Knoxville’s Media Breakdown

As die hard UT fans, we are always hungry for every little bit of info that comes along. Sometimes I think we have a great media base, other times I just shake my head at some of the questions that are asked. Below are some of the local media & some general thoughts about them. I know AA did a whole bracket thing back in the summer, but these are some ramblings about a few.

Wes Rucker – Tennessee Sports Radio, GVX247 writer

I’m very torn on Rucker’s status in my pyramid of Knoxville media greatness. He’s a very good writer. I think he asks well thought out questions, and I think he is pretty level headed in his opinions. At least most of the time. His pseudo-objectivity kick is somewhat annoying. It seems like every time I turn on his radio show or read a tweet, he’s talking about how he has no emotional connection to UT. Maybe that’s what keeps him “objective,” but get over yourself. He was born in Tennessee, he went to Tennessee, and he covers Tennessee. Stop acting like you’re above fandom, other than the Cubs. Regardless, I think he’s a necessary follow on Twitter, but I feel like I get more tweets regarding his Larry David-isms rather than Vols coverage. And I think he is okay with that. His radio show is so-so. It sounds like he’s performing a high school senior play in the studio instead of talking sports. Overall, I would say he’s towards the top. I don’t see too much from him now that he’s on a pay site, but when he was with TFP, his articles were always a good read.

Erik Ainge – Former Vols QB, Tennessee Sports Radio

The new guy on the block, Ainge has burst onto the scene in a big way. His show is really entertaining. Being both a former player and a huge UT fan, he has a unique blend of understanding things from both perspectives, and he gets those points out pretty well. I really like how he’s been honest with the whole addiction thing, and major kudos to him for getting it out there. I listen to his show every chance I get. I wish the name would go back to, “Morning Wood.”

Patrick Brown – Chattanooga Times Free Press

I’m a pretty big fan. He’s almost like a pre-radio & GVX247 Rucker, without the, “Look at me!” tweets. He seems like a stat junkie, and he’ll throw interesting ones out every once in awhile. He has some pretty good stories, and he’s good at putting interesting quotes from the coaches and players on Twitter.

Clay Travis – Some idiot publishes his garbage, Lawyer, 104.5 in Nashville

Clay Travis is not a Knoxville media member, but I just want to put a spot here for how badly I dislike him. He is quite possibly the worst writer in the history of the world. He just doesn’t get it. I’ve read his garbage books. On Rocky Top was abysmal. He’s just bad all the way around. His recent articles regarding Dooley being on the hot seat solidify his status as a total buffoon. In no way does he understand football, or life for that matter, if he thinks Derek Dooley is on the hot seat. My goodness at how bad he is. I’ve watched football games with ten year olds that understand as much as he does.

Alex Anderson – Tennessee Sports Radio

AA is my personal favorite, and not because I am a homer, but because he is just good. He’s not a reporter in a traditional sense. His show is a bit flat at times, and he goes flat with it, but the majority of the time he is bringing the fire. The way he works callers into what he wants to talk about is mesmerizing. His blog is really funny at times, and his whole website is cool. I wish he had a bigger platform and he was just little more consistent. He deserves much more than one hour. Steal one of Rucker’s.

Andrew Gribble/Austin Ward - Knox News Sentinel/Go Vols Extra 

I lumped these two together because they are basically the same person. They’re just straight news. They’re both informative, but not necessarily attention grabbing.

Like I said, sometimes the media is great, other times they fall on their face. I know that they work really hard. I respect all of them for that… Except Clay Travis. I don’t respect anything he does. These are just a few. Let me know what you think of them or the rest of the Knoxville media.