Sign up to save your podcasts
Or
Share Paul Finebaum Show – “Rules for Callers”
Share to email
Share to Facebook
Share to X
Share to email
Share to Facebook
Share to X
Or
Paul Finebaum Show – “Rules for Callers”
Sports fans in the South are likely familiar with “The Paul Finebaum Show.” If you’re not, you are about to learn more.
Paul Finebaum is a graduate of the University of Tennessee. He has enjoyed a lengthy and very successful career as a popular sportswriter for newspapers across the South.
In the mid-1980’s, Finebaum was discovered by a new audience. His vast knowledge on college sports helped make him a popular guest on sports talk radio stations in the Southeast.
He eventually became a full-time radio sports talk host in Birmingham, Alabama during the 1990’s.
Paul Finebaum’s unique radio show relied on the host’s deep knowledge of college sports and, especially, the SEC. He would tee-up one or more issues or topics every hour. He interviewed guests with relevant expertise on today’s important sports stories.
A third element to Paul Finebaum’s radio show was a growing legion of occasionally intense and always unique callers to the program.
Their contributions helped to make it one of the more entertaining shows on the air.
Paul Finebaum’s local radio show became so popular that he began syndicating it to a number of radio stations in the South beginning in 2001. New listeners and callers started to show up, too.
“The Paul Finebaum Show” reached new heights again in 2014. That’s when his afternoon sports radio program (1-5 PM Central Time) started being simulcast on television’s SEC Network.
After a dozen years on cable television, this show remains true to its roots
College football has always been the bread and butter of this program. SEC football fans are well known for their passion and pride in support of their favorite college teams. Seasonal sports topics are discussed, but college football is king twelve months of the year on the “The Paul Finebaum Show.”
Finebaum’s national television platform has brought new guests and, of course, a host of new callers.
Hour #4 of his weekday show is generally dedicated to the radio callers and their takes on the issues of the day. Some callers choose to take verbal snipes at one another instead.
Several of the show’s regular callers can come across like seasoned professional wrestlers cutting “promos” trying to sell tickets for upcoming matches.
Let’s start with “Legend.”
He has been a Paul Finebaum regular caller for decades. Legend was recently voted as the Top Caller to the show over the past year. Legend is a loyal supporter and a fierce defender of the Alabama Crimson Tide. In recent months, he has been equally upset about the team’s current football coach, Kaylen DeBoer. Legend enthusiastically comes across a bit like WWE superstar, Ric Flair.
He can make you laugh as he intensely sells his take on just about any topic.
Another top caller goes by the name of “I-Man.” The I-Man is much more laid-back than Legend. He always seems to bring some quality insights about the show’s daily topics. I-man (like Legend) has been calling the Finebaum radio program for many years.
One of the callers I like to hear from is a gentleman who goes by the name of “Handsome Joe.”
He leads off every call with a heartfelt “Roll Tide Roll, Paul!” He does a good job of helping the audience try to make sense of what some of the other callers have been trying to convey.
Another interesting regular caller to the show goes by the handle of “Squirrel.” This caller is generally rather low key in his style.
Like I-Man, Squirrel can deliver some exceptionally insightful and entertaining takes about the day’s topics. He is also known to take a few shots at some of the show’s weaker callers, too.
There are dozens of regular callers contributing to “The Paul Finebaum Show”
Each day is a different roller coaster ride for listeners of the show.
The guests and show callers can make the show soar at times. Other days, a series of pointless calls can send the show crashing down, too. That usually happens whenever a series of callers spend too much of their air time sniping at previous callers rather than adding something new to the show.
Finebaum regular callers also include several insightful female contributors. They generally make some excellent points and bring a little bit of sanity back to the proceedings.
For his part, Paul Finebaum functions as the ringmaster of his own four hour weekday radio circus.
He generously allows his guests and callers to be the stars of his show. I have great admiration for the way he pulls it off.
A few decades ago, yours truly worked as a weekend radio talk show host for several years. It is very tricky to balance the proper amount of input from the host, the show’s guests, and the callers to craft a product which is pleasing to the average listener.
It’s even harder to do this for four hours every day for five days per week like Paul Finebaum does.
The majority of Paul Finebaum’s callers agree on one thing…
Heaven help the occasional caller who happens to gloat about the Big Ten Conference winning its third consecutive national championship in college football last January.
Alabama and LSU fans may despise one another every November. Likewise, Georgia and Florida supporters dislike each other with a passion, too.
However, when a Big Ten supporter calls in to the Finebaum show to say that the SEC’s dominance in college football is now over, these SEC fans quickly band together in support of their beloved sports conference.
Some callers to “The Paul Finebaum Show” seem to me a bit like WWE’s Royal Rumble annual wrestling event. One caller jumps into the ring first to make a point. The next caller follows to disagree with the previous caller’s position or introduce a different topic to the show.
