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Bob Fescoe – 610 Sports

Jason Barrett

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For the better part of the last decade, “Bulldog” Bob Fescoe has been entertaining Kansas City sports radio listeners on a daily basis. Having worked for both of the market’s top sports radio stations (610 Sports & 810 WHB), Bob has gained valuable insight into what the Kansas City sports fan cares about and his passion, hard work and commitment to the local community have played a strong role in helping him achieve success with his current show “Fescoe In The Morning“.

Fescoe10On a national level, Talkers Magazine has recognized his program for the past two years as one of the nation’s Top 100 most important sports talk shows. For 2012 and 2013 he was ranked 69th overall and that recognition by fellow sports media professionals further demonstrates how respected his brand has become in the Kansas City market.

I first crossed paths with Bob 8 years ago while programming SportsTalk 950 (now 97.5 The Fanatic) in Philadelphia. I was looking for a morning show at the time and I brought Bob in for an audition opposite former NY Jets QB Ray Lucas. I remember coming away impressed by what he did on the air that day especially considering he and Ray hadn’t met until the day of the show. Unfortunately, the call for the opening wouldn’t come his way as I’d end up leaving Philadelphia for St. Louis and putting the morning show search into the hands of the next Program Director Gregg Henson.

IMG_2786While the situation in Philadelphia didn’t materialize, Bob had gained my respect and attention and once I settled in at my new job in St. Louis and had an opening become available, I made him an offer to come join me at 590 The Fan. Bob accepted and was eager to take on the challenge of doing mornings opposite Tim McKernan but unfortunately all of us were thrust into an impossible situation due to poor company finances and as a result, the whole show would be dismantled in less than a year and leave tension high and everyone involved with the show confused and frustrated.

Despite going through some difficult situations in St. Louis, Bob and I clicked personally and professionally. We even co-hosted a weekly NFL show together which I’m pretty sure he’s since tried to forget about. While working for KFNS, he gained the opportunity of covering the Rams on a regular basis plus he had the chance to host a weekly show with former wide receiver Isaac Bruce.

Fescoe4What stood out to me about Bob during the time I worked with him was how hungry he was for coaching and how receptive he was to feedback. Not every talent in this business is always looking to get better but that wasn’t the case with Bob. That willingness to constantly search for ways to improve is an important trait that I believe all on-air personalities should have.

When you turn on Bob’s show, one thing that’s impossible to ignore is how fired up he can get. He delivers his opinions with authority and sometimes gets so fired up that you’re worried he may just pop a blood vessel or two. While the force in which he presents his points may tick off local players or teams at times, it’s that genuine raw emotion on the air that has earned him the respect and appreciation of his audience throughout the years. Case in point, take a listen to one of Bob’s most memorable rants on the Kansas City Chiefs.

I reached out to Bob recently to get a sense of how he feels he’s grown as a personality throughout the years as well as what he considers some of the most important aspects of creating good radio. I hope you enjoy reading the conversation as much as I enjoyed conducting it.

Q: When did you first start to think about getting into sports radio? What made you want to do it?

fescoe1A: I first thought about getting into sports broadcasting when I was 8. I was watching John Madden every Sunday and thought that seems like a cool job. It was at 8 when I realized I did not have the skills to play sports so why not talk about them. I never considered “Sports Talk” until about 2001. A job came open in KC as a producer and it eventually morphed into hosting nights. Ever since then I have been talking sports. Play by Play was what I thought I wanted to do in life.

Q: Who have been some of the people who you’ve learned from and would list as influences on your career? How have they helped you in developing as a talent?

A: First and foremost Ryan Maguire. My first PD at KCSP in KC. He was very instrumental in helping me develop further as a host. Constant feedback and involvement helped early on. I still do a lot of the things he talked about today. Jason Barrett was influential as well. It was from him I learned the “Art of Teasing” which is so vital and necessary in the business today. Barrett was also the first PD who actually gave me feedback which was so important in the early days of my career.

Q: Your first big career opportunity came with WHB in Kansas City. How would you summarize that experience?

Fescoe3A: It was fun. The guys at WHB gave me my first real chance when they allowed me to do morning. I am grateful for that chance because it allowed me to blossom and spring board on to the host I am today.

Q: During your first stint in Kansas City, you made national headlines as a result of having your Royals press pass revoked after you pissed off Royals Owner David Glass. How did that experience effect you and how you communicate with teams today?

A: I think the experience with the Royals was great. It made me realize “It’s not what you say but how you say it“. My mom used to say that to me all the time growing up but it took a real world incident to hammer it home. Its also made me realize that this business is all about relationships and without them it makes your job very difficult

Q: After working for WHB, you moved on to KFNS in St. Louis. What did you gain from that experience?

