The700Level.com - Philly Sports & Minutiae

Philadelphia Sports Radio Faceoff: Part 3—PM Drive Time

With the Philadelphia market having two full-time sports talk radio stations for some time now, we thought we'd take a poll to see what readers of The700Level.com are currently listening to on a regular basis. Rather than just put up one poll with 610 WIP and ESPN 950 as the options, we thought it would be best to break it down according to the three primary listening times—morning drive, mid-days, and afternoon drive times—and post one poll on each of the next three days. The hosts and formats change dramatically for each station, and so too might the voting. We will not editorialize or opine in any way, hoping to keep the voting purely an uninfluenced reflection of your regular listening patterns. 

In the comments of each day's poll, feel free to leave the reasons for your vote—why you like the shows you listen to, what you don't like about the other option, or the pros and cons of each. As shows, hosts, and formats have changed, how you have you changed your listening habits? If you listen to one choice more than say, 60% of the time, please select that as opposed to "No preference."

After the holiday weekend, we'll take a look at the results. Today's poll question:

Philadelphia Sports Radio Faceoff: Part 2—Middays

With the Philadelphia market having two full-time sports talk radio stations for some time now, we thought we'd take a poll to see what readers of The700Level.com are currently listening to on a regular basis. Rather than just put up one poll with 610 WIP and ESPN 950 as the options, we thought it would be best to break it down according to the three primary listening times—morning drive, mid-days, and afternoon drive times—and post one poll on each of the next three days. The hosts and formats change dramatically for each station, and so too might the voting. We will not editorialize or opine in any way, hoping to keep the voting purely an uninfluenced reflection of your regular listening patterns. 

In the comments of each day's poll, feel free to leave the reasons for your vote—why you like the shows you listen to, what you don't like about the other option, or the pros and cons of each. As shows, hosts, and formats have changed, how you have you changed your listening habits? If you listen to one choice more than say, 60% of the time, please select that as opposed to "No preference."

Today's poll question will be broken into two parts because 950 has two shows airing between 10 and 3. 

Philadelphia Sports Radio Faceoff: Part 1—The Morning Drive

With the Philadelphia market having two full-time sports talk radio stations for some time now, we thought we'd take a poll to see what readers of The700Level.com are currently listening to on a regular basis. Rather than just put up one poll with 610 WIP and ESPN 950 as the options, we thought it would be best to break it down according to the three primary listening times—morning drive, mid-days, and afternoon drive times—and post one poll on each of the next three days. The hosts and formats change dramatically for each station, and so too might the voting. We will not editorialize or opine in any way, hoping to keep the voting purely an uninfluenced reflection of your regular listening patterns. 

In the comments of each day's poll, feel free to leave the reasons for your vote—why you like the shows you listen to, what you don't like about the other option, or the pros and cons of each. As shows, hosts, and formats have changed, how you have you changed your listening habits? If you listen to one choice more than say, 60% of the time, please select that as opposed to "No preference."

Today's poll question:

WATN: Brian Mitchell Fired in DC for Criticizing the Redskins?

Brian Mitchell's career after football seems to be mimicking his career on the field. He's bouncing around the NFC East. If you've tuned in to 610 WIP over the past few weeks, B-Mitch has been popping up in afternoon time slots adding his take to the sporting topic of the day.

Sir Charles: "I've Probably Been Drinking and Driving a Hundred Times a Year"

Sir Charles was a guest of his longtime friend Howard Eskin yesterday, reliving old Spectrum glories and frustrations and asking if Eskin were still fat. Howard fired right back, saying Barkley looked like he was wearing a tent during his recent incarceration. When discussing the DUI that landed him there, Barkley wasn't shy about saying this wasn't his first time drinking and driving, saying he's probably done it "a hundred times a year." He wasn't bragging or glorfying it, rather bringing it up in a context of having learned his lesson and that he hopes others learn from his mistake. Of course, saying he's gotten away with driving drunk nearly 2500 times may water down the moral he's trying to impart.

Sadly, Howard forgot to ask about Charles' intended plans for that fateful night.

Audio available at WIP

It's Not A Story Unless Howard Eskin Says It's A Story (But He Does Have a Point)

Burger King was on Sports Final last night with his pal John Clarke to discuss the McNabb/sitdown situation. Now, if you get past Eskin's ego in demeaning an "Internet report," he actually makes a few solid points. In my opinion, it was ESPN who blew the whole thing last week out of proportion by saying a new deal was almost all but finalized. It really had nothing to do with any notable "blogs" yet the geniuses at the NBC10 "blog" title their article "Eskins Blasts Bloggers." Eskin, the windbag artist, paints with too broad of a brush. [Video below]

Big Changes Coming to Wing Bowl

What is a Wing Bowl without passed out drunks at 9 a.m. and flashed nasty stripper boobs on the Wachovia Center big screen? Well fret not, those things are likely to stay the same until the end of time. But one thing that will change about Wing Bowl this year is the absence of professional eaters like defending champion Joey Chestnut.

The Sixers Dancers Welcome You Back to Beautiful Philadelphia

610 WIP's morning show, Eagles cheerleaders, Eagles mascot Swoop, Sixers dance team members, and the Philly tourism office all teamed up for a special show this morning from Philadelphia International Airport to welcome home those displaced Philly fans who are coming home for the Thanksgiving holiday. Nothing quite like getting off a six hour flight from L.A. to be greeted by some lovely young cheerleaders.
The Eagles cheerleaders and a jive talking turkey below.

