Triple threat answers tough questions

Ben Godar

Got a hot sports question nipping at the back of your mind? The hosts of “The Triple Threat Sports Show,” which airs every Sunday night on ISU-9, might have an answer for you.

Triple Threat, which airs at 9 p.m., is hosted by Iowa State students Matt Wilson, Justin Ihle and a rotating slot filled by either Joe Siple or Nate Aronson. On the show, the hosts field calls and discuss sports-related topics.

Wilson, senior in journalism and mass communication, said he likes the call-in aspect of the show.

“[We get] a lot of calls about various ISU sports. It dominates our coverage, really,” he said. “We get far too many Iowa [Hawkeye] calls; we don’t want to talk about that.”

Wilson said the calls were sporadic at first, and he and the other hosts often had to produce the topics of discussion.

“Lately, it’s been almost impossible to get in,” he said. “Last week, we had 45 minutes of calls — one after the other.”

Wilson said he and his co-hosts would like to see more women call in to the show.

“Few women call in, but the ones who do are quite knowledgeable,” he said. “I wish they would call in more.”

In addition to fielding calls, Wilson said they try to have an ISU sports personality on the show every week.

This semester, hockey coach Al Murdoch, men’s basketball player Marcus Fizer and women’s basketball players Megan Taylor and Stacy Frese have been among the guests.

Triple Threat has gone through several incarnations over the last two years.

At first, the hosts took callers who would suggest topics, which would then be discussed. The format changed early this semester, when they acquired the technology to put the callers on the air.

Wilson said he has been impressed by the responsibility of the callers.

“The person on the other line can really say whatever they want,” he said. “Nobody’s said anything bad. I’ve been really impressed with how good everyone has been. I was sure we’d be off the air in a couple of weeks.”

Wilson said a variety of people call into the show every week, and they do have a few regulars.

Nate Porter, junior in pre-business, is a regular call-in guest on the show.

“I guess the first appeal [of calling in] is making everybody laugh, just having a good time,” he said. “I throw out a good sports question every now and then.”

Porter has become addicted to the show and makes it a part of his Sunday night routine.

“The show has come a long ways,” he said. “It’s turned out to be an every Sunday at 9 activity.”