Personalities make good sports radio, and two engaging and informed personalities (Mike Greenberg and Mike Golic) regularly power ESPN Radio's "Mike and Mike in the Morning."Bolstered by the power and reach of ESPN, which means access to experts and guests, the show produces entertaining sports-talk radio almost every day.
On this Monday after the NFL's conference championship games, though, those things were just part of what helped the show to again be at its best. Familiarity, personality and opinions took the show to a higher level.
Because listeners know of Greenberg's love of the New York Jets, his frank, fan-focused perspectives were good to hear.
Plus, the show's producers displayed a great, somewhat mean-spirited sense of humor. Last week, when the Jets beat the Patriots, Greenberg said he heard this song on the way to work -- and that he could not think of a better song to hear the morning after a big victory. So, Monday, with the show regularly coming out of breaks on the day after a Jets loss, the producers played "Build Me Up Buttercup" coming out of commercials.
Regular listeners just had to laugh at the inside-joke swipe, and feel for Greenberg a big (even if they were Steelers fans). Still, that knowledge and sense of community, that shared perspective and knowledge, makes good radio.
Additionally, the expertise and opinions of Golic, a former NFL player -- as discussion focused on whether Chicago Bears QB Jay Cutler was or was not hurt Sunday when he did not complete the game after a knee injury against the Green Back Packers -- were worth hearing and reasoned. Those were complemented by several visits (in-person and on-the-phone) from former NFL players who had their own opinions on the matter.
No matter who was talking, the show did not diminish to no-nonsense, over-the-top rants and it was stronger as a result.