WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON?

(Guest column)

August 29, 2019

-By Mr. Joshua

I’ve been pestering my long-time friend for a few months now asking him if I could pen a story on this here website.

I mean, what else is it that I have to do these days? There hasn’t been any Dino show since, what, July of this year?

Now that the floor here is mine I’m finding I don’t know what I want to say, isn’t that the way that things go when your turn at bat finally comes?

Dino Costa was both the bane of my existence and a dear friend that saved me from so many reckless and irresponsible decisions and potential acts

that I don’t even know where to begin when I think about all of them.

My name is Mr. Joshua, and if you listened to Dino’s shows over the years, from Denver to New York, and even in St. Louis, I was always blessed in

having a front-row seat to view all the action inside Dino’s blazing red-hot radio studio and I was able to watch and listen as the master plied

his trade day after day and night after night.

Not only could I be found inside the Dino studio most nights but I also became handy over the years at fixing things in the studio, hooking up

equipment, and many times figuring out technical problems before those who are considered professional engineers were able to identify problems or

issues.

I think that its only right that I pen this soliloquy to Dino as a way of not only saying thank you to the man but also because finally perhaps he’ll

get up off his ass and write a story about me someday. I think I’m deserving of this?

I can’t believe I’ve been friends with Dino for the last almost 15-years.

I first met Dino Costa when he was broadcasting his show in Denver all the way back in 2005 on the Radio Colorado Network.

Dino was also doing his own sports television show on some Fox channel in Denver and it was after one of his TV shows that I first became aware of

him.

You see, I’ve always been pretty much a bum all my life. I’ve had issues with the bottle and I’ve also had a strong proclivity for what some refer

to as the “wacky tobacky”. I’ve been married to the same women for the last 43-years and counting which is nothing short of amazing considering what

I’ve put Bernice through for the last 4-decades.

Anyhow, one night I found myself stumbling out of a bar in Denver located not that far from where Dino used to do his sports TV show. It’s a great bar and it’s actually the oldest bar in the city of Denver. It’s called; My

Brothers Bar, and if you want to check it out you simply head down 15th street and you’ll eventually run into it. If you like chilli then this is

the place to go. And I know something about bars and how they should be run successfully cause I used to manage a few of them.

Call it serendipity if you’d like to or call it whatever you choose to, but here I was on a pretty cold winters night stumbling out of that bar by

Dino’s building where he used to do that dang TV show of his, and as I was making my way up the hill that eventually is a part of 15h street in

Denver, I slipped on some ice and ended up banging my head and found myself a little disoriented.

So who should be at the light waiting for it to turn green and who happened to be watching me as I fell and hit my head like the foolish drunk that I

am and always have been? Yep, that’d be Dino.

Now most folks, and I believe I’m speaking from experience, most folks would see a scene like Dino saw that night with me laid out on the ground,

obviously inebriated, most folks would hit the gas and be on their way.

But not Dino, no sir.

All these years later I still find myself astounded over the fact that the sumbitch actually did what he did. Here’s this fella who just finished up his TV show only minutes before, he’s got himself a pretty wife and a

fairly new little baby at that time, and you’d think the last thing he wants to do is stop to help an old drunk but instead, prefers to get home

to his family.

But stop he did. At first, I wanted to punch the guy in the face, after all, I had no idea who he was or what he wanted. All I knew was that my

head hurt and I was bleeding and I wanted to go home. Then I found myself aware enough to realize that my quickest way home was probably through a

ride home from this Geno guy. Yeah, that’s what I called him the first few minutes, I thought he told me his name was Geno instead of Dino.

Anyhow, long story short for ya, he doesn’t drive me home, instead, the bastard drives me to a hospital to be looked over. When I realized where he

was taking me I threatened to jump out of the car if he wasn’t taking me home where I only wanted to see Bernice. I said; “Geno, I really do

appreciate your help and all but I ain’t going to no hospital and if you don’t point this car in a different direction then I’m gonna jump out right

here and right now.”

And you know how he replied to my inebriated declaration? He said: “Number one, if you don’t shut up you won’t have to jump out of the car because

I’ll push you out myself.” Then he followed that up by saying to me: “And if you call me Geno one more time I’m going to crack you on the other side of your head and you’re going to have even more problems for yourself.”

As I think back I believe it was at that moment I started to like the guy.

Okay, listen up now, this ain’t a story about me, instead, it’s an ode to a dear friend who I’m not sure what the future holds for him. I ask him every

time I see him and lately every time I inquire as to what the plan is he says the same thing: “I can’t talk about it yet.”

