Shaggy

My music column this week was going to talk more about Shaggy, specifically how everyone who interviews him kisses his ass but fails to report how his album may have been the biggest flop since Mick Jagger's solo efforts. Shaggy's album sold 7,000 copies in its first week, yet every interview I read with him tells me how he's making a comeback.

I was going to back up my points and create a stronger argument, but there's my point in a nutshell.

Now I can move on to more important things. And first, let me state my bias upfront (though it will be really obvious since this has little, if anything, to do with music): I listen to ESPN Radio every night as I fall asleep. My radio shuts off after an hour, so if I've fallen asleep, it won?t be on all night. But if I'm still up, I turn it back on for an hour.

The best radio host of all time is a man by the name of Todd Wright, the host of AllNight (not sure why it's one word, but that's how ESPN spells it so I will too). He comes on the radio at 1 a.m. on my local affiliate, the Fan 590 in Toronto, five nights a week. That's usually when I'm heading to bed.

Quite often, he takes weeklong holidays? well, it feels like it's often, but I'm sure it's just as many times as everyone else. Maybe it's even less frequent. I don't know. The point is, since mid-September, he's been off the air. After the first week, I didn't really notice. After the second week, I assumed he was on an extended fall holiday. This weekend, I realized it's been a while.

My first assumption that since he is the best, they finally moved him up to an earlier timeslot. Sucks for me, I thought, but congrats to him. Well, that's not the case.

Todd Wright has been let go by ESPN, according to a few web reports.

According to Benmaller.com, "Wright will be paid until his contract ends early in 2006. Wright will continue to do his regional cable work in Florida for Sun Sports and a local station in Tampa."

What the hell is ESPN thinking??

With all do respect to the new host, Jason Smith, I'm having a hard time relating to him. With Wright, it was like he was doing a show for me.

Wright's show was a sports show, but with a pop culture twist around every corner. He approached every interview like it was a conversation. I bet he had a list of questions prepared, but it never seemed that way. He treated every person he interviewed like he was talking to a friend, and it made for great radio.

His subjects included music, television, movies, and women. He had a feature called "the women of AllNight," which didn't try to objectify women like calendars may do, but introduced interesting females that may have otherwise never been mentioned on the station. He talked about Lost, the hit mystery show. Hey, any help I can get understanding that show is appreciated. His frequent guests included former Raptor Michael Curry and the team's radio announcer Chuck Swirsky. I'll take all the Raps talk I can get, especially from a U.S.-based station.

I only heard him say "umm" once. It was amazing. He'd take long pauses to gather his thoughts instead of saying "umm." I try to emulate that but so far it's not working. Must be a trick or just a natural born skill.

I don?t think my nights will ever be the same. I can't foresee myself listening to Jason Smith every night, but I may have to. The late night talk shows in Toronto are limited. This is the only sports station.

Though I may get more sleep now.

But I don't need sleep. I need to be entertained listening to Todd Wright, AllNight, on ESPN.

ESPN, reconsider. Bring back the best thing that's ever happened to your station.

Todd, if you somehow come across this page, please find a way to get back on the air. And feel free to email me at adam@andpop.com to let us know what you're up to.