The United States Congress is currently debating how to keep AM radios in electric cars. Automakers such as Tesla, Ford, BMW, and Volkswagen have dropped AM because high‑voltage systems interfere with signals, making broadcasts unlistenable. Yet AM radio remains vital in emergencies, when smartphones may fail. This debate highlights radio’s enduring importance, even as technology evolves.
Radio’s Early Role in Sports
Radio came of age on July 2, 1921, when Pittsburgh’s KDKA broadcast the heavyweight boxing bout between Jack Dempsey and Georges Carpentier. While 91,000 fans crossed the Hudson River to watch in person, the real story was that thousands bought radios to listen at home. It marked the beginning of a perfect marriage between sports and radio.
Baseball followed soon after, with KDKA airing a Phillies‑Pirates game in August 1921. Yet team owners hesitated, fearing broadcasts would hurt attendance. In Boston and New York, franchises resisted radio deals. Eventually, station owners began buying teams, using broadcasts as commercials for sports themselves.
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Crosley, Richards, and the NFL’s Thanksgiving Breakthrough
In 1934, Powel Crosley purchased the Cincinnati Reds. As a radio manufacturer and owner of WLW, Crosley understood that broadcasting games sold both tickets and radios. Later that year, G.A. Richards moved the Portsmouth Spartans to Detroit, creating the Lions. Facing poor attendance, Richards scheduled a Thanksgiving game to align with the city’s parade and secured a national NBC broadcast. The result was a box office smash, cementing radio’s role in the NFL’s Thanksgiving tradition.
Radio’s Lasting Legacy in Sports
Though radio no longer holds the allure it once did, it remains a staple in the sports industry. It offers mobility and accessibility, especially for older fans uninterested in streaming services. The NFL’s Thanksgiving games continue to be broadcast nationally on radio, a reminder of the medium’s historic and cultural significance.
Final Thoughts
From boxing in 1921 to the Lions’ Thanksgiving debut in 1934, radio shaped the way Americans experienced sports. While technology has shifted toward streaming and digital platforms, radio still connects fans to the game. The NFL’s Thanksgiving broadcasts prove that even in a modern era, radio’s voice remains part of the tradition.
Evan Weiner’s books are available at iTunes – https://books.apple.com/us/author/evan-weiner/id595575191
Evan can be reached at evan_weiner@hotmail.com
The Dempsey-Carpentier fight on July 2nd, 1921 in Jersey City, New Jersey began the marriage of radio and sports.
