Los Angeles Chargers announce new radio broadcast team

The Los Angeles Chargers of Carson, California have announced a new radio broadcast team for their upcoming season and it’s not what you expected.

Lewin Out, Money In

Josh Lewin a fan-favorite, is out as the team’s play-by-play announcer.

That’s disappointing. And what does “a full-time L.A. announcer” mean?

Oh, Matt “Money” Smith. You may know him as the sometimes-host of studio shows on the NFL Network or the regular co-host of “The Petros & Money Show” if you listen to Los Angeles sports talk radio.

I’m a fan of “Money” and was a regular Petros & Money listener when I lived in L.A., but I was not aware of him ever doing play-by-play before. I have since been corrected:

So, that’s fine and this is a fine choice outside of the fact that the Chargers just got themselves a paid shill on one of the most popular sports talk shows in Los Angeles.

Hardwick Out, Hardwick In

Hey, remember this?

That’s a real headline from a real article published in a real San Diego newspaper in the not-too-distant past.

Here’s an excerpt from the article:

The Chargers are moving to Los Angeles without radio broadcaster and former longtime center Nick Hardwick, who said Wednesday he lost interest in the job once the Spanos family pulled the team from San Diego last week.

“I have no interest in the Los Angeles Chargers,” Hardwick said. “It’s not a job that I have and am turning down. It’s just a job that I’m not interested in.”

Hardwick last year joined the Chargers’ radio broadcast team on a one-year contract as the partner to play-by-play man Josh Lewin.

The former center, a Chargers draftee in 2004 and starter on six of San Diego’s playoff teams, said he has had no discussions with the team about returning, but considers it a moot point due to the team’s relocation after 56 years in San Diego.

“I was doing the job because of my passion about the ball club and my passion about being the conduit to San Diego and the San Diegans who followed the Chargers,” he said. “As a former San Diego Charger turned into the biggest San Diego Chargers fan, it was a very special opportunity. But, the moment they left town, I’m no longer a Chargers fan.”

Source: SD U-T

Well, it certainly seems like he changed his mind on that. Or maybe he just quit the part of the job where he does video content for Chargers.com and FOX Sports San Diego? Unclear, but it doesn’t matter. I’m not trying to judge Nick for providing for his family.

Final Thoughts

The L.A. Chargers have two smart, hard-working guys as their radio broadcast team. It’ll probably be a bit clunky at first, but when they work out the kinks (could take almost the entire first season) “Money” and Hardwick could be one of the better radio broadcast teams in the country and one that’s viewed as a trend-setter.

It’s definitely different, and “Money” gives the team a big influencer in the L.A. sports market and at the NFL Network. That’s one advantage that the Rams don’t have.

Let’s call this one a victory for the team and hope that Lewin gets a job calling NFL games on TV sometime soon.