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CBS Sports Network Wants Boomer & Gio in a Hot Air Balloon During Super Bowl Week

“I’ve done an F-16, so why not a balloon?”

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Boomer Esiason and Gregg Giannotti

As the NFL Playoffs continue, media companies are beginning to plan their week on Radio Row at the Super Bowl in Arizona. CBS Sports Network is no different and apparently has a rather wild idea for the morning hours.

During Boomer & Gio Thursday, host Gregg Giannotti told Boomer Esiason network producers were interested in having the pair film inside a hot air balloon ride.

“He wants you in a hot air balloon,” Giannotti said. “I just actually got the text. ‘Would Boomer want to go up in a hot air balloon? Monday the 6th. Monday after the show’…you think 10 people can get in that hot air balloon?”

“What, we just trying to take the whole show out at once?” Esiason nervously responded.

“What? No! Come on! You’re safe,” Giannotti reassured his co-host. “You’re in a basket in the sky. Worst case scenario, you drift down.”

The former NFL quarterback — who admitted he is afraid of heights — said he couldn’t make Monday morning work, but when presented with the opportunity of a 3:30 PM trip, he agreed, saying it’s something he’s never done before.

“I’ve done an F-16, so why not a balloon?” he added.

WFAN producer Al Dukes declined the opportunity to ride in the balloon, admitting he’s also afraid of heights.

When the show returned from a commercial break, however, the duo discussed the WFAN management team was “concerned” about the hot air balloon ride.

“There was some consternation out in the hallway just now, because our general manager heard the last segment about Boomer going up in the hot air balloon and was not happy about it,” revealed Giannotti.

“There was a big braintrust meeting out there, and I think they were concerned,” Esisason added.

“Concerned enough to say no to this thing,” Giannotti rebutted. “So we’ve got a problem…but I do think the radio bosses may just — no pun intended — spike this thing,” alluding to the WFAN and CBS Sports Radio Vice President of Programming Spike Eskin.

“It’s not in my contract. I can do whatever I want,” quipped Esiason. “They don’t have in my contract that I’m not allowed to do things. This is not like a starting quarterback for the Giants…I heard their concern.”

Giannotti then joked that he shouldn’t have searched for hot air balloon crashes, reading excerpts from various news stories about hot air balloon disasters. However, Esiason noted ratings would be “through the roof” the day following an accident should the hosts perish.

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Sports Radio News

Kirk Minihane: WEEI is “Going to be Andy Gresh and Rich Shertenlieb in Afternoons”

“Maybe the two most sensitive c***s in the history of radio. That’s a show we are going to ruin.”

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Photos of Kirk Minihane and Rich Shertenlieb

As the speculation continues on where Boston sports talker Rich Shertenlieb will end up, one former WEEI host said he has the scoop on what is going to happen. Kirk Minihane, now with Barstool Sports, said, “What I heard was, initially, was they were moving Rich Keefe from nights to middays, moving Adam Jones from afternoons to middays and keeping Fauria there, and moving Andy Gresh to afternoons…But now it appears Rich Shertenlieb is going to do afternoons with Andy Gresh.”

On Wednesday, Boston Globe sports and sports media columnist Chad Finn had put out a post on X, saying, “Didn’t think Rich Shertenlieb would end up at WEEI after leaving Sports Hub. I do now, most likely in afternoon drive. Audacy management has been telling people to expect changes.”

Minihane continued commenting on the matter, saying, “It’s going to be Andy Gresh and Rich Shertenlieb in the afternoons, which is going to be so awful. Maybe the two most sensitive c***s in the history of radio. That’s a show we are going to ruin…we haven’t done that in a while, we are going to take that show down…Once that show starts, we are just going to blitz them with phone calls because Gresh can’t handle that.

“What they don’t understand, because they are so dumb, is that…Rich Shertenlieb has no fan base…no fan of [Toucher and Hardy] in the morning is going to be like ‘I’m not going to listen to Felger in the afternoons, I’ll now listen to Andy Gresh and Rich Shertenlieb.’ It’s going to be dreadful.”

Recapping what he has heard the rest of the WEEI lineup will be, Minihane said, “…And then in middays you have Adam Jones, failed afternoons. Rich Keefe who has now failed middays, drivetime, nights and is now going to fail again in middays… and Christian Fauria who has never drawn a rating in his life.”

WEEI has not commented on any of the speculation. BSM will have more as the story unfolds.

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Sports Radio News

Former 670 The Score Host Tommy Williams Has Died

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Photo of Tommy Williams
Courtesy: Lakeshore Public Media

Tommy Williams, who was heard for a decade on 670 The Score, died on Wednesday at the age of 66.

Williams began his broadcasting career in his hometown of Gary, Indiana in 1982 at WLTH before moving on to The Score. In 2003, Williams became the PA Announcer for the Gary Southshore RailCats of the American Association where he had his signature call to get the attention of the fans, “People, People, People.”

A story in The Times of Northwest Indiana said, “The longtime RailCats public address announcer and Lakeshore Public Media sports journalist was known for broadcasting countless games, interviewing countless athletes and covering Region sports at all levels. The Gary native and co-host of “Prep Sports Report,” “Prep Football Report,” and “Lakeshore PBS Scoreboard” often signed off shows saying, “Gary, Indiana, you know I love you.”

“The cadence he had in his voice echoed across the Region in a way we may never see again. He was widely known and widely loved,” Tom Maloney, vice president of radio operations at Lakeshore Public Media told the paper.

“He’d want to be remembered as the voice of Lakeshore sports,” his Regionally Speaking co-host and producer Dee Dotson told The Times. “Most people will remember him for covering prep sports all the way up to semi-pros. He’ll be remembered for treating each of his subjects like they were world champions. His depth of knowledge of sports at all levels is commendable. He was a walking encyclopedia of stats.” 

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Compass Media Networks Promotes Three Members to Oversee Play-by-Play Sports Platform

“It is our pleasure to give these three talented executives their day in the sun, knowing that they will continue to work incredibly hard to carry on this tradition of excellence.”

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Logo for Compass Media Networks

Compass Media Networks has announced the promotions of three long-standing executives, Robert Blum, Tyler Brewer, and Chris Kleiber, who will collectively oversee the content creation, production, and distribution of the company’s play-by-play sports platform.

“For over 16 years, Compass Media Networks has set a standard of excellence for national play-by-play sports with Chris, Rob, and Tyler playing a vital part in our success,” said Peter Kosann, CEO/Founder of Compass Media Networks. “It is our pleasure to give these three talented executives their day in the sun, knowing that they will continue to work incredibly hard to carry on this tradition of excellence.”

Robet Blum has been appointed Vice President & General Manager of Sports and will also continue to serve as Vice President of Affiliate Sales for News-Talk and Sports. Tyler Brewer has been appointed Executive Producer – Sports Programming. And Chris Kleiber has been appointed Senior Producer – Sports Programming.

Compass Media Networks broadcasts annually over 100 play-by-play sporting events involving college men’s basketball and football (including the Big Ten Tournament and the Big Ten Championship Game), NFL 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. Sunday Doubleheaders, and complete coverage of the Dallas Cowboys and Las Vegas Raiders. The broadcasts are distributed across hundreds of terrestrial sports, news-talk and music stations as well as digital distribution platforms such as SiriusXM, Verizon Mobile, and the Varsity App.

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