SO YOU WANT a career in broadcasting? Then listen to the storyof Rich Redanz, the former sports talk host at WWKB-AM.
His story should serve as a cautionary tale for anyoneconsidering a career in radio.
'If I knew then what I know now -- and I love this business --I'd probably go into law school after college,' said Redanz, 32.
And the Bowling Green State University graduate wants tosucceed so badly in broadcasting that he started working at KB forfree while he worked two full-time paying jobs.
'It was an opportunity to get into the market and work on a50,000-watt station that supposedly wanted to increase its sportscoverage,' said Redanz. He was named sports director in December1991 by Program Director Wynn Richards, getting $7 an hour as apart-timer working about 40 hours a week while he also worked inthe auto industry.
Last September, he began hosting a 'Drive Time Sports' showfrom 5 to 6 p.m. and a 'Prime Time Sports' show. His 'Prime Time'show including entertaining nights with opinionated former BuffaloBills assistant coach Chuck Dickerson, former Bills linebackerCarlton Bailey and former Bills receiver Jerry Butler.
Redanz said the three had difficulty getting the $200 a weekthey were promised. Butler quit after three weeks. Redanz saidformer Sabre Rick Martin wouldn't go on for a proposed show withoutgetting paid first.
According to Redanz, Bailey grudgingly accepted a KB offer tobe paid in clothes from a men's shop, but he never used it. Heeventually got paid.
'(KB management) never did things on a professional level,'said Redanz. '(The former Bills) were working. They should gettheir money on time.'
KB General Manager Darrel Goodin denies all this. He saidnobody is owed any money and that they all understood that theywould be paid once sponsorships were found.
In February, Redanz changed his 'Drive Time' lineup and hiredone of his interns, Rich Deitsch, to be a co-host. He felt theirdifferences would be a strength. 'I gave him $100 every two weeksout of my own pocket so we could have a quality show,' said Redanz.
'Drive Time' was billed as an 'intelligent' sports talk show,an obvious dig at WGR-AM's Art Wander. It was produced by two youngboard operators, Ken Triplett and Kevin Carr. 'They wanted to do itso badly, they'd work for free as producers and reporters.'
KB didn't supply Redanz with ratings, did little promotion anddidn't try very hard to sell any advertising time, Redanz claims.'Rich (Deitsch) and I were thinking of just trying to do itourselves,' said Redanz.
The show made inroads with a small group of sports fanatics.The final show three weeks ago, intended to rate localsportscasters and sportswriters, deteriorated into a 'Save DriveTime' protest from listeners.
Richards told the two Riches to quit allowing callers to blastmanagement. When Redanz declined, the show was abruptly canceled.
Redanz said he was prepared to grade his own show 3 microphonesout of 5 and list its faults: He said he uses too many 'ands,' heand Deitsch too often run over each other, Deitsch rambles toomuch, and they don't allow enough callers on.
Not a bad self-critique. He was going to give WBEN's HowardSimon 4 microphones. And Wander? 'Zero,' said Redanz. 'He has ahard time putting sentences together and tries to shock people withwhat he says. I think he is a detriment to the business.'
With a schedule loaded with national sporting events, KB nowdoesn't have a local sports talk presence. Goodin said although hefelt the two Riches had potential, they weren't polished enough tobe given a four-hour afternoon block.
Four hours would have been a bit much. Callers to the final'Drive Time' praised KB for carrying the Yankees, the Mets,Atlantic Coast Conference basketball and the NBA. The ACC has to bemost popular with Goodin, who still lives in Raleigh, N.C., andcommutes to Buffalo to work.
'My personal feeling is he doesn't care about the area,' saidRedanz. He also didn't agree with Goodin's sports philosophy.
'In a meeting he said nobody cares about local basketball, theBisons or the Sabres,' said Redanz. 'He said when football seasonis over it is time to concentrate on national basketball. I toldhim Tobacco Road basketball is not going to fly here four days aweek.'
Goodin denies making the 'nobody cares' statement.
Redanz was right about Tobacco Road basketball: KB's ratings atnight aren't anything for Goodin to write home to Raleigh about.
Despite his disillusionment and the low pay, Redanz plans tostay in broadcasting. He hopes to land with WBEN-AM, where he had arecent tryout while Simon vacationed.
