Steve True

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Steve "The Homer" True
Born	November 13, 1954 (1954-11-13) (age 53) South Bend, Indiana, U.S.
Occupation	Sportscaster
Website 540 ESPN Bio[1]

Steve True (born November 13, 1954) , better known as Steve "The Homer" True, is an American sportscaster from South Bend, Indiana. He attended the University of Wisconsin at Madison, University of Arizona and Indiana University South Bend. His father was a professor at the University of Notre Dame for a period before becoming a professional speaker, which he did for 40 years, where he was known as "The World's Greatest Edutainer". ^[1]

True was an sports anchor on Milwaukee's WISN's Channel 12 5 PM News where he was given an Emmy award for his work. He also hosted The World's Greatest Sports Talk Show on WISN 1130 AM. Starting on September 27, 2005^[2], True became the host of a new version of the World's Greatest Sports Talk Show on WAUK ESPN 540. In addition to having the top ranked sports show in Wisconsin, True is also the play-by-play voice for Marquette University's Men's Basketball team.^{[citation needed]}

Contents 1 Early life 2 Prior to ESPN 3 Career at ESPN Radio 4 True's Famous Show Spots 5 Marquette Men's Basketball play by play man 6 References 7 External links

[edit] Early life

True was a outstanding Tennis player growing up, because, he says, "I wasn't good enough at any other sport." ^[3] Played Tennis at the University of Wisconsin, where his nickname on the team was "Tank." He returned home to South Bend to finish his degree at the Indiana University South Bend, in Accounting. Was the assistant head tennis coach at Notre Dame University in South Bend, Indiana. Was a finalist for the head tennis coach's job at Indiana University but did not get it. Then got into radio after attending Midwestern Broadcast College in Chicago, Illinois. ^[4]

[edit] Prior to ESPN

Prior to working with ESPN, Steve "the Homer" True was known by his real name, Steve True, as an on-air personality with numerous radio stations, WIXK, WIBA, WTDY, and finally WISN.^[5] True made his name in Milwaukee on 1130 WISN from 1989-2005 hosting the evening sports talk show. It was originally weeknights from 6-7PM but True's style and nature made the ratings climb sharply leading to a expanded two hour weekday format from 6-8 PM. It was at WISN where True got the name "the Homer". He's a homer, "but not idiot," as he puts it. It was also at WISN where True became a Milwaukee radio power. His radio shows added a fresh perspective for listeners and a guest list that rivaled other radio station powerhouses. His strength in the business gave producers and guests opportunities to gain their own shows and promotions due to True's ability to include everybody on his staff in almost every show. True's biggest miscalculation came on the evening when the Packers signed future Hall of Famer Brett Favre, calling the trade a mistake.

[edit] Career at ESPN Radio

On September 27, 2005, True began his new show at ESPN radio 1510 days/ 1290 Nights on WAUK.^[6] True's show has since moved to the new ESPN station at 540 AM in the Wisconsin market. True broadcasts weekdays from 2PM-6PM, here he is also simulcasted in Madison. He is also a frequent contributor to the 9AM-Noon program on ESPN 540, The D-List, with his good friend Dan Needles (a former co-worker at WISN TV), Drew Olson (president of the Baseball Writers Association), Bill Johnson (longtime sports radio personality & University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Men's basketball play by play man).

Has developed a reputation for having the strongest guest lists of any Milwaukee radio sports talker. Regular guests include Packers insider Jason Wilde (Wisconsin's Sportswriter of the year), Current Packers star OL Mark Tauscher aka "The Eraser", Former University of Wisconsin Athletic Director Pat Richter, Former NFL star Joe Panos, Miami Heat Superstar Dwyane Wade, St. Louis University's Men's Basketball Coach Rick Majerus, and ESPN's John Clayton, Chris Mortensen, and Buster Olney.

True has also coined many phrases used by many like, "Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner," "Good Evening ladies and gentleman, boys and girls, and gifted animals," and "play ball," among others. He also is known for his ability to give nicknames that stick.

[edit] True's Famous Show Spots

Some of True's frequent spots on his show include:

• Starting every show with the National Anthem. Gives Milwaukee area listeners a chance to show their talents.

• Everyday at 4:50, Homer will talk to Packers insider Jason Wilde.

• Win Homer's Money, where contestants compete to win Homer's own money.

• Cold as Ice - every time Green Bay Packers General Manager Ted Thompson's name is brought up, the phrase "You're as cold as ice" (from the song by Foreigner) plays.

• Angry Sports Talk, where Uncle Homer lets callers and emailers rant about anything that makes them upset in the sports world.

• Tuesday's with Tauscher, where Green Bay Packers offensive lineman Mark Tauscher spends an hour talking everything from beauty to tennis to Packers. True beat Tauscher in tennis prior to the 2007 where True was impressed with Tauscher's skill level.

• All Packers, all the time, where True will shut off all talk of other sports to talk Packers because True feels no matter what season people love to talk Green Bay Packers football.

• Rain Manis WISN sports director and D-List host Dan Needles taking on other callers in sports trivia.

• The Great Saltine Challenge, where True believes it is humanly impossible to eat 12 saltine crackers in a minute without water. No man, woman, or child have been successful.

• His regular callers are both loved and despised by listeners. The most popular regulars include, "Buc" the local Tampa Bay fan who hates anything Wisconsin with the exception of Brett Farve; The Anti Homer; and Mr. Negative.

[edit] Marquette Men's Basketball play by play man

True is the current play by play man for the Marquette University's men's basketball team. He is known as a classic type play by play man. True is known for giving the Marquette players unique nicknames that matches their playing style and life stories. Successfully predicted that Dwyane Wade would be a superstar after a Wade performance in a Marquette tournament win at the Great Alaska Shootout. Wade had three levels of play: D-Wade, Micro-Wade, and Tidal-Wade. Homer also said about Wade- even when he was bad, he was good. And when he was good, he was real good. Travis Diener was the teenage assassin. Steve Novak was money. Marquette games are broadcast on his current station, ESPN 540 WAUK in Milwaukee.^[7]

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• [2] True interview
• [3]True's official site at ESPN radio