Brian Davis Radio

GOOD RIDDANCE !

2010-04-11T19:46:00.002-04:00

TEXAS STADIUM COMES DOWN FOR GOOD !

Texas Stadium, home of the Dallas Cowboys from 1971-2008, finally came down for good Sunday morning.

And with it, thankfully, came down years of not so pleasant memories for Washington Redskins fans like me.

Having been born in Washington, DC, I have lived the Redskins/Cowboys rivalry my whole life and Texas Stadium was not kind to the Washington Redskins which carried over and led to much pain and agony for us Redskins fans.

One reason I've always hated Texas Stadium is because of the fans. The Cowboys fans seem to bring an arrogance and cockiness into Texas Stadium which has never changed through the years of generations.

The Dallas fans were calling the Cowboys "Americas Team" long before they had the right to even think of the phrase. It all relfected off of Texas Stadium.

But mostly, I hate Texas Stadium because it was the site of the most heartbreaking pain I've ever felt in my life.

To this minute I can still feel the remnants of what felt like a sledgehammer to the stomach when I was 8 and the Redskins were in Texas Stadium playing the Cowboys on Thanksgiving day.

The Redskins had been playing great that day having scored two touchdowns, recovered four fumbles, intercepted a pass and kicked three field goals for a 23-3 lead in the 3rd quarter.

When the Redskins knocked Cowboys starting QB Roger Staubach out of the game with about 10 minutes left in the 3rd, I was in Redskin Seventh Heaven.

Back in those days, the veteran back-up quarterbacks in the NFL were unknowns much less a rookie
back-up.

So when Cowboys rookie back-up Clint Longley entered the game in place of Staubach, I knew it was just a matter of mopping up what was left of the Cowboys and going home with a sweet Thanksgiving Day win.

Instead, Clint Longley bombed the Redskins for 203 yards and two touchdowns including the 50 yard game-winning touchdown pass to Drew Pearson with 28 seconds remaining to steal the win from Washington 24-23.

Redskins Coach George Allen said, "It was probably the toughest loss we ever had."

It definitely was for me. And it happened in Texas Stadium.

The Cowboys did it again to Washington in the same fashion in 1979. Roger Staubach threw two touchdown passes in 2:20 to beat the Redskins 35-34. Again, I can still feel the sledgehammer to the stomach.

The Redskins finally had a great experience in Texas Stadium in 1983, the year the Redskins went to Dallas wearing Army fatigues and came away with a kick ass 31-10 win.

And in 2005, Mark Brunell threw two touchdown daggers in the Cowboys hearts with 5 minutes remaining including a 70 yard game winner to Santana Moss and the Redskins stole one from Dallas ala' Longley and Staubach.

But those experiences of Texas Stadium were far and few between for the Redskins and the Skins fans.

And seeing my beloved Redskins compile a dismal 10-26 over the years in Texas Stadium, I am happy and relieved to see it go.

Goodbye and good riddance.

RADIO PEOPLE ARE STRANGE !

2010-01-08T05:01:00.007-05:00

Someone sent me a list of things about people who work in radio and wanted to know if they were true or not.

I've read the list and in reply I am going to post the top 5 that are true...at least from my experience.

- About half of our wardrobe consist of free t-shirts. - That's true. Mostly t-shirts from radio stations we have worked for but also t-shirts from charity events and other promotions.

- Radio people get fired more often than any other industry. - True. Bad ratings, stations get sold, formats change. However, it's the one occupation where getting fired doesn't necessarily mean a bad thing.

- Radio people are just strange. - Yes !

- Radio people never look like we picture them. - True. We usually look bigger, smaller, fatter, thinner, older, and/or younger than you thought.

- Radio people have a high divorce rate. - True. We tend to move around a lot from market to market. But marriage's of radio people are constantly tested by station groupies and other outside influences.

Those are just a few "strange" facts about radio people.

If you have any to add please feel free to e-mail them to me or post them in the COMMENTS section.

briandavisradio@gmail.com

HAPPY NEW YEAR ! THE BRIAN DAVIS RADIO BLOG REDUX !

2010-01-01T22:10:00.005-05:00

IT'S LIKE DEJA VU ALL OVER AGAIN

Not that anyone knows because there are only a few hundred hits to this site but I have been on a blog hiatus for exactly one year.

