Smack-Off
Encyclopedia
The Smack-Off is an annual competition on The Jim Rome Show
, in which select listeners are invited to provide their best "smack talk", with Rome and his show personnel determining the winner. It is held in mid-to-late spring
and takes up the entire program on a Friday. The contest is a way to recognize the best callers to the show, as well as a means of determining the best caller of the year. Show host Jim Rome
has referred to the Smack-Off as the most important show of the entire year.
The Smack-Off began in 1995 while The Jim Rome Show was still on local radio but has continued into syndication. To date, seventeen Smack-Offs have been held, the last on April 8, 2011.
Travis Rodgers got together to talk about the lack of good callers, and Rome voiced the opinion that he would like to be able to pick and choose who could call the show. Rodgers felt that this would not be feasible on a daily basis but could work for one day, which Rome agreed would work.
Rome admits that the invitation process for non-winners is totally subjective, that he can offer invitations for any reason, or no reason at all, and that he has a bias toward the So-Cal Clones when selecting invitees. He also will threaten to deny invitations to previous invitees who have not called the show for an extended period of time, and some callers are considered to be "on the bubble." These callers must prove that they deserve invitations or they will not be invited. During the time between the official announcement of the date of the Smack-Off and the event itself, Rome will begin announcing callers who have secured or been denied invitations, as well as callers who are "on the bubble." The show's website
often has polls asking for listener opinions on who should or should not have been invited; however, polling results do not directly affect the field. This period also features numerous calls from newcomers attempting to secure invitations; most, however, end up getting run.
For the Smack-Off, Rome almost completely breaks show format. No interview
s are scheduled, and Rome offers no takes of his own. On the day of the event, Rome explains the history of the Smack-Off, repeats the list of invitees, and warns those invited that invitation does not guarantee participation, then begins taking calls. Rome has indirectly stated that callers who are expected to perform more strongly will get airtime first, and those on hold when Rome announces the top 10 callers do not get to participate. Usually, the first hour's callers begin at about 15 to 20 minutes into the show. The second hour is dedicated to calls, and the third hour's calls stop at about the bottom of the hour, allowing Rome to name the top 10, replay the winning call, and hold a short interview with the winner. During the contest, Rome will read e-mails from listeners commenting on the calls, and offer brief comments of his own.
Callers are expected to follow the general guidelines for calls to the show, and are as susceptible to being run (cut off) as if a normal show was airing (see The Jim Rome Show
for details). Rome also stipulates that while there is no set time limit for calls, he expects callers to finish their takes within roughly 5 minutes, and that only calls with very strong content can be allowed to run long. Callers Orrin in Denver was run in 2006, and Rachel in Houston was run in Smack-Offs 2007 and 2008, both for running too long.
Over the history of the Smack-Off, first-time invitees have generally not fared well, but exceptions occur, such as Brad in Corona winning in 2009. Joe in the O.C.
and Casey in Vegas
have become consistent invitees. Several callers from the "So-Cal" area of California
are also long-time invitees, including Silk in Huntington Beach
, Terrence in Sierra Madre
, Trapper in Dana Point
, and Irie Craig.
; J.T. for the Fox Sports Radio
division). Doc Mike and Jeffrey "Esquire" DiTolla were both noteworthy competitors during this period, with Jeffrey winning Smack-Off 1996. Jeffrey DiTolla was third in the initial Smack-Off, following Adam in Pacific Beach. Caller Jason from Fullerton
was one of the first Smack-Off callers to be run. Rome later called his performance "truly horrible" and said that it "might be the worst call ever in the history of the Smack-Off." However, in an ironic twist of fate, Jason Stewart would later became the call screener for The Jim Rome Show, known as "J-Stew" and "Mr. Automatic."
