The Fabulous Sports Babe
Encyclopedia
Nanci Donnellan, best known by her title of "The Fabulous Sports Babe," is an American sports radio
broadcaster, currently broadcasting on WHBO
in the Tampa Bay
, Florida
area. She is best known nationally for being syndicated across the United States on both ESPN Radio
and ESPN2
, from 1994 until 2001. She is noteworthy for being one of the few female broadcasters in sports radio, and was one of the first female sports radio call-in hosts in America.
In 1994, ESPN Radio
picked up Donnellan's show, and made The Fabulous Sports Babe the network's first nationally syndicated weekday programs (prior to this, ESPN Radio only operated on weekends). She also helped launch ESPN2
, by having her show simulcasted on the channel during the afternoon and late night. Her show was heard in more than 500 cities in the United States
and Canada
and over 35 countries around the world.
Donnellan left ESPN after her diagnosis, surgery and treatment of breast cancer in 2001. Donnellan returned home to Tampa where she eventually signed on with the relatively new Sports Fan Radio Network
that year. Donnellan used Tampa
's WQYK-AM
1010's studios to produce her show when it was on the Sports Fan Radio Network. She was one of the cornerstones of the network's programming. However, in 2003, Sports Fan parent company Winstar declared bankruptcy. As a result, the Sports Fan Network ceased operation. Donnellan's self imposed hiatus would last 4 years as she recovered from breast cancer surgery and treatment.
, CBS SPORTS 1010, KJR Seattle, WQAM Miami, WDFN Detroit and several fill in stops including
several weeks at CBS Free FM in New York City. During her on air-on appearances The Babe returned to form and kept the conversations focused on sports and deferred any questions about her personal life by saying "I'm just hanging out, recovering from cancer". She still refers to callers who call in on a cell phone as "rich guy on a cell phone".
She first appeared on January 8 and 9, 2007, filling in for Scot Brantley on WHBO
; Brantley was in Arizona covering the 2007 BCS National Championship Game
, in which the Florida Gators
had just defeated the Ohio State Buckeyes
. She again substituted for Brantley on February 27, and two days later (March 1), filled in for Steve Duemig
on WDAE, and continued to fill in on sports and news/talk stations around the country.
On April 10, 2008, Donnellan hosted a one-day stint on WRBZ in Raleigh, North Carolina
; Donnellan guest hosted to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the station switching to the sports radio format; Donnellan's syndicated show was among the first programs aired on the station.http://www.850thebuzz.com/blog/?p=4295 (Audio of appearance) The next day, Donnellan returned to radio full time, and became the co-host, along with Brantley, of "Brantley and the Babe" on WHBO. The program aired during drive time
and can be heard through Internet radio
on the station's website. Brantley was laid off from WHBO in January 2009, giving The Babe her own show.
It is now called The Fabulous Sports Babe Show, and in short, The Babe Show. It is on Tampa ESPN1040 at 12 noon.
Her Web site has returned in a blog-style format, supplanting the message it had since 2001, "Gone Fishing."
home in Pinellas County. She was a season ticket holder for the Tampa Bay Rays
and can be seen at Tropicana Field
from time to time. She remains a cancer survivor.
With Neal Karlen, she wrote a book, The Babe in Boyland, in which she discussed men, women, football, goalies, strikes, and clueless sports executives in a unique style.
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...
broadcaster, currently broadcasting on WHBO
WHBO
WMGG is a talk radio station in the Tampa Bay area of Florida. WHBO is licensed to serve the community of Dunedin, Florida, USA, and is owned by Genesis Communications....
in the Tampa Bay
Tampa Bay
Tampa Bay is a large natural harbor and estuary along the Gulf of Mexico on the west central coast of Florida, comprising Hillsborough Bay, Old Tampa Bay, Middle Tampa Bay, and Lower Tampa Bay."Tampa Bay" is not the name of any municipality...
, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
area. She is best known nationally for being syndicated across the United States on both 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...
and ESPN2
ESPN2
ESPN2 is an American sports cable television network owned by ESPN. The channel debuted on October 1, 1993.Originally nicknamed "the deuce," ESPN2 was initially branded as a network for a younger generation of sports fans featuring edgier graphics as well as extreme sports like motocross,...
, from 1994 until 2001. She is noteworthy for being one of the few female broadcasters in sports radio, and was one of the first female sports radio call-in hosts in America.
Broadcast history
She first appeared on the radio on WEEI, Boston and the eclectic, legendary WLOM on Cape Cod. In 1983 she joined Tampa Bay radio station WNSI (1380) and later on at WPLP (570) hosting her own sports show at night, The Nanci Donnellan Show. From 1991 to 1994, she was the weekday afternoon sports talk show host on KJR 950 AM in Seattle before joining ESPN Radio.In 1994, 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...
picked up Donnellan's show, and made The Fabulous Sports Babe the network's first nationally syndicated weekday programs (prior to this, ESPN Radio only operated on weekends). She also helped launch ESPN2
ESPN2
ESPN2 is an American sports cable television network owned by ESPN. The channel debuted on October 1, 1993.Originally nicknamed "the deuce," ESPN2 was initially branded as a network for a younger generation of sports fans featuring edgier graphics as well as extreme sports like motocross,...
, by having her show simulcasted on the channel during the afternoon and late night. Her show was heard in more than 500 cities in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
and over 35 countries around the world.
Donnellan left ESPN after her diagnosis, surgery and treatment of breast cancer in 2001. Donnellan returned home to Tampa where she eventually signed on with the relatively new Sports Fan Radio Network
Sports Fan Radio Network
The Sports Fan Radio Network was a sports talk radio network that existed from 1996 through 2001, when it abruptly folded.-Launch:SportsFan Radio Network officially debuted in 1993 with 80 hours of programming per month. Based in Las Vegas, the network broadcast its flagship show "SportsFan...
that year. Donnellan used Tampa
Tampa, Florida
Tampa is a city in the U.S. state of Florida. It serves as the county seat for Hillsborough County. Tampa is located on the west coast of Florida. The population of Tampa in 2010 was 335,709....
's WQYK-AM
WQYK (AM)
WQYK " is a radio station in the Tampa, Florida area, owned by CBS Radio. The station broadcasts at 50,000 watts during the day and 5,000 watts at night, directional towards the east and west to protect Jacksonville's WJXL by day, and New York City's WINS, Toronto's CFRB, and Calgary, Alberta's CBR...
1010's studios to produce her show when it was on the Sports Fan Radio Network. She was one of the cornerstones of the network's programming. However, in 2003, Sports Fan parent company Winstar declared bankruptcy. As a result, the Sports Fan Network ceased operation. Donnellan's self imposed hiatus would last 4 years as she recovered from breast cancer surgery and treatment.
Return to broadcasting
The Babe returned to radio in 2006 and 2007, making special guest host appearances for on-air personalities in the Tampa Bay Sports Radio Market for WDAE and WHBOWHBO
WMGG is a talk radio station in the Tampa Bay area of Florida. WHBO is licensed to serve the community of Dunedin, Florida, USA, and is owned by Genesis Communications....
, CBS SPORTS 1010, KJR Seattle, WQAM Miami, WDFN Detroit and several fill in stops including
several weeks at CBS Free FM in New York City. During her on air-on appearances The Babe returned to form and kept the conversations focused on sports and deferred any questions about her personal life by saying "I'm just hanging out, recovering from cancer". She still refers to callers who call in on a cell phone as "rich guy on a cell phone".
She first appeared on January 8 and 9, 2007, filling in for Scot Brantley on WHBO
WHBO
WMGG is a talk radio station in the Tampa Bay area of Florida. WHBO is licensed to serve the community of Dunedin, Florida, USA, and is owned by Genesis Communications....
