WZBC assembles an all-star lineup for sports talk

For those of you who didn't know, Boston College has its very own sports radio network - and it's better than ever.

Sporting new talk shows with improved audio production capabilities, a freshly designed and easily accessible Web site, and even custom-made golf T-shirts provided by the BC Bookstore, WZBC Sports aims to provide students and fans alike with a unique perspective on the wide world of sports.

Operating as the sports programming arm of WZBC 90.3 FM, the University's non-profit, student-run radio station, WZBC Sports covers all BC football games, as well as all home games and select away games for men's and women's basketball, men's ice hockey, and baseball.

WZBC is also home to The Sin Bin, the only sports talk show that focuses specifically on BC athletics through the eyes of those who know BC best - the students.

"As students, there's a certain vantage point we bring to the table," said Mike Sullivan, sports director, co-host of The Sin Bin, and CSOM '07. "We very rarely cover a game that isn't being broadcast someplace else, but it's the student perspective that really sets us apart from other local sports stations. Whether it's in the booth calling a game, or back in the studio for a talk show, we always try to relate what we see and hear to our experiences as students at BC," he said.

Sullivan, who co-hosts The Sin Bin along with Nick Tuths, A&S '06, and Mike Galvin, CSOM '06, believes WZBC has come a long way over the past four years.

Transitioning from a strictly broadcast network, the station expanded its horizons last year and began utilizing its sister station, WVBC, as a haven for sports dialogue, said Sullivan. This year's new lineup of talk shows includes The Class and the Bass, Monday Night Magic Hour, Sportsview, and Total Domination, among others.

Available on BC Cable channel 47 and through online streaming, each show has its own style, personality, and focus.

For Matt Fernando, A&S '09, and Andrew Bassett, A&S '07, creators of The Class and the Bass, their talk show allows them to "talk about sports and have fun at the same time," they said.

"We both just love talking about sports. I'm from New York, so we try to be civil about it. That's until we get to baseball though, because that's when the gloves come off," said Fernando, jokingly. Bassett is from Southborough, Mass.

The cast of Sportsview - Mike Gualtieri and Ari Peterson, both A&S '08 - see their show as "an opportunity to offer a less pretentious analysis" of the sports world, they said.

"We're not going to be demeaning or anything, like cut off a caller because of their opinion," said Peterson. "We don't even have a hold button," he joked.

Guest callers actually make up the backbone of Sportsview. For each week's show, three callers are scheduled to provide a more interactive atmosphere for sports talk.

With guests ranging from an ACC expert from Duke University to local sports newscasters to BC's own Craig Smith, Sportsview tries to incorporate as many viewpoints as possible.

"We can only talk to ourselves for so long. Callers really make the show much more dynamic," said Gualtieri.

Still, even with the newly revamped lineup, WZBC Sports Radio remains effectively "underground."

Most students don't even know there is a radio station here at BC, much less where to go to tune into broadcasts of games or sports talk shows.

"Not knowing if anyone is even listening out there is the hardest part of the job," said Fernando. Fernando and Bassett agreed that approximately no more than 15 people at a time listen to their show, with most of those listeners being friends and family.

"It's a shame," said Sullivan. "We've really turned this department around, and it's too bad because a lot of great stuff happens here that goes unnoticed," he said.

Sullivan points to the underground nature of the music side of WZBC for the low listener turnout for sports programs.

The music played on 90.3 FM is for anyone but the mainstream listener. As bands like Modest Mouse and Franz Ferdinand gain national recognition, the station removes them from the playlist, in favor of lesser-known bands. But this type of niche-marketing, catered to underground music-lovers, fails to integrate with the BC community, said Sullivan.

"WZBC Sports has the ability to really be embraced by the culture here. All we need is a little more promoting to say 'Hey, we're here!'" said Sullivan.

Though some frustration is shared by the sportscasters at WZBC, all agreed that their time spent on the air is well worth it all.

"How many kids can say they have their own sports talk show on the radio? Not many," said Galvin. "We're able to go out there, and not argue for the sake of arguing, or worry about boosting ratings, but say what we really feel and express our student voice," he said.

For Sullivan, it's most important that the experience is of the learning variety.

"I don't think there's value in having guys working behind the scenes for months before ever sitting in front of the mike. This is a rare opportunity here. Being on the air - there is a lot of feel to it. When new guys come in here, I want them working the boards, calling games, and making mistakes. Practice makes perfect and practice is 10 times more valuable than any textbook or class," he said.

Fernando, who plans on pursuing a career in sports radio, believes his work with WZBC Sports will pay off in the long run. "I like to think of WZBC as the bullpen - a place to warm up for the big-time. It's given me a hands-on experience with radio that I can build off of," he said.

Now that WZBC Sports has implemented its latest additions - a Web site launched this past week and a new logo depicting a menacing eagle - the only remaining task is to continue to evolve.

"The sky's the limit for WZBC Sports," said Sullivan. Citing a continued push for on-location talk shows, greater use of innovative technology behind the scenes, and more-effective methods of self-promotion, Sullivan said the quality is there, it just needs to be harnessed.

"When you're having fun," he said, "no one can beat you." he said.