tlongII
12-27-2005, 03:59 PM
Personality of the Year: Colin Cowherd, ESPN Radio
In a year when satellite radio and sports consumers truly converged -- XM Satellite Radio doubled its base to more than five million subscribers following its $650 million deal with major league baseball; SIRIUS reached the three million mark behind the NFL (and Howard Stern) -- Cowherd emerged above the din as a voice who deserves praise. His show (The Herd) is an engaging mix of entertainment, information, and reportage. Its signature feature (Spanning the Globe, during which Cowherd checks in with local reporters and beat writers the morning after a big story breaks in their community) is one of the best things in sports radio. Much of ESPN Radio, especially the Mike and Mike Show and The Dan Patrick Show, treats its listeners like adults -- and Cowherd has distinguished himself by refusing to rely on angry ranting and the sexual innuendo that so often permeates local radio.
Cowherd was recruited out of Portland market two years ago to replace Tony Kornheiser, a particularly difficult assignment given Kornheiser's appeal among East Coast intelligentsia types. He approached his national gig with a small city feel -- college football gets a lot of play on the show -- which has made him an interesting listen. While Cowherd has provided a national forum for ESPN's TV analysts to pontificate on all things ESPN, he's also proven to be his own man. He was outspoken following the arrest of ESPN analyst Michael Irvin, casting a disbelieving soliloquy on Irvin's Rashomon-like explanation following his arrest. That's not easy for an ESPN employee to do (which is why it rarely happens) and it resonates with listeners.
In a year when satellite radio and sports consumers truly converged -- XM Satellite Radio doubled its base to more than five million subscribers following its $650 million deal with major league baseball; SIRIUS reached the three million mark behind the NFL (and Howard Stern) -- Cowherd emerged above the din as a voice who deserves praise. His show (The Herd) is an engaging mix of entertainment, information, and reportage. Its signature feature (Spanning the Globe, during which Cowherd checks in with local reporters and beat writers the morning after a big story breaks in their community) is one of the best things in sports radio. Much of ESPN Radio, especially the Mike and Mike Show and The Dan Patrick Show, treats its listeners like adults -- and Cowherd has distinguished himself by refusing to rely on angry ranting and the sexual innuendo that so often permeates local radio.
Cowherd was recruited out of Portland market two years ago to replace Tony Kornheiser, a particularly difficult assignment given Kornheiser's appeal among East Coast intelligentsia types. He approached his national gig with a small city feel -- college football gets a lot of play on the show -- which has made him an interesting listen. While Cowherd has provided a national forum for ESPN's TV analysts to pontificate on all things ESPN, he's also proven to be his own man. He was outspoken following the arrest of ESPN analyst Michael Irvin, casting a disbelieving soliloquy on Irvin's Rashomon-like explanation following his arrest. That's not easy for an ESPN employee to do (which is why it rarely happens) and it resonates with listeners.