Longtime radio play-by-play announcer Pat Hughes has been named to the Cubs Hall of Fame.
During Wednesday’s game against the St. Louis Cardinals, Cubs President of Business Operations Crane Kenney stopped in the radio booth to discuss the 2022 Cubs Hall of Fame class. He told Hughes that Pearl Jam front-man Eddie Vedder had already informed Jose Cardenal that he would be inducted before giving Hughes a sheet of paper to “talk about the other inductee”.
“I think it says this is me going into the Hall of Fame?”, Hughes said with a smile.
The 67-year-old has been with the Cubs since 1996. He has announced 57 postseason games for the club, more than any other broadcaster in franchise history. He has also announced four Cubs no-hitters, and famously announced the 2016 World Series victory, the club’s first since 1908.
NRG Media Omaha and Creighton University have announced a three-year extension to keep NRG stations the flagship home of Bluejays athletics.
1620 The Zone and 101.9 The Keg will have exclusive rights to Creighton men’s basketball. John Bishop will remain the play-by-play voice.
“NRG has been a tremendous partner with Creighton Athletics and we are thrilled to continue this deal,” said Athletic Director Marcus Blossom. “We truly value the long-term relationship we have had with NRG and look forward to the expansion of coverage with additional sports on NRG’s radio stations. Also, having all of our men’s basketball games now available on 101.9 FM expands the radio footprint in Omaha for our fans.”
Creighton baseball home games, women’s basketball, volleyball, and women’s soccer will air on either 1180 The Zone or News Talk 1290 KOIl. Men’s soccer will air on La Nueva 1020 AM/99.5 FM.
“We are extremely excited to continue our partnership with Creighton University and the Athletic Department. Creighton is an amazing university with a great athletic program, and we are thrilled to be associated with the University. We truly look forward to growing our partnership in the coming years,” Market Manager of NRG Radio Omaha Mark Shecterle said.
WIBC Radio host Tony Katz is calling on CNN to get back to its roots as a news outlet after the network canceled “Reliable Sources” and dismissed its host, Brian Stelter.
During his show Tuesday, Katz said that he’s curious about what’s next for CNN following Discovery’s takeover and the appointment of Chris Licht as its new CEO.
“The housecleaning is not done,” said Katz. “Stelter was only there because Jeff Zucker wanted him there. Maybe because he just needed somebody he thought resembled him. Whatever he saw in Stelter, that’s the reason he (Stelter) had a career or any power.”
Katz said the feedback and the ratings from “Reliable Sources” make it obvious that the show did not offer “anything of intellectual prowess.”
“I don’t argue that some show on Sundays was going to be the juggernaut for the network,” he said. “I argue that as a host he (Stelter) made no effort and he had far less talent than anybody gave him credit for.”
Katz remarked that he’s glad that “Reliable Sources” is gone if it means that CNN is going to get back to the news business.
“That doesn’t mean that they should avoid the opinion business,” added Katz. “I’m not asking them to avoid the opinion business. I’m asking them to do things in a way that’s smart, that is valuable, that reaches an audience, and wants an audience to engage.”
A pair of Fox News personalities are questioning how a story as big as the raid on former President Donald Trump’s home was kept out of the media for several hours.
Fox Radio host Brian Kilmeade discussed the story with his colleague Martha MacCallum on his syndicated radio show Wednesday.
“The Story” host said media outlets did not report the story until 12 hours after it happened.
“I don’t know of a larger story that was kept under wraps for more hours than that story,” MacCallum said. “People go by that house all the time; it’s sort of a tourist destination; I was amazed actually that they kept that under wraps.”
Kilmeade pointed out that Trump was the one who broke the news using TRUTH Social.
“No police officer tipped off the media with video in Palm Beach,” added MacCallum.
Kilmeade joked with MacCallum that they should think twice about renewing Mar-a-Lago memberships.
Kilmeade is the co-host of FOX News Channel’s FOX & Friends alongside Steve Doocy and Ainsley Earhardt and the host of One Nation with Brian Kilmeade (Saturdays 8-9). Kilmeade’s radio show is heard on Fox News Radio at 9 a.m. Eastern on FoxNewsTalk.com.