Over the years I’ve sat in studios with Dino on hundreds if not thousands of night’s watching and listening to him do his radio shows.

Being in attendance inside his radio studios probably saved my life, it was better than any AA meeting that I ever attended and I’m here to tell you

that I hate Alcoholics Annonymous.

I got to know the man inside and out – and better yet he got to know me – and never let anyone tell you that someone older can’t learn a thing or two

from someone younger sometimes. I’m 14-years older than Dino is.

Dino has been through it all, or, he’s been through enough in his own life, experiences both good and bad that there has never been any mistaking the

connection between us on multiple levels.

I’m an old-time Broncos fan back to the days of their first appearance in a Super Bowl and even before that, and even with my struggles with the drink over the years I was able to manage a bar located in Dacono, Colorado, its

called Jerry D’s, it is still there, but it never did the kind of business, especially on weekends, that it did when I ran that joint for a few years.

Dino introduced me to cigars. You know what I introduced him to? I introduced Dino to Rocky Mountain Oysters (at Jerry D’s in fact) and I also introduced him to the rambling writings of Jack Kerouac, I’m proud to say.

I may be a hopeless drunk and a hopeless romantic, but old Mr. Joshua ain’t no dummy now.

I believe that at this point we have enough background on me for the purposes of this message?

Okay, now back to the man of the moment, mister Dino, my friend.

Do you listen to the radio yourself? Me? I find myself listening to less and less of it these days because I can’t find anything worthwhile that

holds my attention for any longer than a few minutes – if that.

I can’t speak for you, but dammit, I need me some Dino back on the air and soon. How the hell is this prodigious talent on the sidelines while so many

hacks and talentless say nothings are considered air-worthy?

After I met Dino I learned that his name; “Dino Costa”, was born in 2001 when he took to the air as a sports update anchor with Fox Sports Radio in Los Angeles on the then nationally syndicated JT The Brick program. I never

liked that sumbitch by the way. I mean JT, not Dino.

His career saw him take to the air under that moniker in such places as Jacksonville, Florida, Denver, Colorado, St. Louis, Missouri, and he even

managed to parlay his brand into a place called Portland, Oregon, thrilling the organization known as ANTIFA during his stay in that woebegone city. I

got myself a kick out of the way that Portland thing ended up. Those assholes in that city have no idea to this day that Elvis himself left town

the day that Dino left.

But it was during his time as a national sports radio host on SiriusXM where Dino Costa introduced himself to America while America

enthusiastically reciprocated by introducing themselves right back to him.

I was there and saw the whole thing from start to finish – and what a ride it was.

He was loved by many and hated by some, but no matter the love or the hate, everyone listened to Dino. Even if you didn’t want to listen to Dino it was

impossible not to.

During a show back in 2012 Dino released the results of a government study done by then Surgeon General Regina Benjamin which proved that The Dino Costa Show contained myriad addictive ingredients and the report included a

strong warning that repeated listenings to the show would render the listener completely addicted to the broadcast.

Surgeon General Benjamin also informed the public that if people listened to the show they would find themselves incapable of turning the show off –

and then even if they did – like moths drawn to a flame, they would find themselves powerless and soon turn his show right back on.

During his 5-year tenure doing national radio, Dino Costa ushered in a never-heard-before brand of sports commentary and opinion that galvanized

the country on a daily basis whenever he took to the air. I know that I’d never heard anything like it before.

His listening audience included not only the United States – but in addition – Dino Costa broadcast his show to legions of fans up into Canada as well as south of the border and down into Mexico. I still remember that one guy down there in Mexico who used to call Dino’s show all the time.

When Dino Costa blasted off with his show across national airwaves back in 2009 his presentation quickly drew the attention of many in the world of

sports media and by those who make their living writing about sports media. And why not, right?

The New York Daily News and their sports media critic, Bob Raissman, was captivated by The Dino Costa Show and with the addictive elements that it

contained. Raissman’s well-read Sunday column featured Dino on numerous occasions over a stretch of years. It was Bob Raissman who gave Dino Costa

a nickname that fans of the show continue to use to this very day. Raissmann dubbed Dino Costa; “A Mastermind.” It’s funny, but do you know

I can never remember Dino himself ever using that Mastermind line?

Richard Deitsch, who at the time covered the world of sports media for Sports Illustrated also mentioned Dino Costa a few times in his stories and even made the claim that The Dino Costa Show was one of America’s best

national sports radio presentations. Richard Deitsch knew what he was talking about.

