Schadenfreude: So I listened to Valenti yesterday--on purpose weirdly...
Because I thought he'd have flaming hot takes on MSU. Now, I agree with the majority of this board on Valenti ("boo"), except to say that he's objectively good at his job because his ratings are very high, and ratings are what matters in sports radio.
So the hot takes did come, and boy were they disparaging about his own school. Among other takes (all paraphrased):
-Mark Stoops will never come to MSU because Kentucky is a WAY better job than the clown show at MSU
-MSU has put itself right back to the pre-Dantonio days of total irrelevance
-Beekman the supposed AD is Uncle Buck pretending to be an AD, is horrible and embarrassing and should be fired immediately
-the BOT are terrorists, awful, clueless, selfish people
-no coach in America with "an upward career trajectory" will ever come to MSU given the horrible circumstances listed above. Only down on their luck previous failures (Bret B) will consider it.
-lastly, Dantonio screwed the program and the last four years have erased the goodwill from being their best coach ever.
It was very entertaining to say the least. And true as a bonus.
February 11th, 2020 at 2:05 PM ^
It's possible to overdose on schadenfreude, but it's fun getting there.
February 11th, 2020 at 3:15 PM ^
Having lived through the Rich Rod/Hoke years, there will never be enough Sparty/Ohio schadenfreude
February 11th, 2020 at 3:28 PM ^
It's like eating a whole bag of Oreos or all the chocolate chip cookies after my kids made them. You feel bad for what you've done and those you've hurt, but COOKIES!!!!
February 11th, 2020 at 4:59 PM ^
I mean throw in the fact that Dantonio had his infamous "pride comes before the fall" line...its just...man. It feels good to watch his pride sabotage his entire legacy and everything he built.
February 11th, 2020 at 2:06 PM ^
He also said. "I hope you enjoyed the memories and cherish them, because there will be lots of losing coming our way."
February 11th, 2020 at 3:41 PM ^
Yeah I listened yesterday for the same reasons as the OP and he said something like I hope you were able to take your dad to the rose bowl like I did, or take your children to the rose bowl because we won’t be back in the foreseeable future
February 11th, 2020 at 3:47 PM ^
So, the thing we all said about Spartan football being relevant once every 30 years was, in fact, true? Huh. Go figure.
February 11th, 2020 at 2:06 PM ^
I actually did lol when he called the Board of Trustees terrorists.
February 11th, 2020 at 2:08 PM ^
I wonder what he’s gonna say today considering what one of the trustees said on radio this AM regarding Fickell lol
Edit:
It’s vintage Valenti haha:
Secondly why does MSU have such a wonky setup with their AD and BoT? Michigan is a “public” school yet doesn’t have the issues MSU does with its power structure. Anyone in the know wanna explain?
February 11th, 2020 at 3:16 PM ^
I do love watching them burn their bridge with Fickell. He legit considered them when others wouldn't, and now I doubt he ever will given their vitriol towards his rejection
February 11th, 2020 at 4:54 PM ^
They didn't burn the bridge any more than we did with the fans ripping on Harbaugh for the Stanford Hart spat.
February 11th, 2020 at 2:54 PM ^
True.
I don't think calling the BoT "awful people" is a hot take given all the victim-shaming some of those reps have participated in.
February 11th, 2020 at 2:07 PM ^
Was it better than this rant? I dont think it possibly could be given that this rant was and forever shall be the mother of all "Sparty no" rants by Valenti. Whenever Michigan does something that upsets me I just listen to this and I feel better right away.
February 11th, 2020 at 2:15 PM ^
That is outstanding, haha, thank you for this!
February 11th, 2020 at 2:19 PM ^
I’m not a big Valenti fan, I think he’s a shock-jock homer troll (which is a recipe for ratings) with an agenda. At times though, he produces really entertaining radio. This 2006 ND-MSU rant was one of those times. Classic. Another solid one was when they lost to Minnesota a couple years later.
