Great news! Rob's my favorite local sports talk host, but I had to say goodbye to him each year when daylight savings time ended. When the sun goes down, so does WNST's signal.

Don't know if you are aware, but DCRTV actually posted the Rob Long story yesterday about three hours before you posted it on your blog.

There isn't a non-compete clause in local sports radio?

-------------------

Ray replies: Long said he didn't have a contract with WNST.

Might have been nice if Rob Long had given 2 weeks notice like a typical employee leaving a job. Show some class. As far as his hosting the afternoon show, he was the weak link of the 3 daytime show hosts. Once 105.7 came on with Bruce Cunningham and Scott Garceau, it was an easy switch. That's probably the real reason Rob Long left.

----------------------

Ray replies: Long said he offered to do two more weeks.

Good for him!!! I always got the impression that Rob refused to give in to his boss' "home and hate" antics... hate Angelos, Surhoff, McPhail, etc, all because they are smart enough not to give interviews to trash. Speaking of trash, maybe the idiot can get Carrie Bradshaw to switch stations and fill Rob's spot. I'm sure Garceau has to wonder what he did to deserve her, With her wannabe street cred rap lingo to some Ravens players to her "I'm with Scott now so I have to act like a psuedo-intellectual," it makes for a fast change of the dial. Isn't it sad when you tune in hoping to find her no longer at the station?

Why is it still proper procedure to give two weeks notice when we leave a job? Employers nowadays don't give two weeks severance pay when they lay you off.

If Nestor wants to compete on 1570, he is going to have to get a stronger signal. I know it easier said than done, but with 105.7, 1300, 1090, and 1370 all having stronger signals it really limits the 1570 on what they can accomplish. I wish Rob Long well, but if I have to choose between him and Bob Haynie, I'll choose Haynie.

BFD...Couldn't stand him on WNST, won't listen to him on 1370.

Stop wasting space reporting this crap. It's not newsworthy.

RE: Stop wasting space reporting this crap. It's not newsworthy.

Just because you are not a fan dosen't mean it's not newsworthy. In fact, news like this fits the exact definition of this blog.

I would love to see/hear WNST go to the FM dial for a consistent signal. I had to get satellite radio for my commute home so I could catch afternoon sports and other entertainment (Anita Marks is not entertainment).

I wish R.O.B. L.O.N.G. the best, but I am a loyal WNST listener. The only time I listen to 1370 is when commercials are on WNST. I guess now I can listen to Rob on 1370 instead of Drew for an hour, but then I switch over Haynie. Haynie is the best talk radio host in Baltimore. Nestor, on the other hand, talks too much about Dundalk for me. I am really scared for WNST, they keep getting rid of all the on-air talent (Aaron Wilson, Fighting Ungers, Rob Long). I hope they find someone good for the afternoons.

-A true Baltimore Sports Fan

Good for Rob. He's actually the only reason I still listened to NST because he actually covered sports outside of hockey and baseball. I didn't like the fact that WNST signal was seriously weak up where I am in Upperco.

There are only a couple of universally liked sports talk hosts currently on in the Baltimore market: Haynie, Garceau, maybe Viviano. The latter two are dragged down by their unlistenable co-hosts. (Doesn't anyone at The Fan realize how awful Anita Marks and the Bulldog are?) Rob Long is in the middle tier of hosts who have their core of loyal listeners but turn just as many people off.

Haynie is the best in town, but I don't mind their losing people like Ungers, Terry, etc. Those guys were more comics telling dirty jokes than talking sports. Too juvenile. Aaron, on the other hand, is a whole 'nother story. He is the best Ravens reporter in the town ... and it's not even close. But he was never a major host there -- just on Saturdays with Bruce -- and I think he still appears in spots here and there.

Will still listen to WNST,because Nestor started a trend that others are following and is living out his dream, however, Rob Long is one of my favorites, as he well knows, and he and I have had many interesting discussions on the air.I hope that will continue. As for Nestor being proud of Dundalk, count me in on that one, too. Proud to be born and bred in Dundalk, wouldn't change a thing about it. My dad and sister and brother-in-law still live there.

No great loss. But if Bob Haynie were to leave, that would be a great loss. Recently while driving, I listened to sport talk stations from New York and Philadelphia. They sounded juvenile when compared to Bob Haynie. Keep up the great work, Bob.

