On The Air
by Laura Nachman
Bucks County Courier Times
July 25, 2003

Today is the annual "Miss WIP Pageant," but conditions are anything but pretty at WIP 610-AM.  Though much attention has been placed on the two-day suspension of morning host Angelo Cataldi for his criticism of the Eagles, a station source speaking on the condition of anonymity said hoagies are the least of the station's problems. 

According to the source, morale at the station is at an all-time low after the dismissal of WIP marketing manager Drew Hilles last week, who was only hired in March.  "For years, people have been treated terribly.  When Hilles came in he accomplished things.  He ordered new equipment.  He showed us there was another way.  Now that has been taken away and everybody here is demoralized," said the source. 

Another source of puzzlement to the staff is the disappearing act of Tim Sabean.  It was announced that the operations manager of sister station WYSP was also going to take over WIP.  "Sabean came in for one week, held meetings and hasn't been seen since," said the source.  Station observers say the shakeup in management bodes well for longtime WIP program director Tom Bigby, whose status seemed tenuous in March when Hilles was hired.

No matter how this particular issue is resolved, the big problem is that the same company, Infinity Broadcasting, owns WIP-AM and WYSP-FM, which has the Eagles' contract.  The hosts of WIP should not have to worry if their words affect their sister-station's status with the Eagles.

Some of the names being mentioned for the "Sixers Post Game Live" analyst position are former Sixers Head Coaches Matt Guokas and Fred Carter.  Guokas was a college basketball analyst for CBS this season and Carter has done work for ESPN.  What's Pat Croce doing?

"Post Game Live" host Michael Barkann will be a roving reporter for USA Network's coverage of the "U.S. Open" for the 13th year in a row in August.

It is "Broadcaster's Week" on CSN's "Spotlight" at 4:30 p.m.  Learn about Al Meltzer on Monday, Jim Jackson on Tuesday, Merrill Reese on Wednesday, Marc Zumoff on Thursday, and Harry Kalas on Friday.

Former Eagle offensive lineman and South Jersey resident Brian Baldinger signed a new three-year contract with Fox and will do games with Kenny Albert this year.  Last year's partner, Pat Summerall, who retired, then unretired, said he is retired for good now.

Baldinger also will be the NFL analyst for "Sporting News Radio," will work for the new NFL Network and publishes "Football Stories," a free magazine that appears in local stores.

       "The Bachelor"

ABC's next "Bachelor" Tiger Woods will be going primetime in "The Battle at the Bridges," Monday at 8 p.m.  Woods and Ernie Ells will compete against Sergio Garcia and Phil Mickelson in a one-round game of golf.