Al Galdi took to Twitter today to announce that he had been let go by Team 980. He had been with the station since 1998 in a variety of roles. Most recently, he co-hosted the station’s mid day show.
Galdi’s tenure with the station began while he was still a student at the University of Maryland. During his time with Team 980 he has had a variety of partners including Steve Czaban, Chris Cooley, and most recently Rick “Doc” Walker.
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Walker was one of the initial layoffs when Entercom acquired 980 from Radio One in a station swap in November along with Scott Linn and program director Chris Johnson.
Continuing layoffs are certainly disappointing, but not unexpected as Entercom also owns 980’s former competitor 106.7 the Fan.
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Absolute awful decision to get rid of Galdi! The new ghetto trash you replaced him with is pure garbage! Will never listen to this station again!
Oh please! Stop with your little bit** reaction. He was stale and boring as he**. Talked about nothing more than hypotheticals, scenarios and false narratives. Along with most of these clowns, he swam in overreaction and overdramization for a low IQ audience. They need fresh blood with a more indepth perspective and outlook for the WFT going forward. People like you hold on to these boring donkeys from a time long since past.
Hmmm. You must be the Entercom genius that made the decision to can him or just some troll that never actually bothered to listen to Galdi. Agree Sheehan, Walker and Mitchell don not or don’t belong on the radio, But Galdi was always prepared, intelligent, informed, could talk any sport, provided perspective, not afraid to call BS, etc.
Hardly either. I call it the way I see it. Sorry to offend your delicate sensibilities. I’ve lived in the area most of my life and havegrown tired of the same lame a** muckrakers. Sorry old timer, it’s time for a change and a new perspective on the WFT. Personally, I wish Riggo, Cooley and Theismann had shows. At least these were guys that had analytical skills and experience about the game. Not some fast-talking hyperbolic commentator with faux drama. After a while, it gets real old and stale.
Like many others, I still haven’t gotten over when the powers that be pulled the plug on Chin Music. It was the best 1 hour show on sports talk radio, and Ali’s post mortem on Dusty Baker’s flop in the final game of the playoffs, while sad to listen to, was the best sport analysis I’ve ever heard. I listened to that broadcast 2 or 3 times it was so good.
Nit surprised you can’t keep up with “Fast Talkers”
Axel, after reading your posts, I am not surprised that you can’t keep up with “Fast Talkers”.
You liked cooley? Cooley spent half the time talk about his wife. You’re a dope.
Can you please explain the reason for your dismissal of Super Bowl winner Doc Walker and now Al Galdi. It seems that you are dismantling 980 and abasing their ardent followers, while no such moves are being made on 106.7 the Klan. Just share with the listeners, while these moves are being made. I guess Super bowl winner Bmitch is next. Then you will almost be lily white across the board on both stations(bravo). Neglecting, alienating, and disenfranchising the broad Afro-American base that loved and supported this station and it’s broadcasters since inception.
The reason for this dismissal is real simple: ratings, revenue and long term interest. Besides, all these guys just regurgitate the same content with very little information or depth. The station is attempting to add it’s own brand of new and improved fresh content. I for one, appreciate their efforts. I’ve more than tired of Sheehan’s overanalyzing things to death, the constant interruption of guests, callers and going off on miscellaneous tangents and alike. Brian Mitchell thinking he’s right about everything and always talking over or interrupting people. So yes, out with these dinosaurs and bring in fresh thoughts and minds. Also, unbeknownst to you, not everything is about race, it’s about the bottom line.
Not just to ill-informed blowhard Axel but to everyone who follows this stream and/or listened to Galdi: oh, the humanity! First — typical classless broadcast conglomerate move during a pandemic. Cut to the marrow to make a buck. New dad Al (way to go, heartless management) is and was the class of DC sportstalk, knows and can dive in to EVERY team, can carry an entire hour without crutches, is mega-prepared, and is appointment listening. He relates to Blacks, Whites, young, old — everyone. To all the online and print folks whom he has so intelligently interviewed: help this rare talent find a forum on which we can hear him. To say he’ll be missed is the lamest cliched understatement. Al, if you see this, here’s wishing you monumental success (local pun partly intended), and please somehow let your many admirers know where to find you when, not if, you rise like a phoenix — even if it’s IN Phoenix.
Just just pathetic to see Al galdi gone from Radio replacement just trashed nobody want to hear would not listen to this station again
I am a long-time listener of this radio station and DC Born and raised. I have literally never actually posted a comment on anything in my life. But I felt Inclined to do so about Al and Doc being let go….it’s a travesty. GoGo Thursday’s was the best and Al was was a true DC native regardless of his skin color. Doc, a super bowl champion of the Redskins (they will always be the Redskins, Bullets too)….r u kidding me??? Pop a top Doc, much love!! All I know is if these fools, Michael Jenkins & Quinton Mayo (the worst of the worst.. f them and all that give birth to them) get any play time I will never listen to these radio stations again. If you want to get rid of someone get rid of the sports junkies for Christ sakes, local white boys who couldn’t sniff a jockstrap their whole lives. FU to the powers that be.
