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ryno4ever
Jan 25th 2007, 4:07 pm
chicagosports.com (http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports/columnists/cs-070124sherman,1,3544958.column?coll=cs-home-utility)

Waddle ending long run on WGN
Former Bear could switch to WMVP

January 25, 2007


Tom Waddle is leaving WGN-AM 720, probably for WMVP-AM 1000.

The former Bears receiver will end his 10-year association with David Kaplan on their 7-9 p.m. "Sports Central" show after the Super Bowl.


WGN station manager Bob Shomper sent a memo to the staff Wednesday night, saying Waddle is "exploring an opportunity that will, among other things, allow him to spend more time with his family."

According to sources, Waddle is in talks with WMVP. If a deal falls into place, he likely would be placed in WMVP's 9 a.m.-noon slot. The station trails WSCR-AM 670 by a considerable margin during that period.

What that means to incumbents Sean Salisbury and Steve Rosenbloom remains to be seen. But one of them could be out.

Waddle has emerged as one of the most popular sports personalities in town since hanging up his helmet. In addition to his WGN duties, he also has a regular role on WFLD-Ch. 32.

Shomper's memo said Kaplan would continue to be host for "Sports Central," likely in a solo role.

"This presents a great opportunity for 'Kap' to build on the rich tradition of 'Sports Central' and he is looking forward to it," the memo said.

His side

Salisbury felt compelled to defend himself Wednesday after Internet bloggers suggested he made an anti-Semitic remark in talking about Peyton Manning on ESPN on Sunday.

Describing Manning's calmness in the second half, Salisbury said, "No need to panic. We'll nip. We'll tuck. We'll go. We'll crunch."

Salisbury maintains he next said, "We'll chew. We'll do it all and they nickel and dimed them and Peyton made the plays when it mattered."

However, some bloggers allege instead of saying, "We'll chew," Salisbury said, "We'll Jew."

Salisbury gave a passionate denial that he made any slur during his radio show Wednesday. Then later in an interview, he again wanted to make sure nothing was left open to interpretation.

"I said crunch and chew," Salisbury said. "I don't know where a Jewish comment would have any place in talking about a quarterback driving down the field. If a blogger heard what he wanted to hear, there's nothing I could do about that. But I didn't say anything remotely close."

Salisbury, an 11-year veteran of ESPN, said he spoke out because he was upset about any inferences being made about his character.

"People who know me know when it comes to religion, race, color, sexual preference, those things don't matter to me," Salisbury said. "At some point you've got to defend yourself. We've all made mistakes, but that wasn't a mistake."

Wow! That's sad! I really enjoy listening to Kap and Waddle on Sports Central every night! Good Luck Tom!

Webgem
Jan 25th 2007, 6:22 pm
I wonder who will take Waddles spot on SC...:rolleyes:

ryno4ever
Jan 25th 2007, 6:55 pm
Sounds like they are gonna let Kaplan take it on his own. No more Cubs vs Reds banter between the two of them.

bczar
Jan 26th 2007, 7:33 am
It's a shame when your radio station is losing in the ratings by "a considerable amount" to the likes of Mike North and Mike Murphy. Maybe Waddle can boost the ratings if he brings over a bike horn and phone ring that sounds like a rotary from 1978 (like Murph) or flip flops his words daily claiming he always supported something that he was dissing the day before when it turns out to be a good move (North). :)

mickeyrom51
Feb 12th 2007, 8:44 am
Thats really too bad.I thought he was maybe the most objective sports talk guy in Chicago.Of course,:) he will still be in Chi.,but WGN is Chicago's own.