As if it wasn't enough to maintain a freelance online print presence, or to join KOLD TV to enhance sports coverage on its website, Anthony Gimino has expanded into the realm of radio host and author.
The radio gig first. Gimino has been tabbed by KCUB 1290 AM as the host for the local portion of UA men's basketball pre and postgame broadcasts. He will join fellow long-time UA basketball writer Steve Rivera and former player Kelvin Eafon for the three-hour pregame block and scheduled two-hour postgame call-in show.
"I kind of feel like I have my hands in a little bit of everything now. It's never boring," Gimino said. "I've listened to a lot of sports talk radio, and that leads me to believe I can do it. I'm going to be prepared about it and passionate about it, and everything else will take care of itself over time."
The addition of Gimino, who for the better part of the last three decades has cultivated a reputation as one of the most knowledgeable and respected sports reporters in the market, gives the radio function an additional layer of historical reference. Like Rivera, Gimino has been around the program, and the university in general, during the high points of Lute Olson's tenure, the difficult transition period that featured multiple coaches trying to keep the program afloat and the rise of Sean Miller, who has the Wildcats ranked No. 2 in the preseason AP poll and hopes to guide them to the program's first Final Four appearance in 14 years.
Gimino and Rivera have also joined forces for a new book related to the history of the UA men's basketball program: 100 Things Arizona Fans Should Know Before They Die.
"It's 100 chapters about a game, a person, a team," Gimino said. "When I read these kinds of books, I'm always interested in the anecdotes, and I think Steve and I captured that and brought a couple stories to Lute and he even said, 'I don't know about that. I've never heard that.' That was cool. Lute was great. We had a couple long sit-downs with Lute, which allowed us to get some fresh thoughts and ideas and memories from him. There's a lot of new stuff, and a lot of research that brings out stuff that's been forgotten over the years, even if you're kind of a long-time basketball fan. Steve has covered basketball for almost 25 years, and I've covered the university for nearly as long, and the fact you can still be surprised covering some anecdotes or quotes, that was the fun part. I'm hoping fans will have that same experience."
"100 Things" is available in e-book formats on the usual collection of online retailers, but if you want a physical soft cover copy, numerous brick and mortar stores are also carrying that version, and Gimino, Rivera and Olson have a few autograph sessions on tap, including at McMahon's Steakhouse Friday and Champs on Campbell and Sixth Saturday afternoon prior to the UA football game against Colorado.
Search the book title or Gimino and Rivera on Facebook for specifics.
CONDIE IS GROOVIN'
Matt Condie, known in many local radio circles as "Rascal," is the new morning show host at KTGV 106.3 FM. In the process, he becomes the station's first on-air talent for the so-called "old-school" music format, which is more or less an R&B hits station. Think heavy (really heavy) doses of Michael Jackson mixed with Prince, Whitney Houston and Earth, Wind and Fire.
"It's already an established brand, so it's a format we don't have to change," Condie said. "The format has held its own jockless, but at this point (management) wants to work on building a big station. It's a perfect opportunity to grow the brand of the station."
Condie is best known in this market for morning show stints on what is now Clear Channel owned modern hip-hop format KOHT 98.3 FM and the old Power 97.5. Condie hopes that original audience will make the transition with him to "The Groove."
"It's the same music and the same crowd who liked that music. It's just growing up with them now," Condie said. "The state of modern hip hop and pop is garbage, but this is classic. This is where hip hop and pop came from, and this is what we grew up listening to. I still have the best of the Gap Band, the Earth, Wind and Fire box set. It's when music was fun."
The "Rascal on the Radio" morning show debuts Nov. 10.
"They've been looking and looking for a fit at the station," said Condie. "I'm Program Director/Music Director/Morning guy. My philosophy is this: It's my belief to compete music wise in this world of iPods and downloads and satellite radio, it has to be smash hit, smash hit, smash hit, and uber-local. We all live here. This is the coolest place in the country because it's subtlely influenced by Hispanic culture, but it's not overt. Everyone in this area loves funk music. That's what our musical taste was when we grew up. (Management is) looking for someone to focus in on the station. It's served its purpose as sort of a united front, and now they want to niche out and make The Groove its own entity. I know the music, and I love the idea they said they want to make this station something."
Condie's addition makes him the sixth locally produced music-based morning show in the market. It also marks the first time in many years a music-based radio station without a local morning presence added on-air talent to its roster.
