Hockeybird.com: Interview With Scott Ferrall

Hello New York and everywhere else, welcome back to the Birdcage. I figured it was about time we got back to some hockey talk and I was lucky enough to bump into a cool dude on the internet (no, it wasn't a pRon chat room) and asked if he'd come on and answer a few questions. Hockeybird readers....open a cold one (make it something good, none of this "lite" crap) and sit back, we've got the one and only Scott Ferrall. Scott was on WFAN here in NY when his show as in syndication and now has a show in Atlanta (dig those Georgia peaches). He can also be heard with the Mancow in the morning in Chicago. Scott knows the game and digs the game....which makes him a good dude in my book.

Bird: Scott, how the hell are ya man ? I hadn't heard your voice since you were on WFAN until today...can I ask what the hell happened ?

Scott: Great to hear from Hockeybird! I've been everywhere dude. I did 7-midnight on ESPN radio NY in 2000 and then morning drive on WNEW until the Opie and Anthony scandal w/ St. Pat's Cathedral. Then I did mornings on WQAM in Miami. Home of the Dolphins, Marlins(world champs) Panthers and Hurricanes. Then I joined Mancow's Morning Madhouse in Chicago.

I still do the show every day, but from Atlanta..I do mid-days 10am-3pm on REALRADIO 105.3FM. I do Mancow from 6:45-9:45am.

Bird: Tell us about the year you spent broadcasting the first season with the Thrashers.....I heard you mention that they couldn't handle your being honest about the team.

Scott: We stunk..It was a lot of fun, while being torturous at other times..we never won..I had a pretty cool experiance doing the gig..I made a lot of friends that I'll never forget..the grind was rough though! Lots of late night flights, hotels, time zones, bad food..the atmosphere on a losing team is pretty down, so it can be a bummer..expansion is the toughest thing to go through.

Bird: Since most of the readers here are Rangers fans, give us your thoughts on what has gone down in the last few years since Sather got here....I mean, no playoffs....tons of payroll and stars, why didn't it work ?

Scott: I went to see the Blueshirts last night..they beat Atl 2-0..but they've struggled against the Thrashers all yr..NY stinks..Sather simply hasn't got it done! His moves have stunk and the fans aren't fooled..it's time for him to go..his results speak for themselves..

Bird: Your choice, a night with a hot chick....or a Stanley Cup playoff game, which are you doing and what's her name ?

Scott: It was a drag! But I basically looked at it from a speeding on a dangerous road, late-night bad decision making, party went wrong..lives changed forever type story..I never attacked anyone..Heatley is awesome, but he's been average since his return..

Bird: What do you think the future holds for the Thrashers....are they ready to take the next step and become contenders any time soon ?

Scott: Next yr, they'll make the playoffs for sure..the Heatley thing killed their season..Kovalchuk is amazing..they need goaltending and defense..their drafts are about to pay off..they have a lot of young stars developing..

Bird: Any comments on Mike and the Maddog from WFAN ? They admit to not knowing hockey....but then they have to cover big events and end up commenting on the teams and the game.

Scott: Mike and Dog are extremely good at what they do..everything they've ever done has been successful..what a product..even their tv work is popular..I don't catch it much, but did when I lived in Hell's Kitchen..

Scott: Letterman has always been one of my favorites..doing the show twice is unthinkable..I had the time of my life..I'll never forget it..he's been very cool to me..I watch frequently, and still love him..he's got a wonderful sense of humor..they always treated me great..I used to skateboard by the Sullivan every morning at around 5am going to do my gig at WNEW..no one on the streets--man was that the SH**...

Scott: Toronto w/ defense..Tampa will be tough to beat..Det and SJ out west..Colo has a chance too..

Bird: The NHL has been trying to change some rules in an attempt to improve the game. I happen to think that giving a goalie a penalty for playing the puck is legislating against skill and stupid...what do you think ? What rules would you like to see changed ?

Scott: I can live w/ the way the game is now..I'm sick of constantly changing the rules! Just play the game..

Bird: Work stoppage....the upcoming CBA talks look to be going
nowhere. What's your take on this and what would you like to see happen ? A Cap ? Contraction ? How long before we get an agreement and will there even be a next season ?

Scott: I hope there is a season, especially w Atlanta getting the All-Star Game..But I think the league is in trouble..they've got to change the current
system..everyone is losing money. The Pens will have to fold. Mario can't save this franchise. They need at least a rookie scale..rev sharing or cap.

Anything to save my beloved sport. TV ratings are a joke. Instead of selling violence and bone crunching hits, why not just make the game cooler again. Rivalries, fans, passion, rock and roll..bring back the speed game--like the Oilers in the 80's..skill over fights..

Bird: Back to the Rangers......the firesale continues and the rebuilding begins. What's your take on the New York hockey fan's ability to go thru the rebuilding process ?

Scott: Ranger fans deserve 2 for 1 beers until they get back to the playoffs..let JD run the team!

Bird: Agreed....but you didn't answer the question. Many have said that NY can't handle a rebuild. I challenged that by suggesting that they could....but now all I hear is crying about trading Leetch or not keeping this guy.....maybe they were right, maybe NY hockey fan can't handle it.

Scott: Basically, Ranger fans don't want to hear the word rebuiling..it's because they are so used to the big payroll not paying off..all they know is stack the deck again..which is what I think they'll do..the Leetch thing is getting old..all players are dealt..all I have to say is Great One..

Bird: Were you offended by the Janet Jackson booby issue at the superbowl ?

Scott: I'm rarely offended, except when I hear that scratchy-voiced fella on the radio w/ the foul mouth..he's the devil!

Bird: What music CDs are in your car right now ? ( I have been flashing back to my roots with a heavy dose of the Ramones)

Scott: Live Pearl Jam..Eddie Veder is still great..I've got Nickelback too..

Bird: Open session.....anything you want to say to the NY hockey fans or New York in general ? Anything at all ?

Scott: I love the bleacher creatures and sec.39 I loved watching the Marlins beat em though..I was in Miami doing mornings and it was fun watching the upset..Beckett is a badass..A-Rod all summer--that's awesome..I'll see ya in the Bronx..

Well, there you have it. Big thanks to Scott for taking time out of his busy day to drop in for the Q&A thing. Make sure you stop by his site, listen to his show....and if you call him, tell Scott that Hockeybird sent you !

bird, dont ask me to give up my busch light for an interview when I am out of work as you are and I dont have much money.

Posted by: 26kocur on March 10, 2004 12:52 PM

Bird, good job. Scotty was laugh out loud funny when he was in New York. called it straight. We need him back

Posted by: Incident on 33rd St. on March 10, 2004 09:03 PM

Great interview. I used to catch his show all the time in SF, and occasionally his highlight calls covering the Thrashers.

Posted by: PJ on March 12, 2004 06:00 AM

Ferrall is the best. He knows Hockey, and promotes it more than the ---holes that are paid to do it.
Go Rangers

Posted by: boca danny on March 13, 2004 06:28 PM

Very good interview. Even though Scotty has a talk show about every day issues, I can count on him to talk some hockey. Shake it up Scotty.
Go Rangers.

Posted by: Bob on March 13, 2004 10:09 PM

SCOTTY'S RIGHT RANGERS SUCK AND WILL SUCK NEXT YEAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

SHAKE IT UP RANGER LOSERS.

GO DEVILS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11

Posted by: FLOYD on March 18, 2004 01:47 PM

I'm in Atlanta. Ferrall is gone...again. This sucks. Why can't he just adhere a little more to the rules so that he can stick around a while. Now Atlanta radio has gone completely down the tubes.

Posted by: Christian on September 24, 2004 06:20 PM