Sports Overnight America
Encyclopedia
Sports Overnight America is a live, national sports radio
show airing Monday through Friday from 10pm-1am PST (1am-4am EST). The show is part of the Sports Byline USA
network in San Francisco, California
, and is hosted by Chris Townsend
. Sports Overnight America Weekend, is hosted by Matt Kolsky.
and has been working in sports radio for over a dozen years in the Bay Area of California. It is not uncommon for Townsend to go off on a tangent regarding topics other than sports. Most of this is done in an intelligent, playful, and entertaining way. The free-spirited (and intelligent) nature of the host, and his sidekicks, make the show one of the more entertaining sports shows in the country.
Beginning in early 2009, Matt Kolsky, who now hosts the Weekend Edition, was responsible for booking guests for the show. These interviews, which Townsend conducts at a very high level, have greatly increased the quality of the show. All of the interviews can be heard on the show's website. Kolsky also contributed on-air with an NBA segment called "The Basketball Jones". Kolsky had left the show on a full-time basis to take a job as color commentator, and media relations director for the NBA Development Leagues Bakersfield Jam. Kolsky recently returned from Bakersfield to host the Weekend Edition.
Townsend's favorite target is enigmatic show producer Gerrie Burke. A running gag on the show is Townsend's constant assertion that Burke (who also does the top and bottom of the hour updates) is either screwing up, or, more than likely, stoned. Townsend sometimes refers to Burke as their "Resident Narcotic Expert". In actuality, Burke, who plays the "Spaced-Out" role very convincingly, has had a fairly successful radio career, both on-air and as a producer, since the late 1980s. (Most notably at both WZLX
and WBZ
-Boston, WJZ-TV
Baltimore, CBS
News Radio-New York City, and XM Radio in Washington, DC) The teasing does reassert the fact these two, despite what they say to, and about each other on air, are friends, and have known each other for years.
Although Townsend carries the load of content for the show, Burke's updates can be very entertaining. This is due to not only his delivery and voice (he has done numerous commercial voice-overs) but his extremely quick, and quirky sense of humor. Or, as Townsend has referred to it, "A weird sense of humor. One developed from years of drinking, smoking, and reading too much of just about everything."
As of the 2010 baseball season, Townsend has been the host of the Oakland A's Pre and post-game shows on San Francisco's XTRA Sports 860, the flagship station of the A's. Given the extra on-air responsibilities outside of Sports Overnight, Burke has been given more on air time, and offers a rather peculiar, although quite entertaining angle to the show.
In the late 1990s through the early 2000s, both Townsend and Burke were part of the highly successful Gary Radnich
Morning Show on San Francisco's Sports Radio, KNBR
. Townsend did updates. Burke was the co-producer and studio engineer. Fill-in host Cyrus Saatsaz
worked mornings with Townsend for three years as executive producer of The John London Not Just Sports Show (Saatsaz also produced The Gary Radnich Show for three years).
, and Fred Lynn
have appeared on the show on a fairly regular basis to discuss the latest in MLB, as has former Columbo Family Mob Boss Michael Franzese
, Adult film star Jenny Hendrix
, Rob Nyer from ESPN
.com, and Christine Brennan
from the USA Today
are also contributors. One of his regular callers is Emperor Nobody, from Oakland, CA. The Emperor brings a funny take on music and life issues not just sports, and much to the chagrin of Townsend, tends to agree with, and have much in common with producer, Gerrie Burke, when the topic of music is brought up. The Emperor is a huge proponent of Oakland Sports and in particular the Oakland A's. During the baseball season the Emperor brings first hand accounts of the goings ons from the Oakland Coliseum.
One of the funnier "Friends of the Show" is Michelle from Houston, Texas. Michelle, who is a rather sexy sounding Texan, with an accompanied drawl, adds a flirtatious aspect to the show that adds some funny highlights to the show.
A high school classmate of Burkes, Margie, from East Biloxi, Mississippi, is a regular caller and texter to the show. She claims the only reason she listens is to hear Burke, but Townsend's assertion is that, "She has the case of the Towny's."
(who, not surprisingly, is a longtime friend of Burke's) appeared, in studio, with Townsend for a wildly entertaining one hour interview.
During this interview, the topic came up about allegations that Lee had smoked a marijuana joint with President George W. Bush
in 1972 at the Museum of Science in Boston. Lee responded that, "I didn't get high with the President. He got high with me."
Bush officials have denied the scenario ever took place, but just as aggressively, Lee has asserted that, in fact, it did. (The soundbite for that quote is used by the show as a rejoiner in to Burke's updates from time to time.)
On February 16, 2009, Lee returned to the studios for another interview, joined by former teammate on the 1975 Boston Red Sox
, Rick Wise
. Both interviews can be heard in their entirety on the show's website, www.christownsendradio.com.