legends." Doc Mike Di Tolla won in 1997 and 2000, while Steve Carbone took the title in 1998. Sean the Cablinasian became the first caller outside of Southern California to win the Smack-Off in 1999, and Silk in Huntington Beach, also known as "Silk Brah," won in 2001. This also was an era marked by controversial decisions. Carbone (previously known as Stevie from LMU
) was "Phoneslap," the phone screener for The Jim Rome Show at the time. Carbone's call, while considered strong by Rome and noted for his announcement that "I am not a [expletive] clone!" generated conspiracy theories, since he was both the last caller of the day and the phone-screener. In 2000, caller Dan in D.C.
made a potentially winning call but was denied the victory because his station, WTEM
, did not carry all three hours live. Rome essentially admitted this when he said, "Dan, bang your monkey. It cost you the title." Doc Mike Di Tolla became the first two-time winner because of this. Jim Harbaugh
, who at the time was playing for the Indianapolis Colts
, also called in 1998, becoming the first celebrity
to participate. His call was regarded as weak, but Rome was not about to run off an NFL
player, so the Clones had to sit through it.
, one of the most controversial callers in the Jungle, won in 2002 with a typically loud, self-promoting and defiant call. 2003 featured more new callers and the second two-time winner, Sean the Cablinasian, after Greg in Vegas was denied the win because he ended his call with the line "...maybe Tom Watson
could have won the U.S. Open if not for his caddy suffering a one stroke penalty," referring to Bruce Edwards, who suffered from, and eventually succumbed to ALS
. This Smack-Off featured a surprise third-place finish by Joe in the O.C.
. Smack-Off X, in 2004, featured Iafrate's breakthrough victory, featuring a parody song, "Whitey's Dad" (for the show's engineer at the time, Brian "Whitey" Albers). Terrence in Sierra Madre
again did not win, earning him the title of "best caller never to win the Smack-Off."
Smack-Off 2005 was considered by Rome to be the best to date. It featured the highest placement of a woman in the Smack-Off (Rachael in Houston
), Iafrate's fifth second-place finish, another third-place finish for Terrence in Sierra Madre, and the first three-time winner, Sean the Cablinasian. Smack-Off 2006 featured Sean the Cablinasian becoming a four-time champion, and the first-ever back-to-back Smack-Off winner, though with controversy since many of the clones felt Greg in Vegas and Rachael in Houston
had better calls that day. The 2007 Smack-off was notable for both the winner and the runner-up being awarded tickets to the De La Hoya-Mayweather boxing
match, as well as the absence of a highly touted rookie, Vic in No-Cal. In the months prior to the Smack-Off, Rome regarded Vic as "the next big thing," and many of the day's callers referenced Vic. However, Vic never called, leading Rome to audibly hope "nothing bad happened" to Vic. Although Rome expressed the thought that perhaps Vic was scared off by Sean's smackdown of the rookie, it seems unlikely given the mild nature of Sean's comments. However, when Vic "called his shot" on the Wednesday prior to the Smack Off, he finished with a comment about coming in with a post-fight announcement. Upon returning from the "basement" a week later, Jim told the Jungle that Vic had emailed J. Stew to explain that he couldn't make a call because the phone was busy, he has roommates, and a job. Jim derided his explanation as weak, and that you have to get in to the Smack-Off, regardless. In the end, Sean became the first ever 5-time winner of the Smack-Off and a three-peat
champion. Joe in the O.C. finished second.
Soon after winning the 2007 Smack-Off, Sean the Cablinasian accepted a position as the afternoon talk show host with 1560 KGOW
, located in Houston, Texas
. Because KGOW was a rival to the affiliate station that broadcasts The Jim Rome Show
, there was speculation that Sean Pendergast would not be allowed to compete in the 2008 Smack-Off. After months of silence, Rome announced that Cablinasian would not be eligible to participate in future Smack-Offs, in spite of his lifetime exemption. Rome explained that this wasn't personal, but that business practices in radio demanded this. J.T. the Brick, on the other hand, is welcome, because he and Rome work for the same company, Premiere Radio Networks, though J.T. hasn't made an appearance on the Smack-Off since gaining his own talk show.
