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Many people think their boss is full of shit, but Tom Gulley had proof. This summer, Gulley left his six-figure advertising job in Connecticut to return to broadcasting, co-hosting a morning sports show on KFCD-AM with Thom Bailey, who launched the new format in January. Although Gulley was excited to be back on the air, he quickly became disillusioned with his co-host, he says, who showed up late nearly every morning, antagonized guests and uttered profanities on-air. Then, just when Gulley didn't think that Bailey could behave any worse, his co-host startled him with a rather embarrassing admission during a break.

"One morning I'm sitting across the table from him and he has this look on his face, a weird, uncomfortable look," Gulley says. "And he said, 'oh man, oh man, I think I just shit my pants' and goes to the bathroom. He didn't come out for 45 minutes."

On October 29, KFCD-AM, known as Sports Fan 990, switched to a gospel music format shortly after an interview with auto racing star Mario Andretti. Meant as an alternative to the jocular sports programming at 1310 KCTK-AM, The Ticket, Sports Fan 990 attracted a slew of impressive guests, even though it barely registered in the ratings. While Bailey, who had been leasing air time on the station, hopes to revive the format, a parade of former staffers say that he can't run his own life, much less a radio station. Many of them claim they were never paid, several say he continually berated them and just about everyone says that he was a train wreck behind the microphone.

"One time he was up late arguing with one of his girlfriends, and he would bring it up on the air," says Raul Enriquez, who worked as a board operator for Sports Fan 990. "He would say, 'I'm having women problems but they're my problems, and I don't want to discuss it,' and I'd think, 'Well then why say that on the air?'"

While some former employees chuckle at Bailey's penchant for on-air blunders, one of which included answering his cell phone several times in the middle of his show, others say they feel betrayed. Several ex-staff say Sports Fan 990 had a chance to carve a niche in the lily-white world of Dallas-Fort Worth sports radio, particularly since many of its personalities, including Bailey, are black. But Bailey, they say, destroyed the station's prospects with a corrosive style of management that sunk morale and chased others away. Timm Matthews, who worked as a host, says that Bailey has a "rotten personality" and calls him a "walking disaster." He says that Bailey ritually demeaned staff, even though he failed to pay those who worked for him.

"He was rude and offensive to almost everybody and anybody on a daily basis," Matthews says. "He would always have a scowl on his face and was always pissed off and angry with the world."

In a series of interviews, Bailey comes off as proud, charming and oddly magnanimous. Even after being read a series of stinging quotes by Matthews, he says, "If I was in a position to hire Timm Matthews, I wouldn't hesitate."

Bailey admitted he still owes some of his employees money but denies ever swearing on air, treating his staff poorly or soiling his pants. Still, he doesn't seem to have much animosity toward Tom Gulley, even when told that his former co-host recounted to us the story of his allegedly shaky bowels.

"I like Tom Gulley; I talk to him every day," he says. "Gulley is from my hometown. I assume that's why we click so."

Gulley says that even after he left the station in disgust two months ago, Bailey continued to call him. He says he told his former co-host that it's best they don't talk. Gulley had dreamed of being a sports talk show host and says that Bailey ruined his chance by failing to adhere even to the lowest standards of workplace behavior. Gulley says that when Bailey was on the air, he'd spit rather audibly onto a torn-up newspaper by his feet. He didn't prepare for the show and often embarrassed guests with his lack of knowledge, like when he asked Pat Summerall "what it was like to play for the Philly Eagles." Summerall, in fact, was a long-time New York Giant who never played for Philadelphia.

But most of all, Gulley was rather embarrassed by his co-host's mouth.

"He would drop F-bombs on the air and he would then turn to me and say, 'Did I just say that?'"

Leon Simon, a retired barber who has become a local sports talk fixture, says that while Bailey was a "little rough" behind the microphone, he wasn't any more profane than the hosts on The Ticket.

"He was constantly talking about whipping somebody's ass on the radio," says Simon, an on-air personality at KFCD. "What Thom said on the air I used to disagree with, but I heard some of the same stupid stuff on The Ticket."

Bailey insists he never swore on the air, other than saying "ass."

"We never used 'shit' or 'fuck' on the air. Those things are prohibited," he says. "I know good from bad, from evil, unlike The Ticket over there. I don't hear anybody complain over them. I hear them say shit—I mean ass."

