NEW LINEUP RELEASED
Gow Media announces new weekday lineup for ESPN 97.5 & 92.5 FM
Aug 9, 2021, 10:34 am
NEW LINEUP RELEASED
Gow Media today announced a new weekday lineup on its stations, ESPN 97.5 and 92.5 FM.
The new lineup will write the next chapter in the station's storied history. Starting on Monday, August 16th, Houston's independent voice for sports will showcase a new direction, featuring new voices, and new shows with an emphasis on covering the teams and storylines that Houston sports fans care about.
The all-local weekday lineup will continue to boast veteran hosts John Granato, Lance Zierlein, Charlie Pallilo and Joel Blank. New additions to the roster include Jeremy Branham, Jake Asman, Cody Stoots and Brad Kellner. The brand-new lineup is as follows:
7a-10a - The Bench with John Granato & Lance Zierlein
10a-12p - The Charlie Pallilo Show
12p-3p - The Killer B's with Joel Blank & Jeremy Branham
3p-7p - The Wheelhouse with Jake Asman, Cody Stoots & Brad Kellner
"We're thrilled about the new local lineup", said General Manager Todd Farquharson. "We've added some new voices to a lineup of proven all-stars. It's going to be great sports talk with a lot of fun."
Longtime station host Fred Faour will continue to be part of the on-air team, joining shows throughout the week in a new role as the station's sports betting analyst. The growth in sports gambling is undeniable and Fred's talent in that arena makes him the perfect fit. CEO David Gow said, "Fred has a deep connection with our listeners, and will continue to be an important part of our on-air team. He will also lead the development of a new online offering that we'll be launching soon."
The new hosts shared their thoughts:
Jeremy Branham - "Excited and grateful for the opportunity. I've been listening to sports radio in Houston since it was born in the 90's, so getting a chance to team up with Joel and talking to Houston every day is as good as it gets."
Jake Asman - "Houston has become my home for the last 3 years and I'm so excited for this opportunity to talk about the teams and storylines that fans in this city care about. From the Texans to the Astros, to the Rockets, to anything big nationally we are going to have you covered. I can't wait for the city to hear all the fun that we're going to bring every afternoon!"
Cody Stoots - "Excited would be an understatement. I'm thrilled with the opportunity we have in front of us at ESPN 97.5 and 92.5. Jake and Brad are going to be great partners. With football season here and an Astros playoff run on deck we can't wait to get started!"
Brad Kellner - "I am incredibly fired up to be a part of the new afternoon show at ESPN 97.5 and 92.5! The opportunity to join the top station in one of the best sports cities in America is a dream come true for me and I can't wait to get started. I'm especially looking forward to working with Jake and Cody to bring Houstonians the best sports radio experience available."
Weekday evenings on ESPN 97.5 & 92.5 FM will continue to feature Patrick Creighton's Late Hits and weekly show Soccer Matters with Glenn Davis.
About Gow Media
Gow Media, LLC is a large multi-platform media company founded in 2007 and based in Houston. The company's digital assets include CultureMap, the leading online destination for lifestyle content in five cities of Texas; SportsMap, the top sports site in Houston; InnovationMap, the voice for innovation in Houston; and AutomotiveMap, which covers news and industry trends in the automotive industry. The company also owns a Houston sports station, the popular ESPN 97.5 & 92.5 FM, and it owns one of the country's largest national sports radio networks, The SportsMap Radio Network. Gow Media, LLC is backed by a private investment group with significant experience in media ownership. The investor group includes Steve Webster, co-manager, and co-CEO of Avista Capital; Patrick Dugan, vice president and general counsel of Nortex Corporation; and David Gow, chairman and CEO of Gow Media, LLC.
For Media Inquiries
Todd Farquharson
todd.farquharson@gowmedia.com
Two first-place teams, identical records, and a weekend set with serious measuring-stick energy.
The Houston Astros and Chicago Cubs open a three-game series Friday night at Daikin Park, in what could quietly be one of the more telling matchups of the summer. Both teams enter at 48-33, each atop their respective divisions — but trending in slightly different directions.
The Astros have been red-hot, going 7-3 over their last 10 while outscoring opponents by 11 runs. They've done it behind one of the best pitching staffs in baseball, with a collective 3.41 ERA that ranks second in the American League. Houston has also been dominant at home, where they’ve compiled a 30-13 record — a stat that looms large heading into this weekend.
On the other side, the Cubs have held their ground in the NL Central but have shown some recent shakiness. They're 5-5 over their last 10 games and have given up 5.66 runs per game over that stretch. Still, the offense remains dangerous, ranking fifth in on-base percentage across the majors. Kyle Tucker leads the way with a .287 average, 16 homers, and 49 RBIs, while Michael Busch has been hot of late, collecting 12 hits in his last 37 at-bats.
Friday’s pitching matchup features Houston’s Brandon Walter (0-1, 3.80 ERA, 1.10 WHIP) and Chicago’s Cade Horton (3-1, 3.73 ERA, 1.29 WHIP), a promising young arm making one of his biggest starts of the season on the road. Horton will have his hands full with Isaac Paredes, who’s slugged 16 homers on the year, and Mauricio Dubón, who’s found a groove with four home runs over his last 10 games.
It’s the first meeting of the season between these two clubs — and if the trends continue, it may not be the last time they cross paths when it really counts.
BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Astros -112, Cubs -107; over/under is 8 1/2 runs
Here's a preview of Joe Espada's Game 1 lineup.
The first thing that stands out is rookie Cam Smith is hitting cleanup, followed by Jake Meyers. Victor Caratini is the DH and is hitting sixth. Christian Walker is all the way down at seventh, followed by Yainer Diaz, and Taylor Trammell who is playing left field.
How the mighty have fallen.
Pretty wild to see Walker and Diaz hitting this low in the lineup. However, it's justified, based on performance. Walker is hitting a pathetic .214 and Diaz is slightly better sporting a .238 batting average.
Screenshot via: MLB.com
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