The Pistons are one of the NBA’s elite teams, but their radio network is second to everyone.
If you live in Monroe County and are trying to follow any of the playoff games at night, forget it. Flagship station WDFN in Detroit powers down after sunset and is just about impossible to pick up beyond a 20-mile radius to the south.
There is an alternative for the Cleveland Cavaliers series. Cleveland’s WTAM (1100-AM) is a 50-watt, clear-channel blowtorch station that can be heard in 38 states and Canada. It can easily be pulled in on most radios in Monroe County. It also hosts a pretty good postgame show until 1 a.m.
Cavaliers announcer Joe Tait, who used to be the voice of the Cleveland Indians, is one of the best in the business (better than George Blaha). It’s a nice alternative if you’re in your car and can’t follow the Pistons.
In our youth….radio was king. I remember sitting on my father’s knee listening to the old stand-up radio long before anyone had TV (boy I feel old!). Then in later years I remember being on tour out west but still being able to tune in “The Great Voice of the Great Lakes” and keep up with the Tigers. Unfortunately, radio is dying quickly and that is sad as it used to be the “Theater of the Mind.” Videos now dictate to you what they want you to perceive from a song as opposed to the old days when you painted your own picture or video of what you thought the song was saying. TV and Cable have pushed radio to the curb and sports teams seem to only want to maintain a local presence in radio anymore, thus eliminating those who still love the romance of listening to a game on radio. It’s too bad because I don’t have time to sit and watch a game on TV but love listening to the play-by-play while planting flowers or working at my desk.