My top three stories from my days in radio
Radio is a medium that has changed drastically over the last decade or so. It was big news when a radio station would change format…simply from one genre of music to another…let alone going from music to news or all-talk radio…or vice versa. The stations that we grew up with, those that we listened to that were such a big part of our lives, have gone by the wayside. Sirius and streaming are the culture.
I grew up listening to radio…to what was called a transistor radio. I would often take that radio to school with me and have an earpiece in my ear, hidden by my long hair, so I wouldn’t miss a pitch of the Mets games while I was in school. And if I couldn’t PLAY baseball then, thanks to an introduction to broadcasting by my cousin Robert (Bob) Berger, I was going to broadcast the game.
I can honestly say that my most favorite thing to do in life was broadcast baseball games. I absolutely loved it. I did a lot of University of Miami baseball games and I got to do spring training games for the Baltimore Orioles and Montreal Expos. When people talk about their “dream job,” I got to live it. Okay, so I never got to do Mets games. It was no less a thrill.
But I did more than just broadcast baseball games. During my time in radio, in addition to my years at the University of Miami’s WVUM, I worked for NBC in Miami, worked for an all-news and talk station, WNWS, and served as a stringer for AP (Associated Press) and UPI (United Press International).
I’m often asked what my favorite stories are from my days in radio…and I thought long and hard to come up with my favorite three stories that I find myself telling.
1. First on the list is my interview of Gerald Ford.
That’s right, President Gerald R. Ford. Okay he wasn’t President at the time, it was the Spring of 1979 and he was at the Doral Open. There was going to be a press conference and I was sent to interview him for NBC, and I was going to give some sound bites to AP and UPI as a bonus. I was a mere 18 years old and I was in a room with all veteran journalists.
As per the rules of the press conference, I raised my hand to ask a question. Each time President Ford nodded in my direction, veteran WNBC newscaster Gabe Pressman would jump up in front of me and ask another question. After the third time he did it, to my surprise, President Ford said, “Hey Gabe, why don’t you give the kid a break? He’s been trying to ask a question.”
Pressman stood there and Ford motioned at me. I went to begin asking my question and he stopped me and said, “No, come up here.” When I got up to him, he said, “OK son, nobody is going to interrupt you…go ahead.” I was admittedly a basket case, standing in front of the entire press corps, as Ford had his hand on my shoulder. I asked him, “What are your thoughts now that you are no longer in office of what is happening in the world today?” And he answered, “You might be surprised but I try not to think of anything more than spending time with my grandchildren and enjoying playing some golf. When you have to think about trying to solve the world’s problems, you miss out on a lot. And I am happy I not missing out on those joys in my life.”
I stood there for a moment…he shook my hand and nodded…and I slinked away. I was a sweaty mess. And then…I panicked…because I wasn’t sure I had actually started my tape recorder. But, thankfully, I did.
2. Second on my list is a live on-air interview I did in the Spring of 1979 with Baltimore Orioles outfielder Kenny Singleton.
Singleton was one of my all-time favorite Mets players when I was a kid and he remained a favorite even after he was traded to the Expos and then on to the Orioles. The Orioles were at Mark Light Stadium to the play the University of Miami in their annual exhibition game. I had arranged to interview Singleton on the field about 30 minutes before game time during a sports talk show for WNWS.
We began the interview and we were standing in front of the Orioles dugout on the first base side. It must have looked kind of funny as Singleton is 6-6 and I am 5-4. I had the microphone stretched out pretty high above me to get it to his face. Legendary manager Earl Weaver and shortstop Lenny Sakata began tossing baseballs at us from the dugout…hitting me in the legs…as we are on the air. Without missing a beat, Singleton picked me up, put me on his shoulders, and I put my arm around his head and put the microphone in front of his face. Again, it was all while we were live on the air.
There is proof of it…or at least there was someone who captured the moment. My friend Marcia Mur took photos of the event, although, I have never seen said photos to this very day, and I still bring it up every chance I get. Mike Rosenthal will verify it…right Mike?
3. The third story on the list is an interview I did with a New York Cosmos coach, one that some might laugh at yet some might also cringe. I do both because I was involved.
I was a beat reporter for the old Fort Lauderdale Strikers of the NASL…the famous soccer league that had such superstars as Giorgio Chinaglia, Franz Beckenbauer, and, of course, the great Pele. Oh yeah, they all played for the New York Cosmos. And when they were making an appearance in the Spring of 1981, my friend Sid, a real Cosmos freak, asked if he could come along.
Sid was editor of the University of Miami yearbook. And since I had a close relationship with the Strikers’ PR guy, I cajoled him into getting me a second press pass for my friend. Sid LOVED being in the press box for the game…he was a like a little kid. But then it was time for me to do my post-game interviews. And I had to go down to the locker room.
Sid followed along with me.
Cosmos coach Hennes Weismieler had just stepped out of the shower and, with one foot propped on the bench, was talking to a bunch of New York beat reporters. I was listening and recording on my tape recorder and about to ask my first question when I was tapped on the shoulder by my PR buddy.
“Alan, what’s your friend here doing?”
When I turned around, there was Sid…STARING at Weismieler…and not at his face. His mouth was wide open.
“Sid…what’s the matter?”
“I’ve never seen an uncircumcised penis before…”
My PR buddy said, “Get him OUT of here!” And we were escorted out.
Years later…Sid wouldn’t remember seeing Chinaglia, Beckenbauer, and the Cosmos…he would remember…well…
My memories of my days in broadcasting are filled with professional highlights that, in my mind, could never be equaled. But it’s also the relationships, the friendships, that I enjoyed are also what will never be equaled. I cherish it all and wouldn’t trade any of it.