I keep hearing about Haynie. When he is he EVER seen covering an event? Or Anita? At least guys like Scott, Jerry Coleman and Rob Long go out and ask questions, talk to the coaches and players !! and not sit in a freaking studio reading out of the paper! Wake up -- this is a GREAT MOVE FOR FOX 1370 AM ! Why wouldn't Rob make the switch ? He is going from a microscopic signal to 50,000 watts!! No-brainer. Baltimore is not a big enough market for 12 hours of local talk. There should be a balance like at 1370 and BAL.

Grew to like Rob. Best wishes, my friend. I'll get in where I can fit in on occasion, my brother.

I will never dis Nestor, though. He took a chance and broke the mold. He got the whole thing started. For that I am eternally grateful.

Lastly, Baltimore CAN support quality locals sports talk. It simply needs to be headed up by knowledgable hosts who know their stuff. Anita, God love her, is a nice enough person, but she is a square peg in a round hole when it comes to Baltimore sports talk. Best of luck back in Florida when the day comes. I think it's going to come soon.

Have you seen Haynie? If so, that's why you never SEE Haynie! (kidding).

I am glad Rob left. He always seemed like the outcast there. He was never going to move up. This was a solid career move for him. NST is losing a lot of local talent.

Ray, is it just where I live or is 1370's signal not that much stronger than that of 1570? When I'm driving home at night (in Baltimore County) they both seem to turn into static at about the same time, which forces me (yikes!) to 105.7.

----------------------

Ray replies: I don't know about comparisons with 1570, but 1370 is definitely not a 50,000-watt station like WBAL is. I think 1370's greatest strength is to the south of the city.

It seems to me that his radio station is confused. How many formats can they go through? I listened to Rob Long almost everyday because he was a part of the big picture at WNST. They are committed to local sports and will never change their format. What format will this station have in two years? Who knows? Jim Rome is not a feather in the cap either. He has made it clear that he doesn't care for "B-more." WNST is the only sports station worth listening to.

I love Haynie,I have listened to him for years and think he is the best in Baltimore. I am a die-hard Red Sox and Pats fan, also a Celtic fan, and I enjoy the fact that he talks about other teams. Do follow the O's, they are my second team. I do enjoy Rob Long and his wrestling talk.

Kevin, Anita used to do reporting from Ravens press conferences and the like, but then 105.7 took her off that and made her a part of the Gameday Uncensored crew as well as hosting most of the Ravens shows, Playmakers, and Fantasy Blitz. She's sort-of the station's more high-profile "jack-of-all-trades" radio host, with Ken Weinman doing more of the grunt work.

I'd like to hear Steve Davis on WNST. Although I liked Rob Long, I don't seem interested in following him.

I must say that one of my favorite shows was Aaron Wilson and Bruce Cunningham, Saturday on NST.

Intelligent sports talk wins in my book over childish, trashy humor. Scott G. is a good catch, Anita can't last.
Maybe Nestor needs to have another talent search?

WNST is almost "unlistenable". With the exception of Bob Haynie, which I'm sure Nestor underpays...the station is awful. Drew Forrester is simply terrible. How he even has his own show astounds me.

Nestor is putting all of his energy into his website, which is amateurish at best. His hatred for Angelos and his cow-towing to the Ravens is so transparent that it permeates every facet of "WNST". I find the radio station nearly "unlistenable" and his website a joke.

I liked Rob Long. He always respected his callers. Drew is a know-it-all and always trys to impress with connections that he claims to have. Bob Haney is great. Nestor still has the touch and I enjoy listening to him.

i always enjoyed listening to rob.he was an independent thinker and did not always drink the hometown koolaid.rob will do just fine.a loss for wnst.

Sammy, are you serious about WNST host Drew Forrester?

He might actually be the best voice in the city from what I've heard since I got to Baltimore in 2006.

I travel around the country for my job and here lots of sports talkers and Forrester knows the angles and elements of sports and sports business better than just about anyone I've heard.

There aren't many people in the Baltimore market that could go to Boston or Philly or New York and do battle with those callers but Drew could, for certain.

Obviously Rob Long had another opportunity that he felt he had to take. I don't understand why a lot of people are rippin him for leaving WNST. You have to ask yourself the same question Rob asked himself. If he felt like it was better for his career BIG DEAL!! Does anyone really owe anyone else an explanation for decisions he or she makes in their life? And I am a loyal listnener of WNST. Thats just how things shake out sometime unfortunately.