We’ve seen and heard a lot of exciting moments in baseball this season. Milestones, no-hitters, triple plays, walk-offs and more. Broadcasters live for these opportunities, to call big events and have your call be a part of history. That comes with some pressure as well. There are no re-dos. It’s live and once your call is out there, it lives on forever. How each person handles these situations is as unique as the moments themselves. You really can’t prepare for things like a triple play or even a no-no. Being in the moment is critical. Baseball broadcasters experience this every single game. You never know what you might see and that’s the beauty of baseball.
Every season provides fans with excitement, even if their particular team isn’t very good. I went back to watch/listen to a few of those special things that have taken place so far in 2022. I have provided you with the text of the calls and I’ll offer my thoughts on why I picked that call. I know there are a bunch of others that I may have left out, so just enjoy what I chose. With a little over a month to go in the season, I’m sure there are many more crazy and great moments to come. Here we go!
MIGUEL CABRERA 3,000th HIT
A sure fire, first ballot hall of famer Miguel Cabrera was in line to join a rather exclusive club in baseball history, the 3000-hit club this season. He did it at Comerica Park and really enjoyed the big moment in his career. Longtime radio play-by-play man Dan Dickerson had the call on Tigers Radio.
‘The 1-1, ground ball, base hit into right! 3,000 for Miguel Cabrera! Raises his arms, Iglesias is the first to hug him, the Tigers dugout empties as they charge over to first base. And let the hug dispensing begin. Oh, what an incredible journey. From a skinny 15-year-old discovered on the dusty fields of Maracay, to an icon in Motown. Miguel Cabrera the pride of Venezuela has joined one of the most exclusive clubs, containing the best hitters in baseball history, 3-thousand hits.’
This call has it all. The excitement of the enormity of the milestone is captured at the beginning of the call. The description of the aftermath is great as well. Pointing out how his former teammate was the first to get to him and hug Cabrera. What I really liked was the history lesson from Dickerson talking about Cabrera’s journey to where he is. It shows me how in tune he is with the team that he broadcasts. Dickerson caps it off with the most important aspect of the play, just how exclusive the club Cabrera just joined is.
PIRATES WIN DESPITE BEING NO HIT
In one of the more improbable wins of the year. The Pittsburgh Pirates scored a run in the 8th inning of a scoreless game with the Reds, without benefit of a hit. In fact, the Pirates took their 1-0 lead into the 9th, while being no-hit in the game. The final Reds batter had a count of 3-2 with two outs. Greg Brown along with Bob Walk have the final call of this crazy game.
Brown: Ground ball right side, sliding stop, on to first, RAISE THE JOLLY ROGER! And history, the Pirates are no-hit, but win the game!
Bob Walk: Out of this world, I mean it’s crazy…
Brown: Such a cliché, you never what you’re gonna see, but so true. What a great win.
Walk: Not a single batter is happy on either side, pitching staff is happy of course. Oh my word, what an incredible game.
It was at that time the crew flashed on the screen that the Pirates were just the 6th team in MLB history to win a game in which they were no-hit. This call proved that cliché Brown spoke of. I mean who could ever imagine going to a game, watching your team get no-hit and somehow still win the game? Brown and Walk echoed that surprise and shock perfectly. They were almost laughing at the improbability. Brown talked about the history of the moment, which had only been equaled 5 other times. I loved that Walk added the line about the hitters being upset and the pitchers loving the game. This was a great call to end a very strange game indeed.
REID DETMERS NO-HITTER
On May 10, 2022, Angels rookie left-hander Reid Detmers threw a no-hitter in a 12-0 win over Tampa Bay. The 22-year-old was the youngest to twirl a no-no since Anibal Sanchez in 2006 for the Marlins. With one out to go, Patrick O’Neal and Mark Gubicza took over to describe the final at-bat.
O’Neal: Ground ball, Velasquez, throws across…HE’S DONE IT! Reid Detmers throws a no-hitter! (They lay out for 1:04 while the pictures and sounds take over) Truly incredible amazing Mark…
Gubicza: Knowing the kid, great kid, a battler, what stuff, what a moment, something he will remember for the rest of his life. (He continues as a replay is shown of the final out, focused on the pitcher) Ground ball, great curveball, the anticipation, the throw and YES! No-No time for Reid Detmers!
