One of the cool things about my career is I’ve been able to work with a lot of people who I grew up following in the media. ESPN SportsCenter was in its golden age when I was in college at the Univ. of Georgia and Chris Myers was O.G. back then, manning all the major stories, including narrating the O.J. bronco chase for the Worldwide Leader.
(Still weird seeing Myers (l) do NASCAR after all these years)
Fast forward a decade and I’m co-hosting an afternoon drive radio show with same dude in Los Angeles on the USC football flagship. Unlike a lot of prompter jockeys, Chris has an enormous-less ego, so it was good times.
I was doing that show with him when he first got the NASCAR gig. It certainly didn’t fit his career profile or personality, but to his credit he’s made it work. Pro.
Today Don Barrett of LARadio.com reports that Myers has now officially stepped away from his fulltime midday radio show at Fox Sports Radio because of a new NASCAR commit.
Showtime started a NASCAR show and Chris got hired as the main host of the show, which will run 40 weeks. This new commitment to Showtime requires Chris to be in Charlotte every Tuesday.
“When he signed up for this, Chris and his agent came to us and asked what we thought about Chris doing radio only two or three days a week,” said Don Martin, executive with Fox Sports Radio. “It isn’t conducive to good radio, but Chris loves radio and we want him to remain part of the show.
“Moving forward Chris will do a segment each day from location and then do CMI [Chris Myers Interview] on Saturdays and Sundays. We’re trying to work around his schedule because he would have no family time [Chris has two teenage boys] if he did a full radio show five days a week and then the races on the weekends.”
“We’re one organized unit in this Fox family right now,” Martin continued. “This will open a situation for me to find a partner for Hartman.” While this has been going on, Don has had Scott Ferrall, Sean Farnum, Pat O’Brien, and Lincoln Kennedy. “I’ve already heard from a number of people and now expect to hear from a gazillion more. It is a pretty nice gig for somebody – L.A. and the nation – and it pays pretty well.”
Yes, that’s the Pat O’Brien we all know. He’s currently a utility fill-in guy on FSR and if he hangs around long enough will probably get a fulltime shot. From what I’ve been told, by Pat himself and others, he’s been clean for awhile now. I’ve heard him a couple times and he sounds fine. Actually better than most of the FSR hosts because of his experience and contacts. But as a fulltime guy, not sure if he’d work.
When the Comcast/NBC merger goes through next year, wonder if Myers will get a big money call to anchor Versus’ answer to ESPN SportsCenter? Dick Ebersol will be running the show, so I wouldn’t rule it out.
10:14 am on March 10th, 2010
Chris Myers is off the radio? So I can finally remove the sharpened bamboo skewers from my eardrums?
10:22 am on March 10th, 2010
Awesome. As long as it doesn’t mean more VTB.
10:24 am on March 10th, 2010
So will Don Barret wise up and bring Steve Czaban back ?
10:24 am on March 10th, 2010
Myers is off!!!!..sweet
he didnt fit in, he didnt know any pop culture references he only knew about two sports and brought nothing to the table.
He was like the 50 year old born again guy in a group of buddies that couldn’t say the things how they wanted because he was there.
He was a stiff, good luck and be gone
NOW, if they can only get rid of Andrew ” if you said it its stupid” Siciliano
10:33 am on March 10th, 2010
So I dont have to hear…
I kid because I care, anymore
10:34 am on March 10th, 2010
my vote sean farnum
10:47 am on March 10th, 2010
KB, you’re an idiot. Don Barrett is a writer who covers the goings-on in the world of L.A. radio. Don Martin is the VP/General Manager of Fox Sports Radio in L.A. He would be the one to decide who would get the other headset and chair.
Steve Czaban sucks anyway. What would be ideal is to see if Don Martin could try to get Dave Smith onto AM 570. But Dave has always been a solo act, so asking to fit in with Hater Hartman and Mr. Good Vibrations VTB is not going to work.
I do like Sean Farnham. Local boy (from UCLA) who knows local and national sports and whose humor can match Steve Hartman’s seriousness.
I’m glad the Chirs Myers experiment is over. He was a great reporter for ESPN back in the day. His coverage of Hank Gathers’ death was among the best. But listening to him is akin to listening to elevator muzak. He isn’t cut out for radio. I wish him well, but let’s get back to good radio.
