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Dan Patrick Says He Will Retire After 2027

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In 2027, Dan Patrick will be 70 years old. He also says that is when he will have had enough of sports talk radio. On FOX Sports Radio Wednesday, he told his crew that he intends to retire at the end of 2027.

Producer Marvin Prince admitted that he did not initially believe Patrick had a true end date.

“That’s when the microphone gets turned off for the final time. I’m going to take my hairpiece and I’m going to give it to Fritzy,” Patrick said.

He also joked that by 2028, he will be the star of a reality show called The Golden Bachelor.

A caller named Pete weighed in begging Patrick to “say it ain’t so.” The host would not be moved.

“It’s a young man’s game,” he said. “Like, I’m the oldest guy doing this. And I enjoyed doing it. But by the end of 2027, that’ll be it. It’ll be it, you have my word. So plan accordingly.”

Dan Patrick has been on national sports talk radio since 1999, first at ESPN Radio and now at FOX Sports Radio. He was inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame last year. While many know him as one of, if not the most popular anchors in the history of SportsCenter, he has said in the past that the success of his current radio show is what means the most to him.

Even after stepping away from the business, Patrick will still play a pivotal role in its future. He remains the namesake of the Dan Patrick School of Sportscasting at Full Sail University just outside of Orlando.

Tim Wenger Promoted to VP/Market Manager of Audacy Buffalo

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Audacy has announced it has elevated Tim Wenger to Senior Vice President and Market Manager of its Buffalo cluster.

In addition to his current oversight of news/talk WBEN, Wenger will now be in charge of sports station 550 WGR, sports betting station The Bet Buffalo, R&B 107.3 FM, Kiss 98.5, and 107.7/104.7 The Wolf.

“As a lifelong Buffalonian, it’s surreal to be assuming the leadership role for Audacy Buffalo’s group of stations,” said Wenger. “The unique content and personalities on the brands, combined with strong client and sports play-by-play partnerships, positions Audacy for growth and success in Buffalo.”

Wenger’s promotion comes after the recent announcement that current Senior Vice President and Market Manager Tim Holly would be retiring.

Wenger joined WBEN in 1986 as a news reporter and anchor, before ascending to the role of News Director. He became the station’s program director in 1998 before becoming Operations Manager for WBEN, 550 WGR, and WWKB (The Bet Buffalo) in 2000. He also currently serves as the News/Talk Format Vice President for Audacy. Wenger was recently inducted into the Buffalo Broadcasters Hall of Fame.

“It gives me great pleasure to announce the promotion of Tim Wenger to Senior Vice President and Market Manager of Audacy Buffalo,” said Audacy Regional President Mark Hannon. “Tim has been a leading presence in our building for nearly 40 years, and it seems only fitting that he now takes over the reins of the market. He has intimate knowledge of our local brands, and I can think of no one better to pick up the mantle from Tim Holly and lead us into the future.

Greg Kelly: ‘Graveyard Shifts Are Especially Tough for Women in Television’

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The New York news media is mourning the loss of longtime CBS New York meteorologist Elise Finch, who died unexpectedly earlier this week. Newsmax host Greg Kelly believes Finch’s death is the latest in a trend of unfortunate situations.

While dedicating his Tuesday program to Finch’s memory, Kelly mentioned that two other New York television personalities — NBC’s Katherine Creag and ABC’s Lisa Colagrossi — have died in the past few years after working the “graveyard shift”.

“Graveyard shifts are tough for everybody, but I think especially for women in television,” Kelly said. “It’s kind of a veneer of glamor, but it’s not really. The pay is not what you think it is for some of these roles in the early, early morning.”

A cause of death for Finch has not been released. The 51-year-old died Sunday and her death was labeled as “sudden and unexpected” by CBS New York.

Kelly added that “showing up at 2:30 in the morning” and “going to far-flung parts of the city” are occupational hazards television reporters face.

WGN Radio Selling Portion of Transmitter Site for Development, Pickleball Courts

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WGN Radio is seeing its 102-acre transmitter site annexed into of Elk Grove Village, Illinois, and will sell part of the land to be used for development, as well as pickleball courts.

According to a report from The Daily Herald, a 16-page agreement between the village and Nexstar Media Groups will see the company sell 35 acres on the southern portion of the property to make room for a “three-building data center campus and ancillary electrical substation” as well as “six public pickleball courts to be leased to the Elk Grove Park District”.

The report also claims WGN Radio will demolish its current 750-foot tower and its 250-foot backup tower and relocate them slightly to the north to make room for the new development.