As Dino’s show continued to build spectacular momentum at SXM, the alleged bible of the talk radio industry, Talkers Magazine, named Dino Costa as

one of the most important sports talkers in America. I once asked Dino if that made him actually feel important? Know what he said to me? “No.”

As his work continued to impress others and as the accolades continued to pour in, The Madison Square Garden Network appointed Dino Costa to host a

10-part series on uniform numbers worn by players throughout New York’s long and storied sports history. Dino was in New York at that time while I was back in Colorado so I never got to see those shows when they were

originally broadcast. But Dino mailed me a bunch of CD’s and I eventually ended up seeing all them shows.

The Dino Costa Show on SXM penetrated across all demographics, everyone from the blue-collar listener to the upper crust in society, everyone from

young sports fans to old-timers, all were fascinated and in awe of this exclusive and impossible to replicate brand of sports radio that The Dino

Costa Show procured with amazing consistency with each and every show he did…and no two shows were ever the same as Dino so often reminded us.

Speaking of listeners, the great actor, Chaz Palminteri, he became a huge fan of The Dino Costa Show and would frequently call in unannounced on

occasion.

Just two years ago Dino and Chaz enjoyed a meal together at Chaz’s Italian restaurant located on New York’s west side. Dino texted me a few pictures of him and Chaz spending some time together that night in the restaurant.

During that dinner, Dino reminded Chaz of the night that Chaz left an imprint on listeners across the country who were tuned in that evening.

Chaz, recognizing the inarguable and gargantuan effect that The Dino Costa Show had on listeners echoed with words that ring true to this very day.

Passionately speaking into his phone Chaz Palminteri said to those listening: “Dino Costa tells the fucking truth – and I tell every fucking

body to listen to his show…because besides Howard Cosell, only Dino Costa tells the fucking truth.”

I felt it was sort of my duty to include that memorable moment on Dino’s show with Chaz’s phone call that night, so if you’d like to re-live the

moment you can take a listen here: https://app.box.com/s/e4fqokfhysprxzzh2ciu

Chaz Palminteri wasn’t the only celebrity to take notice of Dino’s work. The late David Cassidy of Partridge Family fame would call in and express his appreciation for the show – and so too did Larry King – even though

Dino always felt that King was calling in more to announce to people that he was still alive and kicking.

Then I remember back in the summer of 2012 there was a political pundit whose star was also rising at that time, Michael Hastings, who made it

known that he was riding around one evening in his vehicle in Vermont and flipping through SiriusXM channels when he happened to stumble upon a voice

coming out of his car speakers.

Hastings, who was far from a serious sports fan of any kind, said that for some reason he couldn’t change the channel, which again, was usually the

case with a lot of people who treaded onto radio ground they’d never walked on previously when first becoming aware of Dino’s show.

Michael Hastings (again, far from any kind of a serious fan of sports) later told of how for some reason he found himself compelled to come back

to this voice night after night.

Of course, this voice was the one and only, Dino Costa.

Hastings continued to listen. Then, from what I understand, he picked up his phone and called SXM’s public relations department. He demanded to know

who this Dino Costa guy was? Hastings said that he was fascinated with this voice in his car. Then Hastings asked the SXM PR person, this Andrew Fitzpatrick guy (thanks for that name Dino) if he could do a national magazine profile on this thoroughly engrossing articulation of sports

commentary and opinion.

Dino Costa eventually consented to a national magazine profile which appeared in the October 2012 edition of Men’s Journal magazine.

Shortly after the story appeared Hastings phoned Dino Costa to apologize. But why apologize? Men’s Journal Magazine is a publication run by devout liberals and Hastings, who had many liberal tendencies himself, told Dino

that the story he wanted to write was mostly left on the editing room floor by those at the magazine who refused his request to amplify the piece in all the ways he had hoped to. “You’re too fucking hot for those guys over

at Men’s Journal”, said Hastings.

Dino told me he had no issue with the Men’s Journal piece, although in what could be considered a piece of foreshadowing with another expose’ still to come (more on that in a bit), Dino told me he would have approached the

MJ piece differently if he could have had a do-over.

The only thing Dino truly objected to in the piece was how he felt that the Men’s Journal staff took the picture of him used in the story and then

photoshopped it, seriously narrowing Dino’s face and distorting the image to make him look like satan incarnate in the opinion of The Deens.

