View source for Jim Rome

{{Short description|American broadcaster (born 1964)}}
{{Use American English|date=November 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2013}}
{{pp-semi-blp|small=yes}}
{{Infobox presenter
|image       = 
| name        = Jim Rome
| birth_name = James Phillip Rome
| birth_date  = {{birth date and age|mf=y|1964|10|14}}
| birth_place = [[Los Angeles, California]], U.S.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.stucknut.com/takebox/?id=2346|title=Jim Rome June, 19, 2018 Radio Show Clip|date=August 18, 2023 }}</ref>
| death_date  =
| death_place =
| show       = ''[[The Jim Rome Show]]''
| station    = Westwood One, [[Twitter|X]], FAST, PLEX (simulcast)
| timeslot   = 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. [[North American Eastern Time Zone|ET]] Monday–Friday
| show2      =
| station2   =
| timeslot2  =
| style      = [[Sports radio]]
| country    = United States
| prevshow   =
| website    = [http://www.jimrome.com/ The Jim Rome Show]
}}

'''James Phillip Rome''' (born October 14, 1964) is an American [[sports radio]] host. His talk show, ''[[The Jim Rome Show]]'', is syndicated by [[Westwood One]]. Broadcasting from a [[studio]] near [[Los Angeles]], Rome hosts ''The Jim Rome Show'' on radio. He hosted TV shows on [[ESPN]], [[TSN2]] (in [[Canada]]), [[Showtime (TV network)|Showtime]] and [[CBS]], but since 2024 has streamed on [[Twitter|X]]. He has also formed a free, ad supported streaming channel.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Steinberg |first1=Brian |title=Jim Rome Launches FAST Channel Backed by A+E Networks, Range Media Partners |date=October 17, 2024 |url=https://variety.com/2024/tv/news/jim-rome-fast-channel-ae-networks-range-media-partners-1236181036/ |publisher=Variety}}</ref>

For a number of years Rome hosted a television show ''[[Jim Rome Is Burning]]'' (formerly ''Rome Is Burning''), which aired on ESPN in the United States and TSN2 in Canada. In 2011, Rome ended his relationship with ESPN to join the CBS network where he hosts his own show, as well as an interview-format show on the Showtime channel.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/tv-column/post/jim-rome-leaves-espn-for-gig-at-cbs-showtime/2012/01/11/gIQAWr8zqP_blog.html|title=Jim Rome leaves ESPN for gig at CBS, Showtime|first=Emily|last=Yahr|date=January 11, 2012|website=washingtonpost.com}}</ref> His past hosting jobs included sports discussion television shows ''[[Talk2]]'' ([[ESPN2]]), ''The FX Sports Show'' ([[FX (TV channel)|FX]]), and ''The Last Word'' ([[FSN (Fox Sports Net)|Fox Sports Net]]). The Jim Rome Show is tied for the #21 most listened to talk radio show in the U.S.<ref>{{cite news|title=Top Talk Radio Audiences |url=http://www.talkers.com/main/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=17&Itemid=34 |work=Talkers Magazine |access-date=February 18, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080324045418/http://www.talkers.com/main/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=17&Itemid=34 |archive-date=March 24, 2008 }}</ref> and Rome is the No. 29 most influential talk radio personality<ref>{{cite news|title=2008 Heavy 100 |url=http://www.talkers.com/main/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=19&Itemid=44 |work=Talkers Magazine |access-date=February 18, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080116142514/http://www.talkers.com/main/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=19&Itemid=44 |archive-date=January 16, 2008 }}</ref> according to ''[[Talkers Magazine]]''.

From April 2012 to March 2015, Rome had a television sports talk show on [[CBS Sports Network]] named ''Rome''. During the same time period he had a monthly TV sports/entertainment talk show on Showtime named ''Jim Rome on Showtime''.

