Local Sports Talk Radio in Smaller Cities

I'm sure that the vast majority of sports fans in the U.S. have at at one time or another listened to sports talk radio on some level.. Obviously, the large metropolitan cities have it and will talk about their major professional sports teams. The hosts will make analyses of each team and urge listeners to call in to voice opinions. Being listener driven, sports talk has become a major success.

But what about cities that have no major professional sports team for miles around? How does sports talk radio become successful? Sure, these smaller locales may have minor league teams in the area, but they also have local high schools and college sports to help keep conversations alive. In this segment, I am going to touch on a successful sports talk radio station based in Portland, Maine that reaches Bangor to the north, eastern Vermont west, and northern Massachusetts south.

Welcome to The Big Jab, WJAB, 96.3 FM on the radio dial and it's sister station at 1440 AM. From Monday through Friday mornings, It's two local celebrities, Dave “Shoe” Schumacher and Joe Palmieri, hosting the show from 6 to10 AM and a different local host, Chris Sedenka, afternoons from 3 to 7 PM (During baseball season, pre-empted by Boston Red Sox Baseball). These hosts talk not only about Boston sports clubs, but do a good deal of local high school sports when in season. Hosts interview local coaches for team insights. Also interviewed while in season are the head coaches of the University of Maine football and hockey teams, as well as the American Hockey League's Portland Pirates head coach. I have listened to many of these interviews and I find most are well done.

There are also locally hosted weekend shows that cover the same subjects as the weekday programs do.

Also on The Big Jab are interviews with experts that follow local sports to gain insight of the happenings around the state of Maine. A great way to get your fix of high school sports! Also covered is auto racing with a show named “In The Pits” done Friday mornings from 9 AM to 10 AM.

The Big Jab 's Website has tabs for audio clips, pictures, and blogs for audience indulgence. One particular clip is that of sportscasting legend Dick Enberg on his theatrical play of college hoops legendary coach and TV analyst Al McGuire aptly named “McGuire.

There are blogs for local sports as well. One in particular is the Central Maine Sports Blog written by Matt Boutwell … a good read.

WJAB is quite successful for a small media market. The hosts are very knowledgeable and often amusing. The call in audience is quite knowledgeable , with the notable exception of one named “Erroneous Eric”. Give it a listen some day on the stream!

Send email to dlafrance2@207me.com

Mr. Watson , I Presume

I would like to welcome all to my first My Thoughts on the World of Sports blog. I originally had a different subject in mind, but this story is one of historical content. I will write about the 138th Open Championship (British Open) at Turnberry and the one compelling story of this Open, Mr. Tom Watson.

Tom Watson, age 59, challenged for the Open title this past weekend, turning back the hands of time with precision and accuracy and the magical putting touch that has define a fabulous career. His demeanor during his practice session on Sunday showed no signs of nervousness --- he did his stretches and hit balls as usual.

About five minutes before his tee time, the television camera was on Watson and his wife Linda in a brief conversation. Just as they were finishing, Linda gave Tom a nice little kiss for good luck. As he worked his way to tee #1, he received a loud ovation, one worthy of a five time Open champion.

As the leader, Watson was the last tee off, finding the center of the fairway with an iron, without any hint of anxiousness. Playing partner Matthew Goggin of Australia, hit his tee shot just in the left rough. Tom's approach was a poor iron shot landing in the left bunker. A sign of nerves perhaps? His shot from the bunker. His putt of about 7 feet was short right and suddenly he dropped from the lead as Englishman Ross Fisher birdied #1 in the group ahead to go to 4-under, with Watson at 3-under.

Watson's nerve would be tested immediately as Fisher holed an improbable pitch in from the left of the 2nd green to move to 5 -under and a two shot lead. Tom steadied himself with a par to remain two back.

The remainder of Tom's front nine was rather squirrelly … bogeys on holes 3 and 9 with a lone birdie on the easy par 5 seventh. Meanwhile, Lee Westwood forged the lead at 4-under which included a spectacular eagle 3 on the seventh for a 2 shot lead at 4-under while Watson was minus 2.

