Bob Wojnowski
Encyclopedia
Bob "Wojo" Wojnowski is an American
reporter and columnist
for the Detroit News and former co-host of the Stoney and Wojo radio show on WDFN
in Detroit, Michigan
. Along with co-host Mike Stone
, the Stoney and Wojo show had been a consistent ratings leader for years in the Detroit afternoon drive time slot until it was canceled on January 20, 2009. Wojnowski also appears often on Fox 2 WJBK
's Friday Night Sports Works roundtable.
obsessed idiot-savant on the radio at times, but also writes some of the most interesting and insightful sports commentary in the country. He is known for continually welcoming callers on the Stoney and Wojo show with "Happy New Year" well into July, and for continually reminding his co-host of his past, real or imagined, extra-marital affairs
in Atlanta, drug use, and sleeping in the same bed as his sister
while growing up. Yet Wojo also displays strong interviewing skills and can penetrate to the heart of the latest Detroit sports topic. He never shies away from asking a guest the hardest questions. He is very dedicated to his journalism
print career
and often misses his radio show because of his coverage of away games. Personally, he is married to his refrigerator
—according to his station bio.
The Stoney and Wojo show was a three hour radio broadcast
that included listener call-in segments, regular guests, and current affairs
talk slanted towards the Detroit and Michigan
sports fan. With Mike Stone and Wojnowski's playful repartee, the show had developed a definite comedic quality with Stone playing straight man to Wojo's more clownish comments. The heart of the show was sports and the breaking news of the Detroit sports market was paramount. Included were interviews, where the professional journalism strengths of both Stone and Wojnowski come to the fore. Occasionally, political news was featured, Governor Jennifer Granholm
has appeared several times, for example. Stoney and Wojo conducted an annual 28 hour radiothon in support of research for a cure of leukemia
and lymphoma
. The event was started when Sabrina Black, WDFN update reporter, was diagnosed with lymphoma, and continued after her long battle with the disease lead to her passing in 2006. It was typically held in a Metro Detroit
restaurant and includes many regular guest appearances including Tony Dungy
and Joe Dumars
, among many others.
Stoney and Wojo filled in for Jim Rome
on the North American syndicated The Jim Rome Show
July 13, 2007.
On January 20, 2009 due to cutbacks at Clear Channel, the Stoney and Wojo show was discontinued on WDFN "The Fan" in Detroit.
Wojo is a longtime active member of the Detroit Sports Broadcasters Association, founded in 1948 by pioneer Tigers announcer Ty Tyson.
). Wojodamus correctly predicted the Detroit Pistons
' selection of Tayshaun Prince
in the 2002 NBA Draft
and the Detroit Lions
' selection of Mike Williams in the 2005 NFL Draft
. The Wojodamus legend grew as early as 1999 when he went into an on-air trance and predicted the #9 nationally ranked Wisconsin Badgers
football team would lose to the lowly University of Cincinnati
Bearcats. The following day the predication came true, making many true believers wealthy.
On April 9, 2008, Wojodamus correctly predicted the 0–7 Detroit Tigers
would win their first game of the 2008 Major League Baseball season
against the Boston Red Sox
. The Tigers won the game 7–2.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
reporter and columnist
Columnist
A columnist is a journalist who writes for publication in a series, creating an article that usually offers commentary and opinions. Columns appear in newspapers, magazines and other publications, including blogs....
for the Detroit News and former co-host of the Stoney and Wojo radio show on WDFN
WDFN
WDFN is a sports-talk radio station in the Detroit, Michigan, market. It broadcasts in the AM radio band at 1130 kHz. WDFN is owned by Clear Channel Communications, and until the end of the 2008-09 NBA season, was the flagship station for the Detroit Pistons....
in Detroit, Michigan
Detroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
. Along with co-host Mike Stone
Mike Stone (radio personality)
Michael "Mike" Stone, is an on-air host for 97.1 The Ticket WXYT-FM. He is the former host of the Stoney and Wojo radio show on WDFN in Detroit, Michigan until it was canceled on January 20, 2009. He was a blogger and chat host on mlive.com until signing with 97.1 in December 2009...
, the Stoney and Wojo show had been a consistent ratings leader for years in the Detroit afternoon drive time slot until it was canceled on January 20, 2009. Wojnowski also appears often on Fox 2 WJBK
WJBK
WJBK is the Fox–owned and operated television station in Detroit, Michigan broadcasting on digital channel 7...
's Friday Night Sports Works roundtable.
