Mike Rice Interview

Jeremy Levy back with you to share another interview.This week, I am going to be sharing my interview with Mike Rice.Mike Rice is a sports host on KOA radio 850 a.m. and 941. Fm. He is now the morning sports anchor during Colorado’s morning news. The first time I heard Mike Rice was doing sports reporting on the ride home show that used to be on from 3-7. I also heard him during the Bronco’s broadcasts being the studio host. He would do the studio host job and then he would turn things over to Lou from Littleton to host the grid iron grill. After Lou left in 2009, Mike Rice started hosting the post-game show which is called the Bronco’s React.On 'The Ride Home" Mike would report the sports and sometimes would joke around with Dave Logan and Lois Melkonian. Dave Logan would make Mike Rice laugh. There were several times when Mike Rice would be laughing so hard that he had trouble reading the sports report. Mike Rice has also filled in when Dave Logan or Lois Melkonian were on vacation. When Lois left to take another radio job in Houston I will always remember Mike Rice saying when Lois said, “What do I bring to the show? Well I can laugh at Dave Logan’s jokes.” Mike Rice’s response to that was: “When no one else will.During Rockies seasons in 2005-2009 Mike would also host the Rockies pregame show. The show is called Rockies Dugout. It is on during Rockies season 2 hours before the game on Saturdays. It is now hosted by Corey Lopez. Mike has also done the CU Woman’s basketball games on 760. When the Bronco’s season would end I also enjoy listening to Mike calling the games Corey Lopez has taken that over as well. When the show got changed to the Dave Logan show Mike would fill in a lot more when Dave Logan was coaching at Mullin and Cherry Creek high schools. Mike has also been a news anchor when the afternoon show got changed to KOA’s afternoon news. He hosted that show with Susan Witken.Mike Rice learned a lot from hosting that show.Mike was recently substituting hosting with Ryan Edwards on the Lewis and Logan show in my opinion that is a great pairing of hosts. He has also hosting with Brandon Krisztal. The thing that I most like about Mike Rice is his sincerity in his voice. No matter if I hear him on the radio or if I talk with him in person I can always detect a smile in his voice and I can also detect how much he cares about his job. When I get a job in the radio industry I hope that I can do the same thing for listeners and callers.Here is my interview with Mike Rice.Jeremy Levy: I first started listening to you in 2004 or 2005 when you started on the sports Zoo and the Ride Home. Where did you get your start in radio?Mike Rice: I first got my start at the college radio station in California. This college was at the University of Berkley. I always wanted to do sports. I started working at the College radio station. I really enjoyed the sports aspect of radio. I applied for jobs all over the country and there was a gentleman at KFKA radio that called me back and said that we have a position for you at KFKA radio. I’m 1991 I started working at KFKA radio. I mainly worked on the high school sports. Then in 1995 I started calling the University of Colorado football, basketball, and baseball games for KFKA radio this is also where I met Troy Coverdale and worked with him for a short time. In 2002 I had the chance to come to KOA radio in 2002. It has been over 14 years.JL: When you first started on KOA radio you worked with Dave Logan and Scott Hastings on the sports zoo. What was it like working with Scott and what have you learned from him?MR: I remember working with Dave and Scott and loved it. Whenever I filled in doing sports their show, Scott would always try to get me to laugh during my updates…and he usually succeeded! One of the things I learned from them was how important it is to have fun. People want to laugh and have a good time. There must be substance to what you’re doing but having fun is a must.JL: I remember in 2007 or 2008 you were doing the studio work for the Bronco’s broadcasts and Lou from Littleton was doing the post-game show called the Grid Iron Grill. What was it like working with Lou from Littleton and what was it like taking over from Lou when he left?MR: Lou is one of the kindest people that I have ever met. He is a friend of mine. I am very thankful to call him a friend and we had a lot of fun during those years. I knew he did a great job on that show. My only goal was just to continue to do a great job. He built up a following and he obviously liked the Bronco’s. I knew at the same time that the way Lou hosted the show and the way I would host a show were different. I knew that I couldn’t try to be Lou. I just wanted to do a good job. Hopefully people would enjoy my style as well as Lou’s style.JL: I like your style better than sometimes Lou’s style because sometimes Lou would be rude to some callers.MR: I try and give