Newcomer Josh Innes Wins 94WIP's Great Birds Debate
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – Rob Ellis won't have a ring for his thumb, just yet.
"One for the thumb," was Ellis' motto prior to 94WIP's 7th annual Great Birds Debate, the station's annual event where station personalities, along with CBS3 Sports Director Beasley Reece and Eagles Insider Dave Spadaro debate the major issues surrounding the Philadelphia Eagles. Ellis, who hosts the afternoon show on 94WIP with Anthony Gargano, and is also a sports anchor for CBS3, had won four consecutive debates, until this year.
Evening host Josh Innes, who joined the station in December, won this year's debate with 44% of the vote. Innes was vocal during the debate, and drew a loud reaction from the crowd when he proclaimed Cowboys' Tony Romo the best quarterback in the NFC East, even over the Eagles' Nick Foles.
Innes was less optimistic about the chances of the Eagles winning a playoff game next season than the rest of the panel, giving the likelihood of it happening a "five" on a scale of 1-10, the lowest score of anyone on the panel.
"I think it's possible for this team to draft well and be better, but based on the schedule, actually have a worse record. You win the NFC by playing defense," Innes said during the debate.
Innes competed against 94WIP's Angelo Cataldi, Rhea Hughes, Michael Barkann, Ike Reese, Anthony Gargano, Ellis, Reece and Spadaro. The event was moderated by 94WIP's Glen Macnow.
Cataldi finished second, followed by Ellis in third. The winner is decided by popular vote, using both web and text voting.
Innes said via his Twitter account that he wanted to set a record for margin of victory in the event. It was certainly a much larger margin than last year, when less than one percent of the vote separated Ellis from runners-up Ike Reese and Cataldi.
One thing that might change for Innes because of the win is what he does with his off time. Innes promised on his radio show that he would fix all the potholes in Philadelphia if he won. Given the one final blast winter gave the region on Monday, perhaps Mother Nature voted for Rob Ellis.
Innes' show can be heard on 94WIP from 6pm until 10pm, weekdays.
