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CBS Sports 920 Adds TJ Moe

Jason Barrett

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It’s official, Moe is on the show.

T.J. Moe, who was an impact receiver at Missouri and has had tryouts in the NFL with the Patriots and Rams, has been working alongside Jim Edmonds and Tim McKernan in recent days on their show at WGNU (920 AM). And now he’s being made a full-time member of the program, which airs from 4-6 p.m. weekdays.

The “Edmonds and McKernan Show’’ adds “Moe’’ to the title effective today.

It’s been a winding path into broadcasting for Moe, who played at MU from 2009-12 and had been an occasional guest on the station. Those appearances led to him expressing interest in broadcasting and that word got to McKernan, whose insideSTL.com company controls WGNU’s weekday programming (and this week reached an agreement to continue to do so through 2015). Then came Moe’s trial period with Edmonds and McKernan.

“Since I knew he was good (as a guest) I thought, ‘OK this could be interesting,’” McKernan said. “Jim and I had been discussing that we wanted somebody with football experience to be part of it.’’

Moe played at Fort Zumwalt West High before going to MU, then was signed by New England last year as an undraftedfree agent. But he suffered a torn Achilles tendon during offseason workouts and had surgery, wiping out his season. He was released this March before the Rams brought him in, but cut him in August.

“It makes all the sense in the world (to add Moe) because he’s a St. Louisan who played at Missouri and who was with the Rams,’’ McKernan said. “Those are three things you can’t teach — you either have it or you don’t. On top of that, from a broadcasting standpoint, he’s an absolute natural.”

But being in the media isn’t a natural for Moe, who despite going to a university that has a prestigious journalism program majored in business administration. He took a journalism class as a freshman, but …

“I hated it,’’ he said. “I was terrible.”

However, he never could get away from journalists as he became a go-to guy for interviews about the MU football program because of his candor.

“I never liked the cliché answers,’’Moe said. “It didn’t make sense to me to memorize a certain list of things you were supposed to say, because I could say something intelligent and insightful without crossing any lines. I didn’t ever want to make it not personal for whoever was interviewing me. I wanted to give them something to write about — I understand it’s a difficult job and a lot of these guys are like, ‘Could somebody please say something to write about?’ … Even something that’s not a story to me is really interesting to people who don’t know the ins and outs of the sport. So I was always very candid with my answers.”

As his MU football career blossomed, so did his profile.

“I became somewhat of a fan favorite,’’ Moe said. “I don’t know if I’ve ever said ‘no’ to an interview if I was available to do it. So after my sophomore season they brought me to Big 12 media day and (the next year to) SEC media day. That was the place I kind of took off.’’

Then early this year, when the debate about paying college athletes was sizzling, Moe sent some tweets in which he was not in favor of unionization of student athletes. Those caught the attention of MSNBC, which brought him on as a guest on its “UP” program to discuss the matter. He also wrote a commentary about it for The Huffington Post.

His opinion was becoming valued — and sought. So in August when his pursuit of the NFL ended, at least temporarily, radio became a natural.

“A lot of it is connecting the dots.’’ Moe said. “And some of it is people taking an interest in my opinion. Whether they like it or not, I guess they are interested in my opinion.’’

And Edmonds, 44, said the opinions of Moe, 23, can attract younger listeners.

“He brings a whole other dynamic, the different age group,’’ Edmonds said. “We’re starting to figure out how to work in more everyday stuff (on the show), and he’s very up-to-date on a lot of issues and very active on social media. He brings a lot of young knowledge that Tim (who turns 38 on Saturday) and I are missing. And he’s also a qualified football personalty who really knows his stuff about Mizzou and football in general.”

That was a big selling point to McKernan.

“He’s able to convey his experiences at Missouri and his time with the Patriots and Rams but also the mindset of a coach or a player in ways that somebody who never has experienced it flat can’t do,’’ McKernan said.

To that end. Moe likes to offer detailed analysis of plays.

“I really took an interest into the intricacies of football while I was playing, so I learned the ins and outs,’’ he said. “That’s what’s interesting for the listener, when I can break down a play.’’

He cited an interception MU’s Maty Mauk threw early this season against Toledo, when fans complained that it was a terrible throw. But Moe explained how the receiver ran a bad route.

McKernan said it is important to add a MU football presence to the station because of the way interest in the program has increased locally in recent years.

“On top of that, he’s an outstanding talent and it continues a theme of wanting to give new voices and opportunity to see if it works,’’ McKernan said. “He fits all of the criteria — great guy, great talent.’’

Moe hopes he still has the football talent to get another call from an NFL team. That dream remains alive. But he also is realistic.

I’m still working out. I’m hoping to get picked up,’’ he said, adding when he was pursuing the 920 AM job he made it known that “I need something to do in the meantime — and possibly forever if nobody wants me to play anymore.”

McKernan said if Moe gets another chance to play pro football, there will be no problem at the station.

“The minute he gets a call from an NFL team, he’s gone,’’ he said. “For his sake, it would be great if he got a call.’’

While Moe has been involved in football for years, broadcasting is new to him. And, as expected, not everything is perfect. One knock is that he is too much of a Mizzou homer. He refers to the team as “we” and “us.” And after MU suffered a bad loss Saturday, at home to Indiana, he tweeted that the Tigers can “still win the East and the conference outright. Playoff is still in the picture because we’re in the SEC.”

While technically true, it is unrealistic to think that a team that lost at home to one of the weaker Big Ten Conference teams can at this point be considered a playoff contender. Moe’s words come from the heart, not the head.

