Ron Diaz and Ian Beckles are reuniting on WDAE after three years apart from one another. The former partners will take over afternoons along with producer and co-host Jay Recher on November 26th.
Diaz has been in the Tampa Bay market for over 25 years. He has been nominated for Billboard’s National Radio Personality of the Year several times. Beckles played offensive guard for nine seasons in the NFL. He began his career as a Buccaneer, but also spent time with the Philadelphia Eagles. He previously hosted with Diaz on WDAE before leaving the station in December 2015.
“The band is back together and it’s about time to rock,” said Diaz. “During the year that the show first began, The Lightning won the Stanley Cup. No pressure guys let’s do it again.”
“I am super excited to reunite with Ron and Jay to create The Ron & Ian Show 2.0,” said Beckles. “Tampa Bay has been begging for its return, so I hope everyone is ready.”
“The three of us had instant chemistry from the moment we met,” said Recher. “I am excited to see what the future holds. The sky is the limit!”
The reunion of Diaz and Beckles signals the end of Steve Duemig’s run in PM drive on the radio station. Duemig was one of the market’s top sports radio personalities during the past two decades but health issues have affected him for well over a year. Diaz and Beckles paid tribute to Duemig during their on-air announcement adding that the door is always open for him to appear on the show.
As a result of Diaz shifting from middays to afternoons, Pat Donovan and Aaron Jacobson will take over from Noon to 3pm ET. That unfortunately leaves JP Peterson on the outside looking in. Peterson took the news in stride though thanking WDAE on Twitter for the opportunity, and said he’d be launching a podcast in the near future.
