The football fan, the talk show and the ex-FIFA VP.
By Patricia "Brownsugar" Smart… Radio talk show fan hits Jackpot I really did not want to call that day.
I had no intention of calling in when the live discussion started on Radio I95.5 with Minister of Works and Infrastructure and ex-FIFA Vice President Jack Warner as the studio’s special guest. But I just couldn’t help it.
I must confess that I enjoy radio talk shows.
Over the years, I have found them to be good outlets for allowing citizens to actively engage in utilising our constitutionally guaranteed freedom of speech. And I think our willingness to use this privilege auger well for our young democracy and shows that we are growing as a people.
Okay, so the content that some callers bring to the table occasionally forces us to question our education system; but that’s a whole other kettle of fish.
I started calling into talk shows a few years ago though not on a regular basis. It was more of an indulgence than a staple.
Hey, I’m a busy woman and it can be so difficult to get on. I’m an accountant with deadlines, people to manage and friends and family to focus on; so I just don’t have time to hit the redial button repeatedly in the hope that I will hit the jackpot and get on air.
I’ve always been a little envious as to how some callers would get on programmes so regularly; twice in one session sometimes. I definitely belong to the more infrequent group of guests that, as we say in local parlance, catch “we royal nenen”.
I try to restrict myself to topics that I’m really passionate and knowledgeable and situations where I feel something must be clarified or corrected.
Even now, years after my debut, it is still a nerve wracking experience.
As I hear the phone ringing, I would take a few deep breaths and gather my thoughts. I try to focus on one or two key points that I want to get across in the minute I have to do so.
This is another reason I hardly call in. One minute. That’s it.
I find it is not worth the trouble of repeated redialing for three to five minutes or longer just to say my piece in one minute or less.
I really tried not to call that day. But the topic was the High Court battle between the 13 World Cup 2006 players and the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation (TTFF) and it was too important to me.
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