Brandon Adams leaving 790/The Zone
After more than five years at 790/The Zone, mid-day host Brandon Adams is leaving the world of pampered athletes and obnoxious coaches to delve into the equally Byzantine world of test scores, school boards politics and parental demands.
The 33-year-old Gainesville native and University of Georgia graduate said he is going to pursue a masters degree in educational administration at Georgia State University.
Teamed with Jeff Woolverton from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. weekdays, he put in his notice last week and informed listeners today.
Loading ...For eight years, he was an elementary school teacher and is returning to that profession this fall after two and a half years working full time at the Zone. (He worked part-time as an on-air host on weekends for three years.)
“Doing a radio show was a culmination of a dream of mine,” he said in a phone interview today. “I was lucky to get to do that the last few years. I just felt the time is right to focus on the next phase of my professional development.”
He said growing up, he admired Rush Limbaugh and after college, when he heard the Zone, he knew he wanted to work there. “It combined two passions of mine: talk radio and sports.”
He started doing menial jobs at the Zone answering phones and such but finally got a shot at doing radio talk with Woolverton in 2005.
Since he went mid-days, ratings have not been great. And feedback from fans on this blog have been rough.
Adams said he wasn’t immune to the criticism, but he got used to it after awhile.
“It doesn’t really bother me,” he said. “It doesn’t keep me awake at night. I’m thankful for the people who enjoy the show. I appreciate when they listen when they can.”
He thinks his last day will be Thursday on the air. He is just glad he’s been able to say goodbye, something many radio hosts don’t get to do. He also isn’t sure what the Zone’s next step will be during mid-days.
“Whatever shape it takes over the next few months, I’m sure it will be positive changes,” he said optimistically.
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222 comments Add your comment
Really?
July 27th, 2010
8:29 am
I didn’t realize people still listened to 790. They hardly ever talk about sports in the morning and afternoons.
Scott Wallace
July 27th, 2010
8:31 am
Nothing is worse than the 2 live stews. That and the fat bald Jew Shapiro.
What I leeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeearneeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeddddddddddddddddddd!!!!!!!!!!!!
Radio Suckers
July 27th, 2010
8:31 am
Now this Rush Limbaugh lover may actually be responsible the the education of African American kids, OMG!!!!
Beverly Harrison
July 27th, 2010
8:40 am
i hear the 2 live stews got a thing for fat white women.
Robert Byrd
July 27th, 2010
8:42 am
I rather listen to a bunch of cats being run over by an ambulance than the the 2 Live Stews. When Buck and Kincade or Chernoff and king is the preferable option to those two racist hacks Helen Keller can see there is a problem. But then again, you can’t fire negros without being branded as bigots these days.
Jeff
July 27th, 2010
8:46 am
Other than Chuck & Chernoff, the local radio sports are pretty weak. You would think in a town this size, they could get some good sports hosts. But I hope they keep trying, because I get weary of the ESPN agenda all the time otherwise.
joe
July 27th, 2010
8:50 am
To whomever calls the shots at 790…for the love of God, please do not hire anyone else that has ANYTHING to do with UGA. The last thing we need is another homer spouting off at the mouth about their football team being anything this side of relevant. David Polock, Bo Buck, Buck Blew…please…enough already. We don’t need anyone else tooting their UGA trombone on Atlanta airwaves.
LagTime
July 27th, 2010
8:50 am
Call me Al has it pegged, there was ZERO support for that show and those two from management. When a show moves from weekends to weekdays, it needs an incredible push from management to change the theatre of the mind.
The theatre of the mind is the perception that the audience has for the show and it’s hosts. If you have heard them on the weekends, you tend to perceive them as weekend only talent. It takes managerial support to change this perception.
Ultimately, the only way to win when you don’t have support, a producer, or regular paid expert analysts is to be unique. Creativity in topics and discussion, along with audio, can keep your show fresh and even comedic at times. Unfortunately, this is not the strength of that show. They often fall into the trap of setting up a weekend show in a weekday time slot. “Call us with your favorite Falcons draft pick”, “Should the Hawks sign Joe Johnson?” etc. All of that is fine for a latenight, weekend, or small market show. But Atlanta requires more.
There is an audience for Atlanta sports talk radio as there is always passionate responses to these discussions. It’s just going to take a different set of ideas and direction to give the listeners in this city the kind of shows they can get behind.
Scott Wallace
July 27th, 2010
8:54 am
Wish Rocker would of beat the sh*t out of that douche bag Shapiro when he had the the chance.
steve brown
July 27th, 2010
9:05 am
Often had to turn him off as he spoke on obtuse subjects that only he would find interesting. Seemed like a good man so good luck, with some proper guidance by producers he might have stood a chance.
