Sports Talk Station Shuts Down, Host Find Out On The Air...

((HT: Deadspin/Youtube))

This is NOT the way to find out you're out of a job...

Over Twitter...

While you're on the air...
It happened while 87.7 The Game's "Quigs and Finfer" show was going on in Chicago on Thursday.

Here's Quigs and Finfer's response while they were on the air...

And it's uncomfortable...


The next six weeks will be very interesting on the air up there...

The HQ gives respect to them for not cussing while their discussion was ongoing...

Michael Kay Drops Pipe Bomb On Francesa

((HT: Tony Smith/YES))

It appears that Michael Kay has all he can stands and can't stands no more...

Apparently, Mike Francesa has been making the intimation that the main reason he left his simulcast on the YES Network was because he claimed that the network only would want him to give Yankee-positive viewpoints. And that's the reason that Michael Kay and Don LaGreca are on there now.

A few issues with that: LaGreca is an unabashed Mets fan and says it on the air. Kay has been critical of the Yanks over the air and isn't afraid to hold back in his opinions.

So, Francesa kept hammering on the point and Kay has officially had enough

Here's the rant-and-a-half


Now, how will Francesa respond...??? In between on-air naps, that's the big question...

Michigan Fan Goes Berserk On Sports Talk Radio

((HT: Lost Lettermen/The Big Lead))

This is one of the better meltdowns in sports talk radio from the northern side of the Mason-Dixon Line this side of the "Paul Finebaum Show."

Here's the set-up...

Angry Michigan fan calls Ann Arbor station and goes off...


And all that took was a minute five...???

Well done...

Mark Jackson Wouldn't Have People Show Up For Game 5, Sponsors Starting To Leave

((HT: Dan Patrick Show/Youtube))

Golden State head coach Mark Jackson was a guest on the "Dan Patrick Show" this morning- fresh off his 21-point Game 4 win in the firestorm that is now the Clippers-Warriors series...

He played for the Clips for two seasons in the '90s and had an interesting thought on what the proper protest should be for the next home game in Los Angeles...


And now, the corporate sponsors of the Clippers are starting to go:

"CarMax finds the statements attributed to the Clippers' owner completely unacceptable," the company said in a statement through public relations manager Catherine Gryp. "These views directly conflict with CarMax's culture of respect for all individuals. While we have been a proud Clippers sponsor for nine years and support the team, fans and community, these statements necessitate that CarMax end its sponsorship."

State Farm is thinking about it as is Kia and Virgin America and Amtrak are out now as well...

THAT'S where the NBA will take notice from this moment forward. Commissioner Adam Silver is set to have a press conference tomorrow to discuss where the league may go from here...

2PM eastern time...

The Beauty Of Live Sports Talk... When Studios Fall Apart...

((HT: Sportsnet))

The HQ used to work along side Tim and Sid in a past life...

Now, that they work with more friends at Sportsnet, we check in with them from time to time...

And get to see their set explode a light at a time...

Dan Sileo Is At It Again... For The 39,046,986,243th Time

((HT: Facebook/Tim Reynolds AP))

Former Miami Hurricane and current Miami talk show host Dan Sileo is at it again- whether it was a bad joke played through Twitter or not... and for those trying to find his Twitter account, it's right here...

Sileo, currently mid-day host for the NBC Sports Radio affiliate in Miami, posted this last night...

He admitted that he "hated what this kid did," but since DT Timmy Jernigan was a hometown kid who was not looked at by Sileo's school during recruiting, Jernigan played with a bit of a chip on his shoulder last night... as did tailback Devonta Freeman- another south Florida kid ignored by Miami...

Sileo went on to preach about sportsmanship- as he himself admits that he played for one of the most hated teams in college football history (his words)- THE 86 CANES... in all caps...

AP writer Tim Reynolds called Sileo out for his outburst, referring to it as "pathetic and disgusting." Reynolds went on to call Sileo's employers at 640AM who are "...still looking into the situation..."

Reynolds main point was that a "member of the media" (HQ quotes), no less than a week after the NCAA ruling, was calling for a bounty on a college player. 640 came out with a statement saying that "640 Sports is just as shocked and stunned as everyone else by this tweet." Which, probably, led to Sileo doing this...

It has been a constant back and forth with Facebookers and Tweeters with Sileo trying to explain it was a joke, but it doesn't seem to be going over very well... and the "6 weeks" reference has to do with a possible/probable rematch in the ACC Championship Game...

