Sports on radio is always hot

Last Saturday afternoon, Radyo INQUIRER (990AM) listeners had a serving of sports talk in Jojo Alejar’s “Jojo A All the Way” program.
I joined the versatile entertainer and his on-air cohorts Teddy Pereña and Brod Pit, as well as former University of Santo Tomas star and Barako Bull’s prized rookie Dylan Ababou.
Ababou provided the perspective of a young player just starting with his pro basketball career but aware of the legacy of the game that preceded him.
Aside from politics and show business, sports can always prompt people to share their opinions on games and those who play them.
We were having such a lively discussion that we were unmindful that the studio’s building was already surrounded by flood waters because of a heavy downpour we didn’t even hear!
Alejar revealed a firm understanding of the basketball landscape as he dished out his own takes on games and heroes from the past. He revealed having played hoops but now is more into tennis.
We talked about basketball footwork. Alejar, also a member of the Tigers, a synchronized and graceful dancing trio once one of the big draws of the Penthouse Live TV hit of the 1980s, shared that footwork helped create rhythm.
I jumped in and said that Johnny Abbarientos’ dancing skills may have helped his Flying A basketball maneuvers as well.
Ababou chipped in that footwork was critical for all basketball moves while I added that fellow INQUIRER columnist Recah Trinidad had been reminding everyone through the years that footwork was indispensable for proper shooting.
Ababou and I were also asked who the greatest basketball players were and listeners texted in their own choices.
Robert Jaworski, Ramon Fernandez, Alvin Patrimonio and Bogs Adornado were among the favorites of those who were tuned in.
The last area we touched on was why the PBA was no longer the big hit that it was compared to the Crispa-Toyota days or the Patrimonio & Co. era in the 1990s.
I replied that the league today has a lot more program competition fighting for the attention of viewers. Add to this mix the social networks like Facebook that is proving to be the medium of choice of young people because of its interactivity and pervasive connectivity, rather than television.
The PBA still has its loyal fans, probably not as vociferous as before when the world was simply divided between Crispa and Toyota fans or Jaworski lovers and detractors.
The audience of the first three decades of the league has grown a little older and focused on facts of life like making a living. That’s why the league today is trying to use Facebook, Twitter and the like to reach out to a new generation of fans to join the older ones.
Radio is an engaging way to connect to audiences, just as Jojo Alejar does with his weekend afternoon gig.
Sports is also one great radio topic because the talk, unlike the seemingly detached words punched out on social networks, has voices you can listen to or even talk to about your favorite sports issues and icons.