In 2008, Iafrate won his second title in the event, although he admitted his victory should be accompanied by an asterisk because the Cablinasian wasn't allowed to compete. Iafrate's call directly referenced the five-time winner's absence, comparing it to a golf tournament in which Tiger Woods
chose not to compete. Specifically, Iafrate said the Cablinasian turned the event from "The Masters into The Wachovia
."
Iafrate's call came early in the second hour of Smack Off, not long after the efforts of "Doc" Mike Di Tolla, the two-time winner who would finish second in the 2008 Smack Off. Di Tolla had not competed in several years, and Iafrate tailored his take to rubuke the long-time veteran for his absence. He attacked Mike for his lack of originality, calling him the "Official Jungle Mad Lib" and also hammered Jay Mohr
. Rome dubbed Iafrate's take as "awesome" after it ended, and only one competitor following that take - 1998 winner Stevie Carbone from LMU
- attempted to critique Iafrate's efforts. Iafrate was awarded a Slingbox
, and the choice of a computer or plasma TV, whereby he hastily choose the computer ("Ooh that's a tough one. I'll take the computer dude"). However, Iafrate's wife vetoed this, as revealed on Sean the Cablinasian's postgame show, and he ended up calling back to get the plasma TV instead. Iafrate was also the subject of Rome's final burn in his TV show, Jim Rome is Burning
.
Vic in No-Cal attempted to go "wire-to-wire" in the Smack Off as the day's first caller, but he did not finish in the top ten. Comedian Jay Mohr
demanded the slot right after Vic, and spent most of his time talking "smack" about the newcomer. Mohr finished sixth. Shortly after the Smack-Off, DiTolla announced on The Jim Rome Show that he would resume calling in more frequently, prompting commitments from Vic as well as Gino in San Antonio to do the same.
The Jim Rome Show
The Jim Rome Show is a sports radio talk show hosted by Jim Rome. It airs live for three hours each weekday from 9 a.m. to noon Pacific. The show is produced in Los Angeles, California, syndicated by Premiere Radio Networks, and can be heard on more than 200 affiliate radio stations in the U.S...
, in which select listeners are invited to provide their best "smack talk", with Rome and his show personnel determining the winner. It is held in mid-to-late spring
Spring (season)
Spring is one of the four temperate seasons, the transition period between winter and summer. Spring and "springtime" refer to the season, and broadly to ideas of rebirth, renewal and regrowth. The specific definition of the exact timing of "spring" varies according to local climate, cultures and...
and takes up the entire program on a Friday. The contest is a way to recognize the best callers to the show, as well as a means of determining the best caller of the year. Show host Jim Rome
Jim Rome
Jim Rome is an American sports radio talk show host syndicated by Premiere Radio Networks, a subsidiary of Clear Channel Communications....
has referred to the Smack-Off as the most important show of the entire year.
The Smack-Off began in 1995 while The Jim Rome Show was still on local radio but has continued into syndication. To date, seventeen Smack-Offs have been held, the last on April 8, 2011.
Background
According to Rome, the idea for the Smack-Off came after an extended period of mediocre to outright horrible calls to the show. Rome and show producerRadio producer
A radio producer oversees the making of a radio show. There are two main types of producer. An audio or creative producer and a content producer. Audio producers create sounds and audio specifically, content producers oversee and orchestrate a radio show or feature...
Travis Rodgers got together to talk about the lack of good callers, and Rome voiced the opinion that he would like to be able to pick and choose who could call the show. Rodgers felt that this would not be feasible on a daily basis but could work for one day, which Rome agreed would work.
