This was posted on Wednesday, September 20, 2017 by RODNEY HO/rho@ajc.com on his AJC Radio & TV Talk blog
Stephen "Steak" Shapiro, normally heard on sports talk 93.7/680 The Fan from 9 a.m. to noon, has been off the radio airwaves on vocal rest for more than two weeks following vocal polyp removal surgery.
His co-host Sandra Golden has talked about it on air and on social media. His return date is uncertain.
The veteran sports talk show host, 51, has stayed low key the past 16 days. His Facebook, Instagram and Twitter feeds haven't been updated since September 4. He did not respond to inquiries via text and Messenger and his personal phone number bounced straight into voicemail.
[UPDATE: On September 29, he finally sent me a note by Messenger: "Really just excited that all the tests on my throat looked good and that rest was the best thing." No return date set yet.]
Polyps are painless "bumps" that develop on vocal cords and create raspiness. Shapiro has always had a naturally raspy voice, but Golden said he told her and fellow co-host Brian Finneran that his throat was bothering him last month.
David Dickey, Shapiro's boss at the Fan, said Shapiro has had similar surgery before in the past. He insisted that Shapiro stay out as long as the doctors recommended because he doesn't want him to have to go through this again. He isn't sure how long the host will be out but said Shapiro indicated he'd like to return on air next week.
Dickey said he's corresponding with Shapiro via text and through his wife Kimberly.
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