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Caller Thanks Michael Kay For Helping Him Get Through Covid

“I’ve been here a month already, and [these] four hours every day… [help] me get through the day.”

Derek Futterman

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Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers has been receiving extensive amounts of backlash for comments he made last Friday on The Pat McAfee Show regarding his decision not to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.

The story has received substantial coverage on virtually every news outlet, late-night show and sports program across multiple platforms. After it was reported that Rodgers was stunned at the reaction to his comments, Rodgers returned to The Pat McAfee Show yesterday to clarify the situation.

“I made some comments that people might have felt were misleading… and to anybody who felt [that], I take full responsibility for those comments,” said Rodgers. “I understand that this issue, in general, is very charging to a lot of people because we are talking about public health. I totally respect that. I made a decision that was in the best interest based on consulting with my doctors… and I understand that not everybody is going to understand that necessarily. But I respect everybody’s opinion.”

On Tuesday afternoon, cast of The Michael Kay Show on 98.7 ESPN New York spoke about Rodgers’ reappearance on The Pat McAfee Show, and gave their thoughts on the 37-year-old quarterback’s shock towards the negative reaction regarding his comments.

Don La Greca touched on Rodgers’ lack of sensitivity in discussing the precarious subject of vaccination against COVID-19, ahead of a powerful moment on the show.

“Clearly, he’s clueless about the current climate in this country,” said La Greca. “[He] just didn’t realize how polarizing the subject is, and his opinion is. I guess when you surround yourself with people that are like-mind [sic], you figure, ‘Well, everyone’s going to understand what I’m saying.’ Then, he realized that over half the country thinks he’s a tool.”

Almost as if on cue, the hosts took a call from a man named Alan, who, although he is vaccinated, has been in the hospital for the last month battling COVID-19. He spoke openly about his predicament and Aaron Rodgers’ situation as a whole.

“Anybody that doesn’t get the shot — you’re crazy,” said the caller. “The doctor told me when I got here, ‘Did you get the vaccine?’ I said, ‘Yes.’ He said, ‘You have a good chance of walking out of here.’ If I didn’t he actually said I did not. I have a 20-year-old, 26-year-old, and a lonely wife, and I can’t imagine not ever being with them. So when I listen to the Aaron Rodgers stuff, I can’t understand him or anybody that wouldn’t take this vaccine.”

The caller then expressed his gratitude towards The Michael Kay Show during this difficult time in his life, a moment that represents the power radio still garners in today’s oversaturated media landscape.

“I’ve been here a month already, and [these] four hours every day… [help] me get through the day,” said Alan. “It’s invaluable… Even though I’m here and I’m really sick, I’m going to get out of here in a couple weeks. But I wouldn’t [be] If I didn’t have a shot. So please, all you listeners, don’t play around — it’s not a joke.”

Kay and the rest of the on-air crew sent Alan their regards, telling him that they would keep him in their thoughts and look forward to hearing from him when he was discharged from the hospital. Through it all, they will continue to be there for him, and Alan will continue to tune in — congeniality derived from calamity.

“Whether you are for [the vaccine] or against it,” said Rosenberg, “if you are in a situation where you are lonely, I love that we give you four hours a day where you know you have some friends to hang out with.”

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Sports Radio News

Former 670 The Score Host Tommy Williams Has Died

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Photo of Tommy Williams
Courtesy: Lakeshore Public Media

Tommy Williams, who was heard for a decade on 670 The Score, died on Wednesday at the age of 66.

Williams began his broadcasting career in his hometown of Gary, Indiana in 1982 at WLTH before moving on to The Score. In 2003, Williams became the PA Announcer for the Gary Southshore RailCats of the American Association where he had his signature call to get the attention of the fans, “People, People, People.”

A story in The Times of Northwest Indiana said, “The longtime RailCats public address announcer and Lakeshore Public Media sports journalist was known for broadcasting countless games, interviewing countless athletes and covering Region sports at all levels. The Gary native and co-host of “Prep Sports Report,” “Prep Football Report,” and “Lakeshore PBS Scoreboard” often signed off shows saying, “Gary, Indiana, you know I love you.”

“The cadence he had in his voice echoed across the Region in a way we may never see again. He was widely known and widely loved,” Tom Maloney, vice president of radio operations at Lakeshore Public Media told the paper.

“He’d want to be remembered as the voice of Lakeshore sports,” his Regionally Speaking co-host and producer Dee Dotson told The Times. “Most people will remember him for covering prep sports all the way up to semi-pros. He’ll be remembered for treating each of his subjects like they were world champions. His depth of knowledge of sports at all levels is commendable. He was a walking encyclopedia of stats.” 

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Sports Radio News

Compass Media Networks Promotes Three Members to Oversee Play-by-Play Sports Platform

“It is our pleasure to give these three talented executives their day in the sun, knowing that they will continue to work incredibly hard to carry on this tradition of excellence.”

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Logo for Compass Media Networks

Compass Media Networks has announced the promotions of three long-standing executives, Robert Blum, Tyler Brewer, and Chris Kleiber, who will collectively oversee the content creation, production, and distribution of the company’s play-by-play sports platform.

“For over 16 years, Compass Media Networks has set a standard of excellence for national play-by-play sports with Chris, Rob, and Tyler playing a vital part in our success,” said Peter Kosann, CEO/Founder of Compass Media Networks. “It is our pleasure to give these three talented executives their day in the sun, knowing that they will continue to work incredibly hard to carry on this tradition of excellence.”

Robet Blum has been appointed Vice President & General Manager of Sports and will also continue to serve as Vice President of Affiliate Sales for News-Talk and Sports. Tyler Brewer has been appointed Executive Producer – Sports Programming. And Chris Kleiber has been appointed Senior Producer – Sports Programming.

Compass Media Networks broadcasts annually over 100 play-by-play sporting events involving college men’s basketball and football (including the Big Ten Tournament and the Big Ten Championship Game), NFL 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. Sunday Doubleheaders, and complete coverage of the Dallas Cowboys and Las Vegas Raiders. The broadcasts are distributed across hundreds of terrestrial sports, news-talk and music stations as well as digital distribution platforms such as SiriusXM, Verizon Mobile, and the Varsity App.

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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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