Angelo Cataldi: LOUD: How a Shy Nerd Came to Philadelphia and Turned up the Volume in the Most Passionate Sports City in America

by Angelo Cataldi

For over three decades, Angelo Cataldi was the on-air voice of Philadelphia sports fans, leading the charge with unabashed zeal and infectious energy. He was the maestro of the mania, the conductor of the symphony of vitriol that blared through car radios every morning in the most misunderstood yet passionate sports city in America.

It made him his share of enemies, but he walked away from the microphone with enough stories for several lifetimes—or one jam-packed, lively memoir.

LOUD  is an exuberant chronicle of Cataldi's life, from his childhood as a self-described "king nerd" in Providence, Rhode Island, to the traditional newspaper career he left behind, and his eventual rise to the top of the Philadelphia sports radio scene on WIP.

Through it all, Cataldi remained dedicated to his mission of talking about what the city was talking about, in the same tone. And that tone was loud, passionate, and unapologetically real.

Full of encounters with athletes, personalities, and power brokers as well as candid reflections,  LOUD  is a must-read for die-hard Philadelphia sports fan and anyone who appreciates a good story.

Genres: Sports, Memoir, Nonfiction

256 pages, Hardcover

Published November 28, 2023

Reviews

[June Freifelder]

It feels like way too much pressure to give a book a rating when there are only three ratings of it on Goodreads. I’ve been listening to Angelo for the majority of my life and I enjoyed how his reflections brought up memories from 2004 on for me. That being said, he prides himself on having written this memoir in six weeks and that short timeline most definitely shows.

[Jack Chaucer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just like with Angelo Cataldi's must-hear radio show on WIP for 33 years, you're hanging on every word of his memoir because it is packed with bold opini0ns, entertaining anecdotes, surprising stories, LOL humor and honest reflection. This book perfectly captures Angelo's spirit, personality and genuine connection with the sports fans of Philadelphia that made him a one-of-a-kind icon of the airwaves.

[Stewblitz · Rating 2 out of 5]

I always enjoyed Angelo and have been listening faithfully since back in the Brookshier days. Unfortunately, in this book he comes across as shallow and vindictive. He either loves you or hates you; he never forgives and he’s never wrong. I guess that makes for good radio, but I was disappointed with the man it revealed.

The book is hastily written, not well organized and there are lots of typos. It was fun to hear the behind the scenes stories and learn more about the crazy personalities associated with the show, but I was disappointed when I put it down.

[Tara Cignarella · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall Grade: B+
Personal Stories: B+
Writing: B+
Best Aspect: I didn’t know sports commentator, but since my son is an Eagles fan, I gave it a go. Enjoyed th stories since many took place close to where I live.
Worst Aspect: Crude and arrogant in many parts, but he seems to comphend his past wrongs.
Recommend: Yes.

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great book for all Philly sports fans! A must read. Angelo does a great job of covering the highlights of his career at WIP. Plus you get a good sense of his background and his transition from newspaper reporter to radio host. I thought his journalism background was perfect for this type of book for the fans of his show. He stayed true to his mission and went out on top. Thank you, Angelo for all your years of entertainment.

[Jon · Rating 5 out of 5]

The main title (LOUD) is an apt description of the book. It's a nice trip down memory lane for the "Morning Guys" show, there are few surprises, and Cataldi's admissions of remorse over some incidents don't always seem sincere.

[Chad M S · Rating 5 out of 5]

Angelo Cataldi was the voice of my morning drives to school and work for 30+ years. As an avid Philadelphia sports fan, the only thing better than watching my teams play was listening to what Angelo had to say about the game the next morning. Although many of the stories and opinions Angelo shares in the book may sound familiar to his regular listeners, there is a substantial amount of content that he unearths regarding his personal life, his relationship with management and sponsors, and his loyal callers. Along with learning more about the Philadelphia radio icon, the book provides fascinating insight on the innerworkings of the radio industry and specifically WIP over the past 3 decades. Although Angelo retired after the Eagles 2023 Super Bowl loss, "Loud" magically brought back his legendary show and his trademark New England voice for the duration of my reading it. If I had one critique of the memoir, it would be Angelo's reluctance to address his famous rift with fellow Philadelphia sports radio pioneer, Howard Eskin. That would have tied the bow on this great read.
Regardless, 5/5.

Here is a link to Angelo's Final Segment on WIP:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NJJjd...

[Jeff · Rating 4 out of 5]

"LOUD" by Angelo Cataldi perfectly captures the essence of its author. Known for his loud, outspoken, and unapologetic style, Angelo Cataldi made his mark as a sports talk radio host for over 30 years, amassing a dedicated following of enthusiastic listeners.

Yet, Angelo is more than just a booming voice. His sharp wit and rapid-fire quips endeared him to fans, making him a standout in the industry. While his brash demeanor may have rubbed some people the wrong way, it's undeniable that he captivated and engaged his audience like few others could.

