Dan McLaughlin finds a comfort zone on the STL radio airwaves
His voice is required listening for local sports fans.
A good voice is a good voice, no matter where it beams. If you have something to say, there’s a place out there for you to entertain and inform the masses.
For Dan McLaughlin, a south city native and former television voice of the St. Louis Cardinals on Bally Sports Midwest, it’s a mantra embraced and fulfilled as he enjoys his first full year on the radio with 101.1 ESPN on the Morning Drive with Randy Karraker, Brooke Grimsley, and Matt Rocchio. It’s a natural fit for a guy who has been talking to St. Louis area residents and fans afar for the past three decades. Ever since he first interviewed an athlete or called a game, McLaughlin has found an absolute comfort zone talking about sports, whether it be on camera or behind a radio microphone.
Every morning I climb into the delivery truck for Crescent Plumbing Supply, the dial gets turned to ESPN for the show-opening commentary and banter. It’s an easy listen that doesn’t bore or preach. Karraker runs point, while the others feed off him and the topical discussion blooms into interviews, a trivia battle, and smooth radio. The group shares a good chemistry on the air, and McLaughlin fits in perfectly.
While he may not be calling baseball games on the air with the likes of Brad Thompson and Jim Edmonds these days-Chip Caray has done a solid job in McLaughlin’s place-Dan can talk deeply about a versatile array of sports and levels while speaking to thousands every morning. You never hear or sense a hint of lost conviction. He can push 15-20 minutes on SLU basketball, switch to Missouri football, circle over to Cards commentary, and end up at the Blues.
“Danny Mac,” a popular nickname that settled in once he first settled into the broadcast booth, can volley on national and local sports headlines, doing the homework and being able to offer worthwhile analysis on the fly. He also adds a sly blend of humor to the proceedings, even with just the way he answers a question or deftly asking a caller, “is that your final answer?” It’s all played for laughs, and it all works.
McLaughlin makes it all look easy and comfortable, setting up his teammates with good topics or having a good debate with Karraker. He rightfully never questions the greatness of Serena Williams, which would set off Grimsley off on a rant. Good radio voices are the wise ones that know what people want to listen to.
I’m just glad McLaughlin found a new home to talk sports. What happened in the past doesn’t need to rehashed here, and McLaughlin paid the heaviest of prices by losing that play-by-play job with the Cardinals. That’s happened and done with, a man continuing to move forward and connect with the community. When all of it went down, I was most saddened that his voice may not find another home. 101.1 ESPN, and the website that McLaughlin runs with Bernie Miklasz writing full time, have brought him back.
Here’s the best thing about Danny Mac on the radio: He can dish honestly about local sports and their teams, something that wasn’t easy to do while being the point man for Bally Sports. It’s a refreshing blend of radio when someone is blunt yet respectful about their opinions, and that’s something he’s unlocked at ESPN.
The Rolling Stones once belted out in a studio, “you can’t always get what you want, but you’ll get what you need.” After an unfortunate end to an impressive broadcasting career, McLaughlin has found the recipe for the next phase: Radio. It suits him and the audience well.
One last thing. I would like to request that he gets to say GRAND SLAMMA at least once a week on the show. Some catchphrases should never die. McLaughlin’s voice is far from dead. A voice is a voice at the end of the day; have something to say, and know how to say it. Take it or leave it? I’ll take it.