The technological surprise promised by Francesa five months ago has arrived and it’s kind of a let-down.
Mike announced last fall that WFAN’s parent company CBS Radio was developing something “very innovative and very different” in conjunction with his long-running daily program. At the time, he said “everyone will copy (it) once we do it.”
Well, what was unveiled last week is your basic free cell phone app. It’s nothing special. The big roll-out was limited to I-Phone users. Those with android phones are being told to wait six weeks.
The only element of the app that appears to be “innovative” is a feature that’s known as “ten seconds of glory.” Listeners can record 10-second voice clips of themselves commenting on a topic and submit them to a Francesa show producer with the press of a button. Mike is playing a few of the cuts daily. Francesa has said the basic framework of his five and a half hour program won’t be altered in any way by the new app. “It’s just another way to participate in the show,” he said.
Francesa completely rejects Twitter as a tool of immediate expression and doesn’t seem to embrace incorporating the “glory” sound bites into his show.
That’s fine. He’s been doing sports talk radio as good or better than anybody for 25 years without bells and whistles. He watches the games and breaks ’em down the next day. You don’t need an app for that. If the lone form of audience participation is the old fashioned phone call, so be it.
-There will be a new number two man in the Mets radio booth when the Amazins start playing spring training games in Port St. Lucie a week from Monday. Out is Wayne Hagin and in is 43-year-old Josh Lewin. Howie Rose remains the main play-by-play guy. Lewin is Rose’s third new partner in six years. At the end of the 2010 season, Lewin was let go by the Texas Rangers after nearly a decade in that team‘s television booth. In the meantime, Lewin’s been doing sports talk radio in Dallas. He’s the primary radio voice of the San Diego Chargers and also does spot duty on FOX baseball broadcasts. Hagin was cut loose by the Mets after four seasons. It was slow to develop, but I believe Hagin’s chemistry with Rose had improved noticeably in 2011. Apparently the Mets and flagship station WFAN didn’t think so. I know lots of Met fans didn’t think much of Hagin. Both Hagin and Lewin have front-man personas and have been miscast in their Met jobs. Lewin’s new responsibilities with the Mets don‘t match his style. As Howie’s number two, Lewin will describe middle innings and play a supporting role to perhaps the best current play-by-play man in baseball. I’d prefer an ex-player or a guy like Ed Coleman in the booth with Howie rather than a second voice of authority. Perhaps Lewin will adapt. WFAN will carry 10 spring games on the radio. Lewin says he grew up rooting for the Mets as a youth in upstate Rochester
-I won’t claim to be a true New York hockey Rangers fan but I watch a lot of their games and I firmly believe they have what it takes to win the Stanley Cup this season. What concerns me the last week or so is a flurry of reports saying Rangers General Manager Glen Sather is readying an offer for Columbus sniper Rick Nash. The price in both personnel and future salary cap space to acquire Nash would be enormous. The Rangers could use another goal scorer, sure, but there’s no way I’d mess with this team’s chemistry. The Rangers have great balance, great personalities and lots of young talent. I’m convinced a trade for Nash would do great harm to the morale of the current squad (not to mention future teams) given who might depart (Brandon Dubinsky for starters). I hope next week’s trade deadline passes without a Blueshirt move of any significance. Leave this team alone.