Brock, Why Is Tim The Way He Is?
The title of this article is very close to the question I have gotten twice in my nine seasons working at Jackson Field for the Lansing Lugnuts (my spring and summer job away from the radio station).
He is Tim Staudt (host of Staudt on Sports from 10a-1p on The Game 730 AM WVFN), and the conversation both times I've been asked that goes like this:
Customer (looking at my nametag): Hey, are you Brock from the radio station? NOTE: I get this question sometimes because Brock is not the most common name in the world. So people can really narrow it down as to who I am.
Me: Yes, what can I do for you?
Customer: Can I ask you a question?
Me: Yeah, Sure..
Customer: Brock, What's wrong with him?
The customers are clearly talking about Tim's thoughts about certain sports, like baseball. You know, when Tim reminisces as to how much better baseball (and other sports) was in the 1950s and 1960s (when Tim was growing up). The customers are not attacking Tim personally, AT ALL! They are just conveying to me as to how much they feel he is outdated with his thoughts on certain sports subjects.
Well...on March 23rd, 2021 for the first time ever in all the years that I've broadcasted high school sports, I got a sign from a fan wondering pretty much the same thing. This was during the Division 4 District semifinal between Portland St. Patrick and Fowler at Lansing Christian High School. You can see it above.
"Brock, Why Is Tim The Way He Is?"
To that I respond: "I don't know what to tell you!! I've tried. I just shake my head!! This is why people bother me at the ballpark!!"
I had to laugh at the sign above. I know what he is talking about. Because I hear it from Tim almost everyday (from 10a-1p on The Game 730 AM WVFN). Whether he's talking about scheduling in college sports, or finances in sports, or teams that he thinks are awful (when everyone else thinks they're good), it doesn't matter. He just believes what he believes. And at this point, he ain't changing!
But you also have to believe me about this, and I've worked with him since 2007: when we make fun of Tim, we are just HAVING FUN with him! We do NOT get personal with him. Yes, we have fun at his expense (he brings it on himself sometimes). And we disagree with him about stuff. But at the end of the day, this is just sports, after all. It's not the most important thing in the world.
So, what's wrong with him? Where do I start? :)