; Brantley was in Arizona covering the 2007 BCS National Championship Game
2007 BCS National Championship Game
The 2007 BCS National Championship Game, sponsored by Tostitos, was an American football game played at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, on January 8, 2007. The BCS No. 2 Florida Gators defeated the No. 1 Ohio State Buckeyes, 41–14. The Buckeyes secured a spot by finishing...
, in which the Florida Gators
Florida Gators football
The Florida Gators football team represents the University of Florida in the sport of American football. The Florida Gators compete in the Football Bowl Subdivision of the National Collegiate Athletics Association and the Eastern Division of the Southeastern Conference...
had just defeated the Ohio State Buckeyes
Ohio State Buckeyes football
The Ohio State Buckeyes football team is an intercollegiate varsity sports team of The Ohio State University. The team is a member of the Big Ten Conference of the NCAA, playing at the Division I Football Bowl Subdivision, formerly Division I-A, level. The team nickname is derived from the state...
. She again substituted for Brantley on February 27, and two days later (March 1), filled in for Steve Duemig
Steve Duemig
Steve Duemig is an American sports media personality and has had a daily local sports talk show on AM 620 WDAE in Tampa since the mid-1990s. The on air name given to himself is The Big Dog.-Golf career:...
on WDAE, and continued to fill in on sports and news/talk stations around the country.
On April 10, 2008, Donnellan hosted a one-day stint on WRBZ in Raleigh, North Carolina
Raleigh, North Carolina
Raleigh is the capital and the second largest city in the state of North Carolina as well as the seat of Wake County. Raleigh is known as the "City of Oaks" for its many oak trees. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city's 2010 population was 403,892, over an area of , making Raleigh...
; Donnellan guest hosted to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the station switching to the sports radio format; Donnellan's syndicated show was among the first programs aired on the station.http://www.850thebuzz.com/blog/?p=4295 (Audio of appearance) The next day, Donnellan returned to radio full time, and became the co-host, along with Brantley, of "Brantley and the Babe" on WHBO. The program aired during drive time
Drive time
Drive time is the daypart analog to prime time for radio broadcasting. It consists of the morning hours when listeners wake up, get ready, and/or head to work or school, and the afternoon hours when they are heading home and before their evening meal. These are the periods where the number of...
and can be heard through Internet radio
Internet radio
Internet radio is an audio service transmitted via the Internet...
on the station's website. Brantley was laid off from WHBO in January 2009, giving The Babe her own show.
It is now called The Fabulous Sports Babe Show, and in short, The Babe Show. It is on Tampa ESPN1040 at 12 noon.
Her Web site has returned in a blog-style format, supplanting the message it had since 2001, "Gone Fishing."
Personal life and other works
Nanci currently resides at her St. Petersburg, FloridaSt. Petersburg, Florida
St. Petersburg is a city in Pinellas County, Florida, United States. It is known as a vacation destination for both American and foreign tourists. As of 2008, the population estimate by the U.S. Census Bureau is 245,314, making St...
home in Pinellas County. She was a season ticket holder for the Tampa Bay Rays
Tampa Bay Rays
The Tampa Bay Rays are a Major League Baseball team based in St. Petersburg, Florida. The Rays are a member of the Eastern Division of MLB's American League. Since their inception in , the club has played at Tropicana Field...
and can be seen at Tropicana Field
Tropicana Field
Tropicana Field is a domed stadium in St. Petersburg, Florida, which has been the home of Major League Baseball's Tampa Bay Rays since the team's inaugural season in 1998, when they were the Devil Rays. It has also served as the host stadium for the Beef 'O' Brady's Bowl, an NCAA-sanctioned college...
from time to time. She remains a cancer survivor.
With Neal Karlen, she wrote a book, The Babe in Boyland, in which she discussed men, women, football, goalies, strikes, and clueless sports executives in a unique style.