Rob Parker (sports journalist)

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Rob Parker (born in New York City, 1962-) is a Detroit News newspaper sports columnist and radio broadcaster. Parker co-hosts with Mark Wilson Parker & The Man (Wilson is the 'Man') on Detroit's WKRK Live 97.1 FM from 7PM-11PM five days a week and is the top rated sports radio show in michigan. Parker is also a regular on Quite Frankly with Stephen A. Smith's weekly Back Page Panel, a sportswriters roundtable discussion of the week's hottest sports topics. Parker attended Southern Connecticut State University and Columbia University for graduate studies in journalism. Parker used to be the Detroit Pistons beat reporter, and has covered some of the most important sports events in recent Detroit history. He first worked as a broadcaster on WDFN's afternoon drive show with longtime host Mike "Stony" Stone, before leaving and being replaced with Bob "Wojo" Wojonowski, a fellow Detroit News sports columnist. In 2006, Parker expanded to television, he hosts Sports Rap, a weekly sports digest show on the FSN Detroit cable channel.

Personally, Parker is divorced, and came to Detroit from New York partially because his former wife was from the area. He is known over the air for his distinct New York vocal accent and his joking whine when speaking. He is a self-confessed lover of Major League Baseball, particularly The National League. African-American, Parker is not shy to discuss the racial aspects of current sports events, such as the NBA off-court dress policy, or the lack of African-Americans in NFL coaching positions. Often challenged by local sports fans for his controversial opinions, as they relate to race relations in sports, his opinions are usually respected by listeners even if they disagree. Parker owns a barber shop in Detroit and sometimes strays from a strict diet of sports topics to discuss Detroit politics and larger social issues. Mark Wilson, 'The Man' is a very engaging and able partner and tends to play the straight man to Parker. Parker dated FOX Sports sideline reporter Pam Oliver for several years. They broke up, partially, according to Parker's on air comments, because of the media scrutiny.