A great and simple call to frame the moment in Anaheim. O’Neal was economical with his words and as I’ve said many, many times before, I love that they ‘laid out’ to allow the pictures and sounds just take over. The images were compelling enough, so were the sounds of the crowd and teammates mobbing the young pitcher after what he accomplished. Gubicza sounded like a proud papa. As a former big-league pitcher, he could relate to the pressure and just how rare the no-hitter is. I was struck though with the personal nature of Gubicza’s commentary, he was genuinely touched by what the kid accomplished. It wasn’t over the top, it was just right.
JOSH NAYLOR’S WALK-OFF HOME RUN
The Cleveland Guardians are right in the middle of a playoff run. Every game, especially those against a division foe like Minnesota, are important. Some announcers just have an uncanny ability to rise to the occasion. Count Tom Hamilton of Guardians Radio among the best to be able to do it. Case in point, Josh Naylor’s walk-off home run against the Twins.
‘Two out, 2-2 count, runner at third, bottom of the tenth, here it comes…a swing and a fly ball, deep left field, down the line it goes, Gordon in the corner, GONE!!!!! A walk off 2-run home run by Josh Naylor, down the left field line, it’s a game winner, and a mob scene at home plate! And the Guardians have stunned the Twins again! 4 runs in the bottom of the tenth, and Cleveland has beaten Minnesota 7-6 in 10 innings. Unbelievable. Down to their last strike and Naylor head butting Tito who had a batting helmet on.’
Hamilton does it brilliantly, as always. Emotion, excitement, description, yet controlled. It’s not easy to accomplish but Hamilton does it. I love the fact that he was paying attention to the celebration on the field. If he wasn’t, he’d have missed, Naylor in his excitement, actually did head butt manager Terry Francona. Tito must have been expecting it, because he was in fact wearing a batting helmet. Talk about having command of a situation, he made it sound like a walk in the park. Easy, in other words!
JOE MUSGROVE NO HITTER
This is one where you’d have to forgive the announcer for ‘losing it’, not that Don Orsillo lost it, but it was close. The Padres were the only franchise in baseball left, without a no-hitter to its credit. That was before a fateful night in Arlington, Texas. Where a kid from San Diego erased all of that with one tremendous outing. Here’s Orsillo’s description of the final out.
‘One out away. The Friar Faithful stand as one in Texas. Ground ball to shortstop, Kim will go to first…the SAN DIEGO PADRES GET THEIR FIRST NO-HITTER IN THE HISTORY OF THE FRANCHISE! IT BELONGS TO SAN DIEGO’S OWN, JOE MUSGROVE! SENDING THE FRIAR FAITHFUL INTO A FRENSY!’
You could just hear the years of frustration melt away with this succinct and very effective call. Orsillo was the voice of a fan base that had never experienced the highs of this type of moment. Could the story have been written any better? The alliteration Orsillo chose really worked. Padres’ fans have always been told to keep the faith, thus the Friar Faithful moniker. Orsillo didn’t have to say much, but he conveyed a lot of emotion into the few words he needed to describe the craziness of that instance. Some would try way too hard in a moment like that, but not a pro like Orsillo. Well done.
These are just a few examples of how special, unique and monumental moments are handled by the true pros that call Major League Baseball. People tend to remember these instances through these memorable calls. They live on long after they’ve taken place thanks to the emotions these memories elicit. And thanks to the connection formed between the announcer and the fans.
The rapidly-changing landscape of college athletics has seen a large shift in how student-athletes can monetize their name, image and likeness. With so much in flux, it helps to have a place to get information and analysis. That’s where the Rosters to Riches podcast comes in.
???? NEW PODCAST EPISODE ????
Former #LSU Basketball Coach Will Wade talks NIL and what’s next for him
In partnership with Drop Biscuit studios and hosted by Matt Moscona and Jonathan Pixley, VP of Athletic Operations for Matchpoint Connection, the podcast explores the the brand new and rapidly changing world of Name, Image & Likeness (NIL) marketing in college sports.
Rice, who most recently was calling Tennessee softball games and served as a fill-in for Mickey Dearstone on two Tennessee women’s hoops broadcasts in 2020, will handle radio play-by-play duties.
“All of us in the Lady Vol program extend a warm welcome to Brian and look forward to working alongside him,” Tennessee Women’s Basketball Head Coach Kellie Harper said. “He is so passionate about the university and the athletics department, and his combination of love and respect for Lady Vol basketball is abundantly clear. Brian built his broadcast reputation calling Lady Vol Softball and other events, and I look forward to him utilizing his talents, experience and platform to share Lady Vol basketball’s story as well.”
