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Sid Rosenberg: Steve Lapa Helped Resurrect My Radio Career

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Sid Rosenberg: Steve Lapa Helped Resurrect My Radio Career

Radio industry veteran Steve Lapa passed away last week at the age of 72. The Lapcom Communications founder played a pivotal role in 77 WABC host Sid Rosenberg continuing his radio career.

After initially sharing his admiration for Lapa in an Instagram post that said “Without Lapa my career would have been over 12 years ago. He really believed in my talent and put his neck out there for me,” Rosenberg shared the story of how Lapa helped him remain in the industry.

“If not for Steve Lapa, there never would have been a Chad Lopez or a 77 WABC,” Rosenberg said Monday morning. “When I was done, it was over. I ran out of places to work. WFAN in New York, 790 The Ticket and 560 WQAM in Miami, Florida. There was little 640 Sports in Pompano Beach and my boy was a fan of mine. And he was like ‘Wow, I’m gonna get a New York talent for like 50 cents on the dollar to work in Pompano. He was smart, he was a good man, and he loved me. He knew my talent.

Sid Rosenberg admitted that he and Steve Lapa had many arguments during his time working for the longtime radio executive. Rosenberg said the edict from Lapa was to stick to sports. But that didn’t interest him.

“I was trying to get into politics … I was talking about Mitt Romney and Barack Obama and Lapa was furious. He said ‘You don’t want Chinese food at an Italian restaurant.’ I said, ‘Well guess what? I’m Sam’s Club. I’m Costco. You get everything with me. If you don’t want that, go hire one of these dummy sports guys,” Rosenberg said. “He trusted me and it worked out. But he died on Friday and it really did make me sad.”

Retiring Audacy Cleveland SVP Tom Herschel Earns Cleveland Association of Broadcasters Excellence in Leadership Award

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Retiring Audacy Cleveland SVP Tom Herschel Earns Cleveland Association of Broadcasters Excellence in Leadership Award

Outgoing Audacy Cleveland Senior Vice President and Market Manager Tom Herschel was named the recipient of the 2024 Cleveland Association of Broadcasters Excellence in Leadership Award.

After 22 years with Audacy, Herschel recently announced he was retiring from the business.

On Thursday, June 27th, Tom Herschel received his honor from the Cleveland Association of Broadcasters.

“While it’s bittersweet to say goodbye to such an incredible group of individuals and the remarkable brands we have the privilege to represent here in Cleveland, this decision fills me with joy,” said Herschel. “By making this move, we’ll finally have the opportunity to be fully present in our family’s daily lives and participate in the precious moments as our grandsons, Charlie and Emerson, grow and flourish.

“On a personal note, this transition opens the door for me to explore passions and interests that have been not-so-patiently waiting on the sidelines for way too long. I’m looking forward to the luxury of my first summer without a job since I was thirteen. Not to mention, I’m very ready to chase “the dream” of achieving a single-digit golf handicap (hey, like I said, a guy can dream).”

SiriusXM Adds New Golf Show with Alice Cooper and Rocco Mediate

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SiriusXM Adds New Golf Show with Alice Cooper and Rocco Mediate

SiriusXM has announced a new golf show, ‘Rolling the Rock with Alice Cooper and Rocco Mediate,’ which is set to debut on Tuesday, July 2 at 6 p.m. ET. The show will air on the SiriusXM PGA TOUR Radio channel (92).

“Rocco asked me to do this show with him, talking about rock and golf, and it could not be a more perfect fit,” said Cooper in a release. “We‘ve known each other a long time. We’ve played in many tournaments together. He’s a frustrated rocker and I’m a frustrated golfer. It’s a match made on the fairway to heaven. It’s an anything goes show that is all improv – we have no idea what we’re going to talk about until we start talking. We’re quite literally just ‘rolling the rock.’”

“Alice and Rocco are larger-than-life personalities with a deep mutual love of golf and music, and on SiriusXM they have a platform to share their passion for both with our audience,” said Scott Greenstein, SiriusXM’s President and Chief Content Officer. “When you bring together two people who are among the best at what they do and give them the freedom to create a show that truly showcases their personalities and perspectives, you get dynamic and compelling programming. If you are into golf, music or both, this is a show you don’t want to miss.”

Cooper, a Rock and Roll Hall of Famer, says he has played six days a week for the last 30 years and is a four handicap. Mediate is currently a member of the PGA TOUR Champions who joined the PGA Tour in 1986 and has won ten times between the two tours in his career.

