While We’re Waiting…
January 12, 2009We Are Proud To Introduce…
January 12, 2009
Those of you that listen to 850 WKNR/AM during the afternoon drive have definitely heard Mark “Munch” Bishop’s radio show. Since 2007, he has owned the 3p-6p slot and has featured the ever popular “Brown Out” segment that discussed all things Cleveland Browns. Guests like Aaron Shea and Bernie Kosar frequented the show, as did an unbelievable amount of advertisements ranging from ticket agencies to car dealerships.
Well, reported by the News-Herald early this morning, “Munch” will be replaced by Cleveland broadcasting favorite Michael Reghi. Effective today, WKNR fans will get Reghi’s show in the afternoon and for the foreseeable future. Bob Finnan reports that Bishop will stay with the station, but will serve in a different capacity.
Source: Reghi will replace ‘Munch’ on WKNR [Bob Finnan/News-Herald]
47 Comments
Good, all that munch ever did was lie about Cavs trades and put false info on the air. I remember in the summer time that he was reporting that the Cavs were trading for Monta Ellis. Good call Munch.
Couldn’t stand his show. Dude either screamed or whispered, he didn;t know how to just talk.
Hopefully Darryl rider and his annoying “yeeeeessssss” is gone as well
Good move KNR. I might start listening again with Regs in the booth. Munch spent too much time name-dropping and talking about random high school sports stories that happened 20 years ago.
“…and talking about random high school sports stories that happened 20 years ago.”
Like when Al Bundy scored four touchdowns for Polk High?
“The source said the ESPN station quickly realized there was little middle ground with Bishop’s show. Listeners either loved him or hated him.”
Put me in the hate camp. I listen to WKNR at work over the web from Washington D.C. and put the station on nearly every day for Rome’s show and then immediately turn it off at its conclusion. With Reghi I’ll keep listening – he’s one of my favorite Cleveland broadcasters. I thought it was ridiculous that he was run out of town on the Cavs broadcasts. It’ll be good to have him back on Cleveland air every day.
Great news………I commend this move. Reghi greatly gained my respect as he told it as he saw it in regards to Randy Lerner and our Cleveland Browns. Munch…..very nice guy, but pure wind.
I totally stopped listening to local hosts long ago, Reghi is someone I will tune in to-very knowedgeable and does what I expect; provide OPINION. (versus company line mantra).
I wish KNR put togheter a Super Group of broadcasters and gave them their own show… Tell me you wouldn’t listen to Reghi/Donovan/Hamilton for a few hours per day?
The worst was his 15 minutes of mandatory self narrated commercials. I could get almost 20 miles on the commute home before it was over. I’m done with WKNR, I understand they have to pay the bills, but I can’t listen to it. Viva la Sirius.
Awesome move KNR!!! I didn’t care much for Munch’s approach. The whole scream/whisper thing lost me. I’m very much looking forward to hearing Reghi in this coveted drive home slot! Great news indeed!
@8. So true. I have to go Sirius.
Hey….I’ve been on XM for years myself!
@&. I would never listen to a radio show with Jim Donovan. Can’t stand the guy. I used to work Sundays, and I think he and Doug Dieken have to be the worst broadcast team around.
I hated Munch, but Reghi is great! I plan on tuning in this afternoon.
I do like this move a lot. I couldn’t agree more with the comments made. KNR has 10 minutes of comrcials, 5 minutes of actual talk, 4 1/2 of which munch talks about things that happened 20-30 yrs ago, and also how he only has three fingers.
I will definitely listen now that Reghi is on. I still think he should be the play by play with the Cavs. He is so muh better than Fred.
Fire Fred McLeod!
Munch’s schtick was too over the top. I am glad he is off the air. As much as I disliked his show, it was still better than Rhoda’s show (sic).
This is a good move provided Reghi can bring some quality. Time for WKNR to actually break a few sports stories.
@MacNip totally agree on the darryl rider yeeeeeesss thing…extremely annoying. Amazing how no one can seem to come up with a decent sportstalk show in this area, especially with so much to discuss….hopefully reghi will bring a fresh outlook…he is missed on cavs games….will never get with rhoda because he is a steelers fan!!
Wow I didn’t realize how many people hated Munch. I was only in Cleveland for two months a few summers ago, but I liked his show. Maybe I was just euphoric at being able to listen to actual Cleveland topics as opposed to the Seattle crap I get up here in Alaska. But I thought he was cool.
