Texsox

QUOTE(tonyho7476 @ Feb 22, 2007 -> 04:03 PM) All I know about the Golden Jew's ridiculous contract is that Mel Karmazin said he would do the deal again in a second, and was even interested in extending the contract. Mel is one hell of a salesman. I suspect they would. I also think he was worth more to Sirius than XM.

QUOTE(tonyho7476 @ Feb 22, 2007 -> 03:50 PM) Me saying 3 million doesn't mean its right. I say look at the subscriber numbers around the time he jumped on board, and that doesn't seem to be that big of a stretch. And Stern has been on 1 year. Again, XM has better car deals, had better equipment (pretty compatible now), and was the name. Stern brought attention to satellite, like never before, and I think more people looked into the product. Again, before this year, if you went to the store and looked at the plug and play radios, XM blew them away. Either way, this merger should make this more of a mainstream product, but a lot of people cannot get past the 'pay for radio' idea. Usually once they hear it, they feel its worth it. These days, the monthly cost is 2 lunches. I am certain there are closely held surveys that measured the exact impact he had. It certainly could be said it kept Sirius in the game. I don't think the same investment could have been made in advertising, different entertainmemt, and have as big an impact. It is interesting to think about, is the size of Stern's contract keeping SIrius from remaining independent? Kind of like A-Rod and the Rangers?

For a party game, you need something that is easy to remember how to play while drinking, and has some aggression and taunting. That describes Aggravation to a "t". Men against the women. If you knock a piece out, you have to drink. Alchy Uno is another favorite. 500 points and everyone drinks. Draw until you have a play.

Ancient Brandmeier fans will remember this line "Jaaaames, has a mental problem . . ." I kept hearing that as I read that guys name.

QUOTE(Queen Prawn @ Feb 22, 2007 -> 03:46 PM) Blowing up a CD player? Sheesh. I don't know about your Church, but I know the noon Ash Wednesday group from my Church and LMAO and what must gave been their reaction. Sorry God, that was wrong. Please forgive me and please bless the little pygmies in New Guinea, Amen.

Foul mouthed little bombs . . .

QUOTE(tonyho7476 @ Feb 22, 2007 -> 03:07 PM) Well, anytime you ask people to pay for something deemed a free service, not everyone is going to follow him. More popular? Well, if they didn't have to pay, probably. And the show is better. I've listened for 10+ years and I think he's doing his best stuff now. Fan boy numbers? Good one. Sorry, I phrased that poorly. Yours are about the most optimistic regarding his impact. Let's say that XM and Sirius split those subscribers, or they don't sign up at all. That makes it Sirius with between 2.1 and 3.6 and XM between 7.1 and 8.6 million. Game set and match. So I do agree that Sterns probably kept Sirius in the game. But if he had the kind of impact you are describing, XM would not have kept pace. If the public needed Sterns to add legitimacy and to prove satellite would be around, why sign up for the competitor? How does Stern and Sirius add legitimacy to XM? I agree it shows that Sirius was willing to make a huge investment, but I fail to see how it would help add legitimacy to XM.

QUOTE(tonyho7476 @ Feb 22, 2007 -> 02:56 PM) I think XM had maybe 2 million subs, and Sirius 600,000 when he signed his deal. So you're not buying my legit comment, huh? I think that's when people realized this was a business that wasnt' going away. Stern also worked well for XM, I guarantee plenty of people came in to the store and said, give me the one Stern is NOT on. I think he was the biggest star, on par with the sports offerings. I don't think he gave the technology legitimacy. I doubt he helped XM too much. People bought and buy sat radio for the stations they want to listen to, not to avoid someone. They could do that with Sirius and just not tune in. They bought based on price, friends recommendations, name recognition,etc. As far as the numbers leveling off, 3 million isn't a lot of people in our country, why has his audience leveled off? With the switch to satellite, his show was suppose to get better and even more popular. Using your numbers, XM continued to sign up the same number of subscribers as Sirius after the deal. What does that tell you? Again using your fan boy inflated numbers, It tells me 8 million didn't care and 3 million did. Still an amazing number, but far from legitimacy.

There are parallels to Baylor perhaps in how the coaching staff responded, but someone was murdered in the first. In this is would have been manslaughter. This was an accident.

QUOTE(NorthSideSox72 @ Feb 22, 2007 -> 02:50 PM) First to market, then better brand recognition, then got into cars and rentals faster. But satellite was not legit until Howard?

QUOTE(tonyho7476 @ Feb 22, 2007 -> 02:42 PM) I don't feel XM is better. Then here's where I am confused. XM has 7.1 million subsribers and Sirius 5.1. Taking out the 3 million that signed up because of Howard that means 2.1 million versus 7.1 million for the rest of the stuff. As you claim there is no programming that can approach Howard, so why did people choose XM 3-1 over Sirius?

