Well, ESPN 1300 AM is betting that Baltimore sports fans are ready to talk sports with a bright and talented young woman.
It is time to hear Anita Marks, aka “The Ultimate Sports Chick,” who is prepared for her new assignment as the area?s newest sports talk-show host.
Starting this week the station?s 4-to-7 afternoon drivetime slot now belongs to the former women?s professional football league quarterback and seasoned broadcaster, who comes to Charm City from Miami.
She has her own Web site and was a star at ESPN radio 1400AM in Miami before making Baltimore her new home and to breaking the myth that this city is not ready for a woman sportstalker.
“The sports fans in Baltimore are bright and very passionate about their teams,” Marks said. “They love the Ravens, the Orioles and University of Maryland. Sports-talk radio is about passion and being able to talk about sports with the clear understanding that all teams have their strong points and their weak ones. I am not afraid to take on the tough topics or to challenge what our favorite teams are doing. If I think the Ravens or Orioles could be doing something differently to make the teams better I will say it.”
“I also like to have fun with the show and my audience. I like it when we challenge each other and when we develop a rapport where we have regular callers. At the end of the day I am a sports fan who does her homework and tries each day to put on the best show possible. I take broadcasting as seriously as I do my love for sports.”
There is no doubt in my mind that Anita will make mistakes as she starts her relationship with Baltimore sports fans. All new sports-talk show hosts do. However, we are talking the long run here, and the key issue is: Can she be successful as a talk show host?
On that point, I feel strongly that she can.
The ESPN 1300 AM revised lineup:
» Mike & Mike in the Morning
(6 a.m. to 10 a.m.)
» Mark Viviano
(10 a.m. to 1 p.m.)
» Dan Patrick
(1 p.m. to 4 p.m.)
» Anita Marks
(4 p.m. to 7 p.m.)
» ESPN Game Night
(7 p.m. to midnight)
» ESPN Up All Night
(Midnight to 6 a.m.)
Jim Williams is a seven-time Emmy Award-winning TV producer, director and writer.