Stanley in Marietta
July 27th, 2010
9:10 am
Mike Bell and Chuck Oliver are THE BEST! Period.
justin
July 27th, 2010
9:10 am
I wonder if Pollock will be the next one jumping ship since he is getting ESPN exposure?
They all have to see the writing on the wall.
Agree with the Bottom Line coming back together but it has to be against Rude. They already were in afternoon drive and got run off by 680. They are solid mid-day type talents and could help get the ratings out of the 1’s in the morning.
790 smells gas but no one can find the leak.
TommyJack
July 27th, 2010
9:18 am
Radio sports talk, in general, blows. Everywhere. The fact that Nick Cellini has a job is proof enough.
John
July 27th, 2010
9:22 am
One down, the rest of the entire lineup to go. You would think that even the worst companies would hire one or two good people, but 790 appears to be the exception.
Chris
July 27th, 2010
9:23 am
Glad Woolvy is staying. Adams was a pugnacious jerk. Adios.
Awful, Awful
July 27th, 2010
9:33 am
PlEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, stop saying that Chernoff is a good sports talk radio host. He has a chip on his shoulder about as big as his beloved Dunwoody. He is a know it all whose head is about the size of one of the gorilla’s at the Atlanta Zoo. Get over yourself!
Mel in Southwest Atlanta
July 27th, 2010
9:52 am
Throughout the years, I have always enjoyed Brandon and Woolvey’s weekend show. They were talking about the Hawks, when nobody else was. I even ran my errands around the time I knew they were going to be on the air.
The two hour time slot in the middle of the day didn’t do them justice. Good luck to you Brandon…
Minor league radio ...
July 27th, 2010
9:53 am
If you’re Jewish, and/or from the Northeast Shapiro & Saltzman will hire you.
My opinion of “Steak” Shapiro — Narcissitic ego-maniac. And could someone shut him up when he starts talking about food & dining establishments!
B – Adams …. every now & then I thought he was on point with a topic, so for me that made him slightly better than his partner, Woolverton. And JW, IMO, is NOT good at all.
The station is in need of a COMPLETE OVERHAUL. Steak, Cillini, B&W, and Bell need to go bye-bye. The Stews hip-hip garb needs to go too, but ratings-hos in Mngt will keep them. Dimino and Pollack (and I’m a GT guy) are the only “professionals” worth keeping.
Rex
July 27th, 2010
10:01 am
I’m shocked… it took almost a day before people started lobbing hate at Steak Shapiro and the Stews. As much as some of you guys hate the Stews, maybe you missed the fact that they get more big name guests than all the other local shows on 790 and 680 combined.
Between satellite radio, streaming internet and podcasts I barely listen to ATL sports radio anymore save for the Stews and maybe a few minutes of Mayhem. Atlanta sports radio is severely lacking any real personalities. To be honest on B&W, I barely knew who was who. Same goes for Buck & Kincade, Chuck & Chernoff, David Pollock…etc. they are all very vanilla. The Mayhem guys are just decent (I’ll admit Steak IS annoying) and the Stews, while not everyone’s cup of tea, definitely have their niche.
But there is absolutely NOTHING on our airwaves that comes close to Dan Patrick, Dan Lebatard, Kornheiser, Rome, John Salley, Mad Dog Russo, Ferrall and some of the other wildly entertaining voices out there.
Scott Wallace
July 27th, 2010
10:02 am
Who the heck listens to the 2 live stews?
All the do is bark and say, “stewpendous”.
Braves Fan
July 27th, 2010
10:03 am
I agree that BA was one the biggest homers on the dial but I did enjoy listening to him, The one who needs to go is that no talent partner of his, Woolverton. The guy thinks he knows it all and don’t know jack about nothing. His arrogance caused me to go down the dial to the Herd on 680 until the Stews come on. Now listen Salsa and Steak; take this opportunity to get back those noon ratings and get somebody in there that is entertaining and informative. Give Woolverton the boot as well and start over fresh. You won’t regret it.
jarvis
July 27th, 2010
10:05 am
@Tim
What chances do you think Serius/XM have of resigning Howard? About nil I imagine. He was compensated in virtually worthless stock to begin with, and his relative irrelevance since the move off of terrestrial radio doesn’t sit well with his ego.
Batman
July 27th, 2010
10:10 am
Jeff Wolverton sounds like the Riddler. He’s constantly ending sentences like he’s stifling a laugh. I’d better investigate this further…
jarvis
July 27th, 2010
10:11 am
John Rocker sucks. In and out of the league in less than 5 years. Please stop talking about him like he’s relevant.
