August 14 Radio History

 

➦In 1909...Edward Joseph "Ed" Herlihy born (Died at age 89 – January 30, 1999). He was an newsreel narrator for Universal-International. He was also a long-time radio and television announcer for NBC, hosting The Horn and Hardart Children's Hour in the 1940s and 1950, and was briefly interim announcer on The Tonight Show in 1962. He was also the voice of Kraft Foods radio and TV commercials from the 1940s through the early 1980s. When he died in 1999, his obituary in The New York Times said he was "A Voice of Cheer and Cheese".

Educated at Boston College, graduating in 1932, he gained his first radio job in his home town, at Boston's WLOE. When he was hired by NBC in 1935, he decamped for New York, along with his friend, fellow Boston announcer Frank Gallop, who was hired by CBS. He was the announcer for many radio shows from the 1930s, to the 1950s, among them: America's Town Meeting, The Big Show, The Falcon, Mr. District Attorney, and Just Plain Bill. He became the host of The Horn and Hardart Children's Hour on radio in 1948, remaining its announcer when the show went to television. He continued his success in the new medium: his early television credits included Sid Caesar's hit Your Show of Shows and soap operas As the World Turns and All My Children. He was also the host of Recollections At 30, which was a special NBC Radio series created for the network's 30th birthday.

For Universal Newsreels in the 1940s, Herlihy narrated editions describing the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, the Allies' early setbacks against the Axis powers, the turning of the tide of WWII, the death of President Roosevelt, the execution of Italian dictator Benito Mussolini and the detonation of the first atomic bombs. In the next decade, during the Cold War, he narrated the very first American newsreel on the launch of Sputnik.

➦In 1932...Philips makes 1 millionth radio

'Ma Perkins' Cast

➦In 1933... Crossley Broadcasting’s WLW in Cincinnati premiered the daytime drama “Ma Perkins.”

Starting December 4, 1933, Ma Perkins was heard on NBC from 1933 to 1949 and on CBS from 1942 to 1960. Between 1942 and 1949, the show was heard simultaneously on both networks.

The series was produced by Frank and Anne Hummert with scripts by Robert Hardy Andrews, Orvin Tovrov and others. Ma Perkins began August 14, 1933, on WLW in Cincinnati. On December 4 of that year, it graduated to the NBC Red network. On NBC and CBS the series ran for a total of 7,065 episodes.

"America’s mother of the air" was portrayed by actress Virginia Payne, who began the role at the age of 23 and never missed a performance during the program's 27-year run. Kindly, trusting widow Ma Perkins had a big heart and a great love of humanity. She always offered her homespun philosophy to troubled souls in need of advice.

➦In 1942...“The Show Without a Name” hosted by Garry Moore started airing on NBC.  It was an effort to crack the morning show dominance of Arthur Godfrey (CBS) and “Don McNeil’s Breakfast Club” (ABC). A prize of $500 was offered to name the show and someone came up with the title, “Everything Goes”.

➦In 1945...radio brought the news of Japan’s surrender ending World War II.

➦In 1957...1010 WINS-AM New York went Top40. 1010 WINS used a strict playlist, except for Alan Freed and Jack Lacy.

➦In 1957...ABC Radio announced an experiment with a “live” music show hosted by Herb Oscar Anderson. This was 3 years before WABC flipped to Top40.

➦In 1962…Pete Best was let go from the Beatles. Producer George Martin was unhappy with his drumming and it was said that some group members felt overshadowed by Best's teen idol good looks.

John Lennon later admitted to the group's "cowardly" handling of the event. Ringo Starr, drummer for the Liverpool group Rory Storm and the Hurricanes, was asked to join the group as Best's replacement. Ringo made his first appearance with the Beatles on August 18.

Tom Harmon

➦In 1962...It was announced that starting in September, sportscaster Tom Harmon will be heard on ABC radio where he will have a 10-minute weekday sports broadcast and he’ll also be heard on weekends in eight five-minute broadcasts. He joins ABC after 13 years with CBS’ Pacific radio network.

Once a member of the Los Angeles Rams, Tom Harmon was one of the first athletes to go into broadcasting. He was an All-American football player in 1940 at the University of Michigan.

One of Tom’s daughters would marry Ricky Nelson and, later, son Mark would become a well-known actor. He currently stars in NCIS on CBS-TV.

➦In 1973...In the past six years, FM radio listening had increased by 152%, according to Arbriton and a statistic that should give AM music stations some pause. The study covered 8 of the top-10 markets.

➦In 1973...WYSP 94.1 FM became the third FM rock station in Philadelphia.  It went up against (Now Country WXTU) WIFI 92.5 FM and WMMR 93.3 FM. WYSP (Your Station in Philadelphia) jocks included Tom Straw, Dean Clark, and Doug Cristian with Frank X. Feller as program director. The music included popular cuts from albums by artists such as Jimi Hendrix, Chicago, and Crosby Stills and Nash.

➦In 1983...WFIL 560 AM Philadelphia switched to all oldies.

It was on September 18, 1966, that WFIL began playing a Top40 format. It quickly became the most successful non-RKO "Boss Radio" formatted station, known locally as "The Pop Music Explosion". The original line up of air personalities, or "Boss Jocks" were scheduled as follows:

• 
  6-10am: Chuck Browning
• 10am-2pm: Jay Cook ("Captain Jay Cook")
• 2-6pm: Jim Nettleton ("Diamond Jim" Nettleton)
• 6-10pm: George Michael ("King George" Michael)
• 10pm-2am: Long John Wade
• 2-6am: Dave Parks ("Dave the Rave" Parks)
• Weekends: Frank Kingston Smith

WFIL announcers heard in later years of the Top 40 era included Dr. Don Rose, Jim O'Brien (who later also became a WPVI-TV weather broadcaster and station personality), Dan Donovan, J. J. Jeffrey, Dick Heatherton, Tom Dooley, "Tiny" Tom Tyler, Mitch "K.C." Hill, "Big" Ron O'Brien, Kris Chandler, Geoff Richards, Joel Denver, Brother Lee Love (Alan Smith), and Banana Joe Montione.

➦In 1988...Shadoe Stevens became host of “American Top 40”

Casey Kasem left the show over contract concerns with ABC. Billboard magazine reported that the main disputes between Kasem and Watermark/ABC were over his salary, because of declining ratings and a smaller number of affiliates. Casey's final AT40 show aired on August 6, 1988. At no point during that final show did Kasem ever let on that any changes were afoot, and simply omitted the phrase "join me next week" while closing the show.

Kasem was replaced by Shadoe Stevens, whose first American Top 40 show aired on August 13, 1988, on 1,014 stations.  Kasem joined the Westwood One less than a year later to start a rival show, Casey's Top 40. Many AT40 listeners were upset by Kasem's departure and, as a result, many stations dropped American Top 40 in favor of Casey's Top 40 once it hit the airwaves on January 21, 1989.