Rice becomes just the third person to hold the role on a full-time basis, Rice joins the Lady Vol Network after Dearstone announced his retirement in the spring of 2022 following 23 seasons behind the microphone.
“Brian has done a fantastic job on the radio with Tennessee softball for many years and filling in for Mickey on some Lady Vols basketball games in the past,” Vol Network General Manager Steve Early said. “His background, experience and knowledge has uniquely prepared him for this very prestigious next role, and it is very apparent how much devotion and passion he has for the University of Tennessee and Lady Vols basketball.”
“I am honored to be chosen to represent the most powerful brand in women’s college athletics in Tennessee Lady Vol basketball,” Rice said. “I am incredibly excited to get started and share the stories of our student-athletes while painting a picture of the action for our loyal fans on the Lady Vol Radio Network.
Burke Magnus is the President of Programming & Original Content at ESPN and when he agreed to talk about some of the decision making behind some of ESPN’s recent media deals, it was going to be a fascinating listen.
Magnus appeared on The Marchand and Ourand Sports Media Podcast and did exactly that. John Ourand and Andrew Marchand peppered the ESPN executive on several recent newsworthy items including the network’s decision to not enter a new media rights deal with the Big Ten conference after this season.
Magnus mentioned that in the negotiations between the network and the conference really hinged on the price of what was being asked versus the inventory the network would receive and the two never really matched.
“What happened here was we were being offered half the number of games we currently have, lower selection priorities and essentially double the price,” said Magnus. “It really came down to what the component parts were of the big ten deal on offer and knowing that we had the SEC already in the house. The ACC already in the house. By the way two more years of Pac-12. Three more years of Big 12. The CFP for 4 more years.”
Magnus also said that even though the two sides couldn’t come to a deal, it was the right choice for ESPN.
“What we needed to get at the price that we needed to get it at, neither of those things were available to us,” Magnus said on The Marchand and Ourand Podcast. “As difficult as it was to go separate directions, it was the right decision for our company, there’s no doubt about that. We’re going to continue to be heavily invested in college sports. Nothing is forever in the rights-buying business. So you’ve got to be somewhat dispassionate about, and stick to your process, if you will. But it was hard. It was hard decision, but I think it was the right decision for us because of what was on offer for us to buy, which was not what we were hoping for.”
Magnus also wanted to dispel the rumors that ESPN has been behind the some of the recent conference realignment. He said he was surprised the Big Ten invited UCLA and USC because the Big Ten is “the Midwest” but he understood it.
“We don’t get involved until it happens. If conference X and says we’ve extended invitations to these two institutions, there are in every contract, we have usually very specific provisions about how a negotiation would then commence.”
“But it’s after the fact,” Magnus reiterated. “It’s not before. We don’t sit there and ever ‘hey you should do this school instead of that school and here’s why’. But downstream it’s our job to asses market value for institutions that are coming… I know people out there are looking for smoking guns and suspect involvement on the front end. But trust me when I tell you my day is full enough.”
When Mike Felger is tired of your argument, he isn’t shy about saying so. On his show, Felger and Mazz on 98.5 the Sports Hub in Boston, Felger had reached his limit with one caller’s point.
“I have to get this off my chest because I can’t stand it anymore.”
Felger then began speaking directly to caller Ernie to try and explain, again the situation. When Ernie wouldn’t stop interrupting Felger, it sent him to another level of frustration.
“Ernie, listen to me. If Brady didn’t want to be here – stop talking for a minute. Stop talking! Stop. If Brady didn’t – Ernie! I just hung up on you. Listen!”
“He asked for contract extensions every year. EVERY YEAR!… Why did he keep asking for contract extensions? WHY? Because he was going to be here!… He wanted to finish his career here.”
Felger then asked aloud why he kept having to tell people that the Patriots wanted to move on from Brady and not the other way around.
“How many times do we get that? ‘Yeah, he left because of DeflateGate.’
“Then why’d he ask for two (years) and fifty (million)?”
“You think he wanted to be here for the rebuild?” Felger mockingly asked himself.
“Why’d he ask for two and fifty?”
“He wanted to leave because Bill (Belichick) was mean to his trainer.”