IMG_2796A: It made me realize that it’s not easy moving to a market like St Louis that is very provincial. It was tough. I bounced around from day part to day part and job to job. It made me become a much better broadcaster and stronger person. Without St. Louis I’m not sure I’d be in the position I am in today. I learned so much about putting together a show, how to tease, how to make radio compelling. I never learned any of that before.

Q: After leaving St. Louis, you elected to return to Kansas City and join 610 Sports. What made you decide to return to KC?

A: It was a great opportunity to return to one of the best sports cities in America. If you haven’t been to KC you are missing out on the most passionate fans in America. We have not had the most success on the field but fans live and die with their teams here and the college scene is awesome as well. 3 passionate fan bases with MU, KU and K-State make it a great place to talk sports.

Q: When it comes to the fundamentals of doing sports radio, what do you believe are your biggest strengths and biggest weaknesses?

Fescoe7A: I think my biggest strength is that I know what the fans are talking about. I feel like I have a good feel for the KC fan. I also think that having a fast pace, tons of energy and fun are big strengths. You can’t take yourself too seriously. My biggest weakness would have to be “the bits” that come with a radio show. That could use some work.

Q: When you listen to sports radio shows locally or nationally, what are some things that frustrate you as a listener and cause you to tune out?

A: Droning on and on with a topic. The one thing that our PD John Hanson has stressed is pacing. He is right. Make your point and move on. I also hate hosts who keep a guest for too long. 5-7 minutes is enough. 20 minute interviews do nothing for me. I usually turn on a show to hear the host, not a conversation with a writer. I also can’t stand when hosts don’t re-set. Let us know who you are talking to every few minutes.

Q: What’s your philosophy on guests and what do you hope to accomplish when conducting an interview?

Fescoe5A: I like guests, if they are a big name. I think the days of bringing on beat writer guys to preview a game are done. I also think that short chats are the best. Get the nuts and bolts out of them and move on. Again that is something that John Hanson has stressed and I agree with. I find myself getting mad when I hear guests on too long now.

Q: Being known as someone who wears his emotions on his sleeve during his show, how do you balance being explosive vs. going too far and crossing the line?

A: I think you have to be calculated. You can’t explode a lot or it becomes white noise. But when a fan base is upset and you can sense that, you have to give them what they want. Numerous times I have found myself taking a deep breath because you don’t want to go too far. However at times it’s warranted. I think there have been 2 times where it was really warranted and I let em have it!

Q: When it comes to improving as a personality, what are some things you do to measure your progress? 

Fescoe6A: We meet weekly. We talk about the good and the bad of the show. We try to implement the new stuff each week.

Q: How important are the ratings to you and what are some things you do to try and maximize your audience? 

A: Obviously ratings are important but radio is so much more than just ratings. You have to spend a lot of time on social media these days talking with listeners and interacting. I think it has helped me a ton and I am sure it has with other hosts as well. As we all do, I wish there was a more efficient way of measuring listeners. I think podcast downloads and streaming numbers are vital as well since that is the way the young generation consumes everything. I was talking to a class at the University of Kansas a few years ago and a student said they don’t listen to the show. I said how do you know me then? He said podcasts. A lot of people listen to the show later in the day. Most people use their phones to stream. All those avenues are coming on fast and we need to embrace them.

Q: As you look at the sports radio industry, what do you believe has been the biggest change over the past 10-20 years?

Fescoe8A: The internet. Listening habits have changed. In a way, it is kind of on demand radio. People can consume your product 24/7. Interaction with listeners has changed so much with social media. IF you are a host and not on twitter you should just quit.

Q: In assessing your own work, what would you list as the biggest accomplishments of your career and what do you still hope to achieve in the future?

A: I think my biggest accomplishment was taking over my competition. We have worked hard to put a good product out. When we became the top sports morning show that was huge. But its not enough. We have to find a way to maintain that consistently.

Q: To those who are thinking about entering the sports radio business today, what one piece of advice would you like to pass along to them?

A: Be ready to work hard.  Then work harder.  IF you are not willing to put in the time then don’t bother.

Bob Fescoe can be heard weekday mornings from 6A-10A on 610 Sports in Kansas City. To check out the show’s web page click here. You can also follow Bob on Twitter by clicking here.

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Sports Radio News

100.9 The Mitt Debuts in Central Michigan

“Our area has such great sports fans and we wanted to recommit ourselves to them.”

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Sports Radio 100.9 The Mitt
Courtesy: MBF Enterprises

Michigan Baseball Foundation Enterprises has rebranded WLUN-FM as Sports Radio 100.9 The Mitt through a partnership with FOX Sports Radio.

The new station features a morning show from the Michigan Sports Network titled X’s and BrO’s with Anthony Bellino, along with a local evening program called The Payoff. Afternoons also feature The Huge Show with host Bill Simonson from 3 to 6 p.m., marking a new era for the station that was previously associated with ESPN Radio.

