Craig Ross on WTKA
I don’t know how many people here listen to the Michigan Insider every day, but, working from home, I do. Craig Ross’s appearances are almost always the best segment of the week, but today’s segment was extraordinary. I highly recommend checking it out if you have 50 minutes to spare! Very personal, very interesting and very deep. Craig did a great job capturing how I’ve felt during this year of political and social catastrophe we’ve been living through
(Fair warning, the podcast has those miserable cars for kids ads at the start)
[Ed-Seth: Co-sign. The podcasts are on the WTKA stream if you want to listen. https://omny.fm/shows/michigan-insider]
September 24th, 2020 at 9:06 PM ^
Kars for kids - I have never felt more desperation to hit the 30 second fast forward twice than when those ads are running.
And, yes, Ross is quite the brilliant and interesting character.
September 25th, 2020 at 11:21 AM ^
This summer I donated my beloved 2000 Toyota Camry when the cost to make it smog-compliant was more than the value of the car itself.
I donated to Goodwill. Wouldn't never ever in a million years consider donating to Kars for Kids because of the earache they've inflicted on the world with that jingle.
September 24th, 2020 at 9:06 PM ^
1877kars4kids k-a-r-s Kars for kids! FFS make it stop!!!!
September 24th, 2020 at 10:01 PM ^
I don’t think anyone can adequately overstate just how terrible that jingle is.
September 25th, 2020 at 12:18 AM ^
Ah, but the fact that we all know it and are talking about it proves it is effective.
September 25th, 2020 at 4:26 AM ^
Touché - it is memorable. But: 9/11, Chucky, and JT Barrett’s ‘first down’ were also memorable.
September 25th, 2020 at 7:08 AM ^
Years ago I heard a guy who was a long-time creative in the ad business comment on that "Doesn't matter if it's terrible as long as it's memorable" theory of commercials. He said that when he was a kid he once stepped barefoot into a pile of dog shit. It might have been memorable, but it was not an experience he ever wanted to revisit. And it sure wasn't an emotion he wanted associated with his client's product.
September 24th, 2020 at 10:57 PM ^
I'm not convinced that little girl is actually a drummer.
September 24th, 2020 at 11:55 PM ^
I have never understood why they give your cars to needy kids who probably can't afford the insurance and can't even legally drive yet.
September 25th, 2020 at 4:23 AM ^
A 3 syllable organization that misspells the operative first word instantly loses credibility. I understand the alliteration with the k’s, but it just strikes me as idiotic.
September 25th, 2020 at 9:16 AM ^
If you don't like that, the Krispy Kreme Klub may not be for you.
September 24th, 2020 at 9:08 PM ^
Great segement and loved when he read the poem. But when he mentioned the "upbeat" MGoPodcast I wondered if I had missed one... ha.
September 24th, 2020 at 9:09 PM ^
How about hooking your "MGOBretheren" up with a synopsis. Don't have 50 min to spare this evening. Also "Very Personal, very interesting, and very deep".....That's What She Said!!!!
September 24th, 2020 at 9:35 PM ^
Ross read a poem from a poetry class that he took while at Michigan from a famous poet and professor that he admired. He got choked up and referenced how that poem reminded him of the tough times he was going through during that time in his life at Michigan (no explanation or context as to the difficulties). He thought the poem was apt for this time with the global pandemic. He also admitted to being a general optimist, but the reality of the coronavirus and all of the damage it has done (and that he anticipates that it will do for years to come due to his skepticism that there will ever be an effective vaccine) seemed to hit him. He also recently lost a friend to the virus. He was raw and thoughtful and sweet.
September 24th, 2020 at 10:22 PM ^
Excellent summation. I've very much enjoyed Craig Ross over the summer. Sam and Craig and John U Bacon in particular have had some very interesting conversations that are a cut above what you hear on much of sport radio. This morning, lots of very raw emotion came through.
September 24th, 2020 at 9:35 PM ^
That’s what she asked me for, she was disappointed.
September 24th, 2020 at 9:19 PM ^
Damn that Kars for Kids ad.
September 24th, 2020 at 9:47 PM ^
Excellent charity organization Kars for Kids. Why dump on giving money to under privileged children. I donated my son’s 2000 Jeep Cherokee last year. They sold that rust bucket at auction for $800. Proud donation and great service for dumping your junker !
September 24th, 2020 at 10:07 PM ^
Nobody is dumping on the charity itself, only on the ad. That jingle is fucking horrible!
And kudos to you for a well made donation! +1...
September 24th, 2020 at 10:10 PM ^
This caused me to go on a bit of a dive on Kars4Kids, which turns out to be run by / funds Oorah, which is not what I expected it to be.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oorah_(organization)
Who knew? I guess I assumed it was more about food/provisions, housing, school equipment or some such thing for kids. Curious that it is obscured a bit on their own (Kars4Kids) website.
