No, we won’t get to cover everything listed in that lofty title.

But I want to comment briefly on the news a few weeks ago that the Gas Man, Mike Gastineau, left 950 KJR-AM after something like 21 years in Seattle.  The Gas Man goes waaaaaaaayyyy back – all the way to the days of the Babe, the Groz, Wheels, New York Vinny and Michael Knight in the Morning.

Gas Man was a staple of my drive home diet for 15 years or so.  I think he provided some of the most compelling sports interviews (except for the lame John Feinstein infomericals each week. “Oh really John, you published a new book 4  months ago? Tell us more!”)

So why did Gas Man have to leave?

Quite simply, if you like the Gas Man, blame the Man Man for forcing his exit.

Radio is dying.  A 3rd sports radio station is coming to replace AM 1090 now that the election is over.  And the Disney / ESPN money that got dropped into KIRO 710 basically has turned KJR into a 2nd fiddle.

Over at KJR, the big checks need to turn into small checks.  And thus the cost of hosting content on drive time from 3-7pm went from Gas Man’s salary to Elise’s hourly wage.

I’m sure Gas Man could have taken a pay cut to stay.  But who wants to do that? By the same token, Clear Channel could take a loss on a show to keep premier talent.  So blame them for treating radio like a Google AdWords buy, looking for the best CPC.

So my meandering point is, thanks Gas Man for keeping me entertained – FOR FREE – for the last 15-20 years.  I hope however this radio thing shakes out, we figure out how to keep talented people on the air.