Larkin Anderson
July 27th, 2010
10:11 am
790 could never fire those two live stew “boys”
president obammer and the rest of the negro nation would sue, picket, protest, fight, whine and complain foreeeeeeeeeeeeeeeever.
p.s. tubesteak shapiro SUCKS
The Coach
July 27th, 2010
10:14 am
Brandon’s actually a very nice person when I’ve listened, to use a wrestling analogy, he’s “worked heel” a lot to drive calls on subjects and taken a side he doesn’t agree with to spur conversation. Something a lot of people don’t do in this town. If you had a show where people agreed with the host all the time it doesn’t work especially in call in shows. Good luck to you Brandon!!
The female response:
July 27th, 2010
10:20 am
FINALLY now bring back some REAL talent like Mitch Evans and get this party started!!
Pierre
July 27th, 2010
10:22 am
Who cares? Is this really news?????? I just lost a quarter – it fell out of my pocket. Is that news, too?
Bring back the Kimmer, fire Steak
July 27th, 2010
10:22 am
WHOAAAAAAAAAA LOOK OUT!
Taylor Hanson
July 27th, 2010
10:28 am
Mitch Evans? That’s a blast from the past.
Three hours of monotone updates and Jewish guilt. Sure, why not?
You know who
July 27th, 2010
10:33 am
Eeeeemp, I need me some sausage.
Papichulo
July 27th, 2010
10:33 am
I know he wasn’t very good at his job, but for some reason I like Brandon Adams. He was the only guy on that station that didn’t promote himself as some type of tough guy or player. He was just a normal, goofy nerdy Southern boy that loved sports. Will miss him.
brave1
July 27th, 2010
10:34 am
I can’t listen to the Stews. If I wanted to hear the hosts and callers start and end every sentence with “Man”, I’d rent the movie Easy Rider.
Chernoff & King would be good if Chernoff could stop his formula of playing grab ass and snapping towels.
Stop teasing Chuck like he’s a girl. I blame Chuck for allowing the formula too.
Jason
July 27th, 2010
10:39 am
This is good, the guy is terrible.
I like Woolvy.
The Stews are the worst show in the history of radio. Please take that crap off the air.
Finally, why is this news? Why is it on the front page of the AJC?
Papichulo
July 27th, 2010
10:45 am
The Stews are niche radio. If you’re a certain age or grew up in a certain community you get them 100%..They reach an audience that’s been neglected by AM radio for years. They aren’t for everyone though, but then again neither is Mike and Mike..
BigBlueTiger
July 27th, 2010
10:47 am
Love the Stews!
The Alpha Male
July 27th, 2010
10:47 am
He was better than the two live Stooges, and light years better than anything Steak Shapiro deserves.
Taylor Hanson
July 27th, 2010
10:48 am
I don’t listen to the Stews, but someone does. They have huge ratings.
I don’t think I’m their target audience though. Lots of Heiny, Krunk, and pawn shop ads during their breaks.
I can’t think of the last time I’ve had, wanted, or visited any of things they advertise. I think I’m outside of their target demo.
aland411
July 27th, 2010
10:50 am
The Stews are great and are no more racist than Rush Limbaugh. BTW their raking in more money for themselves and for the station than anyone else is. There job is to be profitable!!! Sorry if they don’t play to your high standards!!
Karma's a Biaach! Remember: "I Don't Care..."??
July 27th, 2010
10:53 am
Good luck to you, BA! As I’ve always said, you gave hope to the guy who sat in his car and thought “Geez, if THIS guy can host a radio show, there’s hope for me!!”
Most of the time you were pretty annoying, and I found it nearly impossible to support you after you made this statement a couple of years ago during a discussion about Native American’s protesting mascots that belittled their heritage: “I really don’t care that they are offended …”
What a crass and ignorant comment for someone who claims to be an educator. Let’s hope you gained a little intelligence during your respite from education. I would hate for someone who feels that way to be on the administrative level or on a school board or board of regents.
Anyway, because this is the real world, I’m glad you’re not out of a job and I wish you the best in the future.
joe
July 27th, 2010
10:54 am
If anyone calls the Stu’s racist, you are out of your mind. I don’t listen to them much, but they are there to play to their target audience and they do a great job of that. Don’t get why people play the race card so easily these days…guess its the sign of the times of having a black president.
The Sports Avenger
July 27th, 2010
10:54 am
To “Abdullah Haseen, Obama DJ”, you and your rag headed bunch are whats wrong with this world. Hop a camel back to the middle east. While you are there say hello to your cousins who still act like it’s the 6th century.
