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MORNING EDITION

Steve Inskeep and Renee MontagneThe best thing about waking up for more than 13 million people worldwide? Coffee, juice, and a staple to satisfy the curious: Morning Edition. Hours before alarms buzz and coffeemakers drip, an international team of award-winning journalists, commentators, producers, and analysts prepare the most popular news program on public radio, offering a welcome alternative to the talking heads, sound-bite journalism, and confrontational conversation found elsewhere.

As a source of news and information, Morning Edition goes deeper. Present hosts Renee Montagne and Steve Inskeep and a cast of NPR reporters and contributors present multi-faceted stories and commentary meant to inform, challenge, and occasionally even amuse. Listeners get a play-by-play on national politics from Cokie Roberts, wonder at the wisdom of animals with cowboy-poet Baxter Black, ponder the philosophy of sports with Frank Deford, meet fascinating people with Susan Stamberg, and take exotic adventures with Alex Chadwick and Radio Expeditions.

Now in its third decade on the air, Morning Edition is more than a morning news program. It is essential radio that frames the day for devoted listeners around the world.

Morning EditionMorning Edition with local commentary from Bill Benner

Bill Benner is associate director of communications for the Indianapolis Convention & Visitors Association, as well as a long-time Indianapolis sports journalist, commentator and local sports expert. Benner writes a weekly sports column for The Bill Benner Indianapolis Business Journal and hosts the Inside Indiana Sports segment on Gerry Dick's statewide Inside Indiana Business television show.

Bill Benner Commentary: July 18, 2008

You can make a comment on this commentary here...

 

COMMENTS ON LOCAL COMMENTARY

Roger from Indiana
in response to Bill's May 16, 2008 commentary:
If Mr. Benner is going to give his "informed" opinion on horseracing, he might want to get his facts straight. Barbaro broke down in the 2006 Preakness Stakes and not "last year." If he would bother to read the Daily Racing Form, he would find out that the sport is actively looking at the issues he pointed out and will continue to improve safety issues. Mr. Benner might want to stick to Basketball and Auto Sports, at least he has a little experience in those!

Carol from Indianapolis, IN
in response to Bill's May 9, 2008 commentary:
I loved your commentary this morning on great sportsmanship, particularly the first story. I'd happily listen to more of these stories from Bill weekly. We all need good news. Thanks!

Richard from Indianapolis, IN
in response to Bill's May 9, 2008 commentary:
Well thats more like it. Last week I would rather had never heard Mr. Benner again but this week Bill was uplifting. Thanks for the positive thinking.

Josh from Indianapolis, IN
in response to Bill's January 18, 2008 commentary:
(edited for length)
I guess being a sportswriter has removed such traits as objectivity and maturity, which honestly doesn't suprise me, so let me do your job for you, Bill:

You say that Patriot fans would've done the same thing, and therefore your "booing" on air was okay. When your boss comes up to you and asks why you are skipping out of work early to watch a game, you respond, "Well, the Cincinatti station's sports writers would've skipped out early, so it's okay if I do it." I surely hope not, or my donations are going to wrong organization with that sort of work ethic. It reminds me of "All the other kids are doing it," and the maturity level is about the same.

Moving to Indy, I had, and still do have, a respectful view of the fans here. But your continuing to misrepresent them is certainly one thing I suggest you never do.

Janet from Luisville, KY
in response to Bill's November 2, 2007 commentary:
Colts fans are the first to turn on their own players. Such behavior is embarrassing and a disgrace to the city of Indianapolis. As a Colts fan, I have witnessed such rude behavior many times at games. Friends from out of town can't understand how Colts fans can be so disloyal. They say it's an Indiana thing. What an unfortunate reputation we have.

Sarah from Pittsburgh, PA
in response to Bill's November 2, 2007 commentary:
After listening to your commentary regarding Colts fans vs. other NFL fans I must respectfully disagree. I am from Pittsburgh, PA and have lived in the Indianapolis area for the past seventeen years.

Unfortunately, I was hard-pressed to find a Colts fan up until about the last five years. Even in the past five years, I have not been impressed with the so called Colts fans in this town. Peyton Manning and the Colts have put forth impressive numbers in each of the past five years, but in the end, despite delivering winning records they could get no respect from their fans.

The most disturbing example of turncoat fans was the 2005 season, when Tony Dungy suffered the greatest loss any father could suffer...the loss of a child. Not only did he lose his child, but he lost him to suicide. It was not surprising to me that his whole heart was not in the playoffs that season, and his team lost in the first round. Despite the incredible season the Colts gave their "fans", despite the horrific loss suffered by their coach, the comments in the paper regarding their failed playoff bid, were scathing.

