Warning. If you were to call me between 3 and 6 today, I likely
won’t answer the phone. Like many Middle Tennesseans, I will be in the process
of saying goodbye to an old friend.
I can’t remember the first time I ever heard George Plaster
on the radio. It had to be sometime in the early 1990s on 99.7 FM. As a
sports-talk personality, he definitely had his opinions. Many times –
especially back then – he would add his opinions about the Dallas Cowboys. I
can’t say I always agreed with him, but his take on things was always
entertaining and enjoyable.
Over the past two and a half decades, George Plaster and
afternoon radio has become a huge tradition with me. Whether I was driving to
Dickson or wherever to do a ball game on Friday afternoons – or simply caught
in the total torment that is Nashville rush hour, Plaster was there. Did I
always agree with “Mr. Vanderbilt / Atlanta Braves?” Certainly not, but he was
entertaining…..and respectful of those who took the time to call – and hold on
long enough to get their question on. (I only called once on Plaster’s show –
1994 – when the late Buddy Ryan was hired as head coach of the Arizona
Cardinals. I wondered how nasty that rivalry might become since Ryan was the
devil to Jimmy Johnson’s angel (!) at Dallas. Plaster said I shouldn’t have
much to worry about. Indeed, he was right.
Throughout a couple of station changes over the years, he has
continued to be a voice that people trusted – whether it had to with the Vols,
the ‘Dores, the Oilers / Titans, and the Predators. In fact – though watching
grass grow is about as exciting as watching an NHL game to me (though I would
love to sit two rows behind my friend Rosie Bradford to see her tick off the
visitors. The woman is brutal!) , Plaster was almost single-handedly
responsible for the Predators staying put when they could have relocated. There
have been other sports guys in town……but Plaster is the dean.
Today marks George Plaster’s last day on the air in
Nashville, as he has taken on a new job in the Belmont marketing office. I have
laughed, cried, and cussed at my radio over the years during his time on the
air. It won’t be the same. The thing that I have always had respect for was –
though I have never met George, he always seemed like a pretty nice guy –
something that you don’t see in sports talk radio. Take for instance, Nashville
and 104.5 – you’ve got Mark Howard and his J.R. Ewing personality – without any
of Larry Hagman’s charm, and Paul Kuharsky – who I think baits the listeners
just a little bit – making fun of anyone with a twang. As far as the afternoon
crew goes, I don’t know how they are. Plaster is on. That’s all that mattered.
So, next week begins a new area with Floyd Reese – one of
Nashville sports’ all-around good guys, and Jared Stillman. Wait a minute?
Jared Stillman. It’s going to be a lot different, as he doesn’t seem to care
who he ticks off with his Howard-type personality. But, I’ll give him a chance.
A test pattern can be more entertaining than the 104.5 crew sometimes…….but
George Plaster, you will be missed!
I just wanted to throw that out there….
