Waddle ending long run on WGN
Former Bear could switch to WMVP

Tom Waddle is leaving WGN-AM 720, probably for WMVP-AM 1000.

The former Bears receiver will end his 10-year association with David Kaplan on their 7-9 p.m. "Sports Central" show after the Super Bowl.

WGN station manager Bob Shomper sent a memo to the staff Wednesday night, saying Waddle is "exploring an opportunity that will, among other things, allow him to spend more time with his family."

According to sources, Waddle is in talks with WMVP. If a deal falls into place, he likely would be placed in WMVP's 9 a.m.-noon slot. The station trails WSCR-AM 670 by a considerable margin during that period.

What that means to incumbents Sean Salisbury and Steve Rosenbloom remains to be seen. But one of them could be out.

Waddle has emerged as one of the most popular sports personalities in town since hanging up his helmet. In addition to his WGN duties, he also has a regular role on WFLD-Ch. 32.

Shomper's memo said Kaplan would continue to be host for "Sports Central," likely in a solo role.

"This presents a great opportunity for 'Kap' to build on the rich tradition of 'Sports Central' and he is looking forward to it," the memo said.

His side

Salisbury felt compelled to defend himself Wednesday after Internet bloggers suggested he made an anti-Semitic remark in talking about Peyton Manning on ESPN on Sunday.

Describing Manning's calmness in the second half, Salisbury said, "No need to panic. We'll nip. We'll tuck. We'll go. We'll crunch."

Salisbury maintains he next said, "We'll chew. We'll do it all and they nickel and dimed them and Peyton made the plays when it mattered."

However, some bloggers allege instead of saying, "We'll chew," Salisbury said, "We'll Jew."

Salisbury gave a passionate denial that he made any slur during his radio show Wednesday. Then later in an interview, he again wanted to make sure nothing was left open to interpretation.

"I said crunch and chew," Salisbury said. "I don't know where a Jewish comment would have any place in talking about a quarterback driving down the field. If a blogger heard what he wanted to hear, there's nothing I could do about that. But I didn't say anything remotely close."

Salisbury, an 11-year veteran of ESPN, said he spoke out because he was upset about any inferences being made about his character.

"People who know me know when it comes to religion, race, color, sexual preference, those things don't matter to me," Salisbury said. "At some point you've got to defend yourself. We've all made mistakes, but that wasn't a mistake."

It would be an absolute coup if the SCORE could hire him for mid days. They could then move Murph back to nights, where I think he fit best. Mully could be Waddle's sidekick.

That would be the beginnings of a very solid lineup. Waddle could then gain some familiarity with the listeners until you move he and Bernstein to mornings. I think Bernstein and Waddle would make a great team, and I probably would not mind if they decided to talk politics.

I guess we'll find out whether or not Justin L. Craig is serious about WMVP or ESPNRadio.

Waddle is eons better than Salisbury. NO brainer imho

Furthermore, they can't make any excuses about having to overpay for the Bulls or White Sox anymore.

Belly up to the bar J-Craig, and order up a double shot of top shelf LOCAL sports radio heavyweight, the pride and joy of Cincinnati, Ohio: Gregory Thomas Waddle.

...and as an added caveat, Ditka LOVES Waddle - so the Ditka Show would have a seamless transition.

Am I excited? Yes.

But seriously... just seriously, knowing our luck, the blame for the bad 9a - noon slot will probably be put on Rosembloom. Then for the next 6 months we'll here how Salisbury and Waddle is the next big thing in Chicago sports talk radio.

That better not happen.

I would vote for Waddle to host with Silverman. Drop the Silvy name in the title, and have Silverman and Waddle or Waddle and Silverman.

Wow. I like Waddle. He's fairly smart and can be funny. If you put him with Rosie that show would dominate. No doubt in my mind. Plus he would be better without those WGN restrictions.

I don't get what Waddle means about spending time with family. With the Cubs and Northwestern B-ball games he's not working half the year. I guess he just doesn't want to work nights

I hope Waddle comes out and says he thinks he'd be a great fit for the 9-noon time slot on ESPN. Then Sean can get his panties in a bunch when somebody reads him the newspaper article.

It's basically the same thing he did to Silvy. Yet, he had a problem with Wanny talking to the Bears when Da Coach was employed by the Bears.

