Radio Daze

Mike Steadman, Sox Super Fan

I miss John Rooney…and I mean it in the most professional sense. I listen to nearly every White Sox radio broadcast, sometimes with Hawk and D.J. muted, sometimes with the TV off. And thanks to satellite radio I have also listened to many other radio broadcasters across the major leagues.

Therefore I am confident in my opinion that Rooney is the best play by play man in the business. He called White Sox games from 1989 though the last out of the 2005 World Series. By the way, every Sox fan should have a recording of his call of that last out…along with the Uribe pop fly play earlier that inning…”Did he catch it? Did he catch it? He caught it!” Classic stuff. Well going into the 2006 season the games moved down the dial to 670AM and Rooney and Score radio could not agree on a contract. Their cost-saving replacement was broadcast rookie Chris Singleton who stepped into the booth with Ed Farmer taking over play by play duties.

“Farmio” and Singleton were together for two seasons. It was a rocky marriage. Listening to their broadcasts were cringe worthy experiences. They were full of uncomfortable silences and passive-aggressive arguments about a host of boring topics ranging from Notre Dame football to Barry Bonds. It was weird. Before this season Singleton left for ESPN and Steve Stone has joined Farmer in the booth. The two former White Sox pitchers get along well and seem to be having fun up there. It is an immensely improved production and Stone has to be one of the most astute commentators on the game around today. So things are thankfully looking up in Sox Radioland.

John Rooney had no problems getting a job after 2005. He returned to his native Missouri and has been in the Cardinal radio booth ever since. He was fortunate enough to call two championships in a row as the Cards prevailed over the Tigers in 2006. Tough to know why the Sox franchise has a penchant for letting go of announcers when they are at the top of their fields (Harry Carey as another example). Maybe they don’t realize the marketing value of having quality announcers describe their product. I don’t know, maybe it doesn’t matter to the majority of fans. But John, since I’m pretty sure you’re reading this, you are missed. As a broadcaster I mean.