Former Detroit sports anchor Rob Parker has inaugurated the city’s first Black-owned sports radio station. On June 4, Parker officially launched Sports Rap Radio after a year of development with support from close friends. His team includes former NBA player B.J. Armstrong and former college athletes Dave Kenney and Maurice “Moe” Ways, as reported by Awful Announcing.
“This is history-making,” Parker told CBS News. “It’s groundbreaking, and we believe the time has come.” Parker expressed disappointment over the scarcity of Black-owned sports radio stations in Detroit. “Just four years ago, there were no Black full-time sports hosts on the radio in Detroit,” he said. “In a city that’s nearly 80 percent Black, I saw that as a problem.”
Parker praised his team for realizing the dream, especially acknowledging Ways, a former University of Michigan wide receiver. “Moe was the missing piece. I needed someone young, smart, and from the city,” Parker said. Parker and Ways have remained in contact since meeting in high school. “Rob’s mission is to pass the torch,” Ways told CBS News. “He’s been my mentor for ten years. We met when I was 18 and had numerous conversations about life, career, dreams, and goals.”
Ways had aspired to play in the NFL, but an injury in 2020 ended that dream. Now, he is excited to stay involved in sports through radio. “Life has an amazing way of showing you signs and coming full circle,” Ways said. “I’m very humble, very grateful, and ready to get to work.”
Sports Rap Radio airs in Detroit from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, with some weekend programming. Shows include the What Up Morning Show with Donavan Travis and Tarohn Finley, and B.J. Armstrong’s late morning show from 10 a.m. to noon. Parker will also broadcast his popular Fox Sports Radio show with Chris Broussard, The Odd Couple, from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. on his new station.
