Courtesy Miami Herald

(March 5, 2010) WQAM is awaiting word on when or if Jim Mandich will return and hopes to have clarity soon. Mandich is dealing with a serious medical issue but understandably prefers not to discuss or disclose it publicly. Even if he returns, he has always said he will not do a talk show beyond 2010.

Curtis Stevenson and Anita Marks are filling in, but that combination is unlikely to fill the 4 to 7 p.m. slot whenever Mandich leaves permanently. Michael Irvin's agent has spoken with WQAM and 790, but one negative is that Irvin wants to live in Dallas even if he takes a job for a Miami station.

Despite the departure of the Dolphins and Mandich's uncertain situation, WQAM still has several positives: a multiyear deal for UM rights; popular morning host Joe Rose, who beat The Ticket, 2.4 to 2.0 in the January ratings book; Sid Rosenberg, whose midday ratings are nearly twice those for national shows on The Ticket and WINZ; and Orlando Alzugaray, who has a loyal following among Dolphins fans. But WQAM has been trounced by 790's Dan Le Batard and Jon Weiner from 3 to 7 p.m. (4.5 to 1.4 in the January ratings book).

Since Arbitron went to a month-to-month ratings system, The Ticket is 5-4-2 against WQAM including all time periods, Monday through Sunday. ``But there are three major dayparts and we're winning two of the three,'' Bell said.

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