JARET BATES – SPORTSDRIVE
A native of Mobile and a graduate of Baker High School, Jaret handles afternoon hosting responsibilities, promotions and marketing, and now web-editing for the Sound of Mobile. A fan of the Los Angeles Rams, Mississippi State Bulldogs, and all things motorsports. Jaret is also a contributor to the John Racciatti Golf Show and Inside Alabama Racing.
MICHAEL BRAUNER – OPENING KICKOFF/PXP
Michael Brauner has been with WNSP since he graduated from the University of Alabama in 2022. A member of “The Opening Kickoff,” Brauner also has spent time co-hosting the afternoon drive. He’s WNSP’s play-by-play voice for high school football as well as a co-host on The John Racciatti Golf Show. Michael is an avid fan of the New England Patriots in addition to the Alabama Crimson Tide.
BENA BROWN – PIGLET
Bena has been a part of WNSP’s high school coverage for more than 13 years, working with the Pigskin Pete Show. Born and raised in Daphne, Bena retired from the power company after 35 years, which gives him plenty of time to play golf and umpire girls softball. A former college baseball player himself, he has two sons and spends time with his three beautiful grandchildren and supporting his Auburn Tigers.
BRIAN GENARD – PREP SPOTLIGHT/ COLOR COMMENTARY / PIGLET
Brian Genard moved to Mobile in 1994 to help start the Mobile Mysticks hockey team. When the team moved to Gwinnett, Genard decided to stay in Mobile. In 2008, Brian began roaming the sidelines for Pigskin Pete at games throughout Mobile and Baldwin counties as one of the “Piglets,” providing in-game updates. In 2016, Brian made the transition from the sidelines to the booth, where he started calling games with Lee Shirvanian and continues calling games today with Michael Brauner. In 2019, Brian joined Pigskin Pete as the co-host of the “Prep Spotlight.”
MARK HEIM – OPENING KICKOFF
Mark Heim, a New Orleans native, is WNSP’s program director and host of “The Opening Kickoff.” Mark has been on the air at WNSP for more than 15 years. He’s also a senior writer for AL.com and provides sports, news, and trending content. After two years at “The Montgomery Advertiser” from 1998-2000, Mark moved to Mobile to work at “The Press-Register” as a writer, editor, and page designer. He has been recognized with awards for his radio show, writing, headlines, and page design by APSE, APME, ASWA, and Lagniappe, among others.
He and his wife Amy have three children: Michael, Alex, and Stephen
TOMMY PRAYTOR – INSIDE ALABAMA RACING
A life-long race fan, a turn behind the wheel at a Richard Petty Driving School changed Tommy from fan to fanatic. In more than 30 years in Motorsports, Tommy has worked in every level of racing – local, ARCA, Trucks, Xfinity and Cup. In doing so, has filled very role: Driver, Crew Chief, Spotter, PR Person and Team Owner. Praytor was the promoter for the ARCA Mobile 200 and brought NASCAR back to Mobile for the first time in 54 years. Track announcer, pace car driver, PR, ticket taker, there isn’t much he hasn’t done at the track. Praytor has hosted WNSP’s “Inside Alabama Racing” for 27 years. He has also hosted ARCA Racing This Week on the Outdoor Channel and has been a color analyst for ARCA TV and radio broadcasts from Talladega SuperSpeedway.
When not racing, Tommy is the Broker of Praytor Properties. His son, Thomas “MOOSE” Praytor is a regular contributor to Inside Alabama Racing.
JOHN RACCIATTI – MILLER LITE GOLF SHOW
John has hosted the “John Racciatti Golf Show” since 1997 as the Gulf Coast’s top golf influencer. John is an ambassador for Gulf Distributing Company and Callaway Golf. The director of the Lite Scratch Tour, which is the home of the Gulf Coast top amateur golfers, John is also a 1 handicap. He played golf for and graduated from University of Southern Mississippi with a BA in marketing.
John lives in Point Clear with his wife Dara and has two children, Catherine and John Jr.
LEE SHIRVANIAN – OPENING KICKOFF
Lee Shirvanian has been covering sports in the greater Mobile area since 1980. He has been a co-host of the station’s morning show since the mid ‘90s. After many years with WKRG, he served as the play-by-play voice for South Alabama basketball, baseball and football. In addition, he has broadcast high school football, University of Mobile and Spring Hill College basketball, Mobile Bay Sharks baseball, and the Senior Bowl.
He is a member of the Mobile Sports Hall of Fame.
TIM TAYLOR – PIGSKIN PETE
Tim Taylor, known affectionately as Pigskin Pete, has been a part of WNSP Friday night high school football broadcasts since 1994. Tim started his radio career in LaGrange, Georgia in 1986 working with high school sports, while attending Auburn University. He worked for TV33 as a sports anchor in LaGrange after graduation from 1990-1993. He moved to Mobile, became a financial advisor for Edward Jones Investments in 1993 and joined WNSP radio shortly after.
He is married and has two children, Landon and Reagan.
SCOTT TODD – PIGLET
A proud Mobile native and two-time Auburn alum, Scott has covered high school football for WNSP from the sideline, press box and radio studio since 2003. His wife Robin and daughters Mackinley and Mia tolerate his avid sports fandom – he’s been to a college football championship game, a College World Series, two Final Fours, five Masters, more than a dozen MLB parks and more than two dozen college football stadiums!
ALAN WHITE – WNSP OUTDOORS
Alan White is an avid outdoorsman, conservationist and wildlife manager. He is the founder of Great Days Outdoors Magazine and past recipient of the Alabama Governor’s Conservation Communicator of the Year Award. He also serves on the Board of Directors for the Alabama Turkey Hunters Hall of Fame. He has hosted the “WNSP Outdoors Radio Show” for more than 15 years.