This is Part 2 of my series of stories regarding local sports radio stations in Seattle, Washington. Two stations who cover sports in Seattle, have a grand total of ZERO African Americans on the air on a regular basis. The stations are sports radio KJR and 710 ESPN.

KJR has been on the air for more than 19 years and 710 ESPN has been on the air for about two years in the Seattle/Tacoma radio market. Again, no African Americans have been on the air with his or hers own program during the time these stations have been on the air. This is wrong readers.

When African Americans and people of color dominate the three major sports (football, basketball and baseball) it is wrong in my strong opinion to have a completely all white staffs on the two local sports stations. I am TIRED of hearing white guys interviewing African Americans and people of color on the air who they cannot relate to what so ever!!!

ONLY my friend Rick Dupree has been on the air. But he was only a semi-regular. He was fired and RE-HIRED again only to leave KJR because he saw no hope for himself to have his own regular program. So he left.

The current on air staff on KJR is Mitch Levy, Dave “Softy” Mahler, Ian Furness and Elise Woodward with Dick Fain on the weekend. Recently a former host on KJR, Jeff Aaron was brought back to have his own program on the weekends.

Also recently, “Hot Shot” Scott was hired to be on the air on KJR with the “The Gasman” during the weekdays to replace the departed “The Groz”. Scott was a DJ on sister station KUBE93.

On 710 ESPN it is Mike Salk, Brock Huard, “The Groz” Dave Grosby and Kevin Calabro and Jim Moore on the air. All the hosts on 710 ESPN and KJR are white. But to make matters worse, as far as I know, their are no African Americans or people of color in sales, as producers and for sure in management. This is wrong.

Seattle is a city known for it’s diversity. But in sports radio here in Seattle, diversity is a no show. The question is why? Well the answer is called the “ole boy network” in radio,TV and radio plus newspapers where whites help other whites to obtain employment while African Americans and people of color are left on the sidelines.

As I said earlier, “Hot Shot” Scott and Jeff Aaron was recently hired on KJR. Both of whom had ties to KJR already with Scott as a dj on sister station KUBE93 and Aaron as a former employee with KJR. For sure, the “ole boy network” is the reason both of them were hired.

On 710 ESPN, Brock Huard had ZERO radio experience but was hired. Jim Moore is a newspaper man who worked for the P.I. which is no longer around. Mike Salk came from Boston. Kevin Calabro and “The Groz” Grosby I have no problem with. And I have no problem with Dick Fain and Elise Woodward on KJR. Others, I have a problem with.

Recently I sent KJR host Dave Malher a text after a recent Husky football game in which QB Jake Locker did not have a good game. Mahler had given me his number months earlier.

Mahler sent me a return text calling me a “asshole” and “a nut job psycho” “I am as crazy as I am stupid” other very negative names. One text Mahler sent had to be modified by my phone company and removed!! It was wrong for Mahler to call me these derogatory names.

What is going on in sports radio here in Seattle is a total lack of inclusion of African Americans and people of color on a regular basis on ESPN 710 and KJR. The problem is management at the two stations seem not to care about this problem.

The management at KJR flat out LIED to African American leadership about hiring and diversity. FLAT OUT LIED. It is time for a chance at KJR and 710 ESPN. The hosts don’t care, the producers don’t care, and for sure management does not care. But one thing for sure………I care!!!!!

Racism is alive and well because all you have to do is look at 710 ESPN and sportsradio KJR here in Seattle. Dave Mahler’s texts to me shows for sure that there is work to be done.

Local newspaper, The Seattle Times has a sports editor who refuses to allow his writers to do a story on what I am writing about here. Why? Because he has writers at the Times like Jerry Brewer (who is African American) and Steve Kelly that are “in bed” with KJR. They are on the air as guests on the station. And Jim Moore who writes for the Seattle PI website, also refuses to write about this because he is on the air on 710 ESPN.This is Part 2 of my series of stories regarding local sports radio stations in Seattle, Washington. Two stations who cover sports in Seattle, have a grand total of ZERO African Americans/people of color on the air on a regular basis. The stations are sports radio KJR and 710 ESPN.