➦In 1993...It was announced teens are listening to country music more and more. Country has climbed from a 2.3% share of teens in the summer of 1989 to an 8.7% share this year.

Charly Butcher

➦In 2007...Ryan Seacrest was tapped to host the 59th annual Emmy Awards.

➦In 2012…Actress Rosemary Rice died after a heart attack at 87. She provided the voice of Betty Cooper on the Archie Andrews radio series, played the oldest daughter and narrated the early 1950s TV series, "Mama," appeared on Broadway, recorded 15 children's albums, and earned three Clio Awards for her work in television commercials – on camera and as a voiceover artist. For Clairol, she became the familiar voice of the ad slogan, "If I've only one life to live, let me live it as a blonde."

➦In 2018...Fort Wayne radio icon Charly Butcher, died from a heart attack at age 61.  Butcher spent more than 30 years on the air in Fort Wayne, both on WMEE, and at the time of his death, as host of WOWO’s morning show. Over the years, he became a crucial part of many people’s morning routines as he helped get their day started.

Steve Martin is 77

🎂HAPPY BIRTHDAYS:

• Singer Dash Crofts of Seals and Crofts is 84. 
• Singer David Crosby is 81. 
• Country singer Connie Smith is 81. 
• Actor-musician Steve Martin is 77. 
• Actor Antonio Fargas (“Starsky and Hutch”) is 76. 
• Bassist Larry Graham of Sly and the Family Stone is 76. 

• 

  Mila Kunis is 39

  Actor Susan St. James is 76. 
• Romance novelist Danielle Steel is 75. 
• Keyboardist Terry Adams of NRBQ is 74. 
• Cartoonist Gary Larson (“The Far Side”) is 72. 
• Actor Carl Lumbly (“Alias”) is 71. 
• Actor Jackee Harry (“Sister, Sister,” ″227″) is 66. 
• Actor Marcia Gay Harden is 63. 
• Singer Sarah Brightman is 62. 
• Actor Susan Olsen (“The Brady Bunch”) is 61. 
• Actor Halle Berry is 56. 
• Actor Ben Bass (“Rookie Blue”) is 54. 
• Actor Catherine Bell (“JAG”) is 54. 
• Keyboardist Cody McCarver of Confederate Railroad is 54. 
• Guitarist Kevin Cadogan (Third Eye Blind) is 53. 
• Actor Lalanya Masters (“Barbershop”) is 50. 
• Actor Christopher Gorham (“Ugly Betty”) is 48. 
• Actor Mila Kunis is 39. 
• Actor Lamorne Morris (“New Girl”) is 39. 
• TV personality Spencer Pratt (“The Hills”) is 39. 
• Actor Marsai Martin (“black-ish”) is 18.

✞DEATH ANNIVERSARIES

• Welcome Back Kotter's Arnold Horschack, actor Ron Palillo, died on this day in 2012. He was 63.

InfoWars Sees Sales Surge

Infowars has seen it sales soar in the weeks since its founder, Alex Jones, has appeared in court after he was hit with a defamation lawsuit filed by the parents of children who were killed in the Sandy Hook mass shooting over a decade ago.

Attorneys for Infowars’ parent company, Free Speech Systems LLC, is on pace to record $800,000 in sales just this week alone, according to The NY Post citing filings in US Bankruptcy Court in Houston.

Jones, who told his millions of listeners that Sandy Hook was a “hoax,” was ordered by a jury to pay $49 million in damages to the parents of Jesse Lewis, the six-year-old boy who was among 20 students and six teachers massacred by a gunman in Newtown, Conn. in December 2012.

Last month, Free Speech Systems filed for bankruptcy for the second time in an effort to withstand the financial burdens resulting from several lawsuits related to Sandy Hook.

The conspiratorial website could generate as much as $450,000 per day thanks to back-ordered inventory as well as newly introduced products on its web site, according to court papers cited by the Journal.

The filing stated that Infowars sold $962,000 worth of items in the week which ended on July 29 and almost $899,000 for the week ending Aug. 5. The company says that the bulk of the sales are of nutritional supplements offered on the web site.

At the time the company filed for bankruptcy, it said it was pulling in around $595,000 in weekly sales.

FBI Search Escalates Right-Wing Rhetoric

Predictions of imminent civil war and calls for violence surged early this week on social media platforms such as Truth Social, the network started by former President Donald J. Trump, after the F.B.I.’s court-approved search of his Florida home on Monday.

The NY Times reports Truth Social users have posted that the United States was born “through an insurrection followed by several years of bloody violence,” and that the country would “become a communist state just as long as we don’t pick up arms and fight back!!” There was talk that “the tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants,” a phrase from a letter by Thomas Jefferson, and that “sometimes clearing out dangerous vermin requires a modicum of violence, unfortunately.”

“No more a nice guy,” one user wrote. “We are at war. Promise you it ain’t gonna be civil,” another wrote. “Lock and Load,” wrote a third.

An account bearing the name of Ricky Shiffer, the man who was killed in Ohio by the police on Thursday, ending a standoff that officials said started after he tried to breach the F.B.I.’s Cincinnati office, had posted messages on Truth Social recommending that “patriots” go to Florida and kill federal agents. On Thursday, the same account also appeared to confess to an attack on the F.B.I.

In a series of recent posts, the account had railed against law enforcement and issued a “call to arms,” saying that for two years, “they have been conditioning us to accept tyranny.” When someone asked whether he was proposing terrorism, the account responded: “I am proposing war.” The Times could not immediately confirm whether the Truth Social account belonged to Mr. Shiffer, 42, of Columbus.

Truth Social’s community guidelines note that its “preference is that the removal of users or user-provided content be kept to the absolute minimum” but say that it will take action in cases where the platform is being “used as a tool for crime or any other unlawful acts.” On a list of reasons to report problematic content, Truth Social includes “content that depicts violence or threat of violence.”

The sentiments on Trump’s social media network extended to other platforms as well. One Proud Boys Telegram channel, used by hundreds of members of the militant group, posted in the hours after the search that “civil war is imminent.” On Twitter, there was a tenfold increase in tweets mentioning “civil war” in the 24 hours after the raid, according to Dataminr, a tool that analyzes Twitter data.

BMI Stops Potential Billion Dollar Sale

Broadcast Music Inc., which represents the rights of thousands of songwriters, including Ed Sheeran, Sam Smith and Rihanna, is no longer on the market, reports Bloomberg.

A sale “is no longer an avenue we are considering,” the company said in a statement Friday, adding “we’ve been clear from the start that as we explored strategic opportunities for BMI, we were going to evaluate all options that would support our affiliates and grow the value of their music.”

