Tuesday will be the final episode of The Morning Jones

Monday 29 August, 2011 at 2:28 pm bomani Blog 22

Tuesday, August 30, is the final day for The Morning Jones. We expected to go through the 31st, but something changed along the way. You’ll have to ask someone with an office in Toronto about that one, for I have no idea.

I suppose there will be more time to discuss this Tuesday morning, and more on Ustream that evening at 9 et. And tomorrow, on the show, there will certainly be time for phone calls. Off top, I wouldn’t even be surprised if we run past 10 am (we have the option). Either way, we still ain’t dead, even if there’s an appointment at the funeral home set. I’m breathing while there’s air.

My long of the short on this is pretty simple: we did a show that we were happy to wake up in the morning for, even at times when getting the show on the air wasn’t exactly easy. Corey, Sacha and I got to know each other on the air, just as we got to know the people who listened. We introduced the world to the single most interesting person on the face of the Earth, DJ Mike Hitman.

And now that it’s done, we’ll move on and do other things.

On a personal level, it’s hard for me to be terribly sad. That’s largely because I know, when things are right, I’ll be able to work with everyone again. And, if things go as I hope they will eventually, we’ll be able to do the same thing we’ve been doing, just better.

The guys at Serious Sports, whom I’ve worked on videos with for the last two years, are still in Raleigh and still ready to work together. Shannon Penn and I can’t get together every Saturday morning, but we figured out how to get together to make those mockumentaries work. I’ll still hit Petey Green up for beats. Corey will one day be a big famous boxing commentator, and I’ll hope to still be relevant enough to, at the very least, book him as a guest. And Mike will still run the streets of Chicago.

Sacha, of course, will always be the kaaaaang. There’s always room for royalty.

And the people who listen will still be as connected as they so choose to be. You might be shocked to know how many people have established legitimate friendships through The Morning Jones. Hell, I can even name a couple that moved in together — and I’m talking about pack-up-your-shit-and-move-halfway-across-the-country move — after meeting, effectively, through our radio program.

You hate it when stuff like that goes away, but that’s not nearly as much fun or productive as celebrating what it was. So Tuesday morning, we’re going to do a radio show. We’ve only got one more chance to do it as we’re presently constructed. We’re gonna live it up, and nobody’s going to be angry.

At least I won’t. And if I won’t be, and I won’t be getting a check next month, I think you’ll be okay. This is the business I’ve chosen, and these are the sorts of things that happen.

So I encourage you to check us out tomorrow morning. If you’ve never listened, I think it’ll be a great chance to see a sort of sports talk radio you may not have known existed. From there, you’ll know what sort of thing I’ll be doing next.

If nothing else, doing The Morning Jones solidified, in my mind, that I’ve got an approach to all of this that may work. After having editors tell me what I wanted to do wouldn’t work and bosses tell me, effectively, that a guy like me wouldn’t be attractive to advertisers, the growth of The Morning Jones has demonstrated that there’s a significant portion of the sporting population that wants to be spoken to honestly and intelligently. Further, it showed me that lots of people can get into the cultural stuff that makes me the same way I can get into what makes them. If people trust the host, they’ll ride with him through unfamiliar terrain.

Lots of you rode with us down an unbeaten path. We came out on the other side better for it. Now, to keep going, we’ve got to do it again.

And we will.

So, for now, thank you for your support and, more importantly, your time and insights. I’m better at what I do because of our listeners, and I’ll be in a place to do bigger and better things because of your contributions.

The Morning Jones – Final Show – Hour 1

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

The Morning Jones – Final Show – Hour 2

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

The Morning Jones – Final Show – Hour 3

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

The Morning Jones – Final Show – Final Segment

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

I’ll leave you with this picture from Chicago. It’s Corey, Sacha, Mike Hitman, Stacy in Brooklyn, Shultzie, Francis in Maryland, and me at Mike’s birthday party in Chicago. Unless you know of another show that can bring folks together like this, I’ll take this moment as my favorite of the last 20 months. Just felt good to be a part of it, just as it felt good to be part of all of this since last January.

http://chrisstevenssite.wordpress.com Chris

I feel sorry for the folks who didn’t know about The Morning Jones from jump because they missed out on one helluva ride, one that hopefully continues in some form or fashion. Looking forward to what’s next for you and the entire crew, which if the last 20 months is any indication, great things.
waine

Don’t mean to be to hyperbolic but this was the best talk show ever. The dynamic between Kaang Sacha Corey and Bo was outstanding i can only imagine if y’all did this shit in the same studio it would be even more fyah. Bo I’ll still continue to be a fan hope you find another forum on radio where i can hear you put foot to ass of some o these simpin broadcasters whack takes theres good things in store for you my man BlessM Man you even got me to buy a BEATEMDOWN TSHIRT
Bshelly24

Proud to say I downloaded the first hour of the first Morning Jones podcast as soon as it was available on January 4th, 2010 and listened to 98.4 percent of the show. I’m going to hope against hope that, to quote the song, “Bomani Sacha Corey” get to do a daily show together again some day in a format that lets Mike be Mike.
Chris

Bo, I’ve been a fan of yours for some time now and it’s sad to hear that this program won’t be around in its current form any longer – you and your crew had a really great thing going on, and for a while it seemed like you had a good platform from which to do your thing. It’s really a shame that that no longer seems to be the case.