“There are little things” to work on, McKernan acknowledged. “There are things I can coach him on.”

And Moe seems eager to learn.

“I have no training in the radio business, I just go off of natural ability — if I even have any,’’ he said. “I just know what I know. I’m learning quite a bit” on the job.

And he says even if he goes to the NFL, “I will do this (broadcasting) at some point. I’m interested in it, it’s pretty easy and fun.”

And he’s fitting in fast.

“He seemed to be comfortable right away,’’ Edmonds said. “He seems to be a confident young man.”

McKernan said Moe has vast potential.

“We stumbled into T.J. — I wasn’t just going to put anybody on (the air),’’ McKernan said. “But when he came on, he was so good. If he wants it, he most definitely has a future in broadcasting.”

Credit to STL Today who originally published this article

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Charley Steiner Injured; Tim Neverett to Handle Dodgers Radio Play-by-Play

“This will be the first Opening Day that I will have missed since 1976, when I wore a younger man’s clothes.”

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photo of Charley Steiner
Courtesy: Los Angeles Dodgers

As the Los Angeles Dodgers get set to take on the St. Louis Cardinals in their first home game on Thursday, team play-by-play voice Charley Steiner has revealed he will not be doing games at the beginning of the season due to a severe back injury.

Through the Dodgers, Steiner posted a statement which said, “Over the winter, I landed on the Injured List with three compound fractures in my back. (I don’t recommend it.) With the start of the baseball season upon us, the Dodgers are ready to go – but I’m not. This will be the first Opening Day that I will have missed since 1976, when I wore a younger man’s clothes. I look forward to returning to the mic later this season. In the meantime, go Dodgers!”

TrueBlueLA.com reports Tim Neverett will handle play-by-play duties while Steiner recovers. Neverett called the first two regular season games with Rick Monday as the Dodgers started the season in South Korea. Neverett and Monday did not travel with the team, however, they called those games in a studio back home.

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Ronnie Lane and Tom Krasniqi Put a Bow on The Ronnie & TKras Show After Nearly 10 Years

“Finally, Tampa Bay can sleep easy knowing this hideous show is finally over.”

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Photo of Ronnie Lane and Tom Krasniqi
Courtesy: iHeartMedia

After nearly 10 years, The Ronnie & TKras Show with Ronnie Lane and Tom Krasniqi came to an end today as the duo broadcast their final show on remote with many listeners, friends and co-workers on hand. Earlier this month, WDAE announced changes to its programming lineup which will take place starting tomorrow. Ronnie Lane will take on a new role as host of the Tampa Bay Rays pre-game show The Inside Pitch. Tom Krasniqi will continue on in afternoon drive with producer Chris Mathis for The Drive.

Their final show kicked off with station voice Jim Cutler saying, “…Finally, Tampa Bay can sleep easy knowing this hideous show is finally over.”

And with that went three very fast hours of looking back on a nearly decade-long run for Lane and Krasniqi. “It seems kind of surreal, doesn’t it?” said Lane.

Mathis had several special guests lined up for the final show and many others left voice messages which were played coming out of breaks. Tampa Bay Buccaneers General Manager Jason Licht and Chief Operating Officer Brian Ford took part in the final show. Tampa Bay Rays closer Pete Fairbanks also called in and, at first, identified himself as “Pete from St. Louis” before asking what the hosts thought of the Rays bullpen.

“I’m telling you man, when I hear all of these tributes it really brings a tear to my eye, Ronnie,” said Krasniqi. “It’s a surreal moment…It makes me feel so fortunate and blessed to be in this position sitting next to you all these years. This is one of those moments where I am almost speechless and just so incredibly overwhelmed by the support and the love that everyone has shown here today.”

Lane responded, “…Our time together is really coming to an end. I might get a little emotional before this show is over, but we have had a great time and been through many ups and downs…This business is crazy and for us to be able to do what we are doing and doing it on our terms…And for a company that believes in both of us to give us this opportunity to go in different directions with the same company is truly amazing…It doesn’t happen like this always in this business, usually it’s an ugly goodbye.”

As the show came to an end, Lane reminded everyone, “It has been a blast, but we’re not freakin’ leaving!”

“We’re not leaving folks,” ‘TKras’ said. “Thanks very much for being a part of our lives and thanks for having us as part of yours. Onward and upward. You are dismissed.”

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Tyler Murray Added to WEEI Red Sox Radio Bench

“Coming up on 13 seasons in [minor league baseball], it’s not lost on me how fortunate I am to have this opportunity.”

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Photo of Tyler Murray and logos for WEEI and the Boston Red Sox
Photo Credit: Ashley Green

The voice of the Worcester Red Sox, Tyler Murray, has been added to the Red Sox Radio play-by-play bench. WEEI made the announcement on their X account, saying, “On the heels of calling the Hockey East Tourney this weekend [and] adding to his excellent work [with the Worcester Red Sox], happy to announce that Tyler Murray will be helping to build our [Red Sox Network] bench this year! Tyler’s 1st series in the big leagues will be April 5-7 [with Will Flemming].

Murray, who has also called college hockey games on NESN plus college football and basketball games, said on X, “Coming up on 13 seasons in [minor league baseball], it’s not lost on me how fortunate I am to have this opportunity. Thank you to [WEEI brand manager Ken Laird] and [Audacy Boston Senior Vice President/Market Manager Mike Thomas], and to everyone who has reached out. Your support has honestly been overwhelming, and I couldn’t be more grateful.”

Murray’s first series will be the Red Sox taking on the Los Angeles Angels on the road, April 5-7.

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