Glen Macnow began his career in sports at the age of 21 starting out as a newspaper writer before entering the world of sports radio. 31 years after it all started, the Philadelphia legend is ready to call it a career.
The 69-year-old Macnow recently announced his retirement from WIP and his final show will be on July 13th.
“I’ve reached the point of life where time is a more important currency than money,” said Macnow. “I have other things I want to do, places to visit and goals to achieve. It seemed like in order to move to the next step I had to leave this great part of my life behind.”
While Macnow is retiring, he’s not closing the door on continuing to dabble in sports radio. WIP has asked him to come on occasionally but whether that’s as a guest or as a guest host has yet to be determined.
There have been some sports radio hosts who have turned to podcasts after they’ve retired, but don’t expect to see Macnow in that arena.
“I don’t think I want to do a podcast,” said Macnow. “Having the opportunity to do radio, “I don’t really feel that a podcast is something I need to dabble in next.”
What is next for him, as far as dipping his toes in the sports radio waters, is something that he’ll look at somewhere down the road.
“That’s probably a question that you ask me a year from now,” said Macnow. “Right now, I’m looking forward to doing nothing.”
What Macnow is also looking forward to is being a fan. He’s eager to watch a game and not have to worry about how he’s going to talk about it the next day on the radio. There is a difference to watching a sporting event as a fan as opposed to watching it as a sports radio host.
“When you’re in the business, you can be a fan but it’s obviously very different,” said Macnow. “You have to watch it differently. You have to watch it from a different angle. Now, I’m just ready to sit back and enjoy sports without it being my business.”
While Macnow is looking forward to beginning the next chapter of his life, there is a part of the business that he’s going to miss and that’s talking sports with some of the greatest fans in the United States. Doing sports radio in Philadelphia certainly has its challenges depending on how the teams are doing, but each day he talked to fans who were very passionate about their teams.
And that made the job fun.
“I’m lucky enough to work in what is arguably the most enthusiastic sports city in the country,” said Macnow. “This is a city that cares about all four teams that has strongly rooted franchises and great fans. I know its cliché to say Philadelphia is passionate about sports but it really is true.”
During his career, Macnow did do solo shows but he relishes the time that spent with some great partners including Ray Didinger for 21 years and his current weekend partners Mike Sielski and Jody McDonald who helped Macnow break into sports radio many years ago.
He’s going to miss working with them.
“I love these guys,” said Macnow. “Going to work has never felt like work. It’s always felt like an opportunity to hang out with people who I enjoy.”
Macnow has seen the sports radio industry evolve over the years.
WFAN in New York was the first all-sports radio station in the country and then came WIP in Philadelphia. WFAN decided to do a nationwide search for hosts when it first went on the air and would eventually change course by bringing in Don Imus to do mornings while establishing a local sports roster for the rest of the dayparts.
When WIP launched, their late Program Director Tom Bigby brought in radio pros like Jody McDonald, Steve Fredericks and Bill Campbell but he also brought in newspaper writers like Angelo Cataldi, Al Morganti and Macnow.
Bringing in writers, as it turns out, was a smart move because it was the writers who were in the trenches covering games and establishing relationships with players, coaches/managers and front office executives.
And they brought that insight to sports radio.
“In the beginning, there was more storytelling because that’s what newspaper guys knew how to do,” said Macnow. “We were older. We weren’t a bunch of 25-year-old guys. We were all guys into our late 30’s and 40’s and that’s what built the station. Now, it’s a younger crew. We got older so the station needs to recognize that it needs to stay young and keep interest in people who are young. I recognize that it has to evolve and I recognize that I’m the outlier.”
Another big change to sports radio has been the addition of legal sports gambling in terms of content and advertising. It has become a big part of the industry and one that has allowed radio stations to generate a huge amount of revenue. While that has been important to the bottom line, sports gambling is not everyone’s cup of tea.
Macnow respects that people like legal sports gambling, but he’s not interested in it and has some concerns.
“I am not against legal sports gambling,” said Macnow. “I think people should have the right to do what they want. For me, it’s just not very interesting to listen to. It’s taking over everything. It used to be that we talk all the time about whether or not the Phillies would win. Now, there’s a lot of talk about whether a parlay of Trey Turner and Nick Castellanos hitting home runs will come true and that’s something that doesn’t interest me at all.”
As his sports radio career winds down, Macnow will continue to spend some time with other activities including acting. He has appeared in a few movies and is currently in a play “The Diary of Anne Frank” at the Players Club of Swarthmore that runs through May 4th.
“I’m excited to get into the acting more and more,” said Macnow. “I’m getting a little bit older so there’s not a ton of roles for men of a certain age but I really do enjoy it. I’m in a play now and I just love that. It’s a challenge. I’m not as good at it as I want to be but I think I’m getting better.”
Macnow will also continue to host “What’s Brewing”, a beer show on NBC Sports Philadelphia, at least through the end of this year. He’s hoping that there will be funding to keep the show going beyond that.
“We’re actually up for a state grant for next year,” said Macnow. “If we get the state grant, I’m certainly going to do the show. If not, we’ll see how that plays out.”
And back to that question of what else is next for Macnow after his final show on July 13th? He certainly has some boxes to check off and things on his to-do list.
“I’m looking forward to traveling with my lovely wife to many many places, countries and states that I haven’t gone to,” said Macnow. “Who knows? Maybe I’ll take that hot yoga course one of these days.”
It’s been quite the career for Glen Macnow. Whether it’s a cameo here and there on WIP, more acting opportunities or the beer show, it sounds like you haven’t heard or seen the last of him.
Peter Schwartz writes weekly sports radio features for Barrett Media. He has been involved in New York sports media for over three decades, and has worked for notable brands such as WFAN, CBS Sports Radio, WCBS 880, ESPN New York, and FOX News Radio. Peter has also served as play by play announcer for the New Yok Riptide, New York Dragons, New York Hitmen, Varsity Media and the Long Island Sports Network. You can find him on Twitter @SchwartzSports or email him at DragonsRadio@aol.com.
