Rochester sports radio host, Bob Matthews returned to his show on WHAM 1180 for the first time in over a month. Retired from his more than three-decades at the Democrat & Chronicle, the columnist now hosts Bob Matthews Sports weeknights at WHAM 1180 from 6 – 8pm.
On Saturday night, February 1st, Matthews was at the station late preparing for his upcoming week of shows. When he walked out the door to leave just before midnight, the radio host slipped on ice almost immediately, breaking his ankle in three places. Lying on the ground, security didn’t see Matthews, but he was able to call 911 himself.
WHAM used a cast of fill-in hosts during Matthews month long hiatus which included, Fox Sports 1280’s Carl Falk, former Democrat and Chronicle sports writers Kevin Oklobzija and Jeff DiVeronica, content editor Steve Bradley, Rochester Red Wings PR director Nate Rowan, and Salvatore “Soccer Sam” Fantauzzo, founder of the Salvatore’s Pizza which now has 28 locations.
According to Matthews, his hardest adjustment has been cutting back on Mountain Dew, which was unavailable during his three-weeks recovering at the Jewish Home. Matthews estimated he would drink 10 bottles of Mountain Dew per day, “big bottles, not the little ones.” In his three and a half weeks without Mountain Dew, Matthews lost 30 pounds.
In the last 12 years the radio host has broken his shoulder, elbow and now ankle on the left side of his body. Being unable to put weight on his ankle, Matthews is still struggling to get around, but he was ready and eager to get back to talking sports.