Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Upcoming Slate For May

Even though this week's show isn't even done yet, I've definitely got big plans for the last set of broadcasts for Spring semester!

Keep in mind that theFRANCHISE Radio will continue during the summer, possibly in more than one timeslot -- INCLUDING more LIVE broadcasts!

Over the coming weeks, though, I'll be having more guest interviews and guest playlists, as well as a wider variety of music gradually introduced each week. Who knows? One week, you might hear Third Eye Blind, another week, you might hear Motorhead. We'll see...

Also, be on the lookout for the YouTube version of the show! I'm looking into getting a camera for each weekly recording session, and I might even be able to arrange something for the live broadcasts this summer, as well. Think of it as a show-behind-the-show type deal...

I'll have a draft analysis article up soon, covering this past weekend's NFL Draft, and I'll be handing out draft grades for my Baltimore Ravens. Best believe that Mel Kiper's got NOTHING on me!!

(Well, ok, maybe that's a lie)

Either way, be sure to tune in this week for arguably the BIGGEST show in the HISTORY of theFRANCHISE Radio! Again, bringing YOU, Blue Hen Nation, the finest in hip-hop and R&B and everything else in-between; making it do what it do for the 302 EVERY Friday night, and ALWAYS starting your weekend off right! Giving you what you want, what you need, and what you gotta have -- PLEASE believe! Only on 91.3FM WVUD-Newark, the VOICE of the University of Delaware! This Friday night, 11PM!

(Did I mention you should really, really, REALLY tune in?)

Monday, April 27, 2009

Preview of 5/1/09's Show

Rarely have I walked away from the studio feeling so good about a show, but I've gotta say...this week's show could possibly be one of the best, if not the best, episode of theFRANCHISE Radio thus far.

For the first time ever, I had a full house for an interesting roundtable session that definitely resulted in more talking than I've done on the show in a while. In fact, I'm almost hesitant to leave material on the cutting room floor, just because of how good the vibe was. Even in-between segments, we kept talking and we made the recording session go A LOT LONGER than intended.

This (through my ever-present co-host, DJ Heartbreaker, of course) gave me the idea of possibly investing in a camera to capture these recording sessions on video for your viewing pleasure. I swear, we could've made an entire YouTube SERIES out of just the behind-the-scenes stuff. Lots of laughs and lots of deep discussion. Plus, realistically, our segment on hip-hop definitely could've gone for a lot longer than 10 minutes -- and actually did, because we continued talking even after I shut the mics off to get the next segment prepped.

This could definitely be a regular thing, and you've definitely gotta tune in this week as myself & H-Beezy play host to special guests Gooz (one of WVUD's many in-house talents and resident rapper) and Khalid Bilal (representing UD's Black Student Union and Khulamani Theater Troupe). Things got real interesting when H-Beezy showed up late and it went from a three-man circus to a four-man show.

And, as always, this week's playlist is CRAZY. I've got a brand-new album cut (always exclusive for Blue Hen Nation, of course!) from Ciara's upcoming new album "Fantasy Ride" WEEKS before it hits stores, as well as a couple of surprises along the way.

Trust me, even though this week's show has more talking, it's easily one of the best shows I've ever done. But, you be the judge when you tune in to theFRANCHISE Radio, this Friday night @ 11PM, only on 91.3FM WVUD-Newark, or WVUD.org!

Saturday, April 25, 2009

Updating on Draft Day '09

Today is, of course, the start of the 2009 NFL Draft and the beginning of a (hopefully) long journey for the future of the NFL.

But before I get into that, a little bit of business first:

1) For the astute listeners out there, last night's episode of theFRANCHISE Radio was a rebroadcast of the previous week's show -- hence why a playlist hasn't been posted. Plus, to be perfectly honest, I felt that it was a throwaway show to begin with since it was mostly a platform to promote this coming week's Young Jeezy concert @ UD. A possible shake-up of the show may be coming soon, so look out for that...

2) Meet the Media Day 2009 was a decent success. Not as overwhelmingly great as I thought it'd be, but we got rid of a lot of pamphlets (always a good sign), and we had a decent amount of visitors to the table. I was waiting for one visitor in particular...but that's a different story for a different day. And we won't discuss that here. :)

3) theFRANCHISE Radio will, of course, continue this summer even after the school year is over -- and I will most likely broadcast live for the first time since Winter session! There's also the outside chance of two or three shows per week, but that all depends on logistics and my own availability, so we'll see...

4) Yours truly was interviewed by UD's own television station, STN49, on Media Day so look out for that soon (as well as a cheap plug for my show). Also, look out for the quickie bumper promo I recorded for STN's Mics & Lights as well. Nothing too fancy (just read off a cue card), but in retrospect, I should've at least added my own personal touch to it. Oh well. STN might be getting a little bit more of theFRANCHISE before my time at UD is done!

And now, getting back to the draft (which is just now getting under way), here's my list of guys I wouldn't mind picking up in the 1st round:

1) Darrius Heyward-Bey
2) Jeremy Maclin
3) Knowshon Moreno
4) Rey Maualuga
5) Vontae Davis
6) Malcolm Jenkins
7) Tyson Jackson
8) Michael Oher
9) Aaron Curry
10) Jason Smith

Note that the list doesn't indicate skill level, and is only representative of the players I'd personally love to take with the 26th overall pick. That's the only reason why Curry and Smith round out my top ten; they likely won't be there at the 26th spot, but if they were, I'd definitely jump on either one of them.

