For as long as I can remember, sports talk radio has been a part of my life. I remember hearing the WIP sports update jingle every morning in my mom or dad's car on my way to school. It had long been the juggernaut of talk radio in Philadelphia, lampooning other local stations with witty dialogue and fun contests. Their young and vibrant hosts were fresh, brash and very much welcomed in a time when newspapers and news stations offered very little criticism of the local sports team. Cataldi was there to boo the Birds for drafting McNabb. Eskin was there to pick on the Phillies at any chance possible.
But as the years wore on, those youthful, scathing hosts became old and irritating. Audiences began tuning their dials to new stations, on satellite radio and on the internet. In the time of instant internet chats and message boards, sports radio became an antiquated bore that could only sustain itself if it changed with the times. 610 WIP didn't.
Enter 97.5 FM, the fanatic. The Fanatic, also simulcasted on 950 AM, saw WIP's complacency and the rising interest in Philadelphia sports teams (particularly the resurgent Phillies) and set out to be everything that WIP wasn't.
At first, their attempts were scoffed at. The 97.5 on-air talent was poor and the content was boring, until 2008. It was in that year that The Fanatic signed former 610 host Mike Missenelli to anchor their afternoon drive show. Since that point in time, the resurgent Missenelli pushed The Fanatic up and beyond his former station by surrounding himself with quality hosts both young and old, adding a text-board for listeners and treating the show's callers with respect. His former competitor Howard Eskin won't admit it, but Missinelli's domination over him in recent years surely was a driving force in his recent resignation.
With the recent announcement of WIP moving into its new FM digs at 94.1, I want to give my thoughts on what shows will interest me the most. Let's count 'em down.
Power Rankings
1. Mike Missinelli - Mikey Mush has risen from his own professional hell to become "the voice of the people" in Philadelphia. I don't always agree with him, but there's no denying the entertainment found in his shows. What separates Mike from the rest is his odd humor and ability to talk about things other than sports.
2. Anthony Gargano and Glen Macnow - If you want real sports analysis, this is the show to listen to. Cuz and Prof have been doing sports radio for years and they truly understand this sports landscape. Gargano is a lovable I-Tailian who rejoices with the callers when our teams win. Macnow is solid, but offers little in the personality department.
3. Angelo Cataldi and the Morning Team - I used to love this show. Now I can barely stand it. It's usually a complete bore saved only by the hilarious genius that is Joe Conklin. I like Rhea Hughes, Ricky Bo, and Keith Jones, but Angelo doesn't know sports well enough to yell as much as he does and Al Morganti simply doesn't talk enough.
4. Tony Bruno and Whoever - TB is beloved by a lot of people in the region, but I never got his shtick. He's okay, but how many drops can one take before they change the dial?
5. Baldy and Mays- Brian Baldinger is a nice addition to 97.5 but he isn't a game changer. Harry Mays along with Dan Schwartzman might be the WORST thing to happen to sports radio in this city ever. I can't stand his grating voice and his outdated views on the world around him. He knows less about sports than the keyboard I am typing on. ughh.. and schwartzman, that guy seems like he was punched a few times growing up.
Most Underrated Sports Radio Personalities
- Phil from Mt. Airy (97.5)
- Larry Bowa (97.5)
- Sonny Hill (94.1)
- Rob Ellis (94.1)
- Seth Everett (94.1)
- John Marks (97.5)
Looking forward to........
Michael Barkann's new show on WIP. Entertaining guy, should be a good listen.
Voice I can hear over and over again....
Dutch Daulton. Talkin' Baseball with Dutch has its dry spots sometimes, but just hearing Dutchy saying "Right on" keeps me happy and listening.
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