Good morning, all. I hope your week is off to a great start.
Imagine being number one and getting fired in the process? Welcome to radio and the legacy media in 2022. Radio is in serious trouble. It’s equilibrium was already thrown for a loop by the new media (internet, smartphones, social media, etc.), when Covid struck. Now its legs are so wobbly, one wonders if it will ever stand up unattended again.
Last week The Sports Hub, 98.5 FM in Boston, came in at number one in the much coveted 25-54 demo, demolishing its competition (WEEI 93.7 FM) in the sports crazed city. WBZ-FM (The station’s call letters) was the number one billing sports radio station in the country, raking in $33 million last year. That was even better than the iconic WFAN in New York. What was management’s thanks? It fired evening co-host Christian Arcand and Mike Lockart, morning show producer. In total, Beasley Media, which owns WBZ-FM and four other stations in the Boston market, laid off eight employees.
Repeat. This is a company that had one of its stations bill $33 million!
We are told Beasley’s stock is reeling faster than the New York Mets, dropping to nearly a dollar per share. That is better than Audacy, owner of WEEI and WFAN, among other stations. Their company’s stock has fallen below a dollar per share and is in danger of being delisted. Audacy is selling off it podcast division and is doing everything possible to avoid resembling the Titanic.
Then there is the iconic KGO-AM in San Francisco. The 50,000 watt powerhouse, on air for 80 years, pulled the plug on its full service programming of local news and shows on Friday, to switch to all sports betting radio. It’s parent company, Cumulus, is dubbing the station “The Spread.” The hosts will be syndicated, meaning the company will not have to hire local talent, pay salaries, healthcare, vacation pay, etc. 10 to 1 the format’s ratings will sink faster than Tampa Bay against the spread on Sunday.
The third quarter is in the books for all businesses and those that struggle usually feel the crunch at this point. Businesses are also positioning for the new year. Throw in talk of a recession, energy prices, and a media landscape that renders radio, newspapers and even certain forms of TV obsolete, and it’s no wonder being number one in Boston is about as meaningful as betting on next Sunday’s NFL games; except if you come in number one on the bet, you have a better chance of getting paid.
Hail to the Friars
When the San Diego Padres were active at the trade deadline, I praised them for their deals, writing on social media that if you were the Dodgers, Mets or Braves you should be worried. Mets fans, one in particular, raked me over the coals, suggesting I didn’t know what I was talking about. He may be correct, that I don’t know what I’m talking about, but here is what I do know: The Padres are playing in the playoffs tonight at Los Angeles, and the Mets are booking tee times.
Incidentally, what’s the difference between the Red Sox 78-win season and the Mets 101-win season? The Mets ended up playing three more games. That’s it. And before we put Buck Showalter in the Hall of Fame for inventing the game of baseball, could he at least win one playoff series? He really did seem desperate, asking the umpires to check Joe Musgrove for a foreign substance. The Padres pitcher was mowing down the much ballyhooed Mets lineup, and the manager was left to spin rates. I’m surprised he didn’t ask to check the pine tar on Juan Soto’s bat.
Turns out, instead of presiding over the greatest lineup in baseball history, the old Buckster was nothing more than a steward, overseeing another colossal collapse.
No Rhule, no more
Not surprised that Matt Rhule got the axe in Carolina. Some college coaches successfully make the jump to the NFL, others don’t. Fear not for Rhule. He hauled in a lot of dough, from the Panthers, including a handsome buyout, and will land a high profile college coaching gig somewhere else. Nebraska may be already texting his phone.
Roger Maris and No. 61
With the late Roger Maris in the news a lot, as Aaron Judge broke Maris’ single-season AL home run mark, I came across this nugget in the NY Daily News archive, which adds some perspective. After game two of the 1964 World Series between the Yankees and the Cardinals, former St. Louis GM Bing Devine was raving about Maris’ exploits in the outfield. It led to this piece by Dick Young, renowned sports columnist:
“I saw that,” says Maris. “It was nice of Devine. It’s the only nice thing I‘ve heard aside from that 61-homer bunk.”
Maris has developed what amounts to an odd obsession about his tremendous feat. He seems to detest the homer record. It is as though he wishes it had never happened. He believes people think of him only as some sort of freak, who had a hot homer streak for one season and is capable of nothing more.
Maris resents that thinking. He considers himself a good and rounded ballplayer, which he certainly is. Therefore, in the three years that have passed, the 61 homers have become a symbol to Maris; not of fame, but of resentment.
-Dick Young
Well, that is it for this week’s newsletter. As always, thank you for subscribing and have a terrific week.
SPORTSCASTER DAN