Travis Justice of the KXNO Morning Rush, now statewide via the Iowa Sports Radio Network, has called it quits today. He had become the strongest voice in that lineup. I think he dropped this news on air without telling his co-host Sean Roberts as far as I could tell.
Travis is a Hawkeye fan that grew up in an era when Hayden Fry was dominating the Cyclones and I think that has ingrained in Travis an inherent bias about the two programs. Only lately when things have been going so well at Iowa State and frustrating for Iowa fans in basketball has it seemed that inherent bias was broken. When he didn't let that inherent bias, he was actually pretty interesting to listen to. I enjoyed him because he came from Minden which is near the town I grew up in and it was great when he mentioned towns in that area.
I think the die was cast when his friend Ross Peterson was let go last year as iHeart was downsizing. In recent shows he made fun of iHeart leadership because they weren't allowed to mention AP on the air when talking about "the poll that shall not be named". He had no trouble pointing out that management stupidity. I can't imagine that sat well with management, but he had probably already made up his mind. Decisions like that probably made his decision easier.
I would not be surprised if we soon learn that he will join Iowa Everywhere podcast network. Murph and Andy have a show on that network once or twice a week. I think I heard Ross Peterson was going to join that network. I can see Ross and Travis joining up forces. I think the situation is that these guys can do fewer shows each week, have a bit more flexibility, aren't subject to FCC and stupid management rules, and get a bigger share of the advertising dollars that previous went to a big national corporation. Travis was a guy that would do a show on holidays via podcast and/or YouTube even though it would be broadcast on KXNO over-the-air. A guy that loves to do this that much can't just completely walk away. Can he?
Many of you may hate Travis and Ross because they are Hawkeyes, but they are entertaining. Local radio celebrities should be cherished (as long as it stays balanced). Ross is especially fair to Cyclones and Travis can be when that inherent bias doesn't overtake him. As long as the Hawkeyes suck, that bias is in check and he is easily tolerated. Stay this way long enough and that bias will be forever broken. Who doesn't love to hear how bad the Hawkeye suck and that Iowa State could make the football playoff and win a national championship in basketball?
Travis is a Hawkeye fan that grew up in an era when Hayden Fry was dominating the Cyclones and I think that has ingrained in Travis an inherent bias about the two programs. Only lately when things have been going so well at Iowa State and frustrating for Iowa fans in basketball has it seemed that inherent bias was broken. When he didn't let that inherent bias, he was actually pretty interesting to listen to. I enjoyed him because he came from Minden which is near the town I grew up in and it was great when he mentioned towns in that area.
I think the die was cast when his friend Ross Peterson was let go last year as iHeart was downsizing. In recent shows he made fun of iHeart leadership because they weren't allowed to mention AP on the air when talking about "the poll that shall not be named". He had no trouble pointing out that management stupidity. I can't imagine that sat well with management, but he had probably already made up his mind. Decisions like that probably made his decision easier.
I would not be surprised if we soon learn that he will join Iowa Everywhere podcast network. Murph and Andy have a show on that network once or twice a week. I think I heard Ross Peterson was going to join that network. I can see Ross and Travis joining up forces. I think the situation is that these guys can do fewer shows each week, have a bit more flexibility, aren't subject to FCC and stupid management rules, and get a bigger share of the advertising dollars that previous went to a big national corporation. Travis was a guy that would do a show on holidays via podcast and/or YouTube even though it would be broadcast on KXNO over-the-air. A guy that loves to do this that much can't just completely walk away. Can he?
Many of you may hate Travis and Ross because they are Hawkeyes, but they are entertaining. Local radio celebrities should be cherished (as long as it stays balanced). Ross is especially fair to Cyclones and Travis can be when that inherent bias doesn't overtake him. As long as the Hawkeyes suck, that bias is in check and he is easily tolerated. Stay this way long enough and that bias will be forever broken. Who doesn't love to hear how bad the Hawkeye suck and that Iowa State could make the football playoff and win a national championship in basketball?