QUOTE(CanOfCorn @ Feb 22, 2007 -> 02:09 PM) I think that's always the debate. Are players judged against ALL other players at their position or by peers? Tough call, but if McGriff can get in, then Santo should. Great point. I think it has to be both. Their numbers have to be compared to their era, and historical. Their peers offer some insight.

QUOTE(NorthSideSox72 @ Feb 22, 2007 -> 01:56 PM) 10/5 maybe?

QUOTE(tonyho7476 @ Feb 22, 2007 -> 01:30 PM) Just because I get in this thread and act like an idiot, does not mean I actually am one. I listen everyday and am entertained, more than anything other show out there. That is all. I understand, Sterns does that to his fans. That is the most amazing part about his show. Tell me something, taking Sterns out of the equation, why is XM's programming so much better than Sirius?

QUOTE(tonyho7476 @ Feb 22, 2007 -> 01:13 PM) I just kicked my dog I'm so pissed at you. Hilarious at times? Now you are a listener? I'm so confused. And donate sperm? have you looked at the guy? The kids would be lanky, dorky looking things with big noses and witchy hair. I listen sometimes. I've heard better comics and better social commentators. I have a little more perspective in my life and do not hero worship, I left that behind as a childhood relic. I hope you find a life partner and can worship them on the same level as Stern. That person will be very lucky, or a victim of stalking (The Stern you know, by the way, only exists on the radio. He's an entertainer and puts on a puppet to entertain. It is after all a show and he has artistic license to portray any character. Until you are in his inner circle, you really don't know the person.)

QUOTE(whitesoxfan101 @ Feb 22, 2007 -> 01:03 PM) I read 2 weeks ago that Lovie was offered 3.2 million by the Bears and was enraged at how disrespectful that offer is, on pro football talk online. It's possible he's posturing, but it's fact the Bears are offering 3.2 million a year to a coach with a market value about 2 million dollars a year higher than that. I am always against someone wanting out of their contract. Work on the next one, but don't complain about the current one. He was happy to take the job, the Bears took a chance and won. How many times does the team take a chance and lose? Wanny wasn't returning any money. Now starting next year, make him a top paid coach and wrap him up for 5 or 6 years. He earned that.

QUOTE(tonyho7476 @ Feb 22, 2007 -> 12:58 PM) The difference is Stern actually exists. Hey Oh! I would love to be the Pope of the Church of Stern. Instead of Amen, we could say Hey Now! The perfect human. Glad you found him. LMAO. Maybe instead of having children, you could have him donate sperm? With such perfection in the world, I am certain you wouldn't want to reproduce. And while I find Stern to be amusing to hilarious at times, northing compares to the ferocity and fervor of his fans. You all crack me up. Any criticism of Stern, anything less than calling him a god, gets you all frothy in the mouth and pounding keyboards.

I hope he continues to do what he thinks is best for him and his family. I've always thought he adds a lot of character to the franchise. But much like, Baines, I could see that not being rewarded.

QUOTE(tonyho7476 @ Feb 22, 2007 -> 12:46 PM) They talk like that on the Catholic Channel? Scandalous! I know, Stern is the greatest entertainer in history. Invented satellite radio. It would not exist without him, blah blah blah. You crack me up. I have never in my life met someone so devoted to a dj. You would probably die without him. Two thousand years from now there will be temples dedicated to him. Maybe you will be recognized as one of the prophets. Interesting you raise the parallels to the Catholic Church, you worship Stern like many people worship the God of their choice. So Stern is your God.

QUOTE(tonyho7476 @ Feb 22, 2007 -> 12:38 PM) Ah, the Catholic Channel is on Sirius. Came with a car I bought. And to help entertain you Look at her tits!! Wow. Blow me!! Does your son jack off?

QUOTE(NorthSideSox72 @ Feb 22, 2007 -> 12:09 PM) Who is trying to racially balance a church? I'm saying I could care less if I'm the only white guy there, or they are all white. It really makes no difference. That's the way I think it should be. If happenstance dictates some particular mix, then so be it. I misunderstood. Sorry.

QUOTE(jasonxctf @ Feb 22, 2007 -> 12:29 PM) if it didnt cost $1 billion to put a satelitte in orbit, he might have just done that. 25% only bought for him, he made the market legit. I'm not certain where you got that number. But with 3,000,000 people all wanting just him, that's only about $333 per person. Plus, he makes the market legit, so the others would fail, leaving him as the only satellite radio option. QUOTE(tonyho7476 @ Feb 22, 2007 -> 12:32 PM) This would better be debated at siriusbackstage.com...check it out. Do you own xm or sirius? If not, why am I arguing you. Both actually.

QUOTE(tonyho7476 @ Feb 22, 2007 -> 12:11 PM) Disprove the numbers the I posted. He brought legitimacy to the industry and brought the light on XM and Sirius. Disprove that the increase in listeners was due to installs in new cars, poor local programming in key markets and the increase in intensity of sun spots which made regular radio tough to listen to. Yes, he drove some buyers. Legitimacy to the industry?

It would seem he wants out of his current contract and into a new one with the Bears.