It became obvious in short order that The Dino Costa Show was a break-out hit arrangement for those at SiriusXM and it really became the very first

organic sports radio presentation developed by the company that offered its listeners not only tremendously compelling content, not only a show that

moved a significant needle, a show that garnered tremendously consistent amounts of publicity, a show that generated cultural significance through

the notoriety it was able to achieve, but it was also a show that turned out to be an SXM exclusive by introducing Dino Costa and his show to America as an original SXM presentation rather than a show that was

imported from another organization where it may have found success before coming to national airwaves.

While Dino kicked the shit out of any other program in Denver when I first became acquainted with him, he was far from a known commodity at the time

he went national.

Following the national profile in Men’s Journal magazine, Dino Costa was contacted by a film-maker in Las Vegas, Joel Franco.

Franco told Dino that it was his opinion that the story in Men’s Journal had failed to truly capture the flavor and true essence of what Dino’s show

was all about. Franco proposed a movie on the career and life of Dino.

In 2014, after 6-months of filming, Chesapeake Films released the movie; DINO COSTA Truth Unscripted.

It has been rumored that Dino never truly liked this film, and that rumor is indeed true, however, it had nothing to do with the people who made the movie as Dino felt they did a remarkable job in producing a prose that was

well done and visually excellent. I can confirm that Dino was not happy with the way he positioned himself in that movie.

Dino has confided to me and to others that he was disappointed with his own comportment in the film and always felt tremendous regret with the way he

postured himself at different intervals throughout the movie. Still, the movie was further evidence of Dino’s ability to continue building his

exclusive brand by attracting the attention of many others and connecting that visibility and exposure to the company that employed him, SXM.

Eventually, The Dino Costa Show came to an abrupt and unexpected end with SiriusXM in late 2013.

The genesis of the divorce between Dino and SXM at the time can be traced to Dino’s dissatisfaction and disappointment with SiriusXM and their

reluctance to fully embrace his presentation like so many others outside of SXM’s building were willing to do in such enthusiastic ways.

In Dino’s mind, he felt that the results and the reactions to his show spoke for itself, and even more impressive was the fact that all of this

attention was brought to bear in a completely organic fashion minus any external influences.

What Dino had always wanted from SXM was the same kind of attention that he received from non-SXM personnel. He also felt that there were two sets of

rules often times at SXM, one set of rules for Dino and another set for everyone else

As an example of what I’m talking about, in January of 2013, Dino asked SXM to take his show back to the Super Bowl in the same way that the show

appeared at the big game the previous year and Dino’s request was denied.

So in what can only be considered a brilliant execution of spontaneous and captivating radio at it’s best, Dino took to the air one evening (I was

there that night and had my mind blown) and announced without any prior notice on any previous show, in the moment completely, that he would be

taking calls from across the country that night and making himself available to the highest bidder who was willing to compensate him with the

most money to attend a listeners very own Super Bowl party that year no matter where they lived.

That show generated over 150 phone calls over 3 broadcast hours from across the North American continent and produced enthusiastic listeners who

collectively pledged over $75,000 worth of monies with one listener, after another, phoning in to the show and topping the previous listener’s offer in an effort to have Dino Costa appear at their personal Super Bowl party. When I tell you this was one of the most interesting and entertaining bits

of radio I’ve ever heard, it was stupendous!

The winning participant, a restauranter in Las Vegas, offered Dino Costa $7500 to appear at his Super Bowl bash which also included airfare to and from Sin City in addition to hotel accommodations at the Cosmopolitan.

The next day, instead of applauding the latest example of pure Dino Costa Show genius, instead of instinctively striking with the iron hot, promoting

what had happened on the latest presentation of Dino Radio, the powers that be at SXM decided to punish Dino.

First, they told him he would not be able to accept the dollars offered to him and he wasn’t allowed to attend the Super Bowl party he was invited to.

This, of course, was pure bullshit, but it was consistent I thought with many of the things Dino was contending with from time to time at SXM.

When Dino objected to what he felt was a restrictive and draconian response to his incredible performance on that show while also rightfully

pointing out and naming the names of those who had been able to profit off of their own SXM programs previously, SXM suspended Dino for 3 shows and deprived their listeners, their company and themselves of an extraordinary

opportunity to instinctively capitalize on a herculean moment in the history of the channel that Dino’s show appeared on.

This kind of reaction to Dino became somewhat routine, although to this day dozens of people both inside and outside the radio industry are puzzled as

to why this became the case?