Seth Payne: Mike Tannenbaum Did Not ‘Understand the Assignment’ During ‘First Take’ Appearance

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During Friday’s edition of First Take on ESPN, the program asked a question to its panel about which quarterback they would start a football team with other than Patrick Mahomes. Mike Tannenbaum, NFL front office insider for ESPN, stated that he would take Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love in this situation.

Tannenbaum had expressed a similar opinion on a podcast in the past, something that Sean Pendergast believes Stephen A. Smith had ostensibly heard before asking why he would not take Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud instead. In his counterargument, Smith stated that Stroud is the third quarterback in the last 50 years to lead the NFL in passing yards per game and turnover ratio, along with the fact that he is younger and makes less money than Love.

After Pendergast played the audio on Monday’s edition of the Payne and Pendergast morning show on SportsRadio 610, he mentioned that ESPN NFL analyst Ryan Clark was a member of the panel as well and concurred with Smith’s opinion. In response, Tannenbaum brought up how the Packers eliminated the Dallas Cowboys from the NFL Playoffs, leading Smith to say much of that had to do with the performance of running back Aaron Jones. In essence, he felt that Tannenbaum was displaying a dearth of knowledge about the Texans. Co-host Sean Payne added that the Texans attempted to run the ball but did not do so successfully.

“Yeah, at all,” Pendergast agreed,” so Tannenbaum got kind of exposed there by those two guys, and then so that’s just blood in the water at that point.”

The program then played another clip in which Smith told Tannenbaum that he has to know how to “take the L.” Tannenbaum continued to affirm how impressive it was to see what Love did after sitting on the bench for two years, especially with the Packers adding offensive tackle Jordan Morgan. Smith replied by asking if wide receiver Stefon Diggs joining Stroud in Houston was not considered a big deal. Out of the 43 quarterbacks drafted between 2010 and 2023, Smith said, Stroud is the only one to have won a playoff start in his rookie season.

Payne expressed that he sent the clip to Mike Meltser, a fan of the New York Jets, the team for which Tannenbaum previously served as general manager. The reason he sent him this clip was because he wanted to know which one of two aspects of the conversation annoyed him more – either Tannenbaum’s opinion or the fact that he did not “understand the assignment” in this situation.

“The argument was about, ‘Who would you pick if you were starting a new franchise?,’ and Tannenbaum turns it into, ‘Hey, look at how good he could be this year because he’s set up for success on this team,’” Payne said. “Like that’s not the assignment. You don’t even understand the assignment, and you were running an NFL football team.”

Pendergast agrees with Smith and Clark in this instance, preferring C.J. Stroud over Jordan Love. Furthermore, he stated that Smith can probably realize when all he needs to do is yell while someone else is talking in order to get them to back down. The fact that Smith started to begin screaming and would not stop was something Pendergast considered to be really funny.

As the discussion surrounding Tannenbaum on First Take came to a conclusion, Payne recalled the time the show interviewed him on Radio Row. Tannenbaum was working as an executive with the Miami Dolphins at the time, and Payne recognized that he was consistently scanning the room and not seeming engaged in the conversation. While he remarked that it can be a successful strategy for some people, he perceived him to be constantly thinking about who to speak with next.

“It’s a willing networker, but a bad networker,” Pendergast said. “It’s all about networking man, but you’ve got to make sure that people who you’re in a conversation with realize that you’re at least giving the impression that you’re engaged with their conversation.”

Nancy Pelosi to Jen Psaki: Issues with NBC News Reporting Why I Won’t Appear on Meet the Press

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Nancy Pelosi to Jen Psaki: Issues with NBC News Reporting Why I Won’t Appear on Meet the Press

A chorus of reports rang out over the weekend suggesting that President Joe Biden is considering stepping aside from the race for the White House. NBC News joined that group, going as far as to report that Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) has concerns about the viability of Biden. She told Jen Psaki she was angry at the suggestion.

While appearing on Psaki’s MSNBC show Inside, Nancy Pelosi told the former White House Press Secretary that she took umbrage with the insinuation that she was part of a group suggesting the President drop out of the race.

“We have informed NBC that that was not true. It couldn’t be further from the truth of anything. I’d been criticized for being so clear about Joe Biden and his decision about running for office. So that completely was not true. I don’t know where they got that. But I’ve had a problem with NBC News and their vibe and some of the things they put forth. It’s why you don’t see me on Meet the Press or any of those shows,” Pelosi told Jen Psaki.

