Brock Huard gasped, Tom Wassell hissed. It wasn't the worst mistake I ever made on the air, it just felt that way, but what happened next was way more important.
Thanks, Shelli. Very grateful for both your time and your support. You're right, starting over is not easy, but it is also incredibly exciting and the uncertainty that comes with it -- if you can accept it -- is an incredibly inspiring part of the human condition!
My favorite two personalities at your former station were you and Michael Gray. I don't really know what happened with either of your situations (and it's none of my business) but what I appreciate about you, Danny is that you understand self-deprecation and the value of self effacing humor. As a hand, it cannot be overplayed (lest it become something uncomfortable) but in the right moments, it does more to connect you with your audience than any other device. That might be the wrong word, but it's close. I've done heaps of stupid stuff in my life and have made many mistakes. I don't relate well to those who haven't and I relate even less to those who want me to believe that they haven't. I hope you can find the compliment in there, because it's issued with sincerity.
One of the things I enjoyed when you were on sports radio was your development from a media expert to be interviewed, to a regular voice on the station, to a host on a show and then to the person who would take the show to break and bring it back. You became very adept at running a show by the time you left. I was disappointed when you left but now I am really enjoying The Dang Apostrophe for so many reasons. I like the sports talk but I also am finding the topics that have nothing to do with sports to be interesting and engaging. I find myself looking forward to wherever you go next but I will always have an appetite for and fond memories of misfit radio.
Lol, Trapped between Wassell & Huard and you're the one who thinks you aren't doing it right? If those two had even 1/10th the level of self awareness you have they'd be 100% less annoying. You on the other hand were consistently more competent and more professional than the've ever been.
With Brock being so obedient all his life huge portions of normal awareness don't exist for him and with Wassell not caring what other people think of his opinions all his life ultimately ending his broadcast career as well as my friendship w/him on twitter, it's ridiculous that you'd ever see yourself as being worse off than them, even for a brief moment!
Hey Deane, if I wrote up a detailed, reasoned, insult-free message here which fills in the many blanks you aren’t even aware of regarding me, my 15-year career in media and the dubious circumstances of my termination, would you respond by thoughtfully and fairly evaluating it? Or would I just get more incoherent declarations which revive your little dance party on my professional grave? (Yep, I’ve suffered personally and professionally every bit as much as you might have fantasized about as you giggled and blasted me directly to one of my friends. Congratulations.)
You see, my man… I’m inclined to actually discuss these things with anyone - AND HAVE, directly and in person. Why? Because I give a sh*t about you. While the guys who I’m sure meet your criteria for polished radio host mock you - the audience - as moronic to the point of telling one another on a weekly basis to not bother reading the thoughts of the very audience who bothered to listen to them, I’ll hop on the phone - zoom whatever you want. How many hosts are gonna pay you that much respect, Dino?
Problem is I’ve found over the course of 10s/1000s of online interactions with strangers that even when presenting them with the corrections and relevant info (volumes of it in this case) which would likely invalidate their motivation to attack me in the first place, the person in your position tends to disregard the generosity I’ve shown by not hurling Junior high insults back your way like so many hand grenades. Instead, even with their erroneous assertions now corrected (even partially), they still tend to favor a course of action which increases hostility delivered in the form of more cheap shots because…they never really cared in the first place. Getting validation was all that mattered. So, I’m curious as to whether or not clearing up your misconceptions about me, my career, the station, industry, my colleagues, etc would be received charitably and have any value to you or if you’ve simply made your mind up that I’m a jagoff without whom the city is now unburdened.
Hi T.... My comment was in support of O'Neil who didn't realize his competency compared to his co-hosts. Your reaction indicates you're one of those co-hosts and I unfriended you on Twitter because you always seem to turn discussions about other people/social issues into why you're more important than the topic of discussion. We need more kindness and empathy in the world and that's why I was a fan of your sharp edge as a broadcaster that didn't care about having opinions others didn't like. But after a while I realized it was more than that and you just didn't care about other people in general, which is not an easy path for a species entirely dependent on each other for life in general.
I appreciate the vulnerability you show in your writing Danny. I have always been a fan and will continue to be! I would love to read a book about your Seattle sports experiences.
