The local sports talk radio show, “The Zone,” that Vee began in July 2006 on WEAM-AM 1580 was canceled. Vee was out as WEAM’s sports director. His co-host, Rachel Baribeau, also was gone.

That was the first week of February.

Vee and WEAM program director Chris Carter agreed the show was doing pretty well as far as the number of listeners. The decision was a financial one.

“Just like everyone else, we’re feeling the pinch,” Carter said. “The numbers just didn’t add up for us to keep the show on the air.”

Vee’s show has been replaced in the 4-7 p.m. slot by the syndicated Paul Finebaum Radpoio Network. Finebaum is a sports columnist for the Birmingham (Ala.) News.

Carter said the Finebaum show has proved popular and the only reaction to the move he has received was positive.

The station, which carries ESPN and Sporting News shows, has added Atlanta Hawks broadcasts as well as selected NBA games from ESPN.

The station will continue to carry the Columbus Cottonmouths’ road games. Vee has been the radio voice for the hockey team for 11 years and will continue to do so.

“I work for the Cottonmouths,” Vee said.

The Finebaum show is good if you like Alabama and some Auburn, Vee said, but “you won’t hear much about Georgia or Georgia Tech on it.”

He said the same goes for the Atlanta Falcons and Atlanta Braves. “There will be no discussion about teams such as the Columbus Lions, Columbus Cottonmouths or local colleges and high schools.”

Vee blames Davis Broadcasting.

“I don’t think they ever really bought into the local sports talk concept,” Vee said. “There wasn’t much marketing. No van. No banner.”

With Vee gone, B.R. Johnson is the lone sports talk voice in town. His show, “High Noon,” is noon-1 p.m. Mondays-Fridays on WSHE-AM 1270.

Johnson’s show is in its ninth year. “He does a heck of a good job,” Vee said.

“I don’t know why some shows make it and others don’t,” Johnson said. “Radio is a daily changing dynamic. I do know that we have had really outstanding support from everyone at Clear Channel and our sponsors.”

He said he tries to keep his show “fresh.”

“We’ll talk sports, but we’ll talk about anything,” he said.

Vee hopes he and Baribeau can team together for a show on another station or even on the Internet.

“We’re a pretty good team,” he said.