Personally speaking, I can say that in all of my own life I have never seen someone in any line of work produce at such a fantastic rate as Dino did

during his years of doing national radio and yet never truly getting rewarded for it.

I mean, the radio business (and I’ve learned much about it over the years sitting with Dino) is supposed to be about entertainment, right?

Radio is a part of the entertainment business, isn’t it?

Entertain and strike emotions in people, tickle their brains, challenge them to think, and force them into listening to you. I’ve yet to hear

anyone be able to do all of those things as well as Dino once did.

In another example, when Dino’s Men’s Journal piece was being put together by the late Michel Hastings, not a single SXM official saw fit to be quoted

for the piece with any kind of what could be considered positive commentary for an individual and a show that was driving all kinds of free national

publicity to the company without the benefit of any kinds of promotion, the kinds of exposure elements Dino always sought to bring his show up to the

next level, but never received.

In addition, when the movie Truth Unscripted was being shot Dino asked SXM to get behind the project to promote it in ways that would not only help Dino personally – but objectively speaking – any promotion of the film

would by extension be fruitful to SiriusXM themselves as well, is this hard to figure out?

SXM refused to assist Dino in this movie endeavor which further alienated the show’s host while also continuing to drive a wedge in the relationship

between the Dino and the company. SXM officials refused to be included in any of the movie’s scenes and offered nothing in the way of anything

positive on Dino’s behalf as the movie was being developed.

Let me ask you something. Before Dino joined the channel that he was on with SXM and after he left, how many of the personalities on that channel

have motivated anyone to reach out and do a movie about them? How many of those personalities have had a national magazine reach out to do a feature

on them and their shows?

In another head-scratching non-move by SXM, Dino asked SXM officials to get behind an idea for what Dino termed a “DINO Dinner”, an event Dino hoped

to tie into the movie (and he did), again SXM refused to make themselves available in any official capacity. This, like so many other instances I

can think back on, did nothing to serve Dino’s better interests – and even more important it did nothing to lend a hand in SXM’s growth.

Despite not being helped at all by SXM, despite not any SXM personnel appearing at the dinner (save for Dino’s magnificent producer, Andrew

Caplan), and despite the only promotion for the dinner being whatever Dino mentioned about it on his shows, the dinner sold out and was a terrific

success…even as SXM curiously and inexplicably acted as though it had never happened.

To this day I shake my head. Why???

Over the last few years people told Dino of a current program on this same channel that Dino’s show used to be on, a program that is regularly blown and jerked off by those at SXM, invited on the road with regularity, shown

respect, given promotional elements, a program that is aided and abetted by SXM officials at every turn.

This program attempts to create their own hype with what has become some regular summer celebration they apparently hold each year.

Dino once told me that he found it truly amazing how his former company is apparently so willing to do whatever they can to advance the efforts of

such a program, despite this program having not earned a single tangible thing over the years, despite this program not generating a shred of

publicity for the company (or themselves), despite this program being absent any cultural significance whatsoever, and yet, this program is

laughably held up as a sort of the gold standard at SXM – while The Dino Costa Show was dismissed and shunned instead of being viewed as the enormous asset it clearly was at the time it was broadcast on that same

platform.

Dino once said to me, he said; “I wonder how SXM would have reacted had that program done what I had done on the night of the Super Bowl party show, generating the dollars it did, receiving over 150 phone calls over 3-hours, being offered $7500 to attend a listeners party…do you think

they would have downplayed such an effort and reduced such an effort to an admonishment and a suspension for 3-days? Or, do you think they would have

valued such a show and done everything within their power to amplify the results of such radio genius and built an entire stage with framework in

place to vigorously promote and take advantage of such a spontaneous and captive radio moment while insisting, if not demanding, that the hosts of that program get on the first plane possible and out to Las Vegas so that

the company could properly exploit that moment for all it offered to everyone?”

Now I’m not trying to be mean to anyone when I write this obituary, but what I insist on being is real and authentic, okay?

What I have a responsibility to do is to speak about things with total reality, and in Dino’s defense, some things need to be mentioned. Facts are

facts and the results are what they are for all to see whether someone happens to like Dino or not.

That program that SXM seems to value so much, the first time they’re ever able to produce radio on the level that Dino Costa did for all those years

will be a first.

In fact, merely suggesting that that program could ever approach the high standards and levels of interest with the compelling content that Dino’s show dispatched with consistency is just about as blasphemous as it can

get. We’re talking about a Hall Of Fame talent on one hand compared to a short-season A ballplayer on the other, okay?