Here’s hoping you keep that foot planted firmly in the door of mainstream sports media. Your intelligence and wit should be the envy of every sports commentator out there, and I’ve got little doubt that your star will only keep rising from here.
Stevengilley15

Aw man. All good things must come to an end. I mostly only listened during NBA season but I am proud to say I got a chance to know the legend of DJ Mike The Hitman and the influence he had on me is his uncanny. Just know because of Hitman, I refer to folks as Jack on the regular…LOL. Peace and Blessings to everyone on the show and on their future endeavors. Its going down Jack!!!
http://twitter.com/Dublar Randall Routt

Still mad i didnt get to catch you all up in Chicago. I was up there, just stuck in the downtown area. Maybe the story can be told one day. I hate to see the show go. I know if anything that you cant deny talent and you guys have a niche that is sorely needed on air somewhere. I know you all will bounce back somewhere. I’mma try and call in, if my work allows me, tomorrow. If not look for me on getting those T-shirts i keep buggin ya about and I will be down that way the weekend of the UNC-Louisville football game. And if you do end up coming up this way for that UK-UNC game in December, hit me up on twitter or something. Matt cant take you to the shake joints like i can. Till the next one man!
http://twitter.com/Dublar Randall Routt

Still mad i didnt get to catch you all up in Chicago. I was up there, just stuck in the downtown area. Maybe the story can be told one day. I hate to see the show go. I know if anything that you cant deny talent and you guys have a niche that is sorely needed on air somewhere. I know you all will bounce back somewhere. I’mma try and call in, if my work allows me, tomorrow. If not look for me on getting those T-shirts i keep buggin ya about and I will be down that way the weekend of the UNC-Louisville football game. And if you do end up coming up this way for that UK-UNC game in December, hit me up on twitter or something. Matt cant take you to the shake joints like i can. Till the next one man!
Bshelly24

Steven, I think every one of us who ever heard even one Hitman call has called someone else “Jack” at one point or another.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1201830805 Eric Ayers

Thanks Bo for hosting this on air party. I enjoy humor that makes me think. You guys are the best. Inshallah!
http://twitter.com/tgriff13 taurik

Best show on the air and can’t wait for as Snoop and Dre would say ” the next episode”.
http://www.mediabistro.com/sportsnewser/bomani-jones-farewell-from-the-morning-jones_b13626 Bomani Jones’ Farewell From The Morning Jones – SportsNewser

[...] by Bomani Jones, the sports radio host and Around the Horn regular shared his thoughts on the end of a successful 18-month run: “On a personal level, it’s hard for me to be [...]
Jackie Taylor – ThatSportsBabe

“You might be shocked to know how many people have established legitimate friendships through The Morning Jones. Hell, I can even name a couple that moved in together — and I’m talking about pack-up-your-shit-and-move-halfway-across-the-country move — after meeting, effectively, through our radio program” …………….I believe you are speaking about me and Mr. Cox in that comment!!
http://twitter.com/ShinobiAM2 Andre Ferguson

Eric Ayers described it best…it’s been an on air party. It’s been one hell of a ride, and while I’m sad to see this current construct go, I can’t wait to see where you all go from here. I still have a lot of the old episodes on the hard drive and still listen to old snippets from those every once in a while. All I can say is thanks to Bo, Sascha, Corey, The Score, Hitman, Rod, and all the regulars for providing some of the most entertaining and thought provoking stuff I’ve ever come across. It’s been an absolute pleasure.
Mjoelhansen

The Morning Jones was easily my favourite talk show out there (Not just sports) I started listening from the very first episode (seriously Bo, you should send Lane Kiffin a thank you card or something he gave you great material doing what he did)
I made sure to download the podcast everyday and would listen to it on my Ipod as I walked around school; I remember very well the time that Sascha got all upset about French sterotypes in animated cartoons, I was laughing so hard that I needed to sit down and I am pretty sure people were looking at me weird too.

Overall it was a great show where everyone was allowed to be who they wanted to be and it made for great radio, I just hope that there is another station out there that allows you to be yourself Bo; because that along with the great talent that you have will make you a success where ever you go.
-SHeRaRD

thanks for everything bo! you are the man! you almost had me choked up at the end of your show today during those last ten minutes, i can’t even lie. the lady who sits in front me at work asked me the other day if i had seizures, because i’m always laughing at my desk, 99% of the time it was due to listening to ‘the morning jones’! wish you nothing but the best bomani. take care.
Matthew

Bomani thanks for everything brother. I worked at The Score and I really valued all the hard work you, Sacha and Corey put into making those three hours everyday so special. Whether it was your knowledge of music, your dislike for Drake, all things New York, and your overwhelming love for The South I loved the show.I’m not going to say its tough without you on the radio, because I know you will find a new outlet where you will entertain and educate the masses. I believe you said it on your show for the past month, “Don’t start diggin we ain’t dead yet” well i’m just gonna wait patiently for you new shit.

Best of luck Mr.Jones
b gunnz

Genuinely enjoyed every day of this show you introduced me to a dearth of new people in the sports thought industry like morgan cambell and johna keri your show was something refreshing every day and i never knew what to expect you are truly the KAAAAAAAANGGGGG of talk radio
Randy

Thanks for doing what you do, man. I”ll really miss the show and can’t wait to see what’s next for all you guys.
Scottpmilliken

First episode I ever heard had you describing how some Mexican food messed up your stomach over the weekend and you kept referring to it as “El Pollo Fucking Loco”. I was like “This is a sports show?” Nearly a year later, so sad to see it go, but I have a feeling you’ll be appearing somewhere else fairly soon. You’re the man, Bo.
Chaka H

I’m sorry to see the show disappear. It was one of the best shows on Sirius. And helped me enjoy my commute to work. I can’t wait to see what you guys have in store for the future.
http://www.chrislovesyou.com/everythings-place-embracing-change/ Everything’s in its Right Place | Embracing Change

[...] at a fork in the road in life right now. Actually, several people very close to me are going through enormous life changes right now. Is it because we’re all in our early thirties? Nope! My best friend’s father died [...]
Star M.

Just listened to the final podcast of The Morning Jones. Well done my friend. You keep making it easier to love and respect you. Cant wait for the next stop.