==Personal life==
Rome was born in Los Angeles and graduated from [[Calabasas High School]] in [[Calabasas, California]] in 1982.<ref>{{Citation |last=McAlevey |first=Peter |title=King of 'The Jungle'; Jim Rome Turned Sports Talk Radio Into a Howard Stern-ish Free-for-All. Not Everyone Is Glad He Did. |url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/23287921.html?dids=23287921:23287921&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Nov+23%2C+1997&author=Peter+McAlevey&pub=Los+Angeles+Times&desc=INSIDE+STORY%3B+King+of+%27The+Jungle%27%3B+Jim+Rome+Turned+Sports+Talk+Radio+Into+a+Howard+Stern-ish+Free-for-All.+Not+Everyone+Is+Glad+He+Did.&pqatl=google |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120716114845/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/23287921.html?dids=23287921:23287921&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Nov+23,+1997&author=Peter+McAlevey&pub=Los+Angeles+Times&desc=INSIDE+STORY;+King+of+'The+Jungle';+Jim+Rome+Turned+Sports+Talk+Radio+Into+a+Howard+Stern-ish+Free-for-All.+Not+Everyone+Is+Glad+He+Did.&pqatl=google |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 16, 2012 |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=November 23, 1997 |access-date=2010-10-20}}</ref> He earned a degree in communications from the [[University of California, Santa Barbara]] (UCSB) in 1987.<ref name="Biography">[http://www.jimrome.com/home/jim_rome/about_jim_rome.html Jim Rome Official Website Biography] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070707002355/http://www.jimrome.com/home/jim_rome/about_jim_rome.html |date=July 7, 2007 }}</ref><ref name="AskMen">[http://www.askmen.com/men/entertainment_60/81_jim_rome.html AskMen.com Biography] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070624023046/http://www.askmen.com/men/entertainment_60/81_jim_rome.html |date=June 24, 2007 }}</ref>{{Disputed inline|College graduation date|date=September 2022}} He and his wife, Janet live in [[Irvine, California]] with their two sons, Jake and Logan.<ref name="Biography"/><ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1997-jul-18-sp-13881-story.html | work=Los Angeles Times | first=Larry | last=Stewart | title=Jim Rome Finally Finds His Biggest Fan | date=July 18, 1997}}</ref>

== Broadcasting career ==
{{update-section|date=December 2019}}
Rome started his radio career at [[Campus radio|college radio station]] [[KCSB-FM]] while at UCSB, where he was sports director for one quarter, and at [[All-news radio|news station]] [[KTMS]], also in [[Santa Barbara, California|Santa Barbara]], where he began as a traffic reporter and became a sports talk host in summer 1987.<ref name="sdut">{{cite news |last1=Freeman |first1=John |title=He's Huuuge! Fans fall for Rome, big time |work=San Diego Union-Tribune |date=April 23, 1993}}</ref> At the end of 1990, he moved to XTRA Sports 690 in [[San Diego]], where he began what is known as ''The Jim Rome Show'', or "The Jungle". A loop of the instrumental intro of [[Iggy Pop]]'s song "[[Lust for Life (Iggy Pop song)|Lust for Life]]" and the instrumental intro of [[Guns N' Roses]]' song "[[Welcome to the Jungle]]" are the show's signature music and have been since 1990.

The show's production moved to a studio in downtown Los Angeles in spring 1994, although the broadcast came from XTRA San Diego. At the same time that the studio moved, the show start time shifted to 9am Pacific/12pm Eastern staying there for the rest of 2024. The program was [[radio syndication|syndicated]] in 1996 through [[Premiere Radio Networks]], which sold it to an assortment of local stations including [[ESPN Radio]] affiliates. A new contract took effect in January 2013 bringing the program to the [[CBS Sports Radio]] network, which simulcasted the program on its local FM/AM stations, its [[SiriusXM]] satellite channel (now known as Infinity Sports), and its cable TV channel. As of February 2024 the television version of the program was dropped by CBS Sports. The video feed is now marketed as a co-production with [[Twitter|X]] and is also available on various other streaming services.

Beginning with the first new show of 2025 in January, the show moved to the 3–6 pm Eastern/12–3 pm Pacific time slot. Many local stations and the Infinity Sports channel on Sirius chose to retain their pre-existing shows in that slot and no longer carry the Rome show, which is available only on [https://jimrome.com/stations 60 local affiliates] and seeks listeners on its streaming platforms instead.