I've recently started Twittering, too, so look for me on Twitter, as well...

Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Show Updates

Alright, folks, it's been a minute since I've updated this thing properly, so I apologize, first and foremost. Classes have been hectic, but I'm head above water, so it's all good.

If you've been keeping up with the broadcasts, I haven't been plugging the blog as much as I used to, for this very reason. But, when I go back to doing live shows, I'm hoping to be as consistent as I used to be with my updates.

Currently, I'm exploring podcasting options (minus the music, for copyright reasons), and I'm looking to maybe do an internet version of my show, but more talk-oriented than music-oriented. Maybe a return to the Sportscage or Sports Roundtable? We'll see.

As for playlists, I have them written, but I don't have the time to put together a proper streaming playlist nor post them here (yet, I have the time to write this entry...ironic, huh?). So, bear with me, and I'll eventually get the online side of things caught up.

For right now, here's a few announcements to get you through:

- Thursday, 4/23: Joe Flacco @ National 5 & 10 on Main Street, Newark, DE. Not sure if it's a signing or just a promotional appearance, but either way, the former Delaware QB returns to his old stomping grounds so you know it's a must for Ravens fans (and UD football fans) to show up! I personally may not be there due to scheduling conflicts, but if I do, look out for me in the purple customized #1 Ravens jersey! (The one with the ridiculously long last name...)

- Also on Thursday, 4/23: The University of Delaware's Black Student Union is holding a Spirit of Hip-Hop Day, all day @ the Trabant Patio. This event is a part of BSU Week (which, coincidentally, coincides with Greek Week on-campus), and there'll be plenty of activities and things to do with great music, so stop by! I'll probably make an appearance there as well, so be sure to say what's up!

- Friday, 4/24: Meet the Media Day @ the Trabant Patio, 11AM-4PM! Be sure to stop by and meet all of the media groups on-campus and get to know us better! Organizations such as STN, aUDio, UDress, and of course WVUD will be on-hand with lots of free stuff and activities! Be sure to stop by the WVUD table where we'll have a remote DJ booth and you can be on-air (sorta) with yours truly, theFRANCHISE, and all of our great on-air talent!

- Thursday, 4/30: Young Jeezy featuring special guest Drake @ the Bob Carpenter Center! Tickets are still on sale ($25 for UD students with ID, limit 4 per ID; $30 general admission), but quantities are limited! Doors open @ 7pm, show starts at 8! Be on the lookout for a possible intervew with Jeezy to air after the concert exclusively on WVUD! This event is presented by the Cultural Programming Advisory Board (CPAB). Yours truly will NOT be at the concert due to scheduling conflicts, but if I could've gone, best believe I would've brought you, Blue Hen Nation, the exclusive interview with Young Jeezy to theFRANCHISE Radio the following night.

And as always, for the finest in hip-hop and R&B and everything else in-between; making it do what it do for the 302 every Friday night, and always starting your weekend off right, giving you what you want, what you need, and what you gotta have, please believe -- it's theFRANCHISE Radio, only on 91.3FM, WVUD-Newark, the Voice of the University of Delaware!

Be sure to tune into this week's show, Friday @ 11PM!

Saturday, April 18, 2009

Long Term vs. Short Term: The Anquan Boldin Debate

Although this is a topic that is based around Anquan Boldin, this actually extends beyond just Boldin. Rather, this is a topic that encompasses all of the risk/reward decisions made with football personnel.

That topic is the eternal struggle between long term and short term benefits.

Whenever a transaction is made, the school of thought behind each move boils down to its long term and short term benefits. When an organization decides to draft a young, unproven player with loads of potential over a proven veteran whose future is in doubt, the team makes the acquisition with the hopes of reaping long term benefits. Conversely, a team that decides to sign that proven veteran over an unsure prospect, does so with the expectation of benefitting in the short term.

Other than money, the common denominator in the Anquan Boldin debate boils down to long term vs. short term; Ravens fans that support the signing of Boldin, expect the team to be immediately poised for a Super Bowl run, while fans that argue against Boldin, expect a receiver to be drafted that will help the team win multiple Super Bowls in the future.

However, the fallacy of that logic is the assumption that a Super Bowl (or more) will even be won. Regardless of how playoff-ready a team is, there is no guarantee that an acquisition will seal that team's fate, for better or worse.

In other words, the signing of Anquan Boldin does not resign the Ravens to the fate of winning only one Super Bowl, or even reaching the Super Bowl for that matter. On the other hand, the drafting of a wide-receiver does not guarantee that the Ravens will win multiple Super Bowls, let alone one at all.

No single transaction is a win-now or win-later proposition, as one player does not make a team, no matter how large of a financial strain he is; the only way that one player can have a negative effect is if he does not produce or does not fit with the locker room.

At the end of the day, the question that needs to be asked is, will the team improve regardless of the action taken? In this case, no matter what the Ravens do, the team is subjectively better (on paper) this offseason than it was in the last. The team has done nothing astronomically wrong to prevent itself from making another playoff run, and fans will still have a reason to cheer in Week 1.