Good move KNR. Munch was TERRIBLE on the air – loosing track of his thoughts, skipping around to different thoughts, terrible grammer, terrible timing, too much homerism, terrible with callers, sounds like he is definitely a better behind the scenes guy than on air.
Reghi will definitely be an improvement.
I just cant believe it took this long for them to figure out why he was basically forced out of the Lanigan and Malone show….his “doctor johnny fever” mush mouth run on’s were horrible.
nobody cares about where you grew up or what the locker rooms in the gymnasium at east tech high school look like. People want accurate sports reporting and not the spoon fed GM read on Munch used to provide.
also, couldnt agree more on the commercial….even when he was actually “on air” all he did was advertise.
Reghi has proved a huge following is out there with his support. He has done a fantastic job with the post and pre game reporting for the browns, indians and cavs games and has definately earned his shot.
this will move will definately earn back my listening.
Just trilled Munch is off drive time. I would actually rather listen to Trivisonno sucking up to Carmen Policy (or whomever). Always wondered why they couldn’t find someone a little less grating to talk sports for a few hours. Heck, I would have done it if they asked me nicely. And speaking of the Cavs shafting Reghi, why did they shaft Jim Chones and stick in mush-mouthed Austin Carr? As loveable as Austin is, isn’t there some minimal diction threshhold required to be on the air? Almost rather listen to Dennis Green calling football games, or fingernails on the blackboard.
Munch was one run-on sentance. Absolutely annoying. He is why Al Gore invented FM radio.
I grew up listening to WKNR back when it was 1220, and having recently moved back to Northeastern Ohio I have found it to be unlistenable – especially Much and Rizzo. Not only are they ridiculous homers and blatantly annoying, a lot of the time they just appear flat out misinformed. The fans deserve an educated mouthpiece and if Reghi performs anything similar to his stint as the Cavs broadcaster, I think we may finally have one.
@ Harv 21: Austin Carr’s inability to speak reminds me of the year Davie Nelson did Tribe games. Horrible.
Oh, c’mon people. I didn’t like Munch, but is Reghi really any better? His rants are often just as inane as anything Munch says, and unlike Munch Reghi leaves absolutely no room for dissenting opinion. He’s the most pompous sports talker on the airwaves.
I have no love for Fred McLeod, but Reghi desperately seeking catch phrases was worse. “Bang. Bang. Bang. Bang. Bang.” is not a play call. And now I have to hear a dozen braindead idiots each day kiss Reghi’s butt and
…tell him how much they miss him.
And I’m scared to death of what he’s going to say when it’s Indians season. He’s already proven that he doesn’t have a clue when it comes to football, and I have no faith that he’ll be any more knowledgeable when it comes to baseball.
This is a lateral move at best. But I guess as long as WKNR is owned by 12-year-olds, this kind of stuff will continue. I’m glad they’ve full embraced the ESPN network, but the local stuff is mediocre at best.
Dude – Austin Carr is the MAN!
So is Reghi – i was sad to see them part ways.
But McLeod is growing on me. He’s a good guy.
Reghi is still the man – “FLIGHT NUMBER 23!”
Thank God the “Munch” is off the air. I agree with the comments in regards to Munch turning the drive time show into one big commercial for crap like Arby’s. The guy couldn’t go an hour without doing a 10 minute segment with a chick who is giving him free food. WE DON’T CARE!
He yells, he whispers, he cuts people off when they factually correct him, he yells some more. Finally, he’s gone.
I don’t know what I would have done if I didn’t get Sirius last year. “Mad Dog” Russo (who is on at roughly the same time) isn’t the best, but he’s way better than Munch. He actually talks objectively about sports and has somewhat of a clue while still being entertaining.
I listen to Munch every day. he is entertaining and always tries to put an upbeat spin on the day’s sports news.
Reghi is about as interesting as listening to paint peel. You have lost a daily listener with this change.
Very refreshing to hear Reghi on the drive home! Munch was awful! I have Sirius radio, but like to tune in to the local sportstalk. I tried daily to listen, but was forced to change the channel everytime. In fact, after a while I think I only tuned in to catch a brief sample of that ridiculous “whispering” for comedy purposes. Even then, I still had to change it. Way too sickening!
bad news, folks. Munch wasn’t fired…..HE WAS PROMOTED!
http://www.espncleveland.com/upload/wknrprogrammingpressrelease11209.pdf
i’m not much of a fan of his either, but be nice to him, he’s da boss now.