How the Smack-Off works
Invitations to the Smack-Off are obtained in two fashions. The first is for recognition for a caller's body of work on the show: multiple "awards" of the Huge Call of the Day, a history of consistently good calls, or as a reward for an especially exceptional call. The second is in the form of a "lifetime exemption." Previous winners are automatically invited every year, regardless of how often (or even if) they call the show. J. T. the Brick, for instance, has not called for many years but still is invited to participate. Sean "the Cablinasian," once a regular caller, flaunts the fact that he now only calls the show to participate in the Smack-Off.Rome admits that the invitation process for non-winners is totally subjective, that he can offer invitations for any reason, or no reason at all, and that he has a bias toward the So-Cal Clones when selecting invitees. He also will threaten to deny invitations to previous invitees who have not called the show for an extended period of time, and some callers are considered to be "on the bubble." These callers must prove that they deserve invitations or they will not be invited. During the time between the official announcement of the date of the Smack-Off and the event itself, Rome will begin announcing callers who have secured or been denied invitations, as well as callers who are "on the bubble." The show's website
Website
A website, also written as Web site, web site, or simply site, is a collection of related web pages containing images, videos or other digital assets. A website is hosted on at least one web server, accessible via a network such as the Internet or a private local area network through an Internet...
often has polls asking for listener opinions on who should or should not have been invited; however, polling results do not directly affect the field. This period also features numerous calls from newcomers attempting to secure invitations; most, however, end up getting run.
For the Smack-Off, Rome almost completely breaks show format. No interview
Interview
An interview is a conversation between two people where questions are asked by the interviewer to obtain information from the interviewee.- Interview as a Method for Qualitative Research:"Definition" -...
s are scheduled, and Rome offers no takes of his own. On the day of the event, Rome explains the history of the Smack-Off, repeats the list of invitees, and warns those invited that invitation does not guarantee participation, then begins taking calls. Rome has indirectly stated that callers who are expected to perform more strongly will get airtime first, and those on hold when Rome announces the top 10 callers do not get to participate. Usually, the first hour's callers begin at about 15 to 20 minutes into the show. The second hour is dedicated to calls, and the third hour's calls stop at about the bottom of the hour, allowing Rome to name the top 10, replay the winning call, and hold a short interview with the winner. During the contest, Rome will read e-mails from listeners commenting on the calls, and offer brief comments of his own.
Callers are expected to follow the general guidelines for calls to the show, and are as susceptible to being run (cut off) as if a normal show was airing (see The Jim Rome Show
The Jim Rome Show
The Jim Rome Show is a sports radio talk show hosted by Jim Rome. It airs live for three hours each weekday from 9 a.m. to noon Pacific. The show is produced in Los Angeles, California, syndicated by Premiere Radio Networks, and can be heard on more than 200 affiliate radio stations in the U.S...
for details). Rome also stipulates that while there is no set time limit for calls, he expects callers to finish their takes within roughly 5 minutes, and that only calls with very strong content can be allowed to run long. Callers Orrin in Denver was run in 2006, and Rachel in Houston was run in Smack-Offs 2007 and 2008, both for running too long.
Over the history of the Smack-Off, first-time invitees have generally not fared well, but exceptions occur, such as Brad in Corona winning in 2009. Joe in the O.C.
Orange County, California
Orange County is a county in the U.S. state of California. Its county seat is Santa Ana. As of the 2010 census, its population was 3,010,232, up from 2,846,293 at the 2000 census, making it the third most populous county in California, behind Los Angeles County and San Diego County...
and Casey in Vegas
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
have become consistent invitees. Several callers from the "So-Cal" area of California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
are also long-time invitees, including Silk in Huntington Beach
Huntington Beach, California
Huntington Beach is a seaside city in Orange County in Southern California. According to the 2010 census, the city population was 189,992; making it the largest beach city in Orange County in terms of population...
, Terrence in Sierra Madre
Sierra Madre, California
The city of Sierra Madre is a municipality in Los Angeles County, California whose population was 10,917 at the 2010 census, up from 10,580 at the time of the 2000 census. The city is located in the Foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains below the southern edge of the Angeles National Forest. ...
, Trapper in Dana Point
Dana Point, California
-Climate:Dana Point enjoys a mild climate where temperatures tend to average around the 60's. The warmest month of the year is August with an average temperature of 79 degrees Fahrenheit. The coldest month is December with an average minimum temperature of 44 degrees Fahrenheit.-2010:The 2010...
, and Irie Craig.
