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South Beach Sessions - Jim Rome - The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz | Wave AI Podcast Notes

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South Beach Sessions - Jim Rome

Thu Dec 05 2024

The bombastic sports radio icon Jim Rome unleashes it all with Dan Le Batard as the two get into the weeds of creating their own paths in Los Angeles and Miami, being brutally honest at all coasts, and building their loyal audience over decades.

Summary

Podcast Summary: South Beach Sessions - Jim Rome

Podcast Title: The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz
Host/Author: Dan Le Batard, Stugotz
Episode: South Beach Sessions - Jim Rome
Release Date: December 5, 2024

Introduction

In this compelling episode of South Beach Sessions, Dan Le Batard welcomes legendary sports radio host Jim Rome to the Elser Hotel in Downtown Miami. Dan expresses his admiration for Jim's enduring presence in the competitive world of sports media and sets the stage for an in-depth conversation about Rome's career, work ethic, and personal insights.

Dan Le Batard [00:48]:
"I'm excited about this one because this isn't in South Beach. This is on this man's turf... I've never seen you do much of this."

Jim Rome's Career Beginnings

Jim Rome opens up about his roots, highlighting his upbringing in Los Angeles and the pivotal moments that shaped his career in sports radio. He shares his journey from starting in San Diego to establishing himself in Orange County, emphasizing the loyalty and dedication that fueled his rise.

Jim Rome [01:41]:
"Technically, I'm an LA native. Grew up in Los Angeles, got the big break in San Diego and then came back to LA. I've lived in Orange County for about 25 years now..."

Work Ethic and Drive

A central theme of the discussion is Rome's relentless work ethic. He describes himself as the "last of the Mohicans" in the realm of single-host programs, maintaining a fiercely loyal audience through unwavering consistency and dedication.

Jim Rome [05:30]:
"We’re in a firefight to be seen and heard. And how do I do that without compromising who I am?"

Dan probes into the intensity of Jim's commitment, likening it to solitary confinement, to which Rome acknowledges the challenge but affirms his passion for the grind.

Dan Le Batard [05:00]:
"You don't have to do any of that. You could very easily could have stopped doing any of it ten years ago and... Not really."

Jim Rome [05:30]:
"It's hard. I like it. I want to see where I still fit in. I want to solve this particular puzzle."

Building and Maintaining an Audience

Jim discusses the evolution of his audience over three decades, noting the shift from a less saturated market to today's competitive landscape. He emphasizes the importance of authenticity and continuous reinvention to keep his show relevant and engaging.

Jim Rome [07:01]:
"I have a lot of pride in the fact that you have to earn their trust and get them to come back every single day."

Pioneering Sports Radio Formats

Rome shares insights into how he differentiated his show from others, pioneering a format that fostered a competitive yet cohesive listener culture. He highlights innovations like interactive call-ins and cultivating an engaged community that contributed to his show's success.

Jim Rome [41:10]:
"We built this thing door to door. We started with four stations... It was incredible."

Personal Reflections and Legacy

The conversation delves into Rome's personal reflections on his career trajectory and the legacy he's building. He expresses a sense of accomplishment but also a wistfulness about the years devoted to his craft, acknowledging the sacrifices made along the way.

Jim Rome [57:08]:
"I do wish I had been more intentional or focused in the moment... That was my process."

Dan connects this to his own experiences, exploring the balance between professional dedication and personal fulfillment.

Family Dynamics and Work-Life Balance

Rome candidly discusses the impact of his career on his family life. He credits his wife, Janet, for her unwavering support and highlights the strong relationships with his sons, despite the demanding nature of his work. He reflects on the challenges of being an absentee father and the pride he takes in his family's achievements.

Jim Rome [54:37]:
"I'm more proud... we have two kids that are amazing and I said a great example... They're good dudes."

Dan Le Batard [54:37]:
"The reason I keep asking you about father and son stuff is just because so much in sports has father and son stuff in it."

Legacy and Mutual Respect

Towards the end of the episode, both Dan and Jim express mutual respect and admiration for each other's careers. They acknowledge the unique challenges they've faced and the dedication required to sustain their success over the years.

Jim Rome [68:45]:
"I really appreciate your support because there are a lot of people that were not in any hurry to give me any credit."

Dan Le Batard [68:52]:
"You've been a crazy person for 35 years, Jim."

Closing Remarks

The episode concludes on a heartfelt note, with both hosts reaffirming their respect and support for one another. They share a light-hearted moment, encapsulating the camaraderie and deep professional respect that underpins their long-standing presence in the sports media landscape.