The first time that program does anything at all to truly move anyone or compel anyone to take notice of it in any kind of a genuine way will be a

first on both counts.

Others, including some at SXM, have confided to me and Dino that they too are mystified at the love that that program routinely receives from the

company while also acknowledging that on it’s best day – that show is at carnival barking levels – and nothing more.

I like to think that the results of Dino’s show over 5-years and what those results produced as compared with that…never mind, I think I’ve made my

points and I’ll assume you know the deal as well.

So now tell me, do you miss Dino too? I really think that myself and others are more frustrated without a Dino Costa Show today than maybe Dino

himself is.

Back to the beginning of the end at SXM.

The bow broke and the baby fell for the final time in late 2013 when Dino did what turned out to be his final national show on SXM.

At that time Dino had moved off of Mad Dog Radio at his own request (a move that in retrospect Dino always felt was a huge error on his part) and

was now broadcasting his show on a non-descript throwaway channel on the SXM band – while also seeing the audience he had worked so hard at building

over the previous years virtually cut in half by the placement of his show in morning hours. This was pure bullshit as well.

Well, look it, Dino’s contract had run out at SXM at the time and he was confronted with a situation where the powers that be at SXM gave him a take

it or leave it offer to either go to this new bullshit channel and do mornings – or leave SXM entirely.

Dino reluctantly accepted the deal and moved ahead with the realization and feeling yet one more time that SXM never really appreciated his show, and

in his mind, Dino felt as though SXM was actually hoping that he would leave on his own accord. To me, this entire situation that I saw unfolding

was maddening beyond description.

The way I saw it was this way: SXM saw fit I guess to reward Dino for spectacularly solid radio programming by doing something that to this day

boggles my mind as well as others I’ve had the opportunity to talk with about this. So, what was that reward for all that hard work and

scintillating radio that created so much damn buzz?

Because Dino bitched and moaned for a few years about what he felt was a lack of support for his show and because he refused to shut up about it – having by the way all the evidence on his side to prove that he was right – SXM decided to reward Dino by destroying the audience he bled to create over those previous years and moved his national show to morning drive

which effectively cut the country in two between those who could listen – mostly those on the east coast – and those who couldn’t listen – mostly

those who were west of the Mississippi.

Also, they did this knowing that Dino resided in Wyoming and in the mountain time zone where he broadcast his show from a studio he rented in

downtown Cheyenne. What did this mean? It meant that Dino needed to get up at about 2:30-AM each morning to have enough time to get to his studio and

to prepare for a radio show that would commence at 4-AM mountain time each day.

Now think about what he had done and all that he had accomplished up to the point he left the Mad Dog channel, then consider the manuever that SXM

pulled on him, where they dropped his show into, and now go ahead and try to convince me that these were a series of moves that helped to continue to build upon the foundation of success that Dino so absolutely achieved and

then try and convince me that SXM was doing things with Dino’s better interests in mind.

Speaking of Wyoming, it’s a place that Dino and his wife had determined years before, that if the opportunity presented itself, that they would

like to raise their family there. SXM has radio hosts all over the country doing programs out of home studios or makeshift studios in just about every

area of the United States, this is and was never anything that was new.

When Dino told SXM that he wanted to move back out west where he had lived previously, they consented under a strict condition.

They would agree to allow Dino to move to Wyoming and to do his show from a studio out in the Cowboy state under the condition that he consent to allow

SXM to slash his salary by $50,000 a year. Can you believe that?

The man was providing the organization with the exact same show he was doing when he was living in New York, and yet, to either punish Dino or to

hurt him in some way, they cut his salary by 50K and only then did they sign off on his move back out west.

Can anyone show me another scenario where SXM so massively cut into someone’s earnings in the ways that they did to Dino simply for wishing to

move to a place where he felt it might be a better fit for his growing family? Who does such a thing to someone, especially someone who at that

point had a demonstrated track record of major success in the years he’d been broadcasting at SXM?

I’m positive, in fact, I’m absolutely certain, that had SXM come to Dino and told him that they valued him, that they wanted to begin building

around him, that they saw him as a long-term fixture at the company, that they had an idea, a plan they had thought out to increase his role within

the company, I have zero hesitation in believing that if those kinds of things were told to him that he would have reconsidered and stayed in New York because those are the kinds of things that Dino always wanted to hear

from SXM…but never did.

Then the end really came after the book on WFAN Radio came out by author Tim Sullivan.