February 11th, 2020 at 2:45 PM ^
Wowwww. I've never listened to one syllable out of that dickbag's mouth before. Here I thought Sean Baligian was the biggest dumbfuck on the airwaves in Michgan.
February 11th, 2020 at 3:10 PM ^
The only difference between Valenti and the drunk in the neighborhood bar who sits on the same stool every night imparting his wisdom to those unfortunate enough to be within hearing distance is that he's got a microphone.
February 11th, 2020 at 3:39 PM ^
No, not really. Not even close. I'm no Valenti apologist as his goal is to get listeners, but he knows his stuff. Does he throw out shit to get M fans riled up? Absolutely. But if you tell me he's the same as some drunk guy at the bar - you're really not listening.
February 11th, 2020 at 4:38 PM ^
The problem I have is that the "knowing the stuff" often conflicts with "throwing out shit to get M fans riled up" and he always defers to the latter. He'll take intentionally obtuse positions to get under UM's skin, which often contradict his stance when State does something similar. If he can spin a position to be anti-UM he will, and almost always where there is a grey he falls on the "UM bad" side.
I give the guy credit in that he knows how to get people to call in. And yes, he generally understands sports more than average people. But he's a know-it-all on plenty of instances and things I know well I've heard him talk out of his ass on before too. But he's very confident in talking out of his ass on those topics! Ultimately, he prioritizes ratings (and to a lesser extent his school bias) over everything, including objective "takes."
February 11th, 2020 at 4:04 PM ^
I wish there was record of Art Regner's post game rant after the Lions lost on the Paul Edinger field goal in 2000. On top of being pissed, you couldn't help but laugh hysterically to Regner's screaming.
Unpopular opinion but I think that rant was more epic than "Make plays!!!!"
February 11th, 2020 at 9:21 PM ^
Art's rants after games were incredible. Wish I could hear those again too! Epic meltdowns.
February 11th, 2020 at 4:12 PM ^
Was he crying?
February 11th, 2020 at 4:31 PM ^
Wasn't he off for a few days after this? It was pretty hilarious indeed.
February 11th, 2020 at 5:41 PM ^
I feel so much better now. It was a shitty day, but this really put a smile on my face. I may actually sing a little, too.
February 11th, 2020 at 5:51 PM ^
Ah, I remember this classic from the Haloscan days!
MAKE PLAYS!!!
February 11th, 2020 at 8:57 PM ^
Haven't heard this in a solid decade. Completely forgot the HR Pufnstuf & Teddy Ruxpin reference --- gold!!
February 11th, 2020 at 2:10 PM ^
LOL @ total irrelevance. "Little Brother" will now be seen as a compliment.
February 11th, 2020 at 2:40 PM ^
Little impotent brother.
February 11th, 2020 at 3:49 PM ^
Little Brother InCell
February 11th, 2020 at 2:12 PM ^
He also had a total meltdown when a caller suggested Mork should be AD.
February 11th, 2020 at 3:39 PM ^
I decided to tune in this afternoon when I picked my kids up from school, even though I haven't listened for more than five minutes in years, and he was crucifying Mork. Basically saying he's the number one reason they're in this position. I know it wasn't too long ago he was advocating for him to have a statue at Spartan Stadium.
Has anyone uttered something with more poetic irony than "Pride comes before the fall"?
February 11th, 2020 at 6:54 PM ^
Urban Meyer teaches an ethics class at OSU. I can only imagine the absurdity of listening to that man preach right and wrong.
February 11th, 2020 at 2:12 PM ^
"-the BOT are terrorists, awful, clueless, selfish people "
Why wasn't he saying this throughout the entire Nassar ordeal?
February 11th, 2020 at 2:20 PM ^
Today at least he was including Nassar issues as one if the reasons the BOT are horrible
February 11th, 2020 at 2:38 PM ^
He includes Nassar issues but totally discredits ESPN and any source who says there were issues with the football or basketball team covering up assaults. I think his quote was something like "ESPN showed me nothing with that hit job report, nothing. No proof of anything."
February 11th, 2020 at 2:43 PM ^
Because they were still (sorta) winning in the sports they care about. Or in the case of football they hadn't hit rock bottom until now.