Just down right disgusting just hope Brian Mitchell not next hope Al and Doc and Lynn find a new station so I can listen to them this station is garbage now this station will lose a lot of loyal listeners
Balding and Doc were my favorites
. They were the reason I tuned in to listen to the show
Terrible, just terrible
Been listening since it’s inception as The Team when they were on 570 AM
Doc, Scott Linn and now Galdi??
Are you actively trying to lose listeners??
Who makes these decisions??
They should be let go instead
I’m sorry but will No Longer listen in to 980
It’s the people that made it great, not the station or it’s owners and now, those people are gone
Galdi
This is a stunner! I’m a retired CEO having worked in radio for over 25 years. Al Galdi had a kind of appeal, authentic, naturalistic, deeply informed with an acute sense of his audience, that is rare to find. I have been unable to listen to whoever has been in his seat of late. Terrible radio. Just FYI, Al Galdi is the sole reason I started listening to Team 980, even when I was in Europe. Beyond sad to see him go. Flawed decision, from this listener and fan’s perspective.
You let the best man there go that was the only reason I ever listened to that station he was number one there with number one you’ll never be able to replace it
Let my boy Ric Doc Walker go,now Galdi. Who’s next Brian Mitchell. Getting ridd of our entire DC local flavor ,I’m done with you guys,bye!!
The only reason I listen to this station was for Al Galdi, your replacement for him sucks . Good luck with this train wreck station.
First Doc and now Galdi – you really don’t want any listeners between 9 – 12 noon weekdays. Is it because he blasted you out about MASN, something that DC Sports Fans have been questioning for years. Hey 980 – The Heck with you!!!!
I’m out – me and probably thousands of others.
980 used to be the best sports talk station now its just sad.
The old Czban spot is also unlistenable.
Chris Russell is horrible. He talks to much and says nothing. 980 is losing it.
I do not enjoy Galdi’s replacement. I would suggest getting Rob Carlin if he’s available.
I am surprised about the firing of Al Galdi. I always found Galdi prepared and extremely professional on the air. Galdi side his research and explained his reasoning well.
I am not a Brian Mitchell listener, because I do not think he prepares and has created an aura, based on his previous playing days; now a long, long time ago.
I enjoyed the interchange when Steve Czban had with Scott Lynn and Steve Solomon. Initially, I thought Craig Russell was a filler, because I thought Czban was on vacation for the holidays. Similar to many who have written above, I prefer Czban to Russell.
Returning to Galdi however, I found his diligence and honesty refreshing regarding the product and the professional teams in this area, who have been terrible as well as winners. For instance, Galdi had the best intuition regarding the Nationals and their World Series run, even when the team was playing under .500 baseball.
More specifically, Galdi knew Robert Griffin III was a poor pocket quarterback, with few “redeeming “team” leadership qualities, when others, including the owner, were throwing out the red carpet for Griffin.
Then again, I still miss Andy Poliin and Tony Kornheiser. Yet, I found them both on another radio station up the dial.
So much of what made 980 great has gone the way of the dodo bird. Linn, Czabe, Doc, and now Galdi! I live in Colorado, but became a DC fan because of the 980 lineup. I saw the writing on the wall when Scott got canned. Czabe’s show lost it’s magic. The Czabe, Linn, Solly connection was sports radio gold. I agree that Chris Russell is your generic host. Czaban and company were more than sports talk. They were the Seinfeld of radio. Sorely missed.
This is some crap, soon Brian Mitchell & Kevin will be next. After that 980 will eventually be a music station because nobody will listen to these 24 year old virgins you replaced them with.
Live in the deep south. Not a ‘Washington’ sports team fan, but have been listening for +10 years because of Czabe, Galdi, Solly and Linn. Educated and entertained beyond just ‘DC’ The replacements are unlistenable, especially Galdi’s and with the rest of the lineup being ‘know it all Sheenhan’ and ‘unprepared marble mouth tough guy Mitchell’, I am done tuning in.
Same.
Hardly either. I call it the way I see it. Sorry to offend your delicate sensibilities. I’ve lived in the area most of my life and havegrown tired of the same lame a** muckrakers. Sorry old timer, it’s time for a change and a new perspective on the WFT. Personally, I wish Riggo, Cooley and Theismann had shows. At least these were guys that had analytical skills and experience about the game. Not some fast-talking hyperbolic commentator with faux drama. After a while, it gets real old and stale.
I love all the old-school 980 guys, now Sheehan and BMitch are the only ones left. I am sure they’ll be gone soon and then so will I. Change is the only constant.