Contact: Sports Overnight America, 1-4am EST, (10pm-1am PST) at 1-800-878-PLAY (7529)
Sports radio
Sports radio is a radio format devoted entirely to discussion and broadcasting of sporting events. A popular format with an almost exclusively male demographic in most areas, sports radio is characterized by an often-boisterous on-air style and extensive debate and analysis by both hosts and...
show airing Monday through Friday from 10pm-1am PST (1am-4am EST). The show is part of the Sports Byline USA
Sports Byline USA
Sports Byline USA is a national sports radio network based in the United States. Sports Byline USA is also the name of the flagship program on the network. It was launched on October 24, 1988. Sports Byline USA is located in San Francisco, California...
network in San Francisco, California
San Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
, and is hosted by Chris Townsend
Chris Townsend
Chris Townsend is a passionate hillwalker and author of 15 books.Townsend was the first person to climb all of the Munros and Tops in a continuous walk involving 1700 miles and 575,000 feet of ascent over all 517 of the 3000 ft Scottish summits listed in Munro's Tables...
. Sports Overnight America Weekend, is hosted by Matt Kolsky.
The Chris Townsend Show
San Diego native Townsend is a former baseball player at San Jose State UniversitySan José State University
San Jose State University is a public university located in San Jose, California, United States...
and has been working in sports radio for over a dozen years in the Bay Area of California. It is not uncommon for Townsend to go off on a tangent regarding topics other than sports. Most of this is done in an intelligent, playful, and entertaining way. The free-spirited (and intelligent) nature of the host, and his sidekicks, make the show one of the more entertaining sports shows in the country.
Beginning in early 2009, Matt Kolsky, who now hosts the Weekend Edition, was responsible for booking guests for the show. These interviews, which Townsend conducts at a very high level, have greatly increased the quality of the show. All of the interviews can be heard on the show's website. Kolsky also contributed on-air with an NBA segment called "The Basketball Jones". Kolsky had left the show on a full-time basis to take a job as color commentator, and media relations director for the NBA Development Leagues Bakersfield Jam. Kolsky recently returned from Bakersfield to host the Weekend Edition.
Townsend's favorite target is enigmatic show producer Gerrie Burke. A running gag on the show is Townsend's constant assertion that Burke (who also does the top and bottom of the hour updates) is either screwing up, or, more than likely, stoned. Townsend sometimes refers to Burke as their "Resident Narcotic Expert". In actuality, Burke, who plays the "Spaced-Out" role very convincingly, has had a fairly successful radio career, both on-air and as a producer, since the late 1980s. (Most notably at both WZLX
WZLX
WZLX is a prominent classic rock radio station in the Boston, Massachusetts market. WZLX was one of the first classic rock FM stations in America...
and WBZ
WBZ
WBZ may refer to:* WBZ , the United States' first commercial radio station originally broadcast from Springfield, Massachusetts, now licensed to Boston, Massachusetts, United States...
-Boston, WJZ-TV
WJZ-TV
WJZ-TV, channel 13, is an owned and operated television station of the CBS Television Network, located in Baltimore, Maryland. WJZ-TV's studios and offices are located on Television Hill in the Woodberry section of Baltimore, adjacent to the transmission tower it shares with four other Baltimore...
Baltimore, CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
News Radio-New York City, and XM Radio in Washington, DC) The teasing does reassert the fact these two, despite what they say to, and about each other on air, are friends, and have known each other for years.
Although Townsend carries the load of content for the show, Burke's updates can be very entertaining. This is due to not only his delivery and voice (he has done numerous commercial voice-overs) but his extremely quick, and quirky sense of humor. Or, as Townsend has referred to it, "A weird sense of humor. One developed from years of drinking, smoking, and reading too much of just about everything."
As of the 2010 baseball season, Townsend has been the host of the Oakland A's Pre and post-game shows on San Francisco's XTRA Sports 860, the flagship station of the A's. Given the extra on-air responsibilities outside of Sports Overnight, Burke has been given more on air time, and offers a rather peculiar, although quite entertaining angle to the show.
In the late 1990s through the early 2000s, both Townsend and Burke were part of the highly successful Gary Radnich
Gary Radnich
Gary Radnich is the host of the 9 a.m. to noon slot on KNBR radio in San Francisco, California, and is also the lead sports anchor on KRON television.-Early life:...
Morning Show on San Francisco's Sports Radio, KNBR
KNBR
KNBR, The Sports Leader, is the on-air branding used by two AM radio stations in the San Francisco, California, area broadcasting a sports radio format, owned by Cumulus Media....
. Townsend did updates. Burke was the co-producer and studio engineer. Fill-in host Cyrus Saatsaz
Cyrus Saatsaz
Cyrus Saatsaz is the author of Dogwild & Board: Stories, Interviews and Musings from a Surf Journalist, is the founder of San Francisco Surf Company, and is a writer for the San Francisco Chronicle's official website, SFGate.com, The Huffington Post and USA Today. Saatsaz is also the host and...
worked mornings with Townsend for three years as executive producer of The John London Not Just Sports Show (Saatsaz also produced The Gary Radnich Show for three years).