Career
Wojo has developed a split existence in the Detroit media, he portrays himself as a goofy, Nutter ButterNutter Butter
Nutter Butters are a Nabisco brand peanut-shaped sandwich cookie with a peanut butter filling, which was introduced to the public in 1969.Invented by Ivar Aavatsmark....
obsessed idiot-savant on the radio at times, but also writes some of the most interesting and insightful sports commentary in the country. He is known for continually welcoming callers on the Stoney and Wojo show with "Happy New Year" well into July, and for continually reminding his co-host of his past, real or imagined, extra-marital affairs
Adultery
Adultery is sexual infidelity to one's spouse, and is a form of extramarital sex. It originally referred only to sex between a woman who was married and a person other than her spouse. Even in cases of separation from one's spouse, an extramarital affair is still considered adultery.Adultery is...
in Atlanta, drug use, and sleeping in the same bed as his sister
Incest
Incest is sexual intercourse between close relatives that is usually illegal in the jurisdiction where it takes place and/or is conventionally considered a taboo. The term may apply to sexual activities between: individuals of close "blood relationship"; members of the same household; step...
while growing up. Yet Wojo also displays strong interviewing skills and can penetrate to the heart of the latest Detroit sports topic. He never shies away from asking a guest the hardest questions. He is very dedicated to his journalism
Journalism
Journalism is the practice of investigation and reporting of events, issues and trends to a broad audience in a timely fashion. Though there are many variations of journalism, the ideal is to inform the intended audience. Along with covering organizations and institutions such as government and...
print career
Newspaper
A newspaper is a scheduled publication containing news of current events, informative articles, diverse features and advertising. It usually is printed on relatively inexpensive, low-grade paper such as newsprint. By 2007, there were 6580 daily newspapers in the world selling 395 million copies a...
and often misses his radio show because of his coverage of away games. Personally, he is married to his refrigerator
Refrigerator
A refrigerator is a common household appliance that consists of a thermally insulated compartment and a heat pump that transfers heat from the inside of the fridge to its external environment so that the inside of the fridge is cooled to a temperature below the ambient temperature of the room...
—according to his station bio.
The Stoney and Wojo show
Broadcast
Broadcast or Broadcasting may refer to:* Broadcasting, the transmission of audio and video signals* Broadcast, an individual television program or radio program* Broadcast , an English electronic music band...
that included listener call-in segments, regular guests, and current affairs
Current affairs (news format)
Current Affairs is a genre of broadcast journalism where the emphasis is on detailed analysis and discussion of news stories that have recently occurred or are ongoing at the time of broadcast....
talk slanted towards the Detroit and Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
sports fan. With Mike Stone and Wojnowski's playful repartee, the show had developed a definite comedic quality with Stone playing straight man to Wojo's more clownish comments. The heart of the show was sports and the breaking news of the Detroit sports market was paramount. Included were interviews, where the professional journalism strengths of both Stone and Wojnowski come to the fore. Occasionally, political news was featured, Governor Jennifer Granholm
Jennifer Granholm
Jennifer Mulhern Granholm is a Canadian-born American politician, educator, and author who served as Attorney General and 47th Governor of the U.S. state of Michigan. A member of the Democratic Party, Granholm became Michigan's first female governor on January 1, 2003, when she succeeded Governor...
has appeared several times, for example. Stoney and Wojo conducted an annual 28 hour radiothon in support of research for a cure of leukemia
Leukemia
Leukemia or leukaemia is a type of cancer of the blood or bone marrow characterized by an abnormal increase of immature white blood cells called "blasts". Leukemia is a broad term covering a spectrum of diseases...
and lymphoma
Lymphoma
Lymphoma is a cancer in the lymphatic cells of the immune system. Typically, lymphomas present as a solid tumor of lymphoid cells. Treatment might involve chemotherapy and in some cases radiotherapy and/or bone marrow transplantation, and can be curable depending on the histology, type, and stage...
. The event was started when Sabrina Black, WDFN update reporter, was diagnosed with lymphoma, and continued after her long battle with the disease lead to her passing in 2006. It was typically held in a Metro Detroit
Metro Detroit
The Detroit metropolitan area, often referred to as Metro Detroit, is the metropolitan area located in Southeast Michigan centered on the city of Detroit which shares an international border with Windsor, Ontario. The Detroit metropolitan area is the second largest U.S. metropolitan area...
restaurant and includes many regular guest appearances including Tony Dungy
Tony Dungy
Anthony Kevin "Tony" Dungy [DUN-jee] is a former professional American football player and coach in the National Football League. Dungy was head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 1996 to 2001, and head coach of the Indianapolis Colts from 2002 to 2008...
and Joe Dumars
Joe Dumars
Joe Dumars III , nicknamed Joe D, is a retired American basketball player in the NBA, and currently the Detroit Pistons' President of Basketball Operations....
