Over a month or so has passed since the indispensable Scott Linn was relieved of his duties at WTEM The Team 980. The Steve Czaban Show episodes that followed a week later had my interest, as I’m always intrigued by the cut throat nature of the radio business. Sure enough, Czaban and Solly were permitted to eulogize the services of their departed teammate, and I very much appreciated the conversation.
Since then, I turned to other talk radio/podcast programming. I’m familiar with the Steve Czaban Show without Scott Linn as I’ve listened to Czaban solo when Linn goes on vacation many times over the years. Frankly, it’s just not as good. Or, maybe it’s just not good period. There’s an awkward contempt between Czaban and Solly that I don’t care for when Linn isn’t there to mediate.
Furthermore, Steve Czaban, the radio personality, seems different to me since the onset of COVID, and not in a better way. Since the start of the pandemic, I found myself laughing and enjoying the show less and less as the months wore on. I understand that 2020 has taken its toll on all of us, sports talkers included, but that understanding won’t help keep my demand for the Czaban show.
Czaban’s (and Solly’s) fate in the DC sports radio market is uncertain to say the least. New radio station ownership has yet to renew Czaban after 2020, and without Scott Linn, maybe it’s time for all to move on from the Steve Czaban Show in this format.
For the sake of Czaban’s family, at least he’s got his remote Wisconsin gig to lean back on (I’ll pass). For Solly, I have no idea about his prospects of maintaining a career in sports media.
For now, I’ll be listening elsewhere. Big thanks and best of luck to Steve Czaban, Scott Linn, and Steve Solomon for the years of quality content.