WBGO's nationally-recognized podcast SportsJam with Doug Doyle (winner of PMJA's 2024 Best Interview Program - 1st and 2nd Place and NJSPJ's 2023 Best Podcast Award) celebrates its 500th episode this month.
Host Doug Doyle and his guest WBGO's iconic jazz host Gary Walker talk about the connection between sports and music and their inspirations on and off the field. Gary and Doug have worked together at the radio station in Newark for more than 27 years.
"Music and sports is an obvious connection. When you get in a group setting with jazz musicians, there's teamwork and comradery. You get on a baseball diamond there's 9 cats trying to work together. In a jazz setting it's a communal kind of thing. Gary has suggested many SportsJam guests through the years including the late great guitarist Vic Juris and Grammy nominated-pianist Monty Alexander (Monty has been on the podcast twice).
Gary Walker, a fan of Cleveland Browns and then-Cleveland Indians, and the Detroit Tigers, has seen some of the greatest athletes perform in high school in Ohio, well before they became legendary professionals. That list includes NBA Hall of Famer Nate Thurmond, NFL Hall of Famer Paul Warfield, and NY Giants linebacker Lou Slaby.
During this special edition of SportsJam, Gary also talks about how his dad introduced him to sports, making 72 of 75 free throws when he was just 11 years old, seeing Chicago Blackhawks great Bobby Hull scoring a hatrick against Gordy Howe and the Redwings in Detroit, riding motorcycles and learning about Motorcross from his son Nate.
In jazz radio, great announcers are distinguished by their ability to convey the spontaneity and passion of the music. Gary Walker is such an announcer, and his enthusiasm for this music greets WBGO listeners every morning on Daybreak. He's the winner of the 1996 Gavin Magazine Jazz Radio Personality of the Year Award and the recipient of the 2021 Marian McPartland-Willis Conover Award for Career Achievement in Broadcasting from the Jazz Journalists Association. Gary hosts the morning show each weekday from 8am til noon. And, by his own admission, he's truly still having a great time.
SportsJam has provided in-depth chats about a variety of sports through guests like the late NFL great Jim Brown, Giants Super Bowl running back Ottis "O.J" Anderson, Pittsburgh Steelers Super Bowl champions Rocky Bleier and Donnie Shell, Yankees great Bernie Williams and the late NY Giants and Newark Eagles star Monte Irvin, boxing champions Mike Tyson and George Foreman, NBA superstars Earl "The Pearl" Monroe, Tracy McGrady, basketball legends Nancy Lieberman and the late Anne Donovan, soccer stars Mia Hamm, Ashley Cole and Trinity Rodman, NCAA wrestling champions Anthony Robles and Kyle Snyder, Hall of Fame, Olympic skater Oksana Baiul, sportswriter Jerry Izenberg, filmmakers Ken Burns and Malcolm D. Lee, sports announcers Kenny Albert, the late Mike Lange, Jim Lampley, Andrés Cantor, Dave Popkin, Kevin Williams and Matt Harmon, jazz bassist Christian McBride (twice), NJ Governor Phil Murphy (twice), jockey Emma-Jayne Wilson and actors Jane Fonda, Norbert Leo Butz, Anthony Rapp, Rita Moreno, Sally Field, Lily Tomlin, dancer Savion Glover many more.
In 2014, SportsJam featured a chat with Doug's late father Francis "Spike" Doyle. The show continues to bring joy and tears to those who listen to the man who gave Doug his love of sports.
You can SEE the entire SportsJam episode with Gary Walker below.