BMI hired Goldman Sachs Group Inc. earlier this year to explore strategic options, including a sale. With revenue of more than $1.4 billion in 2021, executives thought it could sell for at least $1.5 billion. They asked some bidders for as much $2 billion or $3 billion, according to people familiar with the talks. The company is a powerhouse in the music business. Any time a bar, restaurant, radio station or streaming service wants to play Rihanna’s “Work” or Sheeran’s “Shape of You,” they must pay BMI.

The company is the latest in a series of major music entities that hasn’t convinced a buyer to pay what it wanted. Concord, one of the largest independent music companies in the world, ended its sale process after rejecting every offer as not big enough. Other companies that have explored a sale, including Round Hill Music, Anthem Entertainment Group and Tempo Music, have yet to find a buyer -- though they have not publicly ended the hunt.

These aborted sales signal a major shift in the market for music assets. The value of music copyrights has skyrocketed in recent years as new investors flooded into the market. Music has always appealed to finance types who want to go to awards shows and hang around pop stars. But these assets became even more intriguing in recent years as a proliferation of streaming services boosted industry revenues. Investors saw them as a stable alternative to the stock market.

Two of the three major music companies, Universal Music Group and Warner Music Group, went public, while many of the most famous musicians of the last century sold their catalogs in deals that collectively generated billions of dollars.

Yet that market has started to slow down this year due to rising interest rates and the shrinking supply of available assets. 

Many competitors and potential buyers never understood how BMI could sell itself. Owned by a consortium of radio and TV broadcasters, the company has long operated as a nonprofit. But it would need to start making money to justify the valuations it sought.

Report: YouTube Offer Streaming a la Carte

YouTube is planning to launch an online store for streaming video services and has renewed talks with entertainment companies about participating in the platform, according to The Wall Street Journal citing people close to the recent discussions.

The company hopes the new platform, which it is referring to internally as a “channel store” and which has been in the works for at least 18 months, could be available as early as this fall, some of the people said.

YouTube currently allows subscribers to YouTube TV, its $64.99-a-month online package of cable channels, to add on a subscription to services such as HBO Max. The new marketplace would allow consumers to choose streaming services a la carte through the main YouTube appYouTube, which is owned by Alphabet Inc., will be joining the likes of Amazon.com Inc., Roku Inc. and Apple Inc., which all have their own hubs to sell streaming video services. With an array of apps now available, these tech giants are trying to position themselves as the go-to place for consumers to get access to all of their favorite movies and shows. Selling multiple services through a single app can make life easier for consumers.

Typically, companies with streaming hubs get a share of revenue from purchases within their marketplaces. YouTube is discussing splitting subscription revenue with streaming partners, although the terms may vary widely for each partner, according to people familiar with the situation. YouTube declined to comment.

For streaming video services, which are facing greater competition and slowing growth in the U.S., the YouTube store offers another avenue to get in front of potential customers. Companies are exploring a variety of new marketing and distribution strategies to boost sign-ups.

“They are making their services available in as many places as possible, so that they have as big a shot as possible of getting people,” said Bill Rouhana, chief executive of Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment Inc., which owns a large stable of free, ad-supported streaming channels.

There are trade-offs to consider for streaming services: partnering with other companies means having less potential revenue and less control over customers’ data.

Still, more streaming services are looking to bundle because it creates a better experience for consumers and they are less likely to cancel subscriptions, said Jeffrey Hirsch, president and chief executive of Starz, which has bundled its streaming offering with Walt Disney Co. in Latin America and Canal+ in France. “Simplicity is always a great thing for the consumer,” he said.

Legal Analyst Jeffrey Toobin Exits CNN

Jeffrey Toobin, a longtime legal analyst at CNN who became engulfed in scandal for exposing himself to his colleagues at the New Yorker in a Zoom meeting, announced Friday that he is leaving the network.

The L-A Times reports Toobin has been with CNN for 20 years. He made his departure public in a tweet.

Toobin was fired by the New Yorker on Nov. 11, 2020, after what was perhaps the most famously humiliating snafu of the work-at-home era created by the COVID-19 pandemic.

On Oct. 19, 2020, Toobin exposed his genitals during a virtual meeting with staffers from the New Yorker and WNYC radio in preparation for presidential election coverage.

But Toobin faced only a suspension at CNN, where he was allowed to return to the air after eight months. When he returned, he described the incident as “an embarrassingly stupid mistake.”

However, with personnel cuts expected across CNN parent Warner Bros. Discovery, Toobin apparently became expendable, especially since the news network has no shortage of legal analysts to put on the air.

The Zoom incident is not the first scandal in Toobin’s career. The pundit has a son by fellow lawyer Casey Greenfield, with whom he had a lengthy on-and-off affair. She got pregnant in 2008, but he didn’t admit paternity until sometime later, after a DNA test.

NY Times Concerned About New Activist Investor

The New York Times Co has turned to Bank of America Corp  and law firm Sidley Austin LLP for advice on how to handle a potential board challenge from ValueAct Capital Management LP, according to Reuters citing people familiar with the matter.

ValueAct, a San Francisco-based hedge fund, disclosed on Thursday that it owns a nearly 7% stake in the New York Times and argued the newspaper company could grow more quickly by aggressively marketing its all-access digital bundle that gives subscribers more than basic news.

The Ochs-Sulzberger family controls the New York Times through dual-class shares that allow it to install nine directors on the company's 13-member board.

The structure of the board would give ValueAct scope to challenge the company for one of the other four board seats in a shareholder vote. The New York Times is working with the bankers and lawyers to prepare for this possibility, the sources said.

Proxy solicitor Okapi Partners LLC, which works with companies as they count votes in shareholder meetings, is also advising the New York Times, the sources added, requesting anonymity because the matter is confidential.

Representatives for the New York Times, ValueAct, Sidley, Okapi and Bank of America either declined to comment or could not be reached for comment. The New York Times said in a statement on Thursday that its management had met with ValueAct to exchange views.

In a regulatory filing on Thursday that disclosed its stake, the hedge fund said it would have discussions with the New York Times to see "whether it makes sense for a ValueAct Capital employee to be on the issuer's board of directors."

The New York Times has expanded beyond its core newspaper offering in recent years to include the sports website The Athletic, product review website Wirecutter, a cooking app and games. While its digital subscriptions have grown, its shares are worth about 30% less than what they were valued at about a year ago because advertisers have cut back on spending amid fears of an economic downturn.

ValueAct, founded by Jeffrey Ubben two decades ago and now run by Mason Morfit, typically avoids challenging companies for board seats through proxy contests and often secures board representation with the agreement of companies they invest in.

EMF Adds Aguiar, O'Brien to Talent Line-Up

Educational Media Foundation (EMF), the parent ministry and programmer of the world’s two largest Christian music radio networks, is expanding its on-air lineup with the addition of Carlos Aguiar on K-LOVE and Mary O’Brien on Air1, beginning August 15.

