As we gear up for Thanksgiving, here are a few sports media items that have trickled in and you may have missed. If you have future news to share you can send it via email to JBarrett@hvy.tcp.mybluehost.me.
Cumulus Dallas has found their successor to Tyler Cox, who is retiring after 40+ years in the industry, including the past ten as program director of Dallas News Talk stations WBAP and KLIF. Veteran sports radio programmer Kevin Graham, who last managed WEEI in Boston, and who’s served as PD for KFNZ in Salt Lake City, KTAR and KMVP in Phoenix, WXYT in Detroit, and WEPN in New York City, will succeed Cox. Graham says he’s long admired Dan Bennett and Jeff Catlin of Cumulus Dallas, and considers it a great honor to follow in Cox’s footsteps to assist in the continued growth of two of the country’s most successful News/Talk brands, WBAP and KLIF.
A special crew will be in place for tonight’s Monday Night football game on Westwood One, live from Mexico City, and featuring the Oakland Raiders and Houston Texans. CBS Sports’ Spanish-language broadcast team of Armando Quintero, Benny Ricardo, and Brady Poppinga will call the action. The network’s regular broadcast team of Kevin Harlan and Boomer Esiason have the night off.
Rob Parker is heading west to Los Angeles to take on a larger role as a debate analyst at FOX Sports 1. Parker had made appearances on FS1 since the network launched but was still living and working in Detroit. No word yet on which shows he’ll contribute to regularly. The former opinionist previously worked for ESPN, and was a regular contributor to First Take before the show was altered to revolve around Skip Bayless and Stephen A. Smith.
In San Francisco, KPIX 5 Sports Anchor Dennis O’Donnell profiled former big leaguer turned KNBR 1050 morning host Kevin Frandsen. To check out the clip and learn more about Frandsen’s transition into the sports media industry click here.
Zach McCrite is doing some fill-in work this week in St. Louis for his former employer 101 ESPN. McCrite, who now resides in Louisville and last worked full time for 107.7 The Franchise in Oklahoma City, is stepping in for Anthony Stalter and Chris Duncan on The Turn.
Also in St. Louis, KSDK-5 has promoted sports anchor Frank Cusumano to Sports Director. Cusumano has been a sportscaster at KSDK since 1993, winning an Edward R. Murrow Award and 17 Emmys. He added “Some kids want to be doctors, others want to be lawyers, all I have ever wanted to do is to talk about sports on television and radio in St. Louis. I am honored to be able to tell the stories of these incredible athletes in our town.”
Longtime Toronto Blue Jays announcer Jerry Howarth is undergoing a cancer operation this week to remove a small tumor. Howarth said a biopsy failed to find any prostate cancer, but the growth was later detected during an MRI scan.
Jacksonville University has a new public address announcer. Joshua Jackson has agreed to be the PA voice for Men’s basketball games. He made his debut last week.
A new website (TheRaidersWire.com) is being launched by the USA Today Sports Media Group, and the company has hired Will Reeve Jr. to serve as the site’s managing editor.
Jason Barrett is the President and Founder of Barrett Media since the company was created in September 2015. Prior to its arrival, JB served as a sports radio programmer, launching brands such as 95.7 The Game in San Francisco, and 101 ESPN in St. Louis. He also spent time programming SportsTalk 950 in Philadelphia, 590 The Fan KFNS in St. Louis, and ESPN 1340/1390 in Poughkeepsie, NY. Jason also worked on-air and behind the scenes in local radio at 101.5 WPDH, WTBQ 1110AM, and WPYX 106.5. He also spent two years on the national stage, producing radio shows for ESPN Radio in Bristol, CT. Among them included the Dan Patrick Show, and GameNight.
You can find JB on Twitter @SportsRadioPD. He’s also reachable by email at Jason@BarrettMedia.com.
