Scott Sloan: My Favorite Opening Day Memory

There are two seasons in Cincinnati: Winter and baseball.

My favorite moment is walking into the park on what is usually a cold, windy and often rainy Monday in early April and literally witnessing the seasons change. Catching that first glimpse of green outfield turf, hearing the pop of the ball in a glove and smelling the hot dogs grilling instantly erases what seems like six months of gray skies, brown grass and salt stains.

 






Scott SloanBio of Scott Sloan
9pm-Midnight personality on 700WLW
Host of Extra Innings



Sabermetrics.
Ultimate Value Index.
Super Linear weighting.
Defensive-Independent ERA.

Not only does 700WLW’s Scott Sloan not know what those terms mean, he’s proud to be the only true voice of the Reds fan enjoying baseball the way it used to be before becoming overrun with amateur statisticians and mind-numbing analysis. Just like the guys doing the game on 700WLW, he makes following the team fun.

One of his fondest memories are road trips with his father to see games at several old parks, including (of course) Riverfront stadium where figures like Bench, Perez and Morgan loomed larger than life. To him, baseball is the first glimpse of a perfectly manicured green outfield set against the grey skies of early April. It’s the sound of the soft pop of a fastball striking leather. It’s the feel of a cold beer in one hand and nuts in the other.

Extra Innings with Scott Sloan captures the sensation of sitting in the stands and watching the Reds while overhearing fans complaining about overpaid athletes, $11 nachos and the comparison of every player on the roster to Pete Rose.

Simply put, “Sloanie” has people talking:

“Scott Sloan was the guy who turned me on to the whole look of wearing a watch on top of a sweatband.” -Dusty Baker

“If we would have had him in the clubhouse back then, we wouldn’t have won any World Series titles.” -Sparky Anderson

“He’s awesome! My favorite sports show of all time.” -Scott Sloan

“If I would have listened to his advice I wouldn’t have been traded. And traded. And traded…” -Tracy Jones

“I didn’t raise you like this. Why are you making up quotes from famous athletes? Your father’s not like this. I’m worried sick.” -Sloan’s Mom

Extra Innings with Scott Sloan is a different kind of baseball show, and his approach has quickly become a fan favorite for tens of thousands of Tri-State listeners. It’s Reds talk by—and for--the common fan! Weeknights Monday- Thursday following Reds baseball.

Scott Sloan
Host Sports Talk, 9pm-Midnight, 700 WLW