The ITD Morning After

On September 17th, it'll be two years since The ITD Morning After started at Team 1380. I think I can speak for all of us on the show when I say we're incredibly grateful for the fact that our GM, John Helmkamp, has let us do what we do with barely any interference. I'm sure that can't be easy...considering how random the thing can be...but our show is essentially sports improv, and the minute you try to format it and make it a consultant's dream is the minute you take away its identity and what makes it resonate with 20 and 30-somethings (and some fine folks in their 40's, 50's, and 60's...I guess).

It's a show where management has to just "roll the ball out there," and that's exactly what they've done for us at Team 1380.

We have a say in creative control. We have a say in the fact that there's always three people in the booth...because the show is a three-person dynamic. And, we have a say in who that fill-in is. Furthermore, Team 1380 welcomes and respects the partnership with insideSTL.com.

As has been documented in the Post-Dispatch over the last few months, our contracts are up in a few weeks. As also has been documented, our show has done well in the ratings. From what I understand, our show went up more than 60% in the targeted Men 25-54 demographic in the book released last week. However, as I have said both on insideSTL.com and in the paper, I don't really get too excited about ratings when they're good or when they're bad. I think it's an antiquated system that doesn't mean a damn thing if the numbers aren't being sold. The only number that matters is the number after the dollar sign for how much revenue a show generates. Period.

Jack yourself off with best guests, best bits, best ratings, or whatever makes you justify the shows you like or dislike. Fine by me. The name of the game is money.

This show---in one form or another---has been around for more than five years. Even for the people who absolutely hate it and think I'm the radio version of Lucifer, it'd be difficult to deny that the show has a following. And, we all are grateful---beyond grateful---for the support and actual contributions many listeners make to the show day in and day out. I guess I could act like I work hard on the show, but I think that'd fool as many people as Jim J. Bullock would by saying there's nothing he enjoys more than a nice set of female breasts.

We're lucky. I'm lucky to work with absurdly talented people...and especially lucky to have been part of a cast with the caliber of talent that I've been a part of two separate times.

Let's be honest: without The Cat, Doug, and Producer Joe, I'm still working weekends in Little Rock. If you think I'm just trying to be humble for the sake of it, harken back to January 2007-June 2007.

And, that brings me to our contract situation.

I have been asked---as I am sure The Cat and Doug have been---a surprisingly high number of times over the last few weeks about what is going to happen with our contracts. And, usually, I fancy myself as just being pretty blunt with what's going on...and let people form their own opinions with the facts I spew.

In this case, however, in an attempt to answer the questions about the situation, I want to say a few things:

1. We've been asked not to go into detail about what's going on, and considering how highly all of us think of John Helmkamp, as long as the negotiations are going on, we will respect that. Therefore, I don't have much to say about what's going on or gone on. There's really nothing to be gained by doing that.

2. We would like to stay at Team 1380...mainly for the reasons above. We like our GM, and we really appreciate the freedom we have to do the show the way we've been doing it for nearly five years now. Team 1380 allows us to do that.

3. We want to stick together. All of us. And, when I say all of us, I consider Producer Joe as part of "all of us." This show's "success" is about the cast. That's it.

So, with all of that said, I am happy to say that we're getting closer to reaching all of those goals. As I said, I cannot get into details, but, If anything, I just want to put an end to rumors of this or that. We want to and plan to stay together, and we would like to continue to work for the quality people we work for at Simmons Media and Team 1380.

Just Flat Out Raffling Off---Literally---Forty Tickets Friday At The insideSTL.com Happy Hour At McGarvey's On Locust Downtown

Over the last few months, it's become clear that we have a hit in the insideSTL.com Sand Volleyball Tournaments And Bikini Contests At Wave Taco. And, it's my goal that Friday will be the start of another successful string of events with our insideSTL.com/The Ticket Guys' Happy Hours.

At these events, not only do you get cheap food and booze, you get a ridiculously cheap chance at winning ridiculously great tickets to the biggest sporting events on the St. Louis sports scene.

