Wednesday, December 24, 2014

Philly Radio: Sports Talker Anthony Gargano OUT At WIP 94.1 FM

Anthony Gargano
SportsRadio WIP 94.1 FM PM  Drive host Anthony Gargano has left the station after 15 years.

According to the Philly Business Journal, Gargano's contract expires at the end of the year and he reportedly rejected an offer of a one-year extension— less than the multi-year extensions signed this month by morning show hosts Angelo Cataldi and Al Morganti.

Gargano is one of several former Philadelphia Inquirer sports writers that migrated to WIP along with Cataldi, Morganti, Glen Macnow and Mike Missinelli (now at 97.5 FM The Fanatic). He started as a midday host but moved with Macnow to the afternoon drive shift when Howard Eskin vacated that time slot a few years ago.

Macnow was replaced by Rob Ellis last year but stayed with WIP and parent company CBS Radio. CBS Radio management is reportedly grooming night time host Josh Innis, a Missouri native who joined WIP earlier this year from a Houston station, to succeed Gargano.

17 comments:

  1. I've been listening to Philadelphia sports talk radio; since, it's inception, featuring Jack McKinney. Without researching the start date, I do believe Philly was the first city to experiment with sports talk on the am dial (WCAU) and would start the broadcasts in the evening hours. Again, without researching the start date, my earliest recollection of listening to McKinney was as a college student, studying in my South Philly bedroom in the fall of 1966.

    Since then, the greats of the business have passed through wcau, wwdb and wip and I have listened with great passion to all of them, enjoying the escapism from our nasty society being provided by these articulate talents.

    As we speak, after almost SIXTY YEARS of faithful allegiance, I'm going on strike from listening to wip, due to the treatment of Anthony Gargano. Not willing to break down this decision's rationale; on which, my position is based, I am simply going to look for another venue for my sport info needs. WIP should be ashamed of itself for it's cavalier, unjust treatment of Gargano. I'm not alone in this sentiment and am making this minor rant as a call to arms to all Philly faithful to cease their listenership & refuse to participate as a listener, henceforth.

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  2. Gargano made WIP. His enthusiasm for life and sports was infectious. I will no longer listen to a station that doesn't appreciate that. Good luck anthony

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  3. I wish they would have dumped Mike and Ike instead! Hopefully Ant joins the Fanatic they have better programming other then what was his show anyway.Only way WIP gets me back is if they bring on Tony Bruno.

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  4. 35 years a displaced fan and 11 year WIP internet listener..WOW the Cuz is Philly..miss him

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  5. First they get rid of Glenn and now Anthony. The new people are terrible. I won't be listening either.

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  6. First they got rid of Glenn and now Anthony. Obviously, they don't want to spend the money. The new people are horrible. Won't be listening anymore.

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  7. miss listening to Anthony. He and Rob complemented one another! Josh Ennis drives me nuts.......do not listen to his evening show.....will not listen to his daytime slot if he gets it. Mike and Ike followed by Rob and Anthony were interesting and informative!!
    good dialogue....love these shows........if looking for shock jock; entertainment- Josh might be your guy but not mine.
    Bring back Anthony or at least keep the rotating team of Rob Cherry, Glen & my favorite Ray Didinger (class act ) - Jpsh Ennis -not a class act

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  8. I miss Anthony and his style of making the program personal to Philly listeners and the people that live in NJ that know and love the city. Programers, That is what made this station what it is today. We want and love our local people. I have been a listener for 40 years now. It is time for a Change for me also. My sons also feel the same way.

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  9. WIP desire to beat mike miss is destroying their station with the new on air host Ennis the music jock. You are not going to beat him with non-phila host.

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  10. Ha, ha ha. Good bye and good riddance to the Cuz. He is nothing butt a PHONY. PHONY, irritating laugh. Everyone was his best friend. He forced me to listen to Mike Missinelli, which than led me to listen to music. No loss for WIP. Glad to hear that Tony Bruno is back. No more listening to loser Missinelli, either.

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  11. I miss Anthony Gargano with the South Philly wiseguy voice , he made the midday show . He related to all the Philly listeners as if they were his family and we took him in as our Cuzz .

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  12. I miss Anthony with the South Philly voice , he made the mid day show . Anthony related to all the Philly listener as if they were family and we took him in as out Cuzz .

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  13. Cuzz is a family guy who loves and lives Philadelphia sports! I have been listening since my middle school years and now I am 36. The guys who are now filling the slot are a joke. There is no personal tie with them and I don't get the feeling they care. Give us our Philly Sports Radio Back!!! Time to go to ESPN radio.

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  14. I might be la the game, but I really miss Ant. He knew sports and Philly. He was fun to listen to and didn't put everyone down. Josh is a LOSER. He is not funny, he's not "shocking", knows very little about Philly, thinks he's "all that" and is not entertaining in the least. Although I like Tony Bruno, I can't tolerate Josh. I guess this means I go back to the Fanatic. I hate the thoughts of that because I can't stand Mikie Miss, the contrarian. DUMB MOVE on the part of WIP!!

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  15. Sorry, the first sentence of the last post should have read:
    "I might be late to the game, but I really miss Ant."
    (I should have done an edit before publishing!)

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  16. I agree with most of these comments. I do miss Ant and as much as I've tried to listen to Josh, I just don't get the guy. He's not a local guy, does too many silly (unfunny) things that just kinda irritate me. I can only take him in small doses and too often he falls off into some ridiculous rant about nothing. I'm looking for a new sports radio station for my afternoon news. I like all the others at WIP. It's a shame the leadership think Josh has some appeal to the listeners. Hey, I like Tony Bruno though and feel bad he has to be on with Josh.

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  17. I've been listening to wip since the beginning..this was a slap in the face to the Philadelphia sports fan..has to be the spike easkin and Howard connection....easkin always disliked Anthony.....you lost your number one listener...Josh what a joke...the other sports show will take over in a year...the only thing you have left is wing bowl.....I'm.done......

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