Nobody is making "hate-filled comments." People asked questions about him and they were answered.
There's no doubt he has a good heart and has done a great deal for many in the community. That part has never been in question.
His show is what it is. It is filled with a lot of rumor that is often presented as fact. It is a lot of info from message boards presented as new to his show. He refuses media credentials to UT events to keep himself as "the voice of the fan" but that also causes him to be uninformed on issues that he still discusses like an expert. He allows his callers and his cast of characters to ridicule and run down hosts of other shows on other stations, which is something no other show in town allows. I think some of that is in poor taste, particularly when those things turn personal. He doesn't say those things, but he makes no effort to correct or corral callers when they do.
Clearly he has a following and has made a good living at doing what he does. I have no issue with that. But facts are facts and I'm not going to pretend that his show and his "reporting" are something they aren't just because he's a good man.
He certainly does correct and corral callers. The Cattleman/Small Mike/Jim C******* has been banned for about three years now because of his insensitive remarks about Pat Summitt and her illness. He continues to enjoy a forum on WNML (although he might be banned from Doc, Jeff, and Heather).
Usually TB allows callers to fully express their opinions no matter how crazy they might be. You're right, "it is what it is" and it's never been passed off as a news program or primarily "reporting". It's "conversation" and opinions and is easily taken out of context. Rumors do in fact get discussed, but Basilio doesn't attempt to pass them off as facts unless he truly believes them (exhibit A is Dave Hart's "retirement"). Rarely do his guests or co-hosts either. Casual, drive-by listeners may hear callers say something and mistakenly assume that it's a rumor being promoted as fact. The beauty of it though is that he does not screen callers. It's unfiltered and I think that might even be stated in the show opener. He takes jabs at other hosts and shows, but typically follows it up with a qualifier that he's kidding. He takes jabs at Hyams occasionally, but always clarifies that he likes him, points out that JH is a good guy, and respects his work... even correcting callers if warranted. Same thing with Jeff and Heather, but not Dearstone... he doesn't take those self described cheap shots back. It kind of sounds like he has heat with Doc (MD). I can't think of any other local radio broadcasters that he does anything other than take good natured jabs at. He also calls WNML/990/99.1 "State Run Radio" and frequently points out that they are the lap dog of the UTAD. That's true. They have a big financial relationship with UT as the "Flagship Station" for TN sports broadcasts.
Before accusing me of blindly following him, I don't. I have a big problem with his narrative of Barnes sleeping on the job. Just about every day he spews his opinion that CRB isn't even trying to recruit. IMO, he only has 3 scholarships to give out over two entire recruiting cycles, so he's budgeting his time and resources on player development right now.
I'd like to hear more about his refusal to accept credentials from UT. I think that he'd be glad to accept them if there are no strings attached. But if UT dangles them in front of members of the media and then threatens to take them back for not following their required spin then of course he of will say "thanks, but no thanks". He's not going to take their offer of invites to the wine and cheese parties in the air conditioned skybox in exchange for them controlling his message. John Adams wouldn't take the bait either, but they're likely scared of upsetting him (and his employer) and having him stir the pot... so he's probably still on their guest lists.
Again, TB is not a traditional news outlet, it's conversation and his, his guests, his co-hosts, and his callers opinions. When something goes down I, like most (probably including Tony), switch over to WNML for the official word.
I also disagree with your characterization that he only regurgitates message board fodder. He has sources... he's not exclusively pulling information off of internet feeds. He doesn't use message boards because he understands that much of it is false. Twitter, yes. He does consume news items from other information outlets same as everybody else in his business does. Or he might call one of his many friends on UT's approved media member list.
BTW, you left off the most important word. He claims to be the voice of the "common" fan.