Sileo was a postgame analyst for U-M football at one point, but the comments proved to be too critical against his old school...

The HQ is sensing a whole lot of irony here...

Sileo had made some disparaging comments about Erin Andrews that put him on thin ice at QAM, but not thin enough to get him fired...

Sileo WAS fired from WQAM back in March for an Anti-Semitic remark on his radio show...


And he had been fired from another sports talk station a year before that in Miami...

The only thing missing from Sileo is that beeping noise from trucks when they slam it in reverse...

UGA Fan Cries Over Clemson Loss On Radio... Really...

((HT: Viral Chhadua))

First and foremost, the HQ thinks this HAS GOT TO BE A WORK...

After most college football games, local sports talk stations have their own call-in shows so fans can vent about the wins and losses of their favorite schools and their enemies...

On 92.9 "The Game" after the Georgia loss to Clemson...
This happened...


FOSG Robb Tribble was one of the voices that was chasing after the caller and his on-air tears...

And the HQ knows that college football fans are like this... on some fringes...
Now, we have the new example that has set other examples into the stratosphere...

Blue Jays Catcher Doesn't Like Blue Jays Broadcasters

This season's JP Arencibia is not last year's Arencibia...

But that doesn't mean he won't fight you back and tell you how mad he actually is...

He alluded to it on his Twitter account last night after the Jays loss to Detroit...
((HT: Sportsnet))


  Look forward to fan590 at 8:40 am tomorrow... You should probably tune is as I will discuss Hayhurst and Zaun #ThisWillBefun He then went on the Brady and Lang show on the FAN590 radio network- which includes FOSG "Clubber" Lang to discuss... The key point is at the 5:35 mark... And, then, Sportsnet/590 FOSG Jeff Blair caught up with Dirk Hayhurst to get his response to Arencibia's response... The HQ went on the "Numbers at Noon" show on NextSportsStar TV with FOSG Eric Cohen to discuss as well...

 And our larger point is that the three of them Zaun, Arencibia, and Hayhurst- if there is to be an airing of the grievances- need to do it behind the scenes. What's said in the clubhouse stays in the clubhouse...

The Audio Of 790TheZone Making Fun Of Steve Gleason (UPDATE: They've Been Fired And They're Responding- As Are The Falcons)

((HT: 790TheZone/106.1 The Ticket-NewOrleans))

Update--6:45pm: Lincoln Financial, owner of the station released a statement that included the mention of the three people involved have been terminated. OSG Sports will continue updating this story as it develops.

Here's the statement:

"We deeply regret the offensive programming that aired this morning on “Mayhem In The AM” on 790 The Zone, related to former New Orleans Saints player Steve Gleason and his battle with ALS. We suspended the three individuals involved immediately following their comments and have since terminated their employment. 790 The Zone, our owners, sponsors and partners in no way endorse or support this kind of content. We sincerely apologize to Mr. Gleason, his family and all those touched by ALS."

— Rick Mack, 790 The Zone Sr. VP & General Manager

Here's the two minutes...thanks to chria225


And here's a little cleaner version...


Here's the recap from the front office on the suspensions...

"We deeply regret the comments made by Mayhem In The AM this morning on 790 The Zone regarding former New Orleans Saints player Steve Gleason. 790 The Zone, Lincoln Financial Media, our sponsors and partners in no way endorse or support the unfortunate and offensive commentary concerning Mr. Gleason this morning. The members of the show involved with this incident have been suspended indefinitely pending further management review of their actions."

Rick Mack 790 The Zone Sr. VP & General Manager

OSG sources are telling us that the Atlanta Falcons received a phone call from the NFL over the bit. The future relationship the Falcons have with 790 is in play. The current relationship was somewhat dicey and acrimonious to begin with and this may seal it. There, simply, has to be a clause in the contract having to be the equivalent of a "morals" or "breach" to end the airings.

Sources also say the team has been looking for an excuse to get out of the deal, and this will do it.

The media relations departments all know each other and could black ball their coverage across the board and render them useless as a media entity in town.

Currently, they are an ESPN Radio affiliate, but on-air talent in Bristol this afternoon has taken the station to task with one host saying: "Whoever greenlighted this is the biggest idiot ever born."

More when we know more...

1920 UPDATE: Rodney Ho from the AJC caught up with Cellini and Shapiro...

Shapiro admits that he, as someone who went to school in New Orleans, admitted the bit was "ill-advised."