Nexstar will be responsible for the creation of the pickleball courts, in addition to a 15-space parking lot and restroom facility.

The site has been home to the WGN Radio transmitter since 1939.

Bob Iger: ‘I’m Ridiculously Passionate About News’

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Days after eyebrow-raising comments, Disney CEO Bob Iger is reassuring his deputies — especially at ABC and ABC News — about their status with the company.

Reporting for his Reliable Sources newsletter, CNN media reporter Oliver Darcy claimed Iger held an off-site meeting with executives to assuage fears about a potential sale of ABC and other linear television networks.

During this meeting, according to Darcy, Iger reaffirmed his admiration for news coverage and his commitment to ABC News.

“I’m ridiculously passionate about news,” Iger reportedly said. “It’s important to this company. We need to figure out how it makes the transition into streaming. And I happen to believe we will endure. It’s too good, it’s too important, and it’s really fun.”

However, a Disney source told Darcy they are taking Iger’s words with a grain of salt.

“It’s great to say he loves the jewel. It’s great to say that the jewel is important. It’s great to say that the jewel is fun. But he has revealed the truth: he wants to get the highest price he can for the jewel because he can’t afford it anymore.”

Corby Davidson: Dan McDowell & Jake Kemp Aren’t Done at The Ticket Yet

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What does the future hold for The Hang Zone? That is still unclear, but on Wednesday, Corby Davidson went on the air at The Ticket in Dallas to discuss the radio station’s situation with Dan McDowell and Jake Kemp.

His message to the audience is that the duo’s time at the station is not over. The station is said to be trying to work things out with the midday team. 

“When it’s resolved, we’ll say as much as we possibly can about it, including Dan and Jake,” he said. “But please be patient here. The people that ran with the story, I get it. I understand that. But this is something that’s ongoing.”

Earlier this week, McDowell and Kemp submitted their resignations to Cumulus Dallas. SVP and Market Manager Dan Bennett told his staff in an email that the two sides were unable to come to terms on a new contract. McDowell and Kemp’s interest in being able to do digital projects outside of Cumulus was a particular sticking point.

Davidson compared the situation to a player holding out to get the financial terms they want. He made it clear that everyone at The Ticket wants McDowell and Kemp back on the air.

“We’re in contact with them constantly. And look, we love them. We want them here WAY MORE THAN YOU. I don’t know how to quantify that. Way more than you, we want these guys here.”

Davidson apologized to the listeners. He said that he hates that the negotiations are effecting the on-air product, but The Ticket staff is stepping up. He concluded with a personal message.

“For me personally, just how much this place means to me and how much those guys mean to me, it’s a lot. It’s a lot that we’ve all been going through. And we want it to work out. Trust me.”

For their part, The Hang Zone hosts have largely been silent on social media since the news broke.

Richard Deitsch Clarifies: Scott Van Pelt Not New Host of Monday Night Countdown

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Longtime Monday Night Countdown host Suzy Kolber was let go in the most recent round of ESPN layoffs. The network is looking for a new host for the show. Richard Deitsch sent the sports media world into a tizzy on Wednesday when he reported that the network had tapped Scott Van Pelt for the job. However, it appears The Athletic reporter jumped the gun.

“Scott Van Pelt will be getting the Monday Night Football Countdown job, via multiple sources,” he initially tweeted. “As @AndrewMarchand reported: It was he and Laura Rutledge who were up for it but I’m told that decision has been made and all parties know. It’s Van Pelt.”

Deitsch’s wording did make the news sound definitive, but he was back on Twitter nearly two hours later to clarify.

“UPDATE: I want to be clearer on this tweet for accuracy. ESPN management wants Scott Van Pelt for this job. He is their choice right now from everything I understand. But he would still have to of course accept the job and there are things to work out there. So to declare it is done today is premature. Is it heading that way? Yes, based on sourcing. I’ll try to be clearer on future tweets on this topic for sure.”

Along with Kolber, Steve Young was also part of the ESPN layoffs last month. Booger McFarland, Robert Griffin III, and Adam Schefter remain on Monday Night Countdown.

David Haugh: Cubs Fans Gave Pat Hughes ‘Real Cool’ Sendoff to Hall of Fame

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Pat Hughes is on the way to Cooperstown, N.Y. to receive the Ford C. Frick Award and be enshrined in the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Hughes has been the radio voice of the Cubs.

