Re: Get to know WSCR's Chris Rongey

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: A friend of a friend knows WSCR's Chris Rongey & says he's a very good, very nice, very friendly guy. No attitude, no ego, just a decent guy. : : Rongey's a longtime listener, too : : Fan of Jack Buck, Sox' talented host loves the game : : June 11, 2009 : : BY LEWIS LAZARE | Chicago Sun-Times : : Chris Rongey, the host of the White Sox' pregame and postgame shows on WSCR-AM (670), is one of the lucky few who got his big break in broadcasting in Chicago early in his career. But Rongey, 32, has talent, too. Just listen sometime to how deftly he commands the mic and handles the often-testy callers who try to test his composure. : : : : Q. How did your interest in sports broadcasting blossom? : : A. I grew up in Downstate Illinois just outside of St. Louis and listened to Jack Buck call St. Louis Cardinals games every night. I'm certainly biased, but there may never have been anyone better. He had natural ability and was technically perfect. : : I have always loved baseball more than any other sport, and I wanted to do something in broadcasting related to that game more than just being in general sports talk. In my sophomore year of college, a friend convinced me to try out for the campus radio station, and I'm glad she did. So I guess you can blame her. : : : : Q. The trickiest part of your current job is dealing with the wide range of callers and their questions and complaints. What's the secret to fielding all of them and keeping listeners engaged? : : A. I usually do what feels natural and hope by the end of the night enough people have stuck around with me. I try not to be adversarial, but I usually have a tough time listening to irrational venting. That's when I can probably come off as abrasive. It's just that I want people to think about what they're saying before they speak and to realize that just because a guy has a bad night, it doesn't mean he's been bad all year. : : : : Q. Do you like being the solo host of your show, or would it be easier to have a radio partner? : : A. I really don't mind being alone. However, I think it's more fun sometimes to have a partner. That way, if I think I've said something funny or clever, I can get immediate feedback. Otherwise, it's dead silence. I mean, it might be dead silence anyway, but at least I would know for sure. : : : : Q. Whom do you admire most in the realm of sports broadcasting? : : A. If we're talking sports talk in general, [Score afternoon host] Dan Bernstein is the most talented and best host in the city. And that may not be limited to sports. The guy isn't always right, but he's usually brilliant and entertaining, and he's very different in a world of sports talk that is all about the same. : : : : Q. What would be your dream job in sports broadcasting? : : A. I would love to be in a baseball broadcast booth someday. I love everything about the pace and flow of calling a game. I was fortunate enough to fill in a few times last year, and it couldn't have been more exciting. Working with Ed Farmer for a series and then Steve Stone for a series was the highlight of this job, by far.

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