Even when he was off-air, Bailey managed to startle his staff. Two former employees say they would see Bailey in the office walking around without a shirt. Osborne Lowe, a former host at the station, says that Bailey once came to work in his pajamas.

Write Your Comment show comments (22)

  1. This is the greatest story ever written. Thanks for exposing this asshole.

    Comment by Wally — November 14, 2007 @ 06:12PM

  2. I worked for this asshole every morning. I got there every morning at 5:30 and he would either be late or sleeping on the floor in his office. Then he would talk shit to me and the other employees or even guest on the show. He is by far the most unprofessional person I have ever met or worked for. This guy owes me almost 4000 dollars for the 3 months I worked for him. He was bouncing $250 checks. This guy is a joke and I am glad that this article came out to expose this idiot. I wish only the worst of things for him. He is a racist towards everyone blacks, whites, asians, gays, he is just an ignorate asshole who is bitter and mad at the world. I have no doubt in my mind that he will burn in hell.

    Comment by Matt Lopez — November 15, 2007 @ 12:04AM

  3. I worked for this guy from January 24th to March 30th of this year, when I walked out on him. I was not paid all of what I was owed in either month. He owes me money, and he owes many people money, thousands of dollars in some cases. If you're reading this, and you worked for him, and he owes you money, please do, if you haven't already done so, file a wage claim with the Texas Workforce Commission, and make sure you have invoices, copies of checks, etc., in order.

    I have been in radio for more than 20 years, and I've worked for my share of people who didn't have any business running a radio station, but never have I dealt with anyone more disingenuous, dishonest, angry, or just plain corrupt than Thom Bailey. You've read here what Timm Matthews thinks. Just ask people I respect highly, including Kristi Scales, Ted Gangi, Danny Miles, and Al Lerner. They will tell you the same thing: Thom Bailey is bad news.

    Comment by David Burrall — November 15, 2007 @ 12:30AM

  4. "I mean shit. I mean hell. I mean God. I mean wow."

    MAKE UP YOUR MIND ASSHOLE! WHAT DO YOU MEAN?

    Comment by shake voice bill — November 15, 2007 @ 05:21PM

  5. Once again, a crusty old timer, (Leon Simon), must take a shot at his competitor.

    He should ask his long time co-host Norm Hitzges how things are going at the Ticket.

    Time to move on Leon.

    Comment by Acer — November 15, 2007 @ 05:31PM

  6. this is what happens when you give the black man a handout. you think he'd a screwed everything up if it was his own money?

    Comment by walter kimbrough — November 15, 2007 @ 06:12PM

  7. I am not at all surprised by this article. Actually it is a long time in coming. I had a comment when I first had dealings with this guy. He is the angriest man alive not to mention the amount of crap he spews with every sentence from his mouth. He is one of the most bigoted men I have ever met black or white. He makes the KKK look like red necks having a bad fashion day. Bailey can't manage an ant farm much less something as far reaching as a radio station. He screwed us out of a couple bucks but, we were just glad to be rid of him and his low-life life-style and poor human skills. He got much less than he deserved and the people around him should have not expected a Rolex from a man that belongs on a corner with a trench coat full of knock-offs. I know that anyone that has had the misfortune of coming in contact with this guy has absolutely nothing positive to say about him or his business practices (because he has to practise, he still hasn't gotten it right, nor will he probably ever).

    Comment by A Radio Guy — November 15, 2007 @ 08:01PM

  8. I too had the unfortunate experience of working for Thom Bailey. There is not one thing in this entire story that I didn't experience personally, all the way down to him blocking the door to keep me from being able to leave. I was NEVER paid by Thom Bailey, and I probably never will be. Thom Bailey is a criminal for what he has done, and should be held accountable as such. I confronted Thom when I hadn't been paid, and demanded a check or I wasn't going on the air that day (I hosted the Daily Sports Show-Afternoons). Thom threatened me, screamed, yelled, clinched his fists and bowed up in my face, then wrote me a check for about 1/3 of what I was owed which he promptly put a stop payment on. I think I speak for a number of ex-Sports Fan 990 employees when I say...we were conned. Plain and Simple. What a disgrace.

    Comment by J.R. Schumann — November 16, 2007 @ 07:17AM

  9. I honestly gave the show a shot. They had great people on like Jean-Jacques from the DMN.

    At the end of the day this dude made his own show unlistenable. This dude's management style wasn't what made the show go under; it was his serious lack of talent.