September 24th, 2020 at 10:12 PM ^
I am sure it is a great organization. The ad jingle is just terrible.
September 24th, 2020 at 10:34 PM ^
Jingled work for me. Great service organization. Nothing but respect for Kars4Kids. Car pickup - awesome. Tax deduction related documentation - awesome. Value at auction for maximizing your donation - awesome.
If you have a junker to sell ... donate with Kars4Kids as your value maximization is very high and your donation benefits underprivileged children.
September 25th, 2020 at 7:56 AM ^
Just out of curiosity, how are you defining underprivileged? Check out the charity they where the funds go - it does not mention underprivileged on their website (not that it means it is not a good cause): https://www.oorah.org/
September 24th, 2020 at 9:39 PM ^
Thanks for flagging ...
September 24th, 2020 at 10:29 PM ^
I haven't listened to this week's segment yet, but I listen to all of CR's appearances. He and Sam are the best sports commentators going IMO.
September 25th, 2020 at 12:10 AM ^
I’ve never listened to Craig and Sam. You have to love Craig Ross. He was honest, vulnerable, and with integrity. Clearly Sam was uncomfortable and stayed on the surface. There was an opportunity for him. But great interview nonetheless.
/edited
September 25th, 2020 at 12:41 AM ^
Sam is the best in the business and, as far as I can tell without actually knowing the guy, a good man. He encouraged Craig to share why he was so struck by the moment and why that poem brought forth such a powerful response
September 25th, 2020 at 12:34 PM ^
One of the things that Sam, Ira and WTKA do in abundance is to support local charities and they do so with great frequency. I can honestly say that I know of no other station that dedicates as much air time to raising money for a host of worthwhile causes from breast cancer with Hutch and the softball team, animal rescue, toys for kids during the holidays and many others, It's more than words; Sam and Ira often participate in the effort along with the radio station management that support the various causes.
September 25th, 2020 at 12:55 AM ^
While I agree wholeheartedly that authenticity begs for reciprocity, don’t forget that Sam shared about losing his stillborn child last year when he took some time off. Not many people could do that, and obviously it’s not like he stays on the surface all the time. I think that comment was a bit unfair.
Edit: the comment I was referring to being unfair was the original one from a couple of posters up, which has since been edited.
September 25th, 2020 at 11:34 AM ^
I agree and didn’t know that about Sam. Thanks for posting.
September 25th, 2020 at 1:15 PM ^
that's interesting...i didn't sense that he was either uncomfortable, or that he stayed on the surface. if anything - craig recited the poem at the end of a segment, they cut to commercial, and sam returned to it after the break. i thought he struck a really nice balance.
September 25th, 2020 at 7:18 AM ^
I almost posted the same to the board last night, glad I wasn't the only one with the impulse.
Let's make this the CR appreciation thread, bc that dude is outstanding. It's the only segment I cast their pods to every week. (well maybe Scott Bell sometimes)
He's feeling how everyone feels these days. Discouraged by the leadership of much of the nation, civic unrest due to social injustice, death of Americans on a scale we haven't seed in half a century. The future is unknown and the present in undent constant flux.
CR: We're all feeling similar things (well most of us anyway) and sorry to hear of your friends' passing. My sister wrote poetry (published in Roger Angel's books) and taught poetry and creative writing at Wazzu and I never understood poetry until I read some of hers' after she died 5 years ago. That poem hit me the same way her's did then. Thanks Craig.
September 25th, 2020 at 9:43 AM ^
I listen for about an hour each day live and then the other segments I pick-up via the podcast. C. Ross is always a must listen in my opinion and yes, this week's hour was really good.
I agree, he deserves an appreciation thread. You got my plus.
September 25th, 2020 at 1:16 PM ^
well said.
September 25th, 2020 at 2:13 PM ^
Yep, Craig is an amazing guy. Sam is always telling him how much the listeners love his segments but he never seems to believe it. I know he reads the board sometimes, so Craig, if you're there, I hope you find some light in this darkness and hope you realize that your appearances are outstanding.
I've gotten to the point where, while I do want the roundtable back, I'd also like Craig to have his own, one on one double segment with Sam as well
September 25th, 2020 at 10:05 AM ^
Ugh Kars for Kids....one of the commercials has that creepy middle aged man singing the chorus and it just sounds like nails on a chalkboard. Not that they care. The fact that we're all talking about it means the ad has worked.
By the way, that vacation voucher they offer really is nothing special. I looked it up and its essentially a couple nights stay at the equivalent of a Comfort Inn or a La Quinta Inn only in certain cities, and once you pick the city you don't have any real say in which location they dump you off at. It could be the location off the expressway 15 miles outside of town.
September 25th, 2020 at 12:24 PM ^
Very nice