Radio sportscaster Jim Rome is doing one of his famous “Tour Stops” here in Austin next weekend, and I happened to be right where the local radio promotions crew was giving out “ducats” (tickets).
Now, I’m a casual fan of Rome’s show (it’s always good for a laugh), but I have no idea what actually goes on at a tout stop. Is it just a big tailgate party? Do fans in attendance actually get to meet Jim and/or the sports celebs he invites? Or is there just a lot of standing and milling about?
The event MIGHT be a lot of fun, but then, it’s going to be HOT out at Dell Diamond on a Saturday afternoon, and I wouldn’t want to do that unless the whole thing sounded like a great time.
So… if you’ve ever been to a Rome tour stop, tell me what went on.
I’ve never been to one, but it’s hard to listen for very long without hearing a description. As I understand it, he basically does a show, like his radio show, onstage for everyone. Apparently, it’s a little more edgy. At one point, I heard him say that if the radio show is PG-13, the tour stop is R. Then, of course, there are unofficial tailgates and parties and whatnot that go on around the event.
I went to the Tampa stop a few years ago. Basically it’s like a stand-up act, he does his rants and anecdotes etc. plus trotting out a few guests for brief conversations/interviews. In our case they were Ray Buchanan and Fred McGriff? and someone else (as I vaguely remember it). Ray Buchanan did some rap which was funny. There was a videotaped address from some Bucs players who were at the time getting ready for the playoffs. Rome told a few personal stories too and trotted out his hot, large-breasted blonde of a wife for people to drool over.
I don’t recall anything really “R rated”. The crowd was about 9 or 10,000 and the following week he had pumped that number up to 12k. We still like him though. (Even though we had to boo him when he gave props to Florida State instead of Florida like a civilized person would.)
I think the whole thing was about an hour and a half. It was cool and a fun diversion. I’d go again if he came again. I say go.