MY FRIEND JACK

The most fun and rewarding work I have ever done for pay is as an on-air radio guy. Whether it was deejaying, gathering and announcing the news or calling a ball game, I thoroughly loved it. Sadly, that wacky profession now has me on the outside looking in. My attitude, enthusiasm and above-average talent served me well for quite some time. However, the changing face of the business brought about by many factors including regulatory reforms that allow one company to own many stations in the same market as well as the proliferation of nationally syndicated shows have made it a much different enterprise than it was as recently as 15 years ago.
While many of my contemporaries also find themselves out of the business, there were some who I thought to be immune to the vagaries that have befallen so many of us. At the top of that "immune" list is Jack Sunday. Jack is perhaps the most dedicated, hard-working and talented radio personality with whom I have had the pleasure to work and to know.
Jack and I are radio buddies from way back. Most recently we did a morning show together in Idaho Falls, Idaho. Jack got an offer he couldn't refuse to move to Fargo, ND and to work at that market's powerhouse station, KFGO. He has been there and brought in terrific ratings for the last 15 years. Suddenly, the corporate axe came down upon him and he is now out of work. It happened just a few days ago (Happy Holidays!) and I am certain he will find a good job in the biz quite soon, but his dismissal was quite a shock to me, to his many thousands of listeners and fans and, of course, to himself and his family.
What is the point of this entry? I'm not sure. I guess it is that we all encounter bumpy roads in life no matter how hard we try. And that if someone can find an excuse to fire Jack, then anyone is vulnerable. Certainly, anybody can be replaced and we all need to remember that.
Memo to Jack: relax and enjoy the holidays with your family, catch up on your sleep, sharpen your pinochle game and select the best opportunity that presents itself. There will be many. Your talent, hard work, good nature, passion for the issues of the day, well thought out opinions (though somewhat misguided) and common sense will serve to put you into a better situation than the one you were in. Of course I could be wrong and this might be the start of a downward spiral that will consume both yourself and your family, leave you bitter and broke and looking for a ray, any ray of hope in the bottom of a shot glass. But I doubt it.