Matt...you will be missed and we have all lost a truly good friend.
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Snow Snow Go Away!!!
So I guess by the title you can tell we have had some snow here in NY. Actually it hasn't been thatbad BUT I am ready fo it to be done with. Sure it looks all purty and shit but F*#K Purty!!! I want it to be nice. Nice enough that i don't have to wear bootys, 2 pairs of gloves, full length knickers and a hat. Nice enough that I can't see my breath when I am huffin and puffin into the wind and sometimes snow. But everytime I am out in this crap I always remember the pics of the boys in Belgium and I think, if they can do it, so can I! SO I will officially STOP complaining Darren.
Hey if you are wondering, I have found some good rides here on Long Island but unfortunately there is hardly any climbing. (Those of you who know I hate climbing might find it hard to believe BUT I miss it...especially my favorite climb Alpine DAMN!) Long Island is like doing the Paradise Loop every day. The longest climb I have found is just about 5 minutes long so needless to say my climbing legs are GONE! The group rides here I have been riding are pretty good though. I usually am hanging in the back as I am just finishing my base work and am now starting to add intervals. I may even do a training race this weekend depending on the weather.
Now for some non cycling related news. After a LONG time looking I have finally found a job. WOO HOOOOO!!!! Sure its not what I wanted but its a gig. I will be writing comedy for a radio prep service. Go figure...someone actually thinks I am funny and I have convinced them to pay me for it. The only downside is that it is in Connecticut. Oh well...its a job and I have accepted it. Now I just have to figure out new ride routes...UGH!
Thursday, February 14, 2008
This has NOTHING to do with Cycling....but
For those of you who know me, know that I have been at the center of some pretty "ugly" moments in my radio career. Those are what led me to San Francisco to begin with and find me where I am today. I did the interview below because I have never really told my side of some of those things and about crap that can go down behind the scenes.
Low and behold, I was caught off guard by portions of the interview showing up in yesterday's NY Daily News...but what can you do? My only real problem with it is that the reporter who filed thee story in the NY Daily News didn't spell my name right....other than that? ROCK ON!!!!
Thursday, February 14, 2008
No apologies by radio producer Rick Del Gado, who was Hot, then not
By DAVID HINCKLEY
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER
Wednesday, February 13th 2008, 4:00 AM
Rick Del Gado played key roles in two of the messiest incidents in recent city radio history. He was the producer when Opie and Anthony held their infamous "Sex in St. Patrick's" contest on WNEW (102.7 FM) in 2002 and again when the morning team at WQHT (97.1 FM) aired the "Tsunami Song" in 2005.
Both times, he got fired.
And both times, he tells Chaunce Hayden in Steppin' Out magazine, he was just following orders.
"I don't think I crossed the line either time," he tells Hayden. "It was my job."
At the moment, Del Gado doesn't have a radio job. After Hot-97, he worked in San Francisco for a while, but now he's "between gigs," as they say - and he doesn't sound particularly happy about it.
He notes to Hayden that Opie and Anthony had been doing the St. Patrick's stunt for three years. "The listeners got involved, everybody had fun and management signed off," he says. "It was no secret to anybody. It was just entertainment. It was to get people to listen. That's what we're in radio for, to get people to listen."
With the "Tsunami Song," he says the same thing: "I did what they [management] told me to do," which was get attention. He has said many times that the song, which mocks tsunami victims, was intended as a parody of the gooey, vacant "charity" songs of celebrity do-gooders.
"My job is to step over the line," he says. "The dump button and management is there to make sure we don't go too far."
But the song got through at a time when Hot-97 wanted the right kind of attention. "In this corporate B.S. world, somebody has to take the fall if you get bad publicity," Del Gado says.
In fact, he adds, "All the radio people I talk to ... have patted me on the back. They all work in the industry and they admire I did something they couldn't do themselves for fear of losing their jobs."
He readily admits he's not happy that "everybody gets paid, except for me." He also suggests his old bosses Opie and Anthony "aren't bringing in any ad dollars these days. The only guys in radio who bring in big ad dollars are Howard Stern and Imus."
He further differentiates between Opie and Anthony. "I thought they would have my back. I learned early on that one had my back and the other didn't."
That one, he says, is Opie. "Opie is a d- and no one likes him," says Del Gado. "But nobody will tell that to his face."
Del Gado also says "shock radio" is "dead in corporate America. Because Howard Stern made so much money for his company, other companies thought they could take the same format and turn it into gold as well. But all they did was turn shock radio into dog s-."
