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10 Questions with ... Arnie Spanier
November 21, 2006
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NAME:Arnie SpanierTITLE:Host, 7-10p ETNETWORK:Sporting News RadioBORN:April 3RAISED:Bronx, NY
BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:
Sports Entertainment Network, KDUS/Phoenix, One-on-One Sports, KXTA/Los Angeles, WCNN/Atlanta, Sporting News Radio
1. How did you get your start in radio?
Got my start doing a show for SEN, The Sports Entertainment Network- currently the network I work for now, just a different name and new owner. It's now Sporting News Radio.
2. What are you passionate about?
What else besides sports? You can't do this job without loving all sports. I was not a radio geek like some of these other guys.
3. You did local sports talk in L.A. as well as Phoenix and Atlanta, but in all cases you made it clear ("oh, Laaaaker fans!") you were a New York guy. What kind of sports towns are the cities in which you've worked? How- if at all- do the compare to New York?
None of them compare to New York. Phoenix was great, but it was all about the Suns. There was no baseball or hockey when I was there. All the people from Chicago and New York made it more fun, because there more passionate.
Atlanta was fun but mornings isn't really for me. If you ain't talking Georgia Bulldogs, then you're not talking to anyone.
What can you say about Los Angeles? OH, LAKER FANS!!!! It was actually fun battling the Laker Fans. I know I certainly made my mark in this town. Still get a lot of calls from Los Angeles.
4. If you hadn't gone into radio, what would you be doing today?
I'd probably be rich.
5. What's your best sports memory ever?
I was at the game with my wife when Arizona beat Kentucky to win the Championship. Not afraid to admit I had tears in my eyes.
6. You are, of course, the self-proclaimes "Stinkin' Genius"- but what's the biggest mistake you ever made in sports radio? When were you really, deeply wrong (or at least a little embarrassed)?
If we're talking picks, I'm wrong just about every weekend. A big mistake I made was when I hung up on and ripped a caller. It was some old lady that was getting on my nerves. That old lady is now my mother-in-law. I guess she got the last laugh.
7. Of what are you most proud?
Just getting this far. It's so competitive out there, it's crazy. I still have lofty goals, but I'm pretty proud of some of the great jobs I have had.
8. What do you do for fun?
Eat and watch garbage TV like Judge Judy and all the other Judge shows.
9. Fill in the blank: I can't make it through the day without _____________.
...cheating on my diet.
10. What's the best advice you've ever gotten? The worst?
Best was "if you want to be in this business bad enough, I have all the confidence in you." I'm still waiting to hear that.
Worst advice: You're just not good enough to be on the radio. (My old girlfriend Paula)
Honorable mention: Arnold, you're a bum. You'll never be on the radio. (My Mom)
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