Perhaps the most respected voice in the world of sports broadcasting, Jim Rome is a leading opinion-maker of his generation. As host of the nation’s premiere sports radio talk show, Rome is known for his aggressive, informed, rapid-fire dialogue. He has established himself as the top choice of athletes and fans when it’s time to know what’s happening beyond the scoreboard.
Rome’s nationally syndicated radio program, The Jim Rome Show, a.k.a. The Jungle, airs on more than 200 radio stations each weekday and boasts more than two million listeners. But these are no ordinary listeners; they are a legion of fans known as the clones who live and breathe for Rome’s “take” on the day’s larger issues of sports. It is his departure from conventional sports commentary that has resulted in Rome’s unique dialogue with his listeners.
Rome has made cameo appearances along side Al Pacino and Matthew McConaughey in Two For The Money, Adam Sandler in The Longest Yard and opposite Michael Jordan in Space Jam; appeared in Blink 182’s music video; appeared on HBO’s “Arliss;” and released a CD, Welcome to the Jungle, which features memorable sound bites from frequent callers and music regularly used on the radio show.
Rome previously served as host of the popular program The Last Word with Jim Rome, broadcast nightly on Fox Sports Net, for five years. Prior to The Last Word with Jim Rome, Jim spent a two-year stint hosting ESPN2’s Talk2, a nightly one-hour interview show. Rome began his radio career at KTMS, Santa Barbara as the “$5 dollar-an-hour” traffic reporter and covered UC Santa Barbara’s sports. He left KTMS for San Diego’s all-sports station, XTRA Sports 690. It was during a temporary stint on a late-night show for the station that Rome debuted his “smack” (Jungle Glossary term meaning sports talk in a gloating, uninhibited or unbridled manner). The style yielded high ratings, and, by acclimation of his listeners, The Jungle was born. In 1996 Premiere Radio Networks acquired exclusive syndication rights of the program, which continues to thrive and grow nationwide.
Rome graduated from the University of California, Santa Barbara in 1987, with a degree in Communications. He currently resides in Los Angeles with his wife, Janet and their two children.
