Sports talk veteran Andy Furman is a weekend FOX Sports Radio host who has been a strong voice in the industry for over 25 years. Furman is a native of Brooklyn, New York, and has spent much of his time in Cincinnati at WLW-AM and WQRT. You can follow Andy on X at @AndyFurmanFSR. Here is some knowledge he has shared for today’s guest column:
Radio – what’s that?
Radio was the last profession on my wish list as a kid. In fact, I don’t think it ever was on my list.
The only contact I had with radio was hoping they would promote an event of mine – or carry race results from the various greyhound tracks, harness tracks and thoroughbred facilities I toiled for Delaware North Companies.
In fact, at Latonia we had the first mother-vs.-daughter jockeys – the Bartons – compete in the same race. Of course, we didn’t miss that – several weeks later they were guests on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson.
Latonia – now Turfan Park – was near and dear to my heart – I was married in the winner’s circle when the GM was looking for an Opening Night Promotion. Oh yeah, it was covered by the Associated Press, Sports Illustrated – and, local radio.
Nope, radio was in the distance – the far distance.
I was more concerned with elephants racing at Monticello (NY) Raceway; or Cris Collinsworth racing a horse at Latonia Race Course in Florence, Kentucky; or having a Polish Night at Buffalo Raceway – where the harness drivers were set to go the “wrong way.”
Promotion was my wheelhouse. I served as Sports Information Director at Hunter College (NY), St. Francis College (NY) and later at Oral Roberts University – where we had the world’s tallest basketball-playing piano player, at 7-3.
But my introduction to radio came when television – of all things – came calling. The local NBC affiliate in Cincinnati was airing the Reds’ baseball games – and I was hired to sell Reds’ baseball.
So, the GM gave me an office spot – and, gulp – a copy of the Yellow Pages. And for the Gen-X’ers out there – it was a book with all local businesses — from A to Z.
Since everyone was in the same sales competition, I figured my best bet would be to start selling from Z rather than A – since the former is probably the most logical.
I hit a home run with local P&G — a six-figure deal – and 700 WLW Radio – The Radio Home for the Reds came calling. Thanks to the late GM, J. David Martin, and radio genius, Randy Michaels.
I sold for the radio station, and was soon given a Sunday morning slot with former NFL player Tom Dinkel and radio play-by-play man, Andy MacWilliams.
The main sports talk gig was held by Bob Trumpy – and when he went full-time to NBC Sports it was Cris Collinsworth – and me – nightly for three hours. When he left – well, that left me.
And I have learned some radio do’s and don’ts over my 25-plus years in the business:
- If you work with a co-host, one must be the villain – I was with Cris. Nothing forced – it must be in your DNA.
- Phone calls are a crutch – and when a host opens a show with a phone number, I cringe – why you ask? Well, why call if you never gave me a reason to call?
- No one liked Lecture Hall in college – why would you like it on radio? Make it a one-on-one conversation.
- No one – and I mean no one – likes a know-it-all. It’s OK to admit, “I was wrong,” or, “I don’t know.”
- Guests are great – big names for sure – only when applicable. Why have a baseball manager/player on New Year’s Day – unless there is a news story behind it. (We had Bill Belichick on Fox Sports Radio some two years ago –a big hit as he only does local radio —and his then weekly show. At 700 WLW Radio I chatted yearly – once a year – with Bob Knight. His ground-rules; half hour, no commercials, no phone calls. How was that possible you ask – develop relationships – very important. After every guest, I would send a thank you note.
- For local radio —always look for the local hometown angle. People love it. Iowa women’s basketball has a local in Cincinnati’s Gabby Marshall – cannot believe she has not been on!
I will have part II in the future.
– Andy Furman
Interested in writing a guest column for BSM? Email davegreene34@gmail.com