History
Rome and the Clones generally separate Smack-Off history into four distinct eras: the "pre-syndication era" (1995 and 1996), the "old school years" (1997-2001), the "Cablifrate" era" (2002-2008), and the "New Blood era" (2009- Present).The pre-syndication era (1995-96)
This era is known primarily for three things: the DiTolla brothers, J. T. the Brick's win and later estrangement from Rome and the show, and Jason in Fullerton. J. T. the Brick won the first Smack-Off and was offered a radio position from a competing radio network. Rome continues to invite J.T. each year (both currently work for Premiere Radio NetworksPremiere Radio Networks
Premiere Networks is an American radio network. It is the largest syndication company in the United States based on popularity of programming...
; J.T. for the Fox Sports Radio
Fox Sports Radio
Fox Sports Radio, abbreviated FSR, is an international radio network consisting of sports talk programming. The network is a service of Premiere Networks...
division). Doc Mike and Jeffrey "Esquire" DiTolla were both noteworthy competitors during this period, with Jeffrey winning Smack-Off 1996. Jeffrey DiTolla was third in the initial Smack-Off, following Adam in Pacific Beach. Caller Jason from Fullerton
Fullerton, California
Fullerton is a city located in northern Orange County, California. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 135,161.It was founded in 1887 by George and Edward Amerige and named for George H. Fullerton, who secured the land on behalf of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway...
was one of the first Smack-Off callers to be run. Rome later called his performance "truly horrible" and said that it "might be the worst call ever in the history of the Smack-Off." However, in an ironic twist of fate, Jason Stewart would later became the call screener for The Jim Rome Show, known as "J-Stew" and "Mr. Automatic."
The old school years (1997-2001)
This era was dominated by those callers referred to by Rome as the "SoCalSouthern California
Southern California is a megaregion, or megapolitan area, in the southern area of the U.S. state of California. Large urban areas include Greater Los Angeles and Greater San Diego. The urban area stretches along the coast from Ventura through the Southland and Inland Empire to San Diego...
legends." Doc Mike Di Tolla won in 1997 and 2000, while Steve Carbone took the title in 1998. Sean the Cablinasian became the first caller outside of Southern California to win the Smack-Off in 1999, and Silk in Huntington Beach, also known as "Silk Brah," won in 2001. This also was an era marked by controversial decisions. Carbone (previously known as Stevie from LMU
Loyola Marymount University
Loyola Marymount University is a comprehensive co-educational private Roman Catholic university in the Jesuit and Marymount traditions located in Los Angeles, California, United States...
) was "Phoneslap," the phone screener for The Jim Rome Show at the time. Carbone's call, while considered strong by Rome and noted for his announcement that "I am not a [expletive] clone!" generated conspiracy theories, since he was both the last caller of the day and the phone-screener. In 2000, caller Dan in D.C.
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....
made a potentially winning call but was denied the victory because his 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...
, did not carry all three hours live. Rome essentially admitted this when he said, "Dan, bang your monkey. It cost you the title." Doc Mike Di Tolla became the first two-time winner because of this. Jim Harbaugh
Jim Harbaugh
James Joseph "Jim" Harbaugh is an American football coach and former player. He is currently the head coach for the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League. Harbaugh agreed to a five-year deal with the San Francisco 49ers on January 7, 2011. Previously, he was the head coach at...
, who at the time was playing for the Indianapolis Colts
Indianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League ....
, also called in 1998, becoming the first celebrity
Celebrity
A celebrity, also referred to as a celeb in popular culture, is a person who has a prominent profile and commands a great degree of public fascination and influence in day-to-day media...
to participate. His call was regarded as weak, but Rome was not about to run off an NFL
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...
player, so the Clones had to sit through it.
The Cablifrate era (2002-2008)
The syndication of the show allowed for a wider range of callers, which brought many new callers to the Smack-Off and essentially ended the "SoCal legends"' domination. This era would be dominated by two callers, Sean "The Cablinasian" and "Iafrate" Ken. Jeff in RichmondRichmond, Virginia
Richmond is the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia, in the United States. It is an independent city and not part of any county. Richmond is the center of the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Greater Richmond area...
