6. Steve Phillips, ESPN Radio

Phillips put himself at the center of the Alex Rodriguez storm by advocating Yankees general manager Brian Cashman trade the two-time All-Star. It's a proactive thought and ensures that S-T-E-V-E P-H-I-L-L-I-P-S will be written when discussing A-Rod. (Full disclosure requires me to point out that Phillips traded Jason Bay for Steve Reed and Jason Middlebrook, Melvin Mora for Mike Bordick and acquired Mo Vaughn while a GM with the Mets). Here's an interesting column on the relationship between Rodriguez and Phillips as reported by Bob Raissman of the New York Daily News.

7. Bob Valvano, ESPN Radio

Nothing against Jason Smith, who comes off far more likeable than his All Night predecessor Todd Wright, but Valvano (who does overnights for ESPN Radio on Saturday and Sunday) is strong on all sports -- especially pro and college basketball. I'm no fan of ESPN's constant overpromotion of all things ESPN (Is that Trey Wingo coming at me with a cell phone?) but ESPN Radio's efforts to raise money for the Jimmy V Foundation (Bob Valvano is front and center with this) is worth praising -- and good radio.

8. Jim Rome, Premiere Radio Network

I'll admit it: I like Jim Rome. Even when he morphs into his uber-Rome persona (like telling his listeners he won't read their emails on said subject after reading the email on said subject), he's still heads and shoulders above most of his radio brethren. His July 12 on-air conversation with Bob Costas was a terrific wide-ranging conversation on baseball in which Costas explained among other things that he agreed to certain conditions for his 2002 HBO interview with Barry Bonds (the conditions included limited questions on steroids). Costas told Rome that it bothered him -- even four years later -- that he didn't press Bonds further on the subject. Excellent stuff from both.

9. Ernie Harwell, Detroit Free Press

Great to see the 88-year-old Harwell, the legendary broadcaster for the Tigers, still serving up opinions on the medium.

10. Sean Salisbury, ESPN Radio

After I called Salisbury an "improving" television analyst, I was impressed with all the creative ways SI.com readers called me an idiot. I won't go back on those comments but while listening to Salisbury during a recent trip to Denver, I was floored by how much verbal smooching Salisbury gives coaches and players during interviews. No one says you always have to be a tough guy on the air but the S in Sean should not stand for Sucking Up. Salisbury may also want to update his Web site one of these days because if I wanted to book him for a speaking engagement, it looks like I'll have to head for Berlitz for language training. (Dude, friendly piece of advice, fix the word country below SEAN SPEAKS.)

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