I’ve been listening to The Fan since 2003. It was about that time I became an avid consumer of sports media and the 24-hour 1460 AM sports coverage was there when I needed a fix.
It was before Deadspin. Before The Big Lead. Way before JOCKpost.
And it was before Bruce Hooley.
Recently I moved to tropical Eden Prairie, Minnesota, but I still stream 97.1 The Fan via the web. The local sports guys up here are simply unlistenable.
I remember the days of Mike Ricordati being single, telling stories about his Italian grandparents. He was a little annoying, but I loved how he always had an opinion, and usually ended his point with a punch line.
I remember the completely male-centric alter ego of Chris Spielman, Dr. Chris. He was the most chauvinistic a-hole on radio, and I loved every second of it.
I remember driving home, listening to Kirk Herbstreit talk about the new EA Sports NCAA Football game coming out and describing the differences between the “brand-new” PS3 and the PS2. He also chagrined a little at the fact that Desmond Howard was on the cover.
Back then Spielman and Herbstreit were the main stars. The station had its roster packed with former Buckeyes, lending it true credence as the Official Buckeye station.
Don’t forget, AM 610 used to be the official Buckeye station not too long ago. 1460 had to get a bunch of Buckeyes to build its credibility. That’s really what built the station up in the first place. Then the station started broadcasting the Ohio State football games.
Bruce Hooley came in with his voice made for newspaper, his strong and often unnecessary opinions and his pure and unadulterated hatred for all things Indiana. I hoped that he would be one of those short-term guys, because his negativity didn’t seem to fit the mood of what made the station so cool in the first place.
Over the last two years the station has indeed gone through some pretty drastic changes.
They used to be AM 1460 The Fan. When they moved to FM 97.1 The Fan, it was pretty hilarious to listen to the radio personalities say “F-97.1 The Fan”, because they had said 1460 so many times it took a little getting used to.
Going FM was a godsend to many of us who lived a little outside of Columbus. And it made it possible for those of us who had to travel for work stay in range for an hour or two longer. It signaled the arrival of sports media in central Ohio.
Then it came time for some roster changes. In came some weird guy from Minnesota, Scott Torger-something*. His hockey accent took some getting used to.
Then the station thankfully removed Tony Castricone (no offense, Tony, I’m sure you’re a nice guy) and replaced him with Adam “Tiny Hands” Neft.
Hooley had his drive-time show moved to a mid-day show with Chris Spielman, and even though Bruce was generally a dickhead, he had Spielman around to keep him in check. Spielman is no longer the chauvanist pig, over the years he mellowed out thanks to constant prodding from management. He wasn’t always happy about it, but he learned to play within the rules.
In fact, the station served as a training ground for Spielman. It was pretty hilarious to watch his skills improve right in front of your very eyes.
With as much TV work as he is doing now, combined with the unfortunate passing of his wife, he has more responsibilities with his young children. As such, Spielman is not on the station nearly as much as he used to be.
With Spielman gone more often, we were “treated” to more solo Hooley. That’s enough to make you want to kill yourself. I’m sorry, but he’s just too negative to be in the position he’s in.
Let me explain.
Ohio State football is the identity of many residents of Columbus, Ohio. Whether they want to admit it or not, the citizens of Columbus are awfully proud of their Buckeyes. It gives everyone something to rally around. When the football team loses, the city goes through a two-day depression that is impossible to explain. Yell out “O-H!” anywhere in town and you will get an “I-O” in return from someone, somewhere.
Until last week, Hooley had two hours to piss and moan about whatever he wanted. When Tattoo-gate reared its ugly head again a few weeks ago, we were treated to lectures from Bruce about how Jim Tressel is embarrassing him and that he is finding it hard to support a liar. That may be true, but the Ohio State football coach is not someone you want to f**k with.
He was essentially calling for Tressel’s job. That crossed the line. Jim Tressel is the most powerful man in Columbus, no matter if it seems right or not. There is no question The Vest made one phone call, and Bruce’s walking papers were drafted that night.
It’s a classic case of biting the hand that feeds. The station was surely pissing off the University by blasting it and constantly harping on its hypocrisy and the station manager had to make a call.
According to a source at the station, Hooley’s contract was up and he was told he wasn’t going to be renewed. Maybe his reaction to Tattoo-gate was a temper tamtrum of sorts.
Hooley claims he left on a “mutual agreement” but you all know that’s bulls**t. You can’t work at 97.1 The Fan and call the most powerful man in Columbus a liar and expect to keep your job.
SportsByBrooks wrote a very interesting piece on the whole Hooley situation. Read that if you want to know more.
Bruce Hooley will go back to writing and will do just fine. The station will replace him and we’ll all forget about his condescending, grumpy old man show.
Who’s left at 97.1 The Fan? In the morning they syndicate Mike & Mike in the Morning, then the dreadful, disgusting, arrogant, dispicable, delusional Colin Cowherd, and after that they have The Big Show, which was Hooley and Spielman’s show. Adam “Tiny Hands” Neft has been covering the space, but he is about as exciting as watching an elk take a s**t.
Kirk Herbstreit has moved to Tennessee, and he has been AWOL for a while. Spielman would hopefully have a stronger role, but that is doubtful.
I have liked Ricordati for years. He is immature, angry in a funny way, funny, immature and inappropriate (did I say immature?). Many times I am surprised at some of the things they get away with. His show with the aforementioned Scott Torger-something, Common Man and Torg, is actually a show I listen to whenever I can. Torg isn’t so weird anymore, except when he says “bag.”
After that they have two guys, Anthony Rothman and Dimitrious Stanley, who also host the Football Fever TV show before and after the Buckeye football games, hosting some Buckeye ass-kiss show. It’s a very homeristic and lightweight show. Hopefully they can do better than those guys sometime soon.
A lot of things are up in the air for the station, and it will be interesting to see what they do. Herbstreit and Spielman were superstars with gigantic personalities. That’s what brought the station here.
Do I smell a job opportunity for Bobby Carpenter? He better hop on that gravy train while he can.
*BTW – Torg, I only f**k with you ’cause you get everyone’s name wrong.
