On The Air
by Laura Nachman
Bucks County Courier Times
www.bradyresidence.com/channelsurfing.html
May 5, 2006

No joke: Conklin may return to WIP

Former WIP 610-AM regular Joe Conklin was back on the morning show Wednesday.

Since October, he was providing bits for Jody McDonald's show on Sports Talk 950-AM. Though the station is in desperate need of more local personalities, instead of keeping the talented comedian, Sports Talk let his contract expire at the end of March.

Now, Conklin probably will return to rival WIP where he worked for years.

Sports Talk should hire Mike Missanelli for afternoon drive and move Jody “Mac” to morning drive in the fall.

With spring soccer season here, Comcast SportsNet anchor Phil Andrews is working as a goalkeeper coach for the Philadelphia Pirates of the Women's Premier Soccer League (www.philadelphiapirates.net). Andrews grew up playing soccer in England, Germany, Singapore and Italy.

Meanwhile, a CSN spokesperson said that the station won't hire a replacement for Gov. Ed Rendell on “Eagles' Post Game Live.” Rendell will be unable to participate in the show during election season until November.

Book on Bill

A new book, “Bill Campbell: The Voice of Philadelphia Sports,” written by Sam Carchidi, hits bookstores this month. A 35-minute CD containing some of Campbell's most memorable calls is included. To order a copy, go to www.middleatlanticpress.com.

And the winners are ...

The main winners at the Sports Emmy awards were Bob Costas of HBO and NBC for Outstanding Sports Personality — Studio Host; Joe Buck of Fox for Outstanding Sports Personality — Play by Play; Cris Collinsworth of HBO for Outstanding Sports Personality — Studio Analyst; and John Madden of ABC for Outstanding Sports Personality — Sports Event Analyst.

The Daly Show

Golf enigma John Daly will be interviewed on “60 Minutes” at 7 p.m. Sunday on CBS. Why do athletes continue to go on this show? Ask Bode Miller, Lawrence Taylor and Ricky Williams.

Krukker returns

Former Phillies and current ESPN analyst John Kruk will host a Saturday show on Sports Talk 950-AM (What, you were hoping for: The “Pete Incaviglia Show?”). Of course, Kruk won't give up his full-time job at ESPN.

Cast grows

Sterling Sharpe becomes the latest addition to the ever-expanding “Football Night in America” broadcast on NBC. Sharpe joins (take a breath) Bob Costas, Al Michaels, John Madden, Cris Collinsworth, Jerome Bettis, Andrea Kremer and Peter King. This cast is bigger than the cast of “ER.”