By: Jim Williams
The Examiner
Sunday’s Newspaper
Bruce Gilbert the President and CEO of Red Zebra Broadcasting is the man at the center of the change in the way Washington will hear sports talk radio beginning Monday at 6am.
It was 1992 when Sports Talk 570AM became one of the handful of all sports stations in the country. Then in 1998 the whole gang moved over to AM 980. It is a station that launched the national radio careers of a number of personalities the likes of Tony Kornheiser, Bruce Murray, James Brown, Chuck Booms, and Steve Czaban to name a few that have graced the air char as Sports Director Andy Pollin would say.
That era is over and Gilbert is out to start a new legend with ESPN 980AM beginning Monday morning.
Williams: You have made some tough changes like dropping the popular First team on FOX with the Steve Czaban for the national ESPN program Mike and Mike in the Morning, why?
Gilbert: “First let me say that Steve Czaban’s Show did very well in this market and we are proud and happy to have him on the staff. But we wanted to be an ESPN station because it is the biggest brand name in sports. You need only say ESPN 980AM and people anywhere know that we are the home of sports and that includes Sunday Night Baseball, the World Series, the NBA Championships and the BCS Bowl Series.”
Williams: What do you say to the people who contend that since Red Zebra is owned by Dan Snyder on air personalities like Doc Walker, Brian Mitchell, John Thompson, Czaban and Pollin will not be allowed to speak their mind about the team?
Gilbert: “Has anyone listened to John Riggins Show? Riggo had free rein to say whatever he wanted about the team and ownership. It is huge misconception that Dan Snyder is involved in the day to day running of the radiostations. He is not and we expect that all of the talent that we have on ESPN 980 to freely speak their mind no matter if it is pro or anti Redskins, or pro or anti Dan Snyder. The only thing that we ask of our talent is that they be solid with the facts and fair with their reporting. So I do not expect anyone on our air including John Riggins to shy away from fairly challenging the Redskins or any topic that we discuss on the station.”
Williams: What is your ultimate goal for ESPN 980AM?
Gilbert: “We want to be the sports station of record for
So items of note and that John Riggins will join Czaban and Pollin on the Monday editionsof the Sports Reporters during the football season to help out on Redskins coverage. Also Doc Walker will be the side line reporter on all Redskins broadcasts starting with the pre season.
New line up
6am-10am Mike and Mike in the Morning
10-noon The Herd with Colin Cowherd
Noon -2pm Dock Walker and his new partner Kevin Sheehan
2pm -4pm The John Thompson Show with Brian Mitchell and Al Koken
4pm – 7pm The Sports Reporters with Steve Czaban and Andy Pollin
Play by play home to the Redskins, Wizards,
