When I checked my email inbox for a confirmation from Rhea Hughes of WIP-610 about our upcoming interview, I had to do a double take. Did she really send me that email at four in the morning? I hit reply and asked “are you really up at four every morning?” The reply came back, “Actually, I get up at three everyday.” Ouch.
Such is the life of a morning talk show host or a farmer. Rhea is certainly the former, but above and beyond that, she is a Philadelphia sports fan. When we met for a late-afternoon/early evening beer (or two, or three) at a South Street bar (“I’m not keeping you up am I,” I asked. “No,” she said, “I took a nap.”), it was quite evident that Hughes is someone who takes Philadelphia sports seriously, and not because it’s her job – though that is certainly part of it -- but because she loves sports, pure and simple. Her recall of details of sporting events is extraordinary and her opinions are strong, both of which probably surprise many. Constantly, she is referred to as something to the effect of Philly’s sports radio chick. “I’m used to it now,” she says.
The following is an excerpt of our discussion. I hesitate to call it an interview, because for the most part, it was really two people on barstools commiserating about the teams we root for, something to which I think everyone can relate.
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Sometimes when I listen to the morning show, it seems to me that you are the voice of reason. My wife says you are the Robin Quivers of the show. Describe your role at WIP as you see it.
First of all, comparing me to Robin Quivers is quite a compliment, she’s been quite a trailblazer in our industry. As for our show, I try and keep things as factually based as possible – it goes back to my journalism degree from Temple. Sometimes we can get a bit off track and I try and stick to the facts.You’ve been called a “voracious reader”, part of your effort to stay current with the day’s sports events, what do you read?
Probably a dozen or so newspapers, some online and some in actual paper form. I read the New York and Philadelphia area newspapers for everyday, plus USA Today and a few football related websites. The Trenton Times website is where I discovered all of the Phillies blogs, which I also read daily, you guys do a good job. As a matter of fact, I’ve got Angelo [Cataldi] reading them now too, though he didn't’t quite get what a blog is. Until recently, he didn't’t realize you could check your email from a computer and do other things with it as well.The success of a talk radio show or a blog is often tied to reader/listener feedback -- calls to the radio show, comments posted to a blog post. However he opinions expressed on blogs are much different than those on the radio…Why is that?
I think we get more comments that are more off the cuff, people on their way to work calling in to express a spontaneous thought in response to something in the news or what we have said. On the other hand, on a blog, a reader has to take the time to sit and type out his response, and in the process you get a stronger point. I think if people typed out their calls to WIP, we would have very similar viewpoints expressed as those on blogs.Let’s say Mitch “Wild Thing” Williams strikes out Joe Carter and the ’93 Phils go on to win it all…How would the team be different today?
[After some reflection] In this case, is the management the same?
Ah, good point…let’s say yes, they are.
I would say that there probably wouldn't’t be the venom that there is towards the organization now – they probably would have bought themselves a few more years of good feelings – but I don’t think things would be much better than they are right now.What is the secret to the success of the Eagles?
They are incredibly disciplined when it comes to spending money on players. It’s not that they are cheap, they just refuse to overspend on players that are getting up there in age. Instead, they plan well and draft for the future. A perfect example is when they drafted Lito Shepperd and Sheldon Brown when they already had Troy Vincent and Bobby Taylor.What do you make of the Terrell Owens situation?
I’ve read his contract, and judging from the wording, I have a hunch the Eagles had intended to cut Owens after the 2005 season – which is something they can do under the rules of the NFL. Owens and Rosenhaus probably realize that as well and that is the motivation behind the game they are playing.What’s the deal with Eskin? Is there really a feud between him and the morning show crew?
I’m fine with Howard, as a matter of fact, he sent me a wonderful wedding gift, but he and Angelo [Cataldi] certainly don’t get along at all. They are just very different people.Do you think that sometimes Joe Phan’s desire for a championship gets in the way of more reasoned thinking and discussion?
No, not at all. I think all the average fan wants is to have his hometown team be something he can be proud of, that’s all they want. Look at the Eagles, they have such a loyal fan base because they do things right. They aren’t embarrassed to wear an Eagles jersey in public. The Phillies on the other hand…
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As our interview would down, we were joined by Rhea’s husband, who is a contractor, and his partner. Eventually we wrapped up and after I left, I wished I had asked one more question, but not to Rhea, to her husband, “Let’s say there really is a Curse of Billy Penn, can I get an estimate on what it would take to make City Hall taller?”
