Good hosts and shows aren’t struggling for content right now, but who knows how long it will be before we get live sports again? Sure, the NFL Draft is coming up, but do you know what you’re going to do once the stories generated by that event have run their course? Hell, we’ll have been without sports for nearly a month and a half at that point.
We’re all in this together, right? That’s why Barrett Sports Media is creating a content grab bag and we’re asking everyone to pitch in.
Got an idea that can help someone else? Do you have a perfect bit in mind, but maybe your situation has changed and now you have nowhere to pull it off? Don’t let it go to waste! If you want to contribute, reach out to Demetri Ravanos on Twitter.
The latest contribution comes from Cody Stoots, recently furloughed SB Nation Radio afternooner and former mid day host at 610 Sports Radio in Houston. He has been using the idea he shares today for a number of years and says it is the best way to get the very most out of a topic.
The Optimist, The Pessimist, and the Realist by Cody Stoots
This is a fun gimmick my old co-host John Lopez thought of back in the day when I was at SportsRadio 610 in Houston and over the years I have fine-tuned to maximize the usefulness as a built-in or a weekly bit.
The idea is to look at a story and explore what could be the optimistic outcome, the pessimistic outcome, and the realistic outcome. Obviously you want them to differ to a somewhat large degree. Approaching a topic this way lets the host or hosts really stretch a few topics and maximize content from the subjects.
The first thing I noticed is that you better be focused and taking your time pronouncing “optimistic,” “pessimistic,” and “realistic”! I can sometimes get going a little fast and jumble my words together, but this always had me slowing down and making sure I said each of the three the right way.
It’s an idea that can be utilized as a solo host or on a multi-person show. With the solo setup, the producer/board op can toss the topic the two of you have decided on ahead of time or let them come up with one and keep you on your toes. You don’t necessarily need someone to set the topic up, but I do think the sound is a bit better with someone tossing it out and the host taking it and running with it.
As a multi-host show I found if everyone weighs in on one topic, it gets repetitive. So define your roles. Host A should lay out a topic for Host B. Host B should give his scenarios and then setup Host A with a different topic.
You can go a lot of different ways with these. Broad or specific. These also go great if you can get specific with a host’s life/recent events.
Here’s an example of how I would do a topic this way. I would say a lot more in an actual segment but I was brief in the writing. You catch my drift.
Which team is the optimistic, pessimistic, and realistic fit for Tua Tagovailoa in the draft?
- Optimistically with the disruption to the draft process, Tua starts to fall a little and the Patriots give up a ton to go get the Bama quarterback as he starts to slip. Tua gets to be paired up with the best coach of all-time, and we all have a big baddie to root against again.
- Pessimistically, the Washington Redskins surprise us all and take him. He comes into a franchise with a poor track record, the fans won’t love the pick because it will feel like they wasted their first-rounder on Dwayne Haskins last year, and there are no weapons for him.
- Realistically, the Dolphins are the best spot for Tua. It seems they have been preparing for the franchise quarterback to come along for a long time. There’s plenty of ammunition to add talent around him, and there aren’t immediate expectations to play with Ryan Fitzpatrick able to hold things down for a few weeks.
One of the best parts is your realistic thought might be someone else’s pessimistic or optimistic. It allows for listeners and colleagues to continue the conversation beyond your first few takes.
Optimistically, you use this idea weekly. Pessimistically you’re headed for the exit button. Realistically you’re going to give this a shot.