There are a few reasons I haven't posted in a year.

Mostly, 2009 was literally one of the worst years of my life and things were hard enough to keep a grip on much less have the time to keep up the blog.

It has taken a few months to get things back on track. And while I'm still not where I want to be, I have straightened things out enough to get back on the blog again. Welcome to the BDR REDUX.

Coincidentally, I'm relaunching the blog site on New Years Day 2010, the 1st day of the new year and new decade and also the date of my last blog post. One year ago.

I started (and ended) last year by posting a live New Years television moment with Kathy Griffin and Anderson Cooper as they hosted New Years Eve on CNN.

Griffin got into a verbal exchange with a heckler in the crowd in which Griffin told the person something along the lines of "knock the d**k out of your mouth."

Because of that comment, I was very surprised to learn Kathy Griffin was going to host the New Years Eve broadcast again this year with Anderson Cooper on CNN.

And never would I have thought Kathy Griffin would ever be so reckless or stupid as to have a repeat or similar episode if ever in the same situation again.

Therefore, I feel it's only fitting to once again lead off the new year with another live New Years television moment.

Just like deja vu there she was, Kathy Griffin, front and center in New York's Times Square alongside Anderson Cooper live on New Years Eve 2009 on CNN.

Cooper began to review the past year in pictures with Griffin.

When Cooper got to the "balloon boy" picture and mentioned the boy by his name "Falcon", Griffin saw her opening and took her shot.

"Fal ... F**king ? Falcon? How do you say it ?" Griffin asked Cooper, fumbling the boy's name on purpose. "You're terrible", Cooper laughingly replied.

If the FCC comes down on CNN then it serves CNN right.

"Fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me".

CNN should have learned it's lesson after last year and never brought Kathy Griffin back.

Griffin is an OK stand-up comic but will take any opportunity in front of a mic or camera to be the cause of controversy for the purpose of publicity with no regard for the network's or station's for which she works.

You're only asking for trouble from the FCC by letting Kathy Griffin host any sort of live broadcast.

Now we'll see if the FCC answers.

Happy New Year !

HAPPY NEW YEAR !

2009-01-04T23:10:00.007-05:00

Happy New Year Everyone !

I love live television ! Especially for moments like this !

A rare but incredible open mic moment on CNN's New Years Eve broadcast with Anderson Cooper and Kathy Griffin !

First, I would never let Kathy Griffin do anything on a live broadcast if it were up to me.

She has always been a loose cannon type which makes her one of the most dangerous for a live broadcast.

Griffin is the same regardless of where she is and doesn't know how to turn it on and off between the stage and live TV.

And that makes her a big FCC risk for CNN and any others that hire her for live gigs.

What really amazed me about the incident wasn't what Kathy Griffin said,
that was just Kathy being Kathy,
it was the mics being left open for that to even have gone over the air.

Now maybe with it being New Years eve and all, CNN had the "B" crew working that night. But still no excuse. The mics should have been down at that point.

And I'm a lot surprised by Kathy Griffin because Griffin is a very seasoned comedic veteran and she should be oblivious to hecklers in a crowd at this point.
I'm amazed Griffin not only let a heckler get to her but they completely rattled her.

Great live TV moment !

HAPPY 4TH OF JULY !

2008-07-04T03:26:00.014-04:00

Happy 4th of July my fellow Americans !

I truly love this holiday because it's in the summer time and it's one of the few holiday's in which you don't have to buy presents.

Usually on this day I am looking forward to the great family cookout and the fireworks afterwards.

And this year is no different. I am still looking forward to the family cookout and the fireworks afterwards !

But, there is something else going on. Today I seem to be reflecting on the 4th of July's from year's gone by.

As most of you, I too have had some great memorable 4th of July's throughout my years.

July 4th, 1975 stands out for me because the movie JAWS had just come out and for some reason we went to the DRIVE-IN that night and saw JAWS.
The "drive-in". How many of those are left in America ?
Does anyone still do the drive-in ?

There was the year (77' or 78') Hale Kellewitz lit off a bottle rocket and as quick as you can blink your eyes, it shot straight up Craig Getzlaf's pants leg ! And yes, it go "BOOM" !

It was an accident, of course, but Craig's jeans were toast (no pun intended) and he had a pretty bad burn on his leg, though not serious enough for the hospital.

After all these years, my favorite July 4th is 1980.

