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Schemmel Reflects On Plane Crash 30 Years Ago

“To honor those who didn’t survive the crash, Schemmel, an avid bicyclist, rides 112 miles to Colorado Springs and back, one mile for each life lost.”
Brandon Contes

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4 years ago

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Last Friday marked exactly 30 years since Colorado Rockies radio voice, Jerry Schemmel survived a fatal plane crash in Sioux City, Iowa.  Schemmel was one of 184 survivors on Flight 232, but over 100 lives were lost in the crash.

Flying from Denver to Chicago on July 19th, 1989, the United DC-10 airplane went down after losing hydraulic power and a rear engine exploded, killing 112 passengers.  While attempting an emergency landing at the Sioux City, Iowa airport, Flight 232 fell just shy of its target runway, erupting into flames, breaking apart and tumbling to a halt.

“Immediately inside the cabin, it was complete chaos.  People being thrown about, some of them were strapped inside their chairs and their chairs had given and they were thrown that way.  And smoke and fire and debris, all in the first couple of seconds after we hit down,” Schemmel told KDLT News in Denver.  “I remember thinking, all right, we’ve hit down hard, there’s a lot of people hurt, there’s probably some people who aren’t alive right now but we’ll coast to a stop and I’ll assess things then and about the time I had that thought, we flipped over frontwards, kinda cartwheeled end to end, flipped over and started sliding upside down.”

Schemmel was lucky to survive the crash, but the now Colorado Rockies broadcaster was also a hero that day in 1989.   After Schemmel was able to find an opening to escape the plane, he heard a baby crying.  He went back into the burning airplane and rescued an 11 month old girl trapped in an overhead bin.  52 children were on Flight 232, including four “lap children” without seats because of a United Airlines promotion called “Children’s Day,” allowing kids to fly for a penny.

To honor those who didn’t survive the crash, Schemmel, an avid bicyclist, rides 112 miles to Colorado Springs and back, one mile for each life lost.  “It’s my way to personally honor the victims of the crash and the families who were left behind,” Schemmel told the Denver Post about the annual bike ride which he began in 2007.

Schemmel joined the Rockies radio broadcast in 2010, after 18 seasons as the voice of the Denver Nuggets.  The play-by-play announcer told KDLT he still flies, regularly traveling with the team, but not a day goes by that he doesn’t think about the crash.  Schemmel detailed his experience on Flight 232 in his 1996 book, “Chosen to Live.”

Brandon Contes is a freelance writer for BSM. He can be found on Twitter @BrandonContes. To reach him by email click here.

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Sports Radio News

Alpha Media Ends San Antonio Sports Star Simulcast, 1250 AM Goes All ESPN Radio

“Alpha launched Sports Star on 94.1 back in June of last year, giving San Antonio its first FM sports talk station.”
Jordan Bondurant

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3 hours ago

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February 3, 2023

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San Antonio now has a frequency where people can find local sports talk and the full ESPN Radio lineup.

RadioInsight reported owner Alpha Media has tweaked what was on 1250 AM, launching it as ESPN 1250. The station will be San Antonio’s 24/7/365 home for ESPN Radio. That will include NBA, NFL and MLB play-by-play on top of talk.

San Antonio’s Sports Star had been simulcasting on 1250, but Alpha will carry on with live and local programming on the stronger FM frequency. Alpha launched Sports Star on 94.1 back in June of last year, giving San Antonio its first FM sports talk station.

Sports Star is the home of the Dallas Cowboys and Texas Rangers in San Antonio.

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Sports Radio News

ESPN Radio 94.1 Sells Station Naming Rights To Priority Automotive Group

“The programming on the station does not change.”
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10 hours ago

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February 2, 2023

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Max Media has found an interesting new revenue stream in Virginia Beach. ESPN Radio 94.1 has sold its naming rights. The station has rebranded as Priority Auto Sports Radio 94.1 ESPN.

“This is an important partnership for us,” said Priority Automotive COO Matt Elmer. “At Priority Automotive we think sports ties everyone together, so this is a great opportunity for us to be a voice in the community and partner with the number one voice for sports in Hampton Roads, ESPN 94.1.”

The programming on the station does not change. Listeners in the 757 will still hear the nationally syndicated ESPN Radio lineup except for in afternoon drive when The Tim Donnelly Show is on the air.

“The partnership between ESPN 94.1 and Priority Automotive is a natural evolution for both companies,” President and Market Manager Keith Barton added. “From the many youth organizations to college teams, Priority Automotive Has been dedicated to sports in Hampton Roads for decades. Max Media is incredibly proud to be partnered with such a class organization.”

Priority Automotive owns 17 car dealerships across Virginia.

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Sports Radio News

SiriusXM Plots Super Bowl LVII Coverage

“SiriusXM will deliver fans around the country the unique mix of sports, music and entertainment programming that you can only find on SiriusXM.”
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11 hours ago

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February 2, 2023

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SiriusXM has announced its extensive plans for coverage of Super Bowl LVII and the events leading up to the big game.

A dedicated Super Bowl pop-up channel on SiriusXM Channel 104 will be just one of the avenues SiriusXM plans to cover the event. Amber Theoharis will conduct interviews with players, and personalities making their way through Radio Row throughout the week that will air on the pop-up channel.

Mad Dog Sports Radio will have a large presence on Radio Row, with shows hosted by Chris “Mad Dog” Russo, Adam Schein, Dusty Dvoracek, Danny Kanell, and Steve Torre all airing live on location in Arizona. Former NFL All-Pro wide receiver Brandon Marshall will be on hand to host I Am Athlete Tonight from the event, as well.

“With all eyes and ears focused on Phoenix for Super Bowl Week, SiriusXM will deliver fans around the country the unique mix of sports, music and entertainment programming that you can only find on SiriusXM,” said SiriusXM President and Chief Content Officer Scott Greenstein.

“With multiple game broadcasts, several channels in Phoenix covering the latest news and providing expert analysis on the teams, interviews with many of the celebrities in town for the game, and our exclusive concert with Luke Combs, our subscribers will have exceptional access throughout the biggest week on the NFL calendar.”

ESPNU Radio hosts Colt McCoy, Rick Neuheisel, and Max Starks will also be in Arizona on Radio Row, in addition to Dusty and Danny hosting their shows each day from Radio Row.

Fantasy football expert Jeff Mans and SportsGrid Radio host Scott Ferrall will also originate content from Radio Row.

SiriusXM will offer four different game broadcasts of Super Bowl LVII. The Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles home broadcasts will each air, as will the national Westwood One call. Additionally, a Spanish-language broadcast will also be provided. Listeners will also be able to hear the halftime show — performed by pop star Rihanna — on Sirius XM Hits 1, The Heat, and Super Bowl LVII Radio.

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