Chuck Dickerson
Encyclopedia
Chuck Dickerson is a former position coach in the National Football League
and Canadian Football League
and sports radio
host in Buffalo, New York
. Currently, he is a regular featured commentator
during the Buffalo Bills
season.
Dickerson earned All-American honors during his high school and college career as a defensive tackle for the University of Illinois
. He is married and has an adult child and several grandchildren.
Dickerson was defensive line coach under Marv Levy
in Buffalo and in the Canadian Football League when Levy coached the Montreal Alouettes
. He appeared in two Super Bowls: Super Bowl XXV
and Super Bowl XXVI
. Before Super Bowl XXVI, Dickerson mocked the Washington Redskins
' famed offensive line, The Hogs
on a television interview. Redskins coach Joe Gibbs
got his hands on some tapes of Dickerson and played them at a team meeting on the night before the game, and by all accounts it was a factor in the Redskins' 37-24 thumping of the Bills. Head coach Marv Levy
later described the interview as "the girder that brought down the building."
Dickerson was fired shortly after Super Bowl XXVI, and he began his broadcast career on WGR 550
in 1993, hosting a three hour afternoon drive-time show for almost ten years, leaving the station in 2003. It was speculated in the press that WGR released Dickerson from the station because it wanted to gain the rights to Sabres hockey broadcasts, which it purchased in 2004 along with radio station WNSA
. Dickerson was replaced by Mike Schopp
and Chris "Bulldog" Parker.
Dickerson also appeared on CanWest Global television's Sportsline show in Toronto
for several season's as an NFL commentator.
His on-air style is similar to hockey's Don Cherry, although Dickerson is known for his blunt and provocative opinions and his open dislike of NHL hockey and the Buffalo Sabres
, which have alienated many fans. His closing catchphrase, "Who loves ya, baby?" is borrowed from Kojak
.
During football season, he hosts The Unofficial, Unauthorized Postgame Show after Bills games and cohosts The Bob Matthews Show Monday evenings on WHAM-AM 1180
in Rochester, New York
. He also co-hosted The Extra Point Monday mornings on WGR-AM 550
in Buffalo, New York
, replacing the fired Brad Riter in 2007 after being a weekly guest since 2005.
A similar character, "Chuck Dichter," appears in the 2002 made-for-TV movie Second String
, portrayed by Jon Voight
.
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
and Canadian Football League
Canadian Football League
The Canadian Football League or CFL is a professional sports league located in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football, a form of gridiron football closely related to American football....
and sports radio
Sports radio
Sports radio is a radio format devoted entirely to discussion and broadcasting of sporting events. A popular format with an almost exclusively male demographic in most areas, sports radio is characterized by an often-boisterous on-air style and extensive debate and analysis by both hosts and...
host in Buffalo, New York
Buffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
. Currently, he is a regular featured commentator
Sportscaster
In sports broadcasting, a commentator gives a running commentary of a game or event in real time, usually during a live broadcast. The comments are normally a voiceover, with the sounds of the action and spectators also heard in the background. In the case of television commentary, the commentator...
during the Buffalo Bills
Buffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills are a professional football team based in Buffalo, New York. They are currently members of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
season.
Dickerson earned All-American honors during his high school and college career as a defensive tackle for the University of Illinois
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
The University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign is a large public research-intensive university in the state of Illinois, United States. It is the flagship campus of the University of Illinois system...
. He is married and has an adult child and several grandchildren.
Dickerson was defensive line coach under Marv Levy
Marv Levy
Marvin Daniel Levy is a former American and Canadian football coach, front office executive and author.He is a former professional football coach, in the CFL as head coach of the Montreal Alouettes , and in the NFL as head coach of the Kansas City Chiefs and the Buffalo Bills , coaching the Bills...
in Buffalo and in the Canadian Football League when Levy coached the Montreal Alouettes
Montreal Alouettes
The Montreal Alouettes are a Canadian Football League team based in Montreal, Quebec.The current franchise named the Alouettes moved to Montreal from Baltimore, Maryland, in 1996 where they had been known as the Baltimore Stallions...
. He appeared in two Super Bowls: Super Bowl XXV
Super Bowl XXV
Super Bowl XXV was an American football game played on January 27, 1991 at Tampa Stadium in Tampa, Florida to decide the National Football League champion following the 1990 regular season. The National Football Conference Champion New York Giants defeated the American Football Conference ...
and Super Bowl XXVI
Super Bowl XXVI
Super Bowl XXVI was an American football game played on January 26, 1992 at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome in Minneapolis, Minnesota to decide the National Football League champion following the 1991 regular season...
. Before Super Bowl XXVI, Dickerson mocked the Washington Redskins
Washington Redskins
The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,...