Over time, the show's production facility moved to the Premiere Radio building in [[Sherman Oaks, Los Angeles|Sherman Oaks]], an area in Los Angeles, then an undisclosed [[Orange County, California|Orange County]] location, and finally as part of the start of TV simulcasting in January 2018, a custom-built studio in [[Costa Mesa, California]]. Due to past incidents of overzealous fans trespassing at the studio, the exact addresses of the former and current Orange County studios are not publicized. To provide continuity across the show's eras in [[San Diego]] , Los Angeles, and Orange County, it is consistently referred to as originating from "Southern California". In 2005, the TV versions of the show were criticized for obscuring the studio's location by using the "Southern California" terminology and footage of the downtown Los Angeles skyline despite being broadcast from almost 40 miles away in the Costa Mesa area. The radio show was formerly heard on more than 200 stations across the U.S. and Canada and had an audience of about 2.5 million.<ref name="AskMen" /> In 1998, Rome released an album entitled ''Welcome to the Jungle'', which featured memorable [[Sound bite|sound bites]] and music from the show.

In early 2003, Rome was interviewing friend [[Mark Shapiro (media executive)|Mark Shapiro]], executive producer of programming and production at ESPN, on his radio program. Unexpectedly, the two began to discuss a possible return of Rome to ESPN and within a few months, Rome was officially rehired to host ''Rome Is Burning.'' Rome openly attributes the interview as being the impetus to his return to television.

== Controversy and incidents ==

Rome gained notoriety in 1994 for an incident on his [[ESPN2]] television show, ''[[Talk2]]'', when his guest was [[National Football League|NFL]] quarterback [[Jim Everett]] (at the time Everett was with the [[New Orleans Saints]]). Rome had often referred to Everett on radio as "Chris" (after [[Chris Evert]], the female tennis player), suggesting that Everett was less than a man whenever he shied away from getting hit by the defense. Everett appeared as a guest on the television show, where he warned Rome about repeating the insult. Rome continued to address Everett as "Chris" and Everett overturned the table between them and shoved Rome to the floor while still on the air. Their confrontation resulted in no legal action and Rome publicly apologized to Everett. Rome considers the event as one of his mistakes early in his career.<ref name=rome_everett_beaver>{{cite news|last=Conley|first=Cecil|title=Jim Rome Back for ESPN Encore|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=8aI1AAAAIBAJ&pg=1365,922437|access-date=June 19, 2012|newspaper=[[Beaver County Times]]|date=May 1, 2003}}</ref>

In 1997, hockey legend [[Gordie Howe]] announced an attempt to play a shift with the [[International Hockey League (1945–2001)|International Hockey League]]'s [[Detroit Vipers]], which would allow Howe to claim he has played professional hockey in six decades. Rome challenged the star, who was 69, offering a bounty of $3,000 to any player on the team playing against the Vipers to take Howe out of the game permanently by saying, "Drop gloves with Howe and pummel this old fool back to reality." The bounty (which reached at least $5,071 would be given to anyone landing a punch on Howe). Rome clarified the statements were a joke.<ref name=rj_howe>{{cite news|title=A bounty on Howe? No way|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=2sFbAAAAIBAJ&pg=4526,4677449|access-date=June 19, 2012|newspaper=[[Record-Journal]]|date=September 28, 1997}}</ref>

In 2012, Rome was involved in a controversy with [[National Basketball Association|NBA]] Commissioner [[David Stern]]. During an interview, Rome asked Stern about the conspiracy theories that the [[NBA draft lottery]] was fixed in favor of the [[New Orleans Pelicans|New Orleans Hornets]]. Rome said, "Was the fix in for the lottery?" Stern replied with two answers: "Number one, no; and a statement, shame on you for asking." He proceeded to ask Rome the [[loaded question]], "Have you stopped beating your wife yet?" Stern intended to suggest that the subject has been asked a question he can not answer without incriminating himself. He was saying he felt Rome was being unfair.