And so it goes for four hours every weekday. It’s a wild ride.
What should be the “Rules for Callers” for the Paul Finebaum show?
Tuesday, June 23rd’s final hour of “The Paul Finebaum Show” featured one caller asking the host if anyone had ever written a rule book to help callers to his radio show. Finebaum suggested that the caller should, perhaps, write that book. Listeners were also teased by the host to try their hand at it, too.
I have listened to enough Finebaum’s show over the years to understand what this caller meant.
So, let’s tackle that issue today. Perhaps my list will find its way to the host of the show. Feel free to use it!
Ten Rules for Callers to “The Paul Finebaum Show”
Do…
1. Listen to the show on the day you are making your call. (Understand what is the primary topic(s) of the day before calling the program.)
2. Think about what you are going to say prior to calling the show.
(A highly respected radio program director at a music station I worked for years ago posted a sign in the control room. It read, “Do not open this microphone unless you have something worthwhile to say.”)
3. Have your own distinct opinion on the subject being discussed.
(Tell us why you agree or disagree on the issue. What would you suggest doing differently?)
4. Feel free to pose a fresh question or topic to the show’s host.
(Paul may welcome a change of subjects at certain times of the show. He will either answer your question directly or encourage other callers to provide their opinion on that topic, too!)
5. Be succinct. (You generally have up to 60 seconds to make your point. It is up to the show’s host and producer to ascertain whether your call is deemed entertaining enough to continue any longer than that.)
Now, for the “Don’t” set of my rules when calling the show…
6. Imbibe any adult beverages prior to making your call.
(Slurring your words – even if you are making a great point – is a turnoff to most of us listeners. Try again tomorrow, please.)
7. Spend your entire call tearing down what a previous caller just said. That’s boring!
(Instead, start with “I disagree with “X” on this issue. Here’s why he/she got it wrong”.)
8. Read from scripted comments or points or ramble. This is a phone call – not a speech!
(Use brief notes to stay on track if you feel nervous prior to making the call)
9. Speak past the show host! Have a real live conversation directly with Paul Finebaum.
(Talk as if Paul is the only one on the telephone line, because he is! Your call will come across much better to us listeners as a result.)
10. Call the show solely to agree with another caller’s point on a particular issue.
(It’s boring to hear, “I totally agree with Legend’s comments about …”. So, exactly why did you take the time to call the radio show today? What are your own thoughts on the subject being discussed?)
Bonus – Don’t take yourself too seriously!
The post Paul Finebaum Show – “Rules for Callers” appeared first on SwampSwamiSports.com.
View all episodes
By SwampSwamiSports.comSports fans in the South are likely familiar with “The Paul Finebaum Show.” If you’re not, you are about to learn more.
Paul Finebaum is a graduate of the University of Tennessee. He has enjoyed a lengthy and very successful career as a popular sportswriter for newspapers across the South.
In the mid-1980’s, Finebaum was discovered by a new audience. His vast knowledge on college sports helped make him a popular guest on sports talk radio stations in the Southeast.
He eventually became a full-time radio sports talk host in Birmingham, Alabama during the 1990’s.
Paul Finebaum’s unique radio show relied on the host’s deep knowledge of college sports and, especially, the SEC. He would tee-up one or more issues or topics every hour. He interviewed guests with relevant expertise on today’s important sports stories.
A third element to Paul Finebaum’s radio show was a growing legion of occasionally intense and always unique callers to the program.
Their contributions helped to make it one of the more entertaining shows on the air.
Paul Finebaum’s local radio show became so popular that he began syndicating it to a number of radio stations in the South beginning in 2001. New listeners and callers started to show up, too.
“The Paul Finebaum Show” reached new heights again in 2014. That’s when his afternoon sports radio program (1-5 PM Central Time) started being simulcast on television’s SEC Network.
After a dozen years on cable television, this show remains true to its roots
College football has always been the bread and butter of this program. SEC football fans are well known for their passion and pride in support of their favorite college teams. Seasonal sports topics are discussed, but college football is king twelve months of the year on the “The Paul Finebaum Show.”
Finebaum’s national television platform has brought new guests and, of course, a host of new callers.
Hour #4 of his weekday show is generally dedicated to the radio callers and their takes on the issues of the day. Some callers choose to take verbal snipes at one another instead.
Several of the show’s regular callers can come across like seasoned professional wrestlers cutting “promos” trying to sell tickets for upcoming matches.
Let’s start with “Legend.”
He has been a Paul Finebaum regular caller for decades. Legend was recently voted as the Top Caller to the show over the past year. Legend is a loyal supporter and a fierce defender of the Alabama Crimson Tide. In recent months, he has been equally upset about the team’s current football coach, Kaylen DeBoer. Legend enthusiastically comes across a bit like WWE superstar, Ric Flair.
He can make you laugh as he intensely sells his take on just about any topic.
