'Being Too Candid Can Come Back And Bite You'...

During his impassioned first state-of-the-industry address at the NAB yesterday, NAB President/CEO Gordon Smith berated the music industry for what he called 'performance taxes' that the industry would levy on terrestrial radio. He also disputed what he called "the perception of some" that "broadcasting is the technology of the past". He explained his views, working the partisan room and preaching to the chorus like Billy Graham in his prime. He then let slip a game change statement that will follow him as long as he heads the NAB. The former two-term U.S. Senator (R-OR) admitted that he still has political ambitions. That's when I wrote game over in my scorecard. Will Mr. Smith go to Washington? Again???

When I saw that quote by Smith, I flashed back to a similar, entirely too candid yet equally telling moment that I witnessed at the Radio & TV Broadcasting Museum. Al Franken representing the liberal wing of talk radio was taking on conservative radio in front of a typically liberal New York audience, getting applause and yucks for just about everything he said. When the Q&A began, a member of the audience asked Franken what he is. "Are you a liberal talk show host, personality, comedian, politician. Who are you?" Franken made a joke about the question and then he admitted that he was a comedian. That did it for me. From that day on, I never took Franken, now a U.S. Senator from Minnesota seriously...

Gordon Smith, NAB President/CEO, has just joined Al Franken in that category. Being too candid can come back and bite you...

10 Timeline Memories:

1.1870] Get the picture?: The Metropolitan Museum of Art is founded in New York City...
2.1940] Their cup runneth over: The New York Rangers win the Stanley Cup by beating Toronto in the NHL playoffs. They also won in 1994...
3.1943] Dedicated to the one I love: President Franklin D. Roosevelt dedicates the Jefferson Memorial on the 200th anniversary of Jefferson's birth...
4.1954] Debuted on this date: Hank Aaron makes his major league debut with Milwaukee going 0 for 5 in the Braves loss to Cincinnati...1963] Pete Rose gets his first major league hit (a double) for Cincinnati...1978] Reggie Jackson hits a home run and 'Reggie Bars' rain down at Yankee Stadium as Robert Phillips and his dad enjoy their Reggie Bars...
5.1964] Breaking the color barrier: Sidney Poitier becomes the first black performer in a leading role to win an Academy Award, for "Lilies of the Field."...
6.1970] Crippled Apollo returns safely: Apollo 13, four-fifths of the way to the moon is crippled when a tank containing liquid oxygen bursts. The astronauts aboard return safely...
7.1986] The record-breaking Master: Jack Nicklaus wins his record 6th Masters title...1997] At 21, Tiger Woods becomes the youngest golfer to win the Masters. Also the youngest person to wear the hideous green jacket. Phil Mickelson donned this year's jacket over the weekend. Sorry Tiger...
8.1986] Mazel tov: Pope John Paul II visits a Rome synagogue in the first recorded papal visit of its kind...
9.1998] Wedding Bells: NationsBank and Bank of America announce a $62.5 billion merger...
10.1999] Guilty as charged: Jack Kevorkian is sentenced to 10 to 25 years for the second-degree murder of a man whose assisted suicide was shown on "60 Minutes" in 1998. He is released after serving a few years because of his health...2005] Eric Rudolph pleads guilty to carrying out the deadly bombing at the 1996 Olympics and 3 other attacks. He is now serving 4 consecutive life sentences...

Music Memories:

• Grammy Gold: 1965] Stan Getz and Astrud Gilberto win a Grammy for 'Record of The Year' ("Girl From Ipanema"). Getz also wins for 'Album of The Year' (with Joao Gilberto) and The Beatles win for 'Best New Artist of the Year"...
• Recorded on this date: 1965] "Help" - The Beatles...
• Released on this date: 1971] "Brown Sugar" - Rolling Stones (their 1st release on their new Rolling Stones label...
• All Divas All The Time: 1999] Sir Elton John appears as a guest 'Diva' on "VH1 Divas Live" which stars Whitney Houston, Tina Turner, Cher, Faith Hill, Brandy, LeAnn Rimes and Mary J. Blige...
  
  "Happy Birthday...happy birthday":
  
  Rick Schroeder (40), Caroline Rhea (46), Chess champion Gary Kasparov (47), Peabo Bryson (59), Al Green (64), Composer Bill Conti (68), Paul Sorvino (71) and Lyle Waggoner (75)...
  
  Timeline Countdown: 9 days until the NFL draft, 18 days until the Kentucky Derby, 26 days until Mother's Day and 48 days until Memorial Day...