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Ta-Nehisi Coates

Ta-Nehisi Coates - Ta-Nehisi Coates is a senior editor for The Atlantic, where he writes about culture, politics, and social issues for TheAtlantic.com and the magazine. He is the author of the memoir The Beautiful Struggle. More

Born in 1975, the product of two beautiful parents. Raised in West Baltimore—not quite The Wire, but sometimes ill all the same. Studied at the Mecca for some years in the mid-’90s. Emerged with a purpose, if not a degree. Slowly migrated up the East Coast with a baby and my beloved, until I reached the shores of Harlem. Wrote some stuff along the way.

The Value Of Sports Talk Radio

By Ta-Nehisi Coates
Jan 14 2010, 9:00 AM ET Comment

Here's a cool clip of Aikman analyzing the Cowboys. But the great stuff starts toward the end with a trash-talking session between the Philly sports talker Mike Missaneli, Michael Irvin, Kevin Kiley and some fans. I wish I'd caught the whole thing. The clip is hilarious.

Listening to this took me back to my first days here in New York. I came here dreaming of being writer, but basically making my living as a delivery boy for a deli in Park Slope. Anyway, I used to have to deliver food all across the city, and it was a great way to learn New York. But nothing was better than tuning in to sports talk radio while driving. Back then James Brown actually had a show, and it wasn't that bad. (Sporting News Radio maybe?) Michael Kay wasn't that bad either.

I don't own a car anymore, so I don't get to listen to much Sports Talk, but it's a fascinating medium. Irvin is much better doing radio, then he was on ESPN. For some reason his emotion, and passion is much more palatable on radio.

I didn't see Big Fan. After seeing The Wrestler, I just couldn't take another flick that focuses on the pathetic elements of a male subgenre. The pathos is so evident to anyone who partakes of the genre. I prefer a lighter hand.


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