Copious Notes

Producer Marty Spears and host Steve Gorman, also the drummer for the Black Crowes, prepare for Gorman's broadcast from Churchill Downs. Photo by Rich Copley | LexGo.

Black Crowes drummer Steve Gorman says, “I have a bizarre perspective on things because I spent the last 20 years in a rock band touring the world.”

Gorman, who moved to Hopkinsville when he was 10, brought that bizarre perspective to Kentucky’s signature event, Saturday. He got a $7.99 thrift-shop suit, just for the occasion.

A few years ago, Gorman started showing up as a guest on a friend’s show for Nashville’s sports radio outlet, WGFX-104.5 FM (The Zone).

“First it was 10 minutes, then it grew into 15, 20, and eventually a whole half hour,” Gorman said, leaning on the rail outside the media center overlooking Churchill Downs’ muddy track.

Steve Gorman, on the air in Louisville.

Eventually, he was offered his own show, which usually runs for two hours on Sunday nights. For Gorman, it’s a natural fit. With the Crowes, he is often the guy who does radio spots for the band. And he says Sports Center is regular viewing for the group, which rose to fame on hits such as Hard to Handle and Jealous Again and is still a going concern with an upcoming album and tour.

That said, Gorman claims no actual sports expertise.

“We start with sports, and then we try to veer off track as quickly as possible,” Gorman says. “I love being the dumbest guy in the room. If I’m the smartest guy in the room, we have a problem.”

Gorman co-hosts the show with his friend Brandon Gnetz, a graphic designer for Nashville’s Frist Center for Visual Arts.

Among the host’s favorite sports to discuss are European soccer and his Western Kentucky University Hilltoppers.

“I claim no objectivity,” Gorman said. “When Gonzaga beat Western Kentucky, as far as I was concerned, the NCAA Tournament was over. Bring on the NFL Draft.”

Though he grew up in Kentucky, Louisville always seemed much farther away than Nashville. Still, he is now happy to embrace the Bluegrass State’s longest standing sporting tradition.

“I’ve actually talked to a lot of people in the last month getting ready for this and learned a lot,” Gorman said.

Friday afternoon, he found himself in the winner’s circle mere feet from Kentucky Oaks winner Rachel Alexandra.

“These horses are amazing althletes,” Gorman said. “It’s really a great sport.”

Not that it couldn’t be greater.

Among suggestions Gorman had as he started his Saturday afternoon broadcast were fans getting a little bit more vigilant about rooting for their horses, New York Yankees vs. Boston Red Sox style.

“Think about two drunk guys, one in a Friesan Fire jersey and one in an I Want Revenge jersey,” Gorman said, “It would be great.”

He also has a theory about Derby hats: “It’s saying look at my hat, and don’t notice that my dress doesn’t fit. I should have gone with the size 8.”

And a lot of this came out before the second hour of his show, which he promised listeners would be done, “juleps in hand.”

Like Gorman said, he brings a different perspective.