Been listening to 980 all day while at work, for over 10 years…for me was can’t miss radio. Sadly…no longer. SMH
I thought they were insane to Let Doc go
Now this?
I won’t be listening anymore
I’ve switched to 630 AM.
I’d like to thank Al, Doc, Steve and Scott for many years of great sports progams. No one cared about our local flavor more than Al and Doc. I hope that someone with deep pockets can hire them all together under one new station. Until then their absence is a great loss for the DMV..
Man, I think the fan is trying to just get rid of this station. If you can’t beat um, buy um and destroy them. Kevin and Brian are the only good ones left. The guy that replaced Czab is f’n horrible, Galdi’s replacement is just ok, not good. 106.7, you suck
Boo
Al Galdi will be missed and so will Scott Linn, Czabe and Solly.
Switching to Eagles sports talk radio in the mornings now.
Radio hosts have to be knowledgeable and entertaining.
980 is terrible now. Cannot listen to replacement for Galdi. Tried but just awful.
A year ago, Sheehan was touting Haskins as the savior of the franchise. He knows
nothing about NFL quarterbacks.
Oddly enough, the only 980 guy I didn’t love listening to was Sheehan, and they kept him. I don’t get what they are doing, unless they are trying to turn 980 into the minor leagues for 106.7. They seem to be going for on air personalities with some absurd “hot takes”, rather guys who can analyze and communicate. That guy they replaced Czab with is so annoying I want to figure out where he’s broadcasting from and go punch him in the face. How big of a tool do you have to be that Solly can’t even save you.
RIP Sports Radio in DC.
Five people have been released: four are white and one is African American. How can you make this about race? What all four have in common is longevity, and longevity equates to higher salaries. Hate to see Galdi and Czabe go, but I haven’t lost any sleep over Doc and Scott Lynn. As with everything , the answer is a blend of both. Some tradition (Sheehan and Mitchell) mixed with some new voices. Not a fan of Chris Russell. He can’t hold Czabe’s jock strap.
Terrible decision! Galdi was informed, and interesting. He did not have to rely on the class of people who have nothing better to do than love to hear themselves talk. The quality of this programing is going downhill fast. TIME TO CHECK OUT WMAL. Sheenhan is next I assume.
I loved the content that was contained when Doc and Cooley did their thing. So, I know the people in charge have no regard for my opinion or their contributions. I wish those two had a show. Particularly during the football season. With a tip of the hat to BMitch, everyone else is bad at football. Really bad.
I was crushed when Al Galdi was no longer broadcasting on 980 radio. I loved hearing him when he was on from 6 am to 9 am ( I woke up to his broadcast every morning). When he moved to Doc and Galdi I listened when I could. I did not know he was replaced; I kept thinking he was rescheduled at a different time. After searching for a long time, I went on line to find the sad news that he was gone. Galdi was always very entertaining and knowledgeable. I learned a lot about sports from him. You are losing a large audience without him. I am no longer listing to your station; it is not the same without Galdi!! The more you change the worse it gets. New management should have at least taken a survey of Galdi fan base– the outcome would have been overwhelmingly to keep Galdi. Obviously management does not listen to its own radio station–Galdi is unreplaceable!!
I agree…along with the break up of Czabe, Linn, and Sollie. I live in Colorado and became somewhat of a DC sports fan. Without the now defunct cast of characters, I have no interest in listening. Czabe’s replacement continually goes over the same stuff. The Czaban Show was more of a variety show built around sports. It was the Seinfeld of sports talk.
They have gutted the entire 980 lineup of interesting, educating and entertaining hosts , only to replace them with boring, ill prepared, hot take talking heads. Nothing or no one worth listening to anymore. Must be trying to just let 980 rot on the vine and shut it down. Why else would you sack great talent for hacks? Well I guess they must work for a lot less $$. Lets see how that works out for Entercom. Looks like this guy is or was involved in the decisions. He at least happily boasts about all the new changes on his twitter feed.
Chris Kinard
Operations Manager, Entercom DC. Brand Manager-106.7 The Fan, 94.7 The Drive, Team 980
https://twitter.com/team980/status/1357362295505043456
This truly sucks, Al was the ONLY reason why i downloaded the “team” 980 app. I live in Arizona and He was such a joy to listen to on my way to work. Just like the lame booth cast, this new cast sucks.
Loved Galdi and Czabe and Doc. Miss hearing Cooley, Riggo. Loyal listener no more. Media decisions are heartless…and brainless.Completely out of touch. Thank heavens for podcasts. I would rather listen to Tony K’s reruns than your boring no-name buddies.
So sad to see all that great talent go. The Czabe was my go to for my ride home, every night! I just read through all the comments and agree with all that said the new talent SUCKS! They talk and talk and say nothing. I tried giving them a change but now they are using us old radio 980 listeners as their “audience”. NOPE. I’, OUT!
Done with 980. Long time listener. Getting rid of Galdi was the back breaker!