Monologues and Stories

Everyone in Minnesota and North Dakota goes to... The Lake. But no one ever says WHICH lake.

The Lake

Being a greeter at a church, working at a renowned concert hall... both have..... unique, challenges.

The Greeter and The Preacher

Sometimes going to church has twists and turns one doesn't plan for... maybe the better title is "How to Make a Fool of Yourself at Church."

Confessions Of A Church-Goer

You've really not lived until you experience the NYC Department of Motor Vehicles. The first time I went to the DMV there, it was my entry into The Twilight Zone.

NYC DMV Story

A museum hosting an ugly sweater party, a guy taking selfies and then the need for a souvenir. One night at the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia back in December, 2017. You can't make this stuff up.

A Museum, a Statue, a Stolen Thumb and the FBI

The early days of radio had legendary stations like WDAY in Fargo, North Dakota produce shows entire towns turned out for. "Talent Parade" with Ken Kennedy was such a show as it traveled throughout North Dakota and northern Minnesota creating unrivaled excitement. It was, in a way, like baseball's barnstorming days. Baseball has the greatest connection between its players and the fans much like radio did in its early days. But baseball can do even better by going back to its roots and finding new ways to connect.

Baseball, Barnstorming And Radio

When the NFL preseason arrives every August, it's a cue for most football fans to lose all ability for rational thought. It's as much of a constant as the leaves changing colors when fall arrives. Critical thinking skills? Forget about it. It's about wins, baby! We win, life is good. We lose, this team stinks... they're bums!

The NFL Preseason: It Only Takes One Game to Send Fans Over the Edge

Aretha Franklin was, and always will be, the Queen of Soul. She was as remarkable a person as she was a giant in music. Though we lose Aretha, the gift of her music - her soul - remains with us forever.

A Tribute to Aretha Franklin

The value of sports can be measured in many ways. One of those ways is the positive impact they can have on young people. Sometimes all it takes is the adult in the room to be fully engaged in his/her players and understanding how one moment might just make a memory to last a lifetime.

One More Thing: A Coach's Essay, A Player's Singular Moment of Greatness

Ever sat in a doctor's office waiting room and a reality show pops on the television. You're absolutely sure you're not going to get sucked into that nonsense... no chance. Then, within minutes, you're fully invested in every imaginable way. I can now speak to this.

The Doctor's Office Waiting Room

Carson King is 24 years old, lives in Iowa and is a diehard Iowa State fan. He and some friends went to ESPN's recent College GameDay in Ames, there for the annual Iowa-Iowa State game, to have a little fun and try to get their sign that read "Busch Light supply needs replenished ~ Venmo ~ Carson-King-25" shown on television. What followed was well beyond anything King could have imagined.

An ESPN College GameDay Sign Asking for Beer Money Turns Into Something No One Could have Imagined

Kobe Bryant, his 13-year-old daughter Gianna, and seven other people were killed in a helicopter crash early Sunday morning, January 26th, 2020. We spent most of the Monday program discussing Kobe - his life on and off the court, including winning an Oscar several years after he retired. This was the open to the program.

Monday Opening Monologue: Kobe Bryant

Chris Dufresne was an award-winning sportswriter who was at the top of his profession spanning the years he spent at the Los Angeles Times and more recently, at TMG College Sports which he co-founded. I had the privilege of Chris appearing on my program more times than I can count. He was not only a great journalist, he was my friend. Chris passed away on May 25th, 2020. I learned the news from his wife, Sheila. This was my tribute to Chris to conclude my program the following day. It hardly seemed enough.

A Tribute to an Iconic Sportswriter: Chris Dufresne

On Monday, June 1st, 2020, after watching a weekend that included both peaceful protesting and violence across America, I opened the program discussing race, racism and building trust. I'm hardly an expert, just one voice. But we need to talk, we need to listen and we need to engage.

Opening Monologue: Race, Racism and Building Trust

My father, Chris Gabriel, passed away on Sunday, August 16th in Philadelphia. He was remarkable in every way, leaving behind a prolific legacy. A great athlete growing up in Chicago, a Korean War veteran and his greatest achievement: being instrumental in opening the first Ronald McDonald House in Philadelphia. A husband, a father... a man who always - always - put the needs and well-being of others before anything else.

A Tribute to the Finest Person I've Ever Known: My Dad

Award-winning radio host whose work has encompassed sports talk and news talk from Minneapolis to Fresno. Christopher is a four-time Golden Mike Award winner (Radio & Television News Association of Southern California), a two-time Best Morning Drive Radio Show award winner (The Business Journal) and a three-time Best Radio Show in the Region award nominee (The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead). Gabriel is a frequent guest and guest host on sports talk radio programs across the nation. He’s broadcast his program from numerous major sporting events including the CFB Playoff national championship game, multiple FCS national championship games, the NCAA Frozen Four, NCAA Regionals in hockey and basketball, the Mountain West Conference basketball tournament, the Las Vegas Bowl and regular season college football games at the Rose Bowl and the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Guests have included Nobel, Pulitzer, Oscar, Emmy, Tony and Grammy winners, professional and college coaches and athletes, New York Times bestselling authors and even a barber doing a haircut in Jamestown, ND. A proud native of Chicago, CG offers big opinions, insightful commentary, a splash of satire and believes in discourse, not discord.

Prior to radio, CG was a classically trained actor performing on stages in the U.S. and Great Britain. He worked alongside numerous acclaimed artists, notably James Earl Jones, Julie Harris and John Barton, founding artistic director of the Royal Shakespeare Company.

Every segment of The CGP on KMJ can be found on Apple Podcasts, the Audacy app, Spotify and KMJNOW.com.

Monologues and Stories

The Christopher Gabriel Program