In this book (Imus, Mike and the Mad Dog, & Doris from Rego Park: The Groundbreaking History of WFAN) there is only one individual mentioned in its pages who never had any connection whatsoever to WFAN Radio. That

person is none other than my dear friend, Dino Costa.

On the morning of what would turn out to be his final show on SXM (again, I was there that day), Dino had mentioned that in reading the book the

night previous, he happened upon his name on page 186 and was blown away that his name was invoked by the author in any way at all.. After all, this

was a book on a legendary New York sports radio station that Dino had never worked a single day for.

Then, Dino spoke to his producer, Andrew Caplan and said: “You know, Andrew, this is yet another example, one more instance where another entity has taken notice of our show and promoted it in their own way noticing and

applauding the show in ways that this company never has. When will the day come when SiriusXM will get on board this train and show our show the same

kind of love and affection this show has regularly received from so many others since it debuted here back in 2009?”

The name of the station that Dino was on was something called; “SportsZone”, and the program director was former Howard Stern PD, Tim

Sabean.

Sabean had actually flown out to Dino’s home in Wyoming right before Dino debuted his show in mornings on this SportsZone channel and Dino enjoyed a nice dinner with Sabean in downtown Cheyenne. How do I know this? cause I

was at that dinner as well, invited by Dino to attend if I wished to.

However, Sabean had one non-negotiable order for Dino that night. Don’t talk about how SXM doesn’t love you or help you out or promote you. In

other words, Sabean told Dino that night to stick to talking sports and sports only and forget about the fact that Dino’s grievances were more than

well-founded.

When Dino spoke about the WFAN book that morning and once more expressed disappointment and regret that SXM wasn’t willing to join in on the Dino

Show promotional tour, the show was suddenly taken off the air only seconds after Dino was finished giving his take on the WFAN book and all that he

said about being included in it.

Two days later, after Dino’s show was placed back on the air, after he finished up the week that Friday, SiriusXM Radio fired Dino Costa.

I was stunned – but the funny thing was that the last person who was stunned was Dino himself.

NOTE: In the years following Dino’s firing by Tim Sabean, Dino and Sabean have reconciled with Sabean not only telling Dino how regretful he felt for

axing Dino’s show – but in addition – Sabean had told Dino that he would do anything possible to see Dino get back to the level he once enjoyed at SXM. It’s nice to see some stories end in heartwarming fashion, no? Anyhow, with

Dino now unfortunately gone it appears that Tim Sabean can move on to other more pertinent objectives.

But when you think about it, what a waste, what a missed opportunity for both sides of the aisle, and in the days, years, and months since that

time, allow me to tell you that Dino always wished that things could have been different, should have been different, and always hoped for a possible reconciliation with SXM because in his heart, and Dino was always prone to

saying this, never was there a more ideal match for the kind of a radio show that Dino broadcast complemented by the platform that is SiriusXM

Radio.

Dino always felt it was a match made in heaven – and that it should be again someday.

Yes, I’ll also let you know that Dino had often expressed regret at the SXM dissolution while many times expressing to me that he himself was indeed

culpable to an extent in the downfall of that broken relationship.

Then again, when a breakup of any kind occurs, there is usually blame that can be cast in both directions, no?

But Dino told me that he had hoped to atone for some of his own mistakes and reactions – and he felt he had learned a great deal by going through the processes of what occurred back then – and over the years he was

sometimes hopeful of being able to recalibrate and put the experiences of the ordeal at SXM to better use when and if a chance to rejoin the

organization ever presented itself.

To be clear, Dino never told me that he was sorry for feeling the ways that he came to feel over the years at SXM, however, he did confide in me that if he could do it all over again that he would not have gone so public with

the laundry.

And yes, truth be told, Dino had reached out to SXM officials several times over the years since the breakup, but no talks were ever scheduled, no

interest of reconciliation was ever expressed by those at SXM.

Tragic.

As I like to remember him and think back on his extraordinary ability to capture an audience’s attention over a few different radio station stops

along the way during his career, I mostly remember a guy who loved radio and loved being on the radio to speak what was on his mind which should be

the priority of any talk show host I think.

Dino was an individual who insisted that he never do simply a program, no, he always felt that his audience deserved a one-of-a-kind-show each and

every time he took to the microphone, an event, a memorable radio sojourn that would whet the appetite of his audience to come back for more the following day. Listening to him over the years and talking with him many

times it became clear to me just what he meant when he spoke of not being ordinary or predictable.