' famed offensive line, The Hogs
The Hogs (American football)
The Hogs was the nickname for the offensive line of the Washington Redskins of the National Football League during the 1980s and early 1990s. Renowned for their ability to control the line of scrimmage, the Hogs helped the Redskins win three Super Bowl championships under head coach Joe Gibbs...
on a television interview. Redskins coach Joe Gibbs
Joe Gibbs
Joe Jackson Gibbs is a former American football coach, NASCAR Championship team owner, and two time NHRA Pro Stock team owner. He was the 20th and 26th head coach in the history of the Washington Redskins...
got his hands on some tapes of Dickerson and played them at a team meeting on the night before the game, and by all accounts it was a factor in the Redskins' 37-24 thumping of the Bills. Head coach Marv Levy
Marv Levy
Marvin Daniel Levy is a former American and Canadian football coach, front office executive and author.He is a former professional football coach, in the CFL as head coach of the Montreal Alouettes , and in the NFL as head coach of the Kansas City Chiefs and the Buffalo Bills , coaching the Bills...
later described the interview as "the girder that brought down the building."
Dickerson was fired shortly after Super Bowl XXVI, and he began his broadcast career on WGR 550
WGR
WGR, or WGR Sports Radio 550, is an all sports radio station in Buffalo, New York that broadcasts on 550 AM. It is the flagship station of the Buffalo Sabres and the Buffalo Bandits, and is currently the only full-time sports talk station in the city of Buffalo. Its studios are located in Amherst,...
in 1993, hosting a three hour afternoon drive-time show for almost ten years, leaving the station in 2003. It was speculated in the press that WGR released Dickerson from the station because it wanted to gain the rights to Sabres hockey broadcasts, which it purchased in 2004 along with radio station WNSA
WLKK
WLKK is an American radio station located in Wethersfield, New York. Broadcasting on the frequency of 107.7 MHz, the station is currently owned by Entercom Communications and is operated out of the company's studios in Amherst, New York, a suburb of Buffalo...
. Dickerson was replaced by Mike Schopp
Mike Schopp
Mike Schopp is an American sports radio personality,. Mike was born and currently lives in Grand Island. He is the current afternoon co-host of the sports talk show Mike Schopp and The Bulldog which runs weekdays from 3-7 p.m. Eastern on WGR in Buffalo, New York and WROC in Rochester. His co-host...
and Chris "Bulldog" Parker.
Dickerson also appeared on CanWest Global television's Sportsline show in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
for several season's as an NFL commentator.
His on-air style is similar to hockey's Don Cherry, although Dickerson is known for his blunt and provocative opinions and his open dislike of NHL hockey and the Buffalo Sabres
Buffalo Sabres
The Buffalo Sabres are a professional ice hockey team based in Buffalo, New York. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League .-Founding and early success: 1970-71—1980-81:...
, which have alienated many fans. His closing catchphrase, "Who loves ya, baby?" is borrowed from Kojak
Kojak
Kojak is an American television series starring Telly Savalas as the title character, bald New York City Police Department Detective Lieutenant Theo Kojak. It aired from October 24, 1973, to March 18, 1978, on CBS. It took the time slot of the popular Cannon series, which was moved one hour earlier...
.
During football season, he hosts The Unofficial, Unauthorized Postgame Show after Bills games and cohosts The Bob Matthews Show Monday evenings on WHAM-AM 1180
WHAM (AM)
WHAM is a clear-channel talk radio station in Rochester, New York, owned by Clear Channel Communications. Its 50,000-watt transmitter is located in Chili, New York, and the station broadcasts on 1180 kHz.The station first went on the air in 1922...
in Rochester, New York
Rochester, New York
Rochester is a city in Monroe County, New York, south of Lake Ontario in the United States. Known as The World's Image Centre, it was also once known as The Flour City, and more recently as The Flower City...
. He also co-hosted The Extra Point Monday mornings on WGR-AM 550
WGR
WGR, or WGR Sports Radio 550, is an all sports radio station in Buffalo, New York that broadcasts on 550 AM. It is the flagship station of the Buffalo Sabres and the Buffalo Bandits, and is currently the only full-time sports talk station in the city of Buffalo. Its studios are located in Amherst,...
in Buffalo, New York
Buffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
, replacing the fired Brad Riter in 2007 after being a weekly guest since 2005.
A similar character, "Chuck Dichter," appears in the 2002 made-for-TV movie Second String
Second String (Film)
Second String is a direct-to-TV film from 2002 about the Buffalo Bills football team who find its first string out for a month after a food poisoning incident, leading the team's head coach, "Chuck Dichter" , to hire an insurance salesman named Dan Heller...
, portrayed by Jon Voight
Jon Voight
Jonathan Vincent "Jon" Voight is an American actor. He has received an Academy Award, out of four nominations, and three Golden Globe Awards, out of nine nominations. Voight is the father of actress Angelina Jolie....
.
External links
- Fybush, Scott. Radio Watch Report about Sabres coach refusing to join WGR because of Dickerson bias. North East RadioWatch: February 4, 2000
- Dickerson's profile, via the Internet Archive