This would be a big move for 1000. I think Rosenbloom and Waddle would be huge and we'd see a huge ratings spike by next football season. Hopefully, ESPN 1000 gets this done. Waddle is great on TV and I imagine he'd be great on radio too.

he was great on radio.....he used to do a show way back when. can't remember what station though...

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@audioidkid

Actually, I heard Salisbury and Rosenbloom this morning on my way into the office, and was very confused why Rosenbloom kept mentioning he had a Tommy Waddle jersey on - could this be it? Maybe Steve wants to be rid of Sean too?

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Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy. ~ Benjamin Franklin

Yeah, you can hear it in his voice. Not much chemistry there.

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"Play until it hurts, then play until it hurts to not play."
http://soundcloud.com/darkside124 HOF 2013, MM Champion 2014

Goooood by, Seany-Ca-akes
Who was entertained by you,
when you talked every weekday?
No one's gonna miss you.

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You can't see me because of internet.

The landowner effectively owns part shares in millions of part-time slaves called, "taxpayers." -Roy L
A Personal Relationship with Jesus?

I don't know, Steve hates everything and sounds like that all the time. I hear this show about 30 minutes a week after having given up on it early, but after putting this article together with all the Tom Waddle comments he made today he must really not like Salisbury to make it so obvious. Rosie must know that United doesn't have the Tribune on its flights from Dallas or Connecticut

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Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy. ~ Benjamin Franklin

Or, he thinks he might be the odd man out since Sean probably has the tougher contract to buy out...

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"Tubby? Oh yes, Tubby."

when did uncle rico join exactly last year?
They should dump that tard right after the superbowl is done.

Goodbye, Good riddance.

So Bye Bye Uncle Rico Bye Bye
Drove us crazy with your yelling,
Your porno pics and jive
And them good ol boys know your an anti-Semite
Hoping this will be the day that you fly

nicely done North Shore J. Man I am really hoping that Uncle Rico gets canned.

Doug,

Waddle was on the old WMVP. He was teamed with Jim Kozimore(sp?). They came on at 10, after Dahl & Wolf. I liked him then, and still do. Living 80 miles from Chicago, MVP was my only source for sports radio back then.

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

that was it!

Thanks AX7.....pre-score days, no?

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@audioidkid

As much as Salisbury gets jammed up on this board for being a total douche, I really don't understand how often Rosenbloom gets a pass. IMHO he's brutally bad on the radio.

His 'too cool for the room' schtick would work if he actually was somewhat cool. All I hear is a dude in his 50s who's fairly out of touch, doesn't know it, and would be quick to remind you that he's the Bomb Diggity at Y0-leven thirty.

Keep it, Rosie. The entire show needs to get blown up.

Waddle and Silvy would be great. I'd take Waddle and Hood or Waddle and JD. Shit...I'll take 3 hours of AT&T Blueroom commercials over the S&R crapfest.

Late.

I really don't understand how often Rosenbloom gets a pass. IMHO he's brutally bad on the radio.

His 'too cool for the room' schtick would work if he actually was somewhat cool. All I hear is a dude in his 50s who's fairly out of touch, doesn't know it, and would be quick to remind you that he's the Bomb Diggity at Y0-leven thirty.




That is exactly my problem with him too. It comes off as cocky and add that with Sucksbury, it creates an arful show. Waddle I would still have questions about. I never heard him on WGN, but on television he is great. Can anyone tell me about what his WGN show was like?

I agree. Rosie sucks, and there's no reason I can see to keep him.


Take it back! S&R is horrible, that's true, but those AT&T Blueroom commercials make for some of the most infuriatingly awful radio ever. Don't even joke about 3 hours straight of those; the thought made me nauseous.

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You can't see me because of internet.

The landowner effectively owns part shares in millions of part-time slaves called, "taxpayers." -Roy L
A Personal Relationship with Jesus?

agreed

Add me to the list of those agreeing with Ike.

I agree.

And I don't think Rosie's "too-cool-for-the-room" style would mesh well with Waddle's "laid-back-yet-still-too-cool-for-the-room" style.

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Good call, V. There's no lack of swagger in Waddle's on-air persona. But he seems like someone who's plugged into things that people under the age of 30-40 can get with.

Another plus is that he doesn't sound like he's got a mouthful of phlegm-covered marbles.

Go away Sean and Rosie.