Lavelle

[DJSim22]

 

It is amazing that a guy with a few bits repeated 13-14 times a week can have a show that lasts

 

If you compare him to the "hosts" around him he is amazing!  In fairness, I haven't listened to KFAN for years now.  I'll start again the day Danny B leaves, now that's a guy who needs to hit the road. 

[Brandon Warne]

I think one writer who hasn't been mentioned yet that was incredible in this market is/was Tom Pelissero. Not Twins, but man he was really good. More of a national scope now. 

[Craig Arko]

Sid is the gold standard to which all other writers must strive to achieve.

[SF Twins Fan]

Russo is by far the best beat writer to follow in the MN sports world.  

 

LEN III is a solid writer and seems like a nice guy.  The only thing I wish he did more of would be tweet during Twins games.  If I can't watch the game I try to follow along on twitter and he just doesn't compare to Berardino when it comes to coverage.

[joethastud]

 

If you compare him to the "hosts" around him he is amazing!  In fairness, I haven't listened to KFAN for years now.  I'll start again the day Danny B leaves, now that's a guy who needs to hit the road. 

 

I think you're probably in the extreme minority in thinking that.  Extreme minority.  Even with the likes of Gleeman and the Geek on the airwaves, KFAN has been on an incredible ratings run, and I think Bump is the most reputable in the mix. 

 

Russo is something else.  I think his life is hockey and being around the game.  Lavelle is a Chicago guy.  Might not look at covering the Twins as anything more than a job, a job that he is by all means very good at.  And Mike B. is a must follow on Twitter.  He's very good too.

 

Twin Cities dwellers are pretty spoiled as far as local media goes.  You travel around the country and most places are just f'n garbage. 

[peterb18]

Russo is the best beat writer in all of sports media, it's unfair to compare Lavelle to him.

Lavelle is fine, I don't have twitter, but if I did I would probably give him a fellow, Bern is cool as well.  The common man is amazing as well, the rest of the Minnesota sports media scene is pretty "meh" I mean somehow even I scooped them on the biggest Twins trade in the last 5+ years.

Common Man...are you serious?

[Brandon Warne]

 

Common Man...are you serious?

 

I loved him, then hated him and now find myself listening again now and then. But he's an entertainer. Maybe 20% of what he says for sports takes are serious. 

[Seth Stohs]

Let's turn this discussion into some positive. Who are your favorite Twins beat writers (Rank them if you want)? Who are your favorite columnists? Who are your favorite sports radio personalities, particularly as it relates to baseball knowledge and discussion? And finally, who are your favorite Twitter follows among Twins writers?

[TKGuy]

I follow all of the guys and I like them all

[magiklair]

Has Lavelle, ever broke a story? He doesn't seem to have much for contacts in the twins organization

[Linus]

Following my mother's edict of "if you can't say anything nice..."

 

I will say Beradino does a hell of a job. He actually provides info I don't get on Twins Daily.

[goulik]

I think they all have their Niche within the market. I think my favourite this week is DaveW but last month it was Seth. Sometimes I also favour Gleeman or Warne. Thrylos just bugs me like an itchy wool blanket that is the only thing that actually keeps me warm at night.

Interpret that any way you want.

[theBOMisthebomb]

LEN3 is alright (average to mediocre) on the writing side of things. On the radio is another story -the voice and stuttering get on my last nerve along with the Chicago Bears fan nonsense.

He comes across as a Chicago guy condescending to work in the Twin Cities market. He seems like a nice guy personally.

[DJSim22]

 

I think you're probably in the extreme minority in thinking that.  Extreme minority.  Even with the likes of Gleeman and the Geek on the airwaves, KFAN has been on an incredible ratings run, and I think Bump is the most reputable in the mix. 

 

Russo is something else.  I think his life is hockey and being around the game.  Lavelle is a Chicago guy.  Might not look at covering the Twins as anything more than a job, a job that he is by all means very good at.  And Mike B. is a must follow on Twitter.  He's very good too.