“But the fact is, no, I never said that. And I don’t know that the other people they claim said that said that.”

A report from former Fox News host Bill O’Reilly claims Biden has determined that it is best if he steps away from the White House race. He added that the campaign was searching for an answer on when the best time to announce such a move would be, but that has not been confirmed as of yet.

Shannon Sharpe: I Think Skip Bayless and I ‘Will Sit Down and Have a Conversation’ in the Future

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Shannon Sharpe: I Think Skip Bayless and I ‘Will Sit Down and Have a Conversation’ in the Future

During a debate regarding then-Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady in December 2022, things grew heated between Undisputed co-hosts Skip Bayless and Shannon Sharpe on FS1. Sharpe had stated that Brady was not playing well and proceeded to call out Bayless for never criticizing the quarterback. In response to his statement, Bayless issued a personal criticism towards Sharpe by stating that Brady was a better NFL player than him and that he was jealous. As Sharpe tried to state that they were teammates and took off his glasses, Bayless told him to put them back on. The exchange quickly went viral on the internet and caused Sharpe’s phone to be inundated with messages from friends and family.

Reflecting back on the occurrence during a recent appearance on the Funky Friday podcast hosted by former NFL quarterback Cam Newton, Sharpe spoke about what happened with Bayless as the current iteration of the show was in its homestretch. In June of that year, Sharpe left Undisputed and FS1 after seven years, proceeding to sign with ESPN to make twice-weekly appearances on First Take and inking a partnership between his Shay Shay Media company and The Volume. While he appreciates Bayless for taking a chance on him as a former athlete even when FS1 wanted to hire a journalist to sit opposite him on the show, he believes a combination of things ultimately led to his departure.

“Maybe there’s some things I could have done differently,” Sharpe said. “Maybe I should have just had a conversation with Skip before it even got to that point, maybe said something differently, but I don’t know. It’s really hard to say.”

Sharpe discussed the nature of relationships and how they can begin to phase out after a prolonged stretch of time. Thinking about the sequence of what happened, he pondered over whether he had crossed the bridge on which he was supposed to travel for seven years and then recognized that it was about to collapse. Newton followed up by asking if it was the on-air argument during their debate about Brady that ultimately caused an escalation.

“See, if somebody else had to say what Skip said, I wouldn’t have batted an eye, but we’re supposed to be teammates, and I think that’s what hurt me more than anything,” Sharpe said. “My teammate, that’s what he thought of me.”

An aspect of the disappointment surrounding what Bayless said was in Sharpe always defending him in situations on the show. He explained that whenever people would come on the show and take shots at Bayless, he would remind them that it was not their show and that they would not be doing that. In retrospect, Sharpe believes that management could have handled the situation better as well.

“The only thing that I get upset about [is when] I hear people say, ‘Skip made you,’” Sharpe delineated. “Now had I not made it, what would you all have said? They wouldn’t have said Skip was the reason that I failed, so in other words when I’m successful, you give him all the credit and give me none of it, so if I’d have failed, you would have gave me all the blame and gave him none of it.”

Sharpe explained that one of the first things he hears when he meets with advertisers, sponsors or potential collaborators is that they are proud of how he handled the situation. As a former professional athlete, he knows how to compartmentalize and reminded himself after it happened that there was still an hour and 45 minutes of Undisputed to go. Sharpe remembers thinking to himself that he needed to act professional and that he would address things after the show.

“If somebody would have told me that he would have done that to me, I wouldn’t have believed it, but I appreciate it,” Sharpe said. “I think one day we’ll sit down and we’ll have a conversation. That hasn’t happened yet, but he and I will sit down and have a conversation because we did have seven great years, and what I will not allow is that the seven great years we had to be ruined by one moment, and that happens even in relationships.”

ESPN Chairman Jimmy Pitaro Reflects on the First Half of 2024

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ESPN Chairman Jimmy Pitaro Reflects on the First Half of 2024

It has been quite the first half of the year as far as sports media is concerned. And the second half of the year, when an NBA media rights package for beyond next season will be completed and Tom Brady will make his debut as an NFL analyst amongst many other things, promises to be just as wild. ESPN Chairman Jimmy Pitaro sent recap remarks and a video out about the year today, titled ‘ESPN 2024: Up Big at the Half,’ which said, in part:

“ESPN has had a tremendous first six months of 2024. As we officially head into the second half of the year, I wanted to share this video and a more detailed timeline which includes a sampling of our achievements at “halftime” of the calendar year.