, one of the most controversial callers in the Jungle, won in 2002 with a typically loud, self-promoting and defiant call. 2003 featured more new callers and the second two-time winner, Sean the Cablinasian, after Greg in Vegas was denied the win because he ended his call with the line "...maybe Tom Watson
Tom Watson (golfer)
Thomas Sturges Watson is an American professional golfer who has played on the PGA Tour and now mostly on the Champions Tour....
could have won the U.S. Open if not for his caddy suffering a one stroke penalty," referring to Bruce Edwards, who suffered from, and eventually succumbed to ALS
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis , also referred to as Lou Gehrig's disease, is a form of motor neuron disease caused by the degeneration of upper and lower neurons, located in the ventral horn of the spinal cord and the cortical neurons that provide their efferent input...
. This Smack-Off featured a surprise third-place finish by Joe in the O.C.
Orange County, California
Orange County is a county in the U.S. state of California. Its county seat is Santa Ana. As of the 2010 census, its population was 3,010,232, up from 2,846,293 at the 2000 census, making it the third most populous county in California, behind Los Angeles County and San Diego County...
. Smack-Off X, in 2004, featured Iafrate's breakthrough victory, featuring a parody song, "Whitey's Dad" (for the show's engineer at the time, Brian "Whitey" Albers). Terrence in Sierra Madre
Sierra Madre, California
The city of Sierra Madre is a municipality in Los Angeles County, California whose population was 10,917 at the 2010 census, up from 10,580 at the time of the 2000 census. The city is located in the Foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains below the southern edge of the Angeles National Forest. ...
again did not win, earning him the title of "best caller never to win the Smack-Off."
Smack-Off 2005 was considered by Rome to be the best to date. It featured the highest placement of a woman in the Smack-Off (Rachael in Houston
Houston, Texas
Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
), Iafrate's fifth second-place finish, another third-place finish for Terrence in Sierra Madre, and the first three-time winner, Sean the Cablinasian. Smack-Off 2006 featured Sean the Cablinasian becoming a four-time champion, and the first-ever back-to-back Smack-Off winner, though with controversy since many of the clones felt Greg in Vegas and Rachael in Houston
Houston, Texas
Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
had better calls that day. The 2007 Smack-off was notable for both the winner and the runner-up being awarded tickets to the De La Hoya-Mayweather boxing
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
match, as well as the absence of a highly touted rookie, Vic in No-Cal. In the months prior to the Smack-Off, Rome regarded Vic as "the next big thing," and many of the day's callers referenced Vic. However, Vic never called, leading Rome to audibly hope "nothing bad happened" to Vic. Although Rome expressed the thought that perhaps Vic was scared off by Sean's smackdown of the rookie, it seems unlikely given the mild nature of Sean's comments. However, when Vic "called his shot" on the Wednesday prior to the Smack Off, he finished with a comment about coming in with a post-fight announcement. Upon returning from the "basement" a week later, Jim told the Jungle that Vic had emailed J. Stew to explain that he couldn't make a call because the phone was busy, he has roommates, and a job. Jim derided his explanation as weak, and that you have to get in to the Smack-Off, regardless. In the end, Sean became the first ever 5-time winner of the Smack-Off and a three-peat
Three-peat
Three-peat is a contraction of the words three and repeat, which has been trademarked for commercial use by retired basketball coach Pat Riley; the active trademarks in force are registered under numbers 1552980, 1878690, and 1886018...
champion. Joe in the O.C. finished second.
Soon after winning the 2007 Smack-Off, Sean the Cablinasian accepted a position as the afternoon talk show host with 1560 KGOW
KGOW
KGOW , known as "1560 The Game," is a sports talk format radio station based in Houston, Texas, USA. It is currently owned by GOW Communications...
, located in Houston, Texas
Houston, Texas
Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
. Because KGOW was a rival to the affiliate station that broadcasts The Jim Rome Show
The Jim Rome Show
The Jim Rome Show is a sports radio talk show hosted by Jim Rome. It airs live for three hours each weekday from 9 a.m. to noon Pacific. The show is produced in Los Angeles, California, syndicated by Premiere Radio Networks, and can be heard on more than 200 affiliate radio stations in the U.S...
