is a Sports Radio Station in the Chicago, Illinois radio market. The station is owned by CBS Radio and transmits on 670 KHz on the AM Dial . It is known as "The Score," and has been on the air since 1992. Initially signing on at 820-AM, it moved to 1160-AM in 1997, and to its current dial position of 670-AM — a 50,000 watt clear-channel signal acquired when Viacom ceased broadcasting WMAQ's all-news format in August 2000, and subsequently divested the 1160 frequency due to FCC limits on ownership (''see WMAQ (AM) and WYLL ''). WSCR is currently the radio home for Chicago White Sox baseball, Chicago Blackhawks hockey games, Westwood One programs, including Monday Night Football , Northern Illinois University sports, and DePaul University basketball.
Before 1992, WSCR was the longtime radio call letters for a station in Scranton, PA at 1320-AM.
Some of the original personnel have remained with the station, including former Hot Dog vendor Mike North , former Chicago Sun-Times columnist Terry Boers, and former " Chicago Cubs Bleacher Bum" Mike Murphy.
The Score is known for some other concepts, such as:
- The station's relationship with long-time listeners. Many of the original listeners from the station's inception remain dedicated listeners, callers, and contributors. Many supply regular contributions to the station in the form of Fax es and E-mail s. Some callers and e-mailers, known as "Score Heads," use colorful Moniker s, such as "Schmutzie," "Stan from Bellwood ," "Whitley from Ravenswood ," The Gridiron Assassin, Rusty from Stickney , "Bichiro," " LeBron James' Hummer ," "Alex from Rogers Park," "Wild Bill," (known for his hoarse, out of breath voice), the always hilarious "Rex Kwon Do" and an impersonator of The Simpsons villain " Mr. Burns ."
- interview). Conversations with other callers have been recorded for opening theme spots, the most famous being "Caller Annie," who was 86 years old and indignant that she had to stay on hold to find out the score of the St. Louis-Detroit game.
- The station's relationship with many well-known Chicago celebrities; sports or otherwise. Some of these include former pitcher and Chicago Cubs announcer Steve Stone , Chicago actor Bernie Mac , and Chicago White Sox manager Ozzie Guillén are regular contributors to the station; some, like Stone and Pro Football Weekly publisher and former Chicago Bears announcer Hub Arkush, are paid expert commentators. Ozzie Guillén Jr. conducts a Spanish Language baseball program. Mike North has collaborated with his personal friends “Fritzie,” “Knuckles,” and fellow Chicago radio personality Mancow Muller , a close friend of North, on a many occasions. An example was in 2003 and 2004, when North and Muller hosted joint on-air parties on the rooftops across from Wrigley Field , simulcasted on The Score and Mancow's station at the time, Q-101 ( WKQX ).
- The station's various "radio remotes." Radio shows are done from various locations in the Chicago area, ranging from restaurants and local bars and pubs, to Chicago sports teams' training camps, mainly the Chicago Bears . At one point, morning radio personality Mike North even did a series of remote shows from the backyards of various SCORE listeners.
- Various "signature segments." These range from "Who Ya' Crappin'," based on Mike Ditka 's response to a question posed by Terry Boers in a recorded interview, to Mike Murphy's " Tool of the Week" (usually sponsored by a Tool sales or rental company). The signature and other segments are now available via the "Pod Spot" menu of The Score's website.
One of the more popular shows is "Chicago NFL Live," hosted by former Bears linebacker Doug Buffone , which airs during the NFL season.
The Score directly competes with ESPN Radio WMVP 1000. Several WMVP personalities, including Dan McNeil and Jonathan Hood, previously worked at the Score, as did Matt Spiegel and Mark Vasko, subsequently at Sporting News Radio , Tommy "T-Dub" Williams at WJOB , Norm Van Lier and Dan Jiggetts subsequently at Comcast SportsNet Chicago , and Les Grobstein.
Starting in 2005, WSCR started airing Sporting News Radio overnights. Some overflow games are aired on WCKG when there is a scheduling conflict with other sports programming on WSCR.
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