Now if we could only make the show local again and give it local flavor, it would be sooo much better!
10:59 am on March 10th, 2010
Stop giving Dick “The Dick” Ebersol things to manage
11:09 am on March 10th, 2010
The problem with Myers and Hartman is the personalities were too similar. Two middle-aged white guys with the same experiences.
They need to find a co-host who is the opposite of Hartman - but who is also a pro.
11:12 am on March 10th, 2010
Glad Myers is gone, he bored me. But HOLY GOD, can we please be done with Steve Hartman too? The sound of his voice irritates the shit out of me.
11:17 am on March 10th, 2010
Bring back Philly Billy!
11:21 am on March 10th, 2010
BTW, anybody else think Hartman sounds exactly like John Glover? [nails on a chalkboard]
11:28 am on March 10th, 2010
The Sunday evening show with Bruce Jacobs and Lincoln Kennedy (and crew) is the best thing Fox has on their airwaves right now. Give ‘em more time!
11:30 am on March 10th, 2010
SYD
Youre 100% right
I never thought I would hear another radio guy that loves his voice more than Hartman, then came myers.
Hartman brings no indepth sports experience just counter point opinions, sports radio is a young mans game, leave the 50 plus millionaire conservative republicans at home and off sports radio.
And hearing scott ferrell on that show, made LA radio take a 12 year step backwards, ferrell is only to be heard after midnight. he’s only entertaining if youre drunk coming home from a club on a wednesday night at 3am.
12:19 pm on March 10th, 2010
err um… Dave Smith was um, let go from 570 years ago for um, unspecified reasons, by Don Martin’s wife, who was running both KFI and 570 at the time. That bridge is burned.
12:31 pm on March 10th, 2010
Put Screamin A in that slot so they can put Czaban back in the mornings.
Wasn’t a fan of Myers, to preachy and acted like we were privaliged to hear his golden voice which is worse than being preachy.
It wont be Pharnam because he had his chance in this slot before as did Lincoln.
1:47 pm on March 10th, 2010
Nate, is Ferrell the one who sounds like Wolfman Jack? I kept waiting for him to introduce an Alice Cooper song. I realize I’m dating myself with this comment.
1:50 pm on March 10th, 2010
Lots of good comments. Myers and Hartman never did jell. CM kept interuping Steve. Let’s face it Hartman is an acquired taste but he’s not afraid to stir up the pot. Being on XM 142 gives the show a nationwide following and I do listen here in Vegas; better then the local crap on here.
The REAL problem is the wasted 3 to 6 am and 9 to 12 repeat show. Can Anyone listen to That??
1:51 pm on March 10th, 2010
Yes he is, and the fact that you made a Wolfman Jack reference puts you around my age.
But Ferrell, is un listenable during daytime hours that just work
2:02 pm on March 10th, 2010
Dave Smith has burned too many bridges in L.A. Dave was let go at Angels owned KLAA (who nobody listens to). Dave worked for Clear Channel when the station was XTRA Sports 1150 and had a falling out with Robin Bertolucci who is Don’s wife and runs KFI. L.A. needs fresh young voices on the radio and not relics of the past. Sean Farnum, Matt “Money” Smith and Petros are the future of sports-talk. Sean should get the gig.
3:02 pm on March 10th, 2010
Ferrell, i never understood his appeal, it must have been a young white frat guy thing. I mean seriously, how could anyone take a guy who talked like he was gargling with razor blades in his throat.
Never cared for Meyers, grossly overrated. Years ago after the OJ trial Meyers had a show on ABC, subsequently he was on the Bill Maher show, along with a panel of other guests, he and several other people on the panel, mainly some woman, said that if OJ walked into a restaurant where they eating, they would walk out the restaurant. Well, lo and behold,the next week he had OJ on his show as a guest! So long hypocrite!!!
3:05 pm on March 10th, 2010
No one has the guest list Myers had at FSR.
Big loss. Just merged Sporting News Radio and FSR into one unit.
Petros and Money’s act has gotten old.
They disguise their lack of sports knowledge with attempts at comedy. Listen long enough and you find out they are not really sports fans.