On January 1, 2015, Rome sent out a tweet, "Is... anyone not in a marching band who thinks those dorks running around with their instruments are cool?" After backlash, he deleted the tweet and apologized. The incident inspired the hashtag "#MarchOnRome".<ref name=Larimer>{{cite news|last1=Larimer|first1=Sarah|title=Jim Rome tweets his take on marching bands, then tweets apology for his take on marching bands|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/early-lead/wp/2015/01/02/jim-rome-tweets-his-take-on-marching-bands-then-tweets-apology-for-his-take-on-marching-bands/|access-date=2 January 2015|newspaper=[[Washington Post]]|date=2 January 2015}}</ref>

== Celebrity appearances ==
Rome made cameo appearances in the movies ''[[Space Jam]]'', ''[[Two for the Money (2005 film)|Two for the Money]]'', and the 2005 remake of ''[[The Longest Yard (2005 film)|The Longest Yard]]''. He appeared in [[Blink-182]]'s music video "[[What's My Age Again?]]"<ref>2:04 of "[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K7l5ZeVVoCA What's My Age Again?]" music video</ref> and appeared on the [[HBO]] sitcom ''[[Arliss (TV series)|Arliss]]''. Rome was parodied in the [[South Park]] episode "[[Sarcastaball]]" and the Jim Everett altercation was spoofed in the episode "[[The F Word (South Park)|The F Word]]".

On May 3, 2004, Rome hosted [[Pat Tillman]]'s memorial service.<ref>{{cite web | title = Internet Movie Database (IMDB) | website = [[IMDb]]| url = https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0739175/bio}}</ref> On January 28, 2006, Rome was elected to the [[Southern California Jewish Sports Hall of Fame]] in [[Beverly Hills, California]].<ref>{{cite web | title = Southern California Jewish Sports Hall of Fame - Rome, Jim | publisher = [[Southern California Jewish Sports Hall of Fame]] | url = http://www.scjewishsportshof.com/rome.html | access-date = July 26, 2010}}</ref> ''[[Any Given Sunday]],'' an [[Oliver Stone]] film, features [[John C. McGinley]] playing a brash sportscaster "Jack Rose," a character based on Rome.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.filmcritic.com/misc/emporium.nsf/reviews/Any-Given-Sunday |title=Any Given Sunday Movie Review, DVD Release - Filmcritic.com |access-date=2008-12-18 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090131234119/http://www.filmcritic.com/misc/emporium.nsf/reviews/Any-Given-Sunday |archive-date=January 31, 2009 |df=mdy-all }}</ref>

==Horse racing==
{{multiple image
 | align=right
 | caption_align = center
 | footer_align=left
 | width=100
 | footer=Racing colors of Jim Rome's Jungle Racing, LLC
 | image1=Owner Jungle Racing.svg
 | alt1= 
 | caption1=Front
 | image2=Owner Jungle Racing back.svg
 | alt2= JR emblem to come...
 | caption2=Back
 }}

After poking fun at horse racing for years saying "it's not a sport, it's a bet," Rome seemed to take greater interest in horse racing after interviewing Hall of Fame jockey [[Kent Desormeaux]] many times on his show. Rome then took up a stronger interest in buying [[thoroughbred]]s. He first was a part owner of Wing Forward, who in his North American debut, made a dramatic last-to-first comeback to win the race. 

Rome mentioned it being "one of the most amazing experiences I've ever had." In 2008, Jim and his wife Janet purchased a stake in a two-year-old colt, giving them a potential shot at the [[Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing#United States Triple Crowns|Triple Crown]] stakes races in 2009. Listeners suggested names for the horse, who eventually was named Gallatin's Run.<ref>Angst, Frank. [http://www.thoroughbredtimes.com/national-news/2007/October/01/Rome-touts-Thoroughbred-ownership-on-The-Jungle.aspx Rome touts Thoroughbred ownership on The Jungle], ''Thoroughbred Times'', October 1, 2007</ref> 

