For day two of our Local Media Approval Ratings feature, we submit for approval Dick Gabriel.
Dick was a few years ahead of me at UK. He’s done various radio and TV gigs, including sports director at WKYT. He now works for IMG and is host for Sports Nightly on WLAP-630 in Lexington.
So what say you on Dick, thumbs-up or thumbs-down?

John Clay is a sports columnist for the Lexington Herald-Leader. A native of Central Kentucky and graduate of UK, he covered UK football for 13 seasons before being promoted to columnist in 2000. He lives in Lexington with his wife and two sons. You can e-mail him at jclay@herald-leader.com.
Lexington is blessed to have quality Sports Talk Hosts, but the cream of the crop is “Gabe”. He will report, listen, express his opinion, and check things out before ruining a person for a headline or “Gotcha”. Yes I switch channels on occasions, but always come back to Mr. Gabriel.
SportsNightly is a really good show. Nice mix of guests, fans, and other media voices. WAY better than anthing 590 or 1300 has to offer.
SportsNightly is the best sports radio show in town. good mix of fans, guests, and other interviews. WAT better than 1300!
Gotta be kidding. Everyone in Big Blue Nation knows Dick Gabriel is the authentic and authoritative voice of UK, horse racing and all Kentucky sports of importance. His is the informed inside opinion you have to get before deciding how you feel about a story. And his talents have never been showcased better than on SportsNightly. And he doesn’t YELL! Isn’t that great! I’m his student as long as The Professor is holding class.
The night Coach Richardson melted down in a post game press conference in Lexington, I called Dick Gabriel from NW Arkansas and asked Dick, “what did you ask him to set him off?” He did not play the game but rather professionally and solemnly reported on what would be the end of an era in SEC Basketball.
That’s class.
Gabe is awesome! I remember high fiving him while leaving the field after the 2007 Louisville football game. Always a gentleman, always informative, always the best!
I went to school with Dick, we had some of the same telecommunications classes and worked at the Kernel. I’ve always enjoyed his work over the years and he’s earned all of his success.
Mark Liptak
Southeast Idaho
He looks years younger since he lost the beard, too.
Dick is very entertaining on the radio and he’s even better in person. Huge Packers fan. i should call in and ask him about Favre to the Vikes and his opinion. LOL!
dick is a class act and hands down the best in the business in lexington…. plus hes a good looking guy with a sense of humor.
i wish i was like him…
With the beard, Dick is kind of like Lexington’s very own Chuck Norris. All men want to be him and all women want a piece of him. Without the beard, he’s still like Chuck Norris, only cooler.
Best radio show in Lex!
There is no “ctrl” key on Dick Gabriel’s keyboard because Dick Gabriel is always in control.
Gabe is the best in this region and hands down the nicest man in the business. He has such great sources and is the first to put rumors to rest. I wish to be like him in the future…