Guys.... Every great host that I ever worked with as a producer, and every great producer I have ever worked with as a host has been in a toe-to-toe, knock-down-draq-out with me over any number of show related issues at least once. Each time - especially when I was the talent finally listening to the producer, the result was brilliant.
I know Roger fairly well. In the 1980's I was a complete a*hole to him without even knowing him - I had arrived at the ill-fated XTRA talk from Tom Leykis' KFYI and my training was to attack the local big guy to draw the free PR. Not only has Roger forgiven that, but he has since taken a personal interest in supporting my career. For that I owe him greatly.
I owe Jimmy at least as much because he is the guy who -even as protective of Roger as he is - took that, put aside whatever memories he had of me and did his Goddamndest to make me sound and look good. For Jimmy it is pride of product and upmost respect for the radio station's duties and obligations to the community. Some of us remember what that was like... to grab hold of a set of Heritage calls and devote our passion to living up to that heritage.
There is no less dedication but probablay now fear, among the rest of Team Hedgecock, Roger, Cliff, Flounder and the others whom I call "friend" and for whom I have nothing but profound respect; a group that includes Lee "Hacksaw" Hamilton, who was a favorite target of Tom's (when Hacksaw was on KTAR) but who has also been nothing less than a compassionate gentlemen toward me, and everyone I know who has come into contact with him... and who now too is out the door.
I know most of the people involved here and they are no different. The word is "family." In fact, last time I was at KOGO it was with Melanie Morgan to cover some Roger shows this past summer and - for the billion-teenth time, I felt like I was at home with family. That used to be the word that described not just shows but entire stations. The goal was common, the personalities diverse.... in fact; words like "diverse, conflict, voilitale, talented, essential, indespensible" and more ALL apply to every successful talent/support staff relationship I have encountered since my first visit to a real radio station (WPRO; 1973, to witnness Jay Clark, Gary Berkowitz and an entire staff of completly certifiable loons - more talent in that one 24 Mason Street - Providence - hovel than all of radio contains today, and every one of them nuttier than a fruit cake, and making more money for the then CapCities shareholders than should be allowed to anybody short of God).
I would go so far as to say that there is not a single example of a successful business (fill in the industry blank) that was not successful because the most talented pirates you could imagine were assembled. Heck, I worked with Gabe and Randy at WFLA (is where I screwed up my "handed-to-me-on-a-silver-platter-future because I did not understand what I know today and blew my chance to be a Todd Schnitt or similar because my ego was fatter than the bulk of Bubba the Love Sponge on our sister Power Pig - a man I respect and have a respect for to this day ... find me a bigger band of nuts than Randy Michaels and Mark Williams trying to hotwire a beer truck at Boomsday, while Bubba raced around Tampa in his golf cart...all while 250.000 people swarmed around.)
What I see unfolding is heartbreaking to me. I no longer "do" radio full time, truth be told; I am the world's best buggy whip maker trying to figure out how to make a buck in a new world but who dreams every night that I wake up into a world where I am excited over the prospect of working a 36-hour, breaking-news shift.
