Randy Merkin’s Journey in Sports Radio

Working in sports radio offers countless stories for a book. Randy Merkin has captured these tales, releasing Beyond the Glass: More Stories from a Sports Radio Producer. This book follows his first release, Behind the Glass, from 2021. A Deerfield native, Merkin shares insights from his career, beginning with his time at Homewood-Flossmoor High School. Merkin, now an executive producer at the Audacy Corporation’s BetMGM, also works with BetRivers, balancing a demanding schedule.

Merkin aimed to differentiate his second book from the first. “I wanted this one to be more personal,” he explained. The book spans 162 pages, recounting his professional journey from a small radio station in Platteville, Wisconsin, earning $12,000 annually, to larger Chicago outlets. Merkin shares stories of securing major figures in sports broadcasting through determination and persistence.

A notable story involves Major League Baseball umpire Jim Joyce. In June 2010, Joyce made an infamous call that cost Detroit Tigers’ Armando Galarraga a perfect game. Merkin recalls how he tracked down Joyce’s contact information and convinced him to do an interview, which gained national television coverage due to public interest. “That showcased what a producer aims for,” he noted proudly.

In 2014, Merkin sought a unique angle for an interview with Mike Eruzione, captain of the 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey team. Rather than a typical interview, Merkin arranged for broadcaster Al Michaels to join the conversation. Despite the tight timeline with Michaels covering the Winter Olympics in Sochi, the interaction was a success. “That’s a producer’s dream,” Merkin reflected, as Eruzione and Michaels shared stories live on air.

Beyond famous encounters with figures like Dennis Rodman and Charles Barkley, Merkin’s book details the art of sports-radio producing, emphasizing the importance of relationships and trust. Merkin aimed to illustrate the challenges of the media industry. “It’s all about relationships. Building trust is crucial, similar to any business,” he explained.

Merkin’s story includes moments of reflection, honoring influential figures in his life and career. He pays tribute to his parents, teachers, and his late friend Jeff Dickerson. Despite the industry’s economic challenges, Merkin encourages pursuing sports radio, offering practical advice: “Go for it, but have a backup plan.”

Currently, Merkin balances his work with family life, alongside his wife, Beth, and their children, Brett and Dana. He considers a third book but also reflects on his past at Homewood-Flossmoor High School. Without the athletic talent for sports, he turned his passion to producing, aiming to excel. “Why can’t I be the Michael Jordan of producing?” he mused. “That’s my goal, to be great.”

Daniel I. Dorfman is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.