“Whether it’s been the huge viewership successes across multiple sports and studio shows, the broad array of rights deals we’ve secured, our reach and engagement across digital and social platforms, content milestones like we’ve seen in women’s college and pro basketball, or marquee talent signings like Jason Kelce and Nick Saban, I could not be prouder of the team’s performance.

“Along with those high points, the first half of 2024 reinforced the effectiveness of our clear, go-forward strategy (including the timing for our Flagship DTC launch and an ESPN tile on Disney+). Initiatives like Venu Sports, the opening of ESPN BET’s first retail sportsbook and our Disney collaboration for NHL Big City Greens Classic 2 were all examples of how we’re smartly navigating a changing landscape.”

Pitaro then looked ahead and talked about what is on the horizon for the second half of the year.

“Coming up, we have Wimbledon, In the Arena: Serena Williams, The 2024 ESPYS, the WNBA Finals, MLB’s Home Run Derby, the US Open, Venu Sports’ forthcoming launch, Monday Night Football, the debut of our SEC on ABC package, plus new, innovative content and features across ESPN.com and ESPN Apps and more.”

The video mentions several of the major highlights ESPN has achieved in the first half of the year, such as January 1 being the 4th most-watched day in the network’s history and 31.8 million average viewers tuning in for an NFL playoff game, making it the most-watched NFL game ever on ESPN. The video also mentions the new eight-year media rights agreement with the NCAA, the joint sports streaming platform Venu with FOX and Warner Bros. Discovery, the College Football Playoff rights agreement through 2031-32, the success of the Women’s NCAA college basketball tournament, an extended deal with Omaha Productions, 2.3 million viewers on average tuning in for the Indiana Fever-Chicago Sky game and more.

Bill Spadea Wins Legal Challenge, Will Continue Hosting Mornings on New Jersey 101.5

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Bill Spadea Wins Legal Challenge, Will Continue Hosting Mornings on New Jersey 101.5

New Jersey 101.5 morning host Bill Spadea will be allowed to continue hosting the show despite launching a campaign to become the state’s next governor.

The New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission heard both sides of the argument that by allowing Spadea to continue to host his program, Townsquare Media — parent company of the station — was providing illegal campaign contributions that would exceed the maximum allowable donations according to state campaign finance law.

Spadea’s Republican party primary challengers argued the arrangement that would allow him to continue as host on the station was a clear violation.

However, the commission sided with Spadea and Townsquare Media, ruling the situation did not run afoul of any statutes.

“Like most New Jerseyans, I get up every morning and go to work to pay the bills and provide for my family,” Spadea said in a statement after the ruling. “The facts and law were clear and while this hearing never should have happened in the first place, ELEC ultimately ruled in our favor. I’d like to thank the Commission for reviewing this matter expeditiously and I look forward to joining my colleagues at NJ101.5.”

Bill Spadea concluded his statement by noting that “I’m proud to say I’m not going anywhere!” and will continue to host from 6-10 AM on New Jersey 101.5.

Understanding NBA Fantasy Scoring Systems

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Understanding NBA Fantasy Scoring Systems

Fantasy basketball enthusiasts and newcomers know that understanding the NBA fantasy scoring system is crucial for building a winning team.

Whether you are competing in a head-to-head league, a points-based league, or a category league, the scoring system influences every aspect of gameplay, from drafting players to making strategic trades and lineup adjustments.

Navigating the complexities of multiple formats and variations in scoring rules can be overwhelming. This blog aims to simplify the process by breaking down the different types of scoring systems in NBA fantasy leagues and providing insights and tips to help you dominate your league.

Points-Based Scoring

Points-based scoring is a fundamental system used in various fantasy sports leagues, including the hugely popular NBA Fantasy Sports. This scoring method is designed to simplify the fantasy gaming experience while maintaining a competitive edge for all participants.

In a points-based scoring system, each player’s performance is translated into fantasy points based on specific statistical categories. For instance, in NBA Fantasy Sports, points can be awarded for scoring points, grabbing rebounds, making assists, stealing the ball, and blocking shots.

Conversely, points might be deducted for turnovers or missed field goals. Every action on the court thus carries weight in the fantasy realm, making each game thrilling for participants.

