Grading CNBC’s Fast Money

Off-base and seemingly personal grade of Macke.  He’s the only one for whom you mentioned any stock picks.  Of those, two are higher and one, Build-a-Bear, hasn’t been mentioned at all for months until very recently; even then only as a better take-over idea than some other retailer.

I watch the show regularly.  Macke was on Nintendo early, got me long Blue Nile in March then suggested taking profits at 100.  He was pushing Dicks for months and a big gain before he “kicked around the store”.  While we’re at it, “Wolf” picked Radio Shack at the beginning of the year then locked in most of the gains.

If you don’t like him as a character or person, fine, but you need to build a better case than cherry-picking one loser from a year ago and two winners before you put him on your half-assed “Double Secret Probation”.

He was eating Crow last nite over Netflix and went back to the well on the DOG. CNBC had him on for several days in the middle of August during the market swoon and he had nothing notable to say. They show is called ‘Fast Money” but he looked scared.

And he told people to sell. Maybe he recommended Amazon in the 20’s-Adami said to short it there. I just don’t think Macke brings much to show except his impressions of company’s when he used to actually work.

Triple Secret Probation now for screwing up Netflix.

The “Most popular contributor” on Fast Money was also bearish on NFLX.  But I guess that didn’t make the cut in the Bolling interview section.

As for August, as I recall Macke told people to “sell until they can sleep” for about 1,000 dow points lower then said “everything changed for bears with the Fed move” when the Fed cut the discount window.  I’m not sure how you read that, as a statement, but it seemed pretty rational, pretty useful and very much in real-time.  He’s been bearish on WalMart (to the point of being a bore about it).  He told people to sell Citi last week, with the stock more than 10% higher.  He called yesterday’s bounce off 1490 on the S&P;to within about half a pt last Friday.  And buying the DOG at today’s open seems to be working pretty well so far today.

None of which really matters.  You can cherry-pick losers or winners for anyone on Fast Money or any other show to fit your agenda or preference. Personally, I’d rather have a guy who can stand-up and admit when he was wrong.  It seems personally accountable, “StockJockey”.  There are plenty of people on TV who can’t or won’t do that.  You can stick with them.

I’m not Macke’s hugest fan but he’s helped me make money.  I like his show and you’re obviously judging Macke by a different standard than you are using for the other FM traders.

This blog is on quintuple open probation for being tiresome.

I think these guys throw out too many recommendations each month to really hold them to any one call. I have not found Macke’s advice to be as valuable as you have. I call it as I see it, and if Bolling was terrible he would get called on the carpet.

Macke overrode Bolling’s pick of Apple vs Bershire Hathaway in the March Madness tourney, but it is unfair to single out this pick as it would be to criticize Bollings MPEL or “CROX is done” call. They all make mistakes and need to swing the bat, and then fess up if need be. They would have no credibility if they did not, and fastfire is a great concept.

Bolling has been off the show for two months, and I have no idea what he currently thinks about NFLX. The last show Bolling was on he was making a case for a market bottom based on the VIX, which was within a few days of the lows.

Eric also took on Cramer for the year, taking GLD and Energy vs. Cramer’s financial’s. Nuff said.

Fast Money Review.com’s poll shows Macke with the lowest popularity of the original cast. Maybe it is a beauty contest, but Bolling was at 51% vs Macke’s 8%. Guy is at 23% and Strazzini above Macke.

I would assume these people are being fairly objective, they are mostly traders I think.

I have no beef with Macke other than he has not met my expectations. As I said, the only good call on retail has been to avoid it, the sector is his wheelhouse and he has not had much to work with. Minyanville is calling him “retail Royalty” and his father had an amazing career at Target Corp. Perhaps someday Jeff could interview him about it-he surely has some great stories.

Sorry you find the blog tiresome. There are plenty of good sites to read, please don’t waste your time here if you find it unproductive.

I try to bring an open mind to each trading day, as I have seen biases blow people up countless times. No bias here, I will join the Macke’s Wolfpack if it is justified.

Good trading.

I have to admit that Macke has been my favorite panelist the past few months. He is pretty funny and making some decent calls, and getting to the heart of the matter. The show has found its sea legs in the wake of Bolling’s departure, and these traveling shows like the ones to the Silicon Valley, Miami and Chicago are terrific.

Macke B/B+

Macke may be the funniest of anyone on CNBC. After the Maria show that she hosts 17 weeks a year (a gains 10 pounds a year) Fast Money and Macke are a welcome relief.

Yeah he gets some zingers in, and the show is rolling along just fine, although the dog days of summer could prove challenging. The last year has been offered remarkable drama.

SJ

Macke should leave the show.  Dylan is the best now.  I miss Strazzini and Bolling too.  Karen admits her mistakes readily.  Pete and Macke never seem to lose money.  I think Karen is the best trader for a hedger.

If anyone doesn’t do their own due diligence before taking a position - then they should never throw rocks at any Fast Money Trader.