, there was speculation that Sean Pendergast would not be allowed to compete in the 2008 Smack-Off. After months of silence, Rome announced that Cablinasian would not be eligible to participate in future Smack-Offs, in spite of his lifetime exemption. Rome explained that this wasn't personal, but that business practices in radio demanded this. J.T. the Brick, on the other hand, is welcome, because he and Rome work for the same company, Premiere Radio Networks, though J.T. hasn't made an appearance on the Smack-Off since gaining his own talk show.
In 2008, Iafrate won his second title in the event, although he admitted his victory should be accompanied by an asterisk because the Cablinasian wasn't allowed to compete. Iafrate's call directly referenced the five-time winner's absence, comparing it to a golf tournament in which Tiger Woods
Tiger Woods
Eldrick Tont "Tiger" Woods is an American professional golfer whose achievements to date rank him among the most successful golfers of all time. Formerly the World No...
chose not to compete. Specifically, Iafrate said the Cablinasian turned the event from "The Masters into The Wachovia
Wachovia Championship
The Wells Fargo Championship, known in 2009 and 2010 as the Quail Hollow Championship, is a PGA Tour golf tournament. The event is held at the Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte, North Carolina in early May. It was first played in 2003 as the Wachovia Championship and has attracted some of the top...
."
Iafrate's call came early in the second hour of Smack Off, not long after the efforts of "Doc" Mike Di Tolla, the two-time winner who would finish second in the 2008 Smack Off. Di Tolla had not competed in several years, and Iafrate tailored his take to rubuke the long-time veteran for his absence. He attacked Mike for his lack of originality, calling him the "Official Jungle Mad Lib" and also hammered Jay Mohr
Jay Mohr
Jay Mohr is an American actor and stand up comedian. He is known for his role as Professor Rick Payne in the TV series Ghost Whisperer, the title role in the CBS sitcom Gary Unmarried, which ran from 2008 to 2010, and the back-stabbing sports agent Bob Sugar in Jerry Maguire.-Early life:Mohr was...
. Rome dubbed Iafrate's take as "awesome" after it ended, and only one competitor following that take - 1998 winner Stevie Carbone from LMU
Loyola Marymount University
Loyola Marymount University is a comprehensive co-educational private Roman Catholic university in the Jesuit and Marymount traditions located in Los Angeles, California, United States...
- attempted to critique Iafrate's efforts. Iafrate was awarded a Slingbox
Slingbox
The Slingbox is a TV streaming media device made by Sling Media that encodes video into the VC-1 format for transmission over the Internet and provides an infrared blaster. The video encoding and IR blaster can both be operated remotely over the Internet...
, and the choice of a computer or plasma TV, whereby he hastily choose the computer ("Ooh that's a tough one. I'll take the computer dude"). However, Iafrate's wife vetoed this, as revealed on Sean the Cablinasian's postgame show, and he ended up calling back to get the plasma TV instead. Iafrate was also the subject of Rome's final burn in his TV show, Jim Rome is Burning
Jim Rome is Burning
Jim Rome Is Burning, originally titled Rome Is Burning and often abbreviated as JRIB, is a sports conversation and opinion show hosted by Jim Rome. Debuting on May 6, 2003 as Rome Is Burning, it was originally a once a week show in primetime at 7:00 PM ET on Tuesday nights on ESPN...
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Vic in No-Cal attempted to go "wire-to-wire" in the Smack Off as the day's first caller, but he did not finish in the top ten. Comedian Jay Mohr
Jay Mohr
Jay Mohr is an American actor and stand up comedian. He is known for his role as Professor Rick Payne in the TV series Ghost Whisperer, the title role in the CBS sitcom Gary Unmarried, which ran from 2008 to 2010, and the back-stabbing sports agent Bob Sugar in Jerry Maguire.-Early life:Mohr was...
demanded the slot right after Vic, and spent most of his time talking "smack" about the newcomer. Mohr finished sixth. Shortly after the Smack-Off, DiTolla announced on The Jim Rome Show that he would resume calling in more frequently, prompting commitments from Vic as well as Gino in San Antonio to do the same.
