50 years ago his first broadcast was a Northwestern men's basketball game on radio. On with R & L yesterday. They gave him the floor to speak. He loves answering questions retelling his main 20 stories from the past. A host hinted at adversity Les battled, but Les wouldn't reply. Just retold another old story. Les survives. A relentless hard worker. Took any bottom of the barrel sports media side job few wanted. Still does in his late 60s. Not included in Terry's retirement party was telling. Accepts his floor mat status at the Score. Pc culture has crippled him on air.

Who is R and L? What's the podcast link to listen?

He's kind of been everywhere hasn't he. From working with guys like Lujack and Steve & Garry at the peak of their popularity to a Saturday morning show on WMVP with T-Dub when both were in exile from the Score.

There was a time after the HFC was broken up and before B&B really hit their stride that Les' show was my favorite on the station. He'd weave current topics together with stories of yesteryear flawlessly. But in his second stint at the Score he's kind of lost it. Ok, he's really lost it, but Les still beats CBS Sports Radio.

Congrats to Les. He should be in some kind of Chicago Radio Hall of Fame if it exists.

His girlfriend Kathy is cute too. I bet Les is having a ball, my friend.

Les works for the AP. I believe he drives to Notre Dame and schools to do updates and post game interviews where the answer is only shown, not the person asking the question on tape. He tells the story when he was younger during MLB playoffs he'd drive all over the east coast doing his faceless interviews for side money. Also,.he's called two college games for radio requiring traveling in one day. He doesn't seem to have any bitterness towards the trust fund guys hired over him. His father was a furrier. Les hobnobbed with a lot of Chicago celebrities before his working years. Johnny Morris was at his bar mitzvah.

didnt he get busted or admit to selling things he'd pickup around the clubhouses as memorabilia on ebay?

Yup, Les has a dream job. He works overnight where there is no pressure from the boss, and then he gets to attend any sports game as a reporter.

exactly! he doesnt really even care about $$. he's a more lifestyle type of guy.

Les from Fri. R & L on Ozzie Guillen.
-Today, his English is perfect.

If Les wasn't talking sports on the radio he'd be holding court in a booth at a greasy spoon diner talking sports to whomever wanted.

I appreciate the sports talkers who actually love sports. All the Score guys had it at the beginning and it showed in their enthusiasm for their work. You could tell guys like North became bored with it a 10-15 years later. Mac clearly did as well. Most of these guys now would be just as happy in any broadcasting job if it paid better for the hours. They are into Communications.

It's comforting to have a Les standing a post and taking the night watch. I want a guy like Les in that spot forever.

_________________
O judgment! Thou art fled to brutish beasts,
And men have lost their reason.

On his 50th anniversary in broadcasting today Les talked about the Darvish trade with a caller.
-He's a good guy in the clubhouse. Very popular with his teammates. His English was spectacular! His English was magnificent!

Anniversary show highlight.
Les- Let's go to Hamster Illinois.
Caller- That's Hampshire Illinois, Les.

Les's big day was pretty much a dud at the Score. Congratulatory promos, and a little transition talk. The transition talk was interesting. Both times Bernstein talked about how Les had to to be using scams for plane fares. He got cheap prices when savvy travelers weren't. They discussed Les being a weird guy. During conversation what he says seems to be on a different wavelength in his own world. A common theme during R & L, S & L and transition talk was longevity, hard working, weird guy. Not one comment about quality of work. Not even from Levine who's crossed paths with him 40 of the 50 years. As expected obligatory time given but not a lot of emotion except for Larry. He talked kindly of Les (sort of). He talked about his time producing for Les as his starting point in the business. But dealing with Les it came off as he was studying him for extra credit for a abnormal psychology class.

we are all a little weird

_________________
O judgment! Thou art fled to brutish beasts,
And men have lost their reason.