Taylor Hanson
July 27th, 2010
10:54 am
Adams would read an article with the headline, “Turner Field sufferes tremendous riot, 9 fans dead 11 injured”, and he’d have a 30 minute diatribe about the use of the word tremendous.
“When I hear the word tremendous, I think of things that are large. The Hindenburg was tremendous in every way. It was big, it went down in big flames, and the radio man was shouting in a tremendous voice as he witnessed the carnage. The riot at Turner last night only encompassed a small section of the stadium, and there wasnt even a big fire. While tragic, I’m not sure the word tremendous really fits here. I’d prefer to use the word horrific. And when we come back, I’ll tell you why. You’re listening to Brandon and Woolvy on WQXI, 790 the Zone.”
His lack of concentration into the actual stories were unitque in a way that I won’t miss.
Boom Dizzle
July 27th, 2010
11:02 am
Miracles Can Come True! This guy was truly terrible as a sports talk host……if only his partner would be shown the door/leave……
Thank god for Sirius/XM Radio b/c choosing between Cowherd and them there is no good option…….
Papichulo
July 27th, 2010
11:07 am
In the words of Charles Barkley, Jeff Wolverton is tuuuuurible…I never wish for anyone to lose their job, but I won’t be upset if he’s not part of the new mid day programming..
Blue Cross Mole
July 27th, 2010
11:10 am
The conspiracist in me makes me Brandon Adams is heading for a divorce. that is what 790 the Zone usually does prior to a divorce. See Cellinni, Chuck Oliver, Sandra Golden, Matt Chernoff….. Outside of Chernoff they rest then returned.
wendy
July 27th, 2010
11:10 am
I hope steakie takes him out to Bones for a good-bye porterhouse and loaded baked potato.
JP
July 27th, 2010
11:13 am
The problem with 790 is that 70% of their shows’ content seems to be non-sports related. I want to listen to scores, then sports discussion – not which restaurant in Atlanta has the best mac & cheese. Am I silly for wanting a sports talk radio station to focus on sports?
Brownie
July 27th, 2010
11:15 am
For the most part, 680 has been kicking 790’s tail for some time now, but primarily because their mgmt is much more aggressive.
Someone earlier made the point that ALL of the Atlanta talk radio pales in comparison to the national guys (Colin, Patrick, Van Pelt, etc.)…..well of course they do. It’s a matter of resources, money, signal, professional producers/directors, and their ability to get big name guests. But, with local talk radio, we all get much more info and discussion on what we care most about….local teams.
We do have a varied group of on-air “talent” to listen to. I watch Mayhem in the morning, but I really don’t see Steak bringing anything to the show at all, other than annoyance. I actually enjoy Cellini (I think he’s witty and entertaining, and does know sports), and Dimino (other than his voice) is the best Atlanta has to offer – very informative and MAKES VALID POINTS.
At 680 in the morning, I think Rude is a professional radio guy, and he has made the switch to sports very well. I don’t expect top analysis from him, and most importantly he doesn’t try to portray himself as such. Laurentino is the most arrogant blowhard on the air, and Leo should just go back to coaching.
Two Live Stews – let’s face it….you either like ‘em…or you’ve got a brain in your head. Talk about a one-note song.
Brandon – impressive breath control….don’t think I’ve ever heard him stop pontificating long enough to take a breath. He’s from the school of “why say something in 20 words, when I could use over 200?”. Wolverton was never given any time to do anything but just agree with his blowhard partner.
Mike Bell – let’s face it, about as creative and talented as they come, and fun to listen to, but obviously very juvenile. Pollack – something’s missing – just not found his radio voice yet.
And then there’s Buck & Kincaid. Opposites work out sometimes. Pretty good balance, and you just have to realize that Buck isn’t very polished and will be forever somewhat tongue in cheek (”my God, can you believe they pay me to do this??”), and Kincaid IS the closest thing we have to a national voice.
You’re welcome to disagree….
Karma's a Biaach! Remember: "I Don't Care..."?? Part II
July 27th, 2010
11:20 am
Now, after saying my peace about BA, it’s time for Steven to be a real manager and take himself off the air.
It’s obvious he made this move and BA is doing the noble, less-embarrassing thing by moving on. I’m sure there was a conversation a while back between Steven, “Salsa” and BA, in which BA was told that it might be a good idea for him to start “exploring other career options.”
But now it’s time for the guy with the biggest ego in town (yes, even bigger than Kincaid), without merit, to admit that he’s not very good at being on air. The fact that there is still a segment called “Things I Learned Over the Weekend” is proof that the guy has serious inferiority issues, and needs to keep himself on the air to maintain his own sense of self-importance.