Announced today 105.5 FM ESPN will close shop on January 3rd, 2016. Denver's radio was crowded in the afternoon but it allowed the sports radio listener to make a choice between the 3 programs that were on. Lou from Littleton and his partners had continually thinned the herd going from 87.7 The Ticket and all live and local shows to selling out to corporate ESPN and only having two true full-time one-man band shows over the past year or so. This day was coming and rumors had been running rampant from behind the scenes that Lou and company would throw in the towel at year end. It came true. While it is not good news to lose the ability to choose my show, the crowded landscape thinning out may actually help Denver radio IF the local stations bring some of that talent over.
Nate Kreckman has been one of the most entertaining and well informed guys in Denver sports. His show with Joel Klatt ranks amongst the greatest in Denver Sports Radio history and he has shown his abilities to work solo as The Working Man to doubling up to having a crowded "Locker Room" when he was on with Tom Nalen and Gary Miller. Nate Kreckman is radio gold and would be just another big loss in Denver Sports Media if someone local doesn't step up to the plate and bring him on and let's him move on elsewhere!
Cecil Lammey is a niche that works PERFECT for Denver radio and today's sports landscape where people are more concerned about their fantasy line-up and the NFL draft than they are about being a fan of their NFL team. When he was given a full-time daily show, it was good news for the football hungry Denver Sports market. He had been used and tossed to the side as just a filler weekend guy until ESPN thinned out and got rid of a large portion of payroll in Les Shapiro, Charles Johnson and then the Locker Room shake-up. Cecil has a great bank of NFL draft and fantasy football knowledge he can share and give his educated opinion on. He should not be lost locally but a national fantasy football show would be wise to use his work ethic and knowledge.
As for the others, Drew Spevak AND Rob Wagner have been young up and comers that have taken full advantage of their increased air time. Wagner and Spevak remind me of the talent 104.3 The Fan wastes in their Fan Late Night group. That group is probably their most talented show and is on during a time the married family man has a difficult time being able to catch most of their show. Spevak would make for a great replacement while those guys move up to the big leagues. Raj Sharan is a great producer and glue that has held that ship that has been breaking apart for years and would improve either remaining Denver Sports station.
So what is next we ask with only 1340AM Mile High Sports and 104.3 The Fan left and how should they react. Here are my thoughts:
1340 AM has to get an FM signal somehow, some way. I can't listen to 1340 once the sun goes down and some great late shows like Eric Goodman and Les Shapiro are scratchy for half their show, Big Dee White and Renaud Notaro don't even get a chance and anything later, I can't even tell you whether it is worth a listen since my late night drives are spent listening to a station that works in 104.3 The Fan. They have a decent line-up that differs from The Fan enough that unless they offer something to Nate or Cecil, I don't see them changing much since they are the CSU of coaching. A stepping stone for bigger things or a place for a guy to retire. After that, here is where those ESPN talents should land:
104.3 The Fan:
6-9 AM: Nate Kreckman w/ Vic Lombardi-Joel Dreesen has brought nothing. Nate can ramble off for an hour and then bring on Vic. Nate over Mike Evans is like going from Tebow to Peyton Manning instantly. 13 Ws and home field advantage compared to pray you get something good once in awhile.
9 AM to 11 AM: Cecil Lammey -9 AM to 12 PM. He could pick up The Fan Football Hour rather than know little Mike Evans. Let Raj work with him and help however need be.
11 AM to 1 PM: Sandy Clough and Mike Evans. They were really good together and belong together. Quit trying to keep this love away.
Move Big Al and D-Mac to 1-4 PM.
4-7 PM Move James Gomez, Ryan Edwards and Shawn Drotar to where they belong providing an entertaining and quality show.
7-10 PM: Drew Spevak and Rob Wagner or whatever contractual NBA or NHL or Monday night game. Let Drew work 9-Midnight on those nights it doesn't happen.
Denver Sports Radio can truly be live and local and not have tape delay and shitty replays if 104.3 The Fan is smart and Mile High Sports takes advantage of losing a competitor on the FM dial
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