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Lance Zierlein and John Granato
2008 Houston Press Award Winner "Best Talk Radio"
John Granato
Bagwell, Biggio, Olajuwon,.... Granato? Indeed, like those icons of the Houston sports landscape, John Granato has been a fixture on the Houston sports scene for the last fifteen years. And much like Bagwell toiling as a skinny third baseman for the Pawtucket Red Sox or Hakeem (nee Akeem) Olajuwon honing his skills as a soccer goalie in Nigeria, Granato's career in sports broadcasting has its own humble beginnings. On the heels of a stint in Flagstaff, AZ, Granato moved on to Lafayette, LA where he worked wearing a luchador mask under the name "John Grant". (His finishing move was the Double Rods off the top rope.)
From there, it was on to a stint in Green Bay, WI, and back to his given name of John Granato. While John is extremely fond of subzero autumns and pasty women, he realized what everyone else already knew - no way was Green Bay big enough for both him and Brett Favre. Fortunately, The Phone Call came. Our man Johnny was being called up to the bigs -Houston, TX. From 1994 through 1997, Granato's Sports Night Live was a fixture on Channel 51. The show emanated live from a different Houston tavern each night and was directly responsible for literally hundreds of dollars being pumped into the Houston economy during that time
In May 1997, the Granato Era truly took off as he began co-hosting what would eventually become the most popular sports radio talk show in Houston on SportsRadio 610. For ten years, nobody talked sports better (or sold more lasik procedures, carpet cleanings, and ritzy rails, for that matter) than John Granato. And now he's back! Indeed, Granato will be our Rickey Henderson - the quintessential leadoff man at the top of the 1560 order. (He may even refer to himself in the third person like Rickey from time to time.
A true multimedia icon, Granato can also be seen on television with Fox Sports Houston, periodically hosting Astros and Rockets post-game shows. Also, he is the host of Golf Southwest, a 26 episode four-state tour of golf courses - a gig he is uniquely qualified for given his status as "America's Guest" in the golfing world.
John lives on site at the Granato Compound in Bellaire with his wife Wendy and three children. For those of you needing extra help from Professor Granato, please note he maintains office hours at Nick's Place on Rocky Ridge for nearly twelve hours daily. WHO DOESN'T?
Lance Zierlein
He began his illustrious career in sports media at the tender age of 12 when he was the sports editor of the Rosenberg Middle School Town Crier. A true trailblazer the burgeoning star provided compelling stories, stats, and of course, gambling lines for the now defunct publication with a monthly circulation of just under 125. From there Lance moved on to High School (like most middle school students do) and began running a clandestine sportsbook taking and making bets with a ring that extended from the Twin Cities of Richmond/Rosenberg all the way to New Orleans and San Antonio. Following in his father’s coaching footsteps, as a Junior, Lance became the head coach of the Freshmen A-Team for a High School which he led to an uneventful 6 and 4 season.
For college, Mr. Z headed to neighbor state Louisiana, where he was a standout on the Tulane Green Wave Men’s La Crosse team. After college Lance disappeared for 6 years. No one knows where he went or what he did during “the Dark Years” but he reemerged on the public scene co-hosting the Bench on Star 610 with the former John Grant. 8 years later, Lance is still sitting across from John and still refuses to discuss the dark years.
Lance lives in Houston with his beautiful wife Nicole and a handful of children, Drake, Zeke, Alex, Simone, Caleb, Conner, Michelle, and Toby. They have two dogs both replete with firm stools. Lance enjoys poker, sports, and dungeons and dragons all-nighters with his crew, affectionately known as “The Brethren of Sri Shamen”.
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