.

The fact Finebaum is almost invariably pegged as the clown prince of sports commentary in the state completely overlooks his influence. His opinion has authority because the fans have given it to him. This also leads to the most common mistake people make about the man; that his opinions are the same as the (in)famous callers to his radio show. They're not and an even cursory glance at his print output demonstrates this.

These issues are put in stark relief in Finebaum's 2001 book, Finebaum Said. It's a collection of his columns printed in The Birmingham Post-Herald between 1994 and 2001. (The first collection of his work The Worst of Paul Finebaum appeared in 1994.) Taken as a whole, Finebaum Said offers some important insights into exactly what it is about this media personality that has captured (and inflamed) the imagination of college football fans in Alabama and nationwide.

Finebaum the columnist isn't particularly artful in a stylistic sense and his insights into the strategy of the game aren't revelatory either. Typically his pieces find a touchy subject and offer a specific stance on it. His true talent is sniffing out precisely the issues that cause his audience to react. And react they do.

The cover photograph for Finebaum Said a vivid example. It features Finebaum in a plaid fedora and a grim look on his face marking what seems to be some type of play in the air in front of him. It's an obvious parody of the photograph of Coach Bryant used in a 1980 Time magazine cover. The analogy is designed to outrage but it's also instructive. Bryant's photo features actual plays from his playbook, Finebaum is just drawing X's and O's in the air....

[XBAMA]

good read  , thanks Chech

I don't go out of my way to hear him and very rarely do listen ,
most of the callers make it unbearable  ...

maybe I will listen today , that is if the little bodunk radio station
WNSP can muster a signal all the way down to South Mobile Co.
but I won't buy his books , might take it for free or as a hand me down
maybe ... except the hate series
I don't want Fbomb to tell me about CGS ,
CGS can do that just fine ...

[2Stater]

good read  , thanks Chech

I don't go out of my way to hear him and very rarely do listen ,
most of the callers make it unbearable  ...

maybe I will listen today , that is if the little bodunk radio station
WNSP can muster a signal all the way down to South Mobile Co.
but I won't buy his books , might take it for free or as a hand me down
maybe ... except the hate series
I don't want Fbomb to tell me about CGS ,
CGS can do that just fine ...

Coming back from Mobile, I lose it around Loxley. 

[XBAMA]

Coming back from Mobile, I lose it around Loxley. 

I think their transmitter is in Spanish Fort 

west of Cody Rd. or in the south part of the county it's weak or gone
actually , I can pick up 105.3 in N.O.  better a lot of the time   

[2Stater]

Coming back from Mobile, I lose it around Loxley. 

I think their transmitter is in Spanish Fort 

west of Cody Rd. or in the south part of the county it's weak or gone
actually , I can pick up 105.3 in N.O.  better a lot of the time   

Lol! It must be a directional signal pointing at Mobile. Still, Loxley is what, about 15 miles from Spanish Fort? 

[XBAMA]

lat & longe has it on hwy 225 near Crossroads  
which makes it even more stupid  
Click here for link

[pmull]

I don't listen to Finebaum much this time of year. Very little going on but his crazy callers. However, today may be a good day. The Regions Senior Golf Tournament has it's pro am today. Finebaum normally sets up at the course and does interviews all day with golfers and pro am guests. CNS normally plays and does an interview for example.

During football and basketball season Finebaum has some very good guests on his show IMO. I tune in a lot to see what is going on. You can always change channels if he is just taking phone callers.

[cbbama99]

good read  , thanks Chech

I don't go out of my way to hear him and very rarely do listen ,
most of the callers make it unbearable  ...

maybe I will listen today , that is if the little bodunk radio station
WNSP can muster a signal all the way down to South Mobile Co.
but I won't buy his books , might take it for free or as a hand me down
maybe ... except the hate series
I don't want Fbomb to tell me about CGS ,
CGS can do that just fine ...

Amen to that, brother.

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