people a chance to say what’s on their mind. Then we talk about it. If it’s completely crazy than I try and listen to them and not to be rude to them.JL: What was it like working with Dave Logan and Lois Melkonian on the ride home from 2005-2011?Mr: I loved working with Dave and Lois. I loved their show. They were such professionals Lois and Dave were both veterans at what they did. They made it so much fun and easy. They made it a little different every day. I just thought they did a great job on their show. It was really an honor to work with them.There was another reason because of the personal friendships that we have built. Dave and I have been friends for a long long time. I really respect the job that he does. And I knew Lois going back to when she worked at KCBS radio in San Francisco. I spent a year at KCBS in San Francisco as an intern. To have the chance to get to work with her in a market like Denver was really an honor.JL: Lois has always been one of my favorite radio personalities to listen to because of her personality and her sense of humor.Mr: She is everything that you would want as a professional broadcaster. She can cover a news story like no one else. She is extremely talented. She can also host a talk show and talk with people and make it fun and different. Lois has everything that you would want if you’re a broadcaster.JL when the show got changed from the ride home Dave Krieger and Dave Logan were doing the show what have you learned from Dave Krieger?MR: I loved working with Dave (Krieger). He is so knowledgeable, so prepared and so thorough. All of those things are really important. I also like how Dave discussed his points of view with people and listened to them. He didn’t always agree but there was a good discussion. I like that. We can have a conversation about a topic and not see things the same way but also have a good back-and-forth about it.JL: How did you start being a news personality on Colorado’s afternoon news in 2014-2015?MR: I was working in the sports department and they decided to make a couple of changes to the afternoon line up. And so people at the station came to me and asked me if I would like to be a news anchor on Colorado’s afternoon news. After thinking about it I thought it would be a great opportunity to be a part of a news show every day. The great part about it is that I still get to do some sports with the Bronco’s, and filling in on some Rockies games. I thought it was a great way to broaden my horizons by contributing more to the station. In the afternoons. .JL: What was it like working with both Susan Whitkin, and Susie Wargin?MR: Susan is great. She is such a solid anchor and reporter and it was fun to work with her on the afternoon show. She is really easy to work with. She has great news judgment and we were able to cover some really cool stories. I am thankful for the opportunity to do something outside of sports.Susie is the best. She can do pretty much anything…talk sports...talk current events, be a DJ. Amazing. She can do pretty much everything in the business and I admire that. But beyond that, Susie is so genuine. She is always about doing a great job and never makes it about herself.JL: When Denver Sports radio 760 radios which is now Orange and blue 760 radio you were a host during that time what was that like and what was it like working with Andy Lindahl?MR: It was busy. The station switched to the Broncos format right before training camp so for over a month, I was anchoring sports on Colorado’s Morning News on KOA then co-hosting from 3p-7p on Orange and Blue 760. That was crazy. I’ve worked with Andy for a long time and really appreciate his mix of talking sports but doing it in a way that is also fun and light.JL: What is it like taking over for Mark Johnson doing sports reports for Colorado’s morning news?MR: Joining the team on Colorado’s Morning News has been awesome. Marty (Lenz) has made a smooth transition into co-hosting with April and I think all of us, including Pat Woodard, Connor Shreve, Dan Lewis and Chad Hoffman make a good team. We’re always working to be on top of all relevant stories. The hours do come around early on some days, but it is a great show to be a part of. It’s such a part of the KOA tradition and we all work hard every day to uphold and build on that tradition.JL: What have you learned from working with Ed Green?MR: From Ed…he is a pro’s pro. He is so smooth and can handle anything that happens on the air. Plus, he is a great guy. He is so easy to listen to.JL: What have you learned from working from Steffan Tubbs?MR: From Steffan…the consummate newsman. I will always remember the fun we had on the air. He brought such a presence and a relatable style to the show.JL: What was it like working with Alen Roach both on the Bronco’s broadcasts and at the station?MR: I will never forget when I started at KOA. I was training with Susie (Wargin), who was showing me the ropes of being the Broncos studio host. We were at Sports Authority Field at Mile High for a preseason game and Roach walks up and introduces himself, his deep voice booming. I literally paused for a moment. I had listened to Roach for years but had never met him. His voice caught me off guard. I remember thinking, ‘How he sounds on the air is his actual voice.’ He has such a gift in how he is able to serve as a public-address announcer. I mean, who really has a voice like that? It’s awesome. And personally, I love Roach. He is funny and called it like he saw it.JL: What was it like working with Corey Lopez when you 2 were in Arizona for the Rockies playoff game last September?MR: hat Rockies-Diamondbacks Wild Card game was incredible. First off, to see the Rockies back in the playoffs was so cool. And then to experience the atmosphere at Chase Field was tremendous. It was rockin’ in there. That’s what the postseason should be like. It was such a crazy game. Both starting pitchers struggled. Both teams kept getting huge hits. And to cover it with Cory was great. Really fun to cover that with him.JL: You are a pretty busy person. Even though hat you are no longer on Colorado’s afternoon news and you have now switched to the Colorado’s morning newsand you still the broadcast for the Bronco’s and you do fill in on some Rockies games How do you have time for all of that and your family?MR: You are right. The fall gets really busy. Part of it is that I have a very understanding wife. She understands that when fall comes it gets busier. On the other hand I do try and balance the time at home and the time at work. We do try and explain that I have 2 young boys and named Jay and Will They know Dad has some things going on during football season it is a juggling act, but I love it though. I know that I do the best I can.JL: Do you have any special memories of any interviews or any remote broadcasts that you have done?MR: When I was in Greely I calling the university of Colorado game the bears won the division 2 football game ships in 1996 and 1997. Calling those championships are always something I will remember. When the team that you are calling the games for wins it all how do you beat that? To be able to be a part of that and to go along for those rides was really a thrill. Since being in Denver the 2007 Rockies playoffs games to the World Series was really enjoyable for me to cover it was really incredible. The way they kept winning down the stretch through the playoffs the playoffs were really amazing. It makes me want to play that well again and get back to that level. The third memory that I have is the super bowl runs for the Bronco’s when Peyton Manning was here. There was the super bowl that was tough against Seattle Then last year when they won the super bowl and win it that was amazing as well. The whole rocky mountain region to be able to celebrate a bronco’s super bowl in the late 90’s was really fantastic.JL: Now I know that you have done some work with the Rockies what was it like working with Jeff Kingery who used to be with the Rockies, and Jack Corrigan and Jerry Schemmel?MR: I think with all 3 of our sports broadcasts the Rockies, the Bronco’s, and the CU Buffalos I think we are so fortunate to work with some of the best broadcasting crews in the whole country. I’m not just talking about Jack, or Jerry Jeff Kingery previously Dave and Ed, and now Rick Lewis and Tyler Polumbus, Mark Johnson and Larry Zimmer and Coach Barnett those guys are equally talented. Even the support staff for the broadcasts guys that no one knows that do an amazing job Reid Phisher, and Shannon Scott and Eric Hood, our entire technical staff we have the best. I’m just so proud to be apart of this wonderful team. Working with Jack and Jerry and Jeff in years past was really a thrill I remember my first Rockies game with Jeff Kingery it was against the Pirates How do you measure that? It was such a thrill to fill in with Jeff. The one thing I know about the Rockies is how good they can be and why can’t they be better the people that I have come to like the people that I have really come to respect and so I really pull for them as an organization. I just believe that they are going to get back to that level again really soon. I know that fans want it so badly. JL:My last question would be What would be your advice for someone wanting to get in to Colorado radio?MR: That is a great question. I think there are 2 things for young broadcasters that I point to. Number one have an idea of what you want to do. If you want to host a talk show or talk sports. Have an idea of what you want to do. Make every professional opportunity match that goal. For example if you want to call games which ever stations that you stop at make sure you get the opportunity to call some games.I really appreciate Mike sharing this time with me. Mike is truly a nice guy and a real gentleman. Thank you Mike!Thanks for tuning in.Jeremy Levy