The700Level.com - Philly Sports & Minutiae

950 ESPN = 97.5 FM "The Fanatic"... New Lineup Announced (Including Stephen A. Smith)

Word came out on Friday about some big news and changes for 950 ESPN, a station that has seen its share of changes in its short history. First, the station's programming will be simulcast on the FM dial now too—on 97.5 The Fanatic. So, for those of you who have trouble with AM radio in your car or at home, problem solved. No word yet on the range of the FM station, which had also been an issue for some 950 listeners. Eventually, the 950 AM offering may be more of a home for ESPN national programing and the play-by-play broadcasts of local and national games. 

There's also a new lineup for the local daytime hours. After Mike & Mike, a new show with Stephen A. Smith and Dan Schwartzman will run from 10-12. Then, it's Vai Sikahema and Harry Mayes from 12-2, followed by Mike Missanelli an hour earlier, from 2-7. To kick off the changes, Mikey Miss will be on today with Stephen A., his former partner in New York, and he'll be back at 2 for his regular show. 

Ike Reese on With Howard Eskin? Could Happen. Plus: Lineup Shakeups at 950

With two sports talk radio stations vying for the ears of a coveted demographic—you—there have been a few shakeups recently on 610 WIP and 950 ESPN Radio, and another one could be on the way. Less than a week after longtime Philly radio great Jody McDonald announced that Friday was his last day with 950, the man who has for better or for worse (you decide) been the most recognizable visage in Philly sports talk over the past decade, Howard Eskin, may be getting a co-host in former Eagle Ike Reese.  

Daily News gossip columnist Dan Gross, who keeps a pretty close tab on the dials, says Reese could move up to 3-7PM with Eskin, having his 7-10PM slot, which would likely be filled by Rob Ellis. The evening slot was given to Reese, a radio and broadcast rookie, when Glen Macnow moved to middays with Anthony Gargano. For those who follow the radio ratings, a change in the PM drivetime at WIP probably won't surprise you. It's been widely reported that Eskin has been toppled by 950's Mike Missanelli in just the first year of his return to Philly on a rival station. Missanelli and Eskin were of course co-hosts at WIP for a time. We certainly saw which side you preferred. 

Gross states that WIP operations manager Andy Bloom wouldn't confirm nor deny the information. 

There are also some fairly big programming changes at 950 taking place. 

Radio Wars! 950 vs. 610 Bar Room Style

It's clear that 950 ESPN has made major inroads into 610 WIP's space as the place to turn the radio dial to in order to hear some Philly sports chatter. Mikey Miss has surpassed Howard Eskin in recent months as the most listened to afternoon show among prime demographics. But these ratings facts are uninteresting. What is slightly more interesting is a tale of a 950 employee having words and almost throwing down with a WIP employee at a bar in Fairmount. [video of the brawl below]

Philadelphia Sports Radio Faceoff: Part 4—Evenings

After running the morning, midday, and PM drive time polls regarding your listening preferences when it comes to sports talk radio, we had a few requests to also take your pulse on the evening slot. Without further delay...  

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:

Mike Missanelli Takes on Skip Bayless, Defends the Philly Rep, Likely Adds to It

I've never been a fan of the talking heads shows on ESPN and ESPN2. Fortunately, I'm at work when they're on, and I don't get home until well after the PTI/Around the Horn nonsense is over. Usually the shows strike me as a bunch of guys I don't know loudly disagreeing about the minor points of a minor story, making the discussion a little more about themselves with each parry.

Usually the combatants are current or former columnists at major papers around the country, so they often know their topics fairly well, but the format just brings out their dumbassedness (in my opinion—obviously somebody likes this stuff or they wouldn't keep rolling it out). The only context in which I know Skip Bayless is this argument-based sports coverage. So, I wasn't surprised to get in the car and hear Mike Missanelli of 950 ESPN radio fired up about something Bayless said yesterday, when in a discussion that had NOTHING to do with Philadelphia fans, teams, or anything at all related to this townl, he described an incidence of poor fan behavior as "Philly-style, rude, crude, dangerous behavior in the stands."

