Caught up yesterday with Greg Williams, formerly half of The Hardline. Maybe you remember him? While The Ticket rolls along toward this weekend’s Ticketstock with only occasional references to their former host as “He Who Must Not Be Named,” Williams is slowly piecing his life back together in the wake of a successful 14-year run at the station ending in drug addiction and a messy divorce from co-host Mike Rhyner.
“I’m doing great,” Williams tells Unfair Park. “I’ve come to the realization that I’m gone from the Ticket. I need to move on. And I will.”
Honestly, the dude sounds good. Sober. Remorseful. But at the same time, pretty upbeat.
Having completed drug rehab and out-patient therapy for depression, Williams spent the holidays at his vacation home in Breckenridge, Colorado. He’s now back in Dallas at his Turtle Creek condo, mulling what he calls “several options” to get back onto local radio. He wouldn’t go into specifics on-the-record -- nothing will likely happen before his six-month “non-compete” clause expires in June – but I think it’s a safe bet The Hammer will be heard from again.
As for The Hardline, it has sporadically filled Williams’ old chair with the likes of Kevin Scott, Kelly Milligan, John Rhadigan, Ken Daley, Grant Boone, Mark Followill and, ahem, yours truly. A Ticket source told me yesterday, however, that no one replacement is being considered, there is no time line for adding a new voice, nor is there even a clear decision on whether or not Hammer’s spot will be permanently filled. See, I toldja The Ticket replacing Greg Williams will be as tricky as Monday Night Football trying to replace Don Meredith. --Richie Whitt