Want to go to the Arch Rivalry football game between Missouri and Illinois for $5?

What about going to the Cardinals and Cubs on Sunday September 20th with three friends and sitting in box seats...for $5?

Or, how would you like to go to the Blues' Home Opener with three friends and have seats on the glass...with all of your food and drink included...and all, once again, for $5?

We're making that possible Friday at downtown's newest bar, McGarvey's at 1911 Locust Street downtown. insideSTL.com is hosting a happy hour along with our friends at The Ticket Guys, and this happy hour is not just all about cheap beer, booze, and food on a Friday afternoon/evening, it's also about raffling off some of the most prime tickets in St. Louis sports...and literally, giving away 40 tickets to events ranging from a variety of Cardinals' games to a variety of Blues' games...all the way to Cardinals-Cubs to the Blues' Home Opener to the Missouri-Illinois football game.

And, you'll be able to come by and enjoy great drink specials with $2 "you call its," in other words...everything is $2 for four hours. And, McGarvey's is selling appetizers at 1/2 price during the insideSTL.com/Ticket Guys' Happy Hour...all while being able to win these tickets for as little as $5 per raffle ticket...or $20 for five raffle tickets.

The happy hour begins at 5 p.m., and starting at 5:30, we'll begin raffling off sets of tickets every half hour. We'll do that all the way up until 9 p.m.

So, start your weekend off with insideSTL.com this Friday at McGarvey's at 1911 Locust Street...and spend pocket change for your chance to win tickets to the biggest events in St. Louis sports.

Waxing Poetic At The Altar of Saint Albert

How about that win last night? Seriously, man. That's two signature victories in six nights.

But, this one may be more important than last Wednesday's 15-inning marathon against the Dodgers, because Albert Pujols returned to pre-All-Star Break form.

It would've been brutal to put up seven runs on Johan Santana and K-Rod...and then not gotten the win. But, Pujols' four-hit, two HR, five RBI night shot and fixed that potential issue.

Can you even imagine what the lineup would be like with Pujols and Matt Holliday firing on all cylinders?

Hell, the Cardinals have been winning series against the Dodgers and Astros without Pujols or Mark DeRosa really contributing all that much...or at least not nearly what they're capable of.

Skip Schumaker, who had the most important at-bat of the night with his brilliant battle and victory over K-Rod in the 9th with one out, said on The ITD Morning After yesterday that of the 2005, 2006, and 2009 clubs---all of which he was a part of---this one is the best.

Cardinal fans who remember just how good that '05 team was...and, of course remember that World Championship team...know just how powerful of a compliment that is.

And, to be honest, I'd put this club up there with the 2004 team as far as the best of the decade. If Carpenter doesn't get hurt in September of 2004, my guess is things are at least competitive in the World Series...and there's a chance that that '04 team goes down in history as one of the best Cardinal clubs of all-time.

I'm not ready to start throwing superlatives all over this team just yet, but when you combine this lineup with the three starters---and maybe four if Kyle Lohse can get it going like he did last year---along with the LH relief and closer, you've got a team that can rival the top clubs of this decade already. Considering the success the Cardinals have had this decade, that's saying quite a bit.

You know what's even better?

There's a damn good chance that for the first time in a long time---first time in my lifetime as a matter of fact---we could have a straight-up Cardinals versus Cubs pennant race.

And, maybe...just maybe...a Cardinals-Cubs NLCS. The Cardinals and Cubs were battling in September of 1989 and 2003...but the Cardinals fell apart at Wrigley each year, and the Cubs went on to win the division in each year. But, in those seasons, the Cardinals and Cubs weren't the only teams involved in the race.

This year, I think it's safe to say the two rivals are head and shoulders above the other NL Central competition...but only separated from each other by .001.

The only shame of the whole thing is that the Cardinals and Cubs play just three more times (at Busch Stadium September 18th-20th). Perhaps...with a little help from some upsets of the Dodgers and Phillies...they'll play 10 more times this year.

Imagine...

...Game 7 of the NLCS between the Cardinals and Cubs at Busch Stadium.

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