Enrico on WIP at 11:30ish (Update: Audio Link)

After watching the Americans take down Germany on the hardwood this morning, Enrico's continuing his evening by calling Glen Macnow and Ike Reese at around 11:30-11:35 our time. Tune in. Turn on.

Update: Here's a link to the interview with Enrique.

If Bill Conlin Is Suspended, How Does Cataldi Still Have a Job?

*Correction: Apparently it was comedian Joe Conklin doing his Cataldi impression. So, there.

Color us confused as to why Philly scribe Bill Conlin was suspended from Daily News Live on Comcast Sportsnet. He made a comment about a "blueberry harvest." Whatever that means. Apparently that's uncool.

But since this appears to be such big news, we wonder why 610 WIP's Angelo Cataldi is still on the air after comments which were clearly racists hit the airways a few weeks back.

In a bit that ran on the air on May 29th in which Angelo* was trying to make light of the ridiculously high gas prices, Cataldi mock reenacted the situation he encountered with the gas station attendant who he says is an Arab named Akmar. The worst of it comes out when the attendant offers to squeegee Angelo's windshield. Cataldi quips, "You want to squeegee something? Squeegee that decimal point over your forehead!"

Now that is racist. Granted, it's an attempt at comedy. But then again, so was Conlin's comment.

Macnow on Blogs, 950, & Reggae

You may remember a few weeks back when we were a guest on Dan Levy's podcast. We've become rather chummy with the guys that run the show and yesterday they had on one of Philly's best sports radio personalities, Glen Macnow. You can listen to the entire interview here.

Topics range from Glen's feelings on blogs -- he likes some, doesn't like others -- to his feelings about that other radio station in Philly. The gloves come off and Glen really gives it to 950 a bit.

If you'd like a shorter clip where Glen talks about blogs and mentions us, try this one.

Angelo and Andy on Eagles WRs

Andy Reid was a guest of the WIP morning show today, where Angelo Cataldi went right for the questions pertaining to the Eagles sometimes puzzling approach to wide receivers.

Our Interview With Mike Missanelli

Last month, both of the sports talk radio stations in Philly announced some major changes to their daily lineups. One of the biggest moves was the return of Mike Missanelli, formerly of 610 WIP, to Philadelphia, only he'd be heard a few clicks down the dial at 950 WPEN, which became an ESPN station. As most sports talk fans in Philly know, Missanelli's tenure at WIP didn't end very amicably, but he says the past is the past and he's moved on. However, Missanelli's show took over the afternoon drive time, opposite Howard Eskin, and so far, neither man has been shy about stoking the flames of competition in the time slot (thankfully). Being regular sports talk radio listeners, we thought we'd ask Mike if he'd be interested in answering a few questions about his time in New York, his on-air style, his dismissal at WIP, Stephen A. Smith, and more. 

You're back in Philly after a few years in the Big Apple. What major differences have you noticed in your years of fielding calls from the fan bases in these two cities?

The New York audience is much more subdued in their analysis and commentary of their sports. That's probably because their attention is so much more diluted by the presence of so many more teams and activities there, or it could be because we just naturally live sports so much more on a daily basis. Sports is much more an escape for us here in Philly.

How would you describe your co-host during your time in New York, one Mr. Stephen A. Smith?

I enjoyed it immensely. Steve is a really a good guy and we had a good bob and weave to the issues. Obviously, he is a major black media voice. One of the things I always admired about Stephen A, even when he was just a columnist at the Philadelphia Inquirer, is that he wasn't afraid to say something that was on his mind, without regard to how people would react. That's the way I've always tried to conduct my sports talk radio life. Even though I didn't agree with everything Steve had to say, I admired that he would say it. And the fact that I disagreed with him on issues made for a better radio show. Now, I will also say that Steve is a very verbose guy, and I had to make sure that the 20 words I got in each day counted.

Howard Eskin Interviews Hillary, Remarkably Doesn't Ask Her What's For Dinner

As many of you know, the Pennsylvania Democratic Primary next week is a wee bit important for the two remaining candidates. Hillary Clinton was a guest on Howard Eskin's show yesterday afternoon and "The King of Bling" brought the hardball. Okay, not really. It's actually a pretty nondescript interview and Hillary never admits to wanting to be Julius Erving. But the kids over at Umpbump.com felt the need to rip into the Howard for his hard hitting journalism.

Audio of the interview after the jump. And in more exciting political news, Stephen Colbert is in Philly all week eating cheesesteaks with a little bonus Nutter footage.

Macnow Back at Middays, Ike to Evenings

We previously reported on the rumor that Glen Macnow would be moving from evenings to middays on 610 WIP, and that part of the story has been confirmed. Glen will be opposite his former co-host, 950's Jody Macdonald, who moves from drive time to middays starting on Tuesday. Midday sports talk radio has a lot of class and talent with these two gentlemen. Former Eagles special teamer Ike Reese will be taking Glen's evening slot.

One twist we heard yesterday, which is not yet confirmed, is that Anthony Gargano will join Glen from 2 to 3, then share the 3 to 7 slot with Howard Eskin. Again, this part has not been confirmed, and Laura Nachman says it's only for next week.