Courtesy 1070 The Fan

(January 7, 2009) At 6:00 a.m., 1070 - The Fan turned one-year-old. Today, we will do what we do everyday - try to put together the very best product we can. There are a lot of complexities in getting that done, but we refine the system a little bit everyday and that makes us better at delivering as good a radio station and website as possible.

Michael Grady is our executive producer, and his dilligence and deep reservoir of talent continues to be heard not only on-air but in every aspect of what we do. The process of putting together a product and brand from scratch is quite involved, and Michael's work has made it a great deal of fun and very rewarding. His voice is the one you hear during every set of commercials. Michael is an very good host, fine play-by-play voice, excellent producer, and terrific young manager. He has a great career ahead of him.

Kravitz and Eddie were our first local offering. They started a year ago today too, and continue to show up with the same passion and enthusiasm they had on day one. Getting to know and respect them has been an total pleasure. Bob is an absolute professional, and was exactly who I thought he was when my knowledge of him was simply as a columnist for the Star. He is fair, thorough and serious in his appraisal of the games and personalities in Indiana sports. Bob is a good guy who takes his responsibilities seriously, and has shown himself to be self-effacing and good-humored on the show.

Eddie White is passionate and loyal. He cares more about the day-to-day product, and the way the product is executed than anyone with whom I worked before Eddie. He is resolute in his preparation, and wants badly for the show to be the best it can be. Eddie is exactly what he seems on the show. He's nuts, knowledgeable, loyal and emotional. Eddie is really the embodiment of what the station is.

A host who started with us three-months ago tomorrow is former Bowling Green and Indiana basketball coach Dan Dakich. When Dan says something, he presents it in a way that you feel it is worth listening to a remembering. He's a very natural communicator who can change gears from excellent and unique insight to very funny storyteller. This week is a great example. With all of the analysis of the Colts vs. Chargers game that has gone on, Dan is the only person I've heard with Gijon Robinson blowing the snap count and not getting off the ball on the play where Manning was sacked on third-and-two. He can also talk to Reanna and Dawn every Friday at Noon about how guys can avoid looking like idiots. Both types of segments are entertaining as hell, and Dan is even better at radio than I thought he was going to be, and I thought he would be pretty damn good.

Chris May is Dan's producer and he quietly goes about doing a very good job in booking guests, helping Dan prepare, supporting Dan on-air when needed. Chris is also a very versatile guy - this is necessary with a staff of six. Chris can do play-by-play, sidelines, and host when needed, and he does them all well.

Jersey Johnny does exactly what Jers has always done exceptionally well. He talks Colts. He also does a great deal in the community. Anytime someone from a charity calls for Jers to help, he does what he's asked and much more. Jers has been hosting a Colts themed show on WIBC or The Fan for 12 years, and is a very talented broadcaster. Jersey Johnny is one of those guys every radio station needs. He loves doing his show, and loves to build a connection with people. Jers builds audience one at a time, which is the only way to do it.

Kevin Lee is our reporter. He covers the Colts, Pacers, IndyCar, Fever, and any other group of tall or big people with a ball, or smaller people with a car. Kevin has built so many relationships in Indianapolis sports that it's impossible to know where to start. Kevin is for us what John Clayton is for ESPN's football coverage. He knows things before anyone, and is always there for The Fan - both online and on-air. Kevin is also exceptionally versatile. He can do anything that requires a microphone.

The salespeople have done a great job helping our clients find the right ears for their message. They work hard everyday, and we don't tell them enough how much we appreciate their work. Dawn, Reanna, Marsha, Taja, Greg, Megan, Jeremy, and Jacki have all been enormous ambassdors for The Fan. The engineers have been there since day one getting the sound right. We are automated during portions of the day, and without the dedicated work of the engineers, we would sound like hell. In the beginning, we had some bugs in the computer, and Dave Hood, Charlie Dee, Trish Boone and many others worked tirelessly to get things straightened out. Jeff Dinsmore and Dave Heck have pulled a lot of engineering feats themselves in making sure we stay on-the-air and that all of the play-by-play events that we bring to you. The traffic department has been great from the beginning, and Stephanie has been amazing in getting up to speed and making sure that our clients' messages are heard correctly and on time. Matt Scheidler and the interactive staff keep the www.1070thefan.com usable and unique.

There are other people on the staff who help make 1070 - The Fan the best radio station it can be. When I think of where we were when we started and where we are today, the evolution is unreal. It is all because of the work the people above have done everyday to make things a little bit better. Little by little, radio stations are built and I couldn't imagine anything more fun and rewarding.

The Fan's most important element is you. You listeners are the passionate fuel that gives the talent and producers the enthusiasm and feedback they need to talk into a microphone alone in a studio for three hours everyday. Thank you for listening, participating, and using our clients' goods and services. We try hard everyday to earn your faith, trust, and interest.

A year from today, I'll write another note about how 1070 - The Fan has grown during its second year. At this time last year, I wouldn't have guessed that Dan would be our midday host. I'm sure there are surprises ahead that no one can foresee, and that's the fun.