Cellini, on the other hand, thinks he was let go unceremoniously. He told Ho that Lincoln Financial wasn't investing in the station, and that "he said he got a response from Gleason through a third party and heard that he was okay with the apology that he gave." Where that apology was given is unclear, but if it's the Twitter apology that might be a bit of a reach.

From the article:

The dismissal, despite the circumstances, came as "a relief, really," Cellini said. "That station is a sinking ship."
His contract, he said, was up in November and he figured even then, it wouldn't have been renewed.

Ultimately, this was an excuse, Cellini said, for the station to cut salary and insert a cheaper syndicated morning show, Cellini said. "Mike & Mike" will likely be on tomorrow morning.

From Cellini's Twitter as of 1830:

No one made me apologize earlier, no one made me reach out. I was ignorant and it was the right thing to do. Got what I deserved..

An update: we all got wacked. I apologized to Michel Gleason, she understands it was a stupid joke. I'll do my best to help Team Gleason

Ho is still waiting to hear from Dimino...

Steak Shapiro posted the following on his Twitter feed:

What is so ironic is that I went to Tulane, love New Orleans and love the @steve_gleason story, what a moronic 2 mins, I am truly sorry....

18 yrs ago @chrisdimino named the radio station, I helped start it, today it ends but so grateful, hate if I disappointed anyone....

I love the people and city of New Orleans, always have, always will, @team_gleason I will work tirelessly to make this up to you....

Actually, what happened today has nothing to do with irony...

It's poor judgment...
Very poor judgment...

And there are a certain amount of people that will think the only reason you're truly sorry is that you got caught...
Nationally...

2130 UPDATE: The Falcons came out with a statement of their own...

“The Falcons are disappointed in the comments made about former Saints player Steve Gleason on a local Atlanta radio station Monday morning. The content concerning Mr. Gleason was completely inappropriate and is not representative of the views of the Falcons organization, nor does it represent the way we conduct our business on and off the field. To single out Steve the way he was this morning is totally lacking in taste and discretion.”

2145 UPDATE: Dimino addressed the situation on his Twitter feed...

Don't reach out to all the people I need to. I am in that process as we speak. Friends and family and most importantly those I know I hurt

I have so.many people I have to apologize to. I know this is not who I am...but it is who I am today. An apology here means nothing if I...

Every reference to the three and the show including bios, excerpts, and promotion have been removed from the 790TheZone website...

Atlanta Sports Shock Jocks Make Fun Of Steve Gleason... (UPDATED: Suspended Indefinitely, Firing Might Be Easier Than Before, NFL Contacts Falcons)

Full disclosure on two fronts: The HQ is a member of Team Gleason and supports ALS research...

So, this morning on Atlanta morning-drive sports talk radio...

790 The Zone is an ESPN Radio affiliate, but they do their own morning show from 6-10AM...

They've done it for years, and at times, it can be funny... but, honestly, we're talking years ago...

This morning, however, they were not...

In a bit at their half-way point, they decided to do a bit making fun of New Orleans Saints player Steve Gleason and his battle with the disease...

((NB: We're waiting for audio to surface so we can publicly ridicule them))

Word started on the LSU message board, "Tiger Droppings," and has made its way back to Scott Fujita and his Twitter:

I'm going to reserve judgement until I hear this morning's playback from @790TheZone. But right now I'm enraged.

Sources close to OSG HQ say that the segment idea began since Steve Gleason did Peter King’s article this week on SI.com. He said he now has to communicate using his eyes and is unable to speak. They then said could you imagine trying to interview him on a radio show...

And the bit started...

One of the jocks, Nick Cellini came out with this idea on his Twitter feed:

we took a shot, it backfired. Live and learn...

Really...???
Live and learn...???

Learn this, gentlemen...
((HT: Fox 6))


NOON UPDATE: Cellini followed his first Tweet with this one:

My apologies to everyone. It was a stupid attempt at humor that backfired. Emphasis on stupid.

Thanks for that... and thanks for jokes like this one...

Knock knock
who's there?
smother
smother who?
smother me, do me a favor

If only the ALS community could do that to your on-air signal...

1315 UPDATE: The hosts have been suspended indefinitely... according to Rick Mack- 790 The Zone Sr. VP & General Manager


1445 UPDATE: From Pro Football Talk

One of the hosts of the "Mayhem" show, "Steak" Shapiro was widely thought of as an owner of the place- which would have made it difficult to fire himself.

