> I've heard a show called Meat and Potatoes on WSLA in the
> afternoon. He talks about horseraces and other sports and
> promotes an online sportsbook. Isn't this kind of
> unauthorized gambling (probably offshore) illegal per the
> FCC? If so, how can they air this show all the time?
>
The host of that show is New Orleans native Dave Scandaliato. He started doing that show on then health-talk WBYU 1450 AM in late July 2001 and did so until February 2003 when the station officially switched to Radio Disney. He first got his "start" in radio by being a guest on the late Buddy D's sportstalk show on WWL, mainly on Friday nights when Buddy used to do the "pick 'em" show during football season where he (Buddy) would have several bookies on the show to give out free picks. After WWL management decided to terminate Buddy's pick em show in the 90s since it was getting out of hand (however Buddy did get permission to get his "pick 'em" show back as soon as Dave started his own show on WBYU), Dave then became a weekly (Friday) guest during football season on Jon Fine's then-afternoon Sportstalk show that used to be on WTIX, I think around 2000. In fact, Fine used to let Dave host the final half-hour and get his bookie contacts on the show to discuss picks for the weekend.
After WBYU's switch to Disney (Dave actually got the word about this about 5 months before the switch---in fact, every show host on WBYU told the public about it), Dave tried contacting WTIX 690, WGSO 990 (which Dave said he was actually going to do a Sunday morning show during football season starting in 2001 but WBYU contacted him at the last minute and said they had airtime that he could buy for weekdays as well), as well as WSMB 1350 to see if they had any airtime. He said that 690 and 990 were simply not interested in carrying his show, but 1350 was thinking about it, but eventually turned him down. He then decided to bolt for Las Vegas (an idea which he said before he went off air at WBYU was a big possibility) and be left without a station in New Orleans to carry his show. However, a lot of people urged him to contact WSLA in Slidell to see if there would be any chance of carrying his show. He said the management at WSLA was pretty reluctant but then decided to give him the OK to buy the airtime.
He started doing a 1-hour show from KLAV in Las Vegas and simulcast on WSLA Slidell in July 2003. In early 2004, he moved to 2 hours, then 2004 football season 3 hours.
He's a rather funny guy, and even though I rarely gamble or bet, I like to listen to his show just to hear what the bookies think about certain games. Dave also tends to be hilarious when he goes off-topic. I am not sure if there is any violation of FCC rules with his show, especially since Buddy D got away with pretty much the same thing for a long time.
I remember in Saints season late in 2001, he FIRST broke the story about controversial wide receiver Albert Connell breaking into other players' lockers. And then in 2002 offseason he broke the story about Dale Carter (I believe either tight end or wide receiver) failing a drug test at the Saints facility and he would be getting an 8-game suspension. Strangely enough, that night someone called up Buddy D's show on WWL and said he heard on another radio show about that and wanted to know if Buddy or anyone at WWL knew about it. Buddy said it had to be a lie--exhibiting the typical arrogant air of defiance that is exhibited particularly by WWL and the New Orleans mainstream media. When the Dale Carter story finally reached the N.O. mainstream media a couple of days later, WWL/Buddy D refused to apologize or mention anything about previously knowing about the situation or lying about it. (WWL thinks that just because they're the Saints station, that they are almighty and infallible and that they know everything.)
