There was always a high regard in the then Viacom hallways for Farid Suleman who had just ended his 16-year relationship with Mel Karmazin to run Citadel Communications. That was in 2002. In 5 years Citadel has become the 3rd largest radio group in the country. Suleman topped his Citadel Communications sundae with a giant cherry when he purchased ABC from Disney last year for $2.7 billion. Farid Suleman became his former mentor with that purchase. No one is bigger in the radio industry at the moment, not even Mel Karmazin who sweats it out to see whether he'll be running one satellite company or two...
In a New York Post column from this morning's edition, Peter Lauria suggests that Suleman is the front-runner to sign Don Imus. Last week he signed Bob Grant, a New York radio outcast since his tasteless comment on the late Commerce Secretary Ron Brown who died in a plane crash. Is the I-man next? Suleman told the Post that Imus' availability would be an opportunity and he would consider hiring Donald only if he could make the numbers work. Suleman's comments can be found in the dictionary under the word "coy". Like Suleman would turn down a $30 million addition to the Citadel coffers!!!
The Citadel website proudly trumpets its "177 FM stations, 66 AM stations in the nation's leading markets, a network that reaches more than 4,000 affiliates and such syndicated radio programs as Paul Harvey, Sean Hannity, Tom Joyner, 24/7 music formats and a company focused exclusively on the radio business." Will the name Don Imus go up next on their website? Stay tuned...
10 Timeline Memories:
- 1859] Oil, black gold, Pennsylvania tea?: The 1st oil well is drilled successfully in the U.S. by Colonel Edwin L. Drake near Titusville, Pennsylvania...
- 1921] Cheeseheads are born: The owner of the Acme Packing Co. buys a football team for the town of Green Bay (WI). J.E. Clair pays tribute to those who work at his plant by naming the team - The Green Bay Packers. To this day, the only community owned team in any sport...
- 1961] Are you talking to me?: Francis the Talking Mule is mystery guest on "What's My Line"...
- 1966] The King meets the Beatles: Elvis Presley invites the Beatles over to his Bel Aire house to jam. It's the 1st and last meeting of the pop icons and the Beatles remember that meeting: http://youtube.com/watch?v=KtTM7tnDGLI ...
- 1976] Not that there's anything wrong with that: Sex-change tennis player Renee Richards is denied admission to the U.S. Open in Forest Hills. They couldn't figure out whether Renee would be in the men's or women's competition...
- 1982] Legal larceny: 23-year old Rickey Henderson steals his 119th base, breaking Lou Brock's season record. Now first base coach for the Mets, Rickey still holds the career record of 1,406 SB's...
- 1984] Teacher in Space: President Ronald Reagan announces his "Teacher in Space" project, 11,000 teachers apply and Christa McAuliffe of New Hampshire is selected but will tragically lose her life aboard Challenger. Barbara Morgan, a former teacher and part of the program recently returned safely from her mission...
- 1990] "Happy Trails": 35-year old Texas rocker Stevie Ray Vaughan (who took his brother Jimmie's seat) and 3 members of Eric Clapton's crew are killed in a helicopter crash in Wisconsin in bad flying weather...
- 1992] Sold to the highest bidder: John Lennon's handwritten lyrics to "A Day In The Life" are sold for $87,000 at auction: http://youtube.com/watch?v=gZez_k4vAzU ...
- 2001] A lasting memorial: Work begins on the future site of a WWII memorial in Washington, D.C...
Music Memories:
- 1965] Released on this date: "Highway 61 Revisited" - Bob Dylan...1966] "Cherish" - Association... [To ensure accuracy of dates and content, multiple reference sources are used in each timeline]...
Commentary...
Get well wishes go out to Joe McCoy. Belated birthday wishes go out to Jeff Mazzei of WCBS-FM. Happy Birthday to Gordon Brown and Joe D'Ambrosio, who are celebrating birthdays this week...
"Happy Birthday...happy birthday":
Paul Reubens a.k.a. Pee Wee Herman (55), Tuesday Weld (64), Daryl Dragon a.k.a. The Captain (65), Tommy Sands (70) and Ira ("Rosemary's Baby") Levin (78)...
Timeline Countdown: 3 days until the College Football Kickoff, 7 days until Labor Day and 10 days until the NFL opener...