By 2012, Jim Rome owned part or all of 14 horses in connection with multiple partnerships including his own stable, Jungle Racing, LLC.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/teresagenaro/2012/01/06/jim-rome-out-of-the-jungle-and-onto-the-horse-farm/ | work=Forbes | first=Teresa | last=Genaro | date=January 6, 2012|title=Jim Rome: out of The Jungle and onto the (horse) farm|access-date=April 8, 2021}}</ref> The first to gain national attention was the winner of the 2012 and 2013 [[Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint]], a [[filly]] named [[Mizdirection]]. Rome's feelings after winning the Breeder's Cup race: “I’ve just had a moment I’ve never experienced in my life. That was absolutely awesome.” He purchased an interest in her for $50,000 in 2010. He co-owned the [[mare]] with Bill Strauss, Danny Gohs, Borris Beljak, and Kevin Nish.<ref name="Forbes">{{cite news |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/teresagenaro/2012/11/04/with-breeders-cup-win-jim-rome-joins-racings-elite/ |work=Forbes |first=Teresa |last=Genaro |date=November 4, 2012 |title=With Breeders' Cup Win, Jim Rome Joins Racing's Elite |access-date=April 8, 2021}}</ref> {{Asof|September 2013}}, Mizdirection won 11 of 17 starts and retired from racing with $1,719,621 in earnings. She was usually ridden by jockey [[Mike E. Smith|Mike Smith]].<ref name="Mizdirection">{{cite web|url=http://www.equibase.com/profiles/Results.cfm?type=Horse&refno=8337995&registry=T|title=Equibase - Profiles|last=Equibase.com|website=www.equibase.com}}</ref> Two days after her 2014 Breeders' Cup win, Mizdirection was purchased for $2.7 million at the [[Fasig-Tipton]] sale by Al Shaqab Racing of [[Qatar]], then owned by Sheikh [[Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani|Joaan Al Thani]], and retired to become a [[broodmare]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/teresagenaro/2013/11/05/jim-romes-mizdirection-from-breeders-cup-victory-to-2-7-million-sale/|title=Jim Rome's Mizdirection: From Breeders' Cup Victory To $2.7 Million Sale|first=Teresa|last=Genaro|website=forbes.com}}</ref>

Rome's next significant race horse was [[Shared Belief]], a [[gelding]] by [[Candy Ride]], named the [[Eclipse Award]] winner in the two-year-old male division for 2013.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.drf.com/news/2013-eclipse-awards-shared-belief|title=2013 Eclipse Awards: Shared Belief - Daily Racing Form|website=www.drf.com}}</ref> As a three-year-old, he continued winning and closed out the 2014 year with a record of eight wins in nine races (five of six races in 2014 alone). He earned over $2 million in earnings, again with Mike Smith as his regular rider.<ref name="equibaseSharedBelief">{{cite web|url=http://www.equibase.com/profiles/Results.cfm?type=Horse&refno=9064077&registry=T|title=Equibase - Profiles|last=Equibase.com|website=www.equibase.com}}</ref> As a four-year-old, the horse defeated [[2014 Kentucky Derby]] winner and horse of the year [[California Chrome]] in both horses' first race of the season, then Shared Belief had a decisive win in the [[Santa Anita Handicap]].<ref name="equibaseSharedBelief" />

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

==External links==
* {{Official website|http://www.jimrome.com/|The Jim Rome Show}}
* [https://www.scjewishsportshof.com/rome.html Southern California Jewish Sports Hall of Fame profile] [https://web.archive.org/web/20220121092055/scjewishsportshof.com/rome.html (Archived)]

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Rome, Jim}}
[[Category:1964 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:American sports radio personalities]]
[[Category:American television sports commentators]]
[[Category:American television talk show hosts]]
[[Category:University of California, Santa Barbara alumni]]
[[Category:People from Irvine, California]]
[[Category:People from Tarzana, Los Angeles]]
[[Category:American racehorse owners and breeders]]
[[Category:20th-century American Jews]]
[[Category:21st-century American Jews]]
[[Category:Jewish American sports commentators]]