Unlike 2.2 billion of my fellow human beings, I have intentionally avoided opening a Facebook account. It’s not that I have anything personal against Facebook’s multi-billionaire CEO Mark Zuckerberg who, coincidentally, is currently testifying before Congress over privacy and security issues, it’s just that I have always preferred the more direct ‘Breaking News Now’ approach of getting the latest news – particularly about the Dodgers – via Twitter, of which I have been a subscriber since we launched ThinkBlueLA back in 2012.

…until last week.

Why the sudden change of heart, you ask? No, it’s not that I felt pressure from those aforementioned 2.2 billion ‘Friends’ (as Facebook calls them), or even that I am in a forgiving mood towards Zuckerberg for breaching their trust. It is for one reason and one reason only: It is the only way (as of right now, at least) for me to watch and participate in the newest and what I see as the best way for Dodger fans – happy or angry – to interact on a live, post-series Dodgers call-in talk show through the popular Dodger Fan Weekly YouTube site. This new show is appropriately named Talkin’ Blue Live and is hosted and administered by noted movie and television producer Tom Wilson over Dodger Fan Weekly’s Facebook / YouTube page.First and foremost let’s get something straight right from the get-go. In no way, shape, or form is it Talkin’ Blue Live’s intention to supplant or take anything away from David Vassegh’s popular Dodger Talk call-in radio show on Dodgers flagship radio station AM 570 Sports.

That being said, read that “Dodgers flagship radio station” thing again. In the simplest of terms, AM 570 Sports is in a contractual agreement with Los Angeles Dodgers, LLC and employs Vassegh, Charlie Steiner, Rick Monday, and (occasionally) Kevin Kennedy to handle all of the Dodgers stuff on AM 570 Sports. As such, and as the old saying goes: Don’t bite the hand that feeds you. In other words, you will most likely never hear anything negative or condescending about the Dodgers from any of these guys, and understandably so.

As for Talkin’ Blue Live, Tom Wilson, his regular co-host “Hollywood,” and Dodger Fan Weekly twins Adele and Anadel are not directly involved in any way (other than as enormous fans) with the Dodgers organization. As such, they are not bound to ‘play by the corporate rules’ (so to speak) and it’s pretty much anything goes on Talkin’ Blue Live – within reason, of course.

I mean let’s face it, it’s not always fluff or peaches and cream with our beloved Dodgers, and sometimes saying negative things about them is warranted; excluding name calling, profanity, or negative talk about their families and friends, of course. But when Joc Pederson, or Yasiel Puig, of even back-to-back Dodgers NL Rookies of the Year Corey Seager and Cody Bellinger suck, they suck, and it is ridiculous to try to sugarcoat it. As a dear friend of mine used to said, “You can paint a turd gold – but it’s still a turd.”

And now the connection.

Shortly before the April 4, 2018 Facebook / YouTube livestream of Talkin’ Blue Live, I received a direct message (DM) through Twitter from Dodger Fan Weekly. Believing that the DM was from one (or both) of the twins, I replied immediately, only to find out that it was actually from Tom Wilson himself. Tom explained to me (as best he could through a Twitter DM) about Talkin’ Blue Live and inquired if I might be interested in being an occasional fill-in guest host with him when ‘Hollywood’ couldn’t make it due to other commitments.

Being brutally honest with Tom, I told him that even though I occasionally interacted with Adele and Anadel on Twitter, I had never heard of Talkin’ Blue Live, which he fully understood, since it is relatively new. He then told me that with the reputation and following that ThinkBlueLA has, he would love to have me on the show as one of several occasion guest hosts.

Flattery being what it is and all, I agreed to do so and (brace yourselves) I opened a Facebook account … congressional hearings be damned. That being said and aside from using Facebook to access and interact with Talkin’ Blue Live, and with my immediate family, please do not expect me to do much Facebooking (is that even a word?) with the other 2.2 billion Facebookers (ditto) out there … not yet, at least.

Wrapping this all up, I am quite impressed with what Tom Wilson and Dodger Fan Weekly are doing here with their new Talkin’ Blue Live Facebook / YouTube livestream show – which airs immediately after the final game of every Dodgers series, home and away – for one reason only. Like ThinkBlue LA, Talkin’ Blue Live is by Dodger fans for Dodger fans.

…and how can you not absolutely love that.

Go Dodgers!

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(Author’s note: My first show as Tom’s guest host on Talkin’ Blue Live will be on Wednesday, April 11, 2018, immediately following the Dodgers brief two-game interleague series with the Oakland Athletics at Dodger Stadium. We hope to hear from you then at: (323) 664-5431).