ON THE AIR
'Big Daddy' a hit on sports radio and stage

WIP overnight host "Big Daddy" Graham has achieved his goal of working in show business without leaving his hometown. He is continuing his 20th anniversary tour with a show June 15 at the Comedy Loft in Thorndale.

Born as Ed Gudonis in Southwest Philly, "Big Daddy" was given the moniker because he was 6 feet tall by the time he was 12. After graduating from West Catholic High, Graham went to Temple University for "nine days" and West Chester for "an hour."

Graham was a drummer in some local bands then started performing song parodies in places like the old Comedy Factory Outlet in Center City. Attracting the attention of the popular "Morning Zoo" program on WMMR in the early 1980s, Graham's songs were heard on the No. 1 morning drive show.

With his work on the comedy circuit, Graham got to know many radio people, and he began to fill in on stations such as WWDB. Always an avid sports fan - Graham has been a season ticket holder for the Sixers, Eagles, and Phillies at different points in his life - he soon began to appear on 1210-AM when it was all-sports WGMP.

From 1994-1996, he co-hosted the "Sports Attack" with Scott Graham and Neil Hartman. After WGMP changed its format, Graham moved over to WIP, where he has worked the last 51/2 years. Besides the overnight shift, he is the permanent substitute for Angelo Cataldi on morning drive, and is frequently heard on weekend afternoons.

"Big Daddy" also gives his big list every Tuesday on "Lou Tilley's Sports Connection" on CN8. He does 50-70 shows a year. For more information go to www.bigdaddygraham.com

 

Final finishes first

WCAU's "Sports Final" with Vai Sikahema and Howard Eskin was the top rated local Sunday sports show during May sweeps with a 5.8 rating/11 share.

"Sports Sunday" with Don Tollefson and Bill Vargus was second with a 3.5 rating/5 share for WTXF, and "Sports Rap" with Beasley Reece and Garry Cobb followed with a 3.1/7 rating. "Sports Extra" with Mike Missanelli trailed with a 1.3 rating/2 share.

Each rating point equals 28,010 households. WPVI only has a Sunday sports show during football season.

My favorite is the lowest rated show, "Sports Extra." I like Mike. He has the right balance of cynicism and humor. He's not a pretty-boy anchor, but pleasant looking, and doesn't take his job too seriously. He made the transition from radio to television quicker than his counterparts Eskin and Cobb. In only his short time on television, he is already equal to Eskin on the air and better than Cobb.

 

Moonlighting announcer

Phillies radio announcer Scott Graham is moonlighting as a play-by-play man for Fox Sports Net's coverage of NFL Europe games. Graham will be doing the Frankfurt Galaxy-Amsterdam Admirals game at 1 p.m. tomorrow on FSN. Former Trenton Thunder and current Phillies pregame and postgame host Tom McCarthy takes over for Graham. It's hard to believe that Graham, who is lucky to have the Phillies job, now has a national gig.

 

NBA doubleheader

It's an NBA doubleheader on NBC tonight when the Nets visit the Celtics at 7 and the Lakers host the Kings at 9:30. The NBA Finals start Wednesday night either in Sacramento or Los Angeles. Marv Albert, Steve "Snapper" Jones and Bill Walton (who should play Shaggy in the new "Scooby Doo" movie) will be the announcers for the finals. Even though the finals will be on NBC, TNT will an "Inside the NBA" special at 8 p.m. Wednesday with Ernie Johnson Jr., Charles Barkley, and Kenny Smith.

 

Game of Week returns

In light of the steroid revelations, Fox should be pumped up (pun intended) for its seventh season opener of the "Saturday Baseball Game of the Week" tomorrow. Joe Buck, who'll begin his next big assignment as the NFL play-by-play announcer in the fall, and Tim McCarver return.

 

Universal question

In his duties as co-host of "The Miss Universe Pageant" the other night on CBS, football analyst Phil Simms had to ask inane questions to contestants such as "What makes you blush?" Wonder if he ever asked an NFL player that?

 

Laura Nachman writes about television and radio sports for the Courier Times. Write her in care of the Courier Times, 8400 Route 13, Levittown, PA 19057, fax 215-949-4177 or e-mail bradyresident@aol.com.

 

 

Friday, May 31, 2002