He might not have a microphone or airwaves to carry his message anymore but Steve Tannen, host of KPNW's SportsTalk is ticked. "It's the most heartbreaking things I've ever gone through professionally," he says.

SportsTalk was cut from the airwaves Tuesday after a ten year run on KPNW. Why? Program Director Chris Sargent says the bottom line is ratings plus it simply didn't fit in to the station's lineup. "There wasn't as much audience for SportsTalk as there is for politcal talk like what we're doing with Lars Larson and Rush Limbaugh," says Sargent. "So it's better for us to do more synergistic programming."

But Tannen says syndicated controversial talk show host Michael Savage is in his place, adding insult to injury. He says, "If they think in my town people are going to respond in a positive way to me having my heart ripped out to a guy like this they made a huge mistake business-wise."

Fans sent out petitions via email and on paper but it just wasn't enough to save the show. Still, die-hard SportsTalkers and friends of the host aren't giving up. Workers at Quackers Last Stop in West Eugene have started a new petition expressing their disappointment in the decision. Server, Jaina Wiseman says, "We've had a huge crowd signing it. We already have six pages."

So at this point, Savage is officially on the KPNW airwaves. And while many would say SportsTalk is history - like any good sporting game, it sounds like there's still a chance for the underdog to make a comeback.

Tannen says, "I'm examining all options and am talking to people in the community and would be very happy to do this show anywhere else."

Adds Sargent, "I'm hoping that SportsTalk does find a home on a suitable radio station. There there are stations where it would fit in this community. Just probably not this one. Not at this time."