Dino’s show was truly a radical departure from so many status quo sports radio vehicles that unfortunately leave listeners feeling as though it was

nothing more than one more predictable show featuring someone talking about sports in similar or in the identical ways that so many other “programs” that

dot the radio landscape usually sound like.

What Dino brought to the microphone each time he walked into a studio was heart and soul, a realness not commonly found on radio featuring real

moments in unscripted ways. Nothing he ever did on the radio was schtick or done simply for effect, it was as real and as original as anything you have

ever heard.

When talking about this rare talent, this Dino Costa, this sometimes jerk who is unfortunately not talking publically anymore these days (at least

not verbally) let us remember his knowledge, his ability to talk about the world of sports with intimate and exacting detail through several different

generations of sports moments, games, and personalities.

His marvelous recall, his comprehensive story-telling ability, the way he could always be counted on to capture a moment on the air while bringing

his audience down that rabbit hole with him.

The shows I really used to look forward to were his ‘Conversation Friday’ affairs, as Dino would welcome on sometimes as many as 12-guests over a 4-hour show.

His interviewing skills, or rather, his conversational ability during these discussions was as top-shelf as it gets.

Dino is a one-man historical sports depository, an exhaustive reader and researcher, a thorough and nuanced sports radio agent-provocateur, an

entertainer with true and original panache’, an authentic radio artist who let his listeners come to the inside, a guy who allowed himself to become vulnerable to his audience, and through his willingness to personalize his

shows he established a connection with that audience that endures to this day even though his voice was long ago silenced on the national scene.

Dino Costa insisted on a sports commentary and opinion show that possessed range and depth to it, a carefully constructed and multi-layered affair that was devoid of predictable talking points while never relying on

low-hanging fruit that was within easy reach to move his shows forward.

Have I mentioned the man’s ability to not only talk but to ad-lib on command for incredibly long periods of time? And not simply talking, but dialogue that was interesting with an ability to seamlessly segue from one

talking point or one articulation to another and making it appear as natural and as free-flowing as anything I can think of.

He’s been lost, he’s been found, and now perhaps lost again? Will he also be found again, one more time, by someone with any brains to them?

The cycle of life is a mixed bag, isn’t it? Rewarding and utterly satisfying one day while cruel and unfair the next.

But through it all, Dino has always found ways to survive, if not continue to thrive in some instances. In fact, his survival instincts have never

been more needed for him than the last few years of one step forward and two steps back situations.

Of course, the last few years were made more difficult for him as he first lost his son – and then only a short time ago he lost his father.

But he fights, you know? He always tries to pick himself up and battle onward and I have great respect for that quality and it’s something that

has both inspired and motivated me, and who am I? Nobody really, just a friend, a man who has been fortunate to call Dino my friend while sharing

some lasting experiences and memories over the years with both him and his family.

Yes, Dino could be angry one minute and then giggling like a teenager the next, he could piss you off in one hour on the air and then have you eating

out of his hand during the next hour.

He was rambunctious, he was personable, witty, intelligent, stubborn and dismissive, yet beneath the surface, I have always found him both caring

and kind more than anything else.

In short, he was just about everything that we all are at different times.

Over the years he hasn’t been perfect, yet he never made the claim that he was.

On the contrary, Dino would often refer to himself as the most flawed and defective person he knew of. We should all be so transparently honest?

I’ve laughed and cried with him over the years, sometimes I winced or cringed, but all of it was something that I’ve always recognized as things

that make us all human, including myself.

He took his name and the work that that name represented and he ran with it as far as he could and he’s had more success in his chosen field than a lot

of others.

Yes, Dino Costa is undoubtedly a one of a kind talk show host.

If only Dino Costa could rise once more, one more time, with feeling, bigger and better than ever before.

How great would that be?

So, as Dino would often say, thanks for listening to this edition, rendition, and episode of The Dino Costa Show for the final time through

this obituary that it was my privilege to write.

And so, Dino, as you read this, please do me a favor and get back on the fucking airwaves in any way that you can under any banner that you can because you once said during the height of your success doing national

radio that America needed you and your show.

Well, amigo, may I say that America needs the Dino Costa Show right now more so than America has ever needed Dino Costa at any point in time

previously.

Thanks for letting me write this message without placing any restrictions on me.

I have a good feeling about what yet may come, but no matter what it is, or isn’t, thanks for the ride up to this point in time, and know I’m all-in

through the thick and the thin, the good and the bad, the high’s and the lows.

Cause that’s what men do, that’s what friends do.