MEDIA WATCHDOG: Grading the Bruce Cunningham Ravens Show – Part II

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Media Watchdog - MEDIA WATCHDOG: Grading the Bruce Cunningham Ravens Show – Part II

Posted On: 1/29/08

Written By:

Scot Kleinfeld

MEDIA WATCHDOG: Grading the Bruce Cunningham Ravens Show – Part II

Back in July I decided to review the Bruce Cunningham Show and on that day co-host Aaron Wilson was not in studio. The quality of the program was not top shelf and ever since I promised I would give it another shot. Is it fair to judge Batman without Robin or Montana without Rice?

I listen to part of this show regularly and the entire show nearly every week. I know the tendencies, strengths and weaknesses associated with this weekly broadcast.

The first segment got off to a solid start as Aaron Wilson gave a detailed update on the status of Rex Ryan. It was clear Ryan was still working for the Ravens, but what his future status would be with the team was still cloudy as of Saturday afternoon.

Wilson did a nice job of quickly steering the talk to the big news of last week which was the hiring of Cam Cameron as the new offensive coordinator. It makes sense to give more time to the known quantities (Cameron) versus the unknown (Ryan).

After both praised Harbaugh for the Cameron hiring, there was speculation about the status of Special Teams coach Frank Gansz. This was the first time I had heard any Ravens show discuss this topic since the Billick firing and its odd nobody else has brought up this topic during the last three weeks.

This segment took an unwarranted detour when the discussion strayed into the college coaching resume of Al Davis. Please guys…this is a Ravens show and the fans get precious little time to talk local football each week.

After taking two calls the show went to break.

The second segment moved along smoothly as the callers brought up several different subjects. One thing I have to give Cunningham and Wilson credit for is they let the callers drive the topics. Whether it was the Cameron hiring, draft picks or the Senior Bowl both went with the flow nicely.

Wilson made two opinions very clear. He expects the Ravens to franchise Terrell Suggs and he thinks Steve McNair’s career in Baltimore is over.

Knowing this show as I do, I knew it was only a matter of time before the spokesperson for regular sponsor Mike’s Doughboys joined the show. This cat comes in every week and chats with Cunningham and Wilson. No other radio show in town that I listen to actually has a sponsor come in studio and get air time…it’s just not something you do on radio. I never hear Steve Davis do this, or Rob Long or even Anita Marks. None of the fans want to hear what Mr. Doughboy has to say about the Ravens. His company gets ample plugs during every broadcast and that’s where it should end.

The rest of the show was spent mainly on the upcoming draft and while Wilson had more to offer than Cunningham, Bruce was able to hold his own throughout.

What I didn’t hear that I expected to was some talk about free agents and the status of the offensive line. There is no doubt the line needs some work and with Mike Flynn and Jonathan Ogden contemplating retirement this unit could have a much different look next season. It also would have been nice to hear what Cunningham and Wilson thought about how free agents such as Musa Smith, Devard Darling and Gerome Sapp might fit into the Ravens’ plans under the new coaching staff.

Grade: B-

Recent Super Bowl trend: Is 13 really an unlucky number? In terms of winning the Super Bowl this decade it’s been pure doom. Twelve teams have finished the regular season at 13-3 since 2000 and not one has lifted the Lombardi Trophy. This year the bad mojo struck Dallas, Green Bay and Indianapolis…all had 13 wins.