“Often, when a station adds new air talent, it’s to fill a vacancy after a departure,” explains Mandy Young, EMF radio group program director. “We’re in a fortunate position right now with both K-LOVE and Air1 to be bringing on new talent without having to cut ties with any of our existing jocks – which is great from both a staff and audience perspective.”

“Because of our nationwide reach and the challenge of time zones, our talent’s shifts have historically been stretched,” said Troy West, EMF radio group assistant program director. “While that’s an understandable strategy, we have wanted to test shortening the shifts to more industry-standard lengths to allow our incredible talent to have a more reasonable workload that positions them to deliver just the very, very best content.”

K-LOVE broadcasts on more than 650 signals across all 50 states, connecting with 14 million radio listeners weekly and reaching around the world via streaming on klove.com, smart devices, and the K-LOVE app. Aguiar will be on air weekdays from 7-10 a.m., Pacific, and on Saturdays from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. He will be a part of the network’s digital initiatives on social media channels and on its own streaming video outlet, K-LOVE On Demand.

“Carlos has a real passion for connecting with people,” Young said. “But more than that, he has a passion for connecting people to Jesus. And that’s what we’re all about at K-LOVE. I am so excited to have him join our team. I think our audience is going to relate to him instantly.”

Aguiar comes to K-LOVE with 22 years of experience in Christian radio, having served at KSBJ and NGEN Radio in Houston, and WAY-FM in Nashville.

Simultaneously, Mary O’Brien joins EMF’s Air1 network after some time off air to focus on family, following more than 15 years on air at WCVO The River in Columbus, Ohio, where she co-hosted the number one morning show.

“Mary has an authenticity about her that draws you in,” Young shared. “She is like that friend you’ve known forever who you trust implicitly. She lets you see her true self, and we have seen in our research that’s what audiences want from a worship station. Authenticity.”

Air1 broadcasts on more than 330 signals in 45 states reaching more than four million listeners weekly and helping people “worship through it” around the world via streaming on Air1.com, smart devices, and the Air1 app. O’Brien will be on air weekdays from 5-11 p.m., Pacific, and on Saturdays from 6-11 p.m. and Sundays from 8-11 p.m. She will also be a part of the network’s digital initiatives on social media channels.

Phoenix Radio: KGME To Air ASU Men's Hockey

iHeartMedia Phoenix has signed a broadcast agreement with Arizona State University (ASU) to air men's hockey games, effective October 11. 

ASU fans can listen to all home games, select road games and a weekly coach's show featuring head coach Greg Powers on KGME 910 AM. This new agreement allows Arizona State University fans to hear the play-by-play action of men's hockey both within the Phoenix region and nationwide on iHeartRadio.com and the iHeartRadio app.

"Our partnership with iHeartMedia Phoenix leads Sun Devil Hockey into its next and long-awaited venture of bringing play-by-play broadcasts to supporters and fans in the local community and around the country," said Sun Devil Athletics Chief Financial Officer and Ice Hockey Sport Administrator Frank Ferrara. "We're proud to deliver another avenue for fans to engage and access our team through the broadcast of all home games, select road games and the weekly coach's show."

"Fox Sports 910 and iHeartMedia Phoenix are proud to partner with Arizona State University as they launch their inaugural radio broadcast for Hockey play-by-play," said iHeartMedia Phoenix Market President Linda Little. "We look forward to bringing ASU Hockey to fans throughout Phoenix on Fox Sports 910 and nationwide on the iHeartRadio app."

Naomi Judd’s Family Wants Death Investigation Report Sealed

Naomi Judd

The family of country singer Naomi Judd filed a court petition Friday (Aug. 12) to seal police reports and recordings made during the investigation into her death.

Billboard reports the family filed the petition in Williamson County Chancery Court, saying the records contain video and audio interviews with relatives in the immediate aftermath of Judd’s death, and releasing such details would inflict “significant trauma and irreparable harm.”

The petition was filed on behalf of her husband Larry Strickland and her daughters Ashley and Wynonna Judd. A representative provided it to The Associated Press with the family’s permission.

Judd, 76, died on April 30 at her home in Tennessee. Her daughter Ashley has previously said that her mother killed herself, and the family said she was lost to “the disease of mental illness.”

The court filing also included details about how Ashley Judd found her mother alive after she shot herself. Ashley stayed by her mother’s side for 30 minutes until help arrived.

Tennessee public records law generally allows local law enforcement records to be released, but police have the discretion to hold records while an investigation is ongoing. Once an investigation is closed, that exemption no longer applies. 

Ashley Judd said she was in “clinical shock, active trauma and acute distress” when she spoke with law enforcement and that she did not want those records, including video, audio and photos, to permanently stay in the public domain and haunt their family for generations.

August 13 Radio History

➦In 1919...Alpha Rex Emmanuel Humbard born (Died at age 88 – September 21, 2007). He was a pioneering radio and TV evangelist whose Cathedral of Tomorrow show was aired on over 600 stations at the peak of its popularity.

➦In 1952...the original version of Hound Dog was recorded by Willie Mae (Big Mama) Thornton. It was the first hit for songwriters Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, who also wrote Kansas City for Wilbert Harrison, On Broadway for The Drifters, and Stand By Me for Ben E. King. Four years later, Hound Dog got the attention of the world when it was recorded by Elvis Presley.

➦In 1966…The controversy over John Lennon's "more popular than Jesus" comments had been growing since late July. A public bonfire was on this day organised by the radio station KLUE in Longview, Texas.

The following day, the KLUE broadcast tower was struck by lightning, damaging much of their equipment and sending the news director to the hospital.

➦In 1959...Daniel Bonaduce born. The son of veteran TV writer/producer Joseph Bonaduce (The Dick Van Dyke Show, One Day at a Time, and others), he became famous as a child actor of the 1970s on the TV sitcom The Partridge Family. He co-starred as Danny Partridge, the wisecracking, redheaded middle son of the singing family band (headed by Shirley Jones), and he was the fictional pop group's bass guitar player.

Danny Bonaduce - 2007

Since then, Bonaduce has starred in several other TV series, including the VH1 reality show Breaking Bonaduce in 2005, radio shows in Los Angeles and Philadelphia and has been hosting a morning talk/music show at Seattle radio station KZOK-FM since November 14, 2011.

In the late 1980s, Bonaduce had become an on-air radio personality. He worked an overnight shift at Philadelphia's WEGX-FM. From 1994 to 1996, Bonaduce hosted his own radio show, The Danny Bonaduce Show on The Loop WLUP in Chicago. Between 1996 and 1998, Bonaduce hosted a morning radio show in Detroit on WKQI with comedian and Last Comic Standing winner John Heffron.

