How Two Rock DJs Rescued Boston Sports Talk Radio From Crazy Old People

When heralded radio hosts of yesteryear John Dennis and Gerry Callahan were suspended from the airwaves for mocking a Boston minority youth program, CBS Radio Boston saw a serious need for sports programming that could connect with Boston's younger (read: not blatantly racist or homophobic) listeners. But CBS's first move took many fans, young and old, by surprise. Instead of hiring seasoned sports personalities to fill their morning-show slot, the station decided to keep the regularly scheduled radio hosts from the local rock station. Enter Fred Toucher and Rich Shertenlieb, a pair of 37-year-old rock DJs who hated sports talk radio. Three years later, the Toucher & Rich show has improbably surpassed the old Dennis & Callahan show in ratings. Learn from occasional Deadspin contributor Alan Siegel, in Boston Magazine. [Boston]