He seems frustrated that people don't get parodies.
"It's comedy," he says. "It's stupid comedy. It's so stupid it's got to be funny. If anyone takes it seriously, they're an idiot."
And his own career?
"I don't think it needs fixing. I think radio needs fixing.
"I apologize for nothing and I never will."
Low and behold, I was caught off guard by portions of the interview showing up in yesterday's NY Daily News...but what can you do? My only real problem with it is that the reporter who filed thee story in the NY Daily News didn't spell my name right....other than that? ROCK ON!!!!
Thursday, February 14, 2008
No apologies by radio producer Rick Del Gado, who was Hot, then not
By DAVID HINCKLEY
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER
Wednesday, February 13th 2008, 4:00 AM
Rick Del Gado played key roles in two of the messiest incidents in recent city radio history. He was the producer when Opie and Anthony held their infamous "Sex in St. Patrick's" contest on WNEW (102.7 FM) in 2002 and again when the morning team at WQHT (97.1 FM) aired the "Tsunami Song" in 2005.
Both times, he got fired.
And both times, he tells Chaunce Hayden in Steppin' Out magazine, he was just following orders.
"I don't think I crossed the line either time," he tells Hayden. "It was my job."
At the moment, Del Gado doesn't have a radio job. After Hot-97, he worked in San Francisco for a while, but now he's "between gigs," as they say - and he doesn't sound particularly happy about it.
He notes to Hayden that Opie and Anthony had been doing the St. Patrick's stunt for three years. "The listeners got involved, everybody had fun and management signed off," he says. "It was no secret to anybody. It was just entertainment. It was to get people to listen. That's what we're in radio for, to get people to listen."
With the "Tsunami Song," he says the same thing: "I did what they [management] told me to do," which was get attention. He has said many times that the song, which mocks tsunami victims, was intended as a parody of the gooey, vacant "charity" songs of celebrity do-gooders.
"My job is to step over the line," he says. "The dump button and management is there to make sure we don't go too far."
But the song got through at a time when Hot-97 wanted the right kind of attention. "In this corporate B.S. world, somebody has to take the fall if you get bad publicity," Del Gado says.
In fact, he adds, "All the radio people I talk to ... have patted me on the back. They all work in the industry and they admire I did something they couldn't do themselves for fear of losing their jobs."
He readily admits he's not happy that "everybody gets paid, except for me." He also suggests his old bosses Opie and Anthony "aren't bringing in any ad dollars these days. The only guys in radio who bring in big ad dollars are Howard Stern and Imus."
He further differentiates between Opie and Anthony. "I thought they would have my back. I learned early on that one had my back and the other didn't."
That one, he says, is Opie. "Opie is a d- and no one likes him," says Del Gado. "But nobody will tell that to his face."
Del Gado also says "shock radio" is "dead in corporate America. Because Howard Stern made so much money for his company, other companies thought they could take the same format and turn it into gold as well. But all they did was turn shock radio into dog s-."
He seems frustrated that people don't get parodies.
"It's comedy," he says. "It's stupid comedy. It's so stupid it's got to be funny. If anyone takes it seriously, they're an idiot."
And his own career?
"I don't think it needs fixing. I think radio needs fixing.
"I apologize for nothing and I never will."
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
January 2008...in NYC
So, its been a while since my last posting. Call it depression, being homeless or just plain cold and aggravated but being on the east coast this time of year BLOWS!!!! Just look at my car if you need proof...it misses SF as much as I do.
I mena shit its cold every goddamn day....and I don't want to hear shit form your tree hugging fear mongers on global warming...thats BULLSHIT!!! Its Fucking cold.
If you are wondering, I have been riding...cold lonely basemiles for now with one hard ride per week to keep pthe body used to going fast. But every ride starts out the same...watching your breath and hoping your toes and fingers thaw out soon. It usually takes about 45 to 60 minutes. Depending on which way the wind is blowing and how cold it is. I've now ridden in 23 degree weather and let me tell you...IT SUCKS! The only reprise is climbing to get warm but even that stinks. The longest climb I have found so far is only 5 minutes long and that is in zone 1. AND I HATE CLIMBING!!!
Anyhow, the stage is set. Looks like NYC is my home again (for now) and February starts Friday. Time to get serious with the training.
And lets give it up for my girl Liz Hatch!!! She just did a spread for MAXIMonline.com. Whoever says bike chicks aren't hot I hope rides their bike into a tree!!!
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