But Shapiro and Andrew Saltzman sold their equity stake to Lincoln Financial in 2010.
Lincoln Financial took the assets from Shapiro and Saltzman's Big League Broadcasting since Big League's foray into St. Louis sports talk was a financial money pit and abject failure- and they, probably, could use the financial rescue.

From the AJC's Rodney Ho at the time of the sale:

“Owning your own company is extremely rewarding,” Shapiro said. “We decided to trade in the day-to-day stress for the security of a great job at a great company.”

Here’s Saltzman in the press release:

“We have accomplished a great deal as entrepreneurial broadcasters, and this acquisition allows 790 The Zone to compete at an even higher level,” said Saltzman. “I am pleased with the development of this strategic partnership.”

Just how much longer they're partners will be interesting to see...

1500 UPDATE: Sources close to the 790 situation are saying that the National Football League has contacted the Atlanta Falcons over what happened this morning. 790TheZone is part of the Atlanta Falcons radio network.

They are also part of the Georgia Tech radio network, but no response has come from the Flats as of yet...

OSG Opinion: We Mock What We Don't Understand

So, it's NFL Draft day and people with very little to do with their lives all over the world are frothing at the mouth with excitement.

And we have no idea why....

Sure, it's a chance to find out who your favorite NFL Team is going to pick and try to replenish their roster with. We get that part. It's sort of important.

Sort of.

However the part we don't understand is the 3 month build up. The 6-plus versions of the Mel Kiper/Todd McShay mock draft. The 841,000 Mock Drafts that come from everyone who has ever written a Sports story or been on Sports Talk Radio.

Why?

Yeah, speculating is nice. It's something to keep you occupied on a dull day. But why all the Mock Drafts? Does it really matter what ______ Sports Writer from the Green Bay Gazette or some other small, obscure website thinks all 32 NFL Teams are going to do with their 1st round picks.

And think about it....does not the term "Mock Draft" mean that you are making fun of the draft? Because Mocking something is roughly synonymous with Satire...or at least that's the literal interpretation.



Maybe we're just cynical (ok, we are cynical), but we've never understood the crazed excitement. I'm a huge Sports fan/borderline Sports Geek who probably knows more about how Sports works and the history of it than most people should.

Yet I don't get "Freaky Excited" over the draft.

Realistically, it's a "Best Guess" as to who is going to be a good player for your team. There is no "Exact" science to this. NFL personnel people are an odd, wacky bunch who sometimes obsess over things like 40-yard dash times, speed in the cone drills and the .2 sec difference in release times. Yet they often overlook the person and their performance.

And a lot of times, they are flat-ass wrong. JaMarcus Russell, Ryan Leaf, Akili Smith, Lawrence Phillips or anyone picked 1st by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the last 5-years--all examples of why you shouldn't go Ape Shit over the draft. Your team could get lucky...or the guy you pick could blow out both his knees in the 1st exhibition game and never play again.

But yet you all obsess over this.

Please NFL Fan, I strongly encourage you to watch and enjoy the draft. The NFL in their infinite marketing wisdom has managed to figure out how to drag it out for 3-days. If you watch all 3-days of this, you need to do some serious evaluation on your life and how you are living it.

Yes, we encourage you to support your favorite team. Support them. Be happy when they succeed, be disappointed when they don't. But PLEASE--please stop obsessing for months on end about whom they will draft at the end of every April. PLEASE don't be crushed if they don't pick who you thought they would. PLEASE go watch a baseball game, go play golf, go hit tennis balls--just do something that you should be doing in late April/early May instead of worshipping this over-hyped, over-blown, manufactured, artificially created drama that in reality never will, never has and never should be so controlling over your every day life.

PAWWWWWWWWWLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!!! Your Contract's Not Renewed...

((HT: Trussville Tribune Newspaper))

Paul Finebaum and his number two of operations, Ryan Haney, let their contracts expire at midnight and people will not be able to hear his show for further notice.

The Paul Finebaum Radio Network is now, supposedly, weighing its options...

Stay with Sirius/XM, go to Birmingham competitor 97.3TheZone, ESPN, or some combination therein. Finebaum had been with WJOX since 2007 and has been courted by The Zone for over a year...

Most folks in the national Paul Finebaum era know his show for this revelation...
((HT: youtube/PFRN))


More when we know more...