On The Air
by Laura Nachman
Bucks County Courier Times
November 4, 2005
www.bradyresidence.com/channelsurfing.html

Though former Eagles linebacker Garry Cobb's contract wasn't renewed by CBS3, he will continue to work on the station's Sunday night show "Sports Zone," formerly called "Sports Access," formerly called "Eagles Total Access," formerly called "Sports Rap."

Cobb also will continue his role with the Coca-Cola Bottling Company "Pathway to Excellence" program for middle school students in the Delaware Valley.

It's an incentive-based academic improvement program for about 20 middle schools in areas including Trenton, Camden, Norristown, Chester and Wilmington.

"I go to each school during the fall and talk to the youngsters about school, careers, goals, peer group pressure, self-esteem, work habits, etc.," Cobb said. "It's a challenging talk about thinking, talking, and achieving excellence despite the circumstances. I talk to them about the peer group pressure that has black kids doing bad on purpose so they won't be called a 'sellout.'

"I'll go back in the spring and hand out awards to youngsters who have made the greatest improvements in attendance, behavior and grades. Some of the kids are ashamed to accept their awards because they'll be singled out for criticism.

"Our goal is to make it a 'cool' thing to do well in school. I've been doing this program about 13 years. In fact, I've had many adults who have finished college approach me and tell me they remember when I came to their schools. When I received an award from the President a couple of years ago, one of the Secret Service guys tapped me on the shoulder and let me know I spoke at his high school when I was playing with the Eagles."

Cobb said he hopes to expand the program in the future.

He also can be found on WIP 610-AM, and has launched www.gcobb.com.

Desperate move

"Desperate Housewives" and the Eagles will collide again (sans towel) Sunday when 6ABC airs the ESPN broadcast of the Eagles-Redskins game, beginning with a pregame show at 8 p.m.

Since kickoff is 8:30 p.m., 6ABC will air new episodes of "Desperate Housewives" at 7 p.m. and "Grey's Anatomy" at 11:30 p.m.

New voice

Brian Startare will be the new public address announcer for Saint Joseph's basketball this season. He replaces John McAdams, who passed away in June.

Startare has parlayed his exposure on last year's ESPN show "Dream Job" into a gig on WIP 610-AM and a reporting job on Eagles games on WYSP-FM.

New show

WPEN 950-AM's "700 Level Sports Fanatics" debuted at 7 p.m. Wednesday with regular hosts Matt Fine, who viewers may remember from Comcast SportsNet, and radio veteran Jim Bachman. The third host will be determined through tryouts open to the public. Twenty finalists will compete for the final slot with on-air auditions.


November 4, 2005 5:51 AM