Quick Facts
Biography
Steve Mason (born February 2, 1965) is an American sports radio personality based in Southern California since 1992. He is co-host (with John Ireland) of the "Mason and Ireland" weekday show on AM710 KSPN in Los Angeles and hosts the pregame show for the stations broadcasts of the USC Trojans Football team. He is also a regular contributor on Good Day L.A. on FOX 11 in Los Angeles.
Early life
Mason was born in Altoona, Pennsylvania during World War II and raised in Toledo, Ohio. He graduated from Bowling Green University, where he was a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity.
Radio career
Mason started his radio career in Southern California in 1992, working at XTRA 690 in San Diego. Previously, he had worked in Toledo, Ohio at WRQN. It was in San Diego that he first teamed with John Ireland, a San Diego television sports reporter, in what eventually became The Big Show with Mason & Ireland. The show ran for over five years and for a time also aired on Fox Sports West cable television.
From 1996 to 1998 Mason co-hosted The Late Late Radio Show with Tom Snyder and Steve Mason for the CBS Radio network.
He later did a stint for WNEW 102.7 FM (now WWFS) in New York City (The Anti Show with Steve Mason & Sue Kolinsky) before teaming with Jim Lampley on the Fox Sports Radio Network (“We Are There with Steve Mason & Jim Lampley). The show ran from 2000 to 2003.
In 2003, Mason and Ireland would re-team in The Big Show with Mason & Ireland, now in Los Angeles for the local ESPN radio outlet, AM710 KSPN. Until late 2007, they had the weekday afternoon 4-7pm drive time slot. In November 2007, in a shuffling of on air talent, Ireland was let go by the station, and Mason was moved to his present 1 to 4pm early afternoon shift. Ireland came back 6 months later and their time slot was changed from 2-6pm. Now, the show is called Mason & Ireland and in the noon to 3pm early afternoon shift.
He received his nickname "VeniceMase" because he lived in Venice Beach, CA. An avid Dodgers and USC fan, he is seen wearing his Dodgers hat around town. Mason recently came out as gay to inspire other professional athletes to be open about their sexuality.
Television work
In addition to his radio work, Mason has served as an announcer for NBC television’s coverage of the Olympics. His work included:
- 2002 Winter Olympics – play by play for bobsledding and ski jumping events
- 2004 Summer Olympics – commentator for shooting events