670 The Score serves as the flagship radio home of Chicago Cubs baseball, and its hosts have discussed the impact Hughes has had on baseball broadcasting. The station will be airing a documentary special this Friday night titled Pat’s Call to the Hall, which features interviews with Bob Uecker, Jon Miller and Bob Costas among others. Listeners can find the special on the air from 6 to 9 p.m. CST or on the Audacy app.

Last night, the Cubs routed the Washington Nationals by a final score of 17-3, an offensive explosion for a team trying to claw its way back into the playoff picture. Yet the most memorable moment of the night might have taken place between innings when the team spotlighted Hughes in his final home game before receiving the sport’s ultimate broadcasting honor.

“It was real cool last night to see the crowd at Wrigley Field acknowledge Pat in his last game before heading out to Cooperstown for the big weekend,” David Haugh said Wednesday morning on 670 The Score. “It will be memorable, it will be special and Pat will give a terrific speech, I’m sure, when he is as gracious as ever in accepting the award.”

When Hughes received the call informing him that he had won the award, he was somewhat incredulous but incredibly humbled. As he makes the trip to upstate New York to savor baseball glory, he will keep the Chicago Cubs and its fans affixed in the front of his mind. Baseball fans in the city of Chicago and 670 The Score will be watching as Hughes accepts the award and joins the esteemed list of Ford C. Frick Award winners.

The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum’s induction ceremony will be televised this Sunday, July 23 at 1:30 p.m. EST/10:30 a.m. PST exclusively on MLB Network. Other inductees within the Hall of Fame Class of 2023 include Fred McGriff and Scott Rolen, and there will be a litany of returning inductees on hand for the festivities.

Jim Rome Signs With Range Sports

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Jim Rome has a new agency that will be representing him in all aspects of his media career. The legendary sports talker is now part of the Range Sports roster.

Rome is seeking to expand his media footprint and intends to add more TV, radio and podcasting properties to his plate. He also has his eye on creating film projects according to Variety.

Will Funk runs Range Sports as a division of Range Media Partners. The sports brand’s goal is to leverage intellectual property owned by its clients into projects for Range Media Partners’ production unit.

Currently, Jim Rome hosts his daily radio show for CBS Sports Radio and his podcast The Reinvention Project. He has a long history in television as well and could use relationships with athletes, coaches, and other members of the media to create content for Range.

The new deal does not effect Rome’s other representation. He continues to work with attorney Dave Feldman at Brecheen Feldman Breimer Silver & Thompson and Kraig Kitchin will continue to serve as the Radio Hall of Famer’s business manager.

WWE’s Megan Morant Discusses Donating Kidney to Boss’s Wife

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WWE personality Megan Morant recently entered a new role with the promotion as the host of various digital and international shows. One day while working on Friday Night Smackdown, she remembers having a conversation with a co-worker who told her that his kidneys were functioning at a 5% capability. Morant felt compelled to help and after researching the process, decided to test to see if she was a match, but unfortunately was not.

A few weeks later in a group chat with former co-workers at the New England Patriots, the topic of kidney stones came up and Morant shared that she had recently been tested. In a somewhat sarcastic manner, she said that if anyone needed a kidney to let her know, which prompted her former boss saying that he would take the kidney. After finding out that he was serious and that it was for his wife, Morant decided to oblige.

Akin to the previous situation, Morant was not a match; however, a chain process gave her the ability to donate her kidney to an anonymous recipient and her former boss’ wife to receive the type she needed. Morant recently underwent the procedure at Massachusetts General Hospital and shared an update on her status. In Instagram posts, she divulged that everything was successful and that she was slowly walking laps around the hospital floor. After returning home from the hospital this week, Morant discovered that her kidney had made it to the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) where the recipient was doing well.

In an interview with Steve Fall on Ten Count, Morant shared the story and discussed the process of the donation. The entire experience was transformative for her, and she ended up being discharged from the hospital after just one night.

“I feel really good,” Morant said. “I’m very lucky. When I found out about all this after I did reading about it, I found out I was really the perfect candidate to do this. I’m young; I’m healthy [and] in shape; I run marathons. I said, ‘Listen, I could do this and bounce back,’ and the two questions I had for the doctors were, ‘Can I have kids?’ and ‘Can I run marathons?,’ and the answers to both of those were, ‘Yes.’”

As for her former boss’ wife, she is eagerly awaiting the arrival of a matching kidney to undergo the transplant. The entire process would have been considerably more difficult had it not been for the courage of Morant, who expects to be back on WWE broadcasts next week.

“She doesn’t have it yet, but we’re hoping hopefully by the end of summer,” Morant said. “They say up to six months, but we’re keeping our fingers crossed that it will be sooner.”