Andy Pollin
Encyclopedia
Andy Pollin is an American radio personality. He helped launch Washington, D.C.
sports talk station WTEM
in 1992 and continues to hold the title of Sports Director. Pollin currently co-hosts The Sports Reporters with Steve Czaban
. He acted as sidekick on The Tony Kornheiser Show
between 1992 and 2006. He also co-hosted GameDay with Mel Kiper Jr. on ESPN Radio
between 1998 and 2004.
in 1976. After enrolling in American University
he became involved in that school's radio station and left to start his radio career in Beaumont, Texas. He later graduated from Trinity University
in San Antonio.
Pollin served as reporter for sports talk radio pioneer WFAN
in New York City
from its inception in 1987 until leaving for WTEM. Prior to that he reported for the UPI Radio Network
in Washington, D.C. (1983–1987), and WFAA-AM in Dallas (1981–1983).
Pollin is the co-author of The Great Book of Washington, D.C. Sports Lists with Leonard Shapiro.
When Pollin was with The Tony Kornheiser Show
on ESPN Radio
, he was nicknamed "Andy Polley." A listener angered by Pollin's comments about baseball player Rafael Palmeiro
had called the show and mispronounced Pollin's name, screaming, "Andy Polley, you are an idiot!" Show producer Denis Horgan, Jr. recorded the "Andy Polley" soundbite
and the staff often aired it when Pollin spoke.
The nickname stuck, and the gag was later extended into a now-defunct website, [www.andypolley.com], which featured photos and comments about Pollin often related to current Kornheiser radio shows. Polley evolved into a full character, who drives a beat-up old Honda, with orange juice on the leather seats. Currently he is working for ESPN 980 (formerly WTEM) along with Steve Czaban.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
sports talk station WTEM
WTEM
WTEM — branded ESPN 980 — is a sports radio station licensed to Washington, D.C. and serving the Washington metro area. It is the flagship of a sports talk trimulcast with WWXT in Prince Frederick, Maryland and WWXX in Buckland, Virginia, all affiliated with ESPN Radio and owned by Red Zebra...
in 1992 and continues to hold the title of Sports Director. Pollin currently co-hosts The Sports Reporters with Steve Czaban
Steve Czaban
Steve Czaban is an American sports radio personality. Czaban hosts The Steve Czaban Show on Yahoo! Sports Radio weekday mornings from 6 to 10 a.m., and co-hosts The Sports Reporters with Andy Pollin on "ESPN 980" WTEM weekday afternoons from 4 to 7 p.m...
. He acted as sidekick on The Tony Kornheiser Show
The Tony Kornheiser Show
The Tony Kornheiser Show is a sports radio talk show out of Washington, D.C. hosted by Tony Kornheiser, which appeared on WTEM from 1992 to 1997; on ESPN Radio between 1998 and 2004; back on WTEM from 2004 to 2006; and on WTWP and then WWWT in 2007 and 2008; and back on WTEM since September 8, 2009...
between 1992 and 2006. He also co-hosted GameDay with Mel Kiper Jr. on ESPN Radio
ESPN Radio
ESPN Radio is an American sports radio network. It was launched on January 1, 1992 under the original banner of "SportsRadio ESPN." ESPN Radio is located at ESPN headquarters in Bristol, Connecticut...
between 1998 and 2004.
Biography
Pollin grew up in Chevy Chase, Maryland and graduated from Bethesda-Chevy Chase High SchoolBethesda-Chevy Chase High School
Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School is a Montgomery County, Maryland, USA, public school named for two of the towns it serves along with Kensington and Silver Spring, Maryland. It is located at 4301 East-West Highway, in Bethesda, an unincorporated community in Montgomery County...
in 1976. After enrolling in American University
American University
American University is a private, Methodist, liberal arts, and research university in Washington, D.C. The university was chartered by an Act of Congress on December 5, 1892 as "The American University", which was approved by President Benjamin Harrison on February 24, 1893...
he became involved in that school's radio station and left to start his radio career in Beaumont, Texas. He later graduated from Trinity University
Trinity University (Texas)
Trinity University is a private, independent, primarily undergraduate, university in San Antonio, Texas. Its campus is located in the Monte Vista Historic District and adjacent to Brackenridge Park....
in San Antonio.
Pollin served as reporter for sports talk radio pioneer WFAN
WFAN
WFAN , also known as "Sports Radio 66" or "The FAN", is a radio station in New York City. The station broadcasts on a clear channel and is owned by CBS Radio...
in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
from its inception in 1987 until leaving for WTEM. Prior to that he reported for the UPI Radio Network
United Press International Radio Network
Originally named "UPI Audio," the United Press International Radio Network was an audio actuality news service for radio and television stations from then-major wire service United Press International....
in Washington, D.C. (1983–1987), and WFAA-AM in Dallas (1981–1983).
Pollin is the co-author of The Great Book of Washington, D.C. Sports Lists with Leonard Shapiro.
When Pollin was with The Tony Kornheiser Show
The Tony Kornheiser Show
The Tony Kornheiser Show is a sports radio talk show out of Washington, D.C. hosted by Tony Kornheiser, which appeared on WTEM from 1992 to 1997; on ESPN Radio between 1998 and 2004; back on WTEM from 2004 to 2006; and on WTWP and then WWWT in 2007 and 2008; and back on WTEM since September 8, 2009...
on ESPN Radio
ESPN Radio
ESPN Radio is an American sports radio network. It was launched on January 1, 1992 under the original banner of "SportsRadio ESPN." ESPN Radio is located at ESPN headquarters in Bristol, Connecticut...
, he was nicknamed "Andy Polley." A listener angered by Pollin's comments about baseball player Rafael Palmeiro
Rafael Palmeiro
Rafael Palmeiro Corrales is a former Major League Baseball first baseman and left fielder. Palmeiro was an All-American at Mississippi State University before being drafted by the Chicago Cubs in 1985...
had called the show and mispronounced Pollin's name, screaming, "Andy Polley, you are an idiot!" Show producer Denis Horgan, Jr. recorded the "Andy Polley" soundbite
Soundbite
In film and broadcasting, a sound bite is a very short piece of a speech taken from a longer speech or an interview in which someone with authority or the average "man on the street" says something which is considered by those who edit the speech or interview to be the most important point...
and the staff often aired it when Pollin spoke.
The nickname stuck, and the gag was later extended into a now-defunct website, [www.andypolley.com], which featured photos and comments about Pollin often related to current Kornheiser radio shows. Polley evolved into a full character, who drives a beat-up old Honda, with orange juice on the leather seats. Currently he is working for ESPN 980 (formerly WTEM) along with Steve Czaban.