I sure enjoy your life perspective on stuff you’ve gone thru. I also look forward every week to your Patreon time w/Mitch. I remember from his morning show that he was crazy fastidious about getting guests names correct. I feel that if some person acts like armageddon has come because you mispronounced a name, that’s more on them, esp if you’re brand new at your position. Go Huskies💜💛
I was a long time 710 listener, OMG misfit radio was the BEST, I still check in once in a while but your presence is missed. I'm happy for you with this new direction your life and career has taken you, cause, wow, you are pretty darn good at this writing stuff, but I'd tune in in a second if I knew you were back on the radio.
I'd be willing to start a hilarious fundraiser to get you funded to do a weekly spot w/puck & Jim... Stuff like gambling the money we raised on Jim's smoking lock of the week! :-) You know the routine well Danny... Because deep down you know that all your radio work helped you realize there's a talented comedian inside of you just dying to get out! Let us help you be funnier that you ever thought possible!
Thanks, Jessica. I love my history degree, and while it's easy to joke about how little it prepared me to do in the real world, I think it taught me perspective and furthered my love of reading!
Great article Danny, I love your personal anecdotes! If that feeling stays for a long time, say 9 years, is it total imposter syndrome I'm feeling lol?
When I was a newspaper reporter, I used to have this very real fear that after one particularly egregious mistake the editor would come to my desk and say, "I'm very sorry. We're not sure how we decided you were capable of doing this job, but it's very apparent you are not. Security is here to help you pack up your desk because you must leave." This fear never completely evaporated, and I found out that many other reporters shared similar doomsday visions. I think it might be a natural tendency for us human beings to feel inadequate.
As my dad once told me…”don’t let any one bad moment define you” Love your “non sports” stories as it seems I can relate or get something from each one! Thanks for sharing!
I gotta be honest .. you’re writing yesterday about Bobby Wagner I haven’t read yet. I will but just not yet!
This one I read immediately. I am so drawn to your writings on our fragile human condition.
Thank You for your honesty and insight.
Thanks, Susan.
I really look forward to your publication-worthy personal histories, it is your writing I enjoy the most.
Let me know when it's available, no pressure.
I’m learning’ to fly
But I ain’t got wings
Comin’ down
Is the hardest thing
Tom Petty
Man, I love Tom Petty. "Wildflowers" is probably my favorite album but "Learning to Fly" is a hell of a song.
I look forward to reading your personal stories. I love the honesty and vulnerability that comes from these stories. Starting over is never easy...
Thanks, Shelli. Very grateful for both your time and your support. You're right, starting over is not easy, but it is also incredibly exciting and the uncertainty that comes with it -- if you can accept it -- is an incredibly inspiring part of the human condition!
My favorite two personalities at your former station were you and Michael Gray. I don't really know what happened with either of your situations (and it's none of my business) but what I appreciate about you, Danny is that you understand self-deprecation and the value of self effacing humor. As a hand, it cannot be overplayed (lest it become something uncomfortable) but in the right moments, it does more to connect you with your audience than any other device. That might be the wrong word, but it's close. I've done heaps of stupid stuff in my life and have made many mistakes. I don't relate well to those who haven't and I relate even less to those who want me to believe that they haven't. I hope you can find the compliment in there, because it's issued with sincerity.
One of the things I enjoyed when you were on sports radio was your development from a media expert to be interviewed, to a regular voice on the station, to a host on a show and then to the person who would take the show to break and bring it back. You became very adept at running a show by the time you left. I was disappointed when you left but now I am really enjoying The Dang Apostrophe for so many reasons. I like the sports talk but I also am finding the topics that have nothing to do with sports to be interesting and engaging. I find myself looking forward to wherever you go next but I will always have an appetite for and fond memories of misfit radio.
Lol, Trapped between Wassell & Huard and you're the one who thinks you aren't doing it right? If those two had even 1/10th the level of self awareness you have they'd be 100% less annoying. You on the other hand were consistently more competent and more professional than the've ever been.
With Brock being so obedient all his life huge portions of normal awareness don't exist for him and with Wassell not caring what other people think of his opinions all his life ultimately ending his broadcast career as well as my friendship w/him on twitter, it's ridiculous that you'd ever see yourself as being worse off than them, even for a brief moment!