Friends of the show
Aside from the hosts, there is a cavalcade of regulars who appear on the program, including Spike from Pennsylvania, NY Mets fan Don in NY, Mike in St. Louis, "Moonshine Mike," and prognosticator extraordinaire, Big Bobfrom Cleveland. Steven Thompson, a former football player at the University of San Diego, with the Political Corner; Noah Schroder, who produces Townsend's local show in Sacramento, appears periodically, and adds a humorous twist to the program. Former Major League Baseball players, Jay JohnstoneJay Johnstone
John William Johnstone Jr. is an American former professional baseball player, active from 1966 to 1985 for the California Angels, Chicago White Sox, Oakland Athletics, Philadelphia Phillies, New York Yankees, San Diego Padres, Los Angeles Dodgers, and Chicago Cubs...
, and Fred Lynn
Fred Lynn
Fredric Michael "Fred" Lynn is a former center fielder in Major League Baseball who played for the Boston Red Sox , California Angels , Baltimore Orioles , Detroit Tigers and San Diego Padres .Fred Lynn was inducted into the Boston Red Sox Hall of Fame in and to the College Baseball Hall of Fame...
have appeared on the show on a fairly regular basis to discuss the latest in MLB, as has former Columbo Family Mob Boss Michael Franzese
Michael Franzese
Michael Franzese , is a former New York mobster with the Colombo crime family who was heavily involved in the gasoline tax rackets in the 1980s...
, Adult film star Jenny Hendrix
Jenny Hendrix
Jenny Hendrix is an American entrepreneur, model and former pornographic actress. Hendrix began her career in 2004 at the age of 18, and has since been featured in over 100 movies....
, Rob Nyer from ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
.com, and Christine Brennan
Christine Brennan
Christine Brennan is an American sports columnist, TV and radio commentator, best-selling author and nationally-known speaker....
from the USA Today
USA Today
USA Today is a national American daily newspaper published by the Gannett Company. It was founded by Al Neuharth. The newspaper vies with The Wall Street Journal for the position of having the widest circulation of any newspaper in the United States, something it previously held since 2003...
are also contributors. One of his regular callers is Emperor Nobody, from Oakland, CA. The Emperor brings a funny take on music and life issues not just sports, and much to the chagrin of Townsend, tends to agree with, and have much in common with producer, Gerrie Burke, when the topic of music is brought up. The Emperor is a huge proponent of Oakland Sports and in particular the Oakland A's. During the baseball season the Emperor brings first hand accounts of the goings ons from the Oakland Coliseum.
One of the funnier "Friends of the Show" is Michelle from Houston, Texas. Michelle, who is a rather sexy sounding Texan, with an accompanied drawl, adds a flirtatious aspect to the show that adds some funny highlights to the show.
A high school classmate of Burkes, Margie, from East Biloxi, Mississippi, is a regular caller and texter to the show. She claims the only reason she listens is to hear Burke, but Townsend's assertion is that, "She has the case of the Towny's."
Bill "Spaceman" Lee interview
On October 8, 2008, former major league pitcher, counterculture icon, and Boston Red Sox Hall of Famer, Bill LeeBill Lee (left-handed pitcher)
William Francis Lee III , nicknamed "Spaceman", is an American former Major League Baseball pitcher. He played for the Boston Red Sox from - and the Montreal Expos from -...
(who, not surprisingly, is a longtime friend of Burke's) appeared, in studio, with Townsend for a wildly entertaining one hour interview.
During this interview, the topic came up about allegations that Lee had smoked a marijuana joint with President George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
in 1972 at the Museum of Science in Boston. Lee responded that, "I didn't get high with the President. He got high with me."
Bush officials have denied the scenario ever took place, but just as aggressively, Lee has asserted that, in fact, it did. (The soundbite for that quote is used by the show as a rejoiner in to Burke's updates from time to time.)
On February 16, 2009, Lee returned to the studios for another interview, joined by former teammate on the 1975 Boston Red Sox
1975 Boston Red Sox season
The Boston Red Sox season was a season in American baseball. It involved the Red Sox finishing first in the American League East with a record of 95 wins and 65 losses...
, Rick Wise
Rick Wise
Richard Charles Wise is a former right-handed starting pitcher in Major League Baseball for 18 seasons...
. Both interviews can be heard in their entirety on the show's website, www.christownsendradio.com.
Contact: Sports Overnight America, 1-4am EST, (10pm-1am PST) at 1-800-878-PLAY (7529)
External links
- Sports Overnight America
- [www.christownsendradio.com]
- [www.radiopatrick.com]