NOLA Radio: Deke Bellavia OUT At N/T WWL

Bobby Hebert and Deke Bellavia

N/T WWL 870 AM / 105.3 FM has parted ways with longtime host Deke Bellavia, who for nearly a decade has served as Bobby Hebert's on-air wingman during their daily "SportsTalk" broadcast and the station's long-running "Point After" show, which airs after New Orleans Saints games.

The move marks the second major departure for WWL's game-day team in just more than a month. On Feb. 1, longtime Saints play-by-play man Jim Henderson announced his retirement from the booth. Henderson and Bellavia's departures are unrelated, according to a source familiar with the situation.

Hebert will continue with the station as host of WWL's daily "SportsTalk" show, as well as of the Saints game-day programs "Countdown to Kickoff" and "The Point After." A replacement for Bellavia has yet to be named.

Known by the nickname "Big Chief," he worked his way up through the WWL hierarchy.  Following the 2008 departure of Kenny Wilkerson as co-host of "The Point After" -- the revered local post-game show formerly hosted by New Orleans broadcasting legends Buddy Diliberto and Hap Glaudi -- Bellavia was named co-host. Since then, he and Hebert -- who has been known to have his own regular tussles with the English language -- have been among the first two voices heard by Saints fans after every game.

Bellavia underwent a health scare in fall 2014 when, after a rambling, often incoherent on-air segment during an episode of "The Point After," it was revealed that he suffered a mild stroke during the show.