News Involving Emmis, Etc.
• Emmis Founder Jeff Smulyan, former owner of the Seattle Mariners and creator of the nation’s all-sports radio format with WFAN/New York, has written a book that will be released in 2022 — Never Ride a Roller Coaster Upside Down provides a compelling look at Smulyan’s expansive business and entertainment career with insights into successes and misses — and near-misses.
“I’ve certainly had some remarkable experiences in my career, from radio, to TV, to Major League Baseball, to being an Ambassador and even having a network nationalized in Hungary,” Smulyan said. “After promising friends and family for years that I would write it all down, I’ve finally decided to do it. Some of it is wild, some of it is unbelievable, but it is all 100 percent true.”
Smulyan is being represented by David Vigliano of Vigliano Associates, and the book will be published next year by Matt Holt Books. Pictured, during Spring Training in 1991 (l-r), Willie Mays, Ken Griffey Sr., Jeff Smulyan and Ken Griffey, Jr.
• And in a related story… Emmis announced that Jake Query will formally join the morning show on 93.5 & 107.5 The Fan/Indianapolis as the permanent co-host alongside Kevin Bowen. The new Kevin & Query show debuts Monday, Nov. 8 and will air weekdays from 7-10am CT.
“Jake is an Indianapolis sports lifer and a gifted storyteller,” said David Wood, VP of Programming of Emmis Indianapolis. “It was clear that Kevin and Jake had an instant and interesting chemistry when they did several shows together in October. They are going to give Indy sports fans a consistently fun and informative show.”
An Indianapolis native, Query previously spent eight years co-hosting the Query & Schultz Show on iHeartMedia rival WNDE (Fox Sports 1260). “I’m thrilled to be joining Emmis and Kevin on the morning show,” Query said. “Kevin is an exceptionally knowledgeable broadcaster, which I hope will complement my average-at-best academic resume.” He added, “During the last 22 months, I’ve been fortunate to gain many valuable, and previously overlooked, personal perspectives. One thing that needed no further solidification was my love for the city of Indianapolis. To be given the privilege to again speak to and with people from all corners and backgrounds of this town means the world to me. I’m grateful for the opportunity and am excited to be part of the trajectory of the morning show on The Fan. It’s a great honor.”
Query will retain his existing roles as Turn 3 announcer for IMS events, and as senior turn announcer for all IndyCar broadcasts.
