WMVP job sounds good to Salisbury
Teddy Greenstein
ON SPORTS MEDIA AND COLLEGES

February 13, 2006

Considering he's a Southern California native who played pro football mainly in Minnesota and now lives in Dallas, Sean Salisbury felt remarkably at home doing Chicago radio last month.

While subbing for Harry Teinowitz on WMVP-AM 1000's "Mac, Jurko & Harry" show, Salisbury at one point said: "I'm so comfortable, you may have to kick me out."

Told that Teinowitz would be returning the next day, Salisbury remarked: "Harry can have his seat back. I'll just sit outside the door and listen, I'm so comfortable here."

So comfortable that Salisbury wouldn't mind landing a permanent gig with WMVP.

"I don't need another job," Salisbury said. "I've got a good career. It's not something I have to do. It's something I want to do."

And it's something Jeff Schwartz, WMVP's program director, says believes Salisbury can excel in.

"Sean did great," Schwartz said. "And Sean has star appeal. But Sean also has 9 million jobs. He says he wants to do it, but could he do it? I saw his day planner. I was like: 'How do you read this?'"

Salisbury, who's at his best when jousting with NFL reporter John Clayton on ESPN's "SportsCenter," did about seven shifts at WMVP. He filled in for the late-morning team of Marc Silverman and Carmen DeFalco—more on that later—by alternately teaming with the Tribune's Steve Rosenbloom, WBBM-Ch. 2's Mark Malone and WLS-Ch. 7's Jim Rose.

And he loved it.

"Chicago is my favorite sports town," he said. "You know how there are certain places where you get off an airplane and just feel good? I love the restaurants there. And you have typical Midwestern people—passionate and compassionate."

Salisbury, a divorced father of three who enjoyed an eight-year NFL career, spends his off-season in Dallas, where he has season tickets to the Mavericks. During the football season, he spends five days a week in Bristol, Conn., contributing to ESPNews and shows such as "NFL Live." On Sunday mornings he does an ESPN Radio show with Mike Ditka.

But if WMVP wanted to hire him for the 9-noon slot occupied by "Silvy & Carmen," Salisbury said he could swing it.

"The time slot is perfect," he said. "And it can be done with modern technology. The great thing about radio is that they don't need to know where you are. And I'd be in Chicago a ton of time.

"You know what? Good radio is good radio. It's ludicrous to think you'd have to do it every day from the same place."

Schwartz said Salisbury wouldn't have to be in Chicago every day but added: "You can't hide it from the audience. The audience is too smart and they might turn on the TV and see Sean. You have to use it to your advantage. He's at the mother ship. It's the magic four call-out letters than that transcend all of us: ESPN."

Local knowledge

During one of Salisbury's shifts, a caller mentioned Laura Quinn, sister of Notre Dame quarterback Brady Quinn and girlfriend of Ohio State linebacker A.J. Hawk.

Salisbury hadn't heard of her. Not a capital offense, but most sports fans living in Chicago around the Fiesta Bowl knew all too well about her relationship with Hawk.

"All someone had to do was tell me who she was," Salisbury said. "My biggest problem is with people who try to pretend to know everything.

"If me not knowing who Brady Quinn's sister is is a problem, that's not a job I want, trust me. I'm sure I know more about the Bears than any local reporter."

Back to life

Readers will recall that Silverman and DeFalco were given a mandatory two-week break after the Bears' playoff loss to Carolina.

The reasons for that move remain unspecified, but the breather allowed "Silvy & Carmen" to refocus after a bad ratings book. And it cleared the airwaves for Schwartz to sample a variety of voices.

"I never called it a tryout, but other people loved to," Schwartz said. "This was a chance for me to build a bench. We have to get ready for life after the Sox and the Bulls."

The Sox debut on WSCR-AM 670 on March 1. The Bulls move to WCKG-FM 105.9 after this season.

Schwartz hopes he doesn't have to replace Silverman and DeFalco, whose ratings among men 25-54 fell to a 3.0 in the fall book. That's a drop from 3.4 in the summer, and it helped WSCR take the overall lead in the ratings battle—4.6 to 4.5.

"I'm interested in having Carm and Silvy do the best show they can do," Schwartz said.

The feisty Silverman now "drives" the show, making him the lead voice on debates. And a new segment—"10 at 10"—gives the hosts 30 seconds each to tackle one of 10 subjects.

Schwartz is encouraged, but the duo won't survive if their ratings do not improve.

Staying put

WMVP also had interest in Tom Waddle, but on Friday the former Bear re-signed with WGN-AM 720 for one year.

Waddle enjoys working with "Sports Central" co-anchor David Kaplan, but the 7-9 p.m. time slot is hard on the father of four.

A 9 a.m.-noon slot on WMVP might have been perfect, but the timing for such a move was not right. Waddle's contract expired Jan. 31, and WGN would have had a 60-day window to retain Waddle by matching another offer.

tgreenstein@tribune.com

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"There's an old saying in Tennessee—I know it's in Texas, probably in Tennessee—that says, fool me once, shame on—shame on you. Fool me—you can't get fooled again."

Love the title, "WMVP Job Sounds Good to Salisbury". Well, it sure as shit doesn't sound good to me. I can take Salisbury once a week during football season, but I don't want to hear this fucking blowhard 3 hours a day, 5 days a week.

Also gotta love:



Arrogant enough for you? I'd love to hear what Mully, Biggs, Pierson, etc, have to say about that one...

