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Trying to keep up with the world of sports talk on radio and TV around here is something only crazed, die-hard fans would even attempt to do. But now that the EZ and Bo Show has returned to the airwaves at 1450 AM, let's re-set the playing field.
The show, featuring Zach McCrite and C-J columnist Rick Bozich, airs weekdays from 3-6 at 1450 AM, now known as 1450 ESPN The Ticket. The station had been airing primarily syndicated ESPN content from hosts including Mike & Mike, Dan Patrick and Colin Cowherd.
McCrite, the Cumulus-owned station's program director, had been lobbying the ownership team for almost a year to get his local sports talk show with Bozich back on the air. It had been airing on Louisville's 93.9 The Ticket, which during its run in 2007 and 2008 featured a lineup of local sports talkers.
Then Atlanta-based Cumulus abruptly switched formats at 93.9, benching the lineup of local hosts in favor of classic rock hits, back in November 2008.
McCrite's show with Bozich ended. So did the Bob Valvano/Wil Wolford morning duo. The early morning show featuring Dave Ragone and Scott Padgett moved over to the CW TV station for a while, until it ended when that station was sold this spring. And John Renshaw, who also landed a late-night TV gig, left the station shortly before the new ownership took over.
Renshaw is now doing a daily Internet-only show on sports from his home in St. Louis.
Still with me?
McCrite, who also does play-by-play of Indiana high school sports for 1450, said he and Bozich have been trying to get back on the air since the format switch, but that Cumulus was reluctant to break into ESPN programming for a daily local show. Bozich, who also does a TV show with Pat Forde on Insight, played an "integral role in getting the show back on," McCrite said.
The station's tower is in Jeffersonville, and its studios are in the East End. McCrite said that during the day the signal can be picked up inside the Snyder Freeway.
He said the focus remains U of L and UK sports, but that he and Bozich are trying to talk about more national news. And in the eight weeks they've been on the air this time, he says it's been fun reaching out to a new audience.
"We try to be very self-deprecating on the show, trying to be a little different and create a cult following," he said. "What's fun is that we can step outside boundaries and be opinionated."
Which is what sports talk is all about.
When The Ticket left the air last November, there was talk that its demise was championed by University of Louisville athletic officials, who went so far as to pull media credentials from some station personnel. The school is a big part of the programming at WKRD 790 AM, a Clear Channel sports talk station whose local lineup includes Drew Deener, the Joe B. and Denny Show and the Afternoon Underdogs (focused on U of L sports). It also airs Jim Rome in the afternoons.
For now, McCrite says Cumulus is not looking to add any more local shows.
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