There was a long running radio show on WGN in Chicago that started out called “Ben Bentley and the Sports Writers.” The television edition debuted in 1985 as “The Sports Writers on TV.”
The discussions would take place in a dimly lit studio that appeared to be in a basement. Cigar smoke drifts across the table as the conversation takes place.
Bentley, a well-known ring announcer in Chicago during boxing's glory decades, was the moderator. Bill Gleason, Bill Jauss and Rick Telander were the regulars, with frequent appearances by Lester Munson and Joe Mooshil.
The show could be shown in the Twin Cities on cable television. Dark Star was a man of growing legend in these parts. He saw “The Sports Writers” as brilliant in its simplicity, but also as a formula to grow his brand.
That's right: brand.
I'd argue that in the mid-80s, a decade before promoters, marketers, and executives attached “branding” to people and companies that didn't actually make anything, Dark Star knew all about it.
Come to think of it, the Kardashians have the Dark Star to thank for their fame. He was the founder of branding, turning a call to a radio show in 1985 with the scoop that Bud Grant was about to step down again to an unstoppable force in the Minnesota media scene.
A decade later, Dark Star went to Mike Max, 31 and still working part-time gigs in Twin Cities sports media, and said, “We can have a show like 'The Sports Writers.' ''
Midwest Sports Channel was the sports outlet on cable in the Twin Cities. Kevin Cattoor ran the place.
“Dark and I had lunch with Cattoor at Dan Kelly's and came up with the idea,” Max said. “Kevin was on a local sports talk show. We left the meeting and Darhk said to me, “Take Sid and I'll take Royce.” “
I'm not sure how Max's conversation with Sid Hartman went. I wasn't hard on Dark Star. Well, I had been to Tijuana to gamble on jai alai and dine on taquitos at the counter with the Dark Man, so I was ready for anything.
“Dark and I were a good match,” Max said. “I knew how to find production staff and Dark knew how to sell. It was what sellers call a “closer.” “
One item Max and the Darkman didn't worry about was coming up with a catchy title for this venture.
It debuted on Friday, May 10, 1996, as “The Sports Show.” It will sign off for the last time this Sunday, still as “The Sports Show.”
The show once ran for four weeks. MSC became Fox Sports North, and then Max and Dark Star moved the show to Victory Sports One in the fall of 2003. The Twins' attempt to land a cable network quickly failed, and “The Sports Show” went off the air in May 2004.
Ch. 29 had moved from his studio on Broadway Avenue in the late 90s. Max and Dark Star were able to rent studio time at Ch. 23, across Como Avenue from the State Fairgrounds. We were there throughout the 2000s.
“After Victory failed, we thought it was over,” Max said. “But because we were already taping at Channel 23 and knew everyone there, we decided to talk to them about buying time on the show, and they were great. ''
“The Sports Show” returned in June 2004, anchoring Sundays — first at 10 p.m. and then at 9:30 p.m. — in Ch. 23.
There's still a cult following out there, if the number of comments I received last week while doing radio shows at the State Fair is any indication.
Why then is 'The Sports Show' going away?
Finances, sure, but also the participants' future plans, but here's the main reason:
“The Sports Show” has been living on borrowed time since Dark Star died on June 1, 2012.
Lou Nanne has been great as Darkman's primary replacement, and it's always fun to see the latest shirt he's found in his closet.
Creative tension remains, with Sid's mysterious attempts to silence the thoughts of the semi-normal La Velle Neal, with the fight when Sid tells me, “You hate the Gophers,” but we miss the real tension that existed between Sid and Dark Star .
There were moments of peace, but Dark Star always challenged Sid's position as Minnesota sports sage, and sometimes the battle got downright ugly – especially during breaks.
If we only had the hype, “The Sports Show” would live on in infamy on YouTube. (As it is, I highly recommend going there to find the “sports show hoax,” posted by some young men in 2007.)
“The Sports Writers on TV” in Chicago ran from 1985 to 2000, and “The Sports Show” in the Twin Cities will run from 1996 to 2016.
“Dark and I thought we'd have a year, maybe two when he started,” Max said. “Twenty years. Incredible.''
Patrick Reusse is heard 3-6 p.m. weekdays on AM-1500. • preusse@startribune.com
