Philadelphia prides itself on being one of the best sports cities on the map. In the ‘City of Brotherly Love,’ you have notable teams like the Philadelphia Eagles, Philadelphia Phillies, Philadelphia 76ers, Philadelphia Flyers, and the Philadelphia Union. Frankly, it is easy to get behind any of these teams, hence why Philadelphia fans usually are not casual; they are rabid and die-hard.
When it seems like nothing notable is happening with one of these franchises, writers keep fans engaged. On the ice, field, diamond, pitch, or hardwood, sports do not sleep in Philadelphia.
So, why does the sports talk radio market have tunnel vision for select teams in Philadelphia?
The Eagles are a topic every day for a calendar year. The Phillies, even from 2012 to 2021, remained a topic. The 76ers, during a tank, yielding ten wins in 2015-2016, remained a topic as the Flyers were in a Game Six on home ice versus the Washington Capitals. As long as Eric Camille was the Assistant Program Director at 97.5 the Fanatic, he was going to do everything he could to shoehorn the Union (who deserves to be a topic; they are Philadelphia sports), but that was influenced by who controlled the reigns at the station.
Regarding the Flyers, I challenged personalities last season as to why they rarely discuss the team, especially the station that refers to itself as the ‘home of the Flyers.’ John Kincade, who I certainly believe does not fall under this umbrella because his show at least would mention the Flyers, replied that he could ‘talk hockey 24/7 and be unemployed.’
Wait a minute. The ‘home of the Flyers’ would fire you for talking about the Flyers? They don’t need to be a topic every hour like the Eagles. I am not daft to understand what draws ratings. However, when your station represents a team and broadcasts the games along with the sister station, 93.3 WMMR, it helps to advertise the team to the listeners to encourage discussion.
If a station ignores teams by not discussing them, then the strategy is why the ratings do not draw aside from the Eagles, Phillies, and 76ers.
Again, Kincade acknowledges the team. He recognizes the team on a general level but for an abbreviated time. Another wonderful thing Kincade did was utilize the resources at 97.5 the Fanatic. You would never guess it by enduring ‘The Best Show Ever,’ but there are people who hardly get air time who are articulate in what happens on the ice employed at that station, Colin Newby and Haley Simon.
These names should not be new to fans who seek out Flyers content. Newby does not leave a detail unturned when he writes for 97.5 the Fanatic. Simon is doing great work for Philly Sports Network.
‘The Home of the Flyers’ has the resources to help interact with the fanbase. Yet, hot takes from people who do not watch hockey exposed the station and frankly discredited themselves as ‘the home of the Flyers.’
Look no further to the benching of Matvei Michkov. Tyrone Johnson jumps on his show and immediately calls for the firing of John Tortorella. Among a litany of bad takes, Johnson cites ‘advanced metrics,’ that he clearly does not understand to state Michkov is the third-best player on the Flyers in five-on-five scenarios.
Tortorella benched Michkov, who, in two fewer games than what the Flyers have played, still leads Philadelphia forwards in turnovers. Anthony Richard already matched the number of goals scored at even strength by Michkov.
On a road trip versus teams like the Carolina Hurricanes, the Tampa Bay Lightning, and the Florida Panthers, Tortorella coached his lineup to a 1-1-1 record. Michkov struggled at even strength against the Hurricanes in a regulation loss. While scratched and learning from a new perspective in the press booth, the Flyers salvaged the road trip with points in consecutive games for the second time this season. The eye test passed whatever ‘advanced metrics’ are misconstrued as an individual effort when Sean Couturier and Travis Konecny carried the share at even strength with Michkov on their line before his benching.
But, one would have to watch the games to know that instead of just inspiring fake outrage, or even worse, not bothering to understand the sport.
Unironically, the producer of ‘The Best Show Ever,’ Dylan MacKinnon, decided it was time to attempt to talk hockey, too. He said no one could explain why benching Michkov made sense. In the same tweet, he already went on the defensive, stating that everyone tells him he does not understand hockey. I cited five-on-five struggles, turnovers, and the overuse of ‘the Michigan’ (in that tweet, but more extensively, in this article, too.) The response was about how Michkov, a rookie, will make mistakes.
Scratching a player for a coaching opportunity helps with these adjustments. All MacKinnon had to do was look at how Tortorella approached Konecny last season. He shortened the bench at his expense. Konecny continued to lead the Flyers in points, helped turn the penalty kill into an elite group with Scott Laughton, and led the NHL in shorthanded goals. Instead, the lazy narrative that specifically comes from people who do not understand hockey leaked from MacKinnon, who said Tortorella is ‘a jerk’ and was punishing Michkov.
It used to be that I wanted the Philadelphia markets to sink their teeth into the Flyers, stepping out of their comfort zone. However, it is probably best they leave that to the writers and podcasts.
The fans of these undiscussed franchises in Philadelphia should not have their intelligence insulted. Johnson got in his feelings when I declared that 97.5 the Fanatic, ‘the home of the Flyers,’ should hire people who understand the sport instead of loudly shouting hot takes for digital media. He replied, ‘I’ve asked hockey people about you. That’s why I don’t speak to you.’
I do not take criticism from people I would not ask for advice.
Perhaps his take would not be a laughing stock of the Flyers fan base if he did speak to people like me. People like me could teach a thing or two about hockey and how to understand the sport. But there is no investment from the people who have a microphone and screening calls during a time when the 76ers are 1-7.
The ‘home of the Flyers,’ eh? Let Philadelphia know when.
