‘Loud” and Clear

Sports-Talk Radio Icon Cataldi Holds Nothing Back in Memoir  

When Angelo Cataldi stepped away from the microphone last April, after 33 wildly successful years at the helm of 94WIP Sports Radio’s morning show, it got a little bit quieter in this sports-obsessed town.

But not for long.

Immediately after riding off into the Sea Isle City sunset, the Pulitzer Prize-nominated journalist sat down and started writing.

By Thanksgiving, Cataldi came roaring back with his best-selling book, “LOUD.” Appropriate to the season, the book was inspired by gratitude. “I wrote it because I really wanted to thank all the people who were so loyal to me and my show for so many years. That’s the real purpose,” Cataldi shares.

With the subtitle, “How a Shy Nerd Came to Philadelphia and Turned up the Volume on the Most Passionate Sports City in America,” the book pulls back the curtain on Cataldi’s personal life, his winding path to radio stardom, and the behind-the-scenes mania of the morning show.

With prickly wit and deep insight, Cataldi candidly chronicles his evolution from Rhode Island “nerd” to Ivy League-educated journalist to talk radio conductor of chaos. Hilarious anecdotes and heartfelt homages paint vivid portraits of experiences with athletes and celebrities, callers, and fans, and reveal the real person behind the bombastic persona.

An instant hit, “LOUD” sold out of the hardback edition in 12 hours. “It went on sale at midnight and at noon Amazon was reporting they had no more copies,” Cataldi says. “Barnes and Noble was saying the same thing. They immediately went to paperback.”

This kind of instant success was no surprise to the legion of fans who listened every morning for Cataldi’s hot takes, which swayed from adoration to obliteration depending on the topic. The common thread was always the veracity with which Cataldi delivered his opinion. And through the years, as he was leading the morning show to the rare air of consistently high ratings in a major market, Cataldi was developing a connection with fans that went far beyond sports scores and trade rumors.

How deep those connections went, though, was a revelation to Cataldi when he embarked on a book-tour blitz throughout the region.

“It was incredible. I don’t even have a good word for it,” he says. “There were so many people who had listened, who I had never met, who only knew me from turning on the radio. A few times people broke down, saying, ‘You can’t believe what you meant to my family and my dad was a big listener and he passed away a few years ago.’ These people were just so nice to me and so embracing.”

In fact, those encounters had Cataldi re-evaluating some of his on-air antics. “I was thinking, ‘Wow, if I had known this effect was happening, even if it was just for a few people, I might have conducted myself more professionally,’” he laughs. “Because I was just a ranter and a raver.”

Nonetheless, meeting so many listeners was a new career highlight. “The fact that this job, which was the best job I ever had in my life, had this extra perk was unbelievable,” he says. “I didn’t realize that we were having an impact on people.”

By contrast, Cataldi was deeply aware of the impact the fans had on him. “The whole idea of the book was to pay back all those people who were so loyal,” he says. “It was an incredibly eye-opening experience to talk to so many people and feel the love. I just hope I gave it back. The whole book tour, I never walked away without making sure every signature was taken care of.”

Beyond the fans, the book is brimming with acknowledgments for the people who left their mark on his life and career, from his high school English teacher to his wife Gail, to his cavalry of cohosts, including the legendary Tom Brookshier, who shepherded Cataldi into the radio business.

On the flip side, the book is also flowing with vintage Cataldi vitriol. Suffice it to say Andy Reid and Chris Christie might not want to add “LOUD” to their reading lists anytime soon.

It all adds up to a book that put an exclamation mark at the end of an unparalleled journey. “In my professional career, the most positive thing that ever happened to me was this book,” Cataldi asserts. “I’m proud of what it represents.”

According to critical reviews, there is a lot to be proud of. CNN host and author Michael Smerconish called the book: “Raucous. Rambunctious. Riveting.”

Mitch Albom, the prolific author of “Tuesdays with Morrie," said: “As a regular guest, I was often asked, ‘What’s Angelo like?’ Finally, in this book, we discover the intelligent, witty, and caring man behind the microphone …”

Those discoveries come from Cataldi’s willingness to openly share the personal trials and triumphs silently humming beneath the booming voice. In fact, “LOUD” marks the first time that Cataldi publicly shares his struggle with depression.

That revelation struck yet another chord with fans. “People came to me and said they’d dealt with depression, too. And they I had no idea I’d been dealing with it. And I said, ‘They weren’t paying me to go on the air and sound depressed.’ So, I kind of had a persona that I went to, and it blocked away a lot of stuff I was dealing with personally,” he explains.

Today, Cataldi is glad he shared this side of his story in the book. “People have to understand, there’s no shame in asking for help,” he says. “Don’t feel you have to tough anything out.”

Of course, Cataldi never had to “tough it out” to fit in on the Philadelphia sports scene. His sense of belonging in Philadelphia was immediate and long-lasting.