Watson's body language didn't change very much. However, his face seemed to show the wrinkles of a 59 year old man much more readily. One had to wonder if he was buckling mentally. The back nine would decide the story.

Tom Watson played very well on the back 9 … birdie on the par 5 seventeenth to take the lead, but an unfortunate bogey at the last to finish in a tie with Stewart Cink for a 4 hole playoff. His reactions? Tom was as calm, often a stern look at the competitors ahead with the notable exception of a terrific birdie on the 11th hole, a par three, in which he had a huge grin from ear to ear! Of course, there was the obvious disappointment on the 72nd hole, but his head was still up with the playoff upcoming.

Also on every tee shot and approach, Watson either folded his arms in front of him or had a hand in his wrist behind. Truly, a man within himself, very rarely showing outward emotion.

It was a very fatigued Tom Watson playing in the 4 hole playoff. His tee shots wayward, his approaches were often off line, and his putts were nowhere near struck as solidly. But, that happens as one approaches his 60th birthday. The disappointment was evident on the 17th green as Tom hacked the ball to the green and made double-bogey. Indeed, Tom Watson was trounced.

Watching Watson walking down the 18th fairway after another poor shot, it was quite evident that disappointment was overcoming him. But yet he showed the class that has always become him. He tipped his cap to the crowd and he congratulated The Champion Player of the Year, Stewart Cink. At the press tent, Watson showed he still had a sense of humor by telling press members that “This ain't a funeral, you know.”

No, Tom Watson did not win the British Open as he did in “The Dual In The Sun” against Jack Nicklaus in 1977 --- in fact he downright blew it, and he admitted as much. But my God, what a four wonderful days of golf played by one of the greatest golfers in the games great, great history. Let's not forget that Tom Watson has won 8 major championships, including 5 Open Championships.

Thank you Tom, you gave us great joy.

Well done Tom, well done.

Introduction to My Thoughts on the World of Sports

Hi,

I'm Dick Lafrance and welcome to My Thoughts on the World of Sports. This blog will feature my opinions on athletes, events, noteworthy moments, and anything else worthy of blogging about.

Now for a little bit about myself --- I am 50 years of age and a native of Lewiston, Maine. Lewiston is the home of former world championship boxer Joey Gamache, birthplace of ESPN sideline reporter Erin Andrews, New England Sports Network (NESN) studio host Tom Caron, and the city where Muhammad Ali defeated Sonny Liston with the phantom punch in 1965. A sidebar to the last fact is that my dad was an usher at the fight. I am an average working man who is a sports junkie. I play golf during the warm weather months as well as peruse the Web. I also enjoy travel when I have vacation, which is nowhere near often enough, and of course I watch television sports and attend a few live events, although I do not live near a major market

It is my hope to to add insight, thought, and provoke discussion with my readership, and hopefully make new online friends in the process. As stated before, I will present my opinions along with some facts (those somehow seem to get in the way!) and add links to my sources. This way, I hope to gain respect for my blog as opposed to being just another loud mouth on the Web. From time to time, I will allow a reader to post a blog to give an opportunity to voice an opinion on the blogosphere. I feel that readership participation is a must for success.

Readers will be allowed to post comments … I would like to have reader posts to be in good taste. I will reserve the right to delete those posts that are offensive, demeaning, or downright rude. I will also allow you to email to get more direct contact with me. My email address is dlafrance2@207me.com

To re-iterate My Thoughts on the Sports world will cover sports events, some noteworthy, some sublime, and some ridiculous. I feel this mix of stories will not only enhance the blog but will also attract readers of all interests in sports be it local school sports to the professional level. I also believe that the readership will grow with diversifying the subjects which I post.

Due to my atypical work schedule and the occasional vacation, I will try to post at least twice a week.

Finally, I am in hopes that My Thoughts on the Sports World will become a staple of your on line reading. With insight and thought provocation, we can make this a success!

Thanks and enjoy!