    Comment by Rooster — November 17, 2007 @ 09:18AM

  10. I hope you burn in hell Thom Bailey! You have toyed with other people's lives and it has cost them dearly. I hope you spend the rest of your life flipping burgers and getting grease stains on your pants cause thats all your sorry ass is good for

    Comment by DFW Radio Guy — November 17, 2007 @ 12:21PM

  11. They will make up any kind of slime to keep the Black man down...shameful

    Comment by David Williams — November 21, 2007 @ 09:58PM

  12. Oh I could jump on the band wagon and talk bad about Thom. But that would be the easy thing to do. I prefer to talk about the good things that he did for me. Giving me a chance to do what I love and always wanted to do, and unlike most of the commentary I had the ability to do this without pay. I respect everyones opinion and cannot blame those who may have been made promises that were never realized for being mad, I now consider most of them my friends and I can only say that because Thom gave me the chance to do this thing called radio. Thanks Thom. I wish all of the folks I met along the way the best and I hope to keep in touch with most as the ones I met were all professionals through a tough tenure. And yes I must thank Thom for helping me become a better Radio person and for allowing me to have the opportunity to talk to so many people I never would have had the chance to talk to or interview. So again I thank everyone I met at KFCD including Thom Bailey.

    Comment by Pete — November 26, 2007 @ 09:52PM

  13. Oh I could jump on the band wagon and talk bad about Thom. But that would be the easy thing to do. I prefer to talk about the good things that he did for me. Giving me a chance to do what I love and always wanted to do, and unlike most of the commentary I had the ability to do this without pay. I respect everyones opinion and cannot blame those who may have been made promises that were never realized for being mad, I now consider most of them my friends and I can only say that because Thom gave me the chance to do this thing called radio. Thanks Thom. I wish all of the folks I met along the way the best and I hope to keep in touch with most as the ones I met were all professionals through a tough tenure. And yes I must thank Thom for helping me become a better Radio person and for allowing me to have the opportunity to talk to so many people I never would have had the chance to talk to or interview. So again I thank everyone I met at KFCD including Thom Bailey.

    Comment by Pete — November 26, 2007 @ 09:53PM

  14. Oh I could jump on the band wagon and talk bad about Thom. But that would be the easy thing to do. I prefer to talk about the good things that he did for me. Giving me a chance to do what I love and always wanted to do, and unlike most of the commentary I had the ability to do this without pay. I respect everyones opinion and cannot blame those who may have been made promises that were never realized for being mad, I now consider most of them my friends and I can only say that because Thom gave me the chance to do this thing called radio. Thanks Thom. I wish all of the folks I met along the way the best and I hope to keep in touch with most as the ones I met were all professionals through a tough tenure. And yes I must thank Thom for helping me become a better Radio person and for allowing me to have the opportunity to talk to so many people I never would have had the chance to talk to or interview. So again I thank everyone I met at KFCD including Thom Bailey.

    Comment by Pete — November 26, 2007 @ 09:53PM

  15. Oh I could jump on the band wagon and talk bad about Thom. But that would be the easy thing to do. I prefer to talk about the good things that he did for me. Giving me a chance to do what I love and always wanted to do, and unlike most of the commentary I had the ability to do this without pay. I respect everyone's opinion and cannot blame those who may have been made promises that were never realized for being mad, I now consider most of them my friends and I can only say that because Thom gave me the chance to do this thing called radio. Thanks Thom. I wish all of the folks I met along the way the best and I hope to keep in touch with most as the ones I met were all professionals through a tough tenure. And yes I must thank Thom for helping me become a better Radio person and for allowing me to have the opportunity to talk to so many people I never would have had the chance to talk to or interview. So again I thank everyone I met at KFCD including Thom Bailey.

    Comment by Pete — November 26, 2007 @ 09:54PM

  16. Oh I could jump on the band wagon and talk bad about Thom. But that would be the easy thing to do. I prefer to talk about the good things that he did for me. Giving me a chance to do what I love and always wanted to do, and unlike most of the commentary I had the ability to do this without pay. I respect everyones opinion and cannot blame those who may have been made promises that were never realized for being mad, I now consider most of them my friends and I can only say that because Thom gave me the chance to do this thing called radio. Thanks Thom. I wish all of the folks I met along the way the best and I hope to keep in touch with most as the ones I met were all professionals through a tough tenure. And yes I must thank Thom for helping me become a better Radio person and for allowing me to have the opportunity to talk to so many people I never would have had the chance to talk to or interview. So again I thank everyone I met at KFCD including Thom Bailey.

