Last Wednesday, Westwood One Executive Vice-President and Executive Producer Howard Deneroff went through a spectrum of emotions following the announcement that his 35-year run with the network had come to an end. It was a literal “who’s who” in the sports media world that had so many great things to say about the legendary broadcasting executive whose contract was not renewed.
“I don’t know anybody who does his job better than Howard Deneroff,” said Cincinnati Bengals and University of Cincinnati play-by-play announcer Dan Hoard. “His knowledge, attention to detail, and ear for what makes a great broadcast (and broadcaster) is unmatched. If you’ve enjoyed the national radio call of a big sporting event, Howard was likely in charge.”
“Ian Eagle told me the more people who can take credit for your career, the better,” said veteran play-by-play announcer Kevin Kugler.“Howard Deneroff is one who takes a chunk of credit for me, hiring a guy calling D-2 sports in Nebraska & putting him on a big stage. A risk for him. One I hope he feels paid off. Forever grateful.”
“Had the honor and privilege of working with (and for) Howard Deneroff,” said Dallas Mavericks play-by-play voice Chuck Cooperstein.“Hearing of his leaving Westwood One Sports after 35 years is jarring to say the least. There’s never been a producer more prepared or an executive completely committed to doing things right.”
That’s just a few of the tributes to Deneroff on social media and it was those words and so many others that certainly combined for a big giant tug on the heartstrings.
“Overwhelmed, appreciative, and emotional,” is how Deneroff described his reaction during a phone interview with Barrett Sports Media. “I spent the better part of Wednesday upset that the run is over because I still want to work in this business, and it was almost as if I was reading my own eulogy. They were wonderful comments, and I had no idea that many people felt the way they did. I’m thankful for it but sad that that part of my life is in the past.”
What people wrote and said about Deneroff should definitely not be construed as a eulogy and it’s clear that, while it’s the end of his long run with Westwood One, Deneroff still has the burning desire to work and to produce radio broadcasts that sports fans enjoy listening to.
After 35 years, Deneroff built many great relationships and hopes that he can continue at a new home.
“Players say this all the time…they miss the locker room,” said Deneroff. “Broadcast crews are your second family. I want to work. I still think I can do this at a very high level but for the moment, I’ll miss working with all those great people and I will miss being at all those great events. Hopefully I’ll have another opportunity to be at them in some other capacity.”
When the news broke last week, it was initially reported that Deneroff was “leaving” Westwood One, but that was not the case. It was Westwood One that chose not to renew his contract and while Deneroff acknowledges that these are situations that come with the territory, especially in broadcasting, it’s still painful when it happens to you.
“We all know that most people don’t get to write their own exit but that doesn’t make it any easier,” said Deneroff who worked 35 Super Bowls, 25 NCAA Tournaments along with countless other big events for Westwood One including the Olympics, World Series, The Masters, the Kentucky Derby and the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
“They did not renew my contract. They did not make me an offer which was incredibly disappointing after 35 years but that’s their right and that’s the way contracts go. I’ve done enough contracts over the years and not renewed other people’s contracts so I understand that’s part of the business. But, it’s still stunning when it happens to you.”
It has been a special career in broadcasting for Deneroff.
Growing up a huge sports fan, Deneroff majored in Broadcast Journalism at Syracuse University and then set out on a path to fulfill a dream.
Mission accomplished for Deneroff.
“I got into this business, truthfully, because I wanted to go to as many different sporting events as possible for free,” said Deneroff. “That was the reason I became a producer. To be able to go to all of these games was a dream come true. I produced the games like a fan would want to hear.”
When he started out in radio, Deneroff was able to work with the likes of Brent Musburger, Jim Nantz, Jack Buck, Vin Scully and Ernie Harwell and later on Marv Albert and Dick Enberg. He would grow from being a young producer into a high network executive who ultimately became responsible for hiring some of the great play-by-play, analyst and studio host voices that you hear and see on the air today.
