Chuck Wilson Returns to ESPN Radio

Just received word that original ESPN Radio host Chuck Wilson will be returning this weekend to the Mothership where he will do what he does best, talk about college basketball, help to break news and host shows. Wilson joined ESPN Radio when it went on the air in 1992 and stayed until 2005. He then joined XM Satellite Radio to be a host on MLB Home Plate. He stayed until 2008 when the merger of XM and Sirius became official.

Chuck informed me that he will be back this weekend to host ESPN Radio’s NCAA Tournament Selection Show. And here are some of the highlights of his new duties at ESPN Radio.

• First assignment is to host Sunday’s NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament Selection show that will air from approximately 5:30 pm ET to 9:00 pm ET  (following the Boston Celtics-Cleveland Cavaliers game on ESPN Radio).

• Wilson will host “Baseball Tonight”, “Football Tonight” and other programs on ESPN Radio.

• Original host when ESPN Radio launched as a weekend network on January 4th, 1992  (first host hired in November, 1991)

• Joined ESPN Radio full-time in 1994 and moved from weekends to weeknights when ESPN Radio premiered “Gamenight” in 1995. Wilson remained on “Gamenight” for the next 10-years, until late July, 2005.

• Won two International awards for interviewing and reporting as co-host of ESPN Radio “SportsCenter” and ESPN Radio “Viewpoints”. Also honored as host of the acclaimed “ESPN Classic Presents the Legends on ESPN Radio”, conducting in-depth, one-on-one interviews with legendary sports figures.

• Worked with over 200 different co-hosts at ESPN Radio.

• Joined XM Satellite Radio in September, 2005. Hosted several shows on the baseball channel in his three years there. Also wrote, co-produced and narrated specials for the channel, including “Yankee Stadium Remembered”.

• In 2007, Chuck Wilson was named one of the “100 Most Influential Sports Educators in America” by the Institute for International Sport. Wilson was selected from a list of more than 1,500 nominees. The only other broadcaster named was Bob Costas.

• In December, 2009, Sports Illustrated named Chuck Wilson runner-up for “Best National Radio Host” of the decade.

• Wilson will continue to assist in the creation of content for 4eProductions, a multimedia company, where, as Director of Ethics, he is involved in developing values-rich programs for kids. 

Quotes:

“I’m excited to re-join my colleagues at ESPN Radio.  Our goal every night is to inform, entertain and bring you insight.  We’re in a Twitter world, immediately flooded with sports news, in which anybody can post a story. What’s true and what isn’t?” 

“We track down breaking stories, injury reports, line-up changes. You name it. We find out what’s accurate and then provide context. What does it really mean?  Why was the trade made? How will it affect your team? It’s what I like to call “informed opinion”. We have the contacts to reach the athletes, agents and decision-makers, an outstanding research department, and a terrific collection of analysts to break it all down. Hopefully, you come away with a better perspective on the stories you care about.”

I’m very happy for Chuck. He has been one of the best sports radio hosts and deserved to be on the air. I first heard him when he arrived in Providence in the early 1980’s and certainly has been one of the good people on radio. I’m glad to see him back. Here’s an interview I conducted with Chuck last year on the state of sports radio.