Pitarresi: Jim Rome needs explaining

 

I wish someone could explain Jim Rome to me.

 

Half the time I have no idea what he is talking about, or what his “clones” – I think those his fans - are talking about.

 

I would never turn on Rome’s radio show (noon to 3 p.m. on a couple of local stations) except that I drive to Syracuse a couple of times a week and I have to kill some time. Occasionally, he’ll have a good guest on and he often elicits some great comments, even though he rarely grills anyone and just tosses out softball questions.

 

Otherwise, his show is mostly “in” references between him and listeners, and a litany of hip  comments. I am way, way past my college years, so I don’t expect to get a lot of the chatter, but I get hardly any of it and I wonder who does.

 

Rome obviously is after the male 18-to-35 age group – the current makeup of which is perhaps the most self-satisfied, shallowest and emotionally selfish demographic in the history of the United States – and I simply find the whole deal weird. Rome just turned 44, is married and has two young sons, yet he sounds like a college frat boy. He’s knowledgeable – none of these talk show guys are near as knowledgeable as they try to imply – but his approach is often sophomoric and wears thin quickly, unless you are a “clone.”

 

And, tell me, if you aren’t in your truck driving to wherever, how do you have time to listen to Jim Rome? Get back to work!