"Magic City" Media: Best/Worst of Birmingham, Alabama

Welcome to the "Magic City" Birmingham, Alabama.

No, we aren't some big pro town like Atlanta just two hours to our east. 

What fuels the people in Birmingham is mainly one thing—college football.

So the media in this state better have their A game when it comes to Alabama or Auburn, otherwise it will be a long day in the world of radio and television.

The other sports take a backseat, but college basketball and pro baseball have a lot of interest as well.

Looking at the Birmingham sports media as a whole, there is much to like and some to dislike.

Here is your one stop rundown of Birmingham's finest, and not so fine, sports media personalities, columnists, and even some radio callers get some love. 

The best radio show in Birmingham?

No doubt it's Dunaway and Brown. 

While other shows in Birmingham focus on being controversial or outrageous, Jim Dunaway and Ryan Brown keep the focus solely on the sports at hand, the callers, and keeping it truly real.

There aren't planted callers and there aren't stunts. It's about the current events, having every opinion matter, and not saying things you don't mean on air just to stir up trouble.

Here's a quote from the show's co-host Jim Dunaway on what makes their show different:

"Here's where I try to be different. If I don't really believe it, I don't say it. Shocking, I know. I admire strong, controversial opinions, but only if they are real feelings and not some fabricated attempt to try and get you to call the show."

If you want the most knowledgeable sports show in Birmingham, this is your show.

You can also follow Dunaway and Brown on Twitter here.

Who are Jim Dunaway and Ryan Brown?

Jim Dunaway is a two time Emmy Award winning television sports anchor. He currently hosts the 5 and 10 o'clock sports for CBS 42.

He's also the host of "The Nick Saban Show," which is aired in Birmingham and across the southeast.

Ryan Brown is a two time winner of the Associated Press Alabama Sportscaster of the Year Award.

In addition to radio, Brown hosts "Inside Southeastern Football" on WTTO TV on CW 21 in Birmingham. He also handles play by play for various television football games during the fall.

He's also worked for the Crimson Tide Sports Network and the Alabama Radio Network.

Six questions with Dunaway and Brown...

1. Favorite Sports Moment?

Dunaway: "Sid Bream safe at the plate, Braves go to the World Series."

Brown: "The 1985 Miami Dolphins upset of the undefeated Bears on Monday Night Football."

2. Favorite athlete?

Dunaway: "Alabama natives Hank Aaron and Willie Mays"

Brown: "Dan Marino"

3. Favorite media personality?

Dunaway: "Chris Fowler and Tony Barnhart"

Brown: "Tony Kornheiser...away from Monday Night Football"

4. Most disliked media personality?

Dunaway: "Stephen A. Smith"

Brown: "Tie between Skip Bayless and Jay Mariotti"

5. Who will win the 2009 BCS national championship?

Dunaway: "Texas over Florida"

Brown: "Florida or USC"

6. Who will win the 2009 World Series?

Dunaway: "Tampa Bay Rays"

Brown: "Boston Red Sox"

Now what radio show would be great without intelligent, witty, and hilarious callers, right?

Here's a top ten list of the best callers on Dunaway and Brown.

These guys are classic and represent all different views and personalities you get in Birmingham.

10. Hugh "The Profit" is an old sports reporter that now calls the show periodically to give the listeners some good bets for the weekend. Hugh tends to lose his voice by the end of the call, but his raspy tone and love for horse racing make him a can't miss.

9. "The Mailman" calls every single day while on his mail route.

With this Alabama fan, there's no question where his allegiances lie. Known for his brief outline of what he will say before he says it, the man with a poor man's James Earl Jones impression always delivers.

8. Chris from Inverness is a clever, funny guy who bleeds orange and blue. Always ready with the witty lines, he and Jim have some classic back and forths.

7. Jim from Crestwood is one of the more unique callers on the show.

His constant barrage of barbs at co-host Dunaway for not being a true Alabama fan is what he's most known for, that along with his random political statements.

Jim is an Alabama fan that has called out every media personality in this state, at least once on air, and never misses an opportunity to give someone a hard time. The show wouldn't be the same without him though.

6. Monty from Alabaster is a big Auburn fan, but he became a Dunaway and Brown legend with his song parodies of the Auburn football season last year.

His best was a parody of the song "I Can See Clearly Now," written right after Auburn fired former offensive coordinator Tony Franklin.

So his parody was called, "I Can See Clearly Now that Tony's Gone"...instant classic.

5. JT in Jasper is definitely one of the funniest callers to the show. 

JT is a big Alabama fan, but his quick wit and funny one liners are what he's known best for. May come from a small town, but he has big game.

4. Rich in Hoover is probably the lone Tennessee Vol caller to the show. He ends every call with, "Go Vols," and is one of the few people that live in Alabama that actually cares about European league soccer.

He brings rational thinking to every call, and tells it like it is.

Rich is a long time caller who calls whether his team wins or loses.

3. Greg from Pelham might be one of the most respected callers to the show.

This down to earth country boy tells it like it is, whether it's for or against his beloved Auburn Tigers.

Greg is always good for a laugh, and even gets respect from the Alabama fans, which is saying something.

2. Jeffrey in Trussville is no doubt the funniest caller to the show.

This Auburn fan keeps it in perspective, but is always cracking people up with his jokes and constant sarcasm.

Jeffrey is also a long time caller that is knocking on the door of number one.

1. Bobby from Homewood, a relative newcomer to the Dunaway and Brown show, brings more knowledge to the table than most.

Being an Auburn fan, he has plenty of criticism for the administration, as well as love when necessary.

He is normally dead on with his points and brings thought provoking discussion to the table.   

Best newspaper columnist in Birmingham?

No doubt, it's Kevin Scarbinsky of The Birmingham News. He is the lead columnist and really does a great job.

He finds a balance of writing between the two instate schools and is generally very fair in his criticism and praise regarding both Alabama and Auburn.

He blends knowledge with a little humor, and it makes for an interesting and compelling column every day.

The worst radio show in Birmingham?

For some people across the southeast, this could be your favorite show, but not for me.

The Paul Finebaum Radio Network is about one thing...create controversy, drum up phone calls, and let people go at it.

He doesn't care if you hate him; it's all part of his game.

Sorry, but that's not sports talk radio, that's Jerry Springer behind a mic, and there are too many "shock jocks" out there that play this game too often.

I once came across this philosophy and it's dead on, and hopefully Mr. Finebaum reads this and takes it all in. 

Basically, I don't need wrongheaded writers and radio/TV people telling me that I love to hate them. You shouldn't be happy that so many people dislike you and want to denounce your views.

When thousands of people send you hate mail, your response shouldn't be, "Well I guess I'm doing something right!"

No, actually you are doing something wrong. You were so wrong and out of line that you made people angry, and there isn't glory or joy in you being wrong.

That's why this show is the worst radio show in Birmingham, especially for anyone that wants to hear and talk real sports on a daily basis.

It's a place for controversy and fighting, not real sports talk.