Waddle set to mix things up at WMVP
Former Bear could force lineup changes
February 23, 2007
After Steve Rosenbloom heard a promo calling "Mac, Jurko & Harry" the most entertaining show on ESPN-AM 1000, he couldn't resist mentioning it on the air.
"We're trying hard to be the most entertaining show on ESPN Radio," he said.
His partner, Sean Salisbury, said he agreed with the promo. Then he added: "You can't always win best actor. Sometimes it's best supporting actor. That's what you and I are, buddy."
You can't blame Salisbury and Rosenbloom for a loss of bravado.
It goes beyond the fact that "Mac, Jurko & Harry" is WMVP's signature show. On Monday Tom Waddle debuts at the station. Waddle has a résumé (Bears, Fox Chicago TV, WGN Radio) and voice that every self-respecting Chicago sports fan already knows, and it's only a matter of time before he slides into the "Salisbury & Rosenbloom" late-morning shift.
Waddle will start at 7 p.m. Monday with Marc Silverman, who had been teamed with Carmen DeFalco. The 7-9 slot is prime time for TV networks, but it's downtime for sports radio. And Waddle was hired for the marquee, not the fine print.
"I just want to do my part," Waddle said. "I don't need to be the star of anything."
A noble sentiment, but it's believed that Waddle's contract calls for a move to mornings by August. That could make life awkward for Salisbury and Rosenbloom, a Tribune columnist.
Waddle's partner is still to be determined. There's a range of possibilities starting with Silverman, who's equally adept at hard-core sports talk and taking flak over his barren dating life.
When asked if he and Silverman would practice before their Monday night show, Waddle dropped in some Allen Iverson.
"You talking about practice?" he replied. "No, we'll find our rhythm over time. And that can be entertaining.
"For the first couple of weeks I'll respectfully defer to people [at the station] who have been there longer than I have. But I'm a wise guy and they didn't bring me there to be vanilla."
Other possibilities
Comcast SportsNet's Pat Boyle is an intriguing candidate. Justin Craig, WMVP's new program director, knows Boyle from their days in Bristol, Conn., when Craig produced "Mike & Mike in the Morning" for ESPN Radio and Boyle anchored on ESPNEWS.
Or Craig could take a page from "Mac, Jurko & Harry" by adding Waddle to Salisbury and Rosenbloom. Could the three loudmouths effectively share a microphone?
Said Rosenbloom: "We would work to make it sound great."
Salisbury is also open to the idea. It might not hurt that he and Waddle have the same agent, Chicago-based Steve Mandell.
"I don't care if they bring in Tom Waddle, Howard Stern or the man on the moon," Salisbury said. "If the station feels a three-man booth is better, that's fine with me."
The "Salisbury & Rosenbloom" show launched in May, and the Bickersons immediately tried to carve out their turf. They called each other "dumbhead" and Salisbury described Rosenbloom as "clueless" and "a bonehead" during on-air debates that sounded more like arguments.
"We were both frustrated and it came through on the air," Rosenbloom said.
Perhaps sensing negative feedback from listeners, Rosenbloom went to McNeil for advice. He suggested they quit trying to compete with each other, especially over who knew more about sports.
Rosenbloom said he and his partner are now having fun, and he praised Salisbury for landing top guests such as Deion Sanders, Don Shula and Chad Johnson during Super Bowl week.
"I'm working with a guy who's making plays," Rosenbloom said.
Their ratings reflect that, with the show nearly doubling its audience among men 25-54 in the last ratings book.
Salisbury said he's so enamored with his partner, he'd be prepared to leave the station if Rosenbloom goes, even though he has a three-year contract.
"I would say: 'Replace us both,'" Salisbury said. "I wouldn't want to work with anybody else."
Rosenbloom and Waddle will work together in the 9-noon slot from March 5-9 while Salisbury is on vacation. The decision on long-term assignments will play out this spring.
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