10 Questions with ... Jeff Dotseth

NAME:Jeff Dotseth TITLE:Morning Host STATION:XTRA Sports 1360 MARKET:San Diego COMPANY: Clear Channel BORN:Minneapolis RAISED:San Diego

BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:

I started as a weekend board-op for KSDO in 1991, after working on the Roger Hedgecock show for 2 years, I got hired as the Sports Producer at 760 KFMB in March of 1995. I went on the air co-hosting a show with Dave Palet starting August 1st 1998. We stayed at KFMB until March 2002. After doing shows for Sporting News, ESPN, and CBS Radio, we started doing mornings on the re-launched XTRA in November '07.

1.What got you into radio? Why radio?

In 1991, I was an intern for the San Diego Sockers, and my boss asked me what I wanted to do when my internship ended. Like most people at age 22, I had no clue. He told me to pursue a job in radio, and suggested I go watch Lee "Hacksaw" Hamilton do his show on XTRA. I called Lee and asked him if I could come by. He said sure, and could not have been nicer. It was so much fun -- I knew right then that I wanted to get into the business.

2. About what are you most passionate these days?

Making a mark in AM Drive in my hometown. A lot of people put their faith in our show, and nothing would make me happier then to make them look like geniuses.

3. You did sports talk for years before doing non-sports talk at the old Free FM in San Diego, but now you're back -- did the foray into "lifestyle" talk for young guys have an effect on the kind of show you'll do for XTRA now that sports is the primary focus again? Do you think there's room to mix non-sports talk in on a sports show?

I think it had a HUGE effect on what we do, because it made us get back to the basics. A lot of times doing sports talk, we could say "What did you think of that game?", open the phone lines, and kick back for four hours. Doing "Guy Talk" was a great challenge to find topics that were not sports related, that would still light the lines. In two weeks back on XTRA, we have talked not only sports, but Broadway shows, favorite movie lines, etc.... so it has been great finding that blend. The nicest compliment we get is when people say they miss the show on Free FM, because we were labeled as "Sports Guys" yet found a way to make that show work.

4. What's the best and worst thing about working with your on-air partner?

Palet is one of my best friends; that's why I asked him to be the godfather to my twin boys that were born last month. That being said, the guy is nuts. He is fearless, and he has no filter, which makes for great radio. The worst thing is, he is the biggest front runner I have ever met. He is the only guy I know who owns Dodgers and Yankees jerseys. He cheers for both USC and UCLA. Any guy who admits on the air that he cried watching the movie "Stepmom", while his wife didn't, is alright with me.

5. You've done the tour of San Diego sports and talk radio, both individually and as a team, and you've managed to get back on the air reasonably quickly after each departure. What would you say is the most important thing to do once you find out your job is about to go away?

Take the high road. We were told we were fired 5 minutes before our last show at Free. I am convinced that by taking the high road for those last 3 hours, and not ripping CBS on the way out the door, it helped us get our job at XTRA.

6. Who has been your single favorite San Diego sports personality since you started in local radio? Who was the worst?

I loved dealing with Ken Caminiti. The guy owned this town during the time he was here.

The worst was Kevin Gilbride. What a jackass.

7. Who are your radio influences?

My biggest influence was a guy named John Leslie, who was a legendary classic rock jock in San Diego when I was a kid. When I got my job at KSDO, He worked down the hall at KCLX. He let me hang out during his shift, and was just an amazing guy. I was on the air when the news came out that he was found dead in his apartment. That was one of the hardest shows I have ever done.

8. What do you do for fun?

I love books, movies, and talking sports!! I used to like to travel, but my wife gave birth to twin boys last month, so those days are over!

9. Fill in the blank: I can't make it through the day without _________

...hanging out with my twin boys Cade and Jack. They are 5 weeks old, and being a dad for the first time at age 40 has been very cool!

10. What's the best advice you ever got? The worst?

The best was very simple. "We are only doing radio, we are not changing the world here, be yourself, and have some fun."

The worst was when I was told to go solo; working with Dave is the best job I have ever had, so why give it up?