Jim Rome [69:19]:
"If you think that, you could talk some shit."

Dan Le Batard [69:47]:
"It was really lovely."

Notable Quotes with Timestamps

Dan Le Batard [00:48]:
"This isn't in South Beach. This is on this man's turf... I admire him for a number of reasons."
Jim Rome [05:30]:
"We’re in a firefight to be seen and heard. And how do I do that without compromising who I am?"
Jim Rome [07:01]:
"I have a lot of pride in the fact that you have to earn their trust and get them to come back every single day."
Jim Rome [41:10]:
"We built this thing door to door. We started with four stations... It was incredible."
Jim Rome [54:37]:
"I'm more proud... we have two kids that are amazing and I said a great example... They're good dudes."
Jim Rome [57:08]:
"I do wish I had been more intentional or focused in the moment... That was my process."
Jim Rome [68:45]:
"I really appreciate your support because there are a lot of people that were not in any hurry to give me any credit."
Jim Rome [69:19]:
"If you think that, you could talk some shit."

Conclusion

This episode of South Beach Sessions offers an intimate glimpse into Jim Rome's enduring career, his unwavering dedication, and the personal sacrifices made in the pursuit of his passion for sports media. Through candid conversations and mutual respect, both hosts highlight the relentless drive and strategic mindset that have solidified Rome's legacy in the industry.

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Transcript

Jim Rome (0:01)

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Dan Le Batard (0:48)

Welcome to South Beach Sessions. I'm excited about this one because this isn't in South Beach. This is on this man's turf. This man has run LA A conqueror for a long time, and I admire him for a number of reasons. And I moved that he would make the time in this setting for a couple of reasons. One, he braved two hours worth of traffic at the end of a bad and difficult work week. But more importantly, I've never seen you do much of this. I read the research notes and I'm like, jim Rome has been in front of me for 30 years and nobody knows shit about the actual real Jim Rome. They know the radio character, which is probably your real character, turned up a few notches. But I'm not sure anyone knows you. So thank you. Because, you know, I like to interview and I'm imagining that, you know, I'm a pretty good interviewer. So you're allowing yourself to be seen.

Jim Rome (1:41)

Yeah. No, I appreciate this. I think you're right. Now, I'm not an LA guy. Technically, I'm an LA native. Grew up in Los Angeles, got the big break in San Diego and then came back to LA. I've lived in Orange county for about 25 years now, so that's why I had to brave the element. But you know what? For this opportunity, for this place, happy to do it. Happy for the invite. And I appreciate you, dude. Appreciate you.

Dan Le Batard (2:03)

Thank you. Why is it that people might be able to argue they don't really know you after listening to you for four hours a day, every day for 30 years?

Jim Rome (2:12)

I think that they do know me. Listen, here's the thing. I think that there was this misnomer that on the way up. Well, first of all, if we backtrack, I've done this a very long time. So on the way up, there was this notion of, man, that's a bad guy, that's a bad guy. He's that he's this, he's the other. And I can remember when I first got into it. And keep in mind, this was way back before there was the Internet, there was social media. And my family and friends would see this and they would see people either really love me or really want to fight me. And they would take great offense. And I'm like, hey, listen, this is what we signed up for. This is the way this is going to go. This is a show. This is the way I really am. For better or for worse. However, I understand that I need to give them a show. It's gotta be authentic. It's gotta be real. I'm not talking out my ass. But I'll tell you what I don't do. I don't come home and talk smack to my wife. I'm not on 24 and 7. I understand the job. So do they really know me? I think if you listen to me every single day in the car for 30 years and radio is such a one on one median. Of course they think they know me. But do you really, really know me? Do you really, really know what's going on and here what makes me tick? Probably not.

Jim Rome (15:20)

Yes. Thank you. This is why. One of the reasons I go hard and have always gone hard, I did get out of the business for a minute, and it went badly. Badly. I went in. I had a bad experience my senior year in high school or in college, where I worked for a radio station for nine months for free. Happy to do it. And then the news director says to me, I got good news for you, son. We got you a paying job. And I'm like, man, not only am I on a commercial radio station, not the college station, but a commercial station, paid hell, yes, my time. He goes, all you have to do is cut a demo tape, play it for the owner. He signs off, and we are gold, baby. I'm like, you got it. I knock out this tape, I give it to the owner, and the owner goes back to the news director, my boss, and goes, I hate this kid. I hate him. He's not on my station. And I'm like, I already am on your station for free, once a week. And I'm like, that's a bad experience. I can't control my destiny. I don't like that because I have a family business to fall back on. So I go to my same father. I'm like, hey, dad, I'm gonna come to work for you. And he looks at me and he says, hey, son, the hell you are. I'm like, what? He's like, you're not working here. I'm like, what father doesn't want their son to be a legacy and follow in their footsteps? He said, me, you never once expressed any interest in this business. You cannot work here. I'm like, wow. Because I was young and dumb, I just. I'm like, big house, nice car, president. That's what I want. That's what I want. When. That's never what I wanted. So I wore him down. I got into it. He fired me. I went into sales. I couldn't sell anything, dude. I was miserable, cold, calling Terrible products, terrible territories. And finally one boss said to me, she's like, man, you are terrible at sales. All you ever talk about is radio. If I were you, I'd go back and do that. So it was that thing that you might have done. Construction. I tried to go into sales. I was terrible at that. I have had immense gratitude for all of this ever since.

