In some ways Hansen’s turn as an unlikely ally for gay Americans, for women’s rights, and for liberal social justice (in 2018, in fact, he said he voted for the first time in 46 years ) is hard to fathom. His “Unplugged” segment about Sam, though, shaped his legacy beyond simply the games on the field and brought him notoriety in circles far afield from sports. “(The) Michael Sam commentary, I think, is the one that took people so much by surprise,” said former Dallas Mayor Ron Kirk, “mainly because all of us tend to put people in a box” (WFAA, 2021b).īy the time I worked with Dale at WFAA from 2006 to 2009, including for more than a year as the online sports editor, he was already a local legend. But the segment about Sam quickly went viral and introduced Hansen to viewers well beyond the Lone Star State. Hansen had done periodic commentaries, dubbed “Unplugged,” for many years at legendary ABC affiliate WFAA-TV. Hansen, who often describes himself as a “bald, fat white guy,” went from local sportscaster to applauded by Ellen DeGeneres and an unlikely gay rights hero to an often-viral moral compass (Justice, 2021). “And the courage of Michael Sam made that possible.” “I decided a long time ago my life had to be about more than ball scores and highlights,” Hansen (2020) later wrote. In 2014, Sam, an All-American defensive end at the University of Missouri announced he was gay. Then came viral moment after viral moment. He called himself a “male chauvinistic pig” in a commentary about women members at the Augusta National Golf Club (Hansen, 2012). Throughout his four-decade career in Dallas, iconic sportscaster Dale Hansen was often called bombastic and arrogant. Hold on, I think Dale's still talking.A deeper look at Sportscaster Dale Hansen Aaron Chimbel There were also talks with ESPN and KZPS-FM (92.5), and so much interest in buying their own station that the Cowboys commissioned a study on the feasibility of building a state-of-the-art studio in time for the 2006 season. There was almost a one-year extension with KLUV-FM (98.7), who paid the team a whopping $8 million in rights fees last season. But then we both bent a little, and here we are." "In the fall I thought it would never happen," admits Ticket general manager Dan Bennett. In fact, The Ticket's initial offer of $5 million per season, according to an industry insider, "insulted" Jerry Jr. So The Ticket will broadcast games without him, the Cowboys will probably play games with T.O., and owner Jerry Jones will, for at least five years, put off his dream of owning a radio station.ĭallas' negotiations with stations up and down the dial had more awkward starts and abrupt stops than Belt Line Road. With the lovable and loquacious Hansen, the wait is usually worth it. And, in all seriousness, I don't think I could do it as long as Bill Parcells is here." "But if they signed Terrell Owens, I don't think I could do it. Furthermore, Dale says, the timing stinks. Sorry, folks, but he ain't coming back, mostly because the Cowboys aren't exactly rolling out the red carpet. So I called Hansen Manor, and for the next 35 minutes, he babbled like Charlie Brown's teacher while I managed to crowbar in some very important uh-huhs, rights and buts. Nothing wrong with the fine work of Babe Laufenberg, mind you, it's just that Cowboys fans remember fondly the broadcast team that mixed eloquence and entertainment while calling back-to-back Super Bowls in the 1990s. In the wake of the Dallas Cowboys' move to KTCK-AM (1310, The Ticket), I got tons.fine, 12 e-mails from readers inquiring if the WFAA-Channel 8 sports anchor, who moonlights on the radio station Mondays and Fridays from noon to 1 p.m., would return to the game broadcasts alongside ol' padnuh Brad Sham. And, unless you have an hour and a backup notebook or two, don't call Dale Hansen for a quick comment.
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