A Look Back

Bo, center, with some Christmas "talent"

Today I stumbled across this 2008 article featuring an interview Y’all lifestyle impresario Bo Bounds. Apparently, “Bo Bounds finds entrepreneurship the perfect lifestyle” by Wally Northway (great title, Wally) was published prior to the 2008 football season and focused on Bo’s meteoric rise from publishing tycoon to a local sports radio host and advertising giant all while adhering to a strict Lifestyle.

The article does provide an interesting snapshot of where Bo was at that time in his career. He was broadcasting on Supersport 930, yallsports.com was relatively new, and posting pictures of his drinks on twitter was still a ways off.

Listen, there’s a reason it’s fun to shit all over Bo Bounds. He is the Worst. And, judging from the article this arrogant bastard hasn’t changed in 3 years. 

After the jump, I take a closer look at Wally’s article.

Bounds developed then sold a magazine after growing subscribers more than 100 fold

-          This isn’t really on Bo, this is just bad writing. Christ, what does this even mean? Using 100 fold as a point of comparison is like saying a million bajilion. Plus, of you start from scratch, any increase from zero can be called a success. This doesn’t tell us anything about the Lifestyle, Wally.

You have to be relentless," he said, and you can't be in 90% - it's 100% or nothing."

-          Do you have any more homespun wisdom for us, Bo? 100% or nothing. This sounds like “If you’re not first, you’re last.” Except I don’t think Bo ever saw Talladega Nights. Or is even aware that there was a movie called Talladega Nights. 

"I grew up around MSU and SEC athletics from the time I can remember," he said. "I didn't know it then, but it prepared me for a life in sports and the Southern lifestyle. We, my family and I, were always around coaches, players and people involved in Division I sports. There's no question that's a lot of the reason for the success we've had on ('Out of Bounds')."

Bo looks like a lost child who has wandered in front of a camera

-          I grew up AROUND sports. So clearly this has had a direct and immediate influence on my career. I was essentially bred to be a successful radio pitchman.

What is the lifestyle? The lifestyle is whatever you want it to be. I describe it as striving to be successful, embracing the Southern way of life, enjoying great food, beautiful Southern women, enjoying a cigar and a glass of wine on the water, a road trip to see your team play - the good life."

-          I’m sorry. What were we talking about? Oh right, how awesome I want everyone to think my life is. My god, look at all the little bits of Y’all jammed into one sentence. I bet he practices saying this in front of the mirror while he’s shaving his head.

Y’alllsports.com has formed a symbiotic relationship with "Out of Bounds" - issues on Y'allSports.com becomes fodder for the radio show.

-          Hey, you spilled news links all over my sports talk radio! Y’allsports.com is a page with a few ads and links to what other talented and insightful people have written. The fact that someone had to “found the venture” is a little appalling. I did the same thing 7 years ago only I called it my bookmark tab.

In March, "Out of Bounds" began broadcasting from its new studio located in the Alumni House Sports Grill on U.S. 51 in Ridgeland.

I had forgotten that the show used to broadcast out of the remaindered space in Alumni House (which apparently collapsed without the support from Out of Bounds).  How long until Bo and Coop are doing the show from Mint? After all, that's where all the Talent is.

Not scared of predictions, Bounds sees Florida and Auburn in the SEC Championship. He sees MSU winning seven games, and sharing the love with Ole Miss, sees a surprising seven wins possible in 2008

 

Bo rolls the dice here and selects two preseason top 10 teams, including one returning a Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback. Hope you don’t fall off that limb, Bo.  

With the benefit of hindsight, we look back and see that Florida did win the SEC and the National Championship. But, Auburn finished 5-7 (2-6) only good enough for fifth place in the SEC West.

By they way, MSU went 4-8 (2-6) and finished last in the SEC West. Ole Miss, to Bo’s credit, went 9-4 (5-3). Obviously, these are just predictions but let’s keep this example in mind the next time Bo plays out a whole season on the air as though he personally decides which teams are worthy of an 8 win season.