February 11th, 2020 at 2:17 PM ^
Is "Uncle Buck" really horrible? Because Aunt Lou Anna lied to the police and helped cover for Larry Nassar.
Remember where you came from.
February 11th, 2020 at 2:18 PM ^
Hopefully Michigan is capable of capitalizing on the vacuum left by MSU athletics...
February 11th, 2020 at 2:57 PM ^
All your 3-stars are belong to us.
February 11th, 2020 at 2:20 PM ^
The irony is that Teddy Ruxpin and H.R. Pufnstuf may end up coaching in East Lansing after all.
February 11th, 2020 at 2:28 PM ^
You hate to hear it...
February 11th, 2020 at 2:31 PM ^
He's just a flaming buzz word/statements that will get the listeners riled up on both sides. He plays it well because he knows that he'll say something that'll anger half the listeners and excite the other half. His true side comes out more though when he just can't help himself and talk negatively about Michigan. He was getting real self-righteous about the whole Zavier Simpson situation, and loves to beat the drum that 'Harbaugh sucks' whenever he can.
He actually lives next door to my brother. Takes good care of his house, by all accounts he's just a normal dude who has opinions on sports just like any buddy we all have. He just gets paid to amp it up 100x. Trust me, he is still fully invested in MSU and his whole "I'm done with them blah blah" crap isn't fully accurate.
February 11th, 2020 at 2:53 PM ^
What is going on a State right now will hurt his show, though. He banks on Michigan State fans at least being interested in college football in order to bag on Michigan and get ratings. It is possible that Michigan State may get so bad that it is impossible, or at least illogical, to target Michigan in his rants and takes. Six months of that show consists of college football and college football preseason takes. If State bottoms out and that fan base completely stops caring the current format of his show is going to be hard to continue. State fans won't care about college football and Michigan fans won't care what Valenti thinks.
February 11th, 2020 at 3:36 PM ^
MSU going back to normal MSU isn't going to hurt his show. He's got his shtick and its successful, annoying as he is. I remember his show pre-Dantonio and his listeners must have liked what they heard.
That infamous 2006 Notre Dame rant was a real eye opener besides being funny. He was so angry he up and left once the rant was over. He went home while his show was still on the air. I was astounded that he didn't get fired for doing that. Unless the walking out part was a publicity stunt. Whatever the case, the "fallout" from that seemed to make him untouchable. MSU being irrelevant again doesn't change anything about his show.
February 11th, 2020 at 3:56 PM ^
It does, though. The entire premise of his show since Terry Foster left is just to gas-light Michigan fans, nearly year around. The only way that works is if Michigan State fans can laugh "with him" and if Michigan fans have any need for "vindication" from MSU. My radio is basically always on 97.1 during my drives because sports, so it won't matter to me. But listening to his show as I do, I can tell you that Michigan State super-sucking at football for an extended period of time will impact his routine and his audience, particularly in a city that is bankrupt in terms of competitive professional teams.
And the entire "rant" was a stunt. The Fan was still by far the dominant sports talk radio station at the time and Valenti and Foster had more of just a niche audience. It wasn't something that really registered locally at the time.
February 11th, 2020 at 4:12 PM ^
I don't think it'll hurt/change his show. Many MSU fans like ragging on Michigan more than they care about their own team's success. A little brother would rather see the big brother fail than succeed themselves.
February 11th, 2020 at 2:33 PM ^
I occasionally listen as well. Mostly it’s when something bad has happened to Michigan State because that’s always fun
February 11th, 2020 at 2:52 PM ^
So here we go again. Spartanmag apparently is saying MSU got their coach. Of course Comp was way off the first time.
February 11th, 2020 at 2:56 PM ^
Ok, hear me out: Mike Riley.
February 12th, 2020 at 9:37 AM ^
Only Nebraska was stupid enough to listen to Barry Alvarez sing Riley's praises. Nebraska's wimp AD wanted a milquetoast coach because he was still suffering from Pelini PTSD.