To say Monday was a difficult day for Detroit’s 97.1 The Ticket would be an understatement as the station mourned the loss of longtime sports radio host Jamie Samuelsen.
Having to carry a radio show without your partner can prove to be a challenge, but having to do so after your co-host passed away less than 48-hours prior is unimaginable. That’s what The Ticket’s Mike Stone was confronted with Monday morning. After losing Jamie Samuelsen to cancer over the weekend, Stoney got behind the mic on Monday and offered a four-hour tribute to his co-host which included laughs, tears, frustration and celebration.
Samuelsen passed away Saturday, just five days after he announced he was battling colon cancer. For 19 months Samuelsen kept the diagnosis private, but he decided to publicize his fight as a way of encouraging others to get tested. Several friends, including Stone, visited Samuelsen last week to say goodbye.
“We were in his bedroom,” Stone said. “We were telling some jokes. He was having a good time. Obviously didn’t look well. And it was tough for him. Obviously, it was tough for us. And he told us each that he loved us.”
The Bay Area born Samuelsen entered Detroit’s sports radio market in 1994 by way of WDFN, later joining The Ticket in 2012 where he was paired with evening host and longtime friend Bob Wojnowski. Then in 2016, Stone and Samuelsen partnered in morning drive where the duo enjoyed immense ratings success.
“We’ll all get through this eventually,” Stone said shortly after reading lyrics from the Beach Boys’ God Only Knows. “It’s going to be hard. It’s going to suck. Don’t worry about us. We’ll figure it out,” Stone continued as his voice began to break near the end of the four-hour tribute.
“Thanks to all the listeners, thanks to all the support that this community has showed him since last Monday, the Lions, the Tigers, the Pistons, the Red Wings, Michigan. We had Matt Patricia on today and Dave Revsine and the love for this man is overwhelming,” said Stoney. “Jamie, I loved you, still love you. Christy, Josh, Catherine and Caroline, and we can throw Wojo in there because he’s part of their family.
“God, Jamie was the greatest. When Wojo asked one word to describe Jamie, I said ‘inclusive.’ Jamie was good to everybody, God Bless you, James K. Love you, love your family, and gonna miss you so much,” Stone said in closing as he broke down in tears, and undoubtedly, many of his listeners did too.