Jim Rome (32:20)

All right, so let me say this. I appreciate you saying that. Here's the one thing that if you were to say, well, what do they not know about you that maybe they should know about you? Or what do people not know about you that you would like them to know? That I'm not that smart and that it's hard work and I've always worked this way. Going back to that thing I said about if I'm wistful about anything, all right, so I'm not lonely. The pursuit of this is not lonely. I'm a Little wistful about this. My son Jake, our older son, once said to me, hey, Dad, I get that you're not like other dads. It's okay. Which I interpreted to be, it's kind of a drag that you're not like other dads. And what he meant by that is, I get up at 4:30, I go to work, I grind out, I come home, I get my cardio in, we have dinner. Now, when the kids played ball, they played high school baseball and travel ball and all that. I never ever missed anything. But Dan. I'd go into that home office and I'd grind every single night, every single night. So we weren't. We never went out during the week unless it was business related. And that was not that nine to five life. And I think that, you know, my son, I think, would look at other dads and be like, hey, man, how come we can't do stuff like that? Well, Dad's gotta work. So is that selfish? Is that wrong? And then I would say, yeah, but. But look at the house that you're living in. Look at the neighborhood you're living in. Look at the schools, the public schools, the best schools in the country that we're sending you to. And then his response was something, because he's such a great kid. I never asked for that big house. I never needed that nice car, you know. And I don't want to oversell it because we're like this, you know, we have two kids that are amazing and I said a great example. And believe me, the kid, the kid's all about the grind. Jake, we talk business. I set a really good example for him. But if I'm a little wistful about anything in this whole thing is that commitment, that that's what it took for me to achieve what I achieved and still be in the game right now. And I'm still working like that. And to be honest, I don't know that everybody around me who works with me understands that. Even, like, you know, the world's changed. Like, why? For who? For what? Because this is what I've always done. And then when I'm done, I'll be done.

Jim Rome (47:19)

Possibly. You know, there aren't many. You know, it's. I understood the business because I always treated it like a business, because I grew up in a family business and I was not an idiot talent that let it get away from me and always treated it as such. I understood the business. As an example, when I was coming up, I'd look in the parking lot, all the nice cars were driven by the sales reps, not the talent. Like, talent's like, hey, man, none of these people exist without me. When I kind of inverted it and understood that, no, we don't exist without them. They need to sell the show. They're the ones with the nice exotic whips, not us. We're grinding. So I always understood that what was really interesting on the way up, business wise, when I started to make it, when I was in local radio, man, they'd make me endorse everything. And I would just. I'm like, I would never use that. And they're like, you really just do it. And I really resented it. Like, I'm like, it. They made me. They used my voice on everything. So when I finally got enough leverage, I went into the GM's office one day. I'm like, hey, you know what? Guess what? I'm never doing another commercial again, the rest of my career, ever, ever. That's how we solve that problem. Now we no longer have to worry about what I will and won't do. I'm doing nothing because I had a hammer at that point. Finally. Finally. And then Premier Radio Networks bought my show. That's how we kind of built the thing out after we started to syndicate. And there's a guy who's my manager, who's an icon in the business, Craig Kitchen. And he approached me totally differently. And he's had enormous clients, you know, Rush Limbaugh, Glenn Beck. He's built some incredible businesses. He ran Clear Channel back in the day. He sits me down, he goes, hey, Jim, now that we have an agreement, great to have you. Listen, can we talk about commercials? I'm like, yeah. He's like, now I know where you stand on this. Let me explain to you how this could benefit your brand and your business if you had these brand partnerships and he didn't jam it down my throat and bang me over the head with it. And then I understood. So, yeah, I've always understood kind of the business and never thought that I was more important. It's business, man. It's. The show is business. I understand this.