Operation Schvitz: Mitch Rosen on Running Chicago Sports Radio | The Pat McGann Show Ep. 41

Taking a page out of Mitch Rosen’s book, this episode was posted at 3am. (But don’t worry, we scheduled it for 9:03am). The VP of Odyssey Sports and architect of 670 The Score joins Pat and Dwayne to talk about building one of the most iconic sports radio brands in the country. The origin story alone is worth it, a 12-year-old from Skokie writes a fan letter to an overnight DJ and ends up producing his show at WGN for $13,000 a year. From there, Mitch traces the unlikely chain of events that put the Cubs on The Score the same season they finally ended a 108-year drought, the hardest phone call he's ever made, and what "taking over Bulls broadcast rights mid-season" actually looks like in practice. The episode closes, naturally, at the Division Street Bathhouse: 200 degrees, communal, beloved by Chelios, Belushi, and old Russian men alike. Pat and Dwayne? TBD… 🎧 New episodes every Thursday — filmed at Tiege Hanley Studios in Chicago. 🔗 Follow The Pat McGann Show:Instagram: @thepatmcgannshowTikTok: @thepatmcgannshowApple Podcasts & Spotify: The Pat McGann Show🎤 Co-Host: Dwayne KennedyInstagram: @dwaynetkennedy🎤 Guest: Mitch RosenInstagram: @mitchrosen670_💚 Sponsored by Tiege Hanley — Get 40% off your first box + free gift → tiege.com/patInterested in sponsoring The Pat McGann Show? Please reach out to us at [email protected] PRODUCER - Kelley ThorntonPRODUCER - Paula ThorntonSHOWRUNNER - Tom BambaraVIDEO AND AUDIO EDITOR - Madeline CurlessAUDIO ENGINEER - Tommy GrantVIDEO PRODUCER - Eddie PerezORGANIC CONTENT MANAGER - George Moster0:00 Intro & Welcome4:38 Mitch's Take on Podcasts vs. Radio6:18 XRT, The Score & Chicago Radio Legacy8:49 Finding On-Air Talent at The Score13:39 How Mitch Got Into Radio15:32 Working Overnights at WGN with Eddie Schwartz19:31 Producing for Kevin Matthews at The Loop23:46 Odyssey Stations & The Score's Move to FM27:37 The White Sox & Cubs Broadcasting Deals32:34 How Sports Rights Agreements Work33:43 Baseball on the Radio & Favorite Broadcasters37:20 Leaving Radio & Returning to The Score40:55 Mitch's Daily 4am Routine42:49 Thoughts on Barstool Sports44:01 South Side Chicago Food & Culture47:38 Chicago Comedy Scene55:35 The Division Street Bathhouse58:43 Bears Stadium Situation1:00:50 Radio in the Streaming & YouTube Era1:04:05 Outro & Upcoming Guests