In "LOUD," Angelo offers personal stories from his upbringing in Rhode Island, his experiences at Columbia University and the Philadelphia Inquirer, and his journey to becoming a dominant force in Philadelphia sports media. His writing mirrors his on-air presence—bold, honest, and without apology.

Whether you love or loathe him, Angelo Cataldi remains a legendary figure in the realm of sports talk radio.

[Jacqui · Rating 4 out of 5]

Generally speaking, I enjoyed the book. It's more a series of short stories, rather than a memoir that goes particularly deep. I guess that's my biggest gripe. It didn't go very deep into Angelo's persona and his most individual convictions, demons, and beliefs, although it certainly told you who he was. He is a radio personality who always wore his opinions on his sleeves, but I feel like there was something missing here. When he talks about his bouts of depression, it seems like they were merely bumps in the road. Like, "I was super depressed, magic pill, cured." Maybe that's how it went, but I doubt it. Although maybe this wasn't intended to go that deep. It certainly works as a collection of memories and musings from an illustrious career in sports radio.

[M Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book was very "on brand". Cataldi is a dedicated hater of those he deems lacking in the prized Philadelphia quality of authenticity and since I am too, I won't quibble about that. It also paralleled his radio show in that one never goes long stretches without a laugh - he paces the book extremely well. And yet again in keeping with the radio show format, there are a lot of personal revelations here, though many are not as revelatory as they seem - in other words, Cataldi is self-aware, but not self-flagellatory.

How is the book for those who never listened to the author on the radio? I'd guess that it would lose a star, but it still would have a lot of useful insights into what it takes to dominate a sector in American entertainment and the price one has to pay.

[Keegan McMenamin · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are not a Philly sports fan, it is nearly impossible to explain the importance of sports radio, specifically Angelo Catadli, to the fan's experience. His voice is probably the first distinct voice I could pick out as a kid and his 3-6 hours of sports talk radio on WIP was a constant both when in Philly and on my dad's Audacy app in Pensacola. As I got older our takes have diverged, but I will always hold him in the highest of regards. This was a great memoir and it's funny to me that he seems to actually believe all of his "sports radio" takes. Thanks Angelo for helping shape my Philly fandom.

[Wesley Parker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Never realized how much I missed him being on the radio until he retired. I love how he eschewed the mundane details of childhood that bogs down some memoirs in favor what his listeners are really here for. Of course, he does dive a little bit into his youth, but it was all important aspects that helped him become the man he did. Hearing about radio in the 90s, along with the antics in advertising gave me great laughs. Overall, if you’re a fan of his radio show, you’ll be right at home. Even if you weren’t a fan of his, I think you will be after reading this book.

[Keith Caldwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

**"Loud" by Angelo Cataldi was a fantastic read! If you were a listener and loved his show, some of the stories will take you right back, while others will reveal things you never knew. Even if you’re not familiar with Angelo but love sports, this book is for you.

A great read—I enjoyed every page!"**

[Vince · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyed reading this book and learning of the inner workings of the show. This book also made me proud to be a Philadelphia sports fan. Enjoyed Angelo’s commentary on the many bosses and egos he work d for over the years.

[Dan Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good. Cataldi lets you into some aspects of his personal life which you would not see come across while he was on the air every morning. Learn about the listeners the "regullars. Many great stories relived and told only in the way Angelo could tell them.

[Collin Quigley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Worth buying for the field trip anecdotes alone.

[beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was a fun casual read but an aggressive passionate fast paced read at the same time. I loved the element of transparency with him

[Writemoves · Rating 4 out of 5]

LOUD was a fun book for me to read. I was a listener to Cataldi and Philadelphia sports radio talk for may years but not lately so I missed all the excitement when he finally retired. What made this book interesting was that Cataldi did not hold many things back either about Philadelphia sports personalities or his personal life.

Some tidbits:

He was not a fan of Andy Reid. He also described the awkward moment when he interviewed Donavan McNabb.He had good things to say about Doug Pederson---he found Doug to be open and truthful.

Very critical of 76ers coach Brett Brown and The Process. Hated Gabe Kapler and Curt Schilling.

Suprising rips at Charlie Manuel, Phillies manager. Cataldi felt that given the talent of the Phillies that they should have won multiple World Series.

Some of the most interesting parts of the book were his battles with WIP management. Cataldi was very candid about his salary and internal squabbles. Cataldi gave a lot of credit to Al Morganti and Rhea Hughes for the show’s success.

If you are a Philadelphia sports fan, I think you will enjoy this book---just to read who Cataldi skewers. I found it a fun and nostalgic read.

[K.P. Gillespie · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.0 Stars. Entertaining inside look at Angelo Cataldi's 33 years at WIP. Full of inside stories, honestly written, and a must read for Philly sports fans.

[Jeff Ferry · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good reflection on Angelo's time at WIP
Just like the show, it never gets too deep or too serious.

[Caitrin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nice to hear Angelo’s “voice” again, so many memories

[Robert Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

An avid Morning Show listener through the end, it was a pleasure to read this book. Many forgotten callers, guests and regulars are brought back. Enjoyed immensely. Amazon, Cruise