Chattanooga Sport Talk Goes For The Underdogs After 25 Years

“It’s hard to believe,” whipped Dr. B.  As he paced and began shaking hands with friends, special guests and sports fans making their way from the parking lot around 5 on Saturday afternoon at the Underdogs Bar & Grill.

I really didn’t understand his quick statement. Then I said, ”Dr. B, let me say you, Quake and Cowboy Joe are Legends in radio Sport Talk.”

 

I’m thinking heck .. pioneers in Chattanooga talk radio.  Then, I realize really what he meant, the plans indicating a capacity houseful, expecting 125 or more people to take refuge at Underdogs Bar & Grill on Missionary Ridge to celebrate the 7,000^th broadcast during 25 years on Sport Talk Radio WGOW 102.3. and the House has lost all power. It was unbelievable to have such an event planned and then No Power.

 

Just a moment before I arrived a late afternoon thunderstorms crashed the place… bringing down several large trees across some power lines feeding juice to the Underdogs and surrounding area.  As more people began to park and walk towards a dark doorway greeting the trio Legends, it was apparent this was not planned for.  A blackout!   Several of us throughout the next 30-40 minutes made numerous calls to the Electric Power Board personnel to tell them of the unusual dilemma, how important EPB was and encouraging a rapid hook up. 

 

I placed one call to the call center and was told, "Sir, we are on it, it’s our problem. Stay cool, calm and give our boys a few minutes."  It was act of surprise when the lights flickered back on just before Roger Alan Wade and The Last Band arrived to set up and perform sound checks.    

 

Well, while we are talking legends, there's Roger Alan Wade, native Chattanoogan, singer/songwriter, recording artist and well-loved and supported by so many in Chattanooga Live Music. 

 

Roger Alan Wade & The Last Band members are Roger Alan Wade, songwriter/vocal, Neal Nichols, vocal, bass, Troy Byrd, guitar, Bob Stagner, drums, and Amanda Rose, accordion.

 

The staff was unbelievable serving some awesome food, and the chilled drinks were flowing.  The tales were spinning, as lies, jokes and laughter could be heard throughout the house of Underdogs.  Turns out there were a lot of sport talkers in the house. Bama lovers, Bama haters, Vol pride, Georgia Dawgs and others.    The sound of occasional tuning and sound check in the background was an alert of what was to come soon.

 

It was great to see many friends, radio personalities, local judges, the county mayor and more.  Chip Chapman stepped forward and made a great introduction to Roger and The Last Band members.  Roger saddled up and took charge of the evening delighting the crowd with smiles casting back at him from every soul in the place.  The several videos of his music at the event is posted on YouTube.  Roger sang much of his Chattanooga-related material. A memorable one was a cover song of Willie Nelson “ Whiskey River”  in this video he and his band welcome Sport Talk co-host Quake (Scott McMahan) to join with his harmonica https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WzJ-7IizVmU . 

 

I agree with this statement by WGOW, “For more than 25 years Sport Talk has set the pace in Chattanooga for sports of all sorts, delivered by guys who don’t take themselves too seriously. Dr. Basketball (Gary Haskew) has been a part of the show almost from the beginning - not just for his sports expertise, but his comedy and needling his opponents into a frenzy with just a few choice words.  Quake (Scott McMahan) has the reputation, the intellect, and the quick wit to make sports entertaining with a capital “E”.  Cowboy Joe (Varner) offers a young fan’s perspective that most sports shows just don’t have.”

 

It’s all about chemistry and delivery with these knuckleheads.  SportTalk — still going strong on Talk Radio WGOW. http://www.wgow.com/

 

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Mark A Herndon, certified professional geologist and professional photographer grew up in Chattanooga area, graduated from the University of Tennessee in Chattanooga.  He is the Entertainment and Chattanooga cityscape/event photographer affiliated with Chattanoogan.com and contributor to magazines, venues and various festivals including Riverbend Festival, Nightfall Music Series, Southern Brewery Festival, Roof Top Hop, Wine Over Water and other events. 

Email at; MAHerndon@ChattanoogaLiveMusic.com