Bonaduce was part of The Adam Carolla Show in 2007. In 2008 he was given a daily one-hour solo spot known as Broadcasting Bonaduce, which was broadcast locally on the L.A.-based KLSX station. In February 2009, it was announced that the station had changed its format from talk to Top 40, and the removal of Broadcasting Bonaduce from the KLSX schedule was confirmed.

On October 31, 2011, it was announced by Seattle radio station 102.5 KZOK that Bonaduce would be co-hosting their morning-drive show beginning on November 14, 2011. Bonaduce came to Seattle from a radio stint at 94 WYSP in Philadelphia, following a format change from classic rock to all sports radio in September 2011.

Bonaduce is an ordained minister; he was ordained online in order to perform a wedding ceremony as part of a 94WYSP radio promotion in early 2011.

➦In 1986...KRE-AM in Berkeley CA changes call letters to KBLX (now KVTO). The station began in Berkeley in 1922 as KRE, the former call-sign of a marine radio station aboard a World War I merchant marine steamship, Florence H., destroyed in an April 17, 1918, explosion at Quiberon Bay, France.  Later programming was simulcast on KRE-FM and there were occasional AM/FM stereo broadcasts, including some classical music programming. KRE's call letters changed to KPAT in 1963, then back to KRE in 1972. The call letters KBLX were adopted in 1986, then changed to KBFN in 1989 and back to KBLX in 1990. The current call letters, KVTO, were adopted in 1994.

The station is currently owned by Phuong Pham, through licensee Pham Radio Communication LLC and air a Chinese fromat.

➦In 1986...NYC TV Personality (Officer) Joe Bolton died. He started his broadcast career in 1927 as a staff announcer for WOR in Newark, NJ. He was the announcer for DuMont Television Network's talent show Doorway to Fame in 1947, but he left DuMont for WPIX on May 15, 1948 to be a news announcer and weatherman.

Joe Bolton

On January 17, 1955, he appeared as "Officer Joe" and hosted The Clubhouse Gang, which featured the Little Rascals and the theme song "The Whistler and his Dog". WPIX lost the rights to The Little Rascals, and in September 1958, he switched to hosting The Three Stooges Funhouse, a showcase of The Three Stooges shorts which aired on WPIX weekdays until May 7, 1970, mostly weekdays at 5:30 pm. At one time, he was host of WPIX's The Dick Tracy Show as "Police Chief Joe".

Bolton also had cameos in two Three Stooges films: Stop! Look! and Laugh (1960), as a customer in a cafe; and in The Outlaws Is Coming (1965), the last feature film by The Three Stooges, which featured him and eight other local children television show hosts, all cast as villains.

Bolton appeared at many New York area venues, including Freedomland U.S.A. in The Bronx, to meet and entertain children. At Freedomland, he hosted appearances by The Three Stooges at the park's Moon Bowl entertainment venue. Bolton and The Three Stooges are featured in the book Freedomland U.S.A.: The Definitive History (Theme Park Press, 2019).

Bolton retired in 1975 to Santa Monica, California, and died in 1986 at Santa Monica Hospital of a heart attack.

Terry Steele

➦In 1993...Radio personality Terry Steele died after a fall in his bathtub. He was 46. One of the smoothest-sounding of all the CHUM jocks, Steele was born James Stromberg on July 19, 1947 in Chester, PA. His first radio job was in Carlisle at $60 a week. Steele jocked at WINX Rockville, Maryland, and WNOR Norfolk, Virginia, before arriving at CHUM in 1972. He spent 15 years at CHUM, establishing himself as one of Toronto's top jocks while voicing many of the station's specials.

Steele was part of one of CHUM's most memorable promotions when he wrestled Sweet Daddy Siki in 1974. He had the honor of signing off CHUM's Top 40 era on June 6, 1986 and continued at the station during the short-lived "Favorites of Yesterday and Today" format. After leaving CHUM in 1987, Steele jocked at CKEY, CKFM and CJEZ in Toronto. For CKEY aircheck: Click Here.

➦In 2007...Phil Rizzuto, NY Yankees player and announcer died in his sleep, three days short of the 51st anniversary of his last game as a Yankee, exactly twelve years after the death of Mickey Mantle, and just over one month shy of his 90th birthday. He had been in declining health for several years and was living at a nursing home in West Orange, New Jersey for the last months of his life. At the time of his death, at age 89, Rizzuto was the oldest living member of Baseball's Hall of Fame.

Phil Rizzuto

After a long Hall of Fame career as a player, Rizzuto broadcast Yankee games on radio and television for the 40 years. His popular catchphrase was "Holy Cow." Rizzuto also became known for saying "Unbelievable!" or "Did you see that?" to describe a great play, and would call somebody a "huckleberry" if he did something Rizzuto did not like.

He would frequently wish listeners a happy birthday or anniversary, send get-well wishes to fans in hospitals, and speak well of restaurants he liked, or of the cannoli he ate between innings. He also joked about leaving the game early, saying to his wife, "I'll be home soon, Cora!" and "I gotta get over that bridge", referring to the nearby George Washington Bridge, which he would use to get back to his home in Hillside. In later years, Rizzuto would announce the first six innings of Yankee games; the TV director would sometimes puckishly show a shot of the bridge (which can be seen from the top of Yankee Stadium) after Rizzuto had departed. Rizzuto was also very phobic about lightning, and sometimes left the booth following violent thunderclaps.

Rizzuto started his broadcasting career working alongside Mel Allen and Red Barber in 1957. Among a number of announcers that Rizzuto worked with over the course of his career, Frank Messer (1968-1985) and Bill White (1971-1988) were the two most memorable. Rizzuto, Messer, and White were the main broadcast trio that presided over an important time period for the Yankees, which spanned from the non-winning CBS years through the championship seasons and other years of struggle during the Steinbrenner era. On television, for example, the Yankees broadcast team went unchanged from 1972-82.

➦In 2010...Edwin Harold Newman died at age 91 (Born - January 25, 1919). He was anewscaster, journalist, and author. After beginning his career with the wire services and serving in the U.S. Navy during World War II, Newman worked in radio for CBS News. He is known for a 23-year career in television news with the National Broadcasting Company, from 1961 to 1984.

Edwin Newman - 1975

Newman initially worked for the wire services: first for the International News Service as a copy boy, mostly in the Senate, and then United Press. On Sunday, December 7, 1941, the day of the attack on Pearl Harbor, he heard the news during a radio concert. When he rang the office asking if he should come in, the reply was "Hell yes!" Newman took dictation for 12 hours as United Press reporters phoned in their stories.

He served in the United States Navy from 1942 to 1945 as a signal officer, stationed first in Trinidad and then at the Brooklyn Navy Yard. Following the war Newman worked as a reporter for United Press (1945–1946, primarily reporting about the State Department), before moving to the CBS News radio division (1947–1949) as assistant to Eric Sevareid.

