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10 Questions with ... McGraw Milhaven
June 27, 2005
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NAME:McGraw MilhavenPOSITION:Talk Show Host (Not a DJ)STATION:KTRSMARKET:St. LouisCOMPANY:IndependentBORN:2/8/67 Flushing, NYRAISED:Manhasset, Long Island, NY
BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:
Got my start changing tapes and being a weekend board operator for Art Bell at KFAB Omaha. After working my way up to overnights during the week writing sports and cutting tape for the morning show, I took over the sports department. I covered the Huskers during their National Championship years and then became a general talk show host. In the Summer of 1999 I moved to KMOX in St Louis. I left KMOX after five years, my last show, I was co-host of afternoon drive. I started September 1st, 2004 at KTRS in St Louis.
1) You were a ballplayer in college, but you ended up in radio- how did that happen? Why radio?
My love of radio dates back to my sophomore year in high school. That's where I found Fordham University's WFUV radio. On Friday and Saturday nights I would come home at 10pm so I could listen to the sports show. People would call in and dub themselves Mr. Met, Yankee Man, and Fredbird. It was then I realized radio was for me. Recently, a man walked into KTRS and asked if he could use a studio. He was in St Louis covering the Cardinal-Yankee series and had to host a show back in New York. We were happy to help. As it turns out, that man was the voice of the Yankees, Michael Kay. "The same Michael Kay of WFUV fame?" I asked. "You going back 20 years," he said. I replied, "You're the reason I'm standing in this studio, I've always wanted to thank you." He was great, and as you can imagine, it was a bigger thrill for me.
2) What are you passionate about?
History. I always have my head in some book about sports, war, memoirs. Most of the time, I get a chance to interview the author of
some best selling non-fiction book. It's a great match.
I should also mention radio. Good radio, as well as bad radio. Scanning the dial on the weekend, listening to a new talk host struggle to find his/her way, or listening to a nationally-known host paint a picture with his/her voice
3) You got let go by KMOX and rebounded very quickly by joining KTRS- what was it like to go in short order from one station to the "enemy camp"? And how has the new place been for you so far?
First, let me say that working for KTRS has been fantastic. The GM of KTRS, Tim Dorsey, worked for many years at KMOX and knows radio and knows St Louis, and all he cares about is what comes out of the speaker. KMOX didn't renew my contract, yet held me to my non-compete, so I had to sit out for three months. So I didn't rebound as quickly as I would have liked. As for the "enemy camp", I don't see it that way. I always had respect for KTRS, as I have respect for KMOX now. I still have friends at KMOX and I hope they feel the same towards me. Competition is good, and I know they listen to what we do, as we listen to them. When you have two talk stations in a town, it's like a two newspaper town. Different voices, different views, everybody wins, I'm just glad St. Louis is such a good News/Talk town to support both.
4) If you hadn't gone into radio, what would you be doing today?
I think I would have ended up coaching. Fewer commercials, and the audience would have to listen or they wouldn't play.
5) Who's been your favorite guest? What was your worst guest experience?
The worst, hands down, no question was Gordon Cooper, one of the original Mercury Seven Astronauts. I was so excited for the show. I had read his book, "Leap of Faith", had my notes, and was ready for a full hour with an American Hero. Well, after 148 questions, and a 148 answers consisting of either yes, no, not really, or depends, I thanked him for his time and went to my last break. When producer, Chris Mihill said, "What are you doing, you have ten minutes left." I said, "I'm out of questions, I've asked him every question, I don't have anymore questions in me." Listeners still refer to that show. It was so bad it will be remembered forever.
As for my favorite guest? I've had so many, from Presidents, to Hall of Famers, to just interesting people, but if I had to pick one, Bob Costas, of NBC and HBO fame. He came in studio and we talked for two hours. That was fun.
6) Your cousin J.R. Moehringer's book "The Tender Bar" was one of the most talked-about releases at the recent Book Expo in New York and is getting huge advance praise, and it's about his unique experience growing up with the surrogate "fathers" at the neighborhood bar. You were there, you know what really happened- have you read the book? What's it like to read a major book about something you know first-hand? And is there a book in you, too?
Yes, I have read the book, I think I've read it three times, but I haven't read the final version. I'm looking forward to read the final hard cover version. I was there for much of the book, and much of the experiences, and there is no way to describe the feelings I have, reading about my childhood in a book for the world to read. Imagine reading a book that makes you feel like you're watching a video of yourself from 20-30 years ago... Who would have thought that a trip JR and I took to Belmont, or Publicans (the Bar), would become a turning point in our lives. It's his story from his point of view, I'm just proud to be a part of it, proud that it came out so well and proud it's getting such great reviews. Do I have a book in me? Yes, ghost-written by JR.
7) Of what are you most proud?
I'm most proud of the fact that I overcame a stuttering problem to become a talk show host. I let it almost stop me from trying, but with the help of family, friends, and some great speech doctors, I didn't let it stand in the way of my career. Earlier, I talked about listening to WFUV radio as a kid. Well, I would try and call in, but because of my stutter, I couldn't say my name, yet each week, I would call in and wait on line, only to hang up because the words just wouldn't come out. Now, I get three hours a day to play on the radio.
8) What do you do for fun?
Cardinal baseball in the summer, running, theatre, bad movies with bad actors, reading, working on my house and yard, and can't wait until the next season of "Project Greenlight" and "The Bachelor."
9) Fill in the blank: I can't make it through the day without ______________.
...my Diet Rite soda and my Nicorette 4mg orange gum.
10) What's the best advice you ever got? The worst?
The best advice I ever got was from JR, and I bet he thinks I wasn't listening. He once said "know the rules, so you will know when to break them." He was talking about writing, but it works in radio as well. Come to think of it, it works for life.
The worst? Some guy once told me, "McGraw Milhaven, that's not a good radio name- if you want to succeed in radio, you going to have to change your name."
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