Bear Down, Arizona!: A Community Profile

The official University of Arizona "Block A" logo     

            Tucsonans often discuss all of the reasons they love their city.  In fact, one of the most common reasons residents say they love Tucson is “it’s still a big city with a small-town feel.”  Tucked between the large chain restaurants and stores, you can find an abundance of great local businesses that pride themselves in being a part of this Southwest community.  From the world-famous Sonoran hot dogs at El Guero Canelo, to the high-quality outdoor gear available at SummitHut, Tucson has something for everyone.

Wildcat fans on the University of Arizona campus

            Along with their Pima County pride, Tucsonans share a common love of rooting for the University of Arizona Wildcats.  From license plates to yard flags, water bottles to flip-flops, Wildcat support is everywhere in this town.  Since all of Arizona’s major league sports teams are based out of Phoenix (two hours north of the Old Pueblo), the Arizona Wildcats have truly become the hometown team.  While the turnout for baseball, softball, and football is usually quite good, in Tucson, Arizona, men’s basketball is king.

Rob Lantz doing some pre-production in the 1290AM The Source Studio

        Someone who couldn’t possibly agree more with this statement is Rob Lantz, Tucson resident, sports enthusiast, and hardcore Arizona Wildcats fan.  Lantz turned his passion for sports into a thriving career as the Program Director for 1290am The Source, a local Tucson sports-talk radio station and the official radio “home of the Wildcats.”  In addition to his Program Director duties, Lantz also works as on-air talent for the live sports-talk program “In the House,” which airs three hours a day, Monday through Friday.  Lantz also serves as on-air talent for all pre- and post-game Arizona Wildcat football and basketball shows.  “It’s exciting to talk about and cover all of the local Tucson teams I grew up loving,” Lantz said with obvious excitement about his job.  “Tucson is such a college town at heart.  The University of Arizona is definitely the focal point of the community, both culturally and athletically.” 

  

Rob Lantz and Kevin Woodman in the 1290AM Studio
during a live broadcast of "In the House"

            Lantz acknowledges that he’s “living the American dream,” having worked his way up the ladder at Cumulus Media (the broadcasting company that owns 1290am The Source) over the past 10 years and now working his fantasy career.  After graduating from high school, Lantz knew he wanted to get a job working for a radio station, but he had no idea where to start.  His big break came when a friend helped him land a part-time job working as a board operator for Fox Sports 1290 (later to be renamed 1290am The Source).  “I immediately became addicted to it,” Lantz recalls of his early days in radio.  It was then he realized his ultimate goal would be to share his passion of sports, particularly the Arizona Wildcats, with the Tucson community he loved so much.  After years of hard work, dedication, and learning all the different radio jobs he could, Lantz was promoted to the position of Program Director (also the only full-time position at the station) in 2010.