3:21 pm on March 10th, 2010
Sports Picks, you got it all wrong. Petros and Money are more knowlegeable about sports than most of the hacks on the radio today. They also deliver it in a comedic manner that may turn some off who just want the straight Hacksaw Hamilton method of “throw a subject out there and call me.”
I did not know the history of Dave Smith at AM 570. So there goes that. I wouldn’t mind hearing Reggie Miller on with Hartman. He always does a great job as a guest on Dan Patrick’s show. Former athlete who is opinionated and articulate. I think he lives in Indy now and that would be a tough commute to L.A.
A whole new thought would be to toss the show altogether and look into getting Travis Rodgers (Jim Rome’s former producer who has a really good podcast going on and does outstanding work as a guest on stations in Portland and Houston) to host it. His insight and off the wall takes and humor would be really appreciated. Don Martin should jump on that.
4:36 pm on March 10th, 2010
FSR is a joke! They take Czabe off to put Steven A-hole on. Now Pat O’Brein! Now I know why only listen to FSR on the weekends.
4:51 pm on March 10th, 2010
Thank all that is holy that they’ve picked off one of the two blow hards on that show. Myers was the worst, spewing his Republican, anti-Obama stuff during what should be a sports show. Hartmann was only decent when the LA station was local only. He did the mid day show with two guys he could make fun of and who were willing to take the abuse.
6:39 pm on March 10th, 2010
Myers is a pompous ass…Petros and Money rip him all the time for his arrogance.
Also, Sean Farnham is a Myers-in-training, as far as arrogance goes. I can’t stand that a-hole.
8:53 pm on March 10th, 2010
Myers did no show prep same boring crap every day . He talked with no point ,just talk, Myers hit the road and take VTB with you
8:58 pm on March 10th, 2010
hey Pat O”Brien got drunk and drunk dialed any “f” friends lately
12:05 am on March 11th, 2010
Meyers is smarmy. I change the channel when he is on the NASCAR broadcast. His “We kid because we care” line is so unprofessional.
10:16 am on March 11th, 2010
Im from a smaller city in another state, and im surprised LA has such poor radio talent, when I first moved here i heard VTB interview a pastor of a baptist college with a good football team that did some great charity work , VTB said the pastor had good karma..karma? to a pastor?…really?
dumbass
12:16 pm on March 11th, 2010
Fox Sports radio is horrible. Hartman is tired, and has been for a long time now. But he’ll be happy because now he can call his show the “Loose Cannons” again. And enough with Vic the Brick already. Just hearing that guy’s intro is enough to make me want to plow into a light pole at 95 mph. And bringin’ back that load Stephen A. to lineup that already included Petros was another stroke od idiocy. Dan Patrick and, sometimes Rome, are the best things about 570. Otherwise, it’s absolutely unlistenable radio.I’d rather main line some Ajax and listen to NPR.
11:53 am on March 14th, 2010
Myers was piss poor protoplasm. Vick the Prick is sooo tired. He just won’t shut up. I don’t get it. This Don Martin dude must go. His ability to evaluate talent rivals Al Daivs and his draft picks-DHB, Jamarcus Fatso, etc. Hartman is Hartman-just keep yelling. I listened to there show for about 2 segments and that was enough for me.
One of the previous emailers had it right. Petros and Money are not that funny and their material is getting tired and old. Petros was much better when he was solo for just a couple of hours and singing his parodies.
Perhaps, Fox Sports should go to a classic rock format. At least I’d listen.
4:43 pm on March 25th, 2010
Lincoln Kennedy sounds like he has a football stuck in each nostril. F-him!!!!
11:33 am on March 27th, 2010
Love Hartman & VTB. Steven A. Smith…..perfect replacement Myers.
7:17 pm on March 29th, 2010
Is O’Brien still kissing up to the celebrities, policos and the like?
4:33 am on April 13th, 2010
I thought Myers & Hartman balanced each other….Chris was too boring without Hartman, and Hartman & VTB were too nuts. Now it’s boring again…all the other guests are boring too….especially Shawn Farnham….he’s lame…they need someone new. BUT MAKE SURE VTB doesn’t come back! Annoying & played doesn’t begin to describe him. You’re not funny, you’re not fresh, not you’re not good!
3:23 pm on April 13th, 2010
Bring back the Czabe! S.A.S. sucks.
5:38 pm on April 30th, 2010
Czabe Rules!