On Friday, Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times authored a piece about the differences between Boston and Los Angeles sports radio. The article claimed that “no one listens to sports talk radio in L.A.”
That story and the methodology behind it fired up AM 570’s Fred Roggin of Roggin and Rodney in Los Angeles.
“The story is flawed.”
Roggin said that story is painting Los Angeles listeners as lackluster fans that could care less about sports.
“You don’t care,” Roggin said. “You can take it or leave it. You’re fair weather. You’re not invested. In Boston, it’s part of their life. Here, you don’t care.”
Roggin fired back, “People here desperately care.” He then cited the two Los Angeles area baseball teams that are in the top ten in attendance including the Dodgers who lead the league.
The story is “flawed” as Roggin put it because the author doesn’t factor in obvious differences in the coasts.
“In Los Angeles we have good weather,” said Roggin. “In Los Angeles we have hundreds of restaurants. In Boston they have bad weather. They have to go inside. In the east, you have nothing to do. We have hundreds of things to do.”
Roggin then spoke to the listeners again saying, “that does not mean Boston is a better sports radio market than L.A. That’s insane. And you should be offended by it. I’m offended by it.”
“I counted over 31 radio stations in Boston. There are over 100 in L.A. There’s more options. If you’re listening to sports talk radio, you’re invested… in Boston you are rooting for the Celtics or you’re mad at them. Here we have 35 teams.”
Roggin then said it’s even harder to be a notable sports figure because in Los Angeles, it’s completely results based. “Here, you have to win to be relevant. In a city of stars, you have to win and succeed to be relevant. You have to win every year. That’s how it is in the big time.”