 

Twin Cities dwellers are pretty spoiled as far as local media goes.  You travel around the country and most places are just f'n garbage. 

 

Couldn't disagree more.  The local media is very mediocre on traditional sources sans Russo and Bernidino.  Have you listened to radio in other cities?  I'm guessing not much.

 

Danny B. is not respected by most I know.  Any friends who listen to him listen for guests or because there is nothing else on.  They've had very little competition, and when they have it's mainly ex KFAN employees. His knowledge is very limited besides Hoosier basketball and Bears football.  He's a bully plain and simple. His shows not an act, have you ever met him? Mrs. B is very nice though.

[DaveW]

I loved him, then hated him and now find myself listening again now and then. But he's an entertainer. Maybe 20% of what he says for sports takes are serious.

The best part is he doesn't take sports or himself to seriously. He can make you laugh a bunch of times after a really ****ty (insert Minnesota sports team that always breaks your heart) here.

 

His bits are legendary.

 

Paul Allen is the one I have to take in small doses. Just not my cup of tea. power trip is solid, and I never listen to Barriero for some reason so i have no opinion on him.

[Everyday Eddy]

Lavelle's tweets and articles never really interest me but I really enjoy him on the radio where he seems to be more candid

[Boom Boom]

I think the Strib's coverage of the Twins has improved since Christensen isn't covering them anymore, who I felt was too cozy. Neal is OK. I do get bugged by the bandwagon columns of Souhan and Reusse, which seem to always be either heaping praise or ripping to shreds with no in-between.

 

I'll agree with the general sentiment that the PP does a better job of covering the team, at least from a beat perspective.

[TheLeviathan]

 

The best part is he doesn't take sports or himself to seriously. He can make you laugh a bunch of times after a really ****ty (insert Minnesota sports team that always breaks your heart) here.

His bits are legendary.

Paul Allen is the one I have to take in small doses. Just not my cup of tea. power trip is solid, and I never listen to Barriero for some reason so i have no opinion on him.

 

I need Common in doses too.  When his bits hit, he's fantastic, when they don't you still get 2 hours of them.  And he misses a lot.  Being an intentional buffoon is bound to get lots of good and bad.

 

I really like Barreiro, but that's probably because I find pure sports talk to get obnoxious and uninteresting after awhile.  There are only so many "hot takes" I can handle.

 

I'm surprised you can handle any dose of PA.  That guy is just plain awful.

[joethastud]

 

Couldn't disagree more.  The local media is very mediocre on traditional sources sans Russo and Bernidino.  Have you listened to radio in other cities?  I'm guessing not much.

 

Danny B. is not respected by most I know.  Any friends who listen to him listen for guests or because there is nothing else on.  They've had very little competition, and when they have it's mainly ex KFAN employees. His knowledge is very limited besides Hoosier basketball and Bears football.  He's a bully plain and simple. His shows not an act, have you ever met him? Mrs. B is very nice though.

 

 

I've caught a media market or two in traveling for work for a decade....

 

Are you sure you're not thinking of Tom Bernard?  

 

[joethastud]

 

I need Common in doses too.  When his bits hit, he's fantastic, when they don't you still get 2 hours of them.  And he misses a lot.  Being an intentional buffoon is bound to get lots of good and bad.

 

I really like Barreiro, but that's probably because I find pure sports talk to get obnoxious and uninteresting after awhile.  There are only so many "hot takes" I can handle.

 

I'm surprised you can handle any dose of PA.  That guy is just plain awful.

 

Agree with everything here except I wouldn't say PA is awful.....  I like him when he has guests on.  

[TheLeviathan]

 

Agree with everything here except I wouldn't say PA is awful.....  I like him when he has guests on.  

 

He gets good guests, but then he does this thing that ruins it: he talks.  And he tries to inject his obnoxious personality into the conversation.

 

Charch and Corey Chavous are excellent guests but, frankly, I'd love it if KFAN just turned a show over to Charch.  He's much more eclectic and entertaining.

[USAFChief]

He gets good guests, but then he does this thing that ruins it: he talks.  And he tries to inject his obnoxious personality into the conversation.