KJR has been on the air for more than 19 years and 710 ESPN has been on the air for about two years in the Seattle/Tacoma radio market. Again, no African Americans have been on the air with his or hers own program during the time these stations have been on the air. This is wrong readers.

When African Americans and people of color dominate the three major sports (football, basketball and baseball) it is wrong in my strong opinion to have a completely all white staffs on the two local sports stations. I am TIRED of hearing white guys interviewing African Americans and people of color on the air who they cannot relate to what so ever!!!

ONLY my friend Rick Dupree has been on the air. But he was only a semi-regular. He was fired and RE-HIRED again only to leave KJR because he saw no hope for himself to have his own regular program. So he left.

The current on air staff on KJR is Mitch Levy, Dave “Softy” Mahler, Ian Furness and Elise Woodward with Dick Fain on the weekend. Recently a former host on KJR, Jeff Aaron was brought back to have his own program on the weekends.

Also recently, “Hot Shot” Scott was hired to be on the air on KJR with the “The Gasman” during the weekdays to replace the departed “The Groz”. Scott was a DJ on sister station KUBE93.

On 710 ESPN it is Mike Salk, Brock Huard, “The Groz” Dave Grosby and Kevin Calabro and Jim Moore on the air. All the hosts on 710 ESPN and KJR are white. But to make matters worse, as far as I know, their are no African Americans or people of color in sales, as producers and for sure in management. This is wrong.

Seattle is a city known for it’s diversity. But in sports radio here in Seattle, diversity is a no show. The question is why? Well the answer is called the “ole boy network” in radio,TV and radio plus newspapers where whites help other whites to obtain employment while African Americans and people of color are left on the sidelines.

As I said earlier, “Hot Shot” Scott and Jeff Aaron was recently hired on KJR. Both of whom had ties to KJR already with Scott as a dj on sister station KUBE93 and Aaron as a former employee with KJR. For sure, the “ole boy network” is the reason both of them were hired.

On 710 ESPN, Brock Huard had ZERO radio experience but was hired. Jim Moore is a newspaper man who worked for the P.I. which is no longer around. Mike Salk came from Boston. Kevin Calabro and “The Groz” Grosby I have no problem with. And I have no problem with Dick Fain and Elise Woodward on KJR. Others, I have a problem with.

Recently I sent KJR host Dave Malher a text after a recent Husky football game in which QB Jake Locker did not have a good game. Mahler had given me his number months earlier.

Mahler sent me a return text calling me a “asshole” and “a nut job psycho” “I am as crazy as I am stupid” other very negative names. One text Mahler sent had to be modified by my phone company and removed!! It was wrong for Mahler to call me these derogatory names.

What is going on in sports radio here in Seattle is a total lack of inclusion of African Americans and people of color on a regular basis on ESPN 710 and KJR. The problem is management at the two stations seem not to care about this problem.

The management at KJR flat out LIED to African American leadership about hiring and diversity. FLAT OUT LIED. It is time for a chance at KJR and 710 ESPN. The hosts don’t care, the producers don’t care, and for sure management does not care. But one thing for sure………I care!!!!!

Exclusion is alive and well because all you have to do is look at 710 ESPN and sportsradio KJR here in Seattle. Dave Mahler’s texts to me shows for sure that there is work to be done.

PS. Local newspaper, The Seattle Times has a sports editor who refuses to allow his writers to do a story on what I am writing about here. Why? Because he has writers at the Times like Jerry Brewer (who is African American) and Steve Kelly that are “in bed” with KJR. They are on the air as guests on the station. And Jim Moore who writes for the Seattle PI website, also refuses to write about this because he is on the air on 710 ESPN.

“Music Inner City News Magazine” is the #1 urban website on the Internet from the Northwest!!

Also a survey was done at 1150am KKNW here in Seattle and a question was asked “What is your favorite program on the station” and a lot of listerners said “Music Inner City Radio” The program airs every Friday at 10pm (unless there is a game and it will right after the game). And the show streams LIVE online at www.1150kknw.com  click “listen live” tab. Podcasts of past programs are on “M.I.C News Magazine” click “podcast” link.

Also watch “Music Inner City TV” on Comcast On-Demand all over Western Washington state 24/7. Just go to “get local” and then “around the sound”