It has certainly been amazing reading the many email messages and comments that I’ve received from loyal Don & Mike fans over these past couple of months. We are birds of a feather in that, we are not ones who typically call in to the show, but we listen consistently and enjoy the personalities of the show.

Over the years, one of those personalities was, of course, Don’s wife Freda. From your comments and emails, I think we all pretty consistently understand that some of the most honest moments of the show came during those times that Don and Freda were having a “discussion” on the air. Of course, the most honest moments of radio I EVER heard was Don’s very moving discussion of his wife on August 1, 2005; his first day back on the radio after Freda’s tragic death.

I put up a post talking about that, of course, but truly, I’ve never heard a more honest and candid moment on radio ever. And as a guy who listens to satellite radio and drives three hours a day, five days a week, I listen to a LOT of radio.

But, of course, that was Mike Sorce talking, not Don Geronimo, and Mike/Don took some time to try and explain that to some of the listeners whom he knew wouldn’t understand why he was, as Mike Sorce, sending his heartfelt thanks out to Jack Diamond of Q107.3, a guy who he endlessly badmouthed as “Don Geronimo.” Some of the comments posted by readers as well as email I’ve received highlights the fact that, unfortunately, there are still many who do not understand this dichotomy.

They think that, because Don Geronimo badmouthed this person or that person, they should be able to badmouth Mike and Freda Sorce and forward rumors and myths related to Freda’s accident. And when other readers, as well as myself, respond negatively and point out how inappropriate such behaviour is, they act surprised.

How can someone not understand that the Don & Mike Show is business, whereas Mike and Freda Sorce is personal?

The fact is, the radio biz is a very serious business indeed, generating billions in revenues for media companies each year. But when the Don & Mike Show kicked off in the mid 80’s radio was just beginning to experience a big transition.

For a long time, FM stations were slowly and surely killing off AM rivals, but, if I remember correctly, even FM stations were not experiencing the boom they have in the past 10 to 20 years. What helped bring new life to radio in general and the AM spectrum in particular? Talk radio, of course.

Yes, Rush is one of the most recognized names in the radio biz, as is Howard Stern; but the Don & Mike Show was there from the beginning of the talk radio boom, and they have made their own unique mark in this business. As I’ve said before, they don’t follow normal conventions of what makes a radio show successful. They do their own thing, follow their own pattern, go where they want to go; reminding listeners along the way that, if you don’t like it, take a hike.

But the success of their show is based on the fact that Don and Mike know the ruthless world of radio entertainment better than the vast majority of players out there. In radio, as in any business, you see and hear things which may look, feel, and sound personal, but really are not. And competition in the media world is especially ruthless.

In the entertainment media world, you either show results or you are gone. It’s not personal, it’s just business.

Have I harped on that enough?

So, back to my point. When Mike Sorce went on the air on August 1, it was a first for Mike, as well as a VERY unique event in the media world overall. Rarely do we see such honest glimpses of someone in that industry. That’s why I was so blown away and so impressed; because it was so incredibly rare.

Yes, Freda and “Don” showed us many honest moments during the show over the years, but Don’s big advantage was that Freda once worked in radio and understood both its complexities as well as its demands. Don pushed the envelope with some of his on-air comments, but Freda also knew that it was a requirement of the industry in a way that most spouses do not.

So, for those of you who have had a hard time understanding the difference between Don Geronimo and Mike Sorce, I hope this helps. Don Geronimo is part of a very successful business which has thrived in a highly competitive and ruthless industry. Mike Sorce is the man who leaves the studio and was Freda’s loving husband, as well as Bart’s dedicated father.

What Don Geronimo says and does is not necessarily what Mike Sorce says and does.

And Freda’s death is part of Mike Sorce’s world, even though it also effects Don Geronimo’s world too. So, for those of you who want to act as if the various debates regarding Freda are fair game, this is why I have consistently labelled your comments as cruel and inappropriate. Your assumption that Don Geronimo and Mike Sorce are the same person is completely wrong, and Mike candidly pointed that out for you on August 1.

May those with ears to hear understand what I am saying.

David Flanagan
Viewpointjournal.com