, among many others.
Stoney and Wojo filled in for Jim Rome
Jim Rome
Jim Rome is an American sports radio talk show host syndicated by Premiere Radio Networks, a subsidiary of Clear Channel Communications....
on the North American syndicated The Jim Rome Show
The Jim Rome Show
The Jim Rome Show is a sports radio talk show hosted by Jim Rome. It airs live for three hours each weekday from 9 a.m. to noon Pacific. The show is produced in Los Angeles, California, syndicated by Premiere Radio Networks, and can be heard on more than 200 affiliate radio stations in the U.S...
July 13, 2007.
On January 20, 2009 due to cutbacks at Clear Channel, the Stoney and Wojo show was discontinued on WDFN "The Fan" in Detroit.
Wojo is a longtime active member of the Detroit Sports Broadcasters Association, founded in 1948 by pioneer Tigers announcer Ty Tyson.
Wojodamus
Wojnowski also predicts final scores of big Detroit sporting events under the name "Wojodamus" (a play on NostradamusNostradamus
Michel de Nostredame , usually Latinised to Nostradamus, was a French apothecary and reputed seer who published collections of prophecies that have since become famous worldwide. He is best known for his book Les Propheties , the first edition of which appeared in 1555...
). Wojodamus correctly predicted the Detroit Pistons
Detroit Pistons
The Detroit Pistons are a franchise of the National Basketball Association based in Auburn Hills, Michigan. The team's home arena is The Palace of Auburn Hills. It was originally founded in Fort Wayne, Indiana as the Fort Wayne Pistons as a member of the National Basketball League in 1941, where...
' selection of Tayshaun Prince
Tayshaun Prince
Tayshaun Durell Prince is an American basketball player who last played for the Detroit Pistons in the National Basketball Association. Prince is a small forward, listed at and . A graduate of Dominguez High School and the University of Kentucky, Prince was drafted in the first round by the...
in the 2002 NBA Draft
2002 NBA Draft
The 2002 NBA Draft was held on June 26, 2002 at The Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. In this draft, National Basketball Association teams took turns selecting 57 amateur college basketball players and other first-time eligible players, such as players from non-North...
and the Detroit Lions
Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and...
' selection of Mike Williams in the 2005 NFL Draft
2005 NFL Draft
The 2005 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 23–24, 2005. The league also held an supplemental draft that year, which was held after...
. The Wojodamus legend grew as early as 1999 when he went into an on-air trance and predicted the #9 nationally ranked Wisconsin Badgers
Wisconsin Badgers
The Wisconsin Badgers are the collegiate athletic teams from the University of Wisconsin–Madison. This NCAA Division I athletic program has teams in football, basketball, ice hockey, volleyball, soccer, cross country, tennis, swimming, wrestling, track and field, rowing, golf, and softball...
football team would lose to the lowly University of Cincinnati
University of Cincinnati
The University of Cincinnati is a comprehensive public research university in Cincinnati, Ohio, and a part of the University System of Ohio....
Bearcats. The following day the predication came true, making many true believers wealthy.
On April 9, 2008, Wojodamus correctly predicted the 0–7 Detroit Tigers
2008 Detroit Tigers season
The Detroit Tigers 2008 season was the team's 108th season in Major League Baseball's American League. After being picked by many to win the AL Central Division and the World Series, the Tigers started the season a disappointing 0-7, being swept by the Kansas City Royals and Chicago White Sox....
would win their first game of the 2008 Major League Baseball season
2008 Major League Baseball season
The 2008 Major League Baseball season began on March 25, 2008 in Tokyo, Japan with the 2007 World Series champion Boston Red Sox defeating the Oakland Athletics at the Tokyo Dome 6–5 in the first game of a two-game series, and ended on September 30 with the host Chicago White Sox defeating the...
against the Boston Red Sox
2008 Boston Red Sox season
The Boston Red Sox' 2008 season began on March 25, in Tokyo, Japan for the MLB Japan Opening Day 2008. The Red Sox were attempting to become the first repeat World Series Champions since the 1999–2000 New York Yankees and also be the first repeat Champions of the 21st century. They also tried to...
. The Tigers won the game 7–2.
External links
- Bob Wojnowski's latest Detroit News columns are available online.
- Sabrina Black Fund for research in Leukemia and Lymphoma.