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The End of "Sports Central"?
https://mail.chicagofanatics.com/viewtopic.php?f=156&t=44397		 Page 1 of 1
Author:  SHARK [ Thu Mar 25, 2010 3:11 pm ]
Post subject:  The End of "Sports Central"?
While 670 The SCORE's Terry Boers & Dan Bernstein have been on the air for a decade now, WGN 720's "Sports Central" is actually the longest running sports talk radio show in Chicago.

The show, currently hosted by David Kaplan, actually started way back in 1982 by WGN's longtime programmer Dan Fabian and was initially hosted by the late, great Jack Brickhouse. (Moment of silence please for Jack. Thank you.) The first show featured Brickhouse and a young Chuck Swirsky telling listeners the biggest sports stories of the day. It included a Bump Wills homer for the Cubs that helped first year manager Lee Elia win his first game over the Cincinnati Reds. The show has evolved with other guys such as Tom Shaer, Brian Davis, Randy Minkoff, Dave Eanet, Tom Waddle, Jim Memolo & Kaplan hosting the show as the glue that melded WGN Radio's sports properties.

Unfortunately, "Sports Central" might be on borrowed time, according to industry reports and Sun-Times' sports media critic Jim O'Donnell. "Chicago's WGN Radio 720", which has been trying to lure younger listeners in recent months, might soon pull the plug in favor of call-in postgame shows following the Tribune-owned station's Cubs, Blackhawks & Northwestern football/basketball broadcasts and a general "show-to-be-named" to fill those nights when there are no play-by-play broadcasts.

As for Kaplan, he'd still maintain a presence on Radio 720, even if station bosses pull the plug on "Sports Central". He'll continue to host the daily sports gabfest that is "Chicago Tribune Live" at 5:30p weekdays on Comcast SportsNet.
Author:  Eaglo Jeff [ Thu Mar 25, 2010 3:18 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The End of "Sports Central"?
Cricket wrote:
Chirp
Author:  A7X [ Thu Mar 25, 2010 3:56 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The End of "Sports Central"?
immessedup17 wrote:
The less Dave Kaplan I get, the better. So if this means that, I'm all for it.


And he looks like a dick with his head shaved.
Author:  sjboyd0137 [ Thu Mar 25, 2010 3:56 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The End of "Sports Central"?
If Jim O'Donnell wrote it, it's probably not true
Author:  Reared on the Score [ Thu Mar 25, 2010 4:06 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The End of "Sports Central"?
sjboyd0137 wrote:
If Jim O'Donnell wrote it, it's probably not true


Probably just angling for Swirsky to get the job and rejuvenate the franchise.
Author:  Aggravated Sox Fan Bob [ Thu Mar 25, 2010 8:00 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The End of "Sports Central"?
WGN Radio has been a powerhouse forever just by appealing to Nerds and Saps and people who acted like they were 80 when they were 30....this idea of attracting a younger audience seems absurd.
Author:  Beebo [ Thu Mar 25, 2010 8:31 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The End of "Sports Central"?
A7X wrote:
immessedup17 wrote:
The less Dave Kaplan I get, the better. So if this means that, I'm all for it.


And he looks like a dick with his head shaved.


Image

Herr Starr has him beat.
Author:  Drop In [ Thu Mar 25, 2010 8:42 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The End of "Sports Central"?
Aggravated Sox Fan Bob wrote:
WGN Radio has been a powerhouse forever just by appealing to Nerds and Saps and people who acted like they were 80 when they were 30....this idea of attracting a younger audience seems absurd.


I completely agree, but that is what they are doing. Pig Virus, of Howard Stern fame, came in and decided to blow up the franchise.
Author:  City of Fools [ Thu Mar 25, 2010 8:44 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The End of "Sports Central"?
it's hilarious to me. I think their demise may be in part due to the accuracy of the personal people meters. Look what it did to Score ratings.
Author:  Mark Prior's Calves [ Thu Mar 25, 2010 11:48 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The End of "Sports Central"?
http://newsblogs.chicagotribune.com/towerticker/2010/03/wgn-cubs-sports-central-david-kaplan-jim-laski-show.html

Sports Central is over according to Rosenthal in Trib. Kap is going to be the "Sports Insider".
Author:  Curious Hair [ Fri Mar 26, 2010 12:35 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The End of "Sports Central"?
Haha they seriously replaced him with Jim Laski. Oh man.
Author:  SHARK [ Fri Mar 26, 2010 2:21 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The End of "Sports Central"?
Curious Hair wrote:
Haha they seriously replaced him with Jim Laski. Oh man.

Larz has less than flattering words about the former City Clerk right now on ChicagolandRadioandMedia.com. To say Larz is furious about the Laski hiring at WGN would be an understatement.
Author:  Beardown [ Fri Mar 26, 2010 3:47 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The End of "Sports Central"?
I think it's just a sign of times for "sports talk". It doesn't make money at night. The Score tries to fill it with games whenever they can. Including Northern Illinois sports for the love of god. ESPN has some local shows at night but I've also noticed they just pump in their national show from Bristol to save money.
Author:  SHARK [ Fri Mar 26, 2010 4:00 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The End of "Sports Central"?
Beardown wrote:
I think it's just a sign of times for "sports talk". It doesn't make money at night. The Score tries to fill it with games whenever they can. Including Northern Illinois sports for the love of god. ESPN has some local shows at night but I've also noticed they just pump in their national show from Bristol to save money.

Beardown brings up a very valid point, and that's the argument WGN 720 bosses claim lead to "Sports Central's" demise. However, why WGN Radio would hire a convicted felon in Jim Laski, minus any radio experience to boot, who served hard time for his involvement in the Hired Truck scandal and accepted $48,000 in bribes is a mystery.
Author:  doug - evergreen park [ Fri Mar 26, 2010 4:06 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The End of "Sports Central"?
Beardown wrote:
I think it's just a sign of times for "sports talk". It doesn't make money at night. The Score tries to fill it with games whenever they can. Including Northern Illinois sports for the love of god. ESPN has some local shows at night but I've also noticed they just pump in their national show from Bristol to save money.


wow...not one Goff, drinky, or Bernstein reference. I'm impressed.
Author:  Curious Hair [ Fri Mar 26, 2010 4:34 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The End of "Sports Central"?
Between Cubs and Blackhawks games, this Jim Laski show won't even be on much. If you're going to do something between 7 and a 7:30 puck drop, or after an east coast Cubs game till 9, it might as well be sports talk, right?
Author:  Mark Prior's Calves [ Sun Mar 28, 2010 9:46 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The End of "Sports Central"?
If I'm going to get nailed for taking bribes, I'd make sure it was for more than $48,000.
Author:  didea [ Sun Mar 28, 2010 10:25 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The End of "Sports Central"?
All part of WGN's new strategy to become "edgy" -
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