Please do not confuse nice with magnanimous. It is easy to be nice when your team is winning, but just ask my husband what it is like to be in the RCA dome when the Colts lose. Each time that he has attended a game, wearing his Steelers gear, he has been verbally threatened. If that is what you consider "nice" fans, I am glad to be in your list of not so nice fans.

Leslie from Indianapolis
in response to Bill's September 7, 2007 commentary:
While I don't agree with Amos Browns view of last week's celebration, I cannot agree with your comment about the minority service workers being happy. Actually, it was quite condescending. Unless it is someone's calling, most minorities in the service industry are working those jobs to make ends meet and they aspire to more, much more than waiting on or cleaning up behind others. And just because it was a huge event, doesn't mean they were treated or tipped better than usual.

Jerome from Indianapolis
in response to Bill's September 7, 2007 commentary:
Bill thanks, for your comments. I'm glad to know that you think that African-Americans should have just been happy that the Colts season opener brought such a bonanza for the hospitality industry, for which they play such a huge and not so important role. You were right, they had no right to complain that every "Top African-American music artist" was too busy to attend as per the un-named NFL spokesperson. Oh may I refill your glass, or help you with your luggage, on second thought get it yourself.

Casimir from Indianapolis
in response to Bill's March 30, 2007 commentary:
I usually enjoy Bill Benner's Friday morning sports commentary on the way to work and agree with much of what he says. This morning, it was not so. I completely disagree with his take on Peyton's SNL performance. I thought it was hilarious. While not every skit was sidesplitting, many were, and it was a far better show than anyone has come to expect from the current SNL cast. What’s wrong with Peyton dropping a few bleeped out F bombs? Anyone watching SNL should be able to handle a few bleeped out bad words. Everyone I've talked to thought his performance and the show were hilarious. So I believe the answer to your question is yes...you are an old fuddy duddy. Lighten up!

Pat from Indianapolis
in response to Bill's March 9, 2007 commentary:
It's March, of course, the season for complaints about the Indiana High School Basketball Class Tournament System. The truth is that I'm ambivalent about the class system--yes, it's great that the little guy occasionally gets to slay the giant, but it really only happened once in the history of the classless tournament.

Is it possible though, that the decline in interest in Boys' High School basketball may be a sign of something good? That other things--maybe even Girls' High School Basketball--are taking the attentions of students and communities? Maybe kids are involved in other sports, ones where one doesn't have to have a Y chromosome and be seven feet tall? Or perhaps they're in band or theater or a hundred other things? The small high school I attended in Southern Indiana had around 400 students. Only twenty to thirty were involved in Boys' basketball. Over 100 were involved in the award winning band program. But basketball dominated the town, even though most of the students couldn't even dream of participating.

The truth, of course, is probably that many kids are at home playing video games or watching TV or engaged in other activities not so wonderful as band or art or anything positive. But it's just possible that the decline of interest in Boys' High School Basketball is not a bad thing.

Rob from Poland, IN
in response to Bill's Nov. 10, 2006 commentary:
PLEASE get Bill Benner off the air. I dread hearing his commentary every week. I can't stand the way he "reads" what he's written with the giddiness and misplaced voice inflections of a 15 year old. I know he is a veteran of Indianapolis sports news, but it's obvious radio is a new format for him; he REALLY needs some practice. His voice doesn't sound good on the radio; it's actually somewhat annoying. Frank Deford and John Fienstein have nothing to worry about.

Nunzio from Indianapolis
in response to Bill's Nov. 10, 2006 commentary:
Was Benner referring to Kravitz ?
Is this a crude response to the David Benner feature in the Star?
I think me smells a sibling rivalry!

Greg from Indianapolis
in response to Bill's Aug. 18, 2006 commentary:
Wanted to tell you how much I enjoy your honest, fresh approach to addressing issues in the sports community. I used to listen when you worked with Mark Patrick. I'd love to see your commentary broadcast to a larger audience via NPR. You make John Fienstein look like a rank amateur.

Alan from Indianapolis
in response to Bill's July 7, 2006 commentary:
Today's commentary by Mr. Benner ignores NPR's reporting on the new testimony regarding Lance Armstrong's alleged use of performance enhancing drugs. Instead, it atributes all of the negative publicity to irresponsible French journalists. His deprecating comments about the French people come off as xenophobic, sophomoric and petty. His inability to appreciate this years's Tour de France in the absence of Armstrong only reinforces these impressions. Because it gives this impression, his commentary reflects poorly on Indianpolis and is unworthy of public broadcasting.
Mr. Benner's motivation for this commentary could be inferred to be to publicize his personal relationship with Armstrong and to defend a person he considers a friend. I feel that public broadcasting is at its worst when it is bent to serve the egos and agendas of the personalities that are given the forum.

WHAT'S NEXT ON MORNING EDITION?


COMMENTS ON LOCAL COMMENTARY

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