 

Charch and Corey Chavous are excellent guests but, frankly, I'd love it if KFAN just turned a show over to Charch.  He's much more eclectic and entertaining.

I was with you on everything KFAN related, right up until the Charch thing. Unlistenable.

[TheLeviathan]

 

I was with you on everything KFAN related, right up until the Charch thing. Unlistenable.

 

Really?  Maybe it's a generational thing, he talks video games, fantasy football, and pop culture pretty in tune with my interests.  That might color my opinion.

 

What don't you like?

[Thrylos]

 

Maybe i'm in the minority, and he seems like a good dude, but is he not the worst beat writer?  I mean...compared to Russo, it seems like he puts in the bare minimum. 

 

Russo is a columnist and not a beat writer, like LEN3 is.

 

I guess that there is a misconception of what a beat writer is.  A beat writer (let it be sports or court or poliics or...) reports things as they happen and as they are told that they happen in press conferences.

 

That's his job an he excels in it, along with several others in the Cities.  The Twins' market these days is blessed to have beat writers who care about baseball and have baseball backgrounds mostly.

 

If you want him to be a columnist or an investigating reporter he is not.  Not.His.Job.

 

 

[Mr. Brooks]

Russo is a columnist and not a beat writer, like LEN3 is.

 

I guess that there is a misconception of what a beat writer is. A beat writer (let it be sports or court or poliics or...) reports things as they happen and as they are told that they happen in press conferences.

 

That's his job an he excels in it, along with several others in the Cities. The Twins' market these days is blessed to have beat writers who care about baseball and have baseball backgrounds mostly.

 

If you want him to be a columnist or an investigating reporter he is not. Not.His.Job.

Russo is a beat writer.

[Obsvr]

 

Russo is a columnist and not a beat writer, like LEN3 is.

 

If you want him to be a columnist or an investigating reporter he is not.  Not.His.Job.

Uh, no.  Russo is the definition of a beat writer.  He is also pretty much the gold standard when it come to beat writing.  

 

LEN3 should be shadowing him for a couple of months to see how it should be done.

[joethastud]

 

Really?  Maybe it's a generational thing, he talks video games, fantasy football, and pop culture pretty in tune with my interests.  That might color my opinion.

 

What don't you like?

 

Again, I'm with you.  I like Charch too.  I haven't played a video game in probably 5 years, but still like listening to the fodder.  He may be too big of a dork to have a daily bit though.

 

Beyond The Pond is my favorite show locally.

 

PA is definitely obnoxious.  I'm guessing some people find it enduring.  Its just not in my wheelhouse I guess.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

I like all the KFAN hosts. They come at it from different angles. Charch is a businessman but doesn't know the actual sports very well, and him being so opinionated with that screechy voice it's good for him to stick with what he knows. Heck his fantasy show is on right now.

[TheLeviathan]

 

Again, I'm with you.  I like Charch too.  I haven't played a video game in probably 5 years, but still like listening to the fodder.  He may be too big of a dork to have a daily bit though.

 

Beyond The Pond is my favorite show locally.

 

PA is definitely obnoxious.  I'm guessing some people find it enduring.  Its just not in my wheelhouse I guess.

 

You're right, he may struggle with a daily bit.  The only time I listen 9-12 is when there is a guest host.  They remind me that those three hours can be listenable again.

 

I don't even acknowledge the butt-hats in the morning as a real thing.

[Vanimal46]

Each beat writer has their strengths and weaknesses for sure.

 

Lavelle is great on the radio, as him and Barreiro have a good working relationship.. also, whenever Common Man gets him going that's pretty funny too.

 

Berardino wasn't even on my radar until I came here to TD... But he seems to be at his best on Twitter breaking stories and overall staying on top of things.

 

Russo is the complete package. Great on radio, Twitter, writing columns. We're pretty spoiled to have a beat writer as plugged in as him.

 

Zero Vikings beat writers come to mind to be honest... But I don't really seek it when there's so many NFL hot takes out there.