As a child, Chris Beckam never imagined himself as the next football star to come out of South Georgia. In fact, it was quite the opposite.
“Growing up in Thomasville, I tell people that, as a football player, I talked about it better than anything else,” Beckam said with a laugh. “I wasn’t great, but I’ve always loved the game.”
He didn’t see an NFL prospect when he looked at himself. However, he did see an individual who knew the game, appreciated it, and wanted to spread those emotions to any who would listen. His passion for the gridiron allowed him to turn his love into a career; after spending time as a journalist in Valdosta and Tifton, he decided to settle into a career in radio and hasn’t looked back.
“I made the transition to radio in the mid-90s,” Beckam said. “I did the occasional baseball game or coach’s show. Later, I got to thinking about state-wide football shows and how there wasn’t much emphasis placed on the game in the southern part of the state. Something had to be done about that because we have some tremendous talent that comes from our area.”
The idea that came from the revelation is now known as “Triangle Furniture Football Friday Night”; the 2016 season marks the 13th year of the show. Along with Bryce Johnson and Meghan Schunhoff, the show serves a multitude of purposes. The trio keeps listeners informed regarding upcoming games throughout the area and also allows them to call in with their own thoughts and opinions.
“Our show is very caller driven,” Beckam said. “We broadcast on 12 stations in South Georgia — two in Valdosta, and we also have feeds in Tifton, Douglas, Waycross, Fitzgerald, and most recently Americus. We definitely encourage people to go out to the games and support their local teams, but for those that may not be able to do so, we want to keep them involved and up to speed with what’s going on with their local teams.”
Beckam takes pride in the fact that the radio show is so down to earth. Fans call in and make predictions, and many callers even take the time to create their own unique nicknames.
“We’ll have people call and coin themselves with names like ‘The Milkman,’” Beckam said. “I have no idea how that all started, but it’s funny. We love when the listeners contribute to the show. It adds to the fun. Just being able to interact with the coaches and the community, it’s makes all of this worthwhile.”
One of the biggest ironies of his job is that his knowledge is heavily based on those that he humbly serves. Because the show runs on Friday evenings from 6 p.m. to midnight, Beckam is never able to attend a game. Instead, the information that he disseminates is a combination of stat-keeping and input from fans.
“I’ll have people call in and ask questions like, ‘So what do you think about this player?’” Beckam said. “And I’ll respond, ‘Well, I don’t know. Tell me what you think about him. It’s funny. That’s where my growth comes from. I depend on listeners to help me expand. The people make our show possible.”
But aside from the radio, and aside from the good times that are shared while in studio, Beckam deeply values the game of football for one important reason: unity.
“You can’t replace this,” Beckam said. “Football, especially in this area, serves such an important purpose. Even if you never see it during the rest of the week, there are at least three hours on Friday night when everyone can get together, sit around, and unite. It doesn’t matter if you’re black, white, Republican, Democrat. None of that matters on Friday nights. We come together; we cheer; and we have a good time. That’s why I love what I do.”
For anyone interested in tuning in to Beckam’s show, be sure to check out “Triangle Furniture Football Friday Night” on 105.9 WVGA, Friday evenings from 6 p.m. to midnight. Also, you can like the Facebook page under the same name and follow the show on Twitter @SOGAFootball.
ITG Web Content
United As One: Chris Beckham Brings The Area Together Through The Power Of The Airwaves
Written by James A. Washington
Photo courtesy of Chris Beckham
