Okay, let me see if I've got this straight. KHMX fires morning DJs Roula and Ryan and replaces them with former KRBE spinner Sam Malone. Now KRBE has fired its replacement morning crew of Atom (former evening DJ) and Maria (Malone's former sidekick) and replaced them with...Roula and Ryan. Sound about right?

In the sports world, this is what's known as a challenge trade. Two players, each of whom plays the same position, swapped straight up. It's the kind of trade that (in theory, at least) can't be a win-win, since one player by definition will do better than the other. (Think Garry Templeton for Ozzie Smith here.) The only question is which team judged correctly. Will KRBE do better in the ratings with Roula and Ryan than they once did with Malone and Todd, or will KHMX come out on top? Ladies and gentlemen, start your engines, and may the best team win.

The comparison isn't totally apt, since Malone left KRBE on his own accord, in part so he could join the rightwing-talk lineup on KTRH in addition to his new morning gig. As such, KRBE's hand was forced. But that's basically what it boils down to, since Malone's availability led to R&R's departure at KHMX.

Not that I really care - I'm a KACC listener now, and while I occasionally enjoyed R&R's pop-culture schtick in the past, I would never voluntarily tune to a Top 40 station. I still find the whole thing amusing. Houstonist has more.