Marks demise exaggerated: Something new headed to Baltimore sports talk radio?

Yesterday my good friend Dave Hughes reported that Anita Marks was going to be fired by CBS radio WJZ-FM 105.7 The fan.” It did not happen today and it won’t happen anytime soon. No slam on Dave he is far more often correct than he is wrong.. However over the past three years I have been emailed a number of times about talk show hosts being fired and that includes Marks only to find that the alerts are false. 

Since she came to Baltimore no one person has generated more conversation than Marks has. Love her or hate her Marks generate ratings, calls and is an entertainer. She has a solid track record in the market. First on the Anita Marks Show on ESPN 1300AM simulcast on MASN and now with Scott Garceau on the new “The Fan 105.7FM.”  Garceau is a true pro, the dean of Baltimore sports and his easy going style should be a good contrast to Marks faster pace- together they have great potential.  

The new “Scott and Anita Show” with a stronger signal and a big boost from MASN should allow the duo to keep a strangle hold on the sports talk afternoon drive time slot over Jerry Coleman on Fox Sports Radio 1370AM and Rob Long on WNST- 1570AM. I will say that Scott and Anita need to get know each others style’s better.  There is a disconnect at times on the air that will be overcome once they work together to understand each others strengths and weakness’ then they should hit their stride. It something that every broadcast team must do before there is a comfort level. It comes down to communication and I am sure that the two are meeting daily to overcome their on air bumps. But Scott and Anita have the ability to dominate their time slot IF that chemistry comes. Jerry Coleman at Fox Sport Radio 1370FM is coming along but he has not been on the air long enough to have had the impact he might have a year from now and Rob Long – while very talented -suffers from WNST’s lack of signal.  

The funny thing is that Baltimore has a number of sports shows that are the same. Insert name here, talk Ravens, and talk Orioles. For some reason every one seems to think that they can do sports talk radio. I get tons of emails talking about sports talk show hosts.

Mark Viviano is the top talent in the market and while his show is a clearly a Baltimore program he has outside the market appeal. Rob Long at WNST is also gifted sports talker. Steve Davis at WBAL is quite entertaining but he suffers because his night shift does not allow for broad exposure.

But when it comes to creating buzz and excitement no other radio sports personality in Baltimore does that more than Marks. I can’t wait to read the comments after this post we might just set a record.

Marks brings out the same kind reactions as Howard Cosell and more recently Mike and the Mad Dog. They all create fans who love them and people who hate them but listen so they can tell you how much they dislike their show.

Make no mistake about it I have spoken both on and off the record with CBS and MASN management and both feel that Marks is a “must sign” when her contract is up at the end of the year. They love that she can talk sports, is a billable as well as a marketable personality and has people in Baltimore talking. However, should Marks choice to leave at least five sources that I respect in the radio industry say that her services would be welcomed in a number of markets around the country as well as some national jobs.

So Marks has done what any good radio host is supposed to do get people talking about her and the love – hate thing comes with the job. One thing we do know is that she is here through December and longer than that if SHE wants to be. Marks has done what CBS and MASN wanted her to do and that is cause a buzz. That buzz will keep Marks in Baltimore after the first of the year with a shinny new CBS and MASN contract or allow her to cash in somewhere else. Love her or hate her people will talk about her and that translates into cash for her employers and for Marks.

One last thing and that is Baltimore might be getting something new after the first of the year. Fox Sports Radio 1370AM would be wise to sign the duo of Marc “Nigel” Sterne and Jay Cottrell. They will are what this town needs people who can talk Baltimore sports but are not afraid to branch out and talk about other subjects of interest up and down I-95 that includes NBA, NHL and any other major topic of the day. They are a couple of former producers Sterne with the Tony Kornheiser Show and Cottrell with the First Team on Fox. They know how to talk sports and to be entertaining.  As part of an ensemble cast they are ready to have their own show. Plus since both have been producers of national shows they have a Rolodex that other hosts in town can only dream of. IF and this only an IF the folks are wise enough to put them on the air then it is game on in Charm City . Fox Sports Radio 1370AM would be a player in sports talk in Baltimore along with a ever improving Jerry Coleman Show in drive time they could offer solid competition to 105.7FM.