Friday means the end of the work week, and Paul Finebaum returns to WJOX. It is a triumphant return for Finebaum in a guest spot on the Roundtable. According to twitter, Paul Finebaum will be on WJOX at 2:30 p.m., and the segment will include phone calls.

Paul Finebaum returns to WJOX
Paul Finebaum returns to WJOX
It is can’t miss radio.

You know Jonna Chizik and Kristi Malzahn will be listening. Intently.

No doubt, Mrs. Chizik will be taking notes for Gene Chizik’s new SirisXM talk show. Speaking of Gene’s show on SiriusXM, what idiot came up with this idea? It makes the Chevy Chase late night talk show or Pat Sajak’s late night show seem like smart choices. Has Gene Chizik ever said anything remotely interesting? I’m sure his new contract is A God Thing(tm), but I’m forced to wonder what this country did to deserve Gene Chizik radio. Gitmo? Nah. Not bad enough to warrant this level of smiting.

Mrs. Malzahn will be listening to make sure Finebaum doesn’t show any bias against Auburn. If he does, then Finebaum better look out or he’ll be in for a tongue lashing like Mrs. Malzahn administered to him after the 2009 Iron Bowl.

While a guest spot might not be enough for fans to get their Finebaum fix, it is at least a start, and it is a sure sign that football season is near.

Finebaum left WJOX and is now with ESPN and a keystone of the soon-to-be-launched SEC Network. Finebaum is so important to the SEC property, an ESPN VP speaking at SEC Media Days 2013 talked about Paul Finebaum.

Paul Finebaum is kind of a big deal.

The Paul Finebaum show is likely to appear on WJOX and launch on August 14, according to reports. A person familiar with the situation told the Capstone Report that The Paul Finebaum Show website finebaum.com would likely be managed by ESPN despite a local syndication agreement between ESPN and Cumulus to carry the show.

In any event, be sure to listen to WJOX if you want to hear Finebaum’s take on the biggest stories in college football. Who knows, the caller segment could be very entertaining unlike most everything else on Birmingham sports radio these days. Thankfully, this event is just a prelude to when Paul Finebaum returns to WJOX for good.

11 thoughts on “Paul Finebaum returns to WJOX”

  1. If they don’t let Robert from Waterloo, Iowa talk to Paul, Finebaum should be banished from America.

  2. I will maintain that the “Show” will be formatted like ESPN radio and 30 minutes of commercials an hour – will make the 3 hour show very tight. If anybody thinks that it will be just like old times… well. they just do not understand the business. Fans will have to change. We are going to talk Vanderbilt Football and Missouri Football on an equal footing with the powerhouses – on maybe 8 toll- free numbers.Getting on the show will mean that you will have a hell of a lot of free time on your hands. As far as this “stunt” today….. those ass clowns that talk on the “Roundtable” – that dump button is going to be even more hair trigger than normal. They suck beyond mere words…… Paul will make them look like what they are. Ass Clowns sitting in a yuppie bar in Mountain Brook. Talking Shit. ( Has this bunch ever blown up Auburn more ? )

    1. Elmo, no doubt things will change. I don’t think we will see every SEC program on equal footing. Listen to Colin Cowherd or even watch ESPN and you’ll see much more attention to the big programs relative to the smaller ones. I think you are right that we will see an increase in some attention to those programs,

      Since Paul left, it is almost impossible to find decent sports talk. It is unfortunate the competitor to WJOX gave up because it offered some of the best shows on the air in Birmingham.

    2. If this is the Finebaum caller Elmo, I always enjoyed your calls. I agree with you that the Roundtable is no valid replacement for Finebaum. I know one of the “ass clowns” personally and even though he’s a good guy I’ll admit his show has not stood in the gap for Finebaum. I think if the ratings were known any idiot could see that.

      That being said, I think the Roundtable is fine as a midday show. It’s something to listen to on your lunch break and they are fine as a lead-in to Fbomb. There’s no way in the world it was any worse than that Sports Czars crap that 97.3 tried to pass off as sports talk.

      1. Sports Czars. Yuck. Worst. Radio. Show. Ever.

        I liked Scarbinsky’s show in the morning. Wimp wasn’t too bad mid-morning either. I’d love to hear his thoughts on Alabama basketball next season.

  3. Just got through listening to the Show. The show debuts on August 11 and he still cannot give any details about the format. I will let you figure that one out. Paul did say that next August – the nefarious format – will change again for SEC T.V. This means …. that whatever is left – as far as airtime….. for callers… will be miniscule. I agree with you Cappy – we are all going to have to change as far as our love for caller driven sports shows. I will close this with some good news…. Paul hooked up Pat Smith with a job at ESPN.

    1. Elmo, thanks for the update. I listened to Paul today on WJOX too, but only heard about 20 minutes. How long was his guest spot today? I was on 280 and shockingly traffic moved quickly this afternoon.

      I will say that I don’t think the format change is going in the move to TV is going to be that big of a deal. I can’t imagine it is going to be much different from what the ESPN radio shows simulcast on ESPNU are like right now. If you can, take a look at Colin Cowherd or SVP. The shows provide a little bit of additional graphics, film and studio camera. I haven’t detected any reduction in air vs. commercials. In fact, I think the TV airs fewer commercials than the radio portion and they fill that with updates from SportsCenter.

      I do think you raise an interesting point. ESPN tends to use their radio hosts and guests far more than callers. So, will Finebaum slide into that format or will Finebaum remain different?

      One last thought. I can’t imagine the SEC really wants some of the bad callers to become the face of the league. So, that could be one pressure to change.

      What do you think the SEC and ESPN would think about some of the callers?

  4. As a diehard Alabama fan I must say I have always believed Finebaum is a stain on the state, he couldn’t care less about the SEC and all of its pageantry, beauty and traditions. All Paul cares about is stirring the pot, he found a niche when he found a way to get rednecks and fringe fans on his show. It has been said a million times before he is the Jerry Springer of radio and also he is a carpetbagging yankee to boot. Thats just my 2 cents I know yall will probably not agree.

    1. “and also he is a carpetbagging yankee to boot.”

      born and raised in memphis. just sayin’.

      i was in Bama Fever in other day drooling over the new DM national championship print and saw Paul on the tube.

      very disappointed. Paul sounded like Tammy calling the show.

      he was obviously nervous and as many times as I’ve seen him do tv, I really don’t understand. he looked like he was trying too hard. way overboard w/ the hand gesturing. (channeling Coach Saban?) I’m sure he’ll getting better.

      he definitely needs better makeup. (dome shine)

      this writer obviously doesn’t like Paul but he did have a point:

      http://deadspin.com/finebaum-johnny-manziels-phone-dying-is-not-what-nfl-815969777

  5. Finebaum is awful..The state of Alabama is better off without his Jerry Springer act. ..Problem is tjhat Pf will never be gone …there are too many ignorant fools in the state that worship Finebummer.

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