In addition to syndicated national programs, including The Dan Patrick Show and The Herd with Colin Cowherd, listeners will be able to tune into live sporting events including the NFL on Westwood One, Great Lakes Loons baseball, Michigan State football and basketball, and local high school sporting events.

Brad Tunney has been named the general manager of the station. Tunney has been with the entity since 2015 as a member of the Loons broadcast team.

“Our area has such great sports fans and we wanted to recommit ourselves to them,” he said in a statement. “FOX is a perfect partner for us to get national favorites like Dan and Colin on the air between a local lineup of seven hours of local talk. I’m really excited for our listeners to also re-gain a live local show in The Payoff that they can interact with and lean on for great local sports coverage.”

Despite the new position, Tunney will continue to be on the call for the games along with John Vicari delivering the play-by-play. Vicari will also be commentating on most of the high school sports coverage on 100.9 The Mitt while serving as the broadcast and content coordinator for the outlet. Rich Juday will continue in his role as the director of sales complete with a new slate of on-air and off-air offerings.

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Sactown Sports Turns Afternoons Over To ‘The Drive Guys’, Whitey Gleason and Kyle Draper

“The new afternoon show officially launches on Wednesday, October 4th.”

Jordan Bondurant

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Three months after joining forces in middays, Sactown Sports 1140AM hosts Kevin “Whitey” Gleason and Chris Watkins are being split up to complete the station’s daytime lineup.

Effective Wednesday, The Drive Guys featuring Gleason and Sacramento Kings studio host Kyle Draper take over afternoon drive from 2-6 PM. Watkins remains in middays. He had been hosting the Chris Watkins & Co Show in a fill-in capacity from 10:00 AM-2:00 PM since April.

“We are excited to continue to elevate the Sactown Sports brand with the addition of The Drive Guys,” Bonneville Sacramento SVP and market manager Steve Cottingim said. “Kevin has been a fabric in the Sacramento community for four decades now and pairing him with Kyle Draper, who is a familiar voice to our listeners through the Sacramento Kings broadcast, just highlights our commitment to Sacramento sports.”

Gleason confirmed the move on Monday evening, and Watkins chimed in expressing his thanks to Kevin for all he had done the past few months. Watkins joined Bonneville Sacramento in 2018 and went from assistant promotions director to producer and podcast host to midday host in a five-year span.

The full daytime lineup for Sactown Sports begins at 6 AM with The Carmichael Dave Show with Jason Ross and concludes with Gleason and Draper.

Gleason is no stranger to Sacramento listeners. He has been regularly featured on the air in town for more than four decades, primarily as a part of The Rise Guys morning show from 1999-2011. He also hosted on ESPN 1320 for five years with Mark Kreidler.

Draper has been hosting for NBC Sports California’s Kings coverage since 2020. Before arriving to California’s capital city, he served in a similar capacity for NBC Sports Boston for 11 years.

The Sactown Sports 1140AM lineup has gone through a few changes in 2023. Dave “Deuce” Morgan and Morgan Ragan left in April. Nick Cattles and Ramie Makhlouf followed over the summer. Sactown Sports is hoping Gleason and Draper can add stability and a drive time show that local fans enjoy tuning in for.

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RJ Choppy: Taylor Swift is More Popular Than the NFL, We’re Going to Talk About Her

“She is bigger than the NFL. Like she’s more popular globally than the National Football League.”

Jordan Bondurant

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RJ Choppy
Courtesy: QC Kinetics DFW

If you think the discussion on Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce is going away in sports talk anytime soon, you’re sorely mistaken. Swift was in attendance at MetLife Stadium for Sunday Night Football as Kelce and the Chiefs took on the New York Jets. And as Shan Shariff and RJ Choppy noted on Shan & RJ on 105.3 The Fan on Monday, NBC and the NFL couldn’t avoid making Swift’s presence at the game a part of the SNF coverage.

“They went all in,” Shariff said. “NBC, the National Football League, going all in on Taylor Swift.”

Choppy responded saying when arguably one of the biggest celebrities in the world suddenly takes an interest in your product, you embrace it.

“She’s taken over, she really has,” Choppy said. “And the NFL putting her on their Twitter page, I mean she is bigger than the NFL. Like she’s more popular globally than the National Football League.”

Taylor Swift sports 273 million Instagram followers and 94.5 million Twitter followers. The NFL only has 33.7 million followers on Twitter and 28.4 million on Instagram.

Shariff pointed out that while Swift is a massive superstar with a massive superstar following on social media, it doesn’t compare to the followings of soccer stars Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Regardless, the NFL is going to milk it for what the league thinks it’s worth.

“Everyone is looking at her as the golden goose. She craps success,” Shariff said. “It’s just gold flowing out of her veins. Attach yourself to it, and you will make money.”

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