Between 1949 and 1952 Newman worked as a freelancer, primarily for NBC News. He wrote for a number of publications and, in 1951. In 1952, Newman began to work full-time for NBC. Between 1961 and 1984, Newman participated in a wide variety of NBC programs, primarily for NBC News. He was a regular on the Today show and was its news anchor from July 24 to December 22, 1961, then a contributor and guest host. On Meet the Press, he was a frequent panelist and moderator.

Kevin Tighe is 78

🎂HAPPY BIRTHDAYS:

• Actor Kevin Tighe (“Emergency,” ″Murder One”) is 78. 
• Opera singer Kathleen Battle is 74. 

• 

  Kathryn Fiore is 43

  Actor Danny Bonaduce (“The Partridge Family”) is 63. 
• Actor Dawnn Lewis (“A Different World,” ″Hangin’ With Mr. Cooper”) is 61. 
• Actor John Slattery (“Mad Men,” ″Desperate Housewives”) is 60. 
• Actor Debi Mazar is 58. 
• Actor Quinn Cummings (“Family”) is 55. 
• Actor Seana Kofoed (“Men in Trees”) is 52. 
• Country singer Andy Griggs is 49. 
• Drummer Mike Melancon of Emerson Drive is 44. 
• Actor Kathryn Fiore (“Reno 911!”) is 43. 
• Actor Sebastian Stan (“Captain America”) is 40. 
• Actor Eme Ikwuakor (“Marvel’s Inhumans”) is 38. 
• Singer James Morrison is 38. Actor Lennon Stella (“Nashville”) is 23.

✞DEATH ANNIVERSARIES 

• Pioneering TV chef Julia Child died on this day in 2004. She was 91.
• Hall of Fame baseball player Mickey Mantle, former center fielder for the New York Yankees, died of liver cancer on this day in 1995. He was 63.
• Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing, died on this day in 1910. She was 90.

Sports Talk Radio Thrives In Boston, Not So Much In L-A

No city loves its sports talk like Boston, and no city tunes it out like Los Angeles, at least according to Nielsen ratings, reports The L-A Times.

In May, for instance, WBZ was the top-ranked radio station in Boston, with sports-talk rival WEEI ranking 11th.

“When it comes to their teams, people here are insatiable,” said WBZ-FM Mike Felger’s co-host, Tony Massarotti.

In Los Angeles, KLAC ranked 23rd, tied with the classical music on KUSC. KSPN ranked 37th, just behind the Christian music on KFSH.

In each of the four quarters of 2021, the sports talk ratings were lower in Los Angeles than in any other top 10 market in the United States, according to research Nielsen compiled for The Times.

Infogram

In the fall quarter of 2021, with the Dodgers in the playoffs and the Rams and Chargers heading there, L.A. sports talk stations combined to attract 3% of the total radio audience in the demographic most coveted by their potential advertisers: men aged 25-54.

In San Francisco, New York, Chicago and Washington, that figure was at least 7%. In Atlanta, Dallas and Philadelphia, at least 10%. In Boston, 28%.

“How passionate are you?” asked WBZ program director Rick Radzik. “I think it’s the approach in the Northeast: it’s more fast-paced, aggressive, opinionated hosts than it is, ‘What do you think?’

“I don’t need to ask you. I’m going to tell you what I think and you can react to it, good or bad.”

Infogram

Felger and Massarotti are former Boston Herald sportswriters, confident in the authority that comes from covering local teams for decades. Their rapport is evident, after 13 years together on air. They dispense hard-core analysis for diehard fans.

In their first segment that Monday, they took no calls. In the second, they took four calls within seven minutes: make your point, and be gone.

“People here are wacko about it,” Massarotti said. “They’re nut jobs. I say that with all the affection in my heart. They’re psycho about their teams. They’re crazy. That’s what we feed off.”

According to The Times, Ratings are fueled by more than rage. In Boston and Philadelphia, the top two markets in sports radio, the civic profiles are similar: what Massarotti called a “blue-collar” fan base built over generations, where everyone lives and breathes the same team in each sport.

In New York, allegiances are split between the Yankees and Mets, or the Giants and Jets. In Philadelphia, ride or die with the Phillies and the Eagles.

“Cold weather is part of it,” Massarotti said. “We’re just cooped up watching games sometimes.”

Jason Barrett, president of Barrett Sports Media, consults with broadcast executives on how to develop a successful sports radio station.

“It really is about understanding what local people value and care about, and delivering what they want,” he said.

“If you’re in the Northeast, you’re going to put a little more focus on phone calls, because people are a little more passionate, short fuses, and there is some entertainment value that comes through on the air. In other pockets of the country, people don’t get as worked up about stuff.”

Activist Investor Buys Stake In The NY Times

 

ValueAct, an activist investor that has taken stakes in major companies including Microsoft, Reuters and 21st Century Fox, said on Thursday that it had bought nearly 7 percent of The New York Times Company’s common stock and would push for changes to some of the publisher’s business operations.

The NY Times reports the purchase of the stock, made public in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Thursday, makes ValueAct one of the largest shareholders in The Times, alongside Vanguard and BlackRock Fund Advisors. The Times is controlled by the Ochs-Sulzberger family, which limits the influence outside investors have on the company.

Shares of The Times, which are down about 27 percent year to date, jumped more than 10 percent on news of ValueAct’s investment, which was first reported by Bloomberg.

In a letter to its investors on Thursday, ValueAct said it had conducted research that showed many consumers were not aware that The Times sells a bundled subscription to its products, which include news, games, a cooking app and the sports publication The Athletic. ValueAct said that created a potential growth opportunity.

“This is an opportunity we believe management needs to drive with urgency, as it is the biggest lever to accelerate growth, deepen NYT’s competitive moat, and ensure the long-term strength and stability of the platform,” ValueAct said in the letter, according to a person with knowledge of its contents.

The Times has 9.17 million paid subscribers. It has a goal of signing up 15 million by the end of 2027.

The Times Company has a dual-class share structure. The shares used to elect the majority of the company’s board, called Class B, are controlled by a trust for the Ochs-Sulzberger family, which owns 95 percent of these shares. The family has controlled the business since Adolph Ochs purchased it in 1896. The 13-person board is chaired by A.G. Sulzberger, who is also the publisher of The Times.

Danielle Rhoades Ha, a Times spokeswoman, said in a statement that members of the company’s management team had held conversations with ValueAct to exchange views.

San Francisco-based ValueAct is one of the oldest and well-known activist investors in the business. When the fund puts money into a company, changes usually occur—sometimes subtle, sometimes drastic.

The Wall Street Journal reports ValueAct paid around $350.2 million for the shares. Based on the current share price, ValueAct’s stake is valued at around $387 million.

