When Mike Rizzo thinks back to his childhood, there’s often the memory of watching his dad on TV while sitting at his grandparents’ house. What young Rizzo didn’t know at the time, was that his grandpa was making mental notes while watching his son anchor the evening news. That’s because Joseph Rizzo knew the media business. He knew it so well, because he was a part of it for many years.
“They had to change his name to Jack Reynolds, because they thought Joseph Rizzo was too ethnic at the time,” said Mike. ”Growing up he had two licenses. A Joseph Rizzo license and a Jack Reynolds license. I always thought that was funny.”
The sports media business has essentially turned into the family trade for the Rizzomen. Joseph started in radio and worked his way to USA Network working with the WWF and International Wrestling Federation. His son Tony is one of the most-well known sports radio hosts to ever turn on a mic in Cleveland and now grandson Mike is chasing a dream of his own in sports radio.
Needless to say, Mike has grown up around the business his entire life. However, he didn’t fully realize he wanted to pursue broadcasting until his sophomore year in high school.
“In the back of my mind I always thought I could do it, but my English teacher, Kelly Rose, really showed me I could do it. I was a good writer according to her. She said with my writing skills and with how outgoing and passionate I am, she totally totally thought I could walk in the footsteps of my dad and she was one who brought it to my attention and started listing good colleges for me to pursue journalism.”
After attending a community college for one year in Cleveland, he had the opportunity to choose between Ohio State and Ohio University as his next destination.
As a diehard Buckeye fan, it was hard to say no to his dream school. However, Ohio University has a great journalism school and he would have the opportunity to be on both a student run radio and TV show. Mike took every media opportunity he was offered on campus before graduating in 2017.
That mentality helped Mike secure an internship at ESPN Cleveland. However it took him more than once to impress the station enough to hire him.
“I actually did not get the internship the first time around after my first interview,” laughed Mike. “The interviewers at ESPN Cleveland apparently did not like what I was saying in the interview. It’s funny, because it was Aaron Goldhammer who helped me get the second interview. Aaron has always been like a big brother to me in the business. He got me a second interview, my dad had some influence, too, but it was Aaron who stuck his neck out for me. This was 2014 or 2015 and I brought up the idea of sponsoring stuff on Twitter. It was something they used in the company and something I hold my head up high on, that in my second interview I came up with something they actually did. That’s how I secured the internship.”
Mike was in the same halls his father still occupies. He worked his way up to a part-time role as a street teamer. After two years of being on the promotional side, he received a content position at the station and then ultimately became a producer. After two more years as a producer, he went on the air as a part-time co-host in 2019. Then his big break came. And he still thanks Matt Fishman for it.
“Matt Fishman is a huge, huge mentor of mine and someone who stuck his neck out for me and I’ll never forget the things he has done for me,” said Mike. “We keep a great relationship to this day but Matt knew someone here in Peoria, who was looking for an on-air host and promotions director.”
Today, you can find Mike on the air in Peoria, IL hosting at Peoria Sports Radio 101.1 from 2-6 every afternoon. The first two hours of the shift is The Jim Madsen Show with Jim and Mike. The final two hours of the show is Primetime in Peoria with Mike Rizzo and Ben Effnor. Regardless of whether it’s 2:30 or 5:30, there’s always a chance Mike will get a text from Tony. Just like Joseph was Tony’s biggest critic, Tony is always coaching his son.
“It’s kind of like a full circle moment,” laughed Mike. “He listens all the time and he tells me what I’m doing wrong and what I did right. What’s working, what’s not working. It’s funny, because some days I don’t think he’s listening and he is listening. He’ll shoot me a text message and we’ll have a good laugh about it.”
Mike knows he’s lucky to have someone in his corner like his father. The advice he receives has been invaluable andpart of why he’s been such a success in Peoria.
Peoria has taught Mike a lot of things, but most notably, it’s taught him how to be the main host of a show and more about the sports radio business, as a whole. He didn’t have those opportunities in Cleveland. Now, he’s responsible for four hours on the air and promoting three different stations in the cluster. It has been the perfect way to learn more about the business.
He’s also fully embraced what his new city is all about. Located almost equidistant from St. Louis and Chicago, he took the time to understand the people and what they care about.
“Just because it’s a smaller market it doesn’t mean people aren’t passionate about what they like,” said Mike. “We are the crossing grounds between Cubs and Cardinals territory. The city is split in half with 45 percent Cardinals, 45 percent Cubs and 10 percent White Sox and everyone else. They are really passionate about what they like around here.
“I love my time here in Peoria. I don’t know what the future holds for me but as of right now, I love it here. I don’t see Peoria as a small market. I see it as a big market situated between St. Louis and Chicago. And The Bears are just like the Browns here. I start talking Justin Fields and the phones start lighting up. It might be a small market, but it’s eerily similar to Cleveland with the people, they’re great out here.”
Peoria is a market that cares deeply about the Bears and Illinois basketball, along with the Cardinals and Cubs. And when someone that’s heard Tony talk about the Browns, listens to Mike talk about the Bears, the reaction is usually that the father-son duo sound very similar on the air.
In no way does MIke shy away from the comparisons to his father, but he believes he’s created his own style. Regardless, Mike is serious about the business and honoring the family name, which is something his dad and late-grandfather would be proud of.
“The biggest thing is I’ve always wanted to make him proud. My grandfather is not here and I would love to have one more conversation with him about what I’m doing and where I’m at in my career. Making my dad proud is something I’m very proud of; because he is proud, I took a big step here in Peoria and things have been going well. To see him proud really solidifies me to know I’m making the family name proud.”
Tyler McComas is a columnist for BSM and a sports radio talk show host in Norman, OK where he hosts afternoon drive for SportsTalk 1400. You can find him on Twitter @Tyler_McComas or you can email him at TylerMcComas08@yahoo.com.
