In Dallas, Mike Heika reports tonight's Panthers-Stars preseason game will feature Daryl Reaugh moving "into the play-by-play chair" for the radio broadcast and Craig Ludwig providing analysis as regular play-by-play announcer Dave Strader receives treatment for a "rare form of cancer." Reaugh said, "We honestly just want to be there for Dave and do whatever we can to help." He added that Strader will "do as many games as he can and the Stars will adjust when he's not there." Heika notes the move has both Reaugh and Ludwig "skating out of their comfort zones, but a move that just might be crazy enough to work." Reaugh understands the broadcast process but will be "shooting from a different side." He will be "talking a lot more as the play-by-play man and also will be trying to feed Ludwig the mic as much as possible" (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 10/4).
RETURNING TO HIS ROOTS: In Houston, David Barron reports former Philadelphia radio host Josh Innes "will return to Houston next Monday" on KBME-AM in the "ratings-crucial afternoon drive time slot." Innes, who recently was "fired by CBS Radio station WIP," will take the 3:00-7:00pm CT timeslot. Innes yesterday said that he had "other radio offers but wanted to return to Houston and looks forward to competing against" KILT-AM, where he worked before moving to Philadelphia (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 10/4). Innes was fired by WIP "after he harshly criticized" his WPEN-FM competitor Mike Missanelli over a story "involving a white producer creating a fake black caller ... to call in to Missanelli's show" (PHILLY.com, 10/3).
MAKING IT COUNT: In Chicago, Greg Trotter noted WSCR-AM Cubs play-by-play man Pat Hughes, who has been calling the team's games for 21 years, "has been thinking about what he might say if the Cubs win the World Series." Hughes: "The main thing is you have to capture the moment. You want to be true to the call. You want to be as accurate as possible. But let me tell you, it is not easy." Trotter noted Hughes has "developed his own well-regarded style over the years." Known for his "meticulous preparation and a tremendous recall of historical tidbits, Hughes arrives at the ballpark more than three hours before games, giving him time to talk with coaches and players, then pore over game notes and newspapers" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 10/1).
PARTING WAYS: In Philadelphia, Rob Tornoe reported CSN Philly and reporter Leslie Gudel "are parting ways" after 19 years. Gudel, who announced the news on Twitter yesterday, left the anchor desk in '10 to "cover the Phillies full-time." She said that she "knew before this season started that it would be her last covering the team for CSN" (PHILLY.com, 10/3).
