At long last, Denver sports talk radio will involve FEMALE voices!

As previously reported right here at South Stands Denver, Altitude Sports Radio AM 950, beginning Friday, April 8th (opening day at Coors Field), will take to the Denver airwaves, offering listeners an alternative to 104.3 the Fan and its “all Broncos all the time” format. The new station is a property of Kroenke Sports Enterprises and it will feature several personalities from the TV side including Vic Lombardi and Kyle Keefe along with talk radio veterans like Nate Kreckman and Tom Nalen.

Altitude radio will offer an alternative, not just to all-NFL programming, it will offer an alternative to all-male radio as well.

Former Colorado Rockie Ryan Spilborghs was originally pegged to join the Altitude Radio crew but his current employer, Root Sports Rocky Mountain, put the kibosh on that plan. Spilborghs’ 11th-hour omission left a hole in the station’s lineup in a critical place – during Altitude’s new morning show anchored by Tom Helmer.

To the great delight of many (this blogger included), the personalities Altitude found to accompany Helmer are none other than Scott Hastings and  friend-of-the-Fancast Lauren Gardner.
Gardner, who will also be covering the Avalanche for Altitude TV, is a Colorado native and a national-level talent. Lauren has worked every gig in sports media imaginable from being a Denver Broncos cheerleader to in-arena entertainment to sideline reporting to studio work for CBS sports. She’s personable, she’s funny and she has never been accused of having a face for radio. Nonetheless, hers will be a badly needed female voice in Denver Sports talk radio.

It’s about damn time.

With as many stations and as many shows as the market has had over the years it’s mind-boggling how few women have taken part in sports talk radio in Denver. Contrary to the misguided feelings of certain chauvinistic jerk offs, the medium is a great one for women and one which benefits from a variety of voices.

We’re convinced that Gardner will be a welcome addition to the sports talk radio landscape. Her wide range of experience and intimate familiarity with the local teams will ensure that she speaks with expertise and her talent will ensure that she entertains.

Having podcasted with Gardner I can assure Denver fans that she will be great. The already star-studded Altitude radio lineup will be that much better thanks to her. But Gardner won’t be the only woman at the station.

South Stands Denver has learned that longtime Altitude TV veteran Julie Browman will be joining the afternoon drive program as well. Browman will compliment Nate Kreckman and Tom Nalen in a role similar to that that Gardner will serve on the AM show. Julie has experience in sports talk radio having worked in the medium in San Diego prior to coming to Denver.

Lauren Gardner and Julie Browman will be the only two female voices in Denver sports talk not to share a station with Rush Limbaugh. Altitude management, including program director James Merilatt, are taking a bold approach by involving two women at the new station. It’s a move that we at the South Stands believe will pay off.

Perhaps the diversity of personalities at Altitude Radio AM 950 will encourage other stations to consider women for opportunities in sports talk as well.