The Boneyard: A New Place To Roam

My last show with CBS was Thursday, June 9, 2011. A lot went into why the show ended, why it ended during the middle of a contract and at the halfway point of a calendar year. While I have zero issues with telling the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth on the entire situation, I ask you to understand my current stance on the matter, which is NOW IS NOT THE RIGHT TIME.

I knew 2011 was most likely the end run for the old show, regardless of when the final good-byes were to be spoken. Starting in late summer of 2010 I began the process of looking forward and charting a new course on a number of levels. I truly didn’t know until roughly 3.5 weeks before the final show that June 10th was to be the final wrap. But, I was prepared for anything.

I’ll admit this – not being allowed to go on air for the final show hurt me a lot. The decision was made late in the day on Thursday, June 9th, by station management. They offered no viable reason for their decision. Earlier in the day, I made my intentions for moving forward very clear, since I was under an air-tight contract through football season. Prior to making my intentions known, all I asked was to be allowed to finish what I had started and do the final show with Viv – business as usual. Basically, I asked for common decency. I was told it was not an issue, that I’d be allowed to put the show to rest the proper way. After declaring my intentions, I was told I couldn’t do the final show. Common decency? Not a chance.

If you’re going to end a gig, where they still have to pay you – to NOT work – June is a really solid choice for timing purposes. I was hired as Director of Operations for the Sports Performance side of the Gordon Institute, and since June 13th I’ve devoted a lot of my time trying to build a special, one-of-a-kind sports and fitness training center for our area. The summer was about friends, traveling with U2, recharging my creative batteries, building a solid and special relationship with my gal, spending quality time with my dogs, planning the what, where, when, who and why for’s of  “Catch The Buzz” and most importantly – getting myself ready in mind, body and spirit to be a part of the football program at Towson University. I cant express in words how much of a blessing it’s been for me to coach under and learn from Rob Ambrose and his staff at Towson. Everyone attached to the program – the players, coaches, parents, alums, administrators, supporters and fans – are high quality, high caliber, can-do people. Towson University football is for real and the people dedicating their lives to make it so are special. Winning the 2011 CAA Championship and finishing ranked 7th nationally was icing on the cake. Being surrounded by men like Rob Ambrose, John Donatelli, Jared Ambrose, Reno Ferri, Mike Waddell, James Vollono, Canute Curtis, Brian Fleury, Dan O’Connell, Jon Dahlquist …on and on and on up and down the line…each and every day is as good as it gets. I’m beyond blessed to be a part of something so special – ONE TOWSON!

“Catch The Buzz” was born many years ago, in my mind. Parts of it played out over the seven year run I had with Mark Viviano. The real concept will take flight in days, weeks, months and years to come here at WNST.net. I need to thank Nestor Aparicio, Tom Kapp and all the investors attached as well as the entire staff at WNST.net for making it an easy choice to join their team. I get to do what I love, surrounded by friends and do it all right here in my home town. We never stop talking…Baltimore Sports. I’m lucky.

The tag line for “Catch The Buzz” is SPORTS TALK AND STUFF…  We’re going to have fun or die trying. I want our listeners involved as much as possible on a regular basis. Plug into what we’re doing here on WNST.net, stream the show online or listen on the radio at 1570am. Find us on Facebook (search Damon B’Dog Yaffe or Catch The Buzz) where we will have a running chat going daily while doing the show. We’ll also use Facebook to play some cool games and give away amazing prizes. Follow us on Twitter @Catch_The_Buzz and always check out our blogs and content right here on WNST.net. Call in and be a part of the show – 4104811570 – or, email us anytime – damon@wnst.net, paulm@wnst.net and greg@wnst.net.

(Meet C.T. Buzz)    (Meet B.D. Buzz) 

If you have ideas for the show, please reach out to us. Your feedback is important. I’m sure there will be many times when we’ll all agree to disagree. Opinion and passion are the the two chambers which make up the heartbeat of sports talk. Bring your “A” game and let’s keep sports talk real, alive, electric and meaningful in our little town of Baltimore.

(Cousin Nat)          (Cousin Bo)

“Catch The Buzz” is Damon Yaffe (The Bulldog), Paul Mittermeier (Mitt), Greg Marsh (GMarsh), my artistic and creative foil Tom Irwin and every single one of you out there wanting to be a part of it. WNST.net is our home. We fly the Purple and Orange flag. Over the weeks and months ahead I’ll implore you to understand the importance of having a media outlet like WNST.net on our local landscape. It’ll probably take me ten blogs to do the topic justice. I’ll make sure the truth is told.

The “Bulldog” has a new yard to roam. I’m happy. I respect what Nestor and his crew have built here at WNST.net. It takes huge cojones to open, operate and run a business like this and an intense loyalty, devotion and entrepreneurial drive to keep it going. I’m surrounded by folks who care about the art and the craft. Professionally, it’s all I need.

So much more to say. So much to be done. The O’s are in first place and a summer of baseball is ahead of us. Lacrosse is in full swing and the NCAA Tournament will be stellar this year. The NFL draft is upon us and the Ravens are “on the clock”. The O’s, crabs, beer, Spring and Summer days in Baltimore, Pimlico, trips down the ocean, Fells, Canton, Fed Hill, nights out in Towson, Belair, Perry Hall, Owings Mills, Catonsville, Annapolis, friends, concerts, The New Romance, local bands, festivals, flea markets, weeknights in the bleachers at Camden Yards with those that bleed orange…it’s time to “Catch The Buzz” on all of it.

“What Had Happened Was?!”, “Purple or Blue Monday”, “BuzzTard of the Week”, “BuzzShots”, “U Sure Can Pick ‘Em”, “Fantasy Baseball Challenge”, “Fantasy Football Challenge”, “The Hillbilly Buzz”, “Buzzer Beater”, “The Hump Day Honey”, “Last Show Thursday”, “The Sports Confessional” – all things we’ll be doing on the show…so much fun to be had with all of you. I hope you’ll tune in and join in and ENJOY!

“Catch The Buzz”, Weekdays 10-Noon on WNST1570 and WNST.net with Damon ” The Bulldog ” Yaffe, Paul Mittermeier (Mitt) and Greg Marsh (GMarsh). Sports talk & stuff…

…HERE WE GO!