A big thank you to my brothers on Syracuse's longest-tenured sports-talk radio show

Okay, full disclosure: this column is just a tad sentimental.

Like many other people, the most important thing in my life is my family: my son, who turns nine soon, my parents, my twin brother and his boys, my other siblings, and my friends.

Not too far down in the pecking order is my love for my alma mater, Syracuse University, and along with that, my passion for Orange sports. In the fall of 2016, I was lucky enough to land a gig covering 'Cuse sports and recruiting for Inside The Loud House.

In that role, my editor was a cool dude by the name of Paul Andrew Esden Jr. Over the years, he's become a close friend. A truly genuine human being. In the spring of 2020, Paul moved on from Inside The Loud House, to focus on other endeavors, including his radio show, "The Manchild Show with Boy Green," and his coverage of the NFL's New York Jets.

I assumed the role of editor of Inside The Loud House, continuing my coverage of Syracuse Orange sports, recruiting and also NIL and conference realignment. I truly love this role. And as part of that, from time to time, I'll get to participate on various podcasts and hear my less-than-stellar voice on the radio.

Much love to my guys on The Manchild Show with Boy Green.

A few years back, Paul asked me to come on The Manchild Show with Boy Green, via The Score 1260. It was then that I got an introduction to another legend in sports-talk radio within the Central New York region, Jim "The Manchild" Lerch.

Over the last two years or so, if my memory serves correct (never a given as I approach 48), I started to come on The Manchild Show with Boy Green every week during the Syracuse basketball season. What an unbelievable gift.

And, sure, talking 'Cuse hoops is a blast, even amid the program's recent struggles. But what started out as dishing on Syracuse basketball with Paul and Jim evolved into something much more, something truly beautiful.

I'm a huge fan of 80s music and popular culture. My favorite band from the 80s is Duran Duran, and it's also one of my son's favorite bands. I don't recall exactly how it started, but I started talking about Duran Duran, 80s music and pop culture with Paul and Jim during our weekly segments, along with our chats about Syracuse basketball.

Can I tell you how fun this is? We would discuss our favorite Duran Duran songs. Jim would tell me about the band he played in back in the day, and how he modeled his haircut after one of Duran Duran's members. Jim would also share some of his experiences over the years in sports-talk radio, as well as tell stories of his students (he's an adjunct professor at Onondaga Community College and SUNY Oswego).

But wait. There's more. As our discussions about Duran Duran continued every week, Paul and Jim started playing Duran Duran songs in the background before I came on the air. How freaking amazing is that?

To top it off, my son, who absolutely loves college basketball, has actually been on the radio with me a couple of times during my chats with Paul and Jim. Those are the kinds of memories that live on forever.

So why I am writing this column at this particular moment? On Friday, The Manchild Show with Boy Green had its final show on the radio, and then it will transition to being a digital product. The show, which launched in 2002 as "Bud and the Manchild," is the longest-running sports-talk radio program in the Syracuse market.

Lerch has been on the air for nearly two dozen years. That's so impressive. Paul and Jim are two of the nicest people you'll ever meet, and I look forward to continuing our chats about Syracuse basketball, and Duran Duran, in the future.

I couldn't be more honored to rap with them. I appreciate, so so much, the opportunity that they've given me, and the kindness that they've shown my son and I.

Congratulations on a wonderful run, The Manchild Show with Boy Green. Oh, and Syracuse Orange fans, don't forget to subscribe to their new digital show.

Much love to Jim and Paul.