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10 Questions with ... Jeff Biggs
September 19, 2005
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NAME:Jeff BiggsPOSITION:Sports Reporter/Update AnchorSTATION:KLAC XTRA Sports 570MARKET:Los AngelesCOMPANY:Clear ChannelBORN:Burbank, CARAISED:L.A.
BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:
1989-PRESENT - 670 KWNK, 710 KMPC, KMAX 107.1, XTRA SPORTS 690-1150-570!: Update Anchor, Talk Show Host, Beat Reporter (Lakers, Dodgers, Angels, Raiders)
National Reporter For ESPN Radio, AP, And Fox Sports Radio.1) How did you get started in radio- why radio?
Well, after finally getting clean and sober (praise God!) a friend of mine said to me "Hey Jeff, this is your life, it's not a dress rehersal" . As a die-hard sports fan, I had always dreamed of being in the business, and I always wondered what the real stories were behind the stories. And so I went after it, and with God's help.... one door at time! I've been able to avoid work most of my adult life!
2) What are you passionate about?
Aside from my relationships with God, my wife and my two daughters, I love my job and the people I get to work with here at XTRA Sports. And I am passionate about helping other men who struggle with drugs and alcohol. I was blessed to have people there for me when I got sober in 1986. And it hurts me to see that in life outside of our world in radio, there are men all across the country that are battling drugs, alcohol, porn, divorce, and broken families. So when I realized that I was never going to have the talent or career of a Bob Costas, or Al Michaels....I had to ask, what else can do in this life to make a difference. And the need is great!
3) You've been in L.A. sports radio since there's BEEN such a thing, all the way back to the original KMPC/710. But there are those who say L.A.'s not a sports town. Since you know it as well as anyone in the business, what kind of sports town IS L.A.?
Los Angeles is a great sports town, with great sports fans! With the exception of this year's -duped- Dodger fans, L.A. fans just don't support bad teams. Paying good money to watch a Triple-A ball club doesn't make you a good fan, it makes you a fool! And I have to laugh everytime I hear what a great sports town New York is. My last two trips to Yankee Stadium in 2002 in the rematch against Arizona, and then a couple years ago against the Red Sox, it wasn't even half full!!! As for LA Sports-Talk......good shows get good ratings!
4) If you hadn't gone into radio, what would you be doing today?
I would probably be a Pastor, or a drug-rehab counselor..
5) You've interviewed virtually everybody in sports at one time or another- which interviews stand out as the best, worst, and/or most memorable to you?
My two favorite L.A. guys would have to be Derek Fisher and Eric Karros, because I could talk to them anytime, and they would always tell me the real deal. Shaq is as sharp as a tack when you get to talk to him one on one. On a topical note, when I was traveling with the Dodgers and doing the pre-game interview Jeff Kent lived up to his rep as an A-1 jerk and blew me off, but Barry Bonds actually sat down with me and was great. He's always been good to me for some reason. And speaking of jerks, I think I'm one of the few people to ever do a 1 on 1 with Albert Belle... that was interesting. Lou Pinella went off on me once, and it was so bad he apologized to me 2 days in a row! Kirk Gibson went psycho on me when I was a rookie... and then 10 years later, he was my best friend as I hung with him backstage at Wango Tango!
And probably one of my most memorable moments came courtesy of Charles Barkley, who was always terrific. The Chuckster shared that the only difference between him and Michael Jordan was that we in the media didn't know what MJ does when no one's looking!
6) You get to work with and listen to a lot of sports talkers- who are your favorite hosts and why?
I'm really enjoying working on the Mancow show! I love Jim Rome because his opinions are right on, and his interviews are unmatched. I love the Loose Cannons because of their chemistry. I've gotta catch Hacksaw's headlines, and Joe McDonnell is a good friend and former mentor to me. At night, I try to make special trips to the market so I can listen to Phil Hendrie! And I love Lee Klein and Tim Cates. And I'm still expecting big things from my buddy Ben Maller!
7) Of what are you most proud?
Being a dad. In addition to my marriage, it's the greatest thing that's ever happened to me!
8) What do you do for fun?
Spend time with my girls, and read.
9) Fill in the blank: I can't make it through the day without ______________.
I hate to say it... coffee! Drugs and alcohol were a breeze compared to coffee!
10) What's the best advice you ever got? The worst?
Some of my critics would say that the worst advice I ever got was to get into radio!
But the best advice I ever received was early on in my career, when a friend of mine told me that you can have the best show, the best interview, or the best update... which is great... but then you've got to do it again tomorrow!
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