Howard Eskin - Career

Career

After Eskin graduated from Northeast High School in Philadelphia in 1968, he got his start in local radio at WFIL-AM when evening shift disc jockey George Michael hired him to be his engineer. Eskin eventually made a name for himself in sports radio by breaking stories and stirring public opinion with his commentaries. He brought that same hustle with him to television where, with his efforts, breaking news was often found on the sports desk. The award winning sportscaster first made the transition to television in 1982 when he joined KYW-TV. One of Eskin’s managers at KYW jokes that the sportscaster kept the Eagles in Philadelphia by breaking the story in the 1980s that the owner was trying to sell the team. "If Howard had not stepped in when he did... Leonard Tose would have snuck the Eagles out of town," says Frank Traynor. "Howard broke the Eagles story... and, by doing so, I believe helped to keep the team in town."

In the mid 1980s, Eskin co-hosted with John Debella on WMMR's Morning Zoo, their combination was advertised as "Sports Rock". On television Eskin helped launch Fox Station WTXF-TV's Ten O’Clock News as part of its original anchor team from 1986 to 1991. On radio, the "Sports Rock" format proved unsuccessful at WMMR. It began in the Fall of 1992 and lasted until the Spring of 1993. Soon thereafter, Eskin moved to WIP, whose station format would shortly become amongst the first full time sports-talk radio themes in the United States. During an interview with Rowdy Roddy Piper, Eskin got clapped upside the head by the Hot Rod while asking whether pro wrestling was fake.

In 1992, he rejoined KYW-TV and then moved to WCAU-TV in 1996 where he served as a host and contributor to Sports Final until April, 2005. He returned to the show in 2006. He was also a contributor to the The George Michael Sports Machine, hosted by the man who helped Eskin begin his broadcasting career; serves as a frequent commentator on ESPN's First Take; co-hosted a nationally-syndicated radio show, Let’s Talk Sports, and been called on for his opinions by such diverse programs as NBC’s Today Show and PBS’s MacNeil/Lehrer News Hour.

In addition to his radio and television presence Eskin wrote a column for the Philadelphia Daily News in the early 1990s.

Eskin's breaking stories included one that former Philadelphia Phillies general manager Ed Wade would be fired if the Phillies did not make the playoffs. Wade was subsequently fired by the Phillies on October 10, 2005. He unsuccessfully "campaigned" for the GM position, that was eventually filled by former Toronto Blue Jays GM Pat Gillick.

Eskin also covered the negotiation and subsequent breakdown between Comcast and a group led by Julius Erving and Will Smith to buy the Philadelphia 76ers. Howard's involvement in the negotiation entailed a request help from Allen L. Rothenberg, a prominent Philadelphia attorney, who was a regular at Eskin's synagogue.

On September 20, 2007 Howard Eskin logged his 5,000th radio show, more than anyone else in the country, and celebrated his 25th year in television that same year. Guests on the show included Charles Barkley, Terrell Owens, and Billy Cunningham.

On September 2, 2011 Howard Eskin hosted his last 3 to 7 PM show after nearly 6,000 shows and 25 years in that slot.