Hey Deane, if I wrote up a detailed, reasoned, insult-free message here which fills in the many blanks you aren’t even aware of regarding me, my 15-year career in media and the dubious circumstances of my termination, would you respond by thoughtfully and fairly evaluating it? Or would I just get more incoherent declarations which revive your little dance party on my professional grave? (Yep, I’ve suffered personally and professionally every bit as much as you might have fantasized about as you giggled and blasted me directly to one of my friends. Congratulations.)
You see, my man… I’m inclined to actually discuss these things with anyone - AND HAVE, directly and in person. Why? Because I give a sh*t about you. While the guys who I’m sure meet your criteria for polished radio host mock you - the audience - as moronic to the point of telling one another on a weekly basis to not bother reading the thoughts of the very audience who bothered to listen to them, I’ll hop on the phone - zoom whatever you want. How many hosts are gonna pay you that much respect, Dino?
Problem is I’ve found over the course of 10s/1000s of online interactions with strangers that even when presenting them with the corrections and relevant info (volumes of it in this case) which would likely invalidate their motivation to attack me in the first place, the person in your position tends to disregard the generosity I’ve shown by not hurling Junior high insults back your way like so many hand grenades. Instead, even with their erroneous assertions now corrected (even partially), they still tend to favor a course of action which increases hostility delivered in the form of more cheap shots because…they never really cared in the first place. Getting validation was all that mattered. So, I’m curious as to whether or not clearing up your misconceptions about me, my career, the station, industry, my colleagues, etc would be received charitably and have any value to you or if you’ve simply made your mind up that I’m a jagoff without whom the city is now unburdened.
How’s that for self-aware?
-T
Hi T.... My comment was in support of O'Neil who didn't realize his competency compared to his co-hosts. Your reaction indicates you're one of those co-hosts and I unfriended you on Twitter because you always seem to turn discussions about other people/social issues into why you're more important than the topic of discussion. We need more kindness and empathy in the world and that's why I was a fan of your sharp edge as a broadcaster that didn't care about having opinions others didn't like. But after a while I realized it was more than that and you just didn't care about other people in general, which is not an easy path for a species entirely dependent on each other for life in general.
I appreciate the vulnerability you show in your writing Danny. I have always been a fan and will continue to be! I would love to read a book about your Seattle sports experiences.
I sure enjoy your life perspective on stuff you’ve gone thru. I also look forward every week to your Patreon time w/Mitch. I remember from his morning show that he was crazy fastidious about getting guests names correct. I feel that if some person acts like armageddon has come because you mispronounced a name, that’s more on them, esp if you’re brand new at your position. Go Huskies💜💛
I was a long time 710 listener, OMG misfit radio was the BEST, I still check in once in a while but your presence is missed. I'm happy for you with this new direction your life and career has taken you, cause, wow, you are pretty darn good at this writing stuff, but I'd tune in in a second if I knew you were back on the radio.
Not sure if I'll be back on the radio in the future, but there will definitely be an audio component to what I'm doing.
I'd be willing to start a hilarious fundraiser to get you funded to do a weekly spot w/puck & Jim... Stuff like gambling the money we raised on Jim's smoking lock of the week! :-) You know the routine well Danny... Because deep down you know that all your radio work helped you realize there's a talented comedian inside of you just dying to get out! Let us help you be funnier that you ever thought possible!
I majored in history too :)
Also, thanks for sharing your personal journey. The vulnerability resonates in your writing.
Thanks, Jessica. I love my history degree, and while it's easy to joke about how little it prepared me to do in the real world, I think it taught me perspective and furthered my love of reading!
Great article Danny, I love your personal anecdotes! If that feeling stays for a long time, say 9 years, is it total imposter syndrome I'm feeling lol?
When I was a newspaper reporter, I used to have this very real fear that after one particularly egregious mistake the editor would come to my desk and say, "I'm very sorry. We're not sure how we decided you were capable of doing this job, but it's very apparent you are not. Security is here to help you pack up your desk because you must leave." This fear never completely evaporated, and I found out that many other reporters shared similar doomsday visions. I think it might be a natural tendency for us human beings to feel inadequate.
As my dad once told me…”don’t let any one bad moment define you” Love your “non sports” stories as it seems I can relate or get something from each one! Thanks for sharing!
Thanks, Jeff. Really appreciate you taking the time to read and your support!