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"There's an old saying in Tennessee—I know it's in Texas, probably in Tennessee—that says, fool me once, shame on—shame on you. Fool me—you can't get fooled again."

I've heard you sean. Everyone on this board knows more about the Bears then you ever will.

I'm sure he would be an absolute treat to listen to between February and August.

Based on what I've heard so far from Mr. S.S., I'd actually choose to retain Silvy & Carmen over him. Besides, I think MVP needs more local programming, not less, and despite his self-proclaimed extensive knowledge of the Bears, this would simply be seen as another ESPN national guy doing a show, no matter how they try and dress him up as a "Chicagoan."

I have zero interest in hearing Salisbury full time. As Prez noted, the guy is an arrogant know-it-all. He also subscribes to the Mike North theory that he who yells loudest is right, and there are enough of those types here already. Is it too much to ask of Space & Rosen to do their damn jobs, and actually groom some new talent? This constant reshuffling of talentless has beens, along with falling back on ESPN "talent" is grating on me. It is just plain lazy, and it's the reason sports talk ratings are in the toilet.

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"Nobody ever went broke underestimating the taste of the American public." ~ H.L. Mencken

C&S are dead men broadcasting! Look for them to be replaced next month.

I'm fine with dumping Carmen & Whiny, but for the love of Christ, do not give us Sean Salisbury. As Madden would say, "big mistake".

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"There's an old saying in Tennessee—I know it's in Texas, probably in Tennessee—that says, fool me once, shame on—shame on you. Fool me—you can't get fooled again."

Silvy seems to be ramping up his contribution, while Carmen seems to be sputtering and stammering and probably realizes the unemployment line is calling.

I know they'd be idiots to turn down a fulltime radio show, but it seems that the safe job is just reporting on a team....

I don't mind their show because they talk sports - I think that goes a long way considering so many others think their job is to talk about their dinner plans, etc.

Salisbury is fill-in only material....

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@audioidkid

Also loved Spaceball saying:



Build a bench? None of those guys work at your station, man. Jim Rose? Mark Malone? Steve Rosenbloom? Sean Salisbury? Their checks aren't cut by WMVP. Building a bench would have meant giving those midday shifts to Dolgin, Finfer, Ogulnick, etc.

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"There's an old saying in Tennessee—I know it's in Texas, probably in Tennessee—that says, fool me once, shame on—shame on you. Fool me—you can't get fooled again."

If Salisbury is so good, how come he doesn't have a regular show on ESPN Radio weekdays?

He was with Dan Patrick, but pulled off (and according to Salisbury, it's because he was too good).

Salisbury and Clayton are good on their weekend 'Sports Huddle' show on ESPN1000.

He knows football pretty well. But he doesn't know Chicago sports for shit.

I know this is cliche, but sports radio is very provincial. I don't wanna hear some mercenary telling Chicago what they should think or feel about our teams.

Like Spaceball said, Salisbury would make a nice Mick Kelleher. A bench player.

I don't know if you guys heard Silvy rant a bit about the article, but it was pretty good. He stated that Salisbury would be critical of somebody talking about getting another coach's job while that other coach is still employed - yet Salisbury is doing it in the Teddy's article today.

Silvy and Carm are the best that's available for ESPN from 9-Noon, and I'm not complaining. Apparently Sean Witt was the sacrificial lamb - as he's nowhere to be found.

Mulligan is an encyclopedia of Bears information - and I'm sure that helped 670's ratings in the Fall book. Let's see how they do during college hoops season.

I'd rather listen to a guy squirtin' Budweiser out his ass than listen to Brian Hanley go on and on and on and on about who knows what. Hell... he doesn't even know what he's blathering on about.

I can only hope SpaceBall knows this market well enough that a know-it-all blowhard from another market will get spanked here. For reference, see Bill Simonson (sp?). When I hear Salisbury, I hear a lot of Simonson. Granted S. S. brings more sports knowledge to the table, but he's got a lot of Huge's bad qualities: the arrogance, the loud mouth, the talking down to callers and co-workers, and the "I'm smarter than you" atttitude.

Salisbury? Keep it.

Come on Space, you're a creative guy, think outside the box, don't bring in another damn retread (or retard for that matter)!

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Nothing clever or witty to put here.....

How is your description any different than the "B&B Patronize-O-Rama" afternoon drive show?

B&B are funny and self depricating, Salisbury is a loud mouth. B&B only talk down to dopes, Salisbury talks down to everyone.

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Nothing clever or witty to put here.....

Silvy was mad about this today

I don't blame him. Its a good move to discuss his anger about this on the air. People like that kind of honesty and discussion of inside turmoil.

Didn't listen to it (though you all know I wish I had). Kind of shocked he had the balls to even talk about it on the air like that.

Sometimes, it is good to be ballsy and talk about the things that maybe you aren't suppose to talk about. I'm not saying that is the key to saving your show, but it is a small piece (of many many) that can help save your show and get other people interested.

The best way to save your show is to make it good, which I just don't see happening with these two. Carmen & Whiny are mediocre at best, though I'll still take local mediocre over a national blowhard 8 days a week.

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"There's an old saying in Tennessee—I know it's in Texas, probably in Tennessee—that says, fool me once, shame on—shame on you. Fool me—you can't get fooled again."

Worked for J. Hood, didn't it?

The difference was Jay got bitter and angry towords callers and people who worked there. Salsberry doesn't work at the station yet.