COLUMBUS – The Columbus Crew today announced that Columbus radio talent and 97.1 The Fan’s Jonathan “T-Bone” Smith has been selected to replace Duncan Oughton as co-host of ESPN 1460’s Inside the Crew, presented by Medical Mutual. Smith, anchor of 97.1 FM The Fan’s Common Man and Company show, joins Neil Sika on the airwaves for the weekly Crew program that features match preview commentary, player interviews and insight about the Black & Gold every Saturday morning from 9:00-10:00 a.m. ET on the ESPN Columbus affiliate.
“I am excited for the opportunity to work with Neil, as well as talk with the great community of soccer fans who support the Crew and listen to Inside The Crew,” said Smith.
Smith has been working in the radio industry for more than 10 years. In addition to his current position with WBNS Radio, Smith has covered the Crew for various soccer blogs, as well as Ohio State football and basketball.
“Jonathan is a natural fit for Inside the Crew,” said Crew Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing Mike Malo. “He’s very knowledgeable about the Crew and has been following the team for many years. He’s also a very polished radio show host on 97.1 The Fan, and has the ability to entertain listeners with a variety of sports-related topics. We know he is going to have a lot of success as a co-host of Inside the Crew alongside Neil Sika.”
A lifelong Columbus resident, Smith has been a Crew fan from the day the club was announced. He was in the stands for some of the first Columbus Crew matches played at Ohio Stadium, and has spent many matchdays standing in the Nordecke. Per Smith, his fondest memories in Crew Stadium include the 2008 Eastern Conference Final victory and the multiple U.S. Soccer victories over Mexico.
Fans can tune-in this weekend as Smith and Sika prepare listeners with everything they’ll need to know ahead of the Black & Gold’s second clash against New York, as Crew defender Eric Gehrig and New York goalkeeper Luis Robles are set to check-in with the new radio duo. More information on the show can be found on the club’s website at TheCrew.com/insidecrew.
The Black & Gold close-out the month of May on Sunday with a trip to Red Bull Arena as the Crew (4-4-3, 15 points) completes a two-match road swing this week and faces the Eastern Conference-leading New York Red Bulls (7-4-3, 24 points) on Sunday, May 26 in Harrison, New Jersey.
