I did my first sports-talk show in 1991. I got my first paying job in radio in 1994. I’ve worked in Ohio, Alabama, Kansas City, and now in Phoenix. In those years, I was always in one of two positions. I was either in charge of the budget and couldn’t justify sending myself to the SB, or had a boss that thought it was a good idea to keep me back at the station during SB week.

It was always explained to me that I was so versatile that if something went wrong with other shows, I could fill in. Remember how complimentary Lou Pinella always was of Mark McLemore? The versatile guys are always so highly valued except when they’re compared to guys management really feels is important. I saw through the lies but didn’t complain.

Today, however, was my first real SB experience. I went to get my first SB media credential. In big letters across the credential it says, “Media.” In almost as big letters underneath it are the words, “not good on gameday.” In other words, I’m in the same spot I’ve always been. I’m real important, except when compared to the important people.

I walked down stairs into the basement of the Hyatt/Convention Center. I saw radio row for the first time. I was surprised that it wasn’t a row at all. It looks like some kind of radio convention with people strewn in all locations. There was a station from Buffalo right in front of a station from Honolulu. I don’t want to make it sound like Jerusalem and Damascus but it seemed strange.

I saw a lot of famous radio people. My common opinion was, “Wow, that guy’s a lot shorter than I thought.” The one thing that made the experience pretty special is how many of the security guys knew who I was. I’m sure they wouldn’t have known me if I wasn’t wearing this big sign around my neck that said, “Doug Franz, KTAR-Phoenix,” but they are paid to check my credential. Once they did, I found out a lot of them were fellow “Basononians.” There’s something very “homely” about being around thousands of national radio stations and having someone say, “Hey Doug, I listen to you Wolf all the time.”

Tomorrow is my first “Media Day.” I’ve seen it a thousand times on TV but never attended. I’m excited to talk to some of the lesser known players and get their feelings on the game. Out of everyone there, I most want to sit with Lawrence Tynes. I’m sure not everyone wants to talk to a kicker but I know him from his days with the KC Chiefs. It was just last year he beat up a bouncer during Chiefs training camp. When you look at the state of the Chiefs now and compare it to where he is, I think it’s amazing how much someone’s life can change in a year. The Chiefs just dumped him in a trade and their new kicker is horrible while Tynes kicked his team into a game the Chiefs haven’t played in 38 years. I think it’s really cool for someone in KC to tell him he’s nothing and for him to be part of a winning team that ends up in Phoenix. I admire guys like that.