.bodytext {float: left; } .floatimg-left-hort { float:left; margin-top:10px; margin-right: 10px; width:300px; clear:left;} .floatimg-left-caption-hort { float:left; margin-bottom:10px; width:300px; margin-right:10px; clear:left;} .floatimg-left-vert { float:left; margin-top:10px; margin-right:15px; width:200px;} .floatimg-left-caption-vert { float:left; margin-right:10px; margin-bottom:10px; font-size: 10px; width:200px;} .floatimg-right-hort { float:right; margin-top:10px; margin-left:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 300px;} .floatimg-right-caption-hort { float:left; margin-right:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 300px; font-size: 10px; } .floatimg-right-vert { float:right; margin-top:10px; margin-left:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 200px;} .floatimg-right-caption-vert { float:left; margin-right:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 200px; font-size: 10px; } .floatimgright-sidebar { float:right; margin-top:10px; margin-left:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 200px; border-top-style: double; border-top-color: black; border-bottom-style: double; border-bottom-color: black;} .floatimgright-sidebar p { line-height: 115%; text-indent: 10px; } .floatimgright-sidebar h4 { font-variant:small-caps; } .pullquote { float:right; margin-top:10px; margin-left:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 150px; background: url(http://www.dmbusinessdaily.com/DAILY/editorial/extras/closequote.gif) no-repeat bottom right !important ; line-height: 150%; font-size: 125%; border-top: 1px solid; border-bottom: 1px solid;} .floatvidleft { float:left; margin-bottom:10px; width:325px; margin-right:10px; clear:left;} .floatvidright { float:right; margin-bottom:10px; width:325px; margin-right:10px; clear:left;} Cristian Ramos has only been La Indomable AM 1700’s morning host for six weeks, but he already feels at home. A native of Guadalajara, Mexico, former play-by-play voice of the Chicago Bulls during their dynasty of the early ’90s and former Chicago Cubs color commentator, Ramos says he’s excited to be in Des Moines because of the growing popularity of Spanish-language radio.

What brought you to Des Moines?

I’ve worked all over the United States since I was in high school. I worked in L.A., Dallas, Santa Barbara, [Calif.], Santa Maria, [Calif.] for the last 15 or 16 years. I came to Des Moines because I like the city. It’s quiet but still has everything. I have horses, and when I first came here, I found some guys from Mexico that also have horses. So, I brought my horses here. I had an offer in Atlanta, but Iowa from Illinois is not that far. And Iowa is a state where [Spanish-language] radio is growing. The last 10 years I was working in Chicago. The last five years I was at WOJO 105.1.

How many horses do you have?

I only have two. I’ve had horses since I was a kid. The one I have here is a dancing horse. Dancing horses is a tradition in Spain and Portugal. We took it to the State Fair Parade this year. It was nice, besides the rain. There was no place to put my horse because it’s a stallion and there were a lot of mares. But the rain was good, because it was so hot. Otherwise they could get colic, which could kill them. Some horses died in a parade in Chicago two or three years ago because it was too hot.

How did you get into radio?

I was in high school and took a television production class. Then I went to a nonprofit radio station after high school. Then I went to a commercial radio station on the weekends. I used to play soccer, and I said that if by 19 I’m not playing professional, I was going to give it up. That’s what I did. I did go to Mexico to play against some professional teams. They wanted me to stay but I said no. It was my senior year in high school and I didn’t want to stay in Mexico.

What keeps you in the radio business?

I like to talk to the people and see what they need. I think it makes you a better person if you can help someone who is in need. Sometimes just by listening to someone, you make them feel OK. A lot of human beings, we know how to talk, but we don’t listen. I like to work with the community. I like to know everyday people. And I love radio because you never finish learning. There is always something new to learn. There are always new things. You either learn or die.

What’s your show like?

I like to try new things in the morning. More contests and giveaways. Promotions that aren’t really funny but that the people can enjoy. Instead of just waiting for caller 19, we try things that are different.

Are the mornings hard?

I’m trying to wake up earlier and earlier. I was waking up at 4:45 a.m.; now I want to wake up at 4 a.m. If you go to bed by 10 p.m., it’s not bad. If I get five hours of sleep, I’m OK.

Do you drink a lot of coffee?

One cup in the morning. I do have my protein shake, though.

What do you do on the weekends?

Riding horses and playing soccer. I just play soccer for fun. I like to go fishing, too.

Tell me about your time with the Bulls.

I was part of the dynasty of the Chicago Bulls. I was the official voice of the Bulls when they won back-to-back championships in 1991 and 1992. I got a ring that’s the same as Michael Jordan’s. They treat you like a king. You get credentials, and back then, when you were with the NBA, you were treated like a king. I also did broadcasts for [Chicago] Cubs games, but the NBA was fantastic. It was nice.