THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, January 28, 1996 TAG: 9601250225
SECTION: CAROLINA COAST PAGE: 18 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Sports
SOURCE: BY JEFF ZEIGLER
CORRESPONDENT
DATELINE: ELIZABETH CITY LENGTH: Short : 47 lines
Pete Rose may not be in Cooperstown, but he is in Elizabeth City. On the airwaves, that is.
The Pete Rose Show is the anchor program in WGAI radio's new all-sports format at night.
The Elizabeth City radio station (560 AM), which has been all-talk for over a year, changed to its all-sports lineup at the beginning of the month.
``We talked to people about starting it and advertisers wanted something to sponsor overnight,'' said Bob DeBlois, sports director for WGAI. ``It's something that everyone can tune into, from the avid sports fan to the not so avid sports fan.''
Heading the lineup is the Pete Rose Show which airs from 7 to 9 p.m. So far in January, Rose has had a lineup of guests that has included Wade Boggs, Julius Erving, Brett Favre, Lou Holtz, Roger Staubach and Joe Montana, among others.
From 9 to 10 p.m. is a talk show about either basketball, football, or hockey, depending on what night you're listening. Monday, Wednesday and Friday is the NFL show. The NHL show is on Tuesdays and the NBA show is on Thursdays. All three formats include interviews with coaches and features on pro teams.
From 10 p.m. to 3 a.m. is Game Night which DeBlois describes as a radio version of ESPN's Sports Center.
``Reporters are at all the games whatever the action is that's happening that night,'' DeBlois said. ``They cover college games to the pros with interviews, and they take phone calls.''
From 3 to 6 a.m. is Morning Madness, a two-man overnight team that does ``reviews, previews, highlights, lowlights and insights,'' according to DeBlois. ``There are lots of calls, interviews, and laughs.''
All of these programs come from the Sports Fan Radio Network.
WGAI will also continue with its coverage of NASCAR racing, Old Dominion University and Wake Forest University basketball, and high school sports.
DeBlois said there is also the possibility of WGAI starting a local sports call-in show, perhaps on Wednesday nights. by CNB