The New Blood Era (2009-Present)
In the 2009 Smack-Off, three first time callers got into the top ten (Brad in Corona, Mike in Indy, and Josh in Grand Rapids) with Josh in #7 and Brad and Mike at #1 and #2 with Brad being the first rookie to win the Smack-Off. The defending champ, Iafrate, ended up at #5. In 2010, Vic in NoCal became the tenth different Smack-Off winner. In 2011, Brad in Corona won his second Smack-Off, edging out a very strong call from 1998 winner Stevie Carbone. Vic in NoCal finished fourth.All-time winners
| No. | Date | Winner |
|---|---|---|
| I | April 14, 1995 | J. T. the Brick |
| II | April 5, 1996 | Jeffrey E. "Esquire" Di Tolla |
| III | March 28, 1997 | "Doc" Mike Di Tolla |
| IV | April 10, 1998 | Stevie Carbone from LMU Loyola Marymount University Loyola Marymount University is a comprehensive co-educational private Roman Catholic university in the Jesuit and Marymount traditions located in Los Angeles, California, United States... |
| V | April 2, 1999 | Sean "the Cablinasian" in Houston Houston, Texas Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ... |
| VI | April 28, 2000 | "Doc" Mike Di Tolla |
| VII | May 4, 2001 | Silk in Huntington Beach Huntington Beach, California Huntington Beach is a seaside city in Orange County in Southern California. According to the 2010 census, the city population was 189,992; making it the largest beach city in Orange County in terms of population... |
| VIII | April 19, 2002 | Jeff in Richmond Richmond, Virginia Richmond is the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia, in the United States. It is an independent city and not part of any county. Richmond is the center of the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Greater Richmond area... |
| IX | June 21, 2003 | Sean "the Cablinasian" |
| X | April 16, 2004 | "Iafrate" |
| XI | May 6, 2005 | Sean "the Cablinasian" |
| XII | May 5, 2006 | Sean "the Cablinasian" |
| XIII | May 4, 2007 | Sean "the Cablinasian" |
| XIV | April 25, 2008 | "Iafrate"* |
| XV | May 8, 2009 | Brad in Corona |
| XVI | April 23, 2010 | Vic in No-Cal |
| XVII | April 08, 2011 | Brad in Corona |
The Hack-Off
In 2010, Jim Rome started a spin-off of the Smack-Off called "The Hack-Off". Rather than the "Best of the Best", it's the "Worst of the Worst", which includes Clones who previously got "run", save for those who are permanently banned from the show. But whoever wins the Hack-Off gets an automatic invite into the Smack-Off.Smack Off On A Mobile
On the day of the Smack Off in 2011, Sean Pendergast AKA "The Cablinasian" created his own Smack Off-style show, complete with Jim Rome impersonator (Adam Clanton), and called it the Smack Off On A Mobile. This was done, in part, to combat the fact that he was banned from competing in the Smack Off due to his employment with a competing radio station in the Houston market, which is an affiliate of The Jim Rome Show. The Smack Off On A Mobile was a direct parody of the Smack Off, and featured the talents of former jungle callers Greg in Vegas, and Willy in KC, as well as former producer, Travis Rodgers, who gave his own director-style commentary during the Travis Rodgers Now show, immediately following The Smack Off On A Mobile. The show laid out the true origins of the Smack Off, pointed out several behind-the-scenes secrets surrounding The Jim Rome Show (including the Smack Off), and also lampooned Rome for his show's current state of affairs and overall downfall since Travis was fired in favor of Lyle Bland. The winner of the Smack Off On A Mobile was Greg in Vegas. Sean the Cablinasian finished 2nd. Willy in KC and Jeff in Richmond were both run.External links
- History of the Smack-Off — contains audio files related to each Smack-Off