There are certain things that Deneroff looked for during the last 18 years in the capacity of hiring announcers for Westwood One. He has spent his entire career being diligent in making the right choices and has done a hall-of-fame job doing just that.
“I tried very hard to select announcers that could deliver the best description of what was happening along with the best passion and energy and the best perspective,” said Deneroff. “To me, unless you can do all three of those, something is missing from a broadcast.”
Sometimes, announcers looking for work would send him a resume and demo tape and there were also times when Deneroff would find new talent just driving through different parts of the country listening to local play-by-play. He knew what he wanted in an announcer and left no stone unturned in finding the right people.
“Play-by-play is a very specific art,” said Deneroff. “I couldn’t do it. I tried. I couldn’t do it well but I know how it should sound and so I’ve spent 35 years trying to find who I believe are the best people to deliver that to fans like me so they could be excited and passionate about what’s happening.”
Deneroff was working the College World Series in 2003 when he met Kevin Kugler who was doing a local talk show. Kugler didn’t ask for a job or express an interest in working for Westwood One. He just wanted Deneroff to listen to his tape.
“I listened to the tape,” said Deneroff who would hire Kugler in 2004. “From the first tape I ever heard of his I said this guy is really good and I want to hire him. I’m thrilled that now he’s doing so many other things for Fox and everybody else because I always thought he was talented.”
John Sadak, Ryan Radtke and Brandon Gaudin are some other outstanding play-by-play voices that Deneroff brought to Westwood One. Sadak was doing Delaware Women’s Basketball, Radtke was doing minor league baseball and basketball and football games for the University of Nevada while Gaudin was doing Butler Basketball when Deneroff first heard them.
Deneroff also hired Jason Benetti as a play-by-play announcer and Jason Horowitz, now the radio voice of the Las Vegas Raiders, 15 years ago as a studio host.
While Deneroff brought all of those announcers on board, he believes if he didn’t find them, someone else would have.
“I should not be given credit for them,” said Deneroff. “I just happened to hear them before someone else might have discovered them. I believe I helped them along the way and I gave them a forum to do their craft in which I felt they were really good, but I do think they all got better working with me and Westwood One.”
There are so many other announcers that could be mentioned as part of the fraternity of voices who were hired by Deneroff at Westwood One. If you wanted to draw an analogy to great athletes who have excelled on the field, court or ice, Deneroff has put up some impressive numbers when hiring announcers.
Whether you want to call it a completion percentage, shooting percentage or winning percentage, Deneroff has produced (no pun intended) and has produced in a big way.
“Obviously, I’ve hired a lot of people in 18 years and so if I’m forgetting anybody, they should all know how I feel about them if I hired them,” said Deneroff. “I don’t think I made many mistakes over those years in hiring talent. Nobody is perfect but if I hired them, they know my opinion of them.”
I’m proud to be in the group of announcers hired by Deneroff. He took a chance on me in 2008 bringing me on as an update anchor for Westwood One’s Olympic coverage and I was proud and honored to work multiple Olympics for him. To his point of making announcers better, I’ll certainly vouch for that. I was already doing updates for other outlets, but I can safely say that my experience working with Deneroff made me a better announcer and I could never repay him for that.
It’s not that often when a marquee athlete becomes an unrestricted free agent available to any team that would want him or her as part of their team. That also applies for sports broadcasting as you can be sure that networks will be lining up to inquire about securing Deneroff’s services.
So far, Deneroff has received one part-time offer but he has also been inundated with so many calls, text messages and e-mails that he has yet to get back to everyone.
“It’s been overwhelming and hundreds of people have contacted me,” said Deneroff. “Anybody who knows me really well knows I don’t sit still so I’d like to work sooner than later because I love what I do. For the first time since 1989, I’m looking for a job. We’ll see what the future holds and hopefully I’ll be back at a stadium somewhere soon and continue to do what I love.”
It’s just not realistic to think that Howard Deneroff will be on the open market that long. His resume and accomplishments at the highest level of sports broadcasting speak for themselves and it shouldn’t be too long before we find out about the next chapter of his storied career.
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.