Arriving at The Philadelphia Inquirer as a sports writer in the 1980s, he approached sports writing like an investigative reporter. “I would literally ask the hard questions,” he says. “I’d pledged to my Columbia University adviser that I would never be a hero worshipper. That’s why Philadelphia was a perfect fit, because the people who covered sports in this town didn’t give a damn if they alienated the people they were covering. It was so different than it was in most cities, especially for sports. I can’t tell you how many times when I was doing the show, I was thinking I should have been born here.”

Birthplace or not, Cataldi made a home for himself here – on and off the airwaves. And now after a full year away from radio, he’s enjoying retirement. Professionally, he stays busy promoting “LOUD,” (including an upcoming appearance just in time for Father’s Day – see sidebar), cohosting his weekly “The TV Show” podcast with Rhea Hughes and Jay Black, and writing blog posts on his website (angelocataldi.com).

Personally, he says, “The best part is waking up in the morning and not having a mountain to climb, not having to fill four hours of radio every day. I’m also closer to my grandkids because I have time now to spend with them, and I’m spending a ton of time with them.”

And much of that time has been spent at Cataldi’s home away from home in Sea Isle City.

“Last year I had the first summer I could spend the whole time down in Sea Isle,” he shares. “The family was down a lot more and it was a great summer. Now we can’t wait for Memorial Day and things will start to get really great. It’s the best part of the year. A beautiful, crystal-clear, low-humidity day on the beach in Sea Isle, that’s heaven to me. That’s perfect.”

WHAT DID ANGELO THINK?

There was plenty to talk about this past year in Philly sports, especially with the Eagles. So, Cataldi’s absence from the airwaves left us with a few burning questions. Here are his fresh takes on a tumultuous year for our Birds.

What do you think caused the Eagles’ stunning collapse last season?

“Awful, awful coaching. The play-calling, the idea that they put two coordinators in place who were not really established, with a team that was coming off a Super Bowl – that they should have won, no less! It was ludicrous.

“They should have gone out and gotten experienced coordinators and they could have gotten their pick of the litter because they had such a great team. And instead, they put two people in power who were not empowered to do it. And the head coach had no way to fix it.

“And I think that as usual, Howie Roseman has had a very good offseason and hopefully, they have a great year because they’ve got a good team. But they had a good team last year. That collapse should never have happened.”

What do you make of the criticism of Jalen Hurts’ leadership style?

“I don’t buy it. You have to be yourself. He was the same way in 2022 and they went to the Super Bowl. People are looking for reasons. Jalen Hurts is not the problem. He’s the least of their problems.

“Jalen Hurts is almost totally blameless to me. The only thing is, he better step up now. Now he has to prove that he could do it the way he did two years ago. But I think he will because when he had a good coach, when Shane Steichen was his offensive coordinator, he was terrific, and I think he will be again with Kellen Moore.”

What do you think the impact of Jason Kelce’s retirement will be?

“It’s almost incalculable because his value was incredible. It was remarkable. It was as much as any player could have value as a leader.

“I’m glad he did it because he took enough abuse for all those years. He had a phenomenal career and he’s going to have a great career in whatever he does next, especially broadcasting because he’s a natural.

“In terms of impact, I think they’re fortunate that they have offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland, who’s so good at what he does that he should be able to help the adjustment.

“But how do you replace Jason Kelce in the locker room? I don’t think you do. I don’t think the Eagles have ever had a better leader than Jason Kelce or a better representative. He’s my all-time favorite Philadelphia sports figure.”

Did you watch his retirement speech?

“I did. This is a great story. We were poolside at a beautiful hotel in St. Thomas. I was not aware that the speech was actually happening in the moment. And I looked over and my wife Gail was sobbing. I went, ‘Oh my God, what’s going on?’ And she says, ‘It’s Jason Kelce’s retirement speech.’ And I said, ‘I have to hear this.’ So, I listened, and it was like everything else he did … magical. It was second to none.

“And it’s a loss, but he gave all he could for a long time. He deserves to have that great life. He gave us a championship. There’s no better gift than that.”

GET “LOUD”

• Angelo Cataldi’s book “LOUD” is available in paperback, on Kindle, and as an audiobook.

• Pick up the book in Barnes & Noble bookstores, independent bookstores, and big box stores.

• Order online on amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com, or angelocataldi.com (where you can also order a personalized version.)

• The audiobook is narrated with emotion and humor by Angelo himself. You can order it on angelocataldi.com or wherever you order your audiobooks.

UPCOMING APPEARANCE

Just in time for Father’s Day, Angelo Cataldi will be holding a book-signing event down the shore.

Here are the details:

Saturday, June 15, Noon-2pm

at Sun Rose Words and Music, 756 Asbury Ave., Ocean City

Books will be on sale at the event, but you can also bring your own book to have it signed.