Another top caller goes by the name of “I-Man.” The I-Man is much more laid-back than Legend. He always seems to bring some quality insights about the show’s daily topics. I-man (like Legend) has been calling the Finebaum radio program for many years.
One of the callers I like to hear from is a gentleman who goes by the name of “Handsome Joe.”
He leads off every call with a heartfelt “Roll Tide Roll, Paul!” He does a good job of helping the audience try to make sense of what some of the other callers have been trying to convey.
Another interesting regular caller to the show goes by the handle of “Squirrel.” This caller is generally rather low key in his style.
Like I-Man, Squirrel can deliver some exceptionally insightful and entertaining takes about the day’s topics. He is also known to take a few shots at some of the show’s weaker callers, too.
There are dozens of regular callers contributing to “The Paul Finebaum Show”
Each day is a different roller coaster ride for listeners of the show.
The guests and show callers can make the show soar at times. Other days, a series of pointless calls can send the show crashing down, too. That usually happens whenever a series of callers spend too much of their air time sniping at previous callers rather than adding something new to the show.
Finebaum regular callers also include several insightful female contributors. They generally make some excellent points and bring a little bit of sanity back to the proceedings.
For his part, Paul Finebaum functions as the ringmaster of his own four hour weekday radio circus.
He generously allows his guests and callers to be the stars of his show. I have great admiration for the way he pulls it off.
A few decades ago, yours truly worked as a weekend radio talk show host for several years. It is very tricky to balance the proper amount of input from the host, the show’s guests, and the callers to craft a product which is pleasing to the average listener.
It’s even harder to do this for four hours every day for five days per week like Paul Finebaum does.
The majority of Paul Finebaum’s callers agree on one thing…
Heaven help the occasional caller who happens to gloat about the Big Ten Conference winning its third consecutive national championship in college football last January.
Alabama and LSU fans may despise one another every November. Likewise, Georgia and Florida supporters dislike each other with a passion, too.
However, when a Big Ten supporter calls in to the Finebaum show to say that the SEC’s dominance in college football is now over, these SEC fans quickly band together in support of their beloved sports conference.
Some callers to “The Paul Finebaum Show” seem to me a bit like WWE’s Royal Rumble annual wrestling event. One caller jumps into the ring first to make a point. The next caller follows to disagree with the previous caller’s position or introduce a different topic to the show.
And so it goes for four hours every weekday. It’s a wild ride.
What should be the “Rules for Callers” for the Paul Finebaum show?
Tuesday, June 23rd’s final hour of “The Paul Finebaum Show” featured one caller asking the host if anyone had ever written a rule book to help callers to his radio show. Finebaum suggested that the caller should, perhaps, write that book. Listeners were also teased by the host to try their hand at it, too.
I have listened to enough Finebaum’s show over the years to understand what this caller meant.
So, let’s tackle that issue today. Perhaps my list will find its way to the host of the show. Feel free to use it!
Ten Rules for Callers to “The Paul Finebaum Show”
Do…
1. Listen to the show on the day you are making your call. (Understand what is the primary topic(s) of the day before calling the program.)
2. Think about what you are going to say prior to calling the show.
(A highly respected radio program director at a music station I worked for years ago posted a sign in the control room. It read, “Do not open this microphone unless you have something worthwhile to say.”)
3. Have your own distinct opinion on the subject being discussed.
(Tell us why you agree or disagree on the issue. What would you suggest doing differently?)
4. Feel free to pose a fresh question or topic to the show’s host.
(Paul may welcome a change of subjects at certain times of the show. He will either answer your question directly or encourage other callers to provide their opinion on that topic, too!)
5. Be succinct. (You generally have up to 60 seconds to make your point. It is up to the show’s host and producer to ascertain whether your call is deemed entertaining enough to continue any longer than that.)
Now, for the “Don’t” set of my rules when calling the show…
6. Imbibe any adult beverages prior to making your call.
(Slurring your words – even if you are making a great point – is a turnoff to most of us listeners. Try again tomorrow, please.)
7. Spend your entire call tearing down what a previous caller just said. That’s boring!
(Instead, start with “I disagree with “X” on this issue. Here’s why he/she got it wrong”.)
8. Read from scripted comments or points or ramble. This is a phone call – not a speech!
(Use brief notes to stay on track if you feel nervous prior to making the call)
9. Speak past the show host! Have a real live conversation directly with Paul Finebaum.
(Talk as if Paul is the only one on the telephone line, because he is! Your call will come across much better to us listeners as a result.)
10. Call the show solely to agree with another caller’s point on a particular issue.
(It’s boring to hear, “I totally agree with Legend’s comments about …”. So, exactly why did you take the time to call the radio show today? What are your own thoughts on the subject being discussed?)
Bonus – Don’t take yourself too seriously!
The post Paul Finebaum Show – “Rules for Callers” appeared first on SwampSwamiSports.com.