I cant believe the article states either you loved or hated Munch. The comments here so far pretty much tell the story. Munch was absolutely terrible. I cant believe the idiot ever took an English class…always talking his slang. It’s amazing he lasted this long. Get rid of Roda and that arrogant sob Brinda too. We have three major sports teams and OSU and we lack a true sports talk show. Hopefully Reghi can help change that.
And if Munch got a promotion, then I must be Santa Claus…God help us.
Go Cavs
Great news! I couldn’t stand Jiminy Glick on sports.
Munch was awful. Glad he is finally off the air in drive time. Reghi is 100 times better. How anyone could stand listening to Munch talk for more than 2 mins is beyond me. Hey bro, how are you brother, good to to talk to you friend. Please keep him off the air.
Bout time that he was taken off of the air. Tired of the brother, friend references. Guy doesn’t know sports, go back to C-Bus. Next get rid of Roda. Guy is a joke.
Munch was solid…the real problem at WKNR is any time they give to that LOSER, has been greg brinda. Enough of his pregnant pauses, annoying laugh and complaining about being the mop up man. On after the late Cav’s game and then having to fill in for Rizzo, etc. GO AWAY!
Munch is soooo annoying. I hate his voice. He’s fake. Does not keep it real. He is almost annoying as the Nissan guy “Are you Kiidding me?” Thank you thank you thank you KNR for getting rid of his show. Now the only thing left to do id get rid of him all together.
Munch seemed like a nice guy and all and he’s been around a long time on the air–dont quite understand why–but i’ve never heard a human being talk as fast as he did without taking a breath. I know he tried for local tastes but some of the guests and high school football focus seems minor league in general. wish him the best but glad he’s moved on, my brother!
I like to think that all the emails I bombarded that station with about how horrible that butt clown was helped in getting him dumped.
You’re next Aaron Goldshower.
You should have never “F”ed with John Shaver!
I don’t know what’s worse. Having Munch only in drive time when you knew when he was going to be on, or having him pop in and out during the day making me turn the station several times just to avoid his ridiculous commercials and stupid Munch on this Segments. I used to listen to this guy every single day but after a while, you just want to blow your brains out listening to him. Most annoying, ignorant person on the radio. GO AWAY FOR EVER!
Munch sounds like the offspring of Cousin It from the Adams Family with the AFLAC Duck. Annoying voice, and nothing intelligent- he sounds like some drunk at a local bar, who won’t listen to dissenting opinions. It is hard to believe that advertisers even want him to read their ads, but that is what he does now at all hours. Poor Cleveland- this city deserves a great sports talk station with the great fans in this area. Karmazin promotes Munch to sports director, and Goldhammer is the asst program director. How twisted is that? Thank goodness that Reghi is in afternoon drive, he is a pro who actually shares valuable insight.
Thanks for all the feedback – those that can’t don’t and I still do! The best part – I am on more due to the hundreds of more emails of those missing me. My best and keep listening to ESPN 850 WKNR!
holy random old post response!
Good golly, oh good golly
I own a boarder collie
I ride lolly the trolley
And love Miss Purebread Polly
I just hung Christmas holly
but broke my movers dolly
Is Ringwald’s first name Molly?
Good golly, oh good golly
I still LAUGH when I read the detractors and find myself on the air MORE these days! Pimps and cowards…LOVE Y’ALL, especially the mail man who sends out porn. And HE delivers YOUR mail! Also, glad I was forced out w/ Lanigan and Malone…probably why they wnat to HIRE ME BACK!
Sure Munch…..keep believing that. Keep on eating the free meals and keeping that mop on your head straight. Columbus got rid of you and Cleveland will too.
P.S. I’m sure the ratings at 5am are through the roof!!!!!!
Munch IMO has always been a real & sicere fan. Brinda – not so much…needs to go away!!!
In the 80’s when I lived on Edge-water and could see stadium from my back yard ( 11006 edgewater ) and drive my motorcycle to an game in 14 minutes for $4 because the only ( sold out ? 45-50,000 ) big crowd was opening day against the yankees , following day 8,000 people was great !