The advantage of a points-based system is its straightforwardness. Instead of comparing heads or dealing with complex ratios, managers can see the direct output of their players’ performances as cumulative points.

This allows easier tracking and decision-making regarding trades, waiver wire pickups, or weekly lineups. Furthermore, it levels the playing field, giving seasoned veterans and newcomers an enjoyable and manageable fantasy sports experience.

Category-Based Scoring

Inspired by widely played American fantasy sports, the category-based scoring system provides a more engaging experience for participating coaches. Each week, teams compete directly against one another, aiming to outperform their rivals across various statistical categories. The team that excels in most categories emerges victorious in the match.

Much like the point-scoring method, players chosen for each team’s starting lineup accumulate stats based on their actual AFL performances every weekend.

These statistics are then aggregated across various scoring categories and compared to the opponents’ totals to identify the highest score. The team that outperforms their opponent in more categories is declared the winner of the match.

Head-to-Head Scoring

NBA fantasy sports have grown in popularity, attracting fans who want to test their managerial skills by creating and managing their basketball teams.

One of the most popular formats within NBA fantasy leagues is head-to-head scoring. In a head-to-head scoring system, each team in the league matches up directly against another team every week. Instead of accumulating season-long stats, victories are determined by who performs better in selected categories over the week.

Categories often include points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks. The team that wins most of these categories wins for the week.

Dynasty and Keeper Leagues Scoring

NBA Fantasy Sports have surged in popularity, and for many enthusiasts, Dynasty and Keeper Leagues represent the pinnacle of strategic competition. Unlike traditional redraft leagues, Dynasty and Keeper Leagues offer a deeper level of engagement that spans multiple seasons, allowing managers to build and maintain their teams with a long-term perspective.

In a Dynasty League, managers retain their entire roster from year to year, simulating the real-world management experience of an NBA general manager. This format rewards those who excel in scouting young talent and making shrewd trades.

Draft choices become incredibly valuable assets, as selecting a future star can transform your team for years. Scoring in Dynasty Leagues typically mirrors traditional formats, but the importance of sustainable success often outweighs the pursuit of short-term points.

Keeper Leagues strike a balance between the excitement of redraft leagues and the depth of Dynasty Leagues. Managers can keep a predetermined number of players from their roster each season while releasing the rest back into the player pool for the next draft.

This hybrid model maintains continuity while keeping the annual draft relevant and exciting. Scoring in Keeper Leagues can be standard points or category-based, but the unique twist lies in the strategic decisions around which players to retain for future success.

Custom Scoring Systems

Fantasy basketball has taken the excitement of the NBA to another level, allowing fans to engage more deeply with the sport by managing their teams and competing against others.

The scoring system used is a key factor that can greatly influence the game experience. Custom scoring systems, in particular, have garnered attention for their ability to tailor the fantasy experience to the preferences and expertise of the participants.

Custom scoring systems allow fantasy league managers to adjust how points are allocated for various statistical categories.

Unlike standard scoring systems, which are often rigid and may not reflect all participants’ specific interests or strategies, custom systems offer flexibility and personalization. This adaptability can make the league more competitive and enjoyable by aligning the scoring with the participants’ insights and understanding of the game.

Conclusion

Understanding your league’s scoring system is quintessential in building a strategy that maximizes your team’s potential. Whether you prefer the straightforward nature of points-based scoring or the complex strategy of category leagues, mastering the system gives you an edge in the competitive world of NBA fantasy basketball.

Former 700 WLW Host Jim Scott Dies

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Former 700 WLW Host Jim Scott Dies

Longtime 700 WLW morning show host Jim Scott has died at the age of 81 after a battle with ALS.

“The grace with which he met and endured the indignities of ALS was astounding and inspiring. So very Jim,” his wife, Donna, wrote in a post to social media announcing his passing. “With his graciousness and thoughtfulness and gratitude, he continued to spark joy in everyone he met.”

Scott retired from the Cincinnati news/talk station in 2015 after spending nearly 50 years in the format, including 31 at the iHeartMedia-owned outlet.

In addition to his work at WLW, he also worked at stations like WSAI and WINK-FM in Cincinnati, while also spending a brief stint on WNBC between Don Imus and Howard Stern.

700 WLW shared a post to social media alerting followers to his death. Many took the opportunity to share their admiration and memories for the longtime radio stalwart, including several colleagues who worked with him at the Cincinnati station.

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