Bayless agreed to call into Missanelli's show yesterday, and it didn't take long to get ugly. Listen to the clip here. More after the jump.

A Fireside Chat with Charlie Manuel

The Christmas season is an awesome time of year. Sipping eggnog with family and friends while discussing Philly sports is a joy after the '08 season. There are maybe four guys we'd wish would attend our annual Christmas festivities: Clark W. Griswold, Cousin Eddie, Chase Effing Utley, and good old Charlie Manuel. In fact, there's no jollier guy I'd like to talk to meet than Uncle Cholly.

The good folks over at 950 ESPN got the chance to chat with the Phils skipper this afternoon. Jody Mac and Harry Mayes cover the typical glorious Phillies World Series topics as well as the moves to let Burrell go in favor of Raul Ibanez.

But the question you're all dying to know, what does Charlie Manuel want for Christmas?

Jody Mac to Undergo Heart Surgery

Just a quick note to send our support to great guy and outstanding sports talk radio host Jody McDonald, who will undergo heart surgery on Monday. Michael Klein reports that Jody Mac had some discomfort, but no further information on the type of procedure he's undergoing was yet available. Jody's one of the best in the business, and we wish him a speedy recovery.

Shawn Andrews on Missanelli's Show This Afternoon

The Shawn Andrews situation is clearly a situation of significant interest to most Eagles fans, both for how it affects the team, and the personal toll it's taking on the man off of the field. We just received word that Andrews will be on Mike Missanelli's show on 950 ESPN radio very shortly (I'm posting this at 3:45). If you can't listen now, we'll link to the podcast once we receive it.

Update: Here's the podcast.

Cole Hamels Talks About Phils Struggles

Cole Hamels -- who doesn't sleep, he waits -- was a guest on ESPN 950 last night with Harry Mayes. It's your typical radio interview that touches on the Phils recent struggles, the Sox and Angels, Cole's dominance, and the need for the entire team to step up.

One quote of interest, however, is Cole's response when Harry asks, "If they [Phils] were to come to you and approach you [with a long term deal] would you be interested in sitting down with them at this point in time or are you willing to just sort of wait it out?"

Lito as a Receiver? Eagles May Try It

950 ESPN's Brian Seltzer reported on Mike Missanelli's show this afternoon that the Eagles are considering using odd man out CB Lito Sheppard on offense as a receiver in certain packages.

Seltzer commented that in the past, Lito had floated the possibility of lining up at receiver to Andy Reid, but the Eagles never went for it. Now, with his starting job in the secondary taken by free agent Asante Samuel, the Eagles might be willing to grant the request to keep Lito happy in the event he can't be traded for what the front office considers his value to be. The whole idea is pretty odd (and oddly entertaining), especially considering that Lito is all of 5'10", and they've got enough undersized receivers to field an arena league team. Should be interesting to see how this one plays out...

Take a listen to a podcast of the report here.

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.

Buzz Bissinger Calms Down a Bit, But Sticks to His Guns

Buzz Bissinger, the brilliant and talented writer who appeared on Costas Now earlier this week, where he took the opportunity to attack Deadspin's Will Leitch (and essentially every blog of any kind), was a guest of Philadelphia 950 ESPN's Mike Missanelli Friday afternoon. Missanelli and Bissinger have both worked in the Philadelphia print media biz, but have moved on to other genres since that time.

In the interview, which can be found after the jump, Bissinger begins by expressing regret at the way he behaved toward Leitch. This was probably a wise (and somewhat respectable) choice considering the absurdity of all the accusations he had made toward Leitch and literally all blogs, which he called "profane," while cursing like a sailor on national television (this is not to say all sailors curse; I wouldn't want to paint with too wide a brush). However, he did not regret the message of his invective, which he elaborated on in the interview.