"Newspaper guys" hit it big on WSCR

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: "Newspaper guys" hit it big on WSCR : Posted by Ed S. : at 11/9/2009 2:33 AM CST on Chicago Business : The biggest story in local sportstalk radio is being perpetrated by a couple of hosts who still think of themselves as "newspaper guys." : Sun-Times veterans Mike Mulligan and Brian Hanley, aka "Mully and Hanley," are riding high these days at WSCR-AM 670. Their 5-9 a.m. show beat the Mike Greenberg and Mike Golic ("Mike and Mike") morning show on WMVP-AM 1000 in the summer ratings, a first for SCR. : The Arbitron data showed Mully and Hanley with a 6.4 audience share in the all-important men 25-54 demographic compared to a 6.2 for "Mike and Mike." The SCR show ranked second in the category, trailing only WBBM-AM 780. : That's a huge jump from the summer of 2008 when Mully and Hanley did a 4.3 rating in men 25-54 after being inserted into the morning drive slot. WSCR is ecstatic considering the previous morning show hosted by Mike North, who made considerably more money ($1.6 million in the end), struggled against the ESPN national show. : "It's tremendous growth," said program director Mitch Rosen. "These guys are really clicking with the audience." : Even though Mr. Mulligan is in the analysis business, he admits to being at a loss to explain their success. : "I was at the store the other day, and a guy came up to me and said, 'You guys sound like you've been together for 25 years," Mr. Mulligan said. "I suppose it comes across as two old friends talking sports. We cover different sports and that gives us different perspective, different anecdotes. I don't know. I couldn't figure out when it wasn't working." : There are several forces at work. Both Mr. Mulligan and Mr. Hanley credit the addition of Dustin Rhoades as producer. Mr. Hanley said Mancow's former producer has "a great ear for what the topics are and what they could be." : The show also has a terrific arsenal of experts and regular contributors. They include Troy Aikman, Warren Sapp, Cris Collinsworth, Tom Thayer, Steve Stone, along with newspaper beat writers such as Brad Biggs, Dan Pompei and Dave Van Dyck. You can't discount the value of information and coherent analysis. I find myself tuning in to see who they have on. : Then there's Mr. Mulligan and Mr. Hanley. I've known both of them for a long time, and they are the same off the air as they are on. They are passionate about sports and they like to have a good time. Obviously, it is an appealing combination for listeners. : "We don't try to be something we're not," Mr. Hanley said. "We're two sportswriters who enjoy what they do. We like talking about sports." : The fact that both of them have kept their jobs at the Sun-Times is a reflection of that passion. The radio gig pays well in excess of a place that has slashed salaries. It would be easy for them to give up the writing jobs, especially considering the grind. : The other day Mr. Mulligan woke up at 3 a.m., worked his four-hour shift, and then drove up to Halas Hall to cover the Bears in the afternoon. He wouldn't have it any other way. : "What am I supposed to do? Do (writing) part time? Stop talking calls from people?" Mr. Mulligan said. "Either you're in or you're out. I know it can be exhausting, but I love the game." : Mr. Hanley, who covers the Notre Dame beat, admits he has been wrestling with wearing both hats. But for now he wants to continue writing about sports too. : I posed this question to each of them: Given your success at WSCR, do you consider yourself a radio personality or a sportswriter? : Mr. Mulligan said. "That's a tough one. I've worked at the Sun-Times since I was 18. What am I supposed to do? Have surgery to remove the sportswriter gene. It's a part of me." : Once a sportswriter, always a sportswriter. Right, Mr. Hanley. : Mr. Hanley said: (Sportswriting) is in your DNA. I'll always have the foundation of being a newspaper guy. I know how to interview. I know when something doesn't sound right. I know how to get more out of a story." : Old habits and perception may die hard, but clearly these "newspaper guys" are making a significant impact on local sportstalk radio.

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