Sal's Pizzeria Has Nothing on Baltimore Sports Talk Radio

Rob Long: Remember the name well, because if you ever wanted to know how many African-American radio personalities were working out of the Baltimore sports scene, I’ve just provided you with the answer.

Rob Long is a morning host for Fox 1370, and is the only African-American working the airwaves in this town. Considering the racial makeup of Baltimore City, that’s a problem. A huge problem.

I split my time evenly between Baltimore and Washington sports talk radio, and the biggest difference between the two is that D.C. caters evenly to its listening demographic. Is it overwhelmingly middle-aged white guys? Yeah. They haven’t deviated much from the national model in that respect.

But, ESPN 980 and 106.7. The Fan does have some color to their sports yakking format. The former has former Washington football player Rick “Doc” Walker and legendary Georgetown basketball coach John Thompson. The Fan counters with former Washington linebacker LaVar Arrington, who leaves much to be desired in the way of true analysis, but is a voice of controversy and inside perspective nonetheless.

Baltimore has Long. Raspy voiced, little-to-no-insight Rob Long. I thank God for Long, because he is all Charm City’s got right now in the way of a minority presence along racial lines.

And, unless I’m missing somebody on overnight duty, you’re pretty much locked in with middle-aged white guys all week long. This isn’t to say that most of them don’t do a good job. Bruce Cunningham on The Fan is among my particular favorites.

But there is something to be said when four sports talk stations can only come up with one black guy between them. As if black folks don’t watch, talk, or debate sports in this town.

The Baltimore Sun used to have intelligent black sports writers and columnists. No reason they couldn’t have had their own show, subtracting Jason Whitlock 1.4 Mike Preston, of course.

There are plenty of knowledgeable, objective bloggers in this city that could fill the niche, and not to brag, but I think I’d do pretty good on the radio. But self-promotion aside, it makes no sense for sports to be such a lightening rod for racial tolerance and inclusion, and for sports media to continue to drag in the mud of yesteryear’s perceptions and habits.

Online media and journalism of the citizenry has changed the scope of minority inclusion in the industry, but sports radio in Baltimore is significantly deficient in presenting diverse views and voices. You can take all of the calls from black listeners, and feature all of the black athletes that you want. You’re still missing a wealth of knowledge, talent, and appeal by whiting out the airwaves.

So, ESPN 1300, Fox 1370, 105.7 The Fan, and WNST 1570, get your diversity game up. Your fans will thank you, and who knows, you may find that we’re just as good at talking sports as we are at playing them.