SYRACUSE -- After more than a decade in local sports talk radio, today is Mike Lindsley's last day in Syracuse. Starting tomorrow, The Score 1260 (WSKO) will lose a few hours of local weekday sports talk, as the station plugs-in syndicated talent Doug Gottlieb.
Lindsley had already previously announced that today would be his last day, but was waiting until today to announce the specifics of his future plans. He's headed to Albany's 104.5 The Team (WTMM), an ESPN Radio affiliate owned by Townsquare Media.
Lindsley told CNYRadio.com, "I leave behind love, support and memories. I'm proud of what we did at The Score 1260. I grew as a professional and a person in Central New York and am excited for my next adventure."
Lindsley tells CNYRadio.com he'll start the new job on April 1, hosting pre-game coverage for New York Yankees baseball. The following Monday, he'll begin hosting every weekday from 1-4pm, returning at 6:00pm for the Yankees pre-game.
Cumulus Media Syracuse Operations Manager Tom Mitchell said of Lindsley, "we will miss him and wish him the best."
Lindsley joined the regular weekday lineup at The Score 1260 (WSKO) just a bit shy of two years ago, as the station's midday host. Just a few months ago, Brent Axe's departure made room for Lindsley to move into the longer afternoon drive timeslot.
Proud to be part of that lineup, Lindsley recalled, "in three years' time, The Score added eight hours of local programming daily, weekend shows, high school basketball and football, Syracuse Crunch hockey and Syracuse Chiefs baseball." He tells CNYRadio.com, "we did it in a big city kind of way, and that was impressive. I thank my listeners and the people who always gave me a fair shake no matter if they liked the show or not. I enjoyed doing it, that's for sure. But time moves on. And I can't wait for what is next."
Previously, Lindsley worked for several years at the former "SportsRadio 620" (WHEN). He resigned in 2009, after the Clear Channel station pulled his Yankees-themed "Pinstripe Passion" show from the lineup.
Rather than replacing Lindsley with another local host, Mitchell says The Score 1260 will use its CBS Sports Radio Network affiliation to plug-in "The Doug Gottlieb Show." However, he says the station will continue to provide local weather and traffic updates during the afternoon drive hours.
After Lindsley offers his farewell this afternoon, Gottlieb takes over the timeslot tomorrow.
"We are exciting to bring the Doug Gottlieb show to Central New York every weekday from 3-6pm," Mitchell said. "Gottlieb brings years of experience in sports talk radio and college basketball analysis. His opinions can be polarizing, but in sports talk radio, it's good to have a personality who likes to stir things up."
When Lindsley moved to afternoons in January, his midday timeslot was filled by CBS Sports Radio Network host Jim Rome. That leaves "Bud and the Manchild," weekdays 10am to noon, as the station's only locally-produced weekday talk show.
However, Mitchell says WSKO's committment to local sports programming continues through live play-by-play of Syracuse Crunch hockey and live call-in shows following all Syracuse Orange mens basketball and football games.
Our best wishes to Mike Lindsley as he moves onto his new job!
Doug Gottlieb is a tool.