    Comment by Pete — November 26, 2007 @ 09:57PM

  17. Well, some people get crapped on, not paid, lied to, and they say, "I don't like that."

    Other people say, "Gimme more and thank you for the opportunity!"

    Pete, I guess we know which camp you fall into. And, much like your work on 990, we can see here that your thoughts are off-target, poorly formed, and highly repetitive, as you've posted the same thing five times in six minutes.

    Comment by GumpyJumptooth — November 26, 2007 @ 10:49PM

  18. Stop saying "minority" and use the correct term - "Black"

    Not all minorities are idiots.

    Robert Chan

    Comment by robert — November 28, 2007 @ 03:49PM

  19. Stop saying "minority" and use the correct term - "Black"

    Not all minorities are idiots.

    Robert Chan

    Comment by robert — November 28, 2007 @ 03:49PM

  20. After dealing with Thom I can only say, "How has he survived so long?" A man that is an ugly human being seems to have longevity. As they say the good die young and the bad live forever. But, I would have to agree, he is a POS.

    "The Man" isn't the one holding down Thom Bailey, but rather he is his own worst enemy and certainly not a friend to anyone in the African American community as he was an equal opportunity a$$hole and didn't see skin color before he decided who he would lie, cheat or steal from. It is a sad commentary when he feels the need to use the race card in a feeble attempt to justify his poor business skills and down right unnacceptable treatment of his fellow human beings.

    Comment by Old Man — December 1, 2007 @ 02:54PM

  21. Well, I am no fan of the ticket, but I will say this. You got to have more than race in your corner if your going to attempt a coup on the Ticket. Even the greatness of ESPN has yet to yank the #1 in Radio rug from under the Tickets feet. Drug addicted host, foul mouthed and abusive personalities. the coined it. This guy was just trying to keep up with the joneses, and as most black people in business do, they depend heavly on their race card in hopes of swaying people in their direction. No different than with WNBA. Women belive and demand they have a right to have a profession basketball league. however, none of the prominent business women are knocking on doors to buy or own teams and further more, women are in no hurry to go see the women teams play. They simply say guys like sports, they should go. OH, we should go and support your right to have your league? STUPID. Sounds like some shit Hilary would come up with.

    The problem with this is, guys know where they want to spend their money. And I have the right to demand quality for sports buck. WNBA doesn't have quality. And if you demand something, you should be willing to support it. Don't expect others to support what you feel is your right to have. if your not willing to support it, then don't expect others to. Same goes with small, wanna be upstart sports radio shows. Don't expect everyone to flood to your show just because you are black. Noone cares about race anymore. Seriously, did you truly belive that burning a trail through white sports radio was going to make you an instant hit? You got to have something the other guys don't have. Instead, you tried to reproduce the exact same thing they already offered.

    For the record, I only listen to ESPN because I have to, I would love to be a ticket listener again, but until gordo is gone, no can do. He is not funny anymore, and he waste too much time disrupting the show rather than trying to increase the appeal. Jub jub is an idiot who cant decide if he wants to turn over a shotgun to the police to be destroyed that was given to him by his grandfather because he is not sure if the kids or the family is safe with it in the house. moron. Jr is the only one up there with any brains. And I am shocked he hasn't dumped his contract in hopes of moving on to greener pastures.

    Comment by Anonymous2112 — December 8, 2007 @ 03:03AM

  22. I listen to 990 occasionally. I can't believe all the things were said about this man. His behavior with his employees and employees dates. What kind of man threatens co-workers with hockey sticks. I would of press charges against the guy. I believe Thom Bailey needs to ask himself if he was working for someone that did not pay him at all. Treat him unhumanly. Would he like it. This day of time is about taking care of yourself, family, and making your way in this world. My advice to you pick yourself, dust off and try again. Learn from your mistakes and don't everything so seriously. Before you jump in the deep-end of the pool make sure can swim or have lifeguard on the sides, but dont put your tongue down their throat.

    Comment by louisa — April 9, 2008 @ 12:44AM

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