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Former Syracuse Radio Voice Finds Kidney Donor

“If Hyder does receive the kidney from McMorrow on the planned date of July 15th, it means he has just 16 dialysis treatments remaining.”

Brandon Contes

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Five years ago, former Syracuse basketball radio announcer, Steve Hyder was diagnosed with kidney disease, changing his life and putting him in need of a transplant.  In January, it was reported Hyder was in search of a donor, but now the broadcaster tells Syracuse.com a perfect match has been found. 

Liz McMorrow, Hyder’s 35-year old second-cousin came up as a perfect match, with the procedure currently scheduled to take place on July 15th.

“Ironically enough, I’m her godfather,’’ Hyder told Mike Waters of Syracuse.com. “I’ll tell you what, as great as it is to get the kidney, the connection I’ve made with her has been so great. We talk every day. We text every day. Her kids are awesome. Her husband’s a great guy. It’s a tremendous gift.’’

Hyder called Syracuse men’s basketball for 10 years during the 80’s and 90’s.  Hyder moved to his hometown of Newport after Syracuse chose not to renew his contract in 1996 and began serving as the play-by-play announcer for the Pawtucket Red Sox where he worked with the current radio voice of the Cincinnati Bengals Dan Hoard.

But in the last three years, sports have been pushed aside with Hyder’s life revolving around dialysis treatments.  “It wears you out,’’ Hyder said of dialysis, which he receives three days a week for four hours at a time. “Afterwards, you’re utterly exhausted. You’re too tired to do anything. Grocery shop or anything. I’ve got to go home and take it easy.’’

If Hyder does receive the kidney from McMorrow on the planned date of July 15th, it means he has just 16 dialysis treatments remaining.  Assuming all goes well with the procedure, Hyder should see immediate improvement.  “I don’t know what it’s like to feel normal,” Hyder said.  “It’s been so long. I can’t even believe it.’’

Hyder’s cousin, Liz McMorrow chose to become an organ donor after being involved in a serious car accident a few years ago, while she was seven-months pregnant.

“She had made a promise to herself if she could ever help someone she would do it,’’ Hyder said. “Lo and behold, she’s a perfect match.’’

Brandon Contes is a freelance writer for BSM. He can be found on Twitter @BrandonContes. To reach him by email click here.

Sports Radio News

Dan Patrick: NBC Created ‘Something That Was Brilliant’ With Flex Scheduling

“Networks were so upset that NBC would go ‘Hey, you know what? We’re gonna take that game and we’re gonna have it on Sunday night.’ Then FOX and CBS would be scrambling there.”

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Roger Goodell wants flex scheduling to come to Prime Video’s Thursday Night Football package. It could happen this season, but we won’t know for sure until May after league owners decided to table a vote on the proposal. On Wednesday, FOX Sports Radio’s Dan Patrick joined the chorus of critics calling it a bad idea.

Patrick said that the league always prioritizes revenue. If it were thinking about the fans, this isn’t something that would even be discussed.

The idea of flex scheduling was first introduced for NBC’s Sunday Night Football package in 2006. The goal was to make sure the prime time TV package could deliver high quality games every week.

“NBC did something that was brilliant where they were able to flex Sunday night games,” Patrick said. “Everyone wanted it.”

While the fate of flex scheduling for Thursdays remains up in the air, we do know that flex scheduling is coming to Monday Night Football on ESPN this season. Patrick, who worked for NBC when the practice was introduced, said that it always took care of one broadcast partner by screwing others.

“Networks were so upset that NBC would go ‘Hey, you know what? We’re gonna take that game and we’re gonna have it on Sunday night.’ Then FOX and CBS would be scrambling there.”

Dan Patrick suggested that perhaps Amazon’s Prime Video doesn’t deserve the same treatment as NBC or ESPN. Far fewer people watch the Thursday night game than any other primetime NFL contest.

Whether or not flex scheduling comes to Thursday Night Football, Patrick says it does not guarantee to change the package’s reputation for delivering largely unappealing games.

“I’ve long said it’s crazy to say you have to play Sunday and then turn around and play Thursday and we’d always go ‘Man, these Thursday games aren’t good,’” he concluded. “Well, was it the matchup or just the quality of play?”

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Sports Radio News

106.7 The Fan Extends Deal to Remain Washington Nationals Flagship

“We’re looking forward to continuing to serve as the home for everything Nats for the foreseeable future…”

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106.7 The Fan has announced it has reached a multi-year extension with the Washington Nationals to remain as the MLB club’s radio flagship.

Nationals fans will continue to hear game broadcasts on the station, and those living inside the club’s broadcast territory will be able to stream the radio broadcasts on the Audacy app.

“Opening Day is finally here and we’re thrilled to celebrate the return of baseball season by extending our partnership with the Washington Nationals,” said Audacy Washington D.C. Senior Vice President and Market Manager Ivy Savoy-Smith. “We’re looking forward to continuing to serve as the home for everything Nats for the foreseeable future and give the team’s fans a front row seat to the action on the field and top storylines throughout the year.”

The Nationals have called 106.7 The Fan home since the 2011 season. Beyond game broadcasts, the station will welcome Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo to The Sports Junkies every Wednesday at 9:00 AM throughout the season. The station will also air segments titled “Nats Insider”, hosted by broadcaster Dan Kolko that feature player interviews and features. Those segments will air all along the Nationals Radio Network.

“We couldn’t be happier to partner with Audacy in bringing Nationals fans even more of the interviews and exclusive access they love,” said Lerner Sports Group COO Alan H. Gottlieb. “From in-depth interviews with execs and top players, to off-the-field profiles and more Spanish and English bilingual content than ever before, Audacy offers a comprehensive look at our ball club from all angles.”

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Sports Radio News

Todd Markiewicz Departing 97.1 The Fan

“He has left an indelible mark in the Columbus market and within the sports/talk radio world by building The Fan with excellent programming, dominant ratings, and overall market share.”

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Longtime 97.1 The Fan Vice President and Market Manager Todd Markiewicz has announced he is leaving the sports radio station.

Markiewicz has been named the President of the 1870 Society, a Name, Image, and Likeness collective working with Ohio State athletics and Learfield to devise NIL strategy, fundraising, and logistics.

In an internal memo, Tegna Columbus President and General Manager John Cardenas credited Markiewicz for helping to establish the brand as “the powerhouse sports station in the country. He has left an indelible mark in the Columbus market and within the sports/talk radio world by building The Fan with excellent programming, dominant ratings, and overall market share.”

Markiewicz joined the station in 2010. Under his leadership, 97.1 The Fan has routinely ranked as the highest-rated station in the Columbus market.

His final day with the station will be Friday, May 26th.

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