When I interviewed David Bazzel back in late January, I finally got to ask the question I had wanted to ask him for a long time: “Do you ever sleep?”

Bazzel, a former Arkansas linebacker, told me that the answer — which is especially true during football season — is: “Very little.” Bazzel’s day job is co-host of the morning-drive radio program The Show With No Name on KABZ-FM, 103.7 The Buzz. The show airs weekdays from 6-10 a.m. He says he regularly stays up until midnight working on his other projects that include the Little Rock Touchdown Club, which is now in its 12th year, and the Broyles Award, which honors the nation’s top college assistant football coaches. He admitted during the interview that he doesn’t profit financially from either endeavor, even though he pours hundred of hours into the events each year. He does those things, as well as originated the The Golden Boot, the trophy awarded to the winner of the Arkansas-LSU game, because he genuinely loves football and promoting the game, Little Rock and the state of Arkansas.

Add to that, attending every University of Arkansas football game as an analyst for The Buzz and KATV, Channel 7 and the numerous speaking engagements, commercials and other business ventures Bazzel somehow manages to do all of those things at a high level. Something I have long admired.

He also squeezes in time to volunteer. While his work ethic is to be admired, it is his humble, genuine personality that shines through. Always friendly, always smiling (his teeth are the whitest I’ve seen) and very approachable. He gets ribbed from time to time because of his attention to his finely coiffed hair, his teeth, muscular physique and flair for fashion (he must own 200 suits and matching pocket squares), but he is well liked by many because, at the core, he is a good, caring person. He is also a devout Christian and shared his testimony with the congregation of Chenal Valley Baptist Church last winter.

Because of those qualities, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Arkansas tabbed Bazzel as its 41st annual Toast & Roast honoree. The banquet begins Thursday at the Embassy Suites in Little Rock with a reception at 6 p.m., and the program begins at 7 p.m. Tickets can be purchased for $150. The cause is terrific (it is the biggest fundraiser of the year for the organization), and the entertainment will be outstanding. Check out this lineup of roasters: Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson; former NFL tight end and play-by-play voice for Arkansas football Keith Jackson; former Hog and NBA center Joe Kleine; former Hog, NFL receiver and co-host of Overtime on The Buzz Matt Jones; former Hog guard and The Buzz’s The Zone co-host Pat Bradley; Arkansas Democrat-Gazette sports editor Wally Hall; KATV sports director Steve Sullivan; KATV co-anchor Beth Hunt; car dealer Frank Fletcher; longtime journalist, broadcaster and Simmons First National Corp Director of Corporate Communications Rex Nelson; Tommy Smith, Bazzel’s co-host on The Show With No Name; Roger Scott, another co-host on The Show With No Name; and Bill Vickery, political consultant and host of The Sunday Buzz on The Buzz.

KATV morning show anchor Chris Kane gets the unenviable task of emceeing this free for all. It could get a tad uncomfortable for ol’ No. 53. No doubt, it will be funny with the cast of characters that have been assembled. Scott and his many impressions could fill the the entire time slot by himself. Most all of the roasters love to hear their own voices, so the biggest challenge of the evening might be wrapping it up by 9 p.m., as I am told is the goal. Good luck with that.

I attended my first Toast & Roast last year with former Arkansas basketball coach Nolan Richardson as the honoree. Bradley, current UA basketball coach Mike Anderson, and former Hogs and NBA standout Todd Day raised a high bar for this year. With some of the stories told and jokes delivered by last year’s emcee — KTHV-TV, Channel 11’s Craig O’Neill — I didn’t quit laughing.

Congratulations to Bazzel. The honor is well deserved, and his presence and the all-star roaster roster should make for a huge crowd and a memorable night for all.

For more information on purchasing tickets, go to bbsca.org. Read Nate’s sports blog atgoingdeep.syncweekly.com.

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David Bazzel, Muskie Harris, Ron Calcagni, Lou Holtz of Orlando, Fla., Bert Zinamon, Kelly Lasseigne, and Nancy Monroe at the Little Rock Touchdown Club