I have never been a big fan of sports talk shows. Here’s why. The constant vilification of coaches at all levels has led to more than one dismissal of a qualified, trained professional.

With the introduction of veteran broadcaster Jeff Solari’s 4-6 p.m. “Shootaround” program on Bangor radio station WZON in September of 2004, all that coach-bashing stuff changed.

Heck, even ESPN’s Joe Morgan would like this show. Morgan, the former Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame second baseman, bashes talk radio as much as he did inside fastballs, calling it the “worst thing that has ever happened to coaches and managers in the history of radio and TV.”

Thanks for that, Joe.

Toss into the WZON mix a young man named Pat Spekhardt, and you have the makings of a two-hour radio slot that is sure to please even a die-hard traditionalist like yours truly.

Solari, a Mount Desert Island native perhaps best-known for his role in doing play-by-play radio on AM 620 for the University of Maine women’s basketball team, is one of the state’s best at what he does.

An 11-time winner of Maine and national broadcasting honors, this guy comes to work each day looking to put a solid product on the air and beat the competition to that hot story.

And this guy Spekhardt is no slouch, either.

The Bangor native has garnered six awards for his radio work.

On the air, Pat sounds like a Harvard grad doing sports. Precise, accurate, and very opinionated, he adds an intellectual flair to the proceedings.

Together, these two talented broadcasters combine to form the only afternoon sports talk radio show in Maine.

Consider that. Then consider the inherent pressure of such an operation.

I had the unique opportunity the other day to get a tour of the newly-refurbished WZON studio. My, oh my, what a different setting exists there now, compared to the old WLBZ radio studio of the 1960s when the studio was inhabited by the likes of Eddie Owen – what a great radio personality he was – and Joe Gould, who would later make a name for himself at the Maine Public Broadcasting Network as its lead announcer for high school tournament basketball.

Yes, the times have changed. But in Solari and Spekhardt, local listeners have two dedicated professionals, honing their skills and providing afternoon sports talk radio junkies with just what the doctor ordered for an entertaining, informative, and topical two-hour segment, five days a week.

A tip of the hat to these two. This is fine programming.

30-Second Time Out

Old friend and colleague Jim Carter of Caribou High School hoop fame checks in to say that he will once again join broadcast partner Kevin Sjoberg in the television booth for Time Warner cable channels in Presque Isle, Caribou, Fort Fairfield, and Limestone to broadcast 45 boys and girls high school basketball games.

Carter, best-known for his 21 years at Caribou High School as legend Gerry Duffy’s and Jeff Holmes’ assistant, held down the varsity job himself at CHS for four years. Jim’s teams were equally regarded for fair play and sportsmanship.

Sjoberg was the sports editor for the Aroostook Republican of Caribou and the Star Herald of Presque Isle. Kevin also worked for two seasons with local coaching legend Bill Casavant at radio station WCXY, covering high school hoops in Aroostook County.

BDN columnist Ron Brown, a retired high school basketball coach, can be reached at bdnsports@bangordailynews.net