How do you describe a cloud formation? Or that perfect bite of soufflé ? I don’t know…but I DO know this. I’m a Leo and the ladies dig me. So do puppies and postal workers. Wait…what?
Now that I have your attention let’s get on with this biography assignment. I’m a native Algerine…a Wanker. For ya’ll that don’t know what that means I grew up on the Westbank - on Lauradale Drive in Algiers. It’s near Behrman Stadium and O. Perry Walker High School. I didn’t go there, however. I attended Archbishop Shaw, also on the Westbank, but decided to go away for college…across the river to UNO. Other than moving to Las Vegas, which is WAAAAAAY across the river, I’ve never lived anywhere but the Westbank. Las Vegas was great but it wasn’t home. Wanna hear a true story? It was while watching the movie “Blaze” in a Vegas theatre…and seeing those beautiful shots of Louisiana…and realizing HOW MUCH I missed this amazing area that I decided to come home after 9 months. I’ve never regretted it.
I got my B.A. some 13 years after graduating from Shaw. I’m not THAT dumb, I just picked up a minor in life along the way. Some of the “classes” I took included construction at the rebuild of the Continental Grain elevator, purchasing materials for the Mississippi River Bridge Authority, service management for Firestone and an insurance sales career that lasted for about 48 hours. The problem was that “siren song” of radio. It was always beckoning and I had to answer its call.
Morning shows and music radio had been my forte’ until that day in August 2005 when a hurricane named Katrina would change all of our lives forever. It sent me to WWL where I had the fortune to work closely with Garland Robinette, watch the master and work and absorb as much as I could. I had always been a fan of WWL, first falling in love with morning radio listening to Bob Ruby and Maury Magill while driving to UNO in the mid 70’s and attempting to delude myself into an accounting major. That love affair with the Big 870 continued throughout the years with the many great stars that have graced the airwaves…names like Eric Tracy, Rob Aubert and, of course, David Tyree. I cannot begin to express how humbling it can be to walk into the studio and know that I now get to share that same microphone.
I’m glad that I took the “road less traveled” and spent that time bouncing around from job to job...ah…that is… I mean …gaining valuable life experience. That experience has been as helpful as my degree when it comes to my job here at WWL. Having knowledge of the practical along with the theoretical often helps me separate fact from fiction and perception from reality. That, simply put, is my goal when I tackle and try to make sense of so many of the complicated issues that we all face today.
I’ve owned a home in Belle Chasse since 1993 and I live there with my wife, daughter, two dachshunds and a Scottish terrier that is absolutely out of his mind. It can be a circus but that’s good…because circuses are fun, extremely entertaining and never boring.
The horror of 19 people being shot at a New Orleans 'Second Line' parade was something everyone wanted to talk about this morning. Trying to make sense of the senseless violence we deal with on a near-daily basis is one thing, but trying to...
A guy named Matt called the show today to reminice about missing Louisiana. Matt is from LaPlace and then lived in Mid-City.
He followed a good woman to Denmark, but is pretty homesick. And, hearing what he had to eat in Denmark every day...
Some pretty powerful interviews this morning. Apparently, when I go to church by myself, I've been doing it wrong.
We talked to Archbishop Gregory Aymond about the rash of violence and robberies in local Catholic churches. A woman was mugged...
tommy@wwl.com - 3.18.13
Is it the pup or the press? That's the question again today after news of a horrific pit bull mauling in Westwego that left a 54-year-old woman in intensive care at the LSU interim hospital, minus an ear, an eye and without...
Apparently the DOTD is poised to make good on one of the many threats that were made if the tolls on the Crescent City Connection expired, as required by law, on December 31, 2012. They say they'll pull the plug on the decorative lighting that has...
We were honored to have Saints running back Mark Ingram this morning.
In addition to being a proud member of the Black and Gold, Ingram is also a Crimson Tide alumni who had a somewhat standout career at Alabama.
With the way things have...
I had a hard time getting to sleep last night after hearing of the tragedy here in the Crescent City…of a 23 year old mother who snuffed out the lives of her two children…shooting her 3 year old son and drowning her 4 year old daughter. I...
I was honored to be joined by Joe Unitas this morning on the eve of Drew Brees breaking his father's 52-year NFL record of making a TD pass in 47 consecutive games.
Joe sent a great letter last week to Drew after #9 tied Johnny Unitas'...
WWL NFL analyst Mike Detillier joined me this morning to talk about the horrible start of the season by the Black and Gold.
Detillier says it's now apparent to him that the team is adrift without their coach.
"I think it's now as plain as...
6.28.12 - During the darkest days of the Nagin administration, when hubris and hopelessness ran rampant through the Crescent City's halls, I would often flash forward to a future time in my imagination. In that crystal ball world, U.S. Attorney Jim...
"Gipson was a ball carrier in a tackling drill during Thursday's spring practice. According to Farmerville principal David Gray, the coaching staff said both players' technique was correct."
"Jeremiah Raber, of High Ridge, never imagined he would invent a product that could protect military men overseas, the original idea was just to help mixed martial arts fighters."
"A Brazilian fisherman who accidentally fired a harpoon through his own face survived with minimal brain damage -- and didn't bother to seek medical attention for more than 10 hours."
"Norman Hendrickson was known for telling jokes and never wasting money. So when he died suddenly while en route to his wife's funeral, the couple's daughters knew there was only one thing to do: Hold a doubleheader service."
A very important site that uses electronic media to collect, preserve, and present the stories and digital record of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. You can also submit your photos and videos to preserve them for history.
"What and when administration officials knew about the Internal Revenue Service targeting conservative groups for excessive, often burdensome, scrutiny will monopolize the hot seat this week at two more congressional hearings"
"A Los Angeles man hell-bent on destroying the teenybopper brand’s image is passing out Abercrombie clothes to the homeless people set up in tents along downtown’s gritty Skid Row."
"Some wealthy Manhattan moms have figured out a way to cut the long lines at Disney World — by hiring disabled people to pose as family members so they and their kids can jump to the front"
"The decision to seek phone records of one of the world's largest news-gathering organizations was made by Deputy Attorney General Jim Cole, Holder said.The decision to seek phone records of one of the world's largest news-gathering organizations was made by Deputy Attorney General Jim Cole, Holder said."
"Chris Christie underwent lap band surgery over President's Day weekend because the three-day weekend gave him time to recuperate, and because no decision he makes can be free of some connection to the presidency."