In fact, it's probably one of my favorite days of my life ever. I was 14.

On Friday, July 4th 1980, exactly 28 years ago today, The Beach Boys played at The Mall
in Washington, DC in front of 500,000 of us.

It felt close to 100 degrees and it was so humid we were thinking about jumping into the Potomac River to dry off.

But as Dick Vitale would say, it was awesome, baby !

In those days, I wasn't all that familiar with the internal problems that had been going on with the Beach Boys. I only knew the songs we all heard on the radio.

And the Boys' did not disappoint there. They played all their hits and more.

At that time, the Iran Hostage Crisis was in it's 8th month and emotions were running high across the country and in Washington that particular July 4th.

And I remember, as clear as crystal, during the crowd sing-a-long of Good Vibrations, Beach Boys drummer Dennis Wilson jumped down to the front of the stage and on the microphone yelled out to us in the crowd, "How about one for the hostages !"

We all erupted in cheers that still sends chills up and down my spine.

So as I began to think more about how great of a day that particular July 4th was, I wondered if there could possibly be video somewhere of that very concert.

So, I called Brian Wilson up on the phone and said, "Hey BW ! Do you happen to have footage..."

OK, OK, That didn't happen. I checked on YOU TUBE.

And of course, there it is !

HAPPY 4TH OF JULY AMERICA !

U.S. MILITARY, THANK YOU AND GOD BLESS YOU !

Remember, "Gotta Keep Those Lovin' Good, Vibrations Happenin' With You !"

JULY 4th 1980 - WASHINGTON, DC
HAPPY 4TH OF JULY !

NOT FADE AWAY

2008-04-10T00:25:00.009-04:00

I live in Lubbock, Texas and a couple - few weeks ago something struck me...
"Do not let another day go by without going out and paying tribute to Buddy Holly."

For those who may not know, Buddy Holly was from Lubbock, Texas.

Rock and Roll is a major part of my life. Always has been. Always will be.

I, like many of you, have been through many "hells" in my life and there have really only been two things that get me through...GOD and Rock and Roll.

Buddy Holly is Rock and Roll.

Some say Bill Haley started rock and roll...maybe...but in my heart...I know it was Buddy Holly.

Not Fade Away.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LORI !

2008-03-27T21:00:00.011-04:00

It's Lori's birthday !

I seem to write about a lot of things.

Things I know, things I observe.

It's long overdue that I write about Lori.

The world needs to know.

The world needs to know that there is someone out there that genuinely still cares about people, animals and life.

Lori is someone that has been tested and still believes in GOD, Jesus Christ, and in people.

More than I ever do or would.

Lori is a rightfully proud mother who unconditionally loves, and without question, hesitation or thought, would die for her children.

I have seen Lori give to the poor to whom she didn't know.

I have watched Lori help, cry and feel the pain for victims of tragedy.

Lori is the last of whatever may be left of the true humanitarians.

The world not only needs to know about Lori, but we need more like her.

Lori, you are much more than my wife...you are my life !

Happy Birthday !

I Love You !

Forever and Always !

A LOT OF US SHOULD BE DEAD !

2008-02-14T16:37:00.018-05:00

If you believe todays regulators and bureaucrats, those of us born in the 50s, 60s, or 70s should be dead.

Our baby cribs were covered with paint.

There was nothing stopping us from sticking a fork in the electrical outlet.

We had no child-proof lids on our medicine bottles or cabinets.

We drank water from a garden hose not a Dasani water bottle.

Many times we drank one soda, one bottle, between four friends and no one got sick or died from this.

We rode our bikes without helmets.

Some cars had seat belts but we never wore them. There were no airbags.

We fell out of trees, wrecked our bicycles, mini-bikes and go-carts. Got cut and broke bones and never thought to sue anyone over these accidents.

We ate cupcakes, cookies, and candy. Drank soda and Kool-Aid and we were never overweight, because we were always outside playing.

We didn't have Playstations, Nintendos or X Boxs, no 357 cable channels or computers with internet.

We would leave home in the morning and play all day, as long as we were back by dark.
No one was able to reach us all day. There were no cell phones.

No, we were lucky to grow up as kids before lawyers and government regulated our lives "for our own good".

Kind of makes me want to run through my house with a pair of scissors.

(Thanks to Gary Ryan for contributing to this post.)