ValueAct said in the filing that it believes that New York Times shares are undervalued and represent an attractive investment opportunity.

ValueAct invests in a small number of companies at once and, in many cases, pushes for representation on the board. It is known for doing much of its work quietly, working behind the scenes to influence decision-making.

CNN Slots Chris Wallace Into Sunday 7pm Hour

Chris Wallace will own CNN’s Sunday 7 p.m. timeslot this coming fall. CNN CEO Chris Licht told staff of this development at a company town hall held Thursday morning.

Licht added that Wallace’s program will be followed by CNN Original Series and CNN Films programming in primetime, as has been the network’s custom for many years.

Licht announced back in May at the company upfront that Wallace’s interview streaming program on CNN+ named Who’s Talking to Chris Wallace? will stream on HBO Max—and air on the CNN TV network weekly on Sunday evenings; but he did not disclose a timeslot. Until now.

“A big part of the CNN brand is respectful, authentic and impactful interviews—and one of the best interviewers in the business is Chris Wallace, who is here with us this morning,” Licht remarked at the time. “We’re excited to announce that Who’s Talking to Chris Wallace? will return to production this fall, with episodes on HBO Max and on our CNN linear channel on Sunday evenings. Chris’s show will be part of what we’re calling ‘CNN Sunday.’ It’s a unique opportunity for your brands to appear alongside our premium content.”

Wallace joined CNN in January after more than 50 award-winning years in broadcasting, including 18 years with Fox News, where he was most recently the moderator of Fox News Sunday.

Wake-Up Call: DOJ Wants Warrant Unsealed

The Justice Department has asked a federal court to unseal the search warrant used in searching former President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, Attorney General Merrick Garland said Thursday. It’s a very unusual move as warrants usually remain sealed during a pending investigation, but the request reflects the high public interest in the case and widespread calls for details about what led to the search. It also comes amid attacks from Trump and his allies over the search. 

The motion filed in federal court yesterday said, “The public’s clear and powerful interest in understanding what occurred under these circumstances weighs heavily in favor of unsealing.” CNN cited a source as saying Trump's team is considering potentially challenging the motion to unseal the warrant. Garland also revealed that he personally approved the search warrant, and condemned the attacks on the FBI and Justice Department over the search, saying, “I will not stand by silently when their integrity is unfairly attacked.” 

The search was part of the Justice Department investigation into the discovery of classified White House records at Mar-a-Lago earlier this year. Meanwhile, The Washington Post reported last night that the FBI sought to locate classified documents related to nuclear weapons, among other items, during the Mar-a-Lago search.

 

Trump attorney says FBI raid was 'shocking': Trump was cooperating with feds, it was an open-door policy https://t.co/R55phW42yn

— Fox News (@FoxNews) August 12, 2022

➤ARMED MAN KILLED AFTER TRYING TO ‘BREACH’ SECURITY SCREENING AREA AT OHIO FBI OFFICE: An armed man wearing body armor who tried to “breach” a security screening area at an FBI field office in Cincinnati yesterday was shot and killed by police after he fled and was involved in an hours-long standoff with law enforcement. The 42-year-old suspect, Ricky Shiffer, is believed to have been in Washington, D.C., in the days leading up to the January 6th attack on the U.S. Capitol, AP reported, citing an unnamed law enforcement official. Lieutenant Nathan Dennis, a Ohio State Highway Patrol spokesperson, said Shiffer was shot after he raised a gun toward police at around 3 p.m. after negotiations failed and police tried unsuccessfully to use "less lethal tactics." The incident came as officials have warned of an increase in threats against FBI agents and officers across the country after the FBI executed a search warrant at former President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort.

➤CAUSE OF INDIANA HOUSE EXPLOSION THAT KILLED THREE BEING INVESTIGATED: Authorities were working yesterday to try to find the cause of a house explosion in Evansville, Indiana, a day earlier that killed three people, injured another, and damaged 39 homes. Fire Chief Mike Connelly told reporters yesterday that 11 of the homes were uninhabitable and will have to be demolished, and said that finding a cause is expected to be a, quote, “very tedious process -- and lengthy.” The victims were identified yesterday as a husband and wife, 43-year-old Charles Hite and 37-year-old Martina Hite, and a 29-year-old neighbor, Jessica Teague.

John Mackey, who co-founded the grocery chain, is set to end his 44-year career at the company later this month. https://t.co/cvpX2ZBYN7

— CBS News (@CBSNews) August 11, 2022

➤CDC RELAXES SOME COVID RECOMMENDATIONS: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) relaxed some of its Covid-19 guidelines yesterday, reflecting that more than two-and-a-half years into the pandemic, some 95 percent of Americans age 16 and older have some level of immunity, whether from infection, vaccination or both. The recommendations being dropped include: quarantining if you come into close contact with an infected person; staying at least six feet away from others; schools doing routine daily testing; and “test-to-stay,” in which students exposed to Covid could test to say in school instead of having to quarantine. Wearing masks continues to be recommended only in areas where community transmission is high, or if a person is considered at high risk of severe illness. While quarantining is no longer recommended for those who come into close contact with an infection person, the CDC is urging those people to wear a high-quality mask for 10 days and get tested after five days.

➤EX-VIRGINIA POLICE OFFICER GET SEVEN-YEAR-PLUS SENTENCE IN JAN. 6TH CASE: Former Rocky Mount, Virginia, Police Sergeant Thomas Robertson was sentenced yesterday seven years and three months in prison for his actions in the January 6th attack on the U.S. Capitol, matching the longest sentence given so far in hundreds of cases related to the attack. Robertson was still a police officer when he stormed the Capitol with a fellow officer. A jury found Robertson guilty in April on all six counts again him. Robertson will get credit for the 13 months he has already spent in custody, as he’s been jailed since the judge ruled last year that he violated the terms of his pretrial release by possessing firearms.

Daily Mail 8/12/22

➤ANNE HECHE 'NOT EXPECTED TO SURVIVE' SEVERE BRAIN INJURY: Anne Heche “is not expected to survive” the catastrophic brain injury she suffered during last week’s car crash.
 A rep for the Emmy-winning actress told People Thursday, “Unfortunately, due to her accident, Anne suffered a severe anoxic brain injury and remains in a coma, in critical condition and on full life support. The statement continued, “It has long been her choice to donate her organs and she’s being kept on life support to determine if any are viable.”  Heche never regained consciousness after crashing into a Los Angeles home in a firey wreck that took place last Friday (August 5th). LAPD sources told TMZ Thursday that the actress had cocaine and fentanyl in her system at the time of the accident.

Olivia Newton-John's funeral to be "more of a concert," Australian officials say. https://t.co/15qpZ01E8R

— ABC News (@ABC) August 12, 2022

🤑GAS PRICES ARE LOWER (FOR NOW): The average nationwide price of a gallon of gas dropped below $4 yesterday for the first time since March. The main reason for the relief is a decline in the price of crude oil. Experts say that further declines are unlikely in the short term as those crude prices are already beginning to climb back up.

💸MORTGAGE RATES TOP 5% AGAIN: Home mortgage rates climbed back above 5% after briefly declining last week, according to Freddie Mac. The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averages 5.22%, up from 4.99% last week. On the other hand, a slowdown in home sales are beginning to force some sellers to lower their asking prices.

💰BACK-TO-SCHOOL SUPPLIES COST MORE: If you’re shopping for back-to-school supplies you may find they have gotten pricier. According to CNN Business, the average price of a Sharpie pen is up 55% over last year, while Scotch tape costs nearly 70% more and Elmer’s Glue is up 30%.

➤THE FASTEST ELECTRIC CAR: An electric car made by Porsche has set a new time record for an electric vehicle now in production. The Porsche Taycan Turbo S completed a 12.9-mile circuit on the course in Germany in 7 minutes 33 seconds. That’s two seconds faster than the previous record-holder, a Tesla Model S Plaid. Both cars cost well over $100,000.

➤TEENS PREFER YOUTUBE: Facebook use by teenagers has fallen dramatically, according to a new survey by the Pew Research Center. Use of the popular social site by Americans ages 13 to 17 has dropped nearly 40% since 2014. YouTube is their overall favorite, followed by TikTok, Instagram and SnapChat.

➤ABC TO AIR 'RODGERS & HAMMERSTEIN'S CINDERELLA': ABC will celebrate the 25th anniversary of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella with a 20/20 news special cast reunion and a presentation of the original film. Cinderella: The Reunion, A Special Edition of 20/20, airs on ABC-TV on Tuesday, Aug. 23rd stating at 8 PM ET/PT and will stream the next day on Hulu. The reunion will feature Brandy, Whoopi Goldberg, Paolo Montalban, Victor Garber, Bernadette Peters, Jason Alexander, and Veanne Cox.

⚾CUBS TOP REDS 4-2 IN 'FIELD OF DREAMS' GAME: The Chicago Cubs topped the Cincinnati Reds 4-2 in MLB's second annual "Field of Dreams" game last night. The game took place in a small throwback ballpark in Dyersville, Iowa, right near where the 1989 movie was filmed, one year after the Chicago White Sox topped the New York Yankees 9-8 in the inaugural game. Last night's festivities began with Hall of Famer Ken Griffey Jr. and his father emerging from the outfield cornstalks, with Junior telling his father, "Hey dad, do you wanna have a catch?" and his dad answering, "I'd like that." The two then played catch as more parents and children joined them on the field, followed by the Cubs and Reds.

"Hey dad, you want to have a catch?"

The Griffeys are making us tear up. #MLBatFieldOfDreams pic.twitter.com/FPXuppj11x

— MLB (@MLB) August 11, 2022

🏈NFL KICKS OFF PRESEASON: The NFL kicked off the preseason with two games last night. The New York Giants topped the New England Patriots 23-21 and the Baltimore Ravens topped the Tennessee Titans 23-10.

🏀BILL RUSSELL’S NUMBER 6 TO BE RETIRED ACROSS NBA: The late Bill Russell’s Number 6 will be permanently retired across the NBA, the league and the National Basketball Players Association announced yesterday, the first time that’s been done in the NBA. Commissioner Adam Silver said of the Hall of Famer, “Bill Russell’s unparalleled success on the court and pioneering civil rights activism deserve to be honored in a unique and historic way.” Players who currently wear Number 6, among them LeBron James, can continue to do so. Russell, who died on July 31st at age 88, won 11 championships in his 13-year career, and was the first Black coach in any of the major U.S. pro sports to win a championship. MLB has permanently retired Number 42 in honor of Jackie Robinson, who broke baseball’s color line, and the NHL has retired Wayne Gretzky’s Number 99 in honor of the all-time scoring leader.

🏈BRADY TO BE AWAY FROM BUCCANEERS FOR 11 DAYS FOR ‘PERSONAL’ REASONS: Tom Brady was not at Tampa Bay Buccaneers training camp yesterday, beginning what head coach Todd Bowles said is an 11-day planned absence by the quarterback to address, quote, “personal things.” Bowles said Brady won’t be back until after Tampa Bay’s preseason game against the Tennessee Titans on August 20th, stating, “We allotted this time because he wanted to get in and get chemistry with the guys with two weeks of training camp, knowing he wasn’t going to play the first two [preseason] games.” The 45-year-old Brady is back with the Bucs after retiring in February and then changing his mind six weeks later.

SIDELINED: Video shows officers dragging ex-NFL star Marshawn Lynch out of car during DUI arrest. https://t.co/J4DeOnsX47 pic.twitter.com/b2WyapoDNq

— Fox News (@FoxNews) August 12, 2022

⚾WOMAN WHO ACCUSED BAUER COUNTERSUES AGAINST HIS DEFAMATION CLAIM: The woman who accused L.A. Dodgers pitcher Trevor Bauer of sexually abusing her has filed a countersuit to the defamation claim he filed against her, according to a court filing. Bauer has denied the woman’s claim, contending they engaged in consensual rough sex, and claims in his defamation suit that she lied about their sexual encounters in order to destroy his reputation and enrich herself. The woman’s countersuit filed Tuesday again alleges that Bauer punched and choked her during two sexual encounters in 2021. The L.A. District Attorney declined to file criminal charges against Bauer, but MLB has suspended him for two years, which he is appealing. Bauer is also suing two media outlets for defamation over their coverage of the allegations.

🏈WHITE, WHO SCORED GAME-WINNING TD IN PATRIOTS’ HISTRORIC SUPER BOWL COMEBACK, IS RETIRING: Running back James White, who scored the game-winning touchdown in the New England Patriots’ historic comeback win over the Atlanta Falcons in Super Bowl 51 in 2017, announced Thursday that he’s retiring. The 30-year-old has been trying to come back from hip surgery after he dislocated it early in the 2021 season. White set Super Bowl records for points scored in a game and receptions as the Pats rallied from a 28-3 third quarter deficit to beat the Falcons 34-28 in Super Bowl 51, the biggest comeback in Super Bowl history.

🏒GOLDEN KNIGHTS GOALIE LEHNER TO MISS UPCOMING SEASON: The Vegas Golden Knights announced yesterday that goalie Robin Lehner needs hip surgery and is expected to miss the upcoming season. No timeline for his recovery has been determined yet. The 31-year-old Lehner started 44 games for the Golden Knights last season and finished 23-17-2. Backup goalie Laurent Brossoit’s status also uncertain after he had hip surgery during the offseason.