By JOHN C. COTEY and ROGER MILLS
Published April 29, 2004
Infinity Broadcasting, which owns WQYK-FM and AM, said Thursday it will no longer pursue a play-by-play broadcast agreement with the Bucs for the 2004 season, ending the station's 13-year relationship with the team.
"It was just a financial decision," said Charlie Ochs, Infinity's Tampa Market manager. "We would have loved to continue with the Bucs."
Ochs said earlier in a news release that "extending our relationship would have meant a significant increase in the rights fee, which would not have been in the best financial interest of the stations."
Ochs said 1010 will still be a sports radio station and continue to carry ESPN Radio and local programming.
The probable landing spot for Bucs games is WDAE-AM 620, the top-rated sportstalk station in the Tampa Bay market. WDAE is owned by Clear Channel, which also can offer an FM station for Bucs games, making it the most attractive alternative. WDAE program director Brad James was unavailable for comment.
Bucs spokesman Jeff Kamis said the team will have an announcement within days regarding its new flagship radio station.
SOLID GOLD: New Bucs linebacker Ian Gold, who signed a five-year deal Wednesday, plans on competing for Derrick Brooks' job at weakside linebacker. It's an attitude the Bucs relish.
"He is a serious guy," coach Jon Gruden said. "He's got a great look in his eye. His demeanor, his temperament, I think is going to fit in quite well with how we approach things here on defense. The standards are extremely high. Ian Gold is a guy that sets his bars extremely high. He is a man of few words."
Gold's best season came in 2002, when he had 166 tackles and 6.5 sacks in 16 starts. Despite blowing out his right ACL in Game 6 last season and offseason surgery, Gold said he will be ready for training camp.
"I feel that I'm between 80-85 percent," he said. "I'm running pretty much full speed. But in running full speed, when you go to cut, that is the most important thing, and I'm not really there yet. I'm running in straight lines, but I have to slow down to make that cut. It's a matter of staying with it and I pride myself in working really hard."
WANSLEY'S GONE: With the roster getting crowded, the Bucs released cornerback Tim Wansley, along with linebacker Altroy Bodrick and punter Craig Jarrett.
Wansley, a seventh-round pick in 2002 who started six games last season, never recovered from a poor performance against the Colts in